2012 is going to be a great year for mecha combat, with Mechwarrior Online slated for a PC only, free to play, multiplayer release. Can we get a 'hell yeah!'?
Is there anything better than stomping around a blasted urban landscape in a 40-tonne mech, blasting opponents and toppling buildings with every step? If there is, we don't want to know about it, because we're very excited to hear that Mechwarrior Online, which we've not heard much at all about recently, is getting a PC only release next year, from Piranha Games.
Woo!
What's interesting is that sites like Kotaku are reporting this as something to feel rather meh about. On the contrary, we say, PC is where Mechwarrior lives! Apparently the complex licensing surround the game makes a full retail/console release problematic, but I see that as a plus. I'm super-pumped for a hardcore sim-style Mechwarrior game!
As more sites have been reporting, based on an initial tweet from the game's Twitter account, more and more information has come to light, and the game is sounding not unlike a mecha version of free to play game World of Tanks. It'll even have in-game persistance as players fight over Inner Sphere planets.
And speaking of the Inner Sphere, Piranha Games is adamant about sticking to the game's rich and established canon.
It looks like the gameplay's not being ignored either, with a role-based system of pilot training allowing players to specialise into attack and defense roles, scouting, and even command roles. The command position in particular sounds great, as Mechwarrior Online will feature rich information systems to manage and take advantage of.
Of course, the game's success will all come down to that mech combat experience, and it's sounding solid. The game will be from viewed first person from a mecha cockpit, which you'll be able to customise and look around. Mech's will require skillful control, and Piranha has said it wants to remove the near auto-pilot that a lot of similar games run on today. And, of course, the mechs themselves will be fully upgradeable with weapons and armour, and cosmetics such as clan affiliations.
I'm already torn between going serious LRM support, or close in AC20. Hmm...
2012 is simply too far away. For more info, check out Piranha Games' official Mechwarrior Online site.
What do you guys think? Sound good to you too?
Issue: 137 | June, 2012