131 replies to this topic

[JC Daxion]

KodiakGW, on 24 June 2017 - 09:57 AM, said:

Love all the comments about "adding another bucket."

I know, especially seeing it would be 1v1 or 2v2 perhaps.. Just a handful of matches not happening in group/QP would mean 100+ matches running in solaris.

I know so many people that don't play because it is not Buddy friendly.


How many times do you see people say, i want to play with my friend, or my kid and then stop because the game is not friendly towards that as you get stuffed into 12 v 12. I know i've read that same complaint more times than i can count.

Edited by JC Daxion, 24 June 2017 - 06:06 PM.

[Medicine Man]

Tarl Cabot, on 24 June 2017 - 05:18 PM, said:

For many, Solaris would be QP but more restrictions variables. FFA (free for all), all lights/meds/heavies/assaults, IS or Clan only, smaller teams than 12vs12. Think of FP Scouting mode 4vs4, med/lights, meds/heavies, heavies/assaults, 6vs6, etc.

But without the ability to generate FUNDS, it may likely be a ghost town after the newness wears off like the private lobbies, unless it was integrated into the QP and the ability to OPT-IN, or OPT OUT of the Solaris mode and so players can generate Cbills, XP, GXP.

Most of us want PGI to succeed, despite their track record, because if they do not renew their license in 2018 around the time MW5 is expected to be release, that is all we will have is MW5, provided it is delivered. Realistically, does anyone really expect ANOTHER company to pickup the pieces? Would HBS, even with Battletech even try to pick it up?

Not sure about many others but there currently is not another game, besides Battletech, I am interested in playing LONG TERM. Sure, there are some titles where I may get a few hours of enjoyment but I am a series type of person, multiple trilogies.

MW5 is what I wanted in the first place. MWO can just die in a fire as soon as possible. The only good thing about this game is battle tech and that's it. Every single facet of the game (beyond the graphics and "feel" of the mechs) is just frigging junk. Irredeemable. Completely and totally hacked to ribbons to facilitate FTP ********.

I paid 60 bucks for a founders pack for MWO and I have never gotten that value returned. Every single chance PGI has had to do something cool with MWO they have blown. And they will continue to blow because FTP is just a busted and stupid model to base a game on.

If MW5 comes out and has decent reviews I'll buy it and then hope PGI goes out of business anyway so that somebody competent can pick up the title.

Unless of course a miracle happens and MW5 is frigging awesome. Then PGI can maybe redeem themselves by finally producing the product I wanted to buy in the first place.

Edited by Medicine Man, 24 June 2017 - 07:02 PM.

[Commander A9]

Been asking for Solaris for years...

Yes, get the arenas in here. Free-for-all, Capture-The-Flag, the Factory, the Jungle, the Coliseum...

...and throw George Ledeoux in there for good measure!

KAPOW!

[Johnny Z]

FFA has to be a part of Solaris especially because its from the previous games.

[Bud Crue]

JC Daxion, on 24 June 2017 - 05:59 PM, said:

actually it was a phrase Russ used around the time CW launched, But he was talking about how they started the game with 4 mechs and 2 maps. He was explaining about how MWO actually finally found a way to get started with the FTP system. Something that they had been trying to get going for years.

that is why it is misused. Go back and listen to that town hall if you need more proof. I forget exactly which one it was. I think it was November from years ago if memory serves me correct. People propagated it to mean the game at the time which is just false, and still use it years later.

And that is what I said. Russ described the game at the dawn in those terms. Yes they have added some fluff since then but the core game remains the same. If it was minimally viable with just 4 mechs and 2 maps, adding a bunch more mechs and more maps (a few) has not suddenly made the game any thing more than minimally viable. This is a niche game with a very dedicated audience of potential consumers. That if PGI keeps abusing they will lose. This game lacks the spit and polish, frankly content of a truly successful major game; and if PGI had actual competition in this arena, it would be out of business. I'm sorry if this is a hard reality for folks but its true. If you and Mr Poison up above are convinced that it is somehow a superior title and drawing a major amount of new players, please let me know the drugs you are taking and where I can get some. No amount of "negativity" or constructive commentary from us the players will change that. Besides Russ has said its his game and he knows what is best for it, so not only is our "constructive commentary" not going to change anything, the lead dev has made clear that he is not interested in hearing it (go back an listen to that town hall and tell me I am misconstruing that).

Edited by Bud Crue, 24 June 2017 - 07:21 PM.

[Medicine Man]

Bud Crue, on 24 June 2017 - 07:20 PM, said:

Besides Russ has said its his game and he knows what is best for it,

And this putrid arrogance is why I hate his guts. Probably more than any other game developer in the world.

[Bud Crue]

Medicine Man, on 24 June 2017 - 07:34 PM, said:

And this putrid arrogance is why I hate his guts. Probably more than any other game developer in the world.

I'm sure he is a lovely person. I just find his business acumen to be frustratingly lacking and his stewardship of this IP to be horrid. Such potential is here in the game and even more in this community (I don't mean me...I mean in the folks that have put forth really great ideas regarding this game over the years) to make it amazing, and Russ closes his eyes and ears to it; despite not being able to articulate his own vision or share one with us, his customers. That doesn't make him a bad person. But it is kinda sad.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

Yeonne Greene, on 24 June 2017 - 01:54 PM, said:

Within reason. Lots of ways that can go awry.

Naturally. I was assuming it'd be with PGI, using the mech he won the GC with as the base chassis, and following whatever design constraints they already have in place.

[50 50]

Cato Phoenix, on 23 June 2017 - 07:35 PM, said:

So Russ just announced in the town hall that he's considering looking into Solaris as a possible development route. This would be instead of pursuing something like more mech packs, and releasing Solaris as a pre-order.

He did though wonder to the group what people would be interested in for the mode, and what people's thoughts on it would be.

So what are your thoughts?

Personally, I'd like to slug it out in Solaris, both 1v1, team vs team, and Free-For-All. I'll have to do some thinking about how best it would work mechanics wise (new mode, new subset of games, etc). I though would probably jump on a pre-order for it.

Yeah.
Skimmed through the recording of the townhall last night and was a little surprised about Solaris.
Another mode to divide up our already small population?
Ok.

In all things there are opportunities however so where I see opportunity for this is in making Solaris the mode used at the PGI world cup.
There is opportunity to not only have a 1v1 championship, but the 2v2, 4v4 and a grand melee event (FFA).
I would suggest that Solaris remain strictly IS mechs.
A 'Trials' system could be used for clans and be kept separate.
I would also suggest that instead of any mech that only the hero variants are allowed.
This immediately creates a way to fund the development as we need to purchase the heroes to gain entry.
We could also have the unique option to create new heroes based on the winners from the WC finals to reward the successful players and further enrich the selection.

To have players participate though, there needs to be the c-bill incentive.
Should be easy enough to do as a 'Match Payment'.

Where the mode could explore some features and have some fun is with creating the right atmosphere for the matches and having options for the spectators.
The Steiner 1v1 does a pretty good job of this but it would be fun to have viewing spots for the spectators so it really can be an event.
Another opportunity is in the advertising.
Solaris is a perfect example of fictional pro-sport where we can include promotions for players and teams and various products.
Through this there could be a source of funding for the development.

There is the option to allow betting on the matches however there might be some legal issues around having such a feature in a game.

One thing that might be needed is first person, out of mech control.
If we as spectators or even competitors want to feel like we are at these stadiums, then we need to feel like part of the crowd, order drinks and food and cheer on the combatants.

It must have the atmosphere and immersion as well as the actual match features. Many may say that this is a waste of time. but if the mode is no different to a quick play or private match then really..... wtf.
Do not waste time and development effort on a mode that will be no better than the quick play, private lobbies, faction play and now the new competition mode.

[Chound]

Bud Crue, on 24 June 2017 - 01:22 PM, said:

Ummm...its not a misuse of the phrase. Its the phrase PGI used to describe its own product when they launched CW. And frankly, I don's see the product being substantively different now than then. That is the reality. You think it is a major draw title? I think it is niche game with a population of ~ 30K players, in slow decline; and PGI seems bound and determined to keep it that way. Is it growing? Is it up there with other major titles? No? It is indeed a minimally viable product and the only thing keeping it afloat is the fact that PGI has an exclusive license and us rabid MW fans have no other viable option other than MWLL. But if you have evidence to the contrary that PGI's reality of MWO being something other than a minimally viable product, I'd love to hear your hopeful and totally constructive facts which prove me wrong.

Edit:
Also, in words and deeds I have probably done more to support this shi7show than 90% of the community so suggesting that my efforts at trying to improve both this game and PGI's interactions with the community is flat out BS.

MWO will never be a good mainstream product and Battletech may have problems. This was made of gamers using gaming macines. that is a very small part of the PC market. I use a GP PC but get an error because it doesn't like the integrated graphics. They should test the graphics ability of the video and up or down does it qualify. requiring the machine to have a certain configuration makes it easier to test but limits the market. I really had to dig to find the minimum configuration most people might just give up and say forget it.

[Mechatankzilla]

If they can't get faction warfare right why do people think that have any chance at getting Solaris right?

Fix the broken stuff before adding more broken stuff...

[Valkyrie73]

Don't do it

[Sunstruck]

Mechatankzilla, on 25 June 2017 - 12:56 AM, said:

If they can't get faction warfare right why do people think that have any chance at getting Solaris right?

Fix the broken stuff before adding more broken stuff...

There isn't a big enough player base for real faction warfare, there is for Solaris.

[STEF_]

We already have solaris 12vs12 with personal leaderboard, etc.

do u think will be different having the same with 1vs1, 4vs4, etc.?

This is not new feature.


edit: Also, I remember Russ saying the esact words in a townhall, 2 years ago (april 2015 townhall)

Edited by Stefka Kerensky, 25 June 2017 - 07:41 AM.

[Mechwarrior1441491]

Well that was their position at the time. Perhaps they feel an ACTUAL Solaris experience will be a benefit to the game....and they'd be right.

There are A LOT of C-Bills floating around the game and there is a way to skin the c-bill cat, getting people spending them if done right.

[G4LV4TR0N]

What is very easy to make and could please small part of community is to make two new maps, one IS Solaris 8v8 that could also be used for 12v12 and one Clan Trial of Possession 8v8 that also could be easily adapted to 12v12. Difference between those and currently existing maps would be, that they would be symmetric and made for direct clashes, not pretending to be part of certain scenery. Those maps could be then used in Comp mode and in Quick Play mode, also maybe Solaris(?) mode. Additionally they would be used in Faction mode, but not as normal maps. They would be only available for Skirmish when there would be not enough Clan/IS players waiting for Invasion game in queue, in Clan vs Clan or IS vs IS scenarios.

[Johnny Z]

Mechatankzilla, on 25 June 2017 - 12:56 AM, said:

If they can't get faction warfare right why do people think that have any chance at getting Solaris right?

Fix the broken stuff before adding more broken stuff...

Solaris is a lot easier to get right. They made a smart move slowly working on FP this entire time and holding Solaris in reserve.

A lot of haters on this forum just like on other games forums, the difference is this could be the best online game ever made.

Edited by Johnny Z, 25 June 2017 - 01:37 PM.

[Thorn Hallis]

Solaris VII is something a whole game could be built around. I don't see MWO being this game.

[Excalabur50]

TBH I sounds to me PGI are going EA on us, the fastest way to kill your game is split it more by asking people to PAY for a new game mode or maps or whatever it is where some players can afford it and others can't and then get the S***S cause they can't play with their mates, stick to mech packs where it doesn't matter

[Lightfoot]

Pool 1v1 or 2v2, etc. You join a random Solaris pool and when a pool of 16 or 32 players has signed up the mini tournament starts pairing players in 1v1 or whatever number works. Winners advance, losers join the next pool. Pool champion gets a badge to display which changes as the number of pools they were the champion of increases. Like Headshot or Liquid Metal etc.

This method could work with small groups if interest was high enough, but it would work as a quick public cue instant 1v1 tournament. Follow Solaris weight class rules which also allows a specified all Class duel, could also work for FFA groups.

Edited by Lightfoot, 25 June 2017 - 08:31 PM.