MechWarrior Online

MechWarrior Online
Developer(s)	Piranha Games
Publisher(s)	Infinite Game Publishing
Engine	CryENGINE 3[1][2]
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	2012[2]
Genre(s)	Tank & Mech Sim, Action, simulation, free to play[3]
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

MechWarrior Online is an upcoming free to play, action simulation game 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.

Plot

MechWarrior Online is a real-time game where 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 can be extrapolated that this may be the direction MechWarrior Online will head after launch of the basic game.

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 the software giant left the property idle for years, since their last foray with the MechAssault series. Russ Bullock from Piranha Games was a long time fan of the series and wanted to start a joint collaboration with Weisman. He contacted Weisman to develop a prototype project that eventually became the new iteration in the MechWarrior series. Production of the new MechWarrior game first began on October 2008, where the two studios started discussing the project on pen and paper. After coming up with a presentation for a prototype scenario, both studios began ramping up a full-time team to work on the new game in March 2009.^[4]

The game was officially announced in July 2009 with a three-minute debut trailer. At the time, the game was dubbed only as MechWarrior, leading to media and fans to refer to it with the informal working title, MechWarrior 5.^[5] 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.^[6] Initial problems over locating a Publisher were resolved when a large group local to Piranha Studios, 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 (correctly so) 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.

At May 22 2012 was announced start of closed beta test.^[7]

Legal troubles

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. In 1996, FASA (the former owners of the BattleTech franchise) were involved in a legal case over the use of mecha designs derived from the Macross series, and decided to discontinue using images of mecha that were developed outside of FASA. These 'Mechs were then referred to by fans as the Unseen.^[8] The trailer for MechWarrior featured the Warhammer, one of the Unseen, which is designed similarly to the Destroid Tomahawk from the Macross and Robotech Series.^[9] 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, which FASA had licensed from the original Japanese creators, but Harmony Gold claimed the images as their own property inside the US. The matter is further complicated by Harmony Gold's own legal troubles surrounding the ownership of the original rights. It is currently unknown if the Unseen will be used in the final game or not. 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 delays.^[10]

See also

• Hawken (video game)

External links

• Official website
• MechWarrior Wiki
• Infinite Game Publishing

References