MechWarrior Online

Developer(s)	Piranha Games
Publisher(s)	Infinite Game Publishing
Engine	CryEngine 3
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release	open beta commercial
Genre(s)	Vehicular combat, action
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

MechWarrior Online is a free-to-play vehicular combat video game, officially launched during September 2013 by Piranha Games for Microsoft Windows. Part of a licensing agreement with Smith & Tinker for the rights to create MechWarrior for the Microsoft Windows platform. The game takes place within the larger BattleTech universe.

Gameplay

In MechWarrior: Online, players takes the role of a "MechWarrior" who pilot large bipedal combat vehicles known as BattleMechs ('Mech for short). Players can customize their BattleMech with an array of weapons and equipment, and engage 12 versus 12 battles, the outcome of which earns the players experience and c-bills for future BattleMech purchases and customization. There are currently two game modes that involve protecting and attacking a single base (Assault), or capturing and holding several points (Conquest).

Upcoming features include Community Warfare, which will allow players to align with one of six factions or mercenary corporations to impact a galactic map, as well as the addition of new factions with the Clan invasion. It has been confirmed in interviews with Piranha Games that these features will arrive at some point after launch a revamp of the current user interface. Details are to be revealed at the launch party on September 26, 2013, over a week after the official launch takes place. It should be noted however that community warfare was originally stated to be due out within 90 days of open beta to those who joined during the kickstarter like founders program. Since the game entered open beta on 29 October 2012, this feature is now 10 months overdue, which combined with the phrasing used by the creative director when announcing this deadline "As we head towards the Founder’s Program, I wanted to update our loyal fans on what exactly they are buying, the MWO beta timeline and what this means for you." could indicate the developer is not capable of delivering on other stated deadlines.

Development

Jordan Weisman, founder of Smith & Tinker and previously founder of the disbanded FASA Corporation which worked on the MechWarrior series, negotiated the license back from Microsoft after that software company had left the property idle for years. Russ Bullock from Piranha Games, a longtime fan of the series, wanted to start a joint collaboration. He contacted Weisman to develop a prototype project that eventually became the new iteration in the MechWarrior series. Discussion began on the new MechWarrior game in October 2008. In March 2009, after coming up with a presentation for a prototype scenario, both studios assigned a team of full-time designers and programmers.

The game was officially announced in July 2009 with a three-minute debut trailer. At the time, the game was dubbed simply as MechWarrior, as it was meant to be a reboot of the series and not a continuation of the previous four games. The official title of MechWarrior Online came later in development. In October 2011 a Twitter campaign was launched as the start of the advertising campaign.

Initial problems over finding a publisher were resolved when a large group local to Piranha Studios, met and discussed joining forces. Once a way forward had been established, this local group, who had been interested in developing and publishing such a title, created Infinite Game Publishing. This was precipitated by the purchase by Piranha of the licensing rights to MechWarrior from Smith & Tinker, which it was hoped would create more positive responses from publishing companies. With a publisher and funding found, Piranha could commit financially to the project and press ahead with development.

On May 22, 2012, Piranha Games announced the start of closed beta testing for Mechwarrior Online. The game was scheduled to enter open Beta on October 16, 2012, but the date was pushed back due to stability and playability issues. Open Beta commenced on October 29, 2012.

The game was officially released on September 17, 2013.

Special promotions

As a pre-purchase promotion, MechWarrior Online offered three tiers of Founders packages—Legendary, Elite, and Veteran—all of which provided advanced beta access. Founders packages also offered exclusive perks scaled based on price, including months of premium account access, in-game currency and Founder's Mechs. The Atlas was the first Founder's Mech to be unveiled. It made its debut in the first week of August 2012. The remaining three Mechs were the Hunchback, Jenner, and Catapult, for a total of four. Each Mech sported a unique paint job and unique in-game bonuses. The Founders program officially ended on October 14, 2012. The Founder's Packs raised more than USD$5 million.

Project Phoenix packages were announced on June 25, 2013. The package has four tiers, offering a new BattleMech from each weight class, along with premium time and cockpit items. The packages are to be delivered on October 15, 2013. An additional package, the Saber Reinforcement, including two further medium class BattleMechs, was unveiled on August 28, 2013.

On July 23, 2013, Piranha Games added a custom BattleMech for a player's daughter who died of cancer. The proceeds were donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. At the end of the charity drive, over $122,000 USD was donated.

Legal issues

On September 3, 2009, shortly after posting preview videos and images of the game, IGN was issued a cease and desist order by Harmony Gold USA (owners of the Robotech franchise), citing copyright infringement. This was over the use of several BattleMech designs allegedly based on mecha designs derived from the Macross series. Specifically, the trailer for MechWarrior featured the Warhammer, which is similar in design to the Destroid Tomahawk from the Macross and Robotech Series. The Warhammer, as well as several other BattleMechs, such as the Marauder and Archer, were an important part of the early BattleTech universe and image, but were based on images from Macross and other mecha anime series that FASA had licensed from the original Japanese creators. However, Harmony Gold claimed the images as their own property inside the United States. In June 2011, Bryan Ekman, from Piranha Games, tweeted that there was, in fact, no dispute with Harmony Gold, and that they were not responsible for the game's delay.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	70.60%
Metacritic	66/100

Review scores

Publication	Score
GameSpot	6.0/10
GameTrailers	6.0/10
IGN	7.3/10

MechWarrior Online received mix reviews from critics. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic rated it as 70.60% and 66 respectively.

IGN gave the game a score of 7.3, stating that gameplay is solid and characterized it as an alternative to twitch-reflex based shooters in that MechWarrior Online rewards cautious play, thoughtful weapon use, and using advanced tactics. However, IGN criticized the games for being inconsistent in that matches swing between fast and furious and long and drawn out.

GameTrailers awarded a score of 6.0 out of 10 praising the ability for players to customize their BattleMechs, but criticizing the cumbersome user interface and that the game did a poor job at explaining its systems. GameTrailers also stated that though gameplay was generally enjoyable, it quickly became repetitive because only two game modes (Assault and Conquest) were available at the time of the review and that the game lacked a larger framework linking battles together.

GameSpot gave MechWarrior Online a score of 60 out of 100. GamepSpot praised MechWarrrior Online's graphics, gameplay, and customization, but criticized it for its high learning curve, lack of game modes, and lack of maps that supported 12v12 gameplay.

External links

• Official website
• MechWarrior Wiki
• Infinite Game Publishing