PC gamers, get ready to bust out your old joystick...y'know, the one you've secretly kept in good condition, waiting on the announcement of Freespace 3, that joystick. MekTek.net may be rereleasing MechWarrior 4 and all its expansion packs for the low low price of absolutely nothing, within the next couple of weeks.
Mektek had earlier been authorized by the current MechWarrior rights holder Smith & Tinker to redistribute the old game, perhaps to hype up the upcoming franchise reboot, and to remind people that yes, MechWarrior is still a thing that exists. Not that people who've been keeping the joystick around have forgotten, oh no.
In any case, an update on MekTek's forums noted that the final meetings with Smith & Tinker were set around the Thanksgiving holiday period, with the "big shiny green release button" waiting to be pressed.
I encourage anyone looking for some lumbering metal tank-with-legs action try the game out. It's old enough that almost any laptop can rock its settings, and it's playable even without a joystick. In the meantime, check out the teaser for that reboot game below.
Here's a trivia question: What is the name of the 'mech being piloted in the trailer, and what Japanese show was it ripped off licensed from?
Ah... MW4. I have some fond memories of playing that years ago. Mechwarrior was awesome back in the day, and I was bummed that they didn't make any more till they announced this reboot.
GODDAMNIT ABOUT TIME!!!!! I've been waiting for this re-release for months now. Especially since it's free <3. And Mechwarrior <3. Free Mechwarrior *^^*
It looks like a Warhammer mech to me. And I'm guessing you're referecing the Robotech mechs? Not sure, I know FASA stopped using the Marauder because of the Robotech lawsuit.
The trailer is actually below the article. The picture on the front page from MW4 is the Timberwolf. It was a combination of the Marauder and Catapult. FASAs way of getting around the lawsuit. All they did was take away the Marauder's autocannon from the top of it's head and add in the Catapult's LRM launchers.
Man, I really did play too much Multiplayer Battletech on AOL and Gamestorm.
That is a Warhammer he's piloting, ripped off from Robotech (along with most noteably the phoenix hawk which transformers also used for their autobot Jetfire). Then he smokes a Jenner because it's only a 35 ton mech, and then an atlas messes him up in the end.
All three of those are from the very first original release of BAttletech.
@bluemeep
seconded. Have you played FS2Open? Best space-sim ever, i swear.
Mechwarrior 2 (alongside Freespace 2 :P ) are my favorite PC games. I used to play the redbook audio from the Mech2 disc while i was rearranging my room as a kid. The game's sense of atmosphere and weight is so incredible, even today.
This isn't really exciting news: Mech 4 pales considerably in comparison to its predecessors. However, that trailer for the new game looks AWESOME: i hope that's in-engine footage. What's with that awful sounding computer, though :S
T-flight Hotas X is the best filght stick for your dollar, It's absolutly amazing, I have one. Best thing is it'll work with all your ps3 flying games too. http://www.amazon.com/T-flight-Hotas-Stick-PS3-Playstation-3/dp/B001CXYMFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1258331662&sr=8-1 go buy now at amazon for under 40 bucks.
I know it always comes up and this isn't aimed at anyone in particular but FASA actually licensed the Macross/Robotech mechs for the Warhammer, Archer, Rifleman, Marauder, PhoenixHawk and such.
The legal issue came when when HarmonyGold pulled a stealth maneuver where another company was trying to sell Battletech in Japan. HarmonyGold pitched a predictable fit and while FASA was still at a legal advantage (they were still within the license agreement) they just didn't have the money and reached a settlement instead of going to court.
@BluePhaze
Negatory my good sir. The Catapult is not from Macross/Robotech, it is FASA designed it looks like a chunky MadCat/Timber Wolf without the arms.
Wow, I still remember playing Mechwarrior 2 WAY back on Windows 95 as a demo...I think it was 2, it may have been one. Also came with Mega Race, or something like that.
But seriously, Mechwarrior for free?! Consider me sold for free and nostalgic.
I used to be heavily involved with the MechWarrior 4 community, primarily as a member of the NetBattlech league as a part of the variety of units within it (Grey Death Legion, Marion Hegemony, Circinus Federation, Capellan Confederation, etc.). I also helped beta test the earlier versions of MekTek's MekPaks, the first major mod for the game to feature new weapons, 'Mechs and balance changes.
How are things nowadays? There is a core constituency that still plays regularly in both public and leagues matches, but time has not been kind to the overall amount of players. Those who became fed up with the game and/or its players fled to other titles.
However, if MekTek's auto-updater works as promised then there is a good chance that the technical aspects of the game will no longer be a hurdle for players. And a decent influx of new players may allow for the slate to be cleaned, so to speak.
I am not expecting a miraculous revival of the game, but this release will be a fitting tribute to such a prolific PC franchise.
AWESOME!! Good thing I kept my joysticks around!! I'll def be playing this
though tbh MW3 was easily better than MW4. MW4 flopped shortly after release because the psychics engine was at the time "more advanced" than people were prepared for and thus is slowed the gameplay, making arena matches much more frustrating. The mechs moved much slower and overheated alot faster to be more "realistic"
Let me preface my statements with the admission that I have never played MW3.
Now then ...
MW4 flopped shortly after release because the psychics engine was at the time "more advanced" than people were prepared for and thus is slowed the gameplay, making arena matches much more frustrating. The mechs moved much slower and overheated alot faster to be more "realistic."
By "flop" do you mean it failed financially? If so, that is not true. The game sold quite well, spawning two expansions and two add-on packs.
If you were speaking from a consumer standpoint, it hardly lacked its share of fans even if there were quite a few who preferred MW2 and MW3. However, most of the complaints I saw stated that the game was too arcade-like in comparison to past versions!
As for the speed, that really only applied to the Assault class of 'Mechs. Most everything was maneuverable through most varieties of maps. Though, I suppose lighter 'Mechs could be a hassle in an arena environment. But, I admittedly hardly ever played in there. Most of my time was spent in the no-respawn/heat/limited ammo/forced first-person games with the occasional dip into third-person and NH/UA.
And in response to overheating, I eventually learned a couple of tricks -- the heat override command and tapping the coolant. The former allowed the 'Mech to stay overheated for X amount of time beyond normal boundaries, and the latter allowed for greater expenditure of your overall coolant amount. Out of curiosity, were you a practitioner of alpha striking, shooting as weapons reloaded, or "chaining" weapons (i.e., pulse lasers, missiles, etc.)?
Oh, how I miss my old Sidewinder Force Feedback 2... I bought it specifically for Mech3 back in the day. I'm looking forward to this being available soon, it should run on a netbook with ease.
No no no th evoices in my head have been telling me that Freespace 3 is in development and will be better than anything ever forever. It is... right?
:'(
To the trailer: OHHHH SHIITT---
I'll believe it when I see it. MekTek announced they'd be releasing this in JUNE. Then they started asking for donations to upgrade their servers to handle the load. Now they're asking for more donations to cover some sort of release insurance and for plane tickets for some kind of meeting. This is a SCAM.
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Contest:
5:00 PM on 11.15.2009
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I forget, but this is awesome news! I loved those games!
HOT DIGGITY DOG.
Anyhow...
GODDAMNIT ABOUT TIME!!!!! I've been waiting for this re-release for months now. Especially since it's free <3. And Mechwarrior <3. Free Mechwarrior *^^*
Man, I really did play too much Multiplayer Battletech on AOL and Gamestorm.
I kid, I kid!
All three of those are from the very first original release of BAttletech.
seconded. Have you played FS2Open? Best space-sim ever, i swear.
Mechwarrior 2 (alongside Freespace 2 :P ) are my favorite PC games. I used to play the redbook audio from the Mech2 disc while i was rearranging my room as a kid. The game's sense of atmosphere and weight is so incredible, even today.
This isn't really exciting news: Mech 4 pales considerably in comparison to its predecessors. However, that trailer for the new game looks AWESOME: i hope that's in-engine footage. What's with that awful sounding computer, though :S
You don't even know the half of it. Those guys at Volition? Bastards.
I've had that sitting in my closet pulled from storage for the last few months since they announced the impending release.
RELEASE IT ALREADY YOU BASTARDS.
The legal issue came when when HarmonyGold pulled a stealth maneuver where another company was trying to sell Battletech in Japan. HarmonyGold pitched a predictable fit and while FASA was still at a legal advantage (they were still within the license agreement) they just didn't have the money and reached a settlement instead of going to court.
@BluePhaze
Negatory my good sir. The Catapult is not from Macross/Robotech, it is FASA designed it looks like a chunky MadCat/Timber Wolf without the arms.
But seriously, Mechwarrior for free?! Consider me sold for free and nostalgic.
How are things nowadays? There is a core constituency that still plays regularly in both public and leagues matches, but time has not been kind to the overall amount of players. Those who became fed up with the game and/or its players fled to other titles.
However, if MekTek's auto-updater works as promised then there is a good chance that the technical aspects of the game will no longer be a hurdle for players. And a decent influx of new players may allow for the slate to be cleaned, so to speak.
I am not expecting a miraculous revival of the game, but this release will be a fitting tribute to such a prolific PC franchise.
though tbh MW3 was easily better than MW4. MW4 flopped shortly after release because the psychics engine was at the time "more advanced" than people were prepared for and thus is slowed the gameplay, making arena matches much more frustrating. The mechs moved much slower and overheated alot faster to be more "realistic"
Anyway, I'll still be playing it! Mech Warrior <3
Let me preface my statements with the admission that I have never played MW3.
Now then ...
MW4 flopped shortly after release because the psychics engine was at the time "more advanced" than people were prepared for and thus is slowed the gameplay, making arena matches much more frustrating. The mechs moved much slower and overheated alot faster to be more "realistic."
By "flop" do you mean it failed financially? If so, that is not true. The game sold quite well, spawning two expansions and two add-on packs.
If you were speaking from a consumer standpoint, it hardly lacked its share of fans even if there were quite a few who preferred MW2 and MW3. However, most of the complaints I saw stated that the game was too arcade-like in comparison to past versions!
As for the speed, that really only applied to the Assault class of 'Mechs. Most everything was maneuverable through most varieties of maps. Though, I suppose lighter 'Mechs could be a hassle in an arena environment. But, I admittedly hardly ever played in there. Most of my time was spent in the no-respawn/heat/limited ammo/forced first-person games with the occasional dip into third-person and NH/UA.
And in response to overheating, I eventually learned a couple of tricks -- the heat override command and tapping the coolant. The former allowed the 'Mech to stay overheated for X amount of time beyond normal boundaries, and the latter allowed for greater expenditure of your overall coolant amount. Out of curiosity, were you a practitioner of alpha striking, shooting as weapons reloaded, or "chaining" weapons (i.e., pulse lasers, missiles, etc.)?
:'(
To the trailer: OHHHH SHIITT---