26 replies to this topic

[GreyGriffin]

I was just perusing the threads speculating on 'mech 16, and saw mention of the Victor.



She's a pretty tough cookie, but she definitely isn't a looker. All those angular plates, the almost vertical front contours, and the almost cartoonish helmet head are certainly a challenge for the art team. However, the victor definitely has some iconic lines to work with. Buffing out the chest, accenting those shoulder plates, and working those interesting calf plates into a greave-like articulation could definitely give this 'mech a great style.

Seeing work on the Jenner and the Stalker, I have every faith in their concept artists and, seeing many of the 'mechs in action in the preview videos, I'm eager to see what they can do with some of the great Battletech visual lemons.



Gangly proportions, long legs that go all the way down, and an almost comically boxy torso will definitely make this one a challenge. This one is important, since the Vindicator is the iconic Cappellan battlemech. Making something that looks good moving and jumping, and can still stand as a peer in size and punch with the Centurion and the Hunchback is going to be tough.



After seeing the Jagermech, I've got some hope for this one here. The Javelin has always been one of the cringeworthy designs in Battletech, and I'm eager to see what their art team can do with Fat Al McPaddlefoot.

And there are dozens of others that are just bad. The Clint, the Wolfhound, the Quickdraw and its stupid head, the Falcon and its stupid head... the list goes on.

And then there are the stylized 'mechs. Certain Houses, especially Kurita and Liao, designed deliberately stylized 'Mechs for cultural reasons. What is the art team going to do with the Hatamoto-Chi, one of the iconic Draconis 'mechs of the Clan invasion era?

So what 'mechs are you looking forward to seeing reenvisioned, and what 'mechs are you dreading falling under MWO's surgical knife? Are there any designs you think are unsalvageable for MWO's current vision?

Discuss!

[Bishop Steiner]

Victor is actually pretty easy. It tanslated pretty well to MW4, and I have done several versions myself. I will say that pretty much anything from TRO 3055 on is going to be hard, because the parent designs make NO sense to begin witth.

Out of the 3025 era.... I don't think it's as bad as all that (if they can salvage the Spider, they can salvage ANYTHING), since Losse used a mechanical drafting style to begin with. Now the TRO 3050 versions?!?!?!? Barf.

[Ixar]

I liked the look of the Wolfhound in MW:4 as well. It looked lithe and predatory despite making a great target out of it's head. If the Vindicator MUST be in this game, I hope they do some serious work on it visually, that thing is BUTT UGLY.

[WILL WORK FOR JUMPJETS]

I think this deserves an honorable mention.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/UrbanMech

Edited by Isaac Davion, 29 July 2012 - 08:04 PM.

[Lightdragon]

leave the classics alone lest you upset the veterans of the battletech universe

[Bishop Steiner]

Lightdragon, on 29 July 2012 - 08:06 PM, said:

leave the classics alone lest you upset the veterans of the battletech universe

Hmmmm... except I AM a veteran of the Battletech Universe. And most I know want them,

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 29 July 2012 - 08:11 PM.

[Alaric Wolf Kerensky]

Even the classics could use a little bit of a touch-up. So far, FD has done phenomenal, and I am confident in his work.

[CCC Dober]

Compared to other candidates, the Urbie is a swan. Shortpainter turned it into an actual one. Here's me hoping we get it eventually =)

Behold, brothers and sisters

[EyeOne]

Isaac Davion, on 29 July 2012 - 08:04 PM, said:

I think this deserves an honorable mention.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/UrbanMech

You must be new here

[gilliam]

CCC Dober, on 29 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

Compared to other candidates, the Urbie is a swan. Shortpainter turned it into an actual one. Here's me hoping we get it eventually =)

Behold, brothers and sisters

NO
if it ain't a trashcan on legs, it ain't an urbie.
That mech does look pretty cool, though.

[Ixar]

CCC Dober, on 29 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

Compared to other candidates, the Urbie is a swan. Shortpainter turned it into an actual one. Here's me hoping we get it eventually =)

Behold, brothers and sisters

I'd ride in that thing. That looks pretty cool. Still a deathtrap.

[Tvae]

CCC Dober, on 29 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

Compared to other candidates, the Urbie is a swan. Shortpainter turned it into an actual one. Here's me hoping we get it eventually =)

Behold, brothers and sisters

(PICTURE HERE YO)

To be fair, I really don't like this. I mean, it's not bad really, it just doesn't look like an Urbanmech at all. The one made by Ironhawk, though... That is an Urby I would pilot.

Edited by Tvae, 29 July 2012 - 10:38 PM.

[Bishop Steiner]

CCC Dober, on 29 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

Compared to other candidates, the Urbie is a swan. Shortpainter turned it into an actual one. Here's me hoping we get it eventually =)

Behold, brothers and sisters

not quite ggarbage can enough, but still very cool

[Deathz Jester]

Just to name a few in general regardless of timeline appearance or factions. That are pretty damn ugly.




Flashman



Arctic Fox (penisgunmech)



Rakshasa

Edited by Iron Harlequin, 29 July 2012 - 10:34 PM.

[cinco]

CCC Dober, on 29 July 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

Compared to other candidates, the Urbie is a swan. Shortpainter turned it into an actual one. Here's me hoping we get it eventually =)

Behold, brothers and sisters

so its feet is almost as large as its torso?

terrible imo

Edited by cinco, 29 July 2012 - 10:40 PM.

[tyrone dunkirk]

cinco, on 29 July 2012 - 10:39 PM, said:

so its feet is almost as large as its torso?

terrible imo

If they weren't then the 'mech wouldn't have any stability with that big AC/10 rocking it while it tries to maneuver. Funny thing about 'mech stability, even if it isn't feasible in reality, you can still give a concerted effort to try and make it believable.
Which shortpainter did to good effect on this Urbie. One of my favorites by him.
His Sentinel being second, he turned that thing from butt-ugly to bad ***

[GreyGriffin]

I like the Rakshasa,it has that perfect "Timber Wolf Assembled in my garage from spare sheet metal" look.

[gilliam]

Isn't that just what the rakshasa is?
'Mad Cat is teh awesome so let's build our own'

[Adridos]

gilliam, on 29 July 2012 - 11:28 PM, said:

Isn't that just what the rakshasa is?
'Mad Cat is teh awesome so let's build our own'

Yes, and it failed in that regard.

Also, FlyingDebris already once tried to salvage Vindicator and look what he got:



It will look differently in the game for sure, but it's here just in case you thought its look can't be saved.

[CCC Dober]

Well, well, well ... an opportunity has presented itself here. Let's cut you a deal here, my dear IS fellows. You get Ironhawks version, so it looks like a proper can, while the Clans get the swan made by Shortpainter? It's not like IS Mech designers did it any justice in the past, you see
What say you?

Can we forward that to the devs and give 'The Paul' yet another nightmare?

Edited by CCC Dober, 30 July 2012 - 03:24 AM.