BattleTech (MechWarrior) RTS Concept?

[Romicron]

Was driving with a buddy today and we entered a discussion on the MechWarrior series of games in particular and the BattleTech universe in general, and were wondering why a BattleTech RTS hasn't been made yet.

We talked for a while and came up with what we thought was a decent idea for an RTS. The majority of (computer) BattleTech Games focus on playing as the Inner Sphere or a member thereof, but there's a lot of interesting history and concepts in the Clans (trials, circle of equals). We envisioned playing as either a commander of the Wardens or Crusaders in general, and a specific clan of choice in particular. The game would end with the invasion of the Inner Sphere (a race preferrably kept as non-playable), although the fun part would be battling for domination amongst the clans.

The primary limiting factor of a game being based in the middle of instead of at the end of a specific fictional timeline is keeping as much as possible in canon, of which the BattleTech Universe has a RIDICULOUS amount of.

Thoughts?

 

[geldonyetich]

It was called MechCommander [http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/mech-commander]. It even had a sequel [http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/mechcommander-2].

What the OP is suggesting is a little different. Mechcommander was Inner Sphere versus the Clans, while what he's suggesting is something more akin to Shattered Galaxy [http://www.sgalaxy.com/] except with an Inner Sphere conflict.

I'm not sure there's a snowball's chance anything like this will happen, though. The Battletech IP is in limbo - split between Microsoft, Wizkids, ect. I think what Microsoft has is the right to make any old FASA properties as a computer game, while Wizkids has board game rights. If so, Microsoft would have to decide they want to drag the Battletech property out for more games.

You could always come over to BYOND [http://www.byond.com/] and make your own. They haven't been sued for flagrant copyright infringement... yet.

 

[Elim Garak]

Yup, there is such a game - it is called MechCommander, I think. Pretty crappy, frankly. You don't collect resources in the game, but you command the mechs live. Tried to play it several times - it suuuucked!

 

[Aedwynn]

It was called Mechcommander. It even had a sequel.

Beat me to it. Not a bad game, but I found it quite difficult. (God-damned escort missions!)
I had 'Mechcommander: Gold' which apparently had more content (but I sucked far too much to get to that point.)
Not played the sequel.
No base-building, it was pretty tactical, correct use of jump-jets, timing and co-ordination were critical - also, collecting battlefield salvage was VITAL (and the only way to get Clan tech - I found myself save-scumming to get that perfect headshot which would allow me to use the Mad Cat in later missions.;-)
You also had to choose which 'mechs and pilots to use as you had a drop-weight limit and you got airstrikes and long-range artillery in small amounts too.
Story wise it takes place during the "Operation Bulldog" incident, whereas I'm not sure about the sequel.
The game works fine in XP, not sure about Vista. Check it out.

No Clan vs. Clan stuff, though. Mechwarrior II and Ghost Bears Legacy were primarily clan-on-clan, but they were more simulations than RTS.

 

[Romicron]

I wouldn't call MechCommander a STRATEGY game, it was more Tactics. You controlled at most 3 lances of mechs at a time, and it had little in the way of resource management. I was thinking on a larger scale.

MechCommander was a kickass game, by the way.

 

[Raven28256]

...My copy of Mechcommander was washed away in the hurricane a few years back...Never could find another copy. I thought it was a pretty good game. I never knew they made a sequel though.

Myself, I'd be happy with ANYTHING new to come out of the BattleTech/MechWarrior franchise. ANYTHING! A good chunk of my childhood was spent playing MechWarrior games, and it saddens me that we don't have any new ones. Does anyone even have the rights to BattleTech anymore? What is the latest in the way of news regarding potential revivals of BattleTech/MechWarrior in the video game scene?

 

[AceDiamond]

Sweet tight-fisted monkey style! I had no idea they made Mechcommander II! I loved Mech Commander / MC Gold. No, it wasn't the RTS I was hoping for, more a real-time tactical, but I immensely enjoyed that game.

You can probably find it for less than $10 on Amazon these days. I actually had to buy myself a replacement a while back.

Anyway yeah I don't know when we're going to see any new Battletech/Mechwarrior stuff due to the property being divided up by not only Wizkids and Microsoft, but another company run by the guys who did Mech Assault and Crimson Skies.

 

[KSarty]

I loved MechCommander II. It was a different type of RTS, and I thought they pulled it off. I still play it occasionally.

I would like to see another MechWarrior RTS, especially if it keeps the customization abilities that both MechWarrior and MechCommander have. Having each clan as a different faction sounds like a good idea too. That would be a perfect setup for an open-world type RTS.

 

[Calax]

It sounds like what you're asking for is a Refusal War RTS, I personally would prefer to try being Anistus Fontch during Tukyyid.

The biggest problem I can see with Battletech is that the base building mechanic would have to be ejected. Or they could just set it up like either World in Conflict or Dawn of War.

 

[Ancientgamer]

Mech commander 2 was one of the best RTT\RTS experiences I've ever had. It's kinda like an even more tactical version of CoH (if you could believe that) But it still has the managing and capturing of resource points. Very awesome game. I've been meaning to play it again for a while now.

Yup, there is such a game - it is called MechCommander, I think. Pretty crappy, frankly. You don't collect resources in the game, but you command the mechs live. Tried to play it several times - it suuuucked!

Sounds to me you were just expecting an AoE type. And were rudely surprised.

 

[teh_v]

I like what your thinking. It would be fun to turn the Battletech universe into something like Hearts of Iron only using the inner sphere instead of WW2. You pick a side and attempt to reestablish the star league thru diplomacy espionage and combat mostly combat. It'll never happen because games like that just aren't popular to do anymore.

 

[Calax]

I like what your thinking. It would be fun to turn the Battletech universe into something like Hearts of Iron only using the inner sphere instead of WW2. You pick a side and attempt to reestablish the star league thru diplomacy espionage and combat mostly combat. It'll never happen because games like that just aren't popular to do anymore.

Honestly I would prefer a Dawn of War game more than HOI game (both would be fun however)

I would also LOVE to see another Mechwarrior game for the PC.

 

[Romicron]

It sounds like what you're asking for is a Refusal War RTS, I personally would prefer to try being Anistus Fontch during Tukyyid.

The biggest problem I can see with Battletech is that the base building mechanic would have to be ejected. Or they could just set it up like either World in Conflict or Dawn of War.

I was originally thinking back earlier, to just before the initial clan invasions leading up to the battle for Terra (fighting to improve strength among the clans so you can be the first clan to challenge for Terra). However, on second thought, the refusal war might be much more condusive to the clan wars concept I was going for (although on a more limited scale with a more limited amount of clans). It also avoids the inevitable continuity break of the end goal being to win the war on Tukayyid and claim Terra... as a clan.

The second part of your reply is one of the issues that would have to be dealt with, along with continuity and IP, and the question to be asked could well be the topic of a whole thread in and of itself: How much is it acceptable to vary from the original mechanic in a "remake"?

 

[thiosk]

I played mech commander, i think of it often. No base building, plenty to raze, and after wrecking some dude, you can bring in your repair bots and use the enemy mechs against them.

I'm rather attached to any game that lets me use the enemy;s resources against them... there was a terrible aliens vs predator rts for the xbox some time ago that was just not a good game... except when you were the aliens, you get more units by killing the enemy and dragging them back to the hive...

awesome.

 

[Fenring]

In stead of an RTS you should just play the table top version. I'm not sure if anyone still plays it, but I thought it was really fun and I LOVED it. Definitely my favorite table top.

 

[Romicron]

Nobody around here to play it with, unfortunately. Next best thing is to combine my love of battletech with my love of RTS.

 

[geldonyetich]

Well, if all you want to do is combine a love of Battletech with a love of RTS, yeah, you're hooked up. The MechCommander series isn't that old (about 7 years since the last one came out), it'll probably still run on your computer.

Even as far back as 1989, with Battletech: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/battletech-the-crescent-hawks-revenge], there's been Battletech real time strategy games. Though, we rarely think of that one such because it predated even Dune 2 and lacked a lot of the refinement that made the genre.

I really preferred the RPG before it [http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/battletech-the-crescent-hawks-inception], though - best Battletech computer game ever, in my opinion. Maybe not the most authentic, certainly not the prettiest, but the most hardcore RPG experience of Battletech I've seen on a computer.

 

[D64nz]

Bad luck there mate. I went the other way, I still have my Mec commander dick, but no cd number cause I lost the manual years ago. Sweet game though, and as for the res gathering, I'm not a big fan of rush games, or if I need my fix I jump on to Dawn of war.

Personally I rates MC, how you're pilots leveled up gained skills etc, though to be honest I won the last levels fitting my whole squad out as cheap Moths with Med Gauss cannons. Can anyone say Zerg? I seem to a lot these days.. 0.o