New Mechwarrior game confirmed.

[More Fun To Compute]

I like the way they are talking about Mechs being rare and a single lance being able to take over a planet. It takes me back to the first Battletech game book that I read and sounds more faithful to the original concept than the other Mechwarrior games. Now that the tricky first interview with IGN is over all they have to do is deliver!

EDIT: Also, any ideas if the Vulture or Cougar would be included?

Those are both Clan Mechs and this is set before the inner sphere invasion so I would say no.

 

[Agent Larkin]

OH THIS IS GONNA BE GREAAAAAT. *for those of you who couldnt hear my accent there just think sterotypical scottish accent*

 

[Ancientgamer]

The single best thing I saw in that video was the return to simulation styled combat. Very immersive cockpit view. The computer's voice sounds alot kinder than in mech 2, but that's okay.

As far as I know this'll be the first game taking place during the succession wars. As great as bringing back the unseen would be, I'm also a fan of macross, so it's always felt kinda weird. I'd love to see something during the clan invasion, as that would ramp up the difficulty and need for tactical thinking during the campaign missions/


Am I the only one who thought that light mech was a locust? I mean, all the mechs are ever so slightly re-designed as per usual, but that's what I thought of. (actually I thought of the firefly first, but I'd kill someone if they put that in 3015.)


Anyway, brb, changing my pants.

Edit: I'm a dummy, it said jenner right on the screen. :?

 

[Gyrefalcon]

Now I'm trying to remember the Playstation game that I used to tide me over when Mech Warrior was a fond memory. It had different mission paths and I think you were with...a mercenary group called the Ravens. Or you had a base called The Raven's Nest.

I remember being able to make a custom badge and paint job for my mech. It had a great storyline and you basically did missions just like Mech Warrior. I also remember it getting redone like 2 or so years ago but it was turned into a fps. I think that one was called, _____ : Arena.

Does anybody remember this game?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Unfortunately, sounds like it will be fully consolized and sanitized.

A Mech sim using a mouse and keyboard is already a sanitized experience. The X-Box controller could be no worse and maybe even better for this since it at least has analogue sticks.

 

[Nutcase]

Unfortunately, sounds like it will be fully consolized and sanitized.

A Mech sim using a mouse and keyboard is already a sanitized experience. The X-Box controller could be no worse and maybe even better for this since it at least has analogue sticks.

Frankly, it didn't even occur to me that someone would use KB+M. Even 10-15 years ago, joysticks for this sort of game were a given.

I guess the 360 controller doesn't *have* to mean missing detail and flat mechanics, but I don't think they'll do what it takes (UI-wise) to fit enough stuff on there as it would confuse the consolistas.

 

[Da_Schwartz]

I just did an evil LOL as soon as i saw the cockpit view. > Anyway...the first thing i was looking for and the first obvious thing that bothered me again was the sound FX. Energy weapons seem hollow and more like flashlights. It seems to be the trend in games too. even ghostbusters proton packs are like...silenced. I wanna heres whiny chargeup and explosive staticy discharges in energy weapons. MAKE SOME damn noise!! Buildings that are hit with missiles should POP and BOOM, Not make some crumbling rubble noise.

 

[ZapperX]

I honestly have no idea what this series is, but this looks pretty sick.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Frankly, it didn't even occur to me that someone would use KB+M. Even 10-15 years ago, joysticks for this sort of game were a given.

I guess the 360 controller doesn't *have* to mean missing detail and flat mechanics, but I don't think they'll do what it takes (UI-wise) to fit enough stuff on there as it would confuse the consolistas.

I used to control Mechwarrior 2 with mouse keyboard and joystick if I remember correctly. I'd like a Mech game that played well with my Saitek X45 without me having to use anything else.

Joysticks used to be more common but any PC only game now would probably be designed mainly for mouse and kb and, lets face if, most PC gamers these days would complain if it was more complicated to control than Crysis. At least consoles had Steel Battalion last generation.

Back to this actual game, in the interview they were talking about making full use of all the controller buttons and going modal with the controls if that wasn't enough.

 

[linchowlewy]

I honestly have no idea what this series is, but this looks pretty sick.

I feel for you, this is the second best mech simulation games of all time, the best being steel battalion.

Tom will probably say something about the lore.

 

[Ancientgamer]

Unfortunately, sounds like it will be fully consolized and sanitized.

A Mech sim using a mouse and keyboard is already a sanitized experience. The X-Box controller could be no worse and maybe even better for this since it at least has analogue sticks.

Frankly, it didn't even occur to me that someone would use KB+M. Even 10-15 years ago, joysticks for this sort of game were a given.

I guess the 360 controller doesn't *have* to mean missing detail and flat mechanics, but I don't think they'll do what it takes (UI-wise) to fit enough stuff on there as it would confuse the consolistas.

As far as function goes, KB+M is pretty much equal to a joystick setup. While feel and immersion ect.. could be enhanced. A setup like that is hardly required. There's over 94 keys on your average keyboard. Even mechwarrior doesn't need that many.

As far as an Xbox controller. :x There's 10 buttons and movement needs not be considered. I imagine they could work something up.

Am I the only one who thought that light mech was a locust? I mean, all the mechs are ever so slightly re-designed as per usual, but that's what I thought of. (actually I thought of the firefly first, but I'd kill someone if they put that in 3015.)

Eh, Locusts don't have jump jets. They just have a big arse engine that makes them run really, really fast. Though I didn't notice the ID tag.....the video was too small for my poor eyes.

As for the Firefly, they do exist in 3015......but only the Wolf's Dragoons have them. Nobody else has the production facilites to build them anymore.

Ah, yes. Here's a list of Clan Mechs [http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Clan_Mechs]. I seriously doubt that any of these will make it into this game. If your favourite is there, sorry about that.

D'oh, I can't believe I forgot about the dragoons. IIRC they were with free worlds league in 3015, so unless the game jumps around alot we probably won't be seeing them.

 

[Ancientgamer]

Edit: 6 page Q&A with the devs,

http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1002164p2.html

Story details are out too. Sounds kinda similar to mech 4, which isn't really a bad thing. But I'm curious as to where they're going with it.

 

[linchowlewy]

I'll just link to the BattleTech wiki [http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page]

BattleTech and MechWarrior have long and varied histories, I doubt it could be summerised in any post of decent length. Suffice to say that BattleTech done properly if full of political intrigue, military strategy and, of course, giant robots blowing stuff up and beating the ever living shit out of each other.

One thing that had always drawn me to the BattleTech universe is the lack of the good guy/bad guy mechanic. or a twisted version of ir. Anybody can be the good guy or the bad guy depending on whose point of view you are taking. Even after the Clans made their grand entrance and made it somewhat easier to label it Inner Sphere=good, Clans=bad, it's still not that clear cut. The Clans themselves are rather well developed and can be sympathised with. They also have rivalries within themselves, so it can all get wonderfully complicated very quickly.

hate to sound stupid, but who did you play as in Mech Warrior 4? i know you were the dukes son and you were fighting Steiner. but which faction? the rulebooks perspective and the mechs available also confused me to no end.

 

[Ancientgamer]

I'll just link to the BattleTech wiki [http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page]

BattleTech and MechWarrior have long and varied histories, I doubt it could be summerised in any post of decent length. Suffice to say that BattleTech done properly if full of political intrigue, military strategy and, of course, giant robots blowing stuff up and beating the ever living shit out of each other.

One thing that had always drawn me to the BattleTech universe is the lack of the good guy/bad guy mechanic. or a twisted version of ir. Anybody can be the good guy or the bad guy depending on whose point of view you are taking. Even after the Clans made their grand entrance and made it somewhat easier to label it Inner Sphere=good, Clans=bad, it's still not that clear cut. The Clans themselves are rather well developed and can be sympathised with. They also have rivalries within themselves, so it can all get wonderfully complicated very quickly.

hate to sound stupid, but who did you play as in Mech Warrior 4? i know you were the dukes son and you were fighting Steiner. but which faction? the rulebooks perspective and the mechs available also confused me to no end.

You're in the Draconis march, so you're fighting "for" The federated suns. However, At the point the federated suns had already been merged with the lyran alliance. So in practice, you were loyalist Davion rebels fighting Commonwealth (Steiner) troops.

 

[linchowlewy]

I'll just link to the BattleTech wiki [http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Main_Page]

BattleTech and MechWarrior have long and varied histories, I doubt it could be summerised in any post of decent length. Suffice to say that BattleTech done properly if full of political intrigue, military strategy and, of course, giant robots blowing stuff up and beating the ever living shit out of each other.

One thing that had always drawn me to the BattleTech universe is the lack of the good guy/bad guy mechanic. or a twisted version of ir. Anybody can be the good guy or the bad guy depending on whose point of view you are taking. Even after the Clans made their grand entrance and made it somewhat easier to label it Inner Sphere=good, Clans=bad, it's still not that clear cut. The Clans themselves are rather well developed and can be sympathised with. They also have rivalries within themselves, so it can all get wonderfully complicated very quickly.

hate to sound stupid, but who did you play as in Mech Warrior 4? i know you were the dukes son and you were fighting Steiner. but which faction? the rulebooks perspective and the mechs available also confused me to no end.

You're in the Draconis march, so you're fighting "for" The federated suns. However, At the point the federated suns had already been merged with the lyran alliance. So in practice, you were loyalist Davion rebels fighting Commonwealth (Steiner) troops.

Noes, now i'm even more confused! oh well, i understand the gist of the story and enjoy the gameplay so no loss

 

[Jumplion]

Bah, no PS3 game? Bollocks, guess I'll have to miss out on what all the fuss is. Crappy PC you see. Can't say I'm not genuinely interested in this though, but I'll have to sit this one out.

 

[Ancientgamer]

They said they're bringing back a persistent salvage system. In the manner of just trying to keep your mechs at operational statues between missions, not having an extra cache of 6 heavies to sell on the black market.

They also said the game will have a focus on urban combat, information warfare, (4) player Co-op, and emphasizing the relative importance and rarity of mechs during this time period.

It also occurs just as Hanse Davion is taking the throne.

This is all wonderful news to me, the only thing that's really got me worried is how often they mention that this is all limited by their budget, which they don't even have yet.

 

[Calax]

Yeah, it's set in 3015, about 40 years BEFORE the clans arrived on scene to make a technological jump in weapons tech.

Bascially in Mech 4 the Federated Commonwealth was in a Civil War between Steiner and Davion factions. The "good" side was Davion led by Victor Steiner-Davion (using the Federated Suns symbology) and the "bad" side was led by Katrina Steiner (who was painted as incredibly evil... killing her mother, and victors girlfriend, and then also usurping victors throne while he was saving the universe). You play the son of a Duke of a planet that's never mentioned, you return to your planet after your family is killed for being pro-davion, and "liberate" your planet. Of course the young duke is also an ex-soldier who served under Victor so .

I just hope that the fighting will take place on Mallory's world (where Kell Hounds held off the 12th sword of light and Morgan Kell and Yorinaka Kurita had an epic duel).

 

[Arachon]

That looked pretty cool, I've never been very into the MechWarrior games, I vaguely remember playing MechWarrior 3 at my mates house when little though. I liked the First-person point of view of it all, being able to look around the cockpit, see your own legs and stuff like that (in the trailer), and that ejection sequence looked very cool... Why can't we ever have that in flight sims? :<

 

[Calax]

You're in the Draconis march, so you're fighting "for" The federated suns. However, At the point the federated suns had already been merged with the lyran alliance. So in practice, you were loyalist Davion rebels fighting Commonwealth (Steiner) troops.

I cant' find the exact BT date, but MW4 is set during the FedCom civil war, when the Federated Commonwealth was disintergrating into it's Lyran and Davion components. It's been a while since I've played it, and I never actually finished it, I just got so shitted off at one of the final missions. You're supposed to do a sweep of the a city sector, recon stuff and eliminate any opposion with a suggestion of a light lance for speed.....and you come up against no less that 4 Atlas's and many other heavy mechs, and it's a mission objective to destory them all. I couldn't do it with the heaviest mechs I had, and I ended up stopping for a while to calm down and never picked it up again. One thing I learnt about the Mircosoft MWs is when they suggest a light lance, take the heaviest you've got because there's an ambush waiting for you.

Anyway I don't recall you fighting for anyone really, you're just trying to kick the Lyran seperatists off your planet. I remember that your family was an old Federated Suns one, but I still can't shake this feeling that your character still held to the ideals of the Federated Commonwealth, so I guess you'll be a Federated something. I might have to pick it up again and see if I can finish it this time.

in MW4 you were a Davion sympathizer. Your parents were killed for also being sympathizers and thus you were fighting your cousin (or somethin). At the beginning of the trailer (as I mentioned before) it's pointed out that it's 3015. The clan invasion occured in 3050, and the Civil War occurred (I think) about 10 years after that (I'd need to check)