315 replies to this topic

[Lyoto Machida]

Definitely throwing money at this as soon as I can.

[General Taskeen]

Duncan Jr Fischer, on 29 July 2015 - 10:49 AM, said:

Somehow I'm not jumping happily..
I remember crystal clear when Jordan Weisman talked about MW reboot several years ago, and what came out of it - something totally different, and without Weisman on board from day one.

Next thing that comes to mind is MechWarrior Tactics. It promised to bring classic BT to PC, but ended up being a total cripple of the game mechanics, and featured awfully disfigured mech designs.
I'd pick MegaMek over MW Tactics any time, it's hundred times better and richer game-wise, tactic-wise and in terms of IP loyalty.

While understandable, HBS design philosophy and development style is different from PGI/IGP as they've shown when they simply decided to go back to old school Shadowrun. So far, at least, HBS has produced quality content (premium games) which I have played/completed a couple times already (they are addicting) - they definitely have a smart, successful model, which I can personally attest to for what's it worth. KS has a little more consumer protection these days and Projects need to deliver on what they say they are going to do. Basically this -> HBS's recent KS is for another SR game in another part of that universe, and they are obligated to make a premium game that'll release for 30-40 or whatever in August, and they can't turn around and say "oh hey, this is f2p sorry."

As far as - "mwo" goes, when it first came on my radar I also was a bit over-hyped since I thought it meant "MW5." Many people were over-hyped back then (and since have moved on to other stuff like myself). That was my bad, as a consumer, for improperly researching the product.

Reading back on it, essentially "Smith and Tinker" (Weisman's other company at the time) wanted to revitalize MW and create MW5. When no publisher funding deals could be landed he simply washed his hands of Mech Warrior, dropped it like a hot potato, and went off to form HBS. Unfortunately all of the stuff with S&T happened before Kickstarters took off in popularity. He also saw that Microsoft was only agreeing to Piranha's idea of "f2p only" while his vision was a return to actual MW (singleplayer story, and a MP co-op component for additional amusement), so they were fundamentally different ideas and Microsoft was not taking any chances on something potentially better. Basically Weisman had nothing to do with MWO or MW:T at the end of all that.

Edited by General Taskeen, 29 July 2015 - 01:04 PM.

[DAYLEET]

As long as it's not based on purchased of packs with random outcome like the other game. Which is why in the first place i never even considered getting it.

[bad arcade kitty]

that yellow flag is definitely a phallic symbol considering how its tip raises from the atlas' groins

[Lorian Sunrider]

General Taskeen, on 29 July 2015 - 12:53 PM, said:

While understandable, HBS design philosophy and development style is different from PGI/IGP as they've shown when they simply decided to go back to old school Shadowrun. So far, at least, HBS has produced quality content (premium games) which I have played/completed a couple times already (they are addicting) - they definitely have a smart, successful model, which I can personally attest to for what's it worth. KS has a little more consumer protection these days and Projects need to deliver on what they say they are going to do. Basically this -> HBS's recent KS is for another SR game in another part of that universe, and they are obligated to make a premium game that'll release for 30-40 or whatever in August, and they can't turn around and say "oh hey, this is f2p sorry."

As far as - "mwo" goes, when it first came on my radar I also was a bit over-hyped since I thought it meant "MW5." Many people were over-hyped back then (and since have moved on to other stuff like myself). That was my bad, as a consumer, for improperly researching the product.

Reading back on it, essentially "Smith and Tinker" (Weisman's other company at the time) wanted to revitalize MW and create MW5. When no publisher funding deals could be landed he simply washed his hands of Mech Warrior, dropped it like a hot potato, and went off to form HBS. Unfortunately all of the stuff with S&T happened before Kickstarters took off in popularity. He also saw that Microsoft was only agreeing to Piranha's idea of "f2p only" while his vision was a return to actual MW (singleplayer story, and a MP co-op component for additional amusement), so they were fundamentally different ideas and Microsoft was not taking any chances on something potentially better. Basically Weisman had nothing to do with MWO or MW:T at the end of all that.

It will be interesting to see if this kickstarter and game do well enough if PGI and HBS are willing to work together to create the single player aspect for MWO.

Or even if HBS can just do Mechwarrior 5 sharing assests both ways and not include a multiplayer component.

[Mirkk Defwode]

spectralthundr, on 29 July 2015 - 11:21 AM, said:

While I hope this turns out to be the mech commander game everyone wants. Why couldn't Jordan do MW5? Too small a studio? Not enough money? If he and Mitch with their experience with the IP and history at Fasa were to pitch a MW5 to kickstarter they just might surpass SC in funding. The difference being I think Jordan and company would actually deliver on a game.

Not their forte or skillset.

I'm sure they could learn that skillset, but doing something along the lines of immersive open ended RPG is what they've done well with all the Shadowrun titles. I think they should stick to that strength and give the universe some fresh narrative and inspire a whole new audience as well as some of us old mechheads.

[Agent 0 Fortune]

I hope, at least initially, that HBS opts not to use unique loadout geometry. PGI has really turned me off of customization with their poor weapon scaling.

[Buzzkillin]

Agent 0 Fortune, on 29 July 2015 - 03:29 PM, said:

I hope, at least initially, that HBS opts not to use unique loadout geometry. PGI has really turned me off of customization with their poor weapon scaling.

All the mechs are going to look small with a bird's eye view.

[spectralthundr]

Mirkk Defwode, on 29 July 2015 - 02:20 PM, said:

Not their forte or skillset.

I'm sure they could learn that skillset, but doing something along the lines of immersive open ended RPG is what they've done well with all the Shadowrun titles. I think they should stick to that strength and give the universe some fresh narrative and inspire a whole new audience as well as some of us old mechheads.

Doing a full fledged Mech Warrior title isn't in the franchise creator's skill set? C'mon. Mitch and Jordan have both worked on past MW titles.

[Mirkk Defwode]

spectralthundr, on 29 July 2015 - 03:56 PM, said:

Doing a full fledged Mech Warrior title isn't in the franchise creator's skill set? C'mon. Mitch and Jordan have both worked on past MW titles.

They're not doing it themselves. They're leading a team, and those team members need to have those requisite skills. Studios as a whole tend to be fairly specialized in their skillsets and don't often deviate from that known path. Want a great example? Bungie...

Made Halo. Did a good job.

What do they do when they stop making Halo and get the opportunity to spread their wings?

Destiny...Halo+Borderlands. Not a huge deviation, really overall just the addition of a randomized loot system with some random elements to item creation. Not to mention a static linear tiered system for their damage scale.

I'm not saying they can't learn them but up til now that company has done Open-Ended RPGs and a fairly in-depth Boardgame hybrid with virtual aid through a tablet app partnered with it. Changing to the realm of a FPS or FPS-Simulator isn't in their known quantity right now. To acquire those skills also takes time, and new tools. I'd rather seem them retool what they have right now from Shadowrun to work with the Battletech franchise and start there to make a solid turn based RPG.

Hell the last solid mecha turn based RPG I've played was Front Mission 4. That was on the Playstation 2. I think that says a lot.

[WatDo]

****** SO hard.

I've been waiting for another mechcommander-ish game for forever now.

HNNNNNNNNNNNGH.

Totes backing it.

[Screech]

Wintersdark, on 29 July 2015 - 10:15 AM, said:

Man, if this ended up even remotely like Crescent Hawks Inception, or Revenge (but particularly Inception), I would... i don't even know. I can't even express how extremely happy that would make me.

The Crescent Hawks Battletech games where huge for me, back in the day. I played the ever living crap out of them, and they are what really got me into Battletech and Mechwarrior.

Yeah, Crescent Hawks really was my gateway into BT I loved that game as a kid. If they tried to make that game today it would be incredible. See it as an open world FPS with giant stompy robots. Though I imagine there are a bunch of legal reasons why it could never happen.

[Domoneky]

this game is going to fail. Hard.

[spectralthundr]

Mirkk Defwode, on 29 July 2015 - 04:17 PM, said:

They're not doing it themselves. They're leading a team, and those team members need to have those requisite skills. Studios as a whole tend to be fairly specialized in their skillsets and don't often deviate from that known path. Want a great example? Bungie...

Made Halo. Did a good job.

What do they do when they stop making Halo and get the opportunity to spread their wings?

Destiny...Halo+Borderlands. Not a huge deviation, really overall just the addition of a randomized loot system with some random elements to item creation. Not to mention a static linear tiered system for their damage scale.

I'm not saying they can't learn them but up til now that company has done Open-Ended RPGs and a fairly in-depth Boardgame hybrid with virtual aid through a tablet app partnered with it. Changing to the realm of a FPS or FPS-Simulator isn't in their known quantity right now. To acquire those skills also takes time, and new tools. I'd rather seem them retool what they have right now from Shadowrun to work with the Battletech franchise and start there to make a solid turn based RPG.

Hell the last solid mecha turn based RPG I've played was Front Mission 4. That was on the Playstation 2. I think that says a lot.

I totally get what you're saying, I just think the possibility is there to really hit a Mech Warrior 5 out of the park given the success that SC has had at least in the funding aspect, it remains to be seen if that ever lives up to the hype. Don't get me wrong, I hope this project turns out well, Shadowrun certainly did. There are enough loyal fans to the franchise that if he were to go the Kickstarter route since no publisher wanted to touch the original pitch likely due to MS owning the electronic version of the IP outright, that I think they could really nail it if the timing was right.

[Hawk819]

MechCommander 3? Where's a link?!

[Mirkk Defwode]

spectralthundr, on 29 July 2015 - 04:49 PM, said:

I totally get what you're saying, I just think the possibility is there to really hit a Mech Warrior 5 out of the park given the success that SC has had at least in the funding aspect, it remains to be seen if that ever lives up to the hype. Don't get me wrong, I hope this project turns out well, Shadowrun certainly did. There are enough loyal fans to the franchise that if he were to go the Kickstarter route since no publisher wanted to touch the original pitch likely due to MS owning the electronic version of the IP outright, that I think they could really nail it if the timing was right.

Harebrained Schemes isn't Smith and Tinker. Again its what that team is skilled at doing and playing to their strengths.

I think a good MW single player game would be nice to have but this isn't the studio to do it in it's current rendition. And a kickstarter isn't a money printing machine. If anything for most games it covers a quarter of the actual required budget for a game. Most games take millions to make and the kickstarter is a good way to get added funds for non-regular staffing or to gauge user appeal.

I can't speak for all the studio heads that go that route but some do. I know the budgets for AAA games is immense and no kickstarter funded project gets near those.

[Alex Morgaine]

My big worry is art arts were sold to keep mwo running. If not, that's cool they're using the current gen art style on thus also (hopefully meaning any mwo mech released would become available in this game and vice versa). I don't want to see this game close its doors anyone soon even if I don't play it too often...

[OSUNightfall]

Domoneky, on 29 July 2015 - 04:46 PM, said:

this game is going to fail. Hard.

Out of curiosity, why would you say that? People have been wanting a new Battletech game for like a decade, and Weisman has a proven record on Kickstarter. You can bet it'll probably be at least as successful as his Shadowrun games and perhaps moreso.

[Alex Morgaine]

Would be awesome if they incorporated cw or something similar from mwo to work with this new tt styled one.

[Dino Might]

Mcgral18, on 29 July 2015 - 11:58 AM, said:

MegaMek sets a pretty high bar for features; having repair, rearm, full salvage, pilot management. Then there's the gameplay aspects that include DFAs, charging, Melee, smoke and creating fires.


If this manages to get that level of detail, it would be very impressive. The above, along with 3d models and animations, would be quite the feat, and a pretty damn fun game.


Megamek isn't the most stable thing, so I'd probably put some money towards the Kickstarter...once they pitch their scale and vision.


I just hope it won't be another MWT. It had the shooting and moving...but almost nothing else. No repair, no management, no DFA or melee. Just an empty game.

MWT was the biggest disappointment in gaming I have ever had in my life. There's no way this won't be better if they deliver anything. But, as stated by others, the opportunity to hit a grand slam is right there in front of them. We are expecting it at this point. Go big or go home, devs!