Sigh.
Alex Wolfe, on 30 January 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:
Preserved elements of the original design:
- Hunanoid manwalker, check.
- Flair bit on the head, reminescent of its namesake, check.
- Autocannon in right arm, hand in left, check.
- Laser in CT, missile rack in LT, check.
- Wide hips with thin center section, INCORRECT.
- Shoulders risen above chest level, (I think you mean shoulderpad) check.
- More slender build compared to its fellow 50-tonner Hunchback, (irrelevant nonsequitor) check.
Similarities:
-Humanoid
-Head crest
-Weapons in the same place
That's it, and those are all generic save the crest, which I discuss later.
Alex Wolfe, on 30 January 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:
Differences:
- Head tucked in
- Two more panels resembling small shields
- Different cockpit "face"
- Actual toes
Differences:
-The head has been dropped by...a head, removing the most distinguishing feature of the mech. (head + fin made it easily recognizable)
This changes the outline of the mech.
-Two panels have been added:
1)The arm shield thing is fine, it's just unnecessary flair; the original Centurion wasn't fancy. It's a step in the wrong direction but not a huge deal.
2)The shoulder panel in conjunction with the torso mounted head removes the most identifying feature. Sure, it looks cool, and it would still be cool if the head were up high and could be seen, but it can't. Every shoulder pad on every other Centurion hasn't drawn attention to itself. Is this Centurion supposed to be jousting or something? It isn't even protecting anything! It's superfluous.
This changes the outline of the mech.
-Different cockpit face looks cool. It's not the same, but is a perfect example of a small but good update.
-Toes. Check every other humanoid mech in Battletech; you may find one with hooves, platforms, stabilizers, etc, but not toes. Toes are for bird mechs and they don't fit the overall aesthetic of the original Centurion. They're unnecessarily fancy on a mech that isn't supposed to be flashy.
-Claw hand instead of human hand. Pretty much same deal as above. Doesn't kill it, but it fits in the 'why did you do that' category.
-Torso/waist connector: If you look at the original pictures, you'll see that the torso slowly tapers to be slightly smaller, but is still big/fat/thick. Instead what has happened is the torso STOPS HALFWAY, and the thin groin is elongated upwards to meet the torso. This is actually a huge difference. You'll notice the same difference in the deviantart image that is similar.
This changes the outline of the mech.
There are too many sweeping changes to the mech for it to be easily recognizable.
Alex Wolfe, on 30 January 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:
...and that's what is such an outrage? Redesigning the head to be more in-line with most other mech designs (who don't have "necks", nor would they have need for them realistically speaking), two pieces of "Centurion"-themed flair and toes that look like the machine could actually walk on them, instead of rigid duck-slippers feet?
Most humanoid mechs in Battletech have heads on necks, especially this time period: Wasp, Stinger, Javelin, Commando, Spider, Valkyrie, Firestarter, Panther, Clint, Hermes 2, Whitworth, Hatchetman, Phoenix Hawk, Vindicator, Enforcer, Trebuchet, Dervish, Griffin, and the Shadowhawk. I left out the ones that don't have heads with necks or are bird like and I didn't go above mediums. What 'most other mechs' are you talking about? In the future from our 3040 styles? The time periods we aren't starting out in? It isn't until 3055 that most humanoid mechs lose necks, and since the timeline is moving in real time, that means we won't get those mechs for 5 years. (or 2-3 if they put them out when most of the prototypes were launched) 2014-2017.
Alex Wolfe, on 30 January 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:
But then again, I guess nostalgia goggles are quite dim.
Nostalgia goggles are why this game is getting made. The developers and the people at Catalyst felt that people like/love Battletech/Mechwarrior enough to be able to make a successful game. You should be hugging everyone's nostalgia goggles.