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MechWarrior Online - News and Information Thread
- Thread starter Orayn
- Start date
Wow @ the roadmap. I'm really stunned.
Imagine if we were told during Founder's sales and closed beta that Community Warfare wouldn't be ready until Fall 2014 at the earliest.
This year and the next one are so fucking empty. Where are the features? Where is the meta-game? Where are the modes beyond team deathmatch?
Imagine if we were told during Founder's sales and closed beta that Community Warfare wouldn't be ready until Fall 2014 at the earliest.
This year and the next one are so fucking empty. Where are the features? Where is the meta-game? Where are the modes beyond team deathmatch?
To think what Harebrained Schemes achieved with 1.8 million dollars in the span of 1 1/2 years. Or other much smaller indie studios with less money.
Yet PGI got over 5 million for the Founder's packages, as well as whatever people have been paying them over the course of the game's launch time since closed beta. (Fuck, even DX11 was expected over a year ago, yet still isn't implemented)
And all they have to show for it is basically team deathmatch, while other devs manage to produce feature-rich games with plenty of modes in them.
For the money PGI got, we could've had something much more.
Yet PGI got over 5 million for the Founder's packages, as well as whatever people have been paying them over the course of the game's launch time since closed beta. (Fuck, even DX11 was expected over a year ago, yet still isn't implemented)
And all they have to show for it is basically team deathmatch, while other devs manage to produce feature-rich games with plenty of modes in them.
For the money PGI got, we could've had something much more.
I think very little of the money is being reinvested into the game itself.
Remember the shitstorm EVE had over a $68 item? Now we're starting at $500 gold mechs and people are like "yeah, that's okay I guess." It's maddening. People have spent so much on Phoenix and Founders that they are just locked in and will defend PGI at all costs. They are quick to label anyone who doesn't like this flagrant disregard for common sense as someone who doesn't like Battletech.
I love the IP. That's why I won't give them a dollar. They don't deserve to be in charge of such a universe. Hopefully the license will revert to Microsoft whenever this game inevitably dies off. I don't see it recovering from this.
Where the fuck is all that money going? IGP? Microsoft licensing? Cryengine licensing?
Unless something drastic happens to the game and PGI's planning/management/efficiency, I think the majority of players will leave this game completely. It'll be dead by next year.
Exactly. where the fuck is the money actually going?
Err. I think you need to take a look over on their forums. If even a portion of the vitriol translates into freezing purchase of microtransactions the company is going to 180 so fast on this that people's heads will spin.
I see plenty of people quitting, but just as many reinforcing PGI and defending them on this, especially now that "there's a roadmap!" Say anything negative on their subreddit and you'll be downvoted into oblivion. PGI's word is utterly useless. Something that's on the roadmap in March was promised five days ago by Russ as Lime pointed out.
It's just sad to see so many conflicted people unable to walk away. No one really wants to see the franchise go dark again and any game is better than no game. But what PGI is doing is just flat out wrong and exploitative. Plenty of people are going to throw lots of money at them for a chance to relive their childhood, not realizing that money could go to a better studio.
It's exclusive because it includes the right to shutdown anything related to Mechwarrior. They sent a cease and desist letter to the Living Legends guys.
Weird. I love Battletech more than most (even helped playtest for the PnP game, and almost was a writer for an unreleased project when FASA disassembled itself). MWLL was a massive jankfest so never got into it. MWO has great art design and is pretty fun, but I have a hard time seeing why people would be that attached to it. Desperation for an action-based mecha game? Why aren't they playing Hawken? The BattleTech lore? MWO has almost NOTHING to do with the universe except for the names of stuff.
The Battletech lore has a long history to it, including a table top game, like Warhammer 40k. You could play a violent sci fi game, but it wouldn't be the same as stomping around as a space marine, would it? It's the same with Battletech. The universe has been largely neglected in recent years for no real good reason, so people are eager for anything using the license to succeed, even if the guys in charge are total morons and the game actively squashes unique aspects of the lore.
These happen to be generally older individuals with lots of disposable income. The same type of people who remember the greatness of Freelancer and Wing Commander are the same types that played Mech Warrior 2. Mechcommander 1 and 2 were also solid PC titles. MW 3 and 4 were kind of a slide, but still good. Then nothing but an OG Xbox game + sequel. MWO is the first real meaningful attempt at a Battletech game in a long time. People are going to cling to it until the very end.
I'm not sure how they can keep the lights on if even 20% of the players walk away. The game isn't really healthy and hasn't been for a long while as it has stagnated.
People are overlooking this and buying Russ' post hook, line, and sinker. No joke. People who were previously outraged now consider... that a satisfactory explanation. I think this represents the dark side of free to play and how exploitative these games can be. "We will build you a great Mechwarrior game, just give us [insert rediculous price here]" every six months or so. People have already sunk a tremendous amount of money into this game, so they see no reason to get out or protest. The carrot is dangled close enough that they choose to not stop and see what is happening.
This post is a thing of brilliance. I dealt with PGI during the closed hush hush period and it was clear early on that Paul Inouye was the only one with chops or knew what they were doing.
PGI's credits include:
Bass Pro Shops: The Strike (Xbox 360, Wii, Windows)
Duke Nukem Forever (Windows, Xbox 360, PS3)
Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza (Windows)
EA Playground (Nintendo DS)
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 (PSP)
Need For Speed: Undercover (PSP)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Windows, Xbox 360, PS3)
Why did we expect more?
I keep hoping this game will get a big patch to make it worth installing again, and whenever I check this thread or their forums it's the same old shit. Say anything critical about the game on their forums and you'll be instantly set upon by the angry mob of Founder's Package badge-wielding zealots.
At this point I can only hope that shit continues as-is until the worm turns and they finish the fucking game or they drop it so I can give up hope and just dig out my old Mechwarrior discs and hope someone competent picks up the license in the future.
At this point I can only hope that shit continues as-is until the worm turns and they finish the fucking game or they drop it so I can give up hope and just dig out my old Mechwarrior discs and hope someone competent picks up the license in the future.
Lore. Battletech setting is just so damn cool (and in general i like the visual design of MWO but not other mech game's). And the setting, even if it ain't really references in-game, is an important part for me (and i'm speaking only for myself, naturally). Names and stuff is enough (it is not like the setting is really important while playing the tabletop game, it's there just to add flavor, if players wish to utilize it).
No other mech game manages to be interesting.
Besides, i want first-person mech simulator, don't care for anything else, don't remember other mech games being that.
EDIT Mech Assault 2 was an exception. Damn fun game.
It's hilarious to think that PGI is drawing upon so much rich lore, yet there is hardly any mention of anything meaningful in the actual game.
Like, they couldn't even be bothered to copy-paste some text on background info & history into the description of each mech. The only thing we got was some now-dead Twitter account, a short story of an announced mech on their website, and the mention of temperatures in the waiting screen on startup of the game.
There's zero sense of "storytelling" in this game.
Like, they couldn't even be bothered to copy-paste some text on background info & history into the description of each mech. The only thing we got was some now-dead Twitter account, a short story of an announced mech on their website, and the mention of temperatures in the waiting screen on startup of the game.
There's zero sense of "storytelling" in this game.
ColonelSkills
Member
Things have been openly hostile for a while, and hemorraging players has been a thing for a while, especially since 3PV. It's only going to get worse.
At least we don't have to worry that the license will be their's until 2020. They will die long before that.
At least we don't have to worry that the license will be their's until 2020. They will die long before that.
cyberdogs7
Neo Member
I couldn't help myself, after seeing $500 mech skins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxBQ8b3XWj0
Every mech is gold now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxBQ8b3XWj0
Every mech is gold now!
ColonelSkills
Member
You are my new favorite person.
Always be wary when they take away the player counter feature. Russ claims 3PV saved the game, don't you know?
Someone posted this video from the GDC vault and it's prophetic. The same mistakes Age of Empires Online made, MWO is making. Too much of a focus on sellable content, and not enough on features that give the game depth to use that content. If this game is still purely an arena shooter six months from now, it will be dead. Russ said more than half the team was working on content, not features. Good luck with that.
Shots fired.
( For those of lesser edumacation, this guy is behind the amazing M.A.V., a 'mech multiplayer deathmatch game where you build your own mechs. Not quite the same as this game, but watching this tiny project outpace the vastly better funded MWO is always entertaining.
Buyer beware: It's a true Alpha, so the game is still in flow, but you can already see the greatness taking shape.
Official Thread. )
Just saw this on the MAV facebook page, I died lol
pretty significant outlook for the next few months and years.
Good read, Piranha seem to be aware of people's opinions, they target some of them directly. Seems honest at least.
http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/145200-2013-state-of-the-inner-sphere/
Good read, Piranha seem to be aware of people's opinions, they target some of them directly. Seems honest at least.
http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/145200-2013-state-of-the-inner-sphere/
BattleMonkey
Member
I wouldn't have issue with gold mechs and other nonsense normally, as who cares who spends money on such silly things? But the issue of course is how slow they have been at giving us what we want. They may be right, the people who do these simple things to sell to the whales is done by other teams, but really doesn't fix the problem with how slow they are at giving us anything meaningful to the game. It took them how long to put in this "skirmish" mode, when its nothing but death match.... really you couldn't have put this in at launch when all you had to do was turn off the objectives in assault mode?
And then official game launch came and there was nothing new to go along with it?
And then official game launch came and there was nothing new to go along with it?
PGI have never hit their targets. CW was promised as a launch feature.
Russ said DX11 was a new years thing, then magically it's march a few days later. They aren't being honest. They just want your money. Don't do it until they deliver.
Also, I'd be embarrassed if Russ was in charge of my operation.
king picollo
Member
the issue seems to be, it's advertised as Clan Invasion, but invading what?
There's supposed to be some kind of galactic war we're fighting but until CW get's off the ground they're just dropping some new mechs, when everyone wants more features.
That's my opinion anyway.
There's supposed to be some kind of galactic war we're fighting but until CW get's off the ground they're just dropping some new mechs, when everyone wants more features.
That's my opinion anyway.
king picollo
Member
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Use code: HAPPYHOLIDAYS
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Use code: HAPPYHOLIDAYS
I did it and it worked so use it while you can.
Felsparrow
Neo Member
PGI has failed beyond roadmaps and more promises. Anyone can write a good looking document.
It's time for PGI to step up and deliver. Only once they do that, then keep doing that beyond their delayed promises, should anyone give them any money.
These efforts scream of being desperate for money. Well, they should work with what they got, and if they can't, well there's other places that will pickup if it fails.
And hey, Catalyst games might be able to license or purchase the designs if everything folds for the tabletop game.
It's time for PGI to step up and deliver. Only once they do that, then keep doing that beyond their delayed promises, should anyone give them any money.
These efforts scream of being desperate for money. Well, they should work with what they got, and if they can't, well there's other places that will pickup if it fails.
And hey, Catalyst games might be able to license or purchase the designs if everything folds for the tabletop game.
Clan pack wasn't going very well
And then just admits features will slip
Or, you know, more people were pissed with the simple fact that PGI lied to everyone when they said they'd never have a 3rd person camera. Or coolant.
Someone needs to remind these guys that the 'vocal minority' is the canary in the coal mine. Most customers just walk away if they have a bad experience. In service based industries, it's something like 95% of all customers don't bother to give you feedback. They just leave. So PGI had better pay attention when a 300 page+ shitstorm erupts on their official forums.
Mickey mouse operation, all the way round.
And then just admits features will slip
Or, you know, more people were pissed with the simple fact that PGI lied to everyone when they said they'd never have a 3rd person camera. Or coolant.
Someone needs to remind these guys that the 'vocal minority' is the canary in the coal mine. Most customers just walk away if they have a bad experience. In service based industries, it's something like 95% of all customers don't bother to give you feedback. They just leave. So PGI had better pay attention when a 300 page+ shitstorm erupts on their official forums.
Mickey mouse operation, all the way round.
Put Warthunder, a title made by a bunch of Russians with what was likely a similar budget, next to MWO and weep. Superior in every. single. way.
They could have done CW the quick and dirty way. Have everyone pledge allegiance like they have, have every public match they play tracked. Decide on how to weigh wins and losses, kills etc... and just put up a rudimentary leaderboard. Have a map of the IS that moves in conjunction with the results of the leaderboard. They could even be total assholes and sell consumables that double your faction score or whatever for X amount of time if they really wanted to.
That's something that could be done in a week, tops, if they had any chops. Homebrew Mech Commander leagues had more depth than that. People would huddle around in their faction forums and make friends to drop with in order to have bigger sway over their faction score on the map. EVE syndrome. It would keep everyone held over until a deeper system arrives.
Instead... another outstretched hand, asking for money to keep the lights on.
Giolon
Member
I'm now mostly satisfied w/ the A La Carte Options. I'd have liked to see them be a little cheaper (start at $40 / mech instead of $55), but now you don't have the most iconic of mechs locked away behind a $210 tier. I can get a Mad Cat for $55 out the door, which puts it at $18 / variant. Not terribly different from the MC cost of mechs in game already.
I'm fine with that. I just didn't want to be forced to make nearly a car payment for the mech I want and have that be "justified" by PGI saying "But look at the vaaaaalluuuueeeee! You're getting so much stuff!" - stuff that I don't want to pay for.
I'm fine with that. I just didn't want to be forced to make nearly a car payment for the mech I want and have that be "justified" by PGI saying "But look at the vaaaaalluuuueeeee! You're getting so much stuff!" - stuff that I don't want to pay for.
Teknopathetic
Member
Fall 2014 for CW? What a joke.
Proportions seem pretty off, especially on the Mad Cat. Nova gets torso twist, which is another missed opportunity to have a unique mech. Whole thing is one giant missed opportunity and what makes me disappointed the most. I could look past the prices and absurdity of it all if they made the clan invasion something unique, but it's not. It's just another cash grab with zero community warfare.