123 replies to this topic

[Kynesis]

I'm a new player, checking out the Beta. I've been a BattleTech/Mechwarrior fan since I was a kid and often played the tabletop version & PC games. I really want to like MWO and I can see the potential, I jump in an occasional game here & there and so am using the trial mechs.
I find the maps really tough to get around in, I've never seen such abundant use of jagged, awkward terrain in previous games.. if these maps were in the tabletop version, I'm confident my circle of friends would hold them in complete contempt.

There are plenty of games where it's rough for newbies but in MWO the only option to do anything is, as pointed out numerous times - team matches vs much more experienced and skilled players. I'm sure they'll fill out more of the game at some point but for now, much as I want to like the game and maybe even enjoy it, there's really no reason to keep ploughing through.

Having my arse handed to me in a sling, most often by a circle-strafing Jenner that I can't even target isn't a whole lot of fun - oh look.. I died again while barely glimpsing the game; While at the same time I see the winning teams winning by such drastic margins that it goes a long way toward convincing me that things really are significantly one-sided for a variety of reasons and for many other people (quite aside from my personal ineptitude).

Why would I put myself through more?

[Rifter]

With garths recent post in ask the devs stating they will not be answering any CW questions i think many have probably realized where this game is headed, read the writing on the wall, and have started to jump ship.

[Alaric Wolf Kerensky]

I see plenty of Trial 'Mechs still. If you are pugging, you usually see at least 1-2 per team. Unfortunately the awful Awesome-9M is probably the most common, followed by plenty of Hunchback-Js, and then Cataphract-1X. Trial 'Mechs are so heat deficient and too "well rounded" for newer players to get the hang of them without becoming frustrated. They struggle with the horrid heat-curve of the 9M and the weapons mix of the Cataphract and Hunchback (blends of Long/Short range, three different main weapon types on Awesome, Cataphract).

I honestly recommend giving newer players a few days of double credits on trials to get rolling, or maybe a couple million C-Bills to start them off. The sooner you get new players out of trial 'Mechs (and into a 'Mech they like and can customize), the more likely you are to keep them playing the game, which is better for your business (they are more likely to contribute), and better for the player base.

Otherwise, the main thing holding them in is one of three things:
- A devout love of MechWarrior,
- Doggedly pushing on believing things will get better,
Or most importantly.
- Friends/Clan mates keeping them in the game.

Edited by Alaric Wolf Kerensky, 13 December 2012 - 11:19 PM.

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Rifter, on 13 December 2012 - 11:10 PM, said:

With garths recent post in ask the devs stating they will not be answering any CW questions i think many have probably realized where this game is headed, read the writing on the wall, and have started to jump ship.

yeah no CW and I doubt Ill be the only one leaving and not looking back

[Tiranui]

I hope the next patch helps retain more users.

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Tiranui, on 13 December 2012 - 11:24 PM, said:

I hope the next patch helps retain more users.

ANY info on CW (other than theyre scrapping the idea) would do that too

[Lanessar]

I think reading too much into Garth's post about CW is a bad idea, it's not certain that they are scrapping CW.

However, since an update hasn't been given since September-ish, a good communication from the devs (State of the Union address) would be nice as far as the overall "plan", without making promises on timelines which can't be determined. Something like "we need to focus on basic gameplay aspects and polish those over the next few months, then we'll get back to the CW aspect".

[Belorion]

Not seeing trial mechs is a testament to player retention, not an abandonment of new players. As more people play, new players are a smaller percentage.

[Joseph Mallan]

zverofaust, on 12 December 2012 - 07:15 PM, said:

I've noticed the past couple of days that I'm usually the only person in every match playing with a Trial Mech. I think a couple of times I saw one other person, but yeah. Where are all the new players?

Why would you be in a trial Mech Zvero? You have been around long enough to have earned a Mech or three since the last wipe.

[Rifter]

Joseph Mallan, on 14 December 2012 - 04:29 AM, said:

Why would you be in a trial Mech Zvero? You have been around long enough to have earned a Mech or three since the last wipe.

He stopped playing a while ago, or at least i havent seen him in game for over a month.

I kind of miss sneaking behind his atlas and coring him with my jenner lol

[Lanessar]

Rifter, on 14 December 2012 - 04:40 AM, said:

He stopped playing a while ago, or at least i havent seen him in game for over a month.

I kind of miss sneaking behind his atlas and coring him with my jenner lol

In three seconds?

[King Arthur IV]

they playing with starter i-mech in hawken

[Rifter]

Lanessar, on 14 December 2012 - 04:42 AM, said:

In three seconds?

lol no, last time i remember doing it was on caustic and it took a hell of alot longer than 3 seconds, considering DHS wasnt in game yet lol.

Edited by Rifter, 14 December 2012 - 04:44 AM.

[Child3k]

Dark Severance, on 12 December 2012 - 08:57 PM, said:

I don't see anything over complicated about the movement of how the responds responding. Understanding how each weapon works, sure but that is not covered in any tutorial, that is covered by reading about the game. The only difference from other Mechwarrior games is the second reticle which takes at most 2-4 games to get used too sure. However when I brought my friends and told them about the game, I already gave everyone the run down. There isn't like there isn't enough stuff out there. Most people I simply said download and play Mechwarrior 4, its free and its really all the training you need.

Do people seriously do tutorials and get something meaningful from it? I can't even remember the last game I used a tutorial for. Everything was usually described well enough in the instruction book, instruction video or just simply by looking at the keymap/controls. Maybe its FPS thing since I don't play those usually, but even Halo I didn't need a tutorial.

I just can't see the "new players just don't get the game, but if they had a tutorial they would". Tutorials actually don't teach team work or how to actually communicate with other players.

You certainly have some valid points - all this comes from a player, who was used to playing Mechwarrior in the past. I myself had near to no issues with movement, controls and stuff. But - you have to see it from the perspective of a new player who never played any Mechwarrior-game or WoT or the like.

A friend of mine just started playing two days ago and we've done something like 8-10 games together and he certainly has difficulties managing the controls ("I think I'm getting car-sick spectating you while ur playing.").
What would at least be needed is a training-mode, where grps can just launch into the game, get split up on opposing sides - like grp of two launches a training-match and they get dropped on opposing sides. That at least would give the more experienced players a chance to explain everything without the rush of a random battle.

In addition: I personally think, that the introduction of ECM kinda worsened the accessability of the game for new players. The average game is more rushed, more close combat (where piloting skills really count) and a lot more all over the place than before.

[zverofaust]

Since getting my refund I haven't been playing much -- it's just too awful in a Trial Mech. I eventually (3 days ago) made enough money to buy a Commando. But it was the crap Commando and I sold it the next day. I don't really like lights, I'd much rather a solid Medium or Heavy, but not much to choose from.. oh well. ForumWarrior is much more fun anyway.

[Sprouticus]

Zvero is just whining like he always does. Read his posts, there is not a single positive word in the lot.


As for new players, a lot of the initial rush of trial mech players have graduated to real mechs, but I still see plenty. I had one drop last night with 4 trial mechs. We lost of course, but even PGI knows that trial mechs are a problem (new user experience in the works).


So yea not worried. Good to see that distance has not given you any perspective though zfero...

[Joseph Mallan]

Rifter, on 14 December 2012 - 04:40 AM, said:

He stopped playing a while ago, or at least i havent seen him in game for over a month.

I kind of miss sneaking behind his atlas and coring him with my jenner lol

Oh so since he doesn't play much, he's complaining that the grind sucks! I understand. $15 buys a good Mech and a week of Premium time. To be able to buy your upgrades. I have MC and C-bills saved up to buy 3 Stalkers (I think) and i have the GXP saved up to not need to grind the levels (200-400k XP) to master them. I found the Mechs I like right now and I just play them and wait for the new hotness to be released. The Highlander is my next target and i am waffling on the JagerMech as I never liked it TT.

[Buck Cake]

It's hard to attract new players with so much unresolved issues floating around. Hell, it's hard to keep the same number of players, too.

[Stone Wall]

probably playing the game. you know, grinding C-Bills

[Panzerjotun]

New players quickly lose interest when they repeatedly have 100 ton mechs sneak up behind them. The current meta game is not very new user friendly.