Hawken

[CeeKay]

here's a new multiplayer mech game that might help ease the wait for a new Mechwarrior game.  they say it's supposed to have the feeling of piloting a heavy mech, but from the video it seems to look a bit faster paced than that.  on the plus side the graphics look incredible.

[CeeKay]

apparently there was some concern about 'choppiness' in the video:

Yes, there is choppiness in the mech locations in the video, it’s because it was captured in slow motion with a spectator camera from demos recorded from network games. Actual network play looks fine.

[EngineNo9]

Actual gameplay trailer with some cockpit view action.

[CeeKay]

interview with the devs.

[Huw the Poo]

they say it's supposed to have the feeling of piloting a heavy mech, but from the video it seems to look a bit faster paced than that.

Yeah, it looks way too fast-paced for me.  From that gameplay trailer there doesn't seem to be much difference between this and any old online FPS.  And you can even fly or at least hover; may as well just play Section 8.

[CeeKay]

video preview from G4tv.

[CeeKay]

new story trailer.

[CeeKay]

looks like this is finally coming out... on December 12th.

[CeeKay]

new gameplay:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XFbTYybOHtM

maybe someone will make a mod to give a better feel of weight and slow things down a bit so it doesn't feel like <insert random FPS game's name here> deathmatch.

[Soulchilde]

You know this is going f2p  model?   Some are saying pay2win, so I will keep my eye on it, but the speed that those mechs are traveling is a little dis-heartening

[EngineNo9]

new gameplay:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XFbTYybOHtM

maybe someone will make a mod to give a better feel of weight and slow things down a bit so it doesn't feel like <insert random FPS game's name here> deathmatch.

Yeah, Hawken is an unapologetic FPS first, and mech game second.  There is a heavier feeling than your standard FPS, but don't expect it to be a direct competitor to the classic Mechwarrior style of mech sim.

[EngineNo9]

We released a new cinematic gameplay trailer for PAX East last week.

And for those worried about the pace of the game being too much like a standard FPS, check out this hands-on preview from the "fans play first" event held offsite at PAX.  They only had access to the light and medium mechs, not the even slower heavy mech, and still felt the difference.

[Suitably Ironic Moniker]

I was hoping that this was a sequel to Wolfen.

[kronovan]

I agree that this looks a bit too fast pased for a Mech game. As well I don't see any evidence of physical attacks in the trailer. It does look fun, but not something I'd spend a lot of time with over a true FPS.

[Soulchilde]

Anybody else get a Closed Beta Invite.  There's no NDA according to the email


 

[EngineNo9]

Well of course I'll be there.   

I know most around here are much more interested in the traditional strategic/sim mech combat in MW:O, but if you're curious at all I encourage you to try it out.  If you're a long-time forumite hit me with a PM and I'll get you a Closed Beta code.

[mirage775]

I started following Hawken a couple years ago.  Kept hoping for the damn thing to release, but it never did.  I was following it on Facebook as well, but still haven't gotten an invite to beta...

[EngineNo9]

I was following it on Facebook as well, but still haven't gotten an invite to beta...

Hmm, if only there was a way to easily remedy this problem...

If you're a long-time forumite hit me with a PM and I'll get you a Closed Beta code.

[Caine]

if you have been on CAG for at least a year, they are giving out codes.

CAGs can grab a beta code for Hawken, a highly-anticipated PC multiplayer mech combat game. CAGs who have been here for 1 year+ get first crack, with the requirements lessening as time passes.

link

[EngineNo9]

Hey, nice preview, GT!   

I know I saw somebody called thFool in the press event, but I didn't know if that was our Fool.  I'm also not sure who Victor Grunn is on the forums (or if he is), but hopefully I didn't shoot him too many times. 

[CeeKay]

Hey, nice preview, GT!   

I know I saw somebody called thFool in the press event, but I didn't know if that was our Fool.  I'm also not sure who Victor Grunn is on the forums (or if he is), but hopefully I didn't shoot him too many times. 

Victor Grunn would be none other than.... VictorGrunn.

[EngineNo9]

Ah, you cracked the code!  Apparently he only posts in PNRN, which I never go to.  Yeah, that's the ticket.  

[th'FOOL]

Hey, nice preview, GT!   

I know I saw somebody called thFool in the press event, but I didn't know if that was our Fool.  I'm also not sure who Victor Grunn is on the forums (or if he is), but hopefully I didn't shoot him too many times. 

Victor Grunn would be none other than.... VictorGrunn.

Hah! I was wondering the same about your tag in the game! Looking forward to some more time this weekend!

[Harkonis]

Fired this up again and it's come a long way.  I had quite a bit of fun, though I have to admit I was kinda hoping it would suck since I have sooo many games to play right now.

[EngineNo9]

Fired this up again and it's come a long way.  I had quite a bit of fun, though I have to admit I was kinda hoping it would suck since I have sooo many games to play right now.

Cool, glad you're enjoying it!  There will be some more big changes coming in a couple weeks and even more even bigger ones in the next couple months. 

[forgeforsaken]

How does this game not have grouping?  You know, people might want to play on the same team with their friends...

Also isn't this in the wrong forum?

[Harkonis]

It's a pc game, in the pc game forum...

[forgeforsaken]

It's a pc game, in the pc game forum...

But Mulitplayer Madness...

[CeeKay]

It's a pc game, in the pc game forum...

But Mulitplayer Madness...

yeah, it probably belongs there since that forum has been better defined.  Mods, can this get moved?

[EngineNo9]

How does this game not have grouping?  You know, people might want to play on the same team with their friends...

Well, the game is still in beta.    There is a party system in development that will be released before the game is considered non-beta.

[Harkonis]

If every game that has multiplayer was moved... this would be a quiet forum.

[naednek]

Does the game have single player?

[Harkonis]

Yes, tutorial

Plenty of games in this are multiplayer only.  I just think the two forums are a bit muddied.  Used to be one was MMOs, one was to get grouping for multiplayer in games that are also talked about in this section.

[CeeKay]

Spoiler for NSFW:

[Turtle]

The story for that poster is pretty interesting, see here:
http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/post/50432219744/special-guest-edition-the-hawkeye-initiative-irl

[Bullwinkle]

I read a recap here:  http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-15-hawken-art-prank-changes-ceos-mind-about-scantily-clad-women

Fantastic story.  Had me applauding at the end.

[EngineNo9]

You know, this all makes for a good story, lesson learned, etc.  And in addition to that I've always personally disliked that poster since it doesn't fit the tone or world of Hawken at all, so another reason to get rid of it.

But if you want to look at this situation another way, the sad part is that this article has gotten 20 times the press that any of our actual releases have.  Literally, on Kotaku their article has over 142,000 views, and the article they posted a few weeks back about our last big patch that added a new healing class mech, new map, and other content and fixes had ~6700 views. 

We've been in Open Beta for 6 months, Closed Beta for months before that, and a lot of our previous patches, videos, etc were never covered at all by most of these sites picking up the story. 

That's kind of frustrating when the only connection hundreds of thousands of people have to the game is a stupid poster that isn't even canon.   

[CeeKay]

time to start putting boobs and banana hammocks on the mechs!

[Turtle]

One major problem with Hawken was that a month ago when I tried it, the first week was spent completely unable to find a match at all times.

Then after that, I was locked into my most hated mode, Deathmatch, because I hadn't leveled up enough.

Meanwhile, more interesting modes that should be the highlight of the game are unavailable.

For a game that is basically an FPS with mech dressing, not embracing modes that highlight its more mech aspects is a death knell. Deathmatch is not the way to get people to stay with the game, nor is it the way to get people to stay. LoL is an incredibly complex game at times, and it brings in people because of that complexity.

Oh, and way too much static, crap, and post processing on the screen for a fast paced game like this. Makes target acquisition too difficult, especialy for new players, which are the kind of players you want to keep around. It works with slower mechs like Mechwarrior or Steel Battalion, not so much on a twitch shooter with mechs that jump and dodge around.