33 replies to this topic

[Yosharian]

So in the other graphics thread the MW5 engine was mentioned a few times, and it got me thinking...

The MW5 engine looks great, so why can't we use it as MWO's main engine?

In case any of you have been living under a rock, here's what it looks like:

[Savage Wolf]

Because that would be like creating an entirely new game, which would be great, but probably won't be worth it for PGI financially.

[HammerMaster]

Savage Wolf, on 14 December 2017 - 02:51 PM, said:

Because that would be like creating an entirely new game, which would be great, but probably won't be worth it for PGI financially.

It would be worth it to them if they DID as people would stick around and possibly return for better graphics and engine specific fixes we can't have now (Lostech rear view).

[Yosharian]

Savage Wolf, on 14 December 2017 - 02:51 PM, said:

Because that would be like creating an entirely new game, which would be great, but probably won't be worth it for PGI financially.

I would pay money for it. MWO in that engine would be amazing.

I mean, I would contribute to a kickstarter or something.

Edited by Yosharian, 14 December 2017 - 02:58 PM.

[jss78]

Wasn't this actually in the expressed long-term plans for MWO at some point?

[Savage Wolf]

HammerMaster, on 14 December 2017 - 02:54 PM, said:

It would be worth it to them if they DID as people would stick around and possibly return for better graphics and engine specific fixes we can't have now (Lostech rear view).

I highly doubt that. They would need to fix a lot more than just graphics and the technology that came with the new engine to lure people back in. PGI has yet to demonstrate that they've seen the cover of a book about game design which has done a lot more to scare people away than outdated graphics. 5 QP game modes that all play like Skirmish and now introducing Skirmish, but only 1v1 and 2v2.
If they want to get people back, they need to invest in a whole different direction than new shiny graphics. Not that those wouldn't be nice too.

[ocular tb]

I'd like to see it happen. I'm guessing if it hasn't already started, they would wait until after the official launch of MW5. The way I see it is that they would most likely be making a profit from MW5 and with that dev team freed up PGI would be able allocate more resources for moving MWO to the new engine. Of course I could be wrong and they may no longer have any intentions of moving MWO to the new engine. I really hope they do though.

Edited by ocular tb, 14 December 2017 - 03:13 PM.

[LT. HARDCASE]

Porting such poorly documented game code to a new engine would be a HUGELY daunting task.

[Kin3ticX]

If PGI had a plan to upgrade the engine, PGI would have said something at Mechcon.

I'd take the engine upgrade even if it meant we all had to start over in MWO2 or something. They can always give goodies to vet accounts. Just seems like a PR mess but I still want the engine upgrade.

[Gwahlur]

People seem to have a very wrong picture of what an engine really is and the amount of work that's required to rewrite a game to a new engine.

How long have they spent on making MW5? You can expect a rewrite of MWO to take equally long

[Andi Nagasia]

im still hoping that after MW5 comes out they port MWO to the Unreal4, as it would give MWO 10 more years of life,

[Gwahlur]

With how long it would take I think it would be a much better move PR-wise to just call it MWO2 at that point.

People will get so bored of waiting for an engine port to finish that they'll eat PGI alive and basically torpedo any chance of MWO having 10 more years of life

[Andi Nagasia]

jss78, on 14 December 2017 - 02:56 PM, said:

Wasn't this actually in the expressed long-term plans for MWO at some point?

it was, and still is though on the back burner,
Russ did say during one of the townhalls changing over to Unreal would take 6months of work,
in this case he stated that that would be roughly 6months of no content or he would have a second team work on the port,

Gwahlur, on 14 December 2017 - 03:34 PM, said:

People seem to have a very wrong picture of what an engine really is and the amount of work that's required to rewrite a game to a new engine.

How long have they spent on making MW5? You can expect a rewrite of MWO to take equally long

well most games take years to make, as MW5 is using most of MWO's assets its taking much much less,
that said im hoping Russ will have the MW5 Team work on the MWO to Unreal Port when MW5 is released,
it would be a way to bring both games together and help generate content for both(as universal unreal code)

[Gwahlur]

Andi Nagasia, on 14 December 2017 - 03:45 PM, said:

well most games take years to make, as MW5 is using most of MWO's assets its taking much much less,

How long have they been working on it?

[Andi Nagasia]

Gwahlur, on 14 December 2017 - 03:47 PM, said:

How long have they been working on it?

well it was announced during MechCon 2016, so a year ago,
and Bryan Ekman disappeared around 6 months before that(which we can assume Development on MW5 started)
and it will be coming out roughly Dec 2018, so its looking like the entire game it ganna take 2.5 years to make,

but remember PGI is a small team, however development is much much faster that what would be expected,
the reason is the mechs, animations, and many assets, are already finished and only need to be ported,

im hoping that MW5 will be the MW(solo Campaign) that we have always wanted,
and im hoping after it is, that PGI have the MW5 team work on the MWO port,

[N0ni]

Andi Nagasia, on 14 December 2017 - 03:45 PM, said:

Russ did say during one of the townhalls changing over to Unreal would take 6months of work,
in this case he stated that that would be roughly 6months of no content or he would have a second team work on the port,

I'd be okay with 6 months of no content, hell we lasted this far... 6 months will be a walk in the park. But honestly, just leave MWO as is so we don't have to worry about all our accounts being screwed in some way with the switch over.

MW5 on the other hand is going to be interesting, since it has the option of co-op AND mod capable. I'll be looking forward to stomping around in Scorpions along with other quad enthusiasts.

[Troa Barton]

It would really be foolish of them not to update MWO.

* For one it would increase the attractiveness of their product for new and existing players.
* It would show good form to all of us that have spent money on MWO over the years that the game we invested in won't be left to fade away.
* Most importantly it would make workflow more efficient adding a new mech to MWO means that it can be ported directly over to MW5 with no issues and vice versa.
* Same with maps, assets, textures, sounds, you name it.
* If they ever upgraded to a new engine again it would be the same process for both of their properties.
* The Unreal engine is much easier to work with this would increase the profit margin for everything they add into MWO going forward.
* From a Youtuber's perspective the nicer a game looks cinematically speaking the better it's entertainment value. As it is now the "market" for MWO videos are builds, opinions, some humor, and strategy, all bread and no circuses. Make your game appealing to Youtubers/streamers and you will get a lot of free marketing.

If they don't upgrade MWO they really are just committing financial suicide as they will be splitting up their customers, losing out on a second source of revenue, and doubling their workload for little gain.

This is a classic win-win situation that would be foolish to leave on the table.

[CK16]

I would put money on PGI porting MWO over to UE4 with in 2 years. I also will say it will not be an entire new game ect. MWO will keep living as MWO just with a large update.

[Mcgral18]

Gwahlur, on 14 December 2017 - 03:34 PM, said:

People seem to have a very wrong picture of what an engine really is and the amount of work that's required to rewrite a game to a new engine.

How long have they spent on making MW5? You can expect a rewrite of MWO to take equally long

Not entirely true

The models would be engine ready, and they'd have experience in the engine
Not to mention, they'd need a multiplayer component for the Coop regardless


There will be an MWO2, it would be silly not to.
Half the work is already done


Just don't expect much beyond an Arena shooter.

[Anjian]

If it were to keep MWO alive for another 5 to 10 years, I would say yes, if Russ and company wants to make a life long career and business built on this game.

This is not the first game to have a massive graphics or game engine overhaul. We have seen it with Final Fantasy 14 A Realm Reborn, World of Tanks, and EVE Online.