55 replies to this topic

[Bashfulsalamander]

As the title says I (a nobody) have returned after a couple of years of not playing. Do you know what is see? A little change, some new maps, updated weapons, new mechs, updated armor, and other small stuff. This change though is very underwhelming. The reason I feel I need to express this is because seldomly while reading in-game chat some people openly discuss that the game will be dead in 2 years and that no one cares about the players, but I thought that was kind of...wrong.

I think Piranha cares too much, I think they cater too much to the most loyal of their player base so much that they are afraid to be innovative at risk of angering them because at the moment they are the #1 cash cow. I know that sounds harsh but prove me wrong. Look at wargaming for example they have a game very similar to MWO called World of Tanks, maybe you heard of it? The game is much older, has the same match format, and is still much more successful. I ask what do you think they do differently that Prianha does not? They take risks, they prioritize money, and they understand that if players love their game, they will continue to support it as long as they continue to improve and update their game.

What can be done? Be shameless Piranha! Copy them. Update your game engine, add melee at the same time with a mech bundle, drop the dumb Solaris 7 nameplate and turn it into an event with limited time rewards that can be accelerated or bought out with MONEY, add some pay to win features, rework the skill tree to make the game more grindy, make skills for individual pilots per mech, lock skills until you elite 3 mechs like originally, Drop the tier system and make matches 100% random per player skill, while keeping the current mech algorithm- Or tweak it IDK you have the data! Make mech upgrades that are only available to premium players or through limited events. Make a battle pass system, daily missions, campaign system with rewards. MAKE MONEY!!!

I am sure there are plenty of things I missed, but I am running out of cognitive bandwidth and want to play a game now. I really hope players that predict the end of times are wrong and they usually are, but we all know that every game will eventually die. It would be a shame if MWO did especially with so many moves still available. Also, I am just posting and ghosting I know I said prove me wrong, but I want the games life to actually do that not the player base. That being said I hope this is a place where everyone else can also respond and be heard, if not just a hail Mary of ideas.

[FupDup]

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

...turn it into an event with limited time rewards that can be accelerated or bought out with MONEY, add some pay to win features, rework the skill tree to make the game more grindy...

[martian]

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

As the title says I (a nobody) have returned after a couple of years of not playing.

Greetings!

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

Do you know what is see? A little change, some new maps, updated weapons, new mechs, updated armor, and other small stuff. This change though is very underwhelming. The reason I feel I need to express this is because seldomly while reading in-game chat some people openly discuss that the game will be dead in 2 years and that no one cares about the players, but I thought that was kind of...wrong.

Not enough PGI's staff to make it happen - at least in the near future.

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

I think Piranha cares too much, I think they cater too much to the most loyal of their player base so much that they are afraid to be innovative at risk of angering them because at the moment they are the #1 cash cow. I know that sounds harsh but prove me wrong. Look at wargaming for example they have a game very similar to MWO called World of Tanks, maybe you heard of it? The game is much older, has the same match format, and is still much more successful. I ask what do you think they do differently that Prianha does not? They take risks, they prioritize money, and they understand that if players love their game, they will continue to support it as long as they continue to improve and update their game.

Tanks (and especially their WW2 variety) are well known things. Everybody knows what tank is and why it was created, etc., and has some rough idea about how to play it.

BattleTech/MechWarrior is a niche and mismanaged IP. This makes a big difference.

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

What can be done? Be shameless Piranha! Copy them. Update your game engine, add melee at the same time with a mech bundle, drop the dumb Solaris 7 nameplate and turn it into an event with limited time rewards that can be accelerated or bought out with MONEY, add some pay to win features, rework the skill tree to make the game more grindy, make skills for individual pilots per mech, lock skills until you elite 3 mechs like originally, Drop the tier system and make matches 100% random per player skill, while keeping the current mech algorithm- Or tweak it IDK you have the data! Make mech upgrades that are only available to premium players or through limited events. Make a battle pass system, daily missions, campaign system with rewards. MAKE MONEY!!!

This is far beyond what PGI can do. The entire PGI's team is composed of approximately 3 people now:

• Updating the game engine is out of the question.
  
• PGI decided against melee attack years ago. Adding it now would include changing game models and animations for every single 'Mech in the game.
  
• Pay-to-win would probably drive away a significant part of the remaining playerbase. Imagine a 4-man premade dropping in four powerful pay-to-win 'Mechs, while the opposing team is composed of random players in junk 'Mechs. It would be even worse than it is now.
  
• PGI has simplified the skills tree to make the grind easier. I do not think that they are going to revert those changes.
  
• That three 'Mechs system sucked horribly. Having to play junk CTF-1X and CTF-2X Cataphract for hours, when the only 'Mech that I wanted to play was Killya? Having to play that junky unquirked SDR-5V Spider for many hours, when I actually wanted to play ECM-equipped SDR-5D? Etc.
  
• As for the drop of the Tier system, we actually had it for a few weeks in July and August 2020, when the PSR system was reset. Before all players settled to their appropriate Tiers, it was everybody against everybody (because every MWO players was moved to mid-Tier 3). Green and low-skilled players were killed by the elite players without even knowing what has killed them - just in a few seconds ...

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

I am sure there are plenty of things I missed, but I am running out of cognitive bandwidth and want to play a game now. I really hope players that predict the end of times are wrong and they usually are, but we all know that every game will eventually die. It would be a shame if MWO did especially with so many moves still available. Also, I am just posting and ghosting I know I said prove me wrong, but I want the games life to actually do that not the player base. That being said I hope this is a place where everyone else can also respond and be heard, if not just a hail Mary of ideas.

Honestly, it is a wonder that MWO is still alive. Enjoy it, while it lasts.

[RickySpanish]

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

I am sure there are plenty of things I missed, but I am running out of cognitive bandwidth

I think the cognitive bandwidth light might have come on some time ago OP.

[MarsThunder]

No programmers on the project = no changes. Obvious.

[LORD ORION]

I'm a returning player, everything seems better than before.

[martian]

LORD ORION, on 14 August 2022 - 11:32 AM, said:

I'm a returning player, everything seems better than before.

Greetings and welcome back!

Should you encounter any difficulties on your way to Tier 1, you can always ask here: New Player Help

[RickySpanish]

LORD ORION, on 14 August 2022 - 11:32 AM, said:

I'm a returning player, everything seems better than before.

The state of the game has undeniably improved. I think it's probably the best it has ever been.

[Nightbird]

RickySpanish, on 14 August 2022 - 03:03 PM, said:

The state of the game has undeniably improved. I think it's probably the best it has ever been.

Nan, this game was best during CW Phase 2 (now FP) when we had 10+ groups simultaneously queued up on attack and defense, with different units doing serious, silly, or themed drop decks to fight over planets we could actually tag.

[UnofficialOperator]

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

As the title says I (a nobody) have returned after a couple of years of not playing. Do you know what is see? A little change, some new maps, updated weapons, new mechs, updated armor, and other small stuff. This change though is very underwhelming. The reason I feel I need to express this is because seldomly while reading in-game chat some people openly discuss that the game will be dead in 2 years and that no one cares about the players, but I thought that was kind of...wrong.

I think Piranha cares too much, I think they cater too much to the most loyal of their player base so much that they are afraid to be innovative at risk of angering them because at the moment they are the #1 cash cow. I know that sounds harsh but prove me wrong. Look at wargaming for example they have a game very similar to MWO called World of Tanks, maybe you heard of it? The game is much older, has the same match format, and is still much more successful. I ask what do you think they do differently that Prianha does not? They take risks, they prioritize money, and they understand that if players love their game, they will continue to support it as long as they continue to improve and update their game.

What can be done? Be shameless Piranha! Copy them. Update your game engine, add melee at the same time with a mech bundle, drop the dumb Solaris 7 nameplate and turn it into an event with limited time rewards that can be accelerated or bought out with MONEY, add some pay to win features, rework the skill tree to make the game more grindy, make skills for individual pilots per mech, lock skills until you elite 3 mechs like originally, Drop the tier system and make matches 100% random per player skill, while keeping the current mech algorithm- Or tweak it IDK you have the data! Make mech upgrades that are only available to premium players or through limited events. Make a battle pass system, daily missions, campaign system with rewards. MAKE MONEY!!!

I am sure there are plenty of things I missed, but I am running out of cognitive bandwidth and want to play a game now. I really hope players that predict the end of times are wrong and they usually are, but we all know that every game will eventually die. It would be a shame if MWO did especially with so many moves still available. Also, I am just posting and ghosting I know I said prove me wrong, but I want the games life to actually do that not the player base. That being said I hope this is a place where everyone else can also respond and be heard, if not just a hail Mary of ideas.

I agree. Similarly, I have returned for a day after 4 years away playing other games. Nothing much has changed.

For MWO to survive, either someone else needs to take over the license or PGI should take a page on how to monetize from COD, Diablo Immortal or Genshin Impact.

Entire mechanics would have to change upon adoption of a more p2w/gacha mindset although I would argue that selling mechpacks was already a soft form of p2w.

[Zeddicuus]

UnofficialOperator, on 15 August 2022 - 07:53 AM, said:

For MWO to survive, either someone else needs to take over the license or PGI should take a page on how to monetize from COD, Diablo Immortal or Genshin Impact.

Oh dear Zeus, not like Diablo Immortal. No one should have to drop that much cash to get 'the good' gear in a game. So far in MWO I have gotten every mech I own just by playing the game and earning the C-Bills or completing events that offered a free mech. If they offered a package I wanted I would consider putting money in as I definitely enjoy this game!

[martian]

UnofficialOperator, on 15 August 2022 - 07:53 AM, said:

I agree. Similarly, I have returned for a day after 4 years away playing other games. Nothing much has changed.

Welcome back!

UnofficialOperator, on 15 August 2022 - 07:53 AM, said:

For MWO to survive, either someone else needs to take over the license ...

As far as I know, the PGI's MechWarrior licence was renewed in late 2019 or early 2020 and it will last until 2024 or 2025.

UnofficialOperator, on 15 August 2022 - 07:53 AM, said:

... or PGI should take a page on how to monetize from COD, Diablo Immortal or Genshin Impact.

The entire PGI's MWO staff are 2-3 people or so. You can not expect big changes.

UnofficialOperator, on 15 August 2022 - 07:53 AM, said:

Entire mechanics would have to change upon adoption of a more p2w/gacha mindset although I would argue that selling mechpacks was already a soft form of p2w.

The most of what you can expect (regarding MWO) is changing weapon stats or 'Mech stats (if it can be done by changing XML file or so) or new 'Mech skins or modified maps from time to time.

[YeOldeDrew]

Zeddicuus, on 15 August 2022 - 08:11 AM, said:

Oh dear Zeus, not like Diablo Immortal. No one should have to drop that much cash to get 'the good' gear in a game. So far in MWO I have gotten every mech I own just by playing the game and earning the C-Bills or completing events that offered a free mech. If they offered a package I wanted I would consider putting money in as I definitely enjoy this game!

Agreed. I refuse to play games like Diablo Immortal. Pay to win is a cancer, and it needs to be eradicated. It represents the worst of corporate greed, and it unfairly tilts the playing field to the side of the players with the most cash to blow. I cannot express how much this idea agitates me.

I digress. I'm a relatively new player (about 18 months of playing on and off), and I keep coming back because of three main Things: The event cycle, the good and mostly mature community, and the constant attention to balance that Matt and Daeron provide. It's not perfect, but it's always improving.

Yes, this game definitely shows it's age, but it seems to have matured very gracefully. I think that's a testament to it's loyal fan base, as well as it's current (albeit slim) roster of developers. I'd love to see MWO2 someday, but I'm happy with where things are for now with MWO, and I'll keep coming back.

If you like WOT and COD, good for you. Don't make MWO like either of them. MWO is a relic of better times, in my opinion.

[LordNothing]

its a double edge sword. pgi cannot afford to make changes, and the community at large seems to dislike change. for example every time fp received updates, its population tanked.

the fact that the game seems to maintain 20k players give or take a thousand or so new players with very little turnover. alt accounts (or main accounts unused in favor of allts) tend to go into disuse and get flagged as retired in the jarls stats. so its entirely possible that 80% of the player base is aging grognards and the rest are new players and new alts filtering through.

fact of the matter is pgi put this thing together on a shoestring budget, and then filtered most of the profits into mw5 development. mwo is only still around because its in the green. your current purchases are more than likely paying for their next game as the mechwarrior gravy train cant last forever.

[caravann]

mechwarrior 76

It just work. Some say 75 was better.

Initiate enhanced imaging.

Wait what's enhanced imaging what the

https://m.youtube.co...3ZQdZqTA&t=159s

Edited by caravann, 15 August 2022 - 12:19 PM.

[ccrider]

Nightbird, on 14 August 2022 - 03:37 PM, said:

Nan, this game was best during CW Phase 2 (now FP) when we had 10+ groups simultaneously queued up on attack and defense, with different units doing serious, silly, or themed drop decks to fight over planets we could actually tag.

This.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Bashfulsalamander, on 14 August 2022 - 12:29 AM, said:

As the title says I (a nobody) have returned after a couple of years of not playing. Do you know what is see? A little change, some new maps, updated weapons, new mechs, updated armor, and other small stuff. This change though is very underwhelming. The reason I feel I need to express this is because seldomly while reading in-game chat some people openly discuss that the game will be dead in 2 years and that no one cares about the players, but I thought that was kind of...wrong.

Game development effectively ended in 2018 when PGI was working on MW5. From then on, we've gotten tweaks. That is the reality of it. From PGI's perspective, they are a game developer and so working on the same game will naturally come with dwindling returns each successive year as the newness wears off. They were also motivated to make a single player Mechwarrior game which MWO is not and was not ever built to be.

Quote

I think Piranha cares too much, I think they cater too much to the most loyal of their player base so much that they are afraid to be innovative at risk of angering them because at the moment they are the #1 cash cow. I know that sounds harsh but prove me wrong.

It's not that--the company has simply moved on from MWO back in 2018 or so. They don't have the money, time, or people to do much with MWO. It had a skeleton crew and even less than that at the moment.

Quote

What can be done? Be shameless Piranha! Copy them. Update your game engine, add melee at the same time with a mech bundle,

We would all love this, but they don't have the resources to do it.

Quote

drop the dumb Solaris 7 nameplate and turn it into an event with limited time rewards

This is the idea they already have for it...you may have noticed they disabled the Solaris button in the game.

Quote

that can be accelerated or bought out with MONEY, add some pay to win features, rework the skill tree to make the game more grindy, make skills for individual pilots per mech, lock skills until you elite 3 mechs like originally, Drop the tier system and make matches 100% random per player skill, while keeping the current mech algorithm- Or tweak it IDK you have the data! Make mech upgrades that are only available to premium players or through limited events.

What? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. The BEST thing about MWO is the avoidance of Pay to Win. NO ONE WANTS AN UNFAIR GAME THAT REQUIRES PAYING MONEY FOR A TANGIBLE ADVANTAGE. If PGI made those changes, the game would shut down very quickly because NO ONE WOULD PLAY IT. Seriously, are you trolling right now?

Quote

Make a battle pass system, daily missions, campaign system with rewards. MAKE MONEY!!!

I'm not familiar with battle pass systems. Daily missions, no. I like our current event systems that let you complete them over a few days or a week or a month for others. That's a good balance because people don't and can't play everyday but can still finish events.
Faction Play was supposed to be the campaign part of the game with rewards, but that didn't turn out in the end.

Quote

I am sure there are plenty of things I missed, but I am running out of cognitive bandwidth and want to play a game now. I really hope players that predict the end of times are wrong and they usually are, but we all know that every game will eventually die. It would be a shame if MWO did especially with so many moves still available. Also, I am just posting and ghosting I know I said prove me wrong, but I want the games life to actually do that not the player base. That being said I hope this is a place where everyone else can also respond and be heard, if not just a hail Mary of ideas.

What are you saying? I don't know.
Look, the game we have now--2 team quick play--is all we've really ever had. The goal of this game was supposed to be Community Warfare but that never materialized. I think PGI bit off far more than they could chew and focused on making the core quick play game. As soon as they had something playable, they invited players in and since they had a publisher at the time and likely lots of expenses and debts, they worked on getting a revenue stream. World of Tanks was used as inspiration in that regard. Unfortunately, this means Faction Play didn't live up to expectations, and Solaris was a flop. Faction Play was supposed to be where the main appeal was. If they could go back and do it over, I think they should have built faction play and developed the game further before ever going live, but I doubt they could financially afford to wait that long.
As far as people saying MWO is dead? No deader than it has been since they stopped actively developing for it. The best thing now is at least someone is paying attention to it and they empowered a player group to maintain balance for patches. It would be nice to see maps get fixed and new mechs released, but frankly, we have a load of mechs already so there's not much more to buy. The game is 10 years old. Most games are in dustbins at that age. Only the most popular ones get remakes. MWO is what you see before you. Play it as it is, or don't. They'll keep the lights on as long as it makes sense for them to do so.

Edited by TheCaptainJZ, 15 August 2022 - 03:47 PM.

[Tyman4]

yeah...make it a fuggin mobile game with microtransactions and basically a skin suit of battle tech.
What a novel idea.

[PocketYoda]

Make it turnbased with weapons that aren't pinpoint and you can only use the loadouts the mechs are bought with..

Edited by Nomad Tech, 22 August 2022 - 05:30 PM.

[martian]

Nomad Tech, on 17 August 2022 - 05:43 AM, said:

Make it turnbased with weapons that aren't pinpoint and you can only use the loadouts the mechs are bought with..

Wut?