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Microsoft Clears MechWarrior4 Free Launch

Posted by Soulskill on from the done-and-done dept.

Vamman writes "If you've been following the drama surrounding the free release of MechWarrior4, then you're probably aware that the initial announcement, made last summer, was a bit premature. Now, nearly a year since that announcement was made, MekTek Studios has announced that Microsoft Legal has given clearance for the free release of Mechwarrior4. This move by Microsoft Games couldn't come at a better time for the community, as the owners of MechWarrior are attempting a reboot of the franchise."

8 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Can't be... by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft is evil...but mechs are soooooo cool(and impractical).

    Yet Microsoft is evil...

    But mechs are really, really cool.

    *head explodes*

    --

    People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
  2. Re:Microsoft !=evil? by iamhassi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, Microsoft is still evil, but this certainly helped their karma

    --
    my karma will be here long after I'm gone
  3. Get the MW mod for crysis instead by assemblerex · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You need to check out this mod, it probably better than anything MS will ever kick out the door. http://www.mechlivinglegends.net/

  4. Possible Future of Marketing Franchises? by cheesethegreat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Releasing the one-before-last as freeware seems a pretty sensible move for anyone marketing a franchise (yes, I know that MS aren't the ones pushing the new MW to market, but this is still relevant).

    Releasing Bioshock 3? Put Bioshock 1 out as freeware. You're not going to lose any money, the people who were going to buy it won't wait 3 years just to get it free (especially when you've already released 2). All you do is potentially pull more people into the game who will take a look at it and think "hmm, if I like this one that's 3 years old, maybe I'll like the one they're about to release".

    Developers are starting to talk about not wanting to release demos, and instead going with payware. This would allow multiple tiers of demo-type experience for the consumer. For example, with Mass Effect 3, it could work like this:

    Tier 1: Freeware of ME1, released onto BitTorrent or equivalent to minimize distribution cost
    Tier 2: Payware demo from the current release (perhaps including a full-access version of ME 2)
    Tier 3: Full-cost version of ME3

    This may be the way forward. I might be okay with losing demos, if I'm going to be able to see previous versions of the game in freeware form.

    1. Re:Possible Future of Marketing Franchises? by hairyfeet · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well I would say it depends on whether they give you good value for the money or whether they just stick the old game on a server and expect to rake in more cash. Because funny that you should mention it but I just bought the original Fallout from GOG when they had it on sale for $3. Why did I buy it when there are still sites that offer the old free version they released a few years ago?

      Because GOG goes out of their way to make sure the games play nicely on today's hardware without hassle. Thanks to their customized DOSBox install I have Fallout, Redneck Rampage, Beneath a Steel Sky, and all work perfectly on Windows 7 x64. No tweaking, or dealing with sound issues, or fiddling with DOSBox, it all just works without having to do anything more than install and click on the desktop link. And if that alone wasn't worth $3, they give you soundtracks, strategy guides, wallpapers, etc, and all with NO DRM and easy to backup installers along with unlimited downloads and installs.

      So I'd say it all comes down to giving the customer the extra value to make buying an older game worth it. Would I buy Mech 4 off of GOG? If they did it like many of the others, with the expansion pack, mech packs, soundtracks, and all the extras already installed and ready to go, yeah I'd consider shelling out another $5-$10 just to not have the hassle of digging out my old Mech 4 discs and getting them set up for x64. If you want customers to buy older games, especially those for dead OSes, you really need to go the extra mile to make it worth buying. Oh and for those that haven't checked out GOG yet, set you up an account and you can get 3 free games including Beneath a Steel Sky to get you started. But I have a feeling once you see how easy shopping at GOG is, and how nicely they treat you, you'll end up hooked like me.

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  5. Re:Microsoft !=evil? by DirtyCanuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    "So is Microsoft no longer evil? I'm sure some slashdotters will find a way of turning this nice move by Microsoft into something sinister."

    We all know this is part of the Microsoft agenda to convert human souls into Mechwarriors.

    That little prick Gates is behind it all. His smug smile and endless charity all a guise to cover his plan for world domination.

    Open your eyes people

  6. Re:Microsoft !=evil? by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It makes little sense to classify a company as evil or !evil over an extended period of time. They are a company, run by an often-changing group of people. They have no sentimental ties to their previous behaviour, and as such, they can turn on a dime. Microsoft releasing mw4 today doesn't mean they won't sue Linux contributors for patent infringement the next (I know, bad example).

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  7. Re:Microsoft !=evil? by ryanvm · · Score: 4, Funny

    Are you guys *still* doing the "Microsoft is Evil" bit? Man, get with the times. Microsoft is harmlessly wandering in the desert. Now, Apple is evil. Facebook is evil. And Google is under evaluation...