Battletech nerds rejoice? Mechwarrior 5 being worked on?

[Whacker]

http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1001659p1.html Check the videos page.

I can't help but be excited.

However.

Mech5 was canceled back in the day in favor of those craptastic Mechassault games. Further, Wizkids really let the franchise go to crap, esp. with them pushing that Dark Ages abomination in attempt to compete with WH40k in the miniatures market. It's also become standard fare these days for major games to be primarily released on consoles with the PC usually a poorly done afterthought (see: Deus Ex 2, Halo, Bioshock). Mech3 was the pinnacle of these games, it was the closest thing to a mech 'sim' that we ever got, and closest to how they tabletop rules work within the confines of a PC game. The mech4 games were fun, don't get me wrong, but they were far more arcadish and played closer to an FPS than a walking tank sim. I'm not holding my breath, BUT I am getting excited here.

Please please please please please PLEASE don't screw this one up guys!

[Ramses II CP]

No way.

Wonder if any of the old MekTek guys got hired? I couldn't deal with MW3's net code, but MW4 was years of MP entertainment for me. I couldn't even stand to look at the MechAssault games, you could've replaced the 'mech' with a fluffy pink bunny without changing the game in the slightest.

I bet they screw it up. I bet they screw it up a lot. I bet they make it a MMORPG.

[Zenicetus]

Nahh, they won't make it a MMORPG, but they'll screw it up by making it multi-platform, so it won't have the control setup you'd have on a PC. I still remember how much fun it was to control my Mech with the same joystick, separate throttle and rudder pedals I used for flight sims, back in the day. Nobody (well, almost nobody) makes tactical combat sims any more, just "action" games for a wider market.

If it really was a cockpit-level Mech game for the PC, supporting multi-axis controllers, and all the other elements were in place (decent enemy AI, good terrain, good scenarios that weren't too heavily scripted, non-cheesy plot and voice acting).... I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

"Teaser" videos indeed! Let's see if there's any real meat on those bones.

[Whacker]

No way.

Wonder if any of the old MekTek guys got hired? I couldn't deal with MW3's net code, but MW4 was years of MP entertainment for me. I couldn't even stand to look at the MechAssault games, you could've replaced the 'mech' with a fluffy pink bunny without changing the game in the slightest.

I bet they screw it up. I bet they screw it up a lot. I bet they make it a MMORPG.

MURDER. YOURE. FAEC.

GOD I hope we are wrong. I seriously do. But I am not holding my breath.

I am willing to bet a paycheck that it will be multiplatform. I am reasonably sure that it will be somewhat arcadish and not a "sim" like I (we?) want, as Mech3 was. I some what doubt but would not be surprised if it turns out to be Dark Ages. Don't know about you guys, but I did not recognize either of the mechs in video 2 or 3, video 1 was just a stupid leg. Video 2 almost looked like a Warhammer, video 3 looked like a really messed up, agile looking Stalker. Who knows, we shall see.

We all realize what the holy grail is hidden in all this, right? Releasing the Mech3 source code as open source.

Meh. Failing that, I've got my eye on that Mechwarrior Living Legends mod for Crysis.

[Zenicetus]

What I loved about the Mechwarrior games was being able to map my PC flight sim controllers to control the mech. Joystick for weapons and targeting, separate throttle controller for speed and miscellaneous controls, rudder pedals to twist the torso for circling fire... yeah, baby!

If they're going down that road to a tactical mech combat sim, I'll buy it in a heartbeat (assuming the rest is good -- decent AI, useful terrain, non-cheesy plot and voice acting). If it's a multi-platform "action" game set up for console controllers, I'll pass. The telling point will be what they show of a cockpit view, if any. That was conspicuously absent in the trailers. Anybody can model an external 3D view of a mech these days. Putting the player inside the mech is on a completely different level of game design.

[Martok]

Cool. I might actually have to take an interest in this one.


My primary experience with the series was with Mechwarrior 4, which I know isn't supposed to be the greatest (either 2 or 3 seems to be the best, depending on who you ask). Still, my old roommates and I had a lot of fun playing it, especially in inter-clan matches....although our in-house (literally) skirmishes were quite enjoyable as well. I was never as good at the as the other three, but I did have a good time nonetheless. Would love to see another game like it return, especially as I'm also a longtime fan of the BattleTech universe (I played the pen-and-paper RPG back in the day).

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I never got into MW (tried the M4 demo but joysticks are ultimately too complicated for me).

Now a Mech Commander 3...

[caravel]

I'm very much MW2, DOS era when it comes to BattleTech - that game had a lot of class.

MW3 was simply absymal. I've never seen a game so lacking (and with so many publishers involved either). MW4 with it's "plot" and tacky cutscenes was another disaster for me. I can't believe how they dumbed these games down and took the flexibility away from the player. I also hated the departure from the clans in MW2 to the gung ho IS in MW3 and MW4 especially. And then there's the fact that MS bought FASA back in 2000...

[Vladimir]

For me the pinnacle of the series was the first one. As primitive as it seems now it was a computerized version of the original game. I’m forgetting the name of the war between the Wolf and Jade Falcon clans (Trial of Refusal or something) but that’s how I was introduced to the Battletech universe. Yea, I’m a Wolf Clan in Exile geek. I wish them well.

I enjoy the cultural significance as well: Kerensky and the other Russian as well as the Mongol influences.

[Husar]

Of course it will be multiplatform because they will expect half the PC crowd to get it from pirate bay or whatever replaces it. And if they made it a simulation-like game, they would likely get even less sales.
and if it looks as good as the trailer suggests, the development costs could be high...

I suspect something like Mafia 2, you think it will be great because of the awesopme predecessor(s) and then you see some actual gameplay footage and it looks exactly like those 200 other action games.

[caravel]

For me the pinnacle of the series was the first one. As primitive as it seems now it was a computerized version of the original game. I’m forgetting the name of the war between the Wolf and Jade Falcon clans (Trial of Refusal or something) but that’s how I was introduced to the Battletech universe. Yea, I’m a Wolf Clan in Exile geek. I wish them well.

I enjoy the cultural significance as well: Kerensky and the other Russian as well as the Mongol influences.

Yes the clans were unique in that they had all that technology and the will to blow it all up and themselves with it. No ejecting or salvage etc.

I'm not sure what the war was called, but the only "trials" I can think of are the "trials of grievance", where those in the same clan would settle their differences and/or advance in rank. The clans theme of MW2 had a lot of class and subtlety whereas the later games were tacky with poorly acted cut scenes etc.

MW2 had good sound effects and graphics for it's time, and if you were fortunate to have the 3dfx edition you had 3d acceleration using glide as well. I like the "bitching betty" cockpit info as well. It would calmy tell you pretty much everything you needed to know: "critical hit, weapon destroyed", "connecting to satellite link" as well as info on your Mechs heat build up (in kelvin). You'd also be informed of the ambient temperature when you dropped in to the combat zone. etc. It was much more like a sim, much more polished with less gimmicks and the idiocy that was in the later games. (I would play it now if I could).

[Whacker]

It was much more like a sim, much more polished with less gimmicks and the idiocy that was in the later games. (I would play it now if I could).

I bring you salvation and a firm reprimand.

Never played the 1st Mech game.

Next, I absolutely LOVED Mech2, all 3 of em. I still have all 3 original DOS CDs and the Titanium Trilogy. It was also my unwitting introduction to everything Battletech, which I didn't realize was also a PnP game. My first true online gaming experience with a complete stranger was with some guy I sorta knew through Compuserve who had Mech2 also, we played Netmech over the modem a few times. He also taught me the 2AC20 Direwolf instakill trick. I can't count the number of hours that Mercenaries sucked out of my life.

That said, I still think Mech3 was the best, but only by a small margin. It was everything I wanted in an updated Mech game. Better graphics, sim-like gameplay, same Btech type mech configurations and goodness, and the MFBs and lancemates added a personal touch to the game. I did miss the original bitchin' betty though, the new one wasn't that great. There was nothing nonsense or gimmicky about it. Bad Caravel!

The Mech4 games were arcadefests, BUT I still enjoyed them, just not nearly as much as the original 2.

Now, for your salvation. http://www.warp13.co.uk/mech2 Just use MW2hook. You need the Win95 versions or Titanium trilogy versions of the game. PM me if you run into problems. I just got done beating all 3 original Mech2 games a month ago after I found that.

[caravel]

I bring you salvation and a firm reprimand.

Never played the 1st Mech game.

Neither have I. It's a very old game.

That said, I still think Mech3 was the best, but only by a small margin. It was everything I wanted in an updated Mech game. Better graphics, sim-like gameplay, same Btech type mech configurations and goodness, and the MFBs and lancemates added a personal touch to the game. I did miss the original bitchin' betty though, the new one wasn't that great. There was nothing nonsense or gimmicky about it. Bad Caravel!

It was awful. I actually think I still have it somewhere along with the expansion pack... or I might have sent it to the charity shop years ago...

The Mech4 games were arcadefests, BUT I still enjoyed them, just not nearly as much as the original 2.

It was quite simply craptastic. I have it somewhere but I'm less likely to play that than even MW3.

Now, for your salvation. http://www.warp13.co.uk/mech2 Just use MW2hook. You need the Win95 versions or Titanium trilogy versions of the game. PM me if you run into problems. I just got done beating all 3 original Mech2 games a month ago after I found that.

Well thanks for that. I will certainly give it a go, if I can come by the MW2 Windows 95 version. I wasn't actually a big fan of Mercenaries or even GBL - it's the original MW2 that is the best for me. I actually have the Mercenaries 3dfx edition, which was only available with 3dfx Voodoo Rush graphics cards...

[Whacker]

OH MY GOD.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1002275p1.html

Here's the interview: http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1002164p1.html

New video! It's confirmed, takes place in 3015, based on a Kurita invasion.

Positives: It LOOKS beautiful. I was right, it was a Warhammer! HAH! It LOOKS like a sim! Things are big and clunky and don't move like friggin' gundams.

Negatives: It's going to be a stupid multiplatform game. The interfaces looks decidedly consoleish and horribly oversimplified. I hope to god they fix that. Bad interfaces and controls can ruin a game completely.

Against all better judgment I am getting pretty excited now!

Edit - And I just had a LOT of the wind taken out of my sails.

"Russ Bullock: First and foremost, in this day and age and this time, we've all played the PC games in the past and absolutely loved them. But certainly going forward, just out of necessity and because we think we can, we're definitely very focused also on the Xbox 360. So we're very focused on the console standpoint moving forward. Now, we still need to work out a lot with our chosen publishing partner, so some of these questions will become answered, but I think that Jordan and I are in agreement that we want to make a MechWarrior game. "

Yet again, the PC becomes a simple afterthought.

[drone]

Yet again, the PC becomes a simple afterthought.

No surprise there. The 2 joystick console controller should work well for moving the mech and rotating the body, fiddling with weapon cycles and other stuff will probably be kludged up though. The vid looks nice, destructible terrain and all, and I like the bit about making all mechs viable throughout the campaign. Watched the rewind vid, pretty cool that they added visual cues like weapon cooling and such.

[Ramses II CP]

Yeah, as far as I'm concerned they ****** it up good and proper already by wasting it on a console. This isn't a MW game, it's just the next iteration of MechAssault. Blech. Auto-targetting. Locked hardware controllers. No 3rd party tools or innovation.

Mark my words, just like the MA series this is another generic bad game profiteering on the MW name.

[caspian]

Being a fan of the Mechwarrior games, and having played all the games (still couldn't finish the last mission in Ghost Bear Legacy, the one in the ice cave i think....), this is one welcome news. That is until I read they just did the latest Transformers game(?). Has anyone seen or played this game?

[drone]

In related news, MW4 (and ex-packs) will be free to download from BattleTech.com soon.
http://www.smithandtinker.com/news/m...letech-com.php

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Just let me get a bushwacker, please!

[Vladimir]

No surprise there. The 2 joystick console controller should work well for moving the mech and rotating the body, fiddling with weapon cycles and other stuff will probably be kludged up though. The vid looks nice, destructible terrain and all, and I like the bit about making all mechs viable throughout the campaign. Watched the rewind vid, pretty cool that they added visual cues like weapon cooling and such.

Ahh…I remember being able to play the game from a single, huge, joystick. Torso rotation, throttle, and everything.

Just let me get a bushwacker, please!

The Timberwolf is my baby. I love that thing more than 100 tonners. I would make modifications for an anti-missile system or two. It was poorly implemented in console games though.

[caravel]

The Timber Wolf was top class. I liked the Summoner, Hellbringer and Mad Dog as well though. I was never that keen on the big assault class mechs such as the Dire Wolf or Masakari - you get too overconfident in those. As for the IS mechs, they're basically crap and inferior in design and function. So what is there to like?

[Vladimir]

The Timber Wolf was top class. I liked the Summoner, Hellbringer and Mad Dog as well though. I was never that keen on the big assault class mechs such as the Dire Wolf or Masakari - you get too overconfident in those. As for the IS mechs, they're basically crap and inferior in design and function. So what is there to like?

Quoted for truth.

Early Clan invasion IS tech was just too unwieldy to use on a decent weapons platform. The game designers did a good job when they created Clan tech. Powerful and compact without going overboard.

[Whacker]

What I've always been told and my impressions somewhat support is that clan tech is generally lighter and hits harder, but it also produces more heat and is a bit more fragile. IS PPC vs Clan ErPPC for example. Clan mechs seem to be able to take roughly the same amount of punishment as their IS counterparts, but they can load more gear due to more efficient design. I think the reason the IS kept getting their asses handed to them was the clan ruthlessness and superior weaponry. ALL clan weapons as I understand it outdistance their IS counterparts by a good margin.

[caravel]

The ballistics weapons (autocannons) also have a higher rate of fire compared to the IS equivalents.

[Martok]

[/geek mode on]

What I've always been told and my impressions somewhat support is that clan tech is generally lighter and hits harder, but it also produces more heat and is a bit more fragile. IS PPC vs Clan ErPPC for example. Clan mechs seem to be able to take roughly the same amount of punishment as their IS counterparts, but they can load more gear due to more efficient design. I think the reason the IS kept getting their asses handed to them was the clan ruthlessness and superior weaponry. ALL clan weapons as I understand it outdistance their IS counterparts by a good margin.

Well certainly in the pen-and-paper version, Clan mechs outclass their IS counterparts in virtually every way. Their weapons are longer range, do more damage, and usually generate less heat. In addition, Clan armor composites give them around 20% more protection (IIRC) than those of the IS, and their engines allow their mechs to be significantly faster. Taken all together, a single Clan mech is roughly equal to two IS mechs of the same weight class -- and it will still often win even then, as Clan pilots receive so much more....intensive training than their IS counterparts that when they "graduate" to regular combat duty, they're quite literally already hardened veterans.

The caveat, however, is that Clan mechs are much more expensive than IS mechs, and cannot afford to field as many. Plus, there are hints (although not specifically confirmed) that the Clans don't have the same population and manpower pools that the Great Houses of the IS do. So there are at least some offsetting advantages.


[/geek mode off]


Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Zenicetus]

The Timber Wolf was top class. I liked the Summoner, Hellbringer and Mad Dog as well though. I was never that keen on the big assault class mechs such as the Dire Wolf or Masakari - you get too overconfident in those.

Apparently they're including a sort of RPG ability to slowly improve whatever class you prefer, instead of steadily moving up through bigger and bigger mechs during the game. So you can stick with a light or medium class mech throughout the game and still win it. Not sure how they'll balance that, though. It won't look right if you can easily take down the assault mechs with something much lighter. Still, I like the concept.

[Reverend Joe]

Y'know, you can release your nerd rage all over me if you want, but I always thought that Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries was the most fun (not the actual Mechwarrior 4; that one was kinda dull.) I mean, granted, playing with a real joystick is fun, but I never had either the money or the room on my desk for a joystick, so the second and third games were really hampered for me; plus I never got Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries. The fourth game just worked the best with what I had. Personally, I just wish that the Mercenaries missions had been more extensive and possibly sandboxier; I wouldn't mind playing a few hundred missions per game, even if it meant many of them were "stock" missions randomly created (hey, war is hell, and it can be kinda boring too.) I guess the 'Mechs could have also been "clunkier" as Whacker so eloquently put it.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

The IS does alright when they rip off clan stuff.

Like my baby, the Bushwhacker. ^_^

[Mailman653]

Get MechWarrior 4 for Free Soon

[FactionHeir]

I quite liked Mechcommander. Too bad that was discontinued.