Bryan Ekman posted his monthly Creative Director Update over at the MechWarrior Online site.
The big news in this month’s update, is the MWO Test Servers getting setup (to be online later this month), with the initial new content testable on them, being the new 12v12 modes!
It’s a bit shorter then we’ve seen in previous months, but they’ve done a good job announcing stuff in the last few weeks, so there are no surprises here:
A lot of work continues to be focused on our major launch features. If you haven’t already checked it out, head on over to the UI 2.0 Command Chair post and check out the latest information on our major overhaul of the Front End UI. Production is well under way on this new UI and we expect to begin testing in August. The final bits of engineering work are being put into 12 v12, which include further networking code optimizations, UI work, art optimizations, and some minor gameplay/level adjustments. Our drive to launch continues to keep the bulk of our team focused on delivering an exciting MechWarrior experience for all players.
New Content:
- `Mech of the Month – Quickdraw (18th)
- Hero `Mech of the Month – FireBrand (4th)
- Champion `Mech of the Month – Hunchback-4P© (18th)
- New Pattern(s) – Sherman (4th)
- New Cockpit Item(s) – Spider Statue (18th)
- Special – Sarah’s `Mech (25th)
Test Servers
The networking and hardware wizards are hard at work setting up this our new public testing environment. While not necessarily a new feature per se, this new server architecture will allow us to test a range of features from small tuning adjustments to large additions such as 12 v 12 and UI 2.0. This is part of our continued commitment to product quality and stability, along with involving the community in key aspects of the game’s development. The test servers will be coming online in June, and the first major test will feature 12 v 12 functionality.
Company and Lance Improvements
Further lance improvements make their way into the game this month. These adjustments are based of internal testing and player feedback. These new adjustments include text and audio queues when new orders are issued, Company and Lance Commander icons to identify leadership, revised chat color, and revised order icons for more clarity. If you haven’t tried out your leadership skills yet, have a go! Players can take command by pushing “B†for BattleGrid and taking either a Lance Command (4 players) or a Company Command (8 players).
Balancing and Tuning
LRMs, SRMs, and Flamers will receive tuning passes in the first patch of this month. For mid-June expect to see more tweaks to the UAV consumable, and Seismic Sensors. Jump Jets will receive a weight based shake to add a more realistic feel and help to balance out some of the jump sniping meta game. Caustic Valley gets a lighting adjustment for the mid-June patch Expect to see more details about upcoming adjustments in the Command Chair section.
Host State Rewind (HSR) – Missiles
With this latest addition, all weapon systems are now affected by HSR. HSR helps high ping players achieve more reliable hits, improving the gameplay experience and making them more competitive.
Bugs and Stability
A lot of effort has gone into improving and fixing some of the more difficult technical issues, among them the HUD bug (last month). This month we are introducing fixes for some to the more frequent black screen and disconnect issues some players may experience.
Looking Forward
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12 v 12 is due out for first patch in July.
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Training Grounds (tutorial) will make it’s way live mid-July to early August.
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Third Person view will be pushed to test servers in the next 30-60 days.