Greetings Mech Fans!
Couple of things to go over today.
Big news on the MechWarrior Front. I am sure most of you know by now, but Microsoft has given MekTek the “OK” to release MW4 Mercenaries for FREE. Yes, I said FREE. That means, to you and me and hopefully many new and old players that the game will mo longer require the original CDs to work AND it is legal.
Our thanx go out to the MekTek Crew for all their hard work and diligent attitude to make this happen. You can read more on the thanx at www.MekTek.net front page.
How is this to be accomplished? Well, if you dont know by now, MekTek released a small program (13megs or so) called MTX. MTX is used as a “bit torrent” type of interface to download AND INSTALL Mercs. As of this morning, the “Free Release” was not yet available, however, the prerequisites ARE available. (I left out the part about all the infrastructure MekTek did insure good download speeds and server availability and the insurance requirement placed on them by Microsoft, but all this can be read at the MekTek web site. Take some time and browse around.
What do I have to do? You might ask? Simple. Download MTX and install it on your gaming rig or whatever machine(s) you wish to have Mercs installed on. After the download and installation, run the program. There are a few tabs, but one of them is “Games Available”. Click that tab and let the software check the servers to see what is out there. It will give you a list, something Like AT1, and Mechwarrior Mercenaries release xxxxx017 (or something similar). If you want Mercs, click on it and it wills tart downloading AND it will install automatically. This is a major download, some 1.7gigs. Yes GIGs. It may take you a while to download, be patient. I also recommend you try AT1 if you are a true Mech Fan.
After it installs release xxxxx017, there will be an update available to you, release xxxxx018. (This is a very small patch) This release puts the Unseen Mechs (The Warhammer, The Rifleman, The Archer, The Marauder (family, i.e. Mar and Mar II) and others) BACK in the game. Whatever the hassle was over the unseens seems to have been greased. Oh yeah, I forgot, the MekTek download INCLUDES the Microsoft Mech Packs, you know the eight mechs (4 Clanners and 4 Inner Sphere) that you need the packs for? Well they are in the download and unlocked for you to use.
Now these 2 downloads get you the ability to run the game with all the MekTek Content to date included plus the 2 Microsoft Mech Packs. It is also REQUIRED for the “Free” (no CD version) release, so go ahead and get the basics installed. Currently, you will need one of the CDs to run the game that will be changing VERY soon. The Beta Testers are finalizing the changes to MTX as well as the “free patch” for the main game.
Yes, we know MekTek said they were ready some time ago, but things change. Here's the deal folks, MekTek went ahead and released MP3.1. They then changed it to include the Unseen mechs, thus giving us the first patch. This allowed them to work out any “bugs' or glitches that MTX may have had or the actual game had, not to mention SOME of the content that was slated for MP4. In finding some of those issues, Mektek has made corrections and is now testing those fixes. See, with code, every time you change something, you have to see what else it affects hopefully BEFORE you give it to the public. Here's the REST of the deal, there is NO WAY a code writer, programmer, whatever the proper wording is (And I mean NO disrespect), that person or group of people can cover ALL situations that may arise. Thats why they have a Beta Team, to get a broader view of the possible issues, but even that view still only covers a part of the spectrum. There are simply too many variants of software installs and hardware to cover every unique issue. MekTek makes a change, they test it, the betas test it and then they release it. That's how it goes. Be patient. IF you DO incur a problem, post the issue at their forums in the correct area, but search for your issue first, it is likely someone else has had a similar problem and it has been resolved or at least noted for the next patch.
In the next few days, the Free release patch will be out. Get yourself ready, get your machine(s) up to date. If you got it, donate to MekTek. Most of all, spread the word and join an online game. That is where the real fun is.
A secondary note – for those of you that enjoyed my ASL post, it is most likely that I may start a NEW blog just for ASL (and mostly for the current campaign game in progress).
Folks enjoy the game!
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Do you think that the people at NBT will see the Mektek version as official, and maybe start the planetary league again??
ReplyDelete-Homer
I wonder (hope) that there will be some kind of new MP 3.1 or MP 4.0 league that will start. Even now, (as far as I can tell) MWL drops only MP 3.02.
ReplyDeleteWell, anyway, I like the new MP 3.1 - the previous lag issues are almost non existent, and I like the way the weapons handle too!
There was some talk on the MekTek forum between Dark Phoenix (NBT) and Vam so it is possible.
ReplyDeleteAs far as MWL, they had said they were gonna give it 2 weeks or 3 weeks to give people time to convert and to allow MekTek to get the bugs out before they forced players to convert.
With the Free release do today or very soon, it is likely that we will once again see Leagues generated.
As far as planetary, for my money, NBT had the best (until the Hardcore Mod)
It's goof to see that you are still kicking Vettie. I have been down and out myself for some time now. It is also nice to see that you are still writing about the different Mechs. We certainly have our own likes and dislikes. I am not a fan of the super heavy mechs myself. I kept on getting stuck with lumbering giants like the Atlas which is pretty much like saying shoot here I only move at 5 km/hr. Mongo
ReplyDelete