46 replies to this topic

[Valkyrie73]

Hopefully this is not a tabbo subject. I am new to MWO having played it for about 6 weeks. I also used to play TT about 27 years ago and still have some of my books including a technical readout (3025 i tjink). At the time my fav mechs were the Atlas, Awesome, Warhammer and Rifleman. I guess there was some sort of IP issue with robotech as the archer,Wasp and Marauder are also missing but will these ever appear in this game even if they have to be modified? Does anyone else miss them?
Cheers

[FupDup]

If I had a penny for every thread about unseen mechs, I would be able to buy out PGI.


TL;DR: Harmony Gold are basshoIes who will never let us have Macross unseen mechs in this game, or anything remotely resembling them. It's not gonna happen, don't hold your breath.

Edited by FupDup, 23 June 2015 - 06:30 PM.

[Ovion]

Valkyrie73, on 23 June 2015 - 06:24 PM, said:

Hopefully this is not a tabbo subject. I am new to MWO having played it for about 6 weeks. I also used to play TT about 27 years ago and still have some of my books including a technical readout (3025 i tjink). At the time my fav mechs were the Atlas, Awesome, Warhammer and Rifleman. I guess there was some sort of IP issue with robotech as the archer,Wasp and Marauder are also missing but will these ever appear in this game even if they have to be modified? Does anyone else miss them?
Cheers

Harmony Gold is the same as it ever was.

PGI simply don't want to touch the Robotech units.

[DustySkunk]

Well, there was discussion in April's town hall about them. Seems that PGI had been in touch with HG and getting the expected result. Russ said he was considering proceeding with them anyway after they got the PGI redesign touch. I wouldn't hold your breath though

Edited by DustySkunk, 23 June 2015 - 06:34 PM.

[Timuroslav]

Valkyrie73, on 23 June 2015 - 06:24 PM, said:

Battletech fan stuffs

This topic appears quite often more so than you think; in these here forums. Bad news. As they originally looked like from the Battletech tabletop they will not appear or look like that. Harmony gold sold the rights to Sony who is making a Battledroids or macross movie. So it is in Sony's hands. So it looks bad for that.

Good news,
The mech will be in the game, but probable in a new revitalized format. Until then there is theJagermech hero Firebrand; with Rifleman-like hard points.
some good news. The art will have to change, but people are pretty confident in PGI's aesthetics. so it will be in the game, but don't expect cookie cutter look-a-likes.

[El Bandito]

FupDup, on 23 June 2015 - 06:29 PM, said:

If I had a penny for every thread about unseen mechs, I would be able to buy out PGI.


TL;DR: Harmony Gold are basshoIes who will never let us have Macross unseen mechs in this game, or anything remotely resembling them. It's not gonna happen, don't hold your breath.

This guy is already in game, with strikingly similar profile and weapon/searchlight locations.

[FupDup]

El Bandito, on 23 June 2015 - 06:44 PM, said:

This guy is already in game, with strikingly similar profile and weapon/searchlight locations.

The Loki has enough visual differences for HG to not care about suing FASA over it.

[El Bandito]

FupDup, on 23 June 2015 - 06:46 PM, said:

The Loki has enough visual differences for HG to not care about suing FASA over it.

Oh really? Then the Reseen Marauder has even more visual differences than the original one. Why is that an issue then? Could the reason be the thing that I have always been saying--the name "Marauder", itself?

Edited by El Bandito, 23 June 2015 - 06:56 PM.

[FupDup]

El Bandito, on 23 June 2015 - 06:54 PM, said:

Oh really? Then the Reseen Marauder has even more visual differences than the original one. Why is that an issue then? Could the reason be the thing that I have always been saying--the name?

Tell that to HG, they're the ones who put us through these shenanigans.

I don't think that the name would/should be an issue, because they let us buy TT miniatures for the reseen mechs even today.



etc.

...But of course, HG are bassholes, so they might sue PGI even if they were redesigned to look nothing like the originals.

Edited by FupDup, 23 June 2015 - 07:00 PM.

[El Bandito]

FupDup, on 23 June 2015 - 06:58 PM, said:

Tell that to HG, they're the ones who put us through these shenanigans.

I don't think that the name would/should be an issue, because they let us buy TT miniatures for the reseen mechs even today.



etc.

...But of course, HG are bassholes, so they might sue PGI even if they were redesigned to look nothing like the originals.

Miniatures and in game designs are probably handled differently depending on the company. PGI is not gonna get the Marauder in MWO until they rename it in addition to redesigning it.

Edited by El Bandito, 23 June 2015 - 09:01 PM.

[Chiasson Brinker]

With the Robotech movie looking like it's picked up steam again, expect HG to clamp down hard on their IP. Whether or not they got the rights in a shady manner...

[Valkyrie73]

Wow thanks for the replies. I have missed a lot of the lore stuff and also have never heard of the unseen. I even missed the clan invasion lol as when i played it was only 3025 succession wars. With all this talk of movies i would love to see a battletech movie or even an animated series kinda like the star wars one. That would be awesome and there are so many hooks and storylines that could be used. I think battletech would be alot more interesting than robotech but thats just my opinion.

[627]

Grisbane, on 23 June 2015 - 07:27 PM, said:

if i were PGI i would release the reseen marauder and let harmony try to sue them for a name they have no property rights over. harmony gold's domain were over the original designs, since the mechs have been remade far enough away from originals that are considered unique battletech property and the name redesignated on those designs. harmony doesn't have any real legs to stand on. them contesting and losing if anything would damage harmony enough that the original owners may finally come calling in US court and pretty much put harmony out of business for good.

This is like provoking a car accident, only because you think the enemy insurance will pay for it. You still have all the work, the trouble and your crashed car with lowered resell value that need fixing.

[Strum Wealh]

Valkyrie73, on 23 June 2015 - 06:24 PM, said:

Hopefully this is not a tabbo subject. I am new to MWO having played it for about 6 weeks. I also used to play TT about 27 years ago and still have some of my books including a technical readout (3025 i tjink). At the time my fav mechs were the Atlas, Awesome, Warhammer and Rifleman. I guess there was some sort of IP issue with robotech as the archer,Wasp and Marauder are also missing but will these ever appear in this game even if they have to be modified? Does anyone else miss them?
Cheers

Yes, they are missed.

Also, the "IP issue with robotech" happened about 20 years ago.

[Ralgas]

Strum Wealh, on 24 June 2015 - 02:01 AM, said:

Yes, they are missed.

Also, the "IP issue with robotech" happened about 20 years ago.

But is still just as relevant.

takedown notices were issued over the mw5 trailer for it's use of a warhammer like mech, and more recently hasbro was sued (unsuccessfully) for using a reissue of it's own lines. 2 or 3 town halls ago Russ told us they approach hg again and were told no, with the movie stirring given as an excuse.

The argument that all they need to do is use reseen designs is irrelevant, given that with the information above HG is both aware of this project and willing to sue regardless of their chances. Costs defending the case and tied up man hours that could be spent developing wouldn't be worth the effort without HG's support.

I'd love a Marauder, but chances are it just ain't going to happen in the near future

[Strum Wealh]

Ralgas, on 24 June 2015 - 04:18 AM, said:

But is still just as relevant.

Indeed.

Though, something I've been curious about: as the franchise has been up for sale a few times (FASA to WizKids, then WizKids to Catalyst), why didn't HG just buy BattleTech when they had the chance?

They would have then been able to profit from both franchises, as well as have been able to simply bury whichever they cared for less.

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Ralgas, on 24 June 2015 - 04:18 AM, said:

I'd love a Marauder, but chances are it just ain't going to happen in the near future

You and I both.

[Koshirou]

627, on 23 June 2015 - 11:02 PM, said:

This is like provoking a car accident, only because you think the enemy insurance will pay for it. You still have all the work, the trouble and your crashed car with lowered resell value that need fixing.

Not really. A suit over a reseen Marauder would be thrown out by any halfway sane judge and HG would be settled with the costs. There is this preposterous idea that HG has the ability to sue PGI over the name and concept of the Marauder. They have it only in the same sense as Burger King has it.

[SgtMagor]

unseen mechs would be nice but hey that dream was blown to bits years ago by a HG bomb!, anyway there are mechs I'm still waiting for Axman for one http://th08.devianta..._ds-d4m64pp.jpg

[DustySkunk]

Strum Wealh, on 24 June 2015 - 06:15 AM, said:

Indeed.

Though, something I've been curious about: as the franchise has been up for sale a few times (FASA to WizKids, then WizKids to Catalyst), why didn't HG just buy BattleTech when they had the chance?

They would have then been able to profit from both franchises, as well as have been able to simply bury whichever they cared for less.

----------


You and I both.

Out of curiosity: is there any evidence they didn't try?

Regardless, it's probably easier and more profitable for them to sit on their IP and throw lawsuits around than attempt to manage a living, active game community; especially a community as prickly as Battletech fans.

I'd love to see the rest of the Unseen make it into MWO in their Reseen forms. Although the past has shown it's wise to stay skeptical of the possibility, Russ's remarks in April's town hall have given me a sliver of hope. I'll leave it at this: if there is a Reseen mech pack offered I'll preorder it on as soon as it's available. One of my biggest regrets in MWO was missing out on the Phoenix pack (the "other" Unseens) and I won't make that mistake again!

Edited by DustySkunk, 24 June 2015 - 06:45 AM.

[TamCoan]

If they ever reach a point where they get license to put them into game, I'd drop cash on them the instant the package went up. The origional battletech was my first real introduction to table-top gaming. I still have my origional battletech miniatures of all the classics. It is unfortunate that HG will never allow it.