Mechwarrior Online (Previously MW5/MW3015)

[DarkForceRising]

The announcement went out Monday that Piranha Games is working on Mechwarrior Online, which is to be an online mech combat game, to be released Summer 2012. They built up to the info release using a drip-feed of image fragments on twitter over the past month.

Various useful information and links:
It's PC exclusive.
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/10/31/new-mechwarrior-game-a-pc-exclusive/

It's free to play, online, first person, with an offset timeline. So, it's currently 2011, and it's 3048 in-game. When the game releases, in 2012, it will be 3049. This is right before the Clan invasion of the Inner Sphere. They will have some sort of persistent conquest mode, where everyone fights over territory, and it sounds like they'll use canonical Mechwarrior story events to drive events and changes in the game.
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/10/31/meet-mechwarrior-online-piranhas-free-to-play-tactical-mech-sim/
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/10/31/m...e-details-explain-how-mwo-evolves-the-series/

They explain how the game actually came to be, from licensing issues, to publishers not wanting to pick up the property, and so on.
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/10/31/e...bout-the-rocky-road-to-rebooting-mechwarrior/
http://mwomercs.com/news/2011/10/2-dev-blog-0

Game site and FAQ. You can currently reserve pilot names so other people can't steal them. I've already seen people registering famous names out of the lore, which I'm somewhat surprised to see being allowed.
http://mwomercs.com/
http://mwomercs.com/support#faq

And because threads are useless without pics, here's some concept art for the Atlas, the Hunchback, and the Jenner:

 

[Dankk]

For anyone who is afraid that this will be turn out to be some sort of "MMO": Mechwarrior Online will probably be an MMO the same way that World of Tanks is an MMO. Just a thought.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Kelvrick]

I think its stupid to let people who havent' purchased the game to reserve a pilot name.

 

[Ross Ridge]

It's supposed to be free to play, so you won't be able to purchase the game.

 

[akahoovy]

I would love to play a game like this. Mech outfitting is a favorite past-time I picked up from playing Mech Commander.

 

[Kelvrick]

It's supposed to be free to play, so you won't be able to purchase the game.

What? WTF? How are they making money?

Going to actually read up on this now. I thought the pilot name thing was just the online version of the game.

 

[Dankk]

What? WTF? How are they making money?

Going to actually read up on this now. I thought the pilot name thing was just the online version of the game.

Well, yes... the online version of the game is the only version of the game. Hence the name "Mechwarrior Online".

 

[Zenoth]

It could be good, I'll keep an eye on it. I still remember playing Mechwarrior 3050 on my SNES, and Mechwarrior 3 I believe back sometime in 2000 or so, it was and to this day still is the only Mechwarrior game I've played on the PC specifically. If Mechwarrior Online is similar to how World of Tanks plays then I'll surely like it.

 

[SunnyD]

Oh gawd I hope they haven't changed to cell shaded graphics like those "logo shots" show. They look fucking hideous.

 

[DarkForceRising]

Oh gawd I hope they haven't changed to cell shaded graphics like those "logo shots" show. They look fucking hideous.

The shots I linked above? They should be concept art. I think it would be very odd for Mechwarrior to go cell shaded.

 

[SithSolo1]

I reserved my name, dunno if I'll play or not.

 

[Cerb]

So, where's the money coming from? What extras will need to be bought?

 

[Rifter]

I reserved name, will play for sure. I would literally kill someone to play a new mech game.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

ka-bamm!! reserved and waiting

 

[Elcs]

I'm dubious.

Too early to decide. Reserved my name. WAH!

 

[Possessed Freak]

Oh if only I can remake my Flamermoth and other C1 mechs of old.

 

[Rifter]

Does anyone hav a mech list other than the three mentioned on the official site?

I would love to have some of the old classics like the Archer, Rifleman, Shadow Hawk.

 

[PowerYoga]

I thought there was IP issues with a lot of the battletech mechs, like rifleman, jenner, etc?

In any case I eagerly anticipate. It's been too long since we had a mechwarrior game.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

im interested to see how battles will work. its completely urban fighting. how will that play out for the LRM boats. And i really wish they would impliment physical attacks. The battlefists on the hunchback are there for a reason damnit!

 

[Fallen Kell]

I thought there was IP issues with a lot of the battletech mechs, like rifleman, jenner, etc?

In any case I eagerly anticipate. It's been too long since we had a mechwarrior game.

There is, but the list is Locust, Locust IIC, Corsair, Samurai, Sparrowhawk, Galleon, Leopard, Stinger, Wasp, Super Wasp, Valkyrie, Phoenix Hawk, Phoenix Hawk IIC, Crusader, Falcon, Firebee, Hornet, Ostroc, Ostrol, Ostscout, Behemoth, Archer, Warhammer, Warhammer IIC, Rifleman, Rifleman IIC, Longbow, Marauder, Marauder II, Marauder IIC, Shadow Hawk, Shadow Hawk IIC, Griffin, Griffin IIC, Scorpion, Wolverine, Thunderbolt, Goliath, Battlemaster, Battlemaster IIC, Conjurer/Hellhound, Glass Spider/Galahad, Howler/Baboon, Bane/Kraken, Vapor Eagle/Goshawk, Black Python/Viper, Stone Rhino/Behemoth, Incubus/Vixen, Raijin, Grand Crusader, and Nexus.

Some on that list have become "reseen", Locust, Locust IIC, Grifin, Griffin IIC, Shadow Hawk, Shadow Hawk IIC, Thunderbolt, Scorpion, Wolverine, Battlemaster, and Battlemaster IIC, as they were able to license and/or settle and kept use of the IP.

 

[hellfire88]

Reserved my name, can't wait to check this out!

 

[PowerYoga]

There is, but the list is Locust, Locust IIC, Corsair, Samurai, Sparrowhawk, Galleon, Leopard, Stinger, Wasp, Super Wasp, Valkyrie, Phoenix Hawk, Phoenix Hawk IIC, Crusader, Falcon, Firebee, Hornet, Ostroc, Ostrol, Ostscout, Behemoth, Archer, Warhammer, Warhammer IIC, Rifleman, Rifleman IIC, Longbow, Marauder, Marauder II, Marauder IIC, Shadow Hawk, Shadow Hawk IIC, Griffin, Griffin IIC, Scorpion, Wolverine, Thunderbolt, Goliath, Battlemaster, Battlemaster IIC, Conjurer/Hellhound, Glass Spider/Galahad, Howler/Baboon, Bane/Kraken, Vapor Eagle/Goshawk, Black Python/Viper, Stone Rhino/Behemoth, Incubus/Vixen, Raijin, Grand Crusader, and Nexus.

Some on that list have become "reseen", Locust, Locust IIC, Grifin, Griffin IIC, Shadow Hawk, Shadow Hawk IIC, Thunderbolt, Scorpion, Wolverine, Battlemaster, and Battlemaster IIC, as they were able to license and/or settle and kept use of the IP.

Sorry I'm not too clear on the whole story though. Do they not allow you to use the mech in any way shape or form? What's "reseen"?

 

[Skott]

I'm dubious.

Too early to decide. Reserved my name. WAH!

What do you think, Elcs? They going to do it like WoT does? If so I'd be interested in it.

Edit: Reserved name just in case

 

[Ross Ridge]

Sorry I'm not too clear on the whole story though. Do they not allow you to use the mech in any way shape or form? What's "reseen"?

A lot of the original Battlemech designs, that is how they appear physically, were taken from Japanese anime. To use mech models that look anything like those designs in this game they need a licence from whoever holds the copyright on them. Otherwise Mechwarrior Online is presumbly free to use any of the Battletech mech names and in-game stats.

So you may see with mechs with familar names and roles, but look different from what you're used to.

Note that FASA had to change the appearance of a number of mechs in the pen and paper game because they lost the licence and/or never had permission to use the design in the first place. From the sounds of things some mechs may end up looking different because they'll revert to the original anime designs because the company behind Mechwarrior Online has an obtained licence them for their game. This I think is what Fallen Kell ment by "reseen".

 

[Elcs]

What do you think, Elcs? They going to do it like WoT does? If so I'd be interested in it.

Edit: Reserved name just in case

It could be a fustercluck if they do it WoT style.

I'm extremely concerned that they're just going to make a very very poor game, however I reserve judgement until I see *real* trailers and get in and play.

The original Mechwarrior Reboot trailer was absolutely gorgeous and if the graphics are like that, I'll probably like it even if it's crap.