I know this is going to sound sappy. But it might give the devs a smile so, what the heck. This is my story...
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I'm a mad keen Mechwarrior from way back*. And for old Mechwarriors like me, the past few years have been getting progressively bleaker.
It all started when Microsoft bought the MW IP, only to promptly cancel the development of MW5 and mothball any future plans for a PC game. I suspect it was part of their cunning masterplan to force the PC gamer base across to their proprietary Xbox platform, by release 'must have' titles (eg Halo) "only on Xbox". But when they finally unveiled MechAssault I & II, we shuddered. While fun in their own way, many of us felt they were far too 'arcadey' to give lasting satisfaction to someone who truly enjoys a more simlike Mech game.
The Xbox-based Steel Battalion was a great leap forward in terms of a realistic console-based game experience, thanks to its over the top controller, and more physics-compliant movement and weapons models. But its netcode was buggy as hell, if you could ever find an online game. The multiplayer servers were shut down completely about two years ago. Very little player base remains.
On the miniatures front, the WizKids range of Dark Age click figures was accessible, and in its own way, an enjoyable tabletop game, despite its many quirks and flaws. But early last year, after a year of reality denial amidst escalating decay, it was finally officially consigned to the scrapheap.
And so it seemed that Mechwarrior was all but dead, save for a very small number of hardcore adherents globally. Personally, I found it quite depressing to see something that I (and my young sons) so enjoyed, with seemingly so little viable future ahead.
But then, suddenly, when all hope seemed lost... MWLL! We're now playing the Beta daily (my sons copilot for me, spotting enemies, telling me which part of the enemy mechs to aim for, and sometimes hitting eject just before the final LRM spam salvo hits me LOL). And we're totally loving it.
And, even though it seems OTT to say so, I actually just feel happier about life, the universe, and everything.
So, this is my story. I realise I sound like a complete dweeb to be so personally invested* in a fictional game franchise. And maybe I am. But I did want to share just how grateful I am that MWLL has breathed life into the game franchise that, of all the games I've ever played, has retained my passion for most of my life.
Thanks, devs. Thank you so much.
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* I bought the first edition of BT the year it was released. I have the Succession Wars board game. I played to conclusion every single MW computer title and expansion, including MW1 to 4, and MC1 and 2. I have 546 Dark Age Mech and vehicle figures (not including infantry or artillery), an Aurora class drop ship, all 5 of the large scale Dark Age figurines, 6 tournament badges and assorted other tournament collectibles. A permanent display of MW posters, just like the ones you see in the MWLL hangar, decorate the walls of my games room, where you'll also find a dedicated Steel Battalion rig, and a dedicated 3-XBox rig on which MechAssault 1 & 2 can be played head to head to head. I've cadded the plans for a custom cockpit which I hope to build one day if my real life responsibilities as a parent and breadwinner ever let me. If it were not for the fact that I am the father to two great little boys, you'd swear I was the original 40 year old virgin.
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TL:DR Summary for Gen Y: "Sad 40yo-virgin-style geek experiences life-affirming joy in release of MWLL Beta".
