Battletech (Kickstarter)

[FordGT90Concept]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/battletech

The MechWarrior universe makes a comeback as a single-player turn-based game where you control a mercenary squad of mechs. It is being developed by Harebrained Schemes, the makers of Shadowrun Returns/Dragonfall/Hong Kong on Unity 5 engine.

I spy a Mad Cat and Atlas:

 

[m4gicfour]

Nooooooooooooooo! I want a new MechWarrior/Battletech FPS! MW4 needs children. Not TBS! BOOOOO!


MWO doesn't count.
*pouts*

Y U get my hopes up ford?


(that said, any new battletech IP is good. Hope it's successful)

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I'm hoping this is a building block (demonstrating the MechWarrior IP isn't dead) towards an FPS title.

The way I see it, Battletech isn't that far from what Hairbrained Schemes currently works on (e.g. Shadowrun Returns) so this isn't a huge departure from what they're familiar with. Making another FPS would be. They'd most likely have to outsource it or hire people that are more familiar with FPS/action game design. It could easily end up terrible like MWO.

Remember, FASA Interactive started with MechCommander--the tactical game based on Battletech--before they created MechWarrior 4.

 

[m4gicfour]

That's exactly what I'm hoping, but I'm not holding my breath either.

MW + VR = YES.

Vox Machinae was a great demo (though the dumbed down X360 contols and consolitis experience not so much), and the whole time I was just thinking: I want a real, non-dumbed down, mechwarrior 4 experience in VR. Configuration, heat balancing issues, the whole nine. Make it multiplayer online with a grand campaign based on real-time battles (like Heroes & Generals or Planetside2 I guess?)...

For those who haven't seen the demo: (start around 3:05)

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Yes, please, but at this rate, it won't happen until 2020 at the earliest.

 

[RCoon]

Looks like a more badass version of Future Cop LAPD!

 

[Batou1986]

Please don't kickstart this it only feeds PGI more money to keep the cash grab that is MWO running.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This is being made by the original creators of the Battletech universe, not a third party studio (Piranha Games). All of the games, in my opinion, that Hairbrained Schemes kickstarted were good.

The kickstarter hasn't even been up for a day yet and they almost raised $1 million (Single Player Campaign). I really hope they reach at least $1.85 million because I want a game with some variables in it.

 

[yogurt_21]

25$ ain't bad.

 

[HWTactics]

Bout frickin' time. I love(d) Mechwarrior.

 

[erocker]

Please don't kickstart this it only feeds PGI more money to keep the cash grab that is MWO running.

How does this feed PGI money since they have nothing to do with this?

Shadowrun was a success and I think this will be too.

 

[Batou1986]

How does this feed PGI money since they have nothing to do with this?

Shadowrun was a success and I think this will be too. I've pledged.

PGI owns the exclusive rights to the MW IP as far as digital media and games, they are getting a cut of any income HBS makes off this game.
PGI has already bragged at lenght about how they have been working with HBS, they just dont put that anywhere on the kickstarter page because people already know what a scum bag company PGI is and it would influence peoples purchasing decisions.

If PGI was out of the picture I would be all over this but unfortunately they are directly involved.

 

[Easy Rhino]

people still use kickstarter? it is pretty much a great way to throw your money away.

 

[eidairaman1]

Shoot Robotech lol

 

[FordGT90Concept]

PGI owns the exclusive rights to the MW IP as far as digital media and games, they are getting a cut of any income HBS makes off this game.
PGI has already bragged at lenght about how they have been working with HBS, they just dont put that anywhere on the kickstarter page because people already know what a scum bag company PGI is and it would influence peoples purchasing decisions.

If PGI was out of the picture I would be all over this but unfortunately they are directly involved.

This article makes it sound like Jordan Wiesman (whom is behind BattleTech and this kickstarter) acquired "the license" from Microsoft to make Shadowrun Returns. Hairbrained Schemes acquired the rights to make BattleTech. He didn't say who from but most say Microsoft. Microsoft got it from buying out FASA Interactive. Presumably, Piranha Games licensed MechWarrior Online from Microsoft as well.

What I don't know is whether or not Wiesman literally bought the rights or is merely licensing it. I think he may have bought them because Microsoft does not consider it a valuable intellectual property. I think a lot of the funds from the Shadowrun Return kickstarter went towards buying the Shadowrun IP and that "initial investment" made by Hairbrained Schemes included the MechWarrior/BattleTech IP. I suspect Shadowrun was purchased and made first because Microsoft's asking price was much lower than for MechWarrior/BattleTech. Shadowrun Returns, Dragonfall, and maybe even Hong Kong allowed HBS enough money to finally buy MechWarrior/BattleTech; hence, the reboot.

TL;DR: If there's any connection between Piranha Games and Hairbrained Schemes, it is that Piranha Games now owes license fees to Hairbrained Schemes instead of Microsoft. If that isn't the case, then simply no connection exists. Piranha Games only has license to use MechWarrior; they own nothing.


Edit: I asked for clarification of the status of the IP in the comments. We'll see if they respond.

 

[Batou1986]

According to PGI they have rights from MS till 2018 not that I trust anything that comes out of Russ Bollocks mouth.
PGI and HBS say there sharing assets but if its true that wiseman bought the rights then that would mean he owns the rights to everything PGI made just like MS did previously.

I really want to know what the deal is with the IP as well because me and a lot of other people funded PGI and they did nothing but shit all over us chasing after their target audiences, I absolultely refuse to spend money on anything that would give them a penny.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

PGI has rights to produce MechWarrior Online, nothing else.

The latter seems more plausible. Weisman really, really wanted control of Shadowrun and MechWarrior back. It sounds to me like he didn't make Shadowrun Returns until he had it and he refused to make BattleTech until he owned MechWarrior. They are his babies; he didn't want Microsoft or anyone else to profit from his work on them.


The problem with Piranha Games is that Microsoft would only publish MechWarrior Online on the condition that it was Xbox exclusive and Piranha Games wanted to publish on PlayStation too. In order to find investment to develop the game, they had to seek out a publisher. That's where all good game ideas turn bad because publishers always have the right to make their own decisions which effect game development.

Harebrained Schemes doesn't suffer that affliction. They are publisher and developer for their titles.

 

[Batou1986]

PGI has rights to produce MechWarrior Online, nothing else.

The latter seems more plausible. Weisman really, really wanted control of Shadowrun and MechWarrior back. It sounds to me like he didn't make Shadowrun Returns until he had it and he refused to make BattleTech until he owned MechWarrior. They are his babies; he didn't want Microsoft or anyone else to profit from his work on them.


The problem with Piranha Games is that Microsoft would only publish MechWarrior Online on the condition that it was Xbox exclusive and Piranha Games wanted to publish on PlayStation too. In order to find investment to develop the game, they had to seek out a publisher. That's where all good game ideas turn bad because publishers always have the right to make their own decisions which effect game development.

Harebrained Schemes doesn't suffer that affliction. They are publisher and developer for their titles.

Wandering dangerously off topic here but PGI created IGP just to have a publisher because MS wouldn't give them the licence without one and get money from the Canadian government.
All of the bad ideas in MWO came directly from PGI and continue to now that they folded IGP after renewing the licence till 2018.
Russ Bullock and Bryan Eckman have owned numerous shell company's over the years dedicated to producing minimally viable products.
Just look up Jarhead games its all of the same people that work at PGI now same with rabbithole interactive which is being sued by Nintendo.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

While we are able to offer some sweet physical rewards as a THANK YOU to Backers, we don’t have the rights to SELL physical goods to you in the form of Add-Ons. We’re working on it, though, and hope to be able to offer some cool physical Add-Ons before our Kickstarter campaign is over. If and when it happens, we’ll send you an Update ASAP!

Catalyst still owns the physical rights to BattleTech, unfortunately, but they're apparently trying to get some of those rights back.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I remember that! XD

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Got a response:

Microsoft owns the rights to BattleTech/MechWarrior videogames.
HBS

Microsoft holds all of the cards including those dealt to PGI and HBS.

 

[hellrazor]

Holy shit, yes!

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

Kinda seems sad. Good to see Mech Warrior back, but this seems like the FPS Plants Vs. Zombies game.

I still remember buzzing Atlas's with a Puma, and shooting their legs out from under them. Gotta love the particle cannon.

The switch back to turn based combat is...I'm not sure I like it. It seems like a huge step backward to not be inside the cockpit and losing the immense scale of the mechs is just sad. Can I get a drink poured out for the memory of a 30 second turn from an Atlas, followed by the release of a missile hell onto your targets?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think the reason why they went that way is because of production costs (FPS costs a whole lot more to make) and expertise (Shadowrun Returns is much the same). I think they want to focus on telling a story (like Shadowrun Returns) and turn-based combat simplifies combat so they can focus on story.