15 replies to this topic

[Felbombling]

PGI doesn't seem interested in developing new maps for the game, and as a result, my spending habits have taken a hit. Normally, I would have been all over the Hatamoto-Chi bundle, but with zero information coming in on new map development post Solaris VII introduction, I was leery. Call me crazy, but to me, the game thrives when new maps come out regularly... alongside new Mech content. If it is just to be new Mech bundles moving forward, you can count me out.

Over the course of the Hatamoto-Chi early adopters window I sent Russ three Tweets and created two threads on the forums, looking for information on new map development.

Crickets

I shut my wallet as a direct result and haven't looked at spending a dime on Mech bundles since. My sincere hope was that there would be information on new map development at MechCon, but we all know what happened with the PGI presentation. Now I feel pretty happy that I followed my gut on a bundle that would have cost me upwards of $75.00 CND.

Here is my greatest disappointment over the whole situation, as new images of the Hatamoto-Chi are expected today. With a library of map assets already created, be they buildings, off-ramps, facilities, radar dishes, bridges, etc., I have a hard time understanding why map development hasn't picked up, not shut down completely.

So my question is this... would you still be spending money on the game if new map content was a guaranteed certainly, or are you still perfectly happy buying Mech bundles and playing them on familiar maps?

[Blockwart]

I'm just too tired to waste my money

[MechaBattler]

I think they should create variations of existing maps. Remove some stuff, move some stuff, perhaps flood parts of different maps. It'd be a fraction of the cost and it would create a little variety.

[Peter2k]

Yes I would


That said, if you click on the twitch link, and skip to PGI's Q&A (I think its the fourth question); Russ dodging the map question, saying PGI always concentrates on one thing and then the next.
And the next thing are the small, but numerous I guess, FP QoL changes slated for April

So no new map for another year or so?
If they start immediately in May it takes like half a year to make a map?
At least that's how long it always took.

That is if they even start on a map.

Sad really.

MechaBattler, on 06 December 2018 - 02:22 PM, said:

I think they should create variations of existing maps. Remove some stuff, move some stuff, perhaps flood parts of different maps. It'd be a fraction of the cost and it would create a little variety.

Yea I wondered why they never did that if it takes so long to create maps.
What if you flood canyon and put some bridges up for instance?

Throw in the old maps as well.

Edited by Peter2k, 06 December 2018 - 02:29 PM.

[PurplePuke]

I can't disagree with you, OP.

I haven't spent any money in over a year. I still play cause I like the game, but the writing's on the wall for MWO.

No game lasts forever. But another map would give the player population a little boost in enthusiasm, at least for a short time.

[cyclist1994]

Maps are more important than new mechs.

At least don't remove existing maps again xD
I have a poll running, were you can vote for the return of old maps, see my signature.

[LordNothing]

Peter2k, on 06 December 2018 - 02:29 PM, said:

Yea I wondered why they never did that if it takes so long to create maps.
What if you flood canyon and put some bridges up for instance?

they did, the results were not as good as the original maps, not any better than a brand new map.

if you want maps, make maps, dont take shortcuts and call them maps.

[Felbombling]

Hell, just imagine Polar Highlands with a city in the center instead of the dish, or the piping and storage tanks from Caustic Valley. It would change the map completely. I don't understand their lack of creativity and purpose.

[JediPanther]

Maps are nice but it only lasts about three week before solo q figures out the best nascar or the 'central feature fight here always' syndrome takes hold. Pgi is quite frankly horrible at map design. When they said river city was going to be remade I was expecting them to finally nuke the citadel not put some rocks around it.

My wallet closed the day the re-scale went live and killed my favorite mech class to play enlarging many 35 ton mechs into oblivion. The only few times I'be bought mechs since with real money was the Panther Hero and the K9 Urbie. I play events when i can in solo q and just save it up for a 50% mech/bay sale.

The only mechs I'd make an instant ultimate pack would be mechs that will probably never be in mwo. Stinger/Wasp LAMs. Hell pgi still finds reasons to nerf the Jenner both IS and Clan versions.

[frumpylumps]

The new maps in World of Tanks look amazing. I wish they would update the maps as its one of my biggest gripes.

[GeminiWolf]

Here's the deal, Mech Bundles pay their bills, Maps do not. All their resources are for their new Game they can create DLC's for. Online games die and they know this, so don't expect much effort to be placed in MWO from here on out. Watch for the low population servers being shutdown to save money in the near future as well... Once you see this the end is near.

[cyclist1994]

Online games die, because they have successors. If MWO will not have a concurring Battletech first person multiplayer, then I will not die.

[Galaxie 500]

GeminiWolf, on 06 December 2018 - 05:20 PM, said:

Here's the deal, Mech Bundles pay their bills, Maps do not.

In the most short-term, blindly-obvious, most direct way, yes. And I don't doubt that that's how they operate. But in the long term maps absolutely have paid, and do pay, their bills. None of us would have been playing for all these years if the existing maps (even for all their faults and our unmet wish lists) had not been places where we were willing to run around and battle.

Seems to me a popular map is one of the strongest paying investments they can make in the game.

I just wanted to say that. Meanwhile I know that's all beside the point at this point since the company appears to have moved on. I dunno, I'm still enjoying what there is of MWO, having played only parts of two years out of the past five so I'm not as burned out as many are.

[GeminiWolf]

Galaxie 500, on 06 December 2018 - 05:43 PM, said:

In the most short-term, blindly-obvious, most direct way, yes. And I don't doubt that that's how they operate. But in the long term maps absolutely have paid, and do pay, their bills. None of us would have been playing for all these years if the existing maps (even for all their faults and our unmet wish lists) had not been places where we were willing to run around and battle.

Seems to me a popular map is one of the strongest paying investments they can make in the game.

I just wanted to say that. Meanwhile I know that's all beside the point at this point since the company appears to have moved on. I dunno, I'm still enjoying what there is of MWO, having played only parts of two years out of the past five so I'm not as burned out as many are.

I do not disagree, but they do not view it this way. PGI was created by several people who made mods for Half-Life, they were not business people and it shows how the company has been run from the start.

[MW Waldorf Statler]

GeminiWolf, on 06 December 2018 - 05:20 PM, said:

Here's the deal, Mech Bundles pay their bills, Maps do not. All their resources are for their new Game they can create DLC's for. Online games die and they know this, so don't expect much effort to be placed in MWO from here on out. Watch for the low population servers being shutdown to save money in the near future as well... Once you see this the end is near.

No online Games dies , only online Games thats will make for the Wallstreet ,with no Engagement and Love ...Mc Donalds games ...like Bethesda or Rockstar ..tahts the Disney star wars factor ...Money no love.

Quote

I do not disagree, but they do not view it this way. PGI was created by several people who made mods for Half-Life, they were not business people and it shows how the company has been run from the start.

...and the biggest mod was later a game ..Die Hard:Nakatomi Place (and a Big flop) otherside a basic to begun with Console Convering of Games

Edited by Old MW4 Ranger, 06 December 2018 - 07:52 PM.

[Dimento Graven]

Message to PGI: Low hanging fruit, that would be fun and nostalgic for the players:

Add the old versions of maps to the rotation:
Old River City
Old Forest Colony
Old Frozen City
Old Terra Therma
etc.

I know that, for a short time anyway (weeks?), you'd have an influx of past players looking to revisit those maps, maybe some would stick around longer, some might buy a 'mech pack or two...

I think the bang would be fairly sizable for the amount of effort it should require to make it happen. The 'hard/expensive' part is done: The maps have already been created.