From sz0759@rzmail.uni-erlangen.de Thu Aug 3 21:48:56 EDT 1995 Article: 35585 of rec.games.mecha Path: gt-news!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!simtel!fu-berlin.de!cs.tu-berlin.de!fauern!rrze.uni-erlangen.de!rzmail.uni-erlangen.de!sz0759 From: sz0759@rzmail.uni-erlangen.de (Klaus Breuer) Newsgroups: rec.games.mecha Subject: MW2 mini-patch ideas (amazing game, this) Date: 3 Aug 1995 14:09:36 GMT Organization: University of Erlangen, Germany Lines: 97 Message-ID: <3vqlb0$92i@cd4680fs.rrze.uni-erlangen.de> NNTP-Posting-Host: rzcip03.rrze.uni-erlangen.de Status: RO Hi everybody, especially Tim @ Activision! I got my copy of MechWarrior 2 yesterday morning and have played it non-stop for about 18 hours. This game not only has amazing graphics (you guys use VESA? Hey, how did you get that SPEED?) but is also a very good game by itself. I haven't tried head-to-head yet (MechWar II hasn't been released in Germany yet, thanks to some bureaucratic twerps Up Top) but I sure am looking forward to it. Lots of people have written glowing reviews, so I'm not going to copy them. All I can say is that I've been fiddling with computers (and playing games :) since 1981, and MW2 takes definite price for Best Sim in my book! Great job, guys; I also agree that it was well worth the wait. I gather you're going to release a mini-patch soon (or will you wait for NetMech?), so here are my comments and ideas: * The intro messes up somewhat when playing off a CD-ROM with a medium install (works beautifully after a full 103MB install, though). Is that a problem with the decompressor? You might want to do something about it. And I sure dig the highly detailed Mechs shown when you choose your clan :) * How about an option to replay the intro? I must have watched it ten times in a row, showing it off to various friends as well. * Please: optionally turn off the aiming recenter when moving the torso up/down. I would like to crank up to maximum zoom (handy feature, this), point the crosshairs just above the hill and wait for the enemy to show up... This misfeature is responsible for my only using missiles (autoaim :) * When switching from target modus back to nav modus, please jump to the first unreached waypoint instead of starting at the very first one. I know they're color-coded, but I'm usually very busy... * Optionally turn off non-vital messages from your on-board computer voice. I don't really want to hear "Satellite link established" all the time... * I add my voice to the throng with joystick alignment difficulties. Nothing major, just some jinking every now and then (and the autopilot turns itself off...) * I like the message "Embrace cowardice?" when quitting, but how about several message a la DOOM? (Yes, I know. _Real_ minor, this). * How about a key to select the next weapon group? It's a pain (and twice already, lethal) to flip through your lasers to finally reach the missiles... * I also seem to have problems coming to a full stop. I like to lurk just behind corners, and a sudden start-up of the engine can spoil it all for me. * Instant Action: how about a non-stop option? The enemy never stops coming, and you always come back from the dead. Would be great to really test a Mech design thoroughly. Things I like so much that I thought I'ld just mention them: * Graphics! Goes without saying really. 640x480 looks lovely and smooth on my p90/PCI/32MB system. Strangely (habit?), I also like the 320x200 mode, although I don't think I get a speed advantage. * The virtual cockpit is a brilliant idea! All cockpits still look different, and you have maximum info with maximum visibility. * The music is great! Thanks for using the Redbook format, I've been listening to it on my CD when I'm not playing the game. You might want to put a short note in the READ.ME about setting your soundcard for CD-input though - took me some time... * I like all the loving detail you put into it: DOOM references, digs at EarthSiege, the Terminator-effect in the intro, the cities (love those houses and their contents!) and all the work put into the environment: from canyon bridges (could you - perhaps - add tunnels to connect these bridges?) right down to the scar where the crashed dropship hit the ground. * I can see lots of add-on disks coming our way (Inner Sphere! 3025 Tech! I want my favourite toy: the MAD-3R Marauder!) and I can tell you now than I will buy them _all_ :) I'm even looking into the 3D headset and the foot pedals (I'm going to be broke for *years* :) Thanks for a great game! Well done! Ciao, Klaus PS: Hey, you Jade Falcons: I'm stuck in 'Plum Wine' (stopping the people escaping in the dropships). Any idea on how to stop both convoys? I can get one without trouble (using a dedicated high-speed mech) but I'm always much too late for the second one (and my starmate ain't bright enough...) --- Klaus Breuer, Rudelsweiher Str. 6b, 91054 Erlangen, Germany "Geez, I need a *reason* for everything?" -- Calvin "Should I or shouldn't I? Too late, I did!" -- Hobbes