Preview BattleTech Kickstarter Update #37: Fresh Screenshots

[Drakron]

Aren't these people out of earth? Why does it matter how close Portugal and Egypt are, do you think an Irish/Italian American is unlikely because Ireland and Italy are not neighbours?

It matters because if you lived all your life say in a country its unlikely you ever meet someone that lives 2000 miles away.

I am not taking about immigrates to the US, there are Portuguese all over the world, for example the current Portuguese Prime Minster father was from Goan (India) and a French-Portuguese descent, the issue is the fact everyone is mixed for no reason except MULTICULTURALISM, you dont have say a Portuguese-South-African despite being a large Portuguese-South-African community ... you have wierdness that does NOT represent the actual multiculturalism of those countries, its something FAKE created by someone that picked up the mixtures out of a hat.

It represents ONLY American Liberalism and their IGNORANT view of the world, its WRONG and a insult to actual multiculturalism.

 

[Kev Inkline]

I'll quote myself from the other BR thread:

Look now, I am as liberal as Irenaeus is white, but I am still not too big on this diverse backgrounds approach because it feels contrived and hamfisted. It's one thing to implement social issues in a crpg - which if done, must be done subtly, without breaking the mood or the flow of the story - and another to force feed your personal agenda. I think Arcanum is a good example of the former, and Beamdog's game a notorious case of the latter attitude, respectively. As I said, I don't care what the backgrounds of the npcs in Battletech are per se, but it feels odd that everyone should be different from another, no shared backgrounds or anything.

"Why yes, didn't you know? I am a vegan, said Katrina Steiner and helped herself to some more tofurkey."

 

[FreeKaner]

Aren't these people out of earth? Why does it matter how close Portugal and Egypt are, do you think an Irish/Italian American is unlikely because Ireland and Italy are not neighbours?

It matters because if you lived all your life say in a country its unlikely you ever meet someone that lives 2000 miles away.

I am not taking about immigrates to the US, there are Portuguese all over the world, for example the current Portuguese Prime Minster father was from Goan (India) and a French-Portuguese descent, the issue is the fact everyone is mixed for no reason except MULTICULTURALISM, you dont have say a Portuguese-South-African despite being a large Portuguese-South-African community ... you have wierdness that does NOT represent the actual multiculturalism of those countries, its something FAKE created by someone that picked up the mixtures out of a hat.

It represents ONLY American Liberalism and their IGNORANT view of the world, its WRONG and a insult to actual multiculturalism.

What the fuck are you talking about my friend? The example with America was because the Egyptian and the Portuguese parents of the person in question would have probably met somewhere outside of Earth. It does not matter if in Earth Portugal and Egypt aren't neighbouring countries similarly how say a person from Brazil can be of Syrian/Italian ancestry even though those countries are far away from each other. Also yes I feel this is hamfisted as fuck as well and it's p. much as American as it gets, you were the one that came out of nowhere talking about civic national identity or whatever.

 

[Morality Games]

Obviously its American, because almost all Americans belong to multiple ethnic groups. For example, I'm (roughly) half-English/Danish on one side of the family and half English/Norwegian on the maternal side of the family. There are also significant German influences in the anglo parts of the paternal family line and a Dutch influence in anglo part of the material line, and way back a Native American and Irish influence.

Not sure why anyone would consider it negative, though. That's how Americans think about ancestry, as we are country is a product of the colonial era serving as a magnet for immigration from every part of the world for hundreds of years, its the only appropriate way for us to think about our lineage as a combination of different cultures.

EDIT:

Alright, MG genetic lineage refactored:

Paternal line:

1/2 German (probably, alternatively 1/4 German 1/4 something else, probably English)
1/4 English
1/4 Danish

Maternal line:

1/4 Dutch
1/4 Norwegian
2/4 English

(trace Irish and Native American elements in the English parts of the maternal line, probably 1/64 or less)

So, I would be:

3/8 English
2/8 German
1/8 Norwegian
1/8 Danish
1/8 Dutch

Odd that I have so little concept of myself as being German.

 

[Kev Inkline]

That's how Americans think about ancestry, as we are country is a product of the colonial era serving as a magnet for immigration from every part of the world for hundreds of years, its the only appropriate way for us to think about our lineage as a combination of different cultures.

But that's a couple of hundred years vs. a couple of thousand years in BT. A Of course, with modern technology you will be able to keep tabs on your ancestrry forever.

However, I think the most contrived thing here is that every character has a different diverse background, when, if I am not mistaken, using the US as an example, people with certain background inhabited certain areas as immigrants (like Swedes and Norwegians Michigan, Minnesota). I wouldn't care if everyone was Polish-Hawaiian or Lithuanian-Ethiopian, as a certain planet could very well host immigrants of a certain background. But now it just feels that they wanted to have the largest number of nationalities on the menu, as everyone is diffrent from another, a kind of calculated and cynical approach.

 

[FreeKaner]

But now it just feels that they wanted to have the largest number of nationalities in the menu, as everyone is diffrent from another, a kind of calculated and cynical approach.

I agree with this part, it feels disconnected to me too. I myself am from quite a mixed background but this game's approach to ethnicity just feels like them doing their presentation in cold pragmatism serving an abstract concept of "diversity" and then patting themselves in the back for being socially and culturally aware. I wouldn't have any objections if it was some background information when you check the character's bio that it writes they are from this and that earth country, I would likely think "oh cool, that makes sense in this setting" but now I feel like I am supposed to acknowledge this as a progressive thought.

 

[sser]

Now I see there was some shitstorm about the colors of the pilots' skin. [...] What's so important about the colors of character models?

Funny how "diversity" suddenly becomes unimportant to a libshit cuck when everyone has dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes and is obviously not white like in this game.

I just consulted the screenshots again. My astute sense of perception tells me that they depict giant mechs in combat across a variety of landscapes. I honestly don't see the pilots' skin color anywhere. Is it hidden in some menu just to piss you people off? Remember that if the horribly evil game tells you your pilot is black, desperately trying to ruin your fun, then since the pilot is not visible in combat, you can just depict a 1'90 blond aryan male sitting in the cockpit with the maneuvering sticks firmly controlled by his arse, if that's what you prefer.

Yeah but like what if there's an option to toggle mechs on and off like some games do with helmets?

 

[34scell]

Maybe all the mercenaries come from diverse yet heavily segregated communities, where mixed children are outcasts and commonly have to take tough or violent work.

 

[Cudgel]

Its kind of how the lore is written, from sarna.net;
"The Capellan Confederation is the smallest and youngest of the Successor States. A socialistic police state with strong Chinese and Russian influences, the Confederation is ruled by the authoritarian Chancellor, who has almost always been a member of House Liao."

I never really thought about before, but it does seem to be a viewpoint that makes more sense to people from the colonies rather then places like Europe.

 

[Zorba the Hutt]

Its kind of how the lore is written, from sarna.net;
"The Capellan Confederation is the smallest and youngest of the Successor States. A socialistic police state with strong Chinese and Russian influences, the Confederation is ruled by the authoritarian Chancellor, who has almost always been a member of House Liao."

I never really thought about before, but it does seem to be a viewpoint that makes more sense to people from the colonies rather then places like Europe.

I've spent more time on BT than I'd like to admit and yes, different regions are described like that and there are obviously plenty of mixed race characters. We also got to chuckle at things like Maximilian Liao rathering a daughter (Romano) described as having red hair and green eyes.

But I never came across anything quite as contrived as that list, which looks like they threw 50 different backgrounds in a pot and drew out a couple for each character - redrawing if they ended up with anything problematic like German/Icelandic. I guess it just smacks a bit too much of Seattle 2017. Let's hope the broader cast feels a bit less like a UN assembly put through a one generation breeding program, maybe even have a couple of characters with similar backgrounds but different objectives.

 

[Dayyālu]

When people complains that the backgrounds are too "diverse" instead of focusing on the real problem:

They are all freebirth scum, devoid of the loving care of a centuries-old eugenics program focused on creating the best soldiers the universe has ever seen, and then put to the crucible in exceedingly retarded duels that will waste their hard-gained skills.

FFS, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one that likes BT post-3025. What's not to like about the Clans or the Word of Blake? I swear if we had Eugenetic Warrior Culture VS Cyborg Fundamentalists no one would complain, but nooo, we need to get 3025 because cargo cult.

FFS.

 

[Zorba the Hutt]

When people complains that the backgrounds are too "diverse" instead of focusing on the real problem:

They are all freebirth scum, devoid of the loving care of a centuries-old eugenics program focused on creating the best soldiers the universe has ever seen, and then put to the crucible in exceedingly retarded duels that will waste their hard-gained skills.

FFS, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one that likes BT post-3025. What's not to like about the Clans or the Word of Blake? I swear if we had Eugenetic Warrior Culture VS Cyborg Fundamentalists no one would complain, but nooo, we need to get 3025 because cargo cult.

FFS.

Muh double heatsinks! Muh Timber Wolf!

 

[Elwro]

When people complains that the backgrounds are too "diverse" instead of focusing on the real problem:

They are all freebirth scum, devoid of the loving care of a centuries-old eugenics program focused on creating the best soldiers the universe has ever seen, and then put to the crucible in exceedingly retarded duels that will waste their hard-gained skills.

FFS, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one that likes BT post-3025. What's not to like about the Clans or the Word of Blake? I swear if we had Eugenetic Warrior Culture VS Cyborg Fundamentalists no one would complain, but nooo, we need to get 3025 because cargo cult.

FFS.

Could you elaborate? I only played BT (+Aerotech) tabletop for years and read a few initial novels; what do you mean by 'cargo cult'?

 

[Dayyālu]

[Could you elaborate? I only played BT (+Aerotech) tabletop for years and read a few initial novels; what do you mean by 'cargo cult'?

Disclaimer: I didn't read BT novels. I'm there for the Giant Robots. Even more, the only way I play BT today is through Megamek (tabletop BT is .... peculiar, and we never had a good scene here. It was Warhammer or nothing if you liked TT games as a young one).

That said, I always somewhat liked the fact that BT was a setting that kept "advancing". Old Mechwarrior games were set in their "contemporary era" (for example, Clan Invasion in the mid-90ies or the Whatever Civil War for the last early 2000 titles - Mercenaries for example - ). Then we got the years-long drought and BT got hit hard by the TT games crisis, and nowadays all Mech games we get are always "early era" or at best Clan Invasion, mostly thanks to a hardcore bunch of people that flat out refuses to consider anything else than the "classic eras". Thus we get always the usual Atlas, the Hunchback, etc.etc. If we are lucky we get the Timber Wolf because it sells.

Sure, higher tiers of BT rules are a tad more complex, but for once I'd love to see the 2000-era designs or even the contemporary crap they are throwing out. For once. Then fanboys can roast me that the post-2000 novels are retarded and whatever, but if instead of Scandinavian-Egyptian snowflakes we get nuke-happy tech cults or brutal eugenetic warfare (the Wars of Reaving thing) I won't cry.

But no, it's again 3025. Because we can't take risks and the only era of relevance for BT was 3025 - 3050.

Yes, it looks Warhammer as fug, no, I don't have anything against it and I have shit taste

EDIT: (and if someone tells me that the Protomechs are retarded as fuck I must agree. But sometimes you get crappy stuff)

 

[Elwro]

Holy shit. Had no idea something like that existed. Thank you very much!

[I'd be fine with an 'official' version of MegaMek]

edit: http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Jihad_Hot_Spots:_3072 looks damn fine!

 

[Zorba the Hutt]

From what I gathered during the KS and early interviews they saw this as a bit of a long term project for the singleplayer games (they weren't really involved with MWO) and wanted to start at the beginning/classic era and build from there. Once the current engine, tools and mech models are built they could easily pump out a couple of quick expansions in the same era using the same mechs.

Of course the most frequent question they get is "Clans when?" so for Battletech 2 they could build on what they have by adding Clan mechs and new weapons, then again pump out a couple of expansions. Only after that would they get to the later eras, but with the foundation built who knows what could happen? It obviously all depends on sales but I think it's been established now that the core BT audience is quite dedicated and prepared to throw cash their way. As usual, people assume that modders will work wonders with the core assets and quickly do stuff from the succession wars etc, but given the track record of Unity games and modding I guess seeing will be believing.

 

[Drakron]

... but nooo, we need to get 3025 because cargo cult.

I think thats is because of what are the most recognizable eras of Battletech and the cheapest one.

Succession Wars is one of the most recognizable and one of the easier ones since you have all the known Houses and their mechs without having to do the Clans, of course Clan Invasion is the most recognizable era but you would have to implement the Clans so suddenly half of the mech designs are enemy instead of a bunch of Mechs that were commonly used.

If you step out, its not a question of being a Cargo Cult, its a question you are selling a Battletech game but its not entirely recognizable, people with passing knowledge knows of the Succession Wars and Clan Invasion but thats about it, trying to sell Jihad or Dark Age would be something that is Battletech, parts are recognizable Battletech but at the same time its not because there are no points of reference beyond what they know of previous eras.

Of course you also get people set in having the older eras because of nostalgia, its the same thing as people that swear FF VII is the best Final Fantasy game because it was their first one.

 

[Elwro]

I agree starting with the Succession Wars is the safe option for a first entry in what hopefully becomes a series. I hope very much they will offer many modding options and also develop titles set in the less known eras...

 

[Cudgel]

The Clan (spit) models are available to be used by modders since the same guy has already done the designs and the models exist, though I don't have a clue how hard it would be to take the models from Crysis to Unity.

 

[Crescent Hawk]

I really love that Battlemaster chunky model, its the best thing that came out of piranha shit. As for the SJW expect this for a few years in gaming because Harvey Smiths beta prototypes are all coming of age now, so expect Andromedas and Life is Strange crap for a decade before things may start to get on track again. In the meantime Play Yakuza 0 or Skyrim with sex mods, blow of some steam.

 

[Zorba the Hutt]

The Clan (spit) models are available to be used by modders since the same guy has already done the designs and the models exist, though I don't have a clue how hard it would be to take the models from Crysis to Unity.

Wouldn't say all the MWO models are 'available' to modders. First, HBS have a deal to share some of them and modders obviously wouldn't have this arrangement with PGI for mechs not yet in the BT game. Secondly, they have previously said it takes a bit of time to transfer mechs and do additional animations etc:

We are working on production metrics to determine how long it truly takes to get a PGI 'Mech through our pipeline and add all the required animations for melee, etc.
As is always the case with a venerable setting like this one, some beloved fan favorites won't make it into the game. We only have so many people and so much time/money to develop the best game we possibly can.

Of course, if the Clan and other models have been done by PGI then it is likely that they could be easier additions to future BT games through the same arrangement, just wouldn't bank on modders being able to do this on their own. HBS also said they may do mechs of their own in future games once they've got the basic roster going, as MWO has different priorities (eg: you may want more light mech options in a singleplayer BT game). Think any work HBS does on armour/infantry/etc could also be shared in the other direction.

 

[Cudgel]

Of course, if the Clan and other models have been done by PGI then it is likely that they could be easier additions to future BT games through the same arrangement, just wouldn't bank on modders being able to do this on their own. HBS also said they may do mechs of their own in future games once they've got the basic roster going, as MWO has different priorities (eg: you may want more light mech options in a singleplayer BT game). Think any work HBS does on armour/infantry/etc could also be shared in the other direction.

Your right, I should have said they existed not that they were available. MWO is in a state where Russ would probably not give up any assets for free.

It also never occured to me that the pipeline could go both ways. I would love to see the fabled PvE mode make it to MWO seperate from MW5, I think it could really help the game out. Unfortunately AI is the biggest hurdle there, and for anyone that has played Escort mode in MWO, AI is not the studio's strong point.

 

[Lord Andre]

Man... I was really looking forward to this game and only skimming through the kickstarter updates... I had no idea that all this time they were making the "we wuz kangz" edition. So pathetic.

 

[GarfunkeL]

It reminds me of a guy I knew in the 2000s who wanted to start a campaign against Rockstar for not giving him a white protagonist in GTA: San Andreas. This is the path towards retardation.

"Path towards retardation" is what happened in this game.
I do not see that you objected to this.

He's one of the guys who will hold their wifes hand, while she'll be fucked by a black dude. Have to excuse him, as he views the world differently.

Dude, stop posting your fetish sex fantasies everywhere.

As for the actual update, screenshots look damn good.

 

[l3loodAngel]

It reminds me of a guy I knew in the 2000s who wanted to start a campaign against Rockstar for not giving him a white protagonist in GTA: San Andreas. This is the path towards retardation.

"Path towards retardation" is what happened in this game.
I do not see that you objected to this.

He's one of the guys who will hold their wifes hand, while she'll be fucked by a black dude. Have to excuse him, as he views the world differently.

Dude, stop posting your fetish sex fantasies everywhere.

As for the actual update, screenshots look damn good.

#lol@angrybetas