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MechWarrior Online

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Developer(s)Piranha Games
Publisher(s)Infinite Game Publishing
EngineCryENGINE 3[1][2]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseOctober 29, 2012 (2012-10-29) (Beta)
September 17, 2013 (2013-09-17) (Commercial)
Genre(s)Vehicular combat, Action
Mode(s)Multiplayer

MechWarrior Online is a free-to-play, action simulation game currently in public beta status, under development by Piranha Games for the Microsoft Windows platform. Development of the game is being led by Russ Bullock, president of Piranha Games, and is 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

MechWarrior Online is a real-time game in which one day in the real world is equal to one day in the game. January 1, 2012, is equal to January 1, 3049.[2]

Players take the role of piloting BattleMechs, and can align themselves with one of the Great Houses, form their own Mercenary Corporation, or play as a lone wolf. Of note for this particular timeline in the MechWarrior universe is the impending arrival of the Clans upon the Inner Sphere Houses. It has been confirmed by Piranha Games that this is the direction MechWarrior Online will head after launch of the basic game and will form an integral part of the "Community Warfare" scheduled for a phased release between August to October 2013.

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

Initial problems over locating a Publisher were resolved when a large group local to Piranha Studios[vague], 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 houses. Now that a publisher and funding had been located, Piranha could commit financially to the project and press ahead with development.[citation needed]

On May 22, 2012, Piranha Games announced the start of closed beta testing for Mechwarrior Online.[6]

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.[7]

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 ‘Mech 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.[8] The Warhammer, as well as several other 'Mechs, 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.[9] 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.[10]

Special promotions

As a pre-purchase promotion, MechWarrior Online offered three tiers of Founders packages—Legendary, Elite and Veteran[11]—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.[12]

The December 2024 issue of PC Gamer has a promotional code in the issue for a unique paint scheme and "Coconut Monkey" cockpit bobblehead item. Nvidia released a promotional code on their Facebook page for a "Dawn Fairy" cockpit bobblehead item.

Project Phoenix packages were announced on June 25, 2013. The package has four tiers, offering a new mech from each weight class, along with premium time and cockpit items. The packages are to be delivered on October 15, 2013. [13] An additional package, the Saber Reinforcement, including two further medium class mechs, was unveiled on August 28, 2013.[14]

On July 23, 2013, Piranha Games added a custom mech for a player's daughter who died of cancer. The proceeds were donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. [15] At the end of the charity drive, over $122,000 USD was donated. [16]

Community reaction to Third Person camera

On August 20th, 2013, MechWarrior Online included a third person camera mode, despite earlier developer promises during the Founder period that this feature would not be implemented. This feature led to a community backlash on the official forums, following several other recent feature changes that had been poorly communicated by the developer, including a heat penalty system and an increase from 16 players to 24 players per match. [17] [18] [19] Players began requesting refunds for the Phoenix Project package, a packaged deal similar to the original Founders package, in response to the release. An apology was issued by PGI President Russ Bullock.[20]

References

  1. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (November 17, 2011). "IGN MechWarrior Online To Use CryENGINE 3". IGN. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "FAQ". MWOMercs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  3. ^ Haynes, Jeff (July 9, 2009). "MechWarrior Q&A - The First Details". IGN. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  4. ^ Staff (July 8, 2009). "MechWarrior Revealed". IGN. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "InnerSphereNews". Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  6. ^ Staff (May 22, 2012). "Operation: Inception". MWOMercs.com.
  7. ^ Ekman, Bryan (October 27, 2012). "What to expect on Monday October 29th (Open Beta)". MWOMercs.com.
  8. ^ Brudvig, Erik (September 3, 2009). "MechWarrior 5 Trouble Brewing?". IGN.
  9. ^ "Harmony Gold V. FASA". Kaempen.org. June 13, 1996. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  10. ^ Ekman, Bryan (June 7, 2011). "Just a small update". Twitter.com. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  11. ^ "MechWarrior Online Founders Package". MWOMercs.com.
  12. ^ "Infinite Game Publishing & Piranha Games Secure $5 Million in Sales for MechWarrior Online Founder's Program" (Press release). Newswire.ca. October 16, 2012.
  13. ^ Reahard, Jef (June 25, 2013). "MechWarrior Online reveals Project Phoenix pre-order program". Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  14. ^ "SABER REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE!". August 28, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Clark, Matt (July 23, 2013). "MechWarrior Online Honors Fallen Fan with Charity Drive". IGN.com.
  16. ^ "http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/08/23/montreal-sarah-parries-mechwarrior-cancer-society.html". August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  17. ^ "Gamefront's coverage of events leading to the backlash" (Press release). Gamefront.com. August 30, 2013.
  18. ^ "Penny Arcade featured Loaded Dice cast blog about MW:O community backlash" (Press release). LoadedDiceCast. August 27, 2013.
  19. ^ "Starburst Magazine coverage of the MW:O community" (Press release). Starburst Magazine. August 28, 2013.
  20. ^ "Russ Bullock's Apology Feedback" (Press release). August 26, 2013.
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