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MechWarrior Online's Bullock on golden mechs and future content
Pirahna Game's president Russ Bullock is listening to the playerbase of MechWarrior Online. He is very aware of the number of complaints that have come in after a recent announcement of the pre-order sell of Clan 'Mechs, with prices ranging from under $30.00 to $500.00 for a gold-plated version. Although the complaints come from a range of topics, many concentrate on the timing of the announcement. After all, the developers only recently announced the Project Phoenix pre-order program. Some players see this new DLC pre-order only as a chance to make more money in lieu of producing more content. Other complaints stem from the prices of the pre-orders, and it's easy to see why. When we sat down with him recently, Bullock explained the costs in a few ways. First, the highest-priced items are simply collector's items. They look cool and do not have extras that go along with them that give them an advantage during combat. Second, all of the 'Mechs on the list can be paid for with in-game funds once released, minus some of the non-combat bonuses attached, meaning that any player who wants to can continue to pay nothing at all. Bullock wanted to emphasize that despite all of this, he knows that what the playerbase is really asking for is community-based features.
MechWarrior Online devs raise over $100,000 for cancer research
MechWarrior Online-developer Piranha Games' customized Jenner mech has raised over $100,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, GameInformer reports. Five-year-old Sarah Parries played MechWarrior Online extensively with her father until she recently lost her battle with cancer. In honor of her memory, Pirahna Games designed Sarah's Jenner, a unique Chassis Champion model for Sarah's favored mech type with a 10 percent experience boost. Creative Director of Pirahna Games Bryan Ekman says the team initially thought "$10,000 would be a number we could all be proud of ... the response from the MechWarrior community and from the games industry at large has been overwhelming." Sarah's Jenner is $10 and available for purchase until August 20. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
MechWarrior Online adds 'Firebrand' as newest Hero unit
MechWarrior Online's latest Hero mech is the FireBrand JM6-FB, a JagerMech variant with dual PPCs, AC/2s, RLAGPRGs, front-facing GRMBLCKS, DENNIS capabilities and 14 different Doctor-class Tennant injectors with Moffat tracking modules. Okay, maybe some of those are made up, but which ones?
MechWarrior Online gets biggest map ever, new matchmaking system in latest update
Free-to-play shooter MechWarrior Online has added a new update to the game, this one containing the biggest map yet. The environment is called Alpine Peaks, and features lots of cold, open areas, separated by some very tall high ground. In addition to the new map, the update also includes five new versions of a mech called the Trebuchet, which specializes in long range combat and carries medium weight.Finally, the newest update also adds in what Pirahna Games is calling "Phase 3" of the matchmaking system, which will allow players of the same skill to find and compete against each other in a balanced way, despite what mech they're driving. The new system also allows for cosmetic holograms in the cockpit, so you can now show off any House Faction loyalties you happen to have. Us, we're partial to Winterfell, but -- oh wait, wrong setting. At any rate, the update is now live on the servers, so go get that Mech a Warrior-in'!
Spider mech infests MechWarrior Online ahead of Double XP weekend
It may not have eight legs or carry hundreds of thousands of its young around on a moist, throbbing abdomen, but MechWarrior Online's new Spider mech is the game's "most maneuverable and agile of all Light Mechs," according to the press release tucked away after the break. The game's new mechanical jam is already available in its store and can also be seen in the gallery below.Since jumping around is universally the most fun thing you can do in a giant robot, we're expecting to see a lot of the Spider during MechWarrior Online's first ever Double XP weekend event, which starts at 1 p.m. Eastern on Friday, January 18 and ends at 1 p.m. Eastern on Monday, January 21. The event's double XP bonuses stack with other XP buffs, so those with Premium accounts will get even more of a boost than they already do.%Gallery-176465%
MechWarrior Online gets 'Mechsgiving' update
MechWarrior Online finally went into Open Beta late last month, and the team isn't wasting any time updating the game with new content. They're asking players to celebrate "Mechsgiving" later this week with a new mech called the Cataphract, which features a solid offense combined with jump jets and plenty of armor.The update introduces the "Frozen City at Night" environment, along with new modules for targeting and the Beagle Active Probe, which can increase a mech's sensor range.The folks at Pirahna Games will show the content live on Twitch.tv tomorrow, November 21 at 6pm PST, and invite players to jump in with them during that time. Pictures of the Cataphract (and its four variants) are in the gallery below.%Gallery-171458%
MechWarrior Online stomps into open beta October 29
Infinite Game Publishing (IGP) expects MechWarrior Online's internet-based systems to be nominal for an open beta beginning October 29. Interested pilots can head on over to mwomercs.com to reserve their pilot name now.IGP and developer Piranha Games recently announced thier multi-tier pre-order program achieved $5 million in sales before the game's launch.%Gallery-155258%
MechWarrior Online made $5 million off 'Founders Program'
Infinite Game Publishing (IGP) and Piranha Games achieved $5 million in sales off the MechWarrior Online "Founder's Program." Since July, the multi-tier pre-order program gave those interested in the game the opportunity to play early and provide feedback."The success of the Founder's Program reinforces IGP's vision to help independent developers build exceptional games with the right economic model for the global marketplace," said IGP CEO Nick Foster. "We are in a unique position to be able to deliver a pipeline of high quality, innovative content for online game players."That pipeline includes the coming MechWarrior Tactics and Sins of a Dark Age. There's still no definitive date for when MechWarrior Online will be nominal and enter open beta.
MechWarrior Online Founders' Program ends soon, open beta next week
Joystiq got to see MechWarrior Online in its closed beta at PAX Prime a few months ago, and the game was coming along nicely: a little light on the fast-paced shooter action and heavy on the MechWarrior-based customization options and battle mechanics. Infinite Game Publishing and Piranha Games have announced that MWO is headed into an open beta next week.Players interested in playing can sign up on the MechWarrior Online website to reserve a name right now, and anyone looking to spend a little money on the free-to-play shooter (based, of course, on the tabletop strategy game) can join the Founders' Program, which offers various tiers of premium rewards. The Founders' Program will finish up on October 14, with the open beta following soon after.
MechWarrior Online teases with familiar voice
Reactor: online. Sensors: online. Weapons: online. All systems: online. Here we go! MechWarrior Online, the upcoming free-to-play PC title, will be demoed at GDC next week and promises "epic gameplay battles." We just want to turn a mech on and off so we can listen to the reboot VO over and over again.
MechWarrior Online discusses the fine details of advancement
MechWarrior Online continues its march along in development, but that's no reason for fans to just wait and see what happens. A new installment in the developer blog that answers community questions has just been unveiled, tackling a variety of different topics. The primary focus is on customizing your 'Mech and advancing your character skills, building off of the recent discussion regarding the means of advancement and how players can upgrade their skills. As outlined by the questions, the experience system will in some ways be reminiscent of EVE Online's -- players won't be able to respec, but there will be no limitations on starting to put points in a new tree while retaining the benefits of previously spent points. It's also confirmed that your experience with a given chassis remains even if you move on from the 'Mech in question should you later choose to return. If you're worried about the fine details of self-improvement in the upcoming game, the latest answer should put most of your questions to rest.
MechWarrior Online rolls out the '12 Catapult
Some people like to drool over car statistics, with their V-8s and turbo-injections and rearview adjustable mirrors. Others like to fawn over every last detail of fictional battle robots as if they were coming soon to a dealership near them. Both, in our opinion, are acceptable. If you're in the latter category, then you're going to love MechWarrior Online today, as the devs revealed the latest in the 26th century lineup: the CPLT-C1 Catapult. This heavy 'Mech may be a tad on the slow side, but it more than makes up for it with firepower and 10 tons of armor. The two-legged Catapult boasts missiles, lasers, and jumpjets, although it can only go a little less than 65 kph on the battlefield. The Catapult will be available to the Terran Hegemony and seems suitable for those who prefer slow, powerful brutes to quick, nimble machines. If walking piles of death metal are your thing, make sure to catch up on our preview of MechWarrior Online.
MechWarrior Online developers answer forum questions
If you're looking forward to the future of warfare today, you're probably keeping a close eye on the development of MechWarrior Online. And the developers are no doubt aware of this, as they've just posted a lengthy set of answers on the game's official forums, covering a broad range of topics from update speed to character development. While the answers confirm that at this point the software is still yet to see an alpha test, there's still a great deal of information therein. Aside from a few answers that are likely to prove discordant come launch (such as plans for biweekly update patches), the team is aiming at starting off with a strong PvP environment with persistent world elements in a similar fashion to MAG. PvE will not be in at launch, but it is on the table for later release. That's only the barest summary of the information in the full set of answers, which should keep any intent pilot eagerly anticipating his or her personal 'Mech. [Thanks to nimzy for the tip!]
