Project 2 - Uber Mech Online

[Faille]

Well, august is finally here, so we can start on work for project two. The working title is going to be Uber Mechs Online (UMO), but hopefully we can come up with a better name at some point 8)

As the title implies, the game will be based around mechs, though we're going to come up with an original storyline and not borrow from any existing licenses.

Initially we're going to have the game split between PVE and PVP, but it will depend which area is more successful as to which we will focus our future efforts on more.

The game itself will not be a fps / twitch style game, but more a tactical game, in the same vein as Eve, but we want the actual combat and action to be far more accessible.

Everything is still in the brainstorming stage, and while we're starting to get an idea of where we want to go, nothing is set in stone, so any and all input is welcomed.

The Roadmap for how we're going to be proceeding can be seen at
Uber Mech Online - Roadmap
though atm it's very scarce. Actual design work will again be stored on our wiki, while discussions will continue to be done on IRC as well as these forums.

I look forward to hearing from you all, either as fellow contributors, or just as interested observers.

[kollos]

some similar games for inspiration

mechwarrior 4 mercenaries multiplayer


chromehounds multiplayer



armored core 4

[Camerous]

From IRC this moring I gathered the following info which may help others out.

-No flying so no need to do robotech style mechs. More of a ground based walking robot mech type.

-The player is a pilot not the actual mech so up grading the whole mech is possible.

-The mechs will have components that can be up graded as well as the frame.

-All combat will be ranged combat.

[Linbog]

Define Mech = Mobile Environmental Combat... got no H

Edit: Anyone ever play with one of those mech pods, Wizards of the Coast game centers had a few and they were developed by some company in California.

[Khorum]

Heh I used to play the shit out of the Battletech Centers (that were later bought out by some other company) in Chicago. They eventually opened branches everywhere, even Japan. Played enough to get into the leagues and got a gold card. God that shit was expensive for a college student.

[Camerous]

Originally Posted by Linbog

Define Mech = Mobile Environmental Combat... got no H

Edit: Anyone ever play with one of those mech pods, Wizards of the Coast game centers had a few and they were developed by some company in California.

Mecha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Let me quote the important part for you.

The term "mech" is used to describe such vehicles considerably more often in Western entertainment than in Asian entertainment. "Mech" as a term originated from BattleTech (where it is often written as 'Mech, short for BattleMech or OmniMech), and is not used in Japan in other contexts except as an unintentional misspelling of "mecha." (One exception is the Japanese version of BattleTech, which attempts to retain the English word.) In Japanese, "robot" is the more frequent term (see 'Other meanings' below). In the Japanese stories themselves, they are seldom known as "mecha".

Edit*

Oh and also here ya go:

BattleMech - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The important part:

BattleMechs (often abbreviated 'Mechs) are large walking war machines that feature prominently in the fictional universe of BattleTech. 'Mechs, which are generally either bipedal or quadrupedal in configuration, are controlled by human pilots and can thus be classified as mecha.

[Ham n Cheese]

1000% chance FattyFat was the biggest supporter of this idea

I also think it's silly I guess if no units can fly but we're living in an age where mech robots exist for battle? Avoiding realism all together heh. Also all ranged combat? Kind of loses the appeal of getting into those awesome melee style concepts that could exist, but I understand it for sure.

Anyway sounds cool

[Camerous]

Originally Posted by Ham n Cheese

1000% chance FattyFat was the biggest supporter of this idea

I also think it's silly I guess if no units can fly but we're living in an age where mech robots exist for battle? Avoiding realism all together heh. Also all ranged combat? Kind of loses the appeal of getting into those awesome melee style concepts that could exist, but I understand it for sure.

Anyway sounds cool

I think the reason for it was because putting in flying would be hard on the coders to put in and presents another set of challenges as far as content and balancing goes.

the melee was ruled out cause of the fact that in order to have melee you again need another set of rules for it and add that to the 3 or 4 rules you are going to have to have for different types of ammunition and ballistic weapons it would just been an even greater burden.

At least that's what I came away with from talking to the crew this morning. :-)

[kollos]

keep in mind that cam summed up a few personal opinions/ideas from irc.
there have been no final decissions made, we still have to flesh out our concept

i just think flying would cause alot of extra work on stuff like controls, balance or world design.

[Linbog]

Originally Posted by Camerous

Mecha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Let me quote the important part for you.

Oh and also here ya go:[stuff]

BattleMech - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The important part:[more stuff]

I was actually making a joke relating to the first box on the roadmap [Define a Mech] I suppose it would have been better if I had finished the acronym :P

Also for further inspiration have people read the Bolo books, granted they are about autonomous tanks and not mechs but its still somewhat related, sorta.

[Khorum]

A battletech Mercenaries game was my vote when they first canvassed for ideas. I wouldn't mind helping out with code on the air combat or on writing snippets for the lore.

Is there a forum (or wiki or IRC) for making suggestions to the mech project or is it now a closed team from the first project?

[kollos]

Project 2 - UberWorlds Development Wiki wiki isnt really up to date atm
we also have a private forum here on foh for our team
irc channel is #uberworlds on the uberguilds server. irc is definitely the best way to get involved. pretty much a must

[Khorum]

Ah cool, so it's a closed team now with a private forum? That makes sense. I've only seen the public wiki and this forum so far, made it seem like there wasn't much activity except for the concept artists.

Wellp, if there's a protocol for accepting, qualifiying and selecting user submissions I haven't seen it. Then again I've only seen the public wiki and the forum stickies.

[splok]

Originally Posted by kollos

Project 2 - UberWorlds Development Wiki wiki isnt really up to date atm
we also have a private forum here on foh for our team
irc channel is #uberworlds on the uberguilds server. irc is definitely the best way to get involved. pretty much a must

When are people typically active on irc? I've popped in a few times and never found anyone awake.

[Faille]

We're not actually going to use the private forums for the near future. Not until there's a real need for it. so everything will happen in this public forum.

There is always going to be room for more people who are wanting to join in and help, but again, it's going to be a meritocracy. I don't care how brilliant your idea might be, if all you do is post on the forums without any actual work, you will probably be ignored.