MechWarrior Online stomps out of beta September 17

[Dohc-WP]

With systems nominal and within previously stated parameters, MechWarrior Online is proceeding with a version 1.0 launch on September 17. The game has been in open beta since last October, with a current cadre of 1.1 million registered pilots.

Developer Piranha Games noted last year it had earned $5 million from the Founder's Program, which offered a variety of goodies to mech addicts willing to cough up some early cash. Today the company merely shared some in-game stats, which you can check out in the infographic below. If you're not particularly fond of beta-testing, the free-to-play game will be yours to pilot in two months, or you can hop on right now at mwomercs.com.

Source

[ingeon]

How will this be different from the current free2play hawken ?

[z1oc]

i saw this looks cool might give it a try. I remember i played a game SP like this long ago

[diabolus]

How will this be different from the current free2play hawken ?

Here is your answer:

http://www.tentonhammer.com/features.../mwo-vs-hawken

MechWarrior Online and Hawken both fill the void of classic mech games that to be quite frank, I'm amazed took this long to bring into the world of online play. As an added bonus, not only are they free to play, they're each solid games. Unlike too many games of today that try to cater to everyone resulting in a watered down experience that fails to satisfy anyone, MWO and Hawken cater to two very different player groups. As a result, both of them have succeeded in creating something special. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm still not going to throw them both into a death match pit and see who emerges victorious though...

...

So who wins? I'm sure you saw this coming, but the answer depends entirely on which type of game you’re looking for. If you want an insanely in depth, strategic, and detailed mech fighting experience with large maps, MechWarrior Online is the game for you. If you'd rather have some fast action churn battles in tight quarters with a bit of humor tossed in, then Hawken is the clear winner. Both games cater to two very different audiences and in the end, that's why I consider both of them a success.

So imho, Hawken is more like a traditional shooter, where MWO is more classic technical/hardcore.

[DrKillinger]

How will this be different from the current free2play hawken ?

I've been in since the second round of closed beta invites, June last year. Hawken is an FPS where you happen to be mechs- some people like that, but personally I don't feel it is very distinct from other shooters. Mechwarrior Online, however, is a slow-paced game, where positioning and timing are far more important than rushing to get a kill.

A careful flank, a patient defense, or a sly ruse will often cripple an enemy who is superior in theory. And crippling an enemy battlemech is enough- if your little scout blew the leg off of an assault mech that's out of position- leave him. He's still got huge firepower, but you can now waltz away and leave him to limp after you.

Games are quick bouts, with no respawns. This means your participation is very important. Keeping not only your mech, but it's subsystems, intact is a core part of succeeding. One player running ahead of the firing line to their death is gone for good- and for little gain.

Besides the carefully considered gameplay, I spend most of my time out of the game- in the mechlab. The customization is overwhelming to a new player, but you can really do anything. Yes, you can build a bad battlemech, but after a few iterations, you'll eventually stumble upon a personal build that works for you.

It's free to play, but avoids pay-2-win situations. A paying customer will not have an inherent advantage over a free player- they can get cosmetics and increased earnings, or a hero mech, which is basically a regular variant with increased earnings, a unique paintjob, and a quirk or two.

It's still in open beta, so there are some bugs, and balance is ongoing. It's my main game at the moment though. I'd urge anyone interested in robots and huge customization to give it a shot. It's a bit overwhelming with no tutorial at the moment, but between the wiki and youtube videos, you should be up and running in no time.

If anyone needs any help with the game etc, I'd be happy to help