6 replies to this topic

[sam wesson]

Hello everyone.

I am very interested in the pre-release of the Kodiak. I like it. 5 variants, 1 hero and 1 special.

This would be my first mech purchase for money. I like the early bird prizes also.

Why is the wait so long? 2-1\2 months, wow.

Isn't it likely that this mech isn't that special? They wouldn't make 1 mech that much different, would throw off the game if I could buy my way into easy wins. Right?

So this mechs specialness is it's aesthetics and loadout being something I could play well and flourish with?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone, gg. woot

[Wintersdark]

That's how long it takes them to make the mechs and get their various textures all made (and you want this, rather than the old method where some mechs simply don't get various patterns).

They announce mechs basically when they just have drawn ortgos and concepts, nothing else done.

2 months is, if anything, quite short.

[MaoutheGreat]

Yes, the early bird prizes are worth it. The hero will be worth it with MASC, and that will put at a movement speed of the average medium mech. I don't know if the reinforcement pack is worth it. The 5 variant looks like it's the only one that's worth it, but if you get the standard and hero packs that's enough to master them.

And normally it's worth the wait, I pre-ordered the first clan pack and I will say I was not disappointed.

Edited by MaoutheGreat, 27 February 2016 - 07:10 PM.

[Lostdragon]

I think the Kodiak will be a very solid mech. I bought the basic pack with the hero add on for $35, I think that gives you the best value for the money. The early adopter rewards are definitely nice so if you think you will like the Kodiak go ahead and preorder for those. Even if you don't like it you are getting some great modules plus 6.5 million cbills and premium time.

[Koniving]

It is a combination of developing the mech and custom geometry, designing the hitboxes, modifying animations to be "somewhat unique," making about 3 dozen (more now probably) patterns, and testing. Then with testing comes fixes for errors (should have seen Hellbringer's rapid release; much like the Kintaro they completely redid the hitboxes from scratch because it was such a cluster)...

Spoiler

My small sampling was evidently 'kind', as others found about 7 more spots in which you would damage center torso for absolutely no reason.


[

Green in the spoiler is "Front CT"... notice it's all over the arms, the back, the side torsos, etc.

Anyway. At least two weeks of the time is in testing. There's also the fact that their releases are always timed with a patch, so there's part of the wait.

All in all, it is a preorder. "We're gonna make this. Help us pay for the talent to get it done."

Far as Kodiak... this isn't the best animated example, but it is the first 3D Kodiak to enter into a computerized Battletech / Mechwarrior game.


It is a 100 ton Battlemech for the Clan side.
Mind you, it is a Battlemech (like IS mechs) and NOT an Omnimech. Change out engines, structure/armor/heatsinks but not hardpoints.

Edited by Koniving, 28 February 2016 - 06:38 AM.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

If you're up for an assault mech, and one that maxes out the weight scale, and one that will likely fit in somewhere around medium-range, and one that will spend its first few months at least with a BIG "AIM HERE" sign attached to it, then the Kodiak is likely going to be the best idea you've ever had.

So no, the package mechs aren't typically game-breakers. Kodiak is likely to become a REALLY good assault mech, but it WILL eventually be available for CBill purchase as well (except for the hero variant). You're not going to suddenly be an overpowered God of war for having dumped a few bucks into PGI's lap.

Mind you, THIS is what pays the bills at PGI. Russ was just talking about this in Friday night's town hall. To paraphrase him, day-to-day operations at PGI literally cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. And there's no subscription fee or pre-paid game time cards or anything for MWO. Some players have played this game for like 3.5 years without ever paying a single penny, and they get no less of an experience than do we paying customers. And some folks have pumped a couple thousand dollars into the game. And all the packages get you is early access to what eventually becomes free-in-game content (again, except for the HERO mechs).

But yeah, Kodiak is gonna be AWESOME!

[sam wesson]

OK, I took the bait. Now I wait. It's gonna feel like forever.

Chose the Basic pack plus the Spirit Bear.

Back to the Ravens for a while.

See ya in game.