- Ditch the level system. Entirely. It accomplishes nothing, simultaneously giving new players a false, wandering sense of progression and contributing to perceptions of a grind. It feeds into the same damn LoL issue where they get told not to bother buying fuzzy bunny for their mechs until level 30. This is a shooter and one with no need of an XP or level system, outside of providing a really poorly conceptualized monetization scheme. How much do people spend on XP boosts or transfers?No really. I'd like an answer to that.
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All mechs come with a default loadout.Similar to the current Assault they get, when players get a new mech they get a default set of items outside of a dinky little HE charge. Stripping the idea of levels out here also cuts the grind and gives a much more immediate sense of customization. For this to really work though, there are a few requirements that need to be met before or simultaneously:Req. 1: Item balancing. Turrets and ISM need to be useful, orbs need to be nerfed, extractor and repair kit need changes if not outright nerfs, etc., etc., all that fuzzy bunny we've been talking about for literally months.Req 2: Weapon availability. Weapons need to be non-level oriented and purchasable with HC and MC, preferably at a massively higher HC rate to justify spending MC on them. Furthermore stop visually representing them as tiers. Remove some of the P2W stigma and lay them out horizontally or in a circle.Req 3: Elite parts. Tie them to achievements! Tweak the goals for the Mech <rank> achievements and give people something to aim for outside their first 40 hours in game. This also opens up possibilities for elite parts across multiple mechs. Want another Raider? Buy it and its bling as fuzz gleaming white parts are already unlocked.Tl;dr levels r bad, ur not CoD, #ditchthestigma
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Cross-location servers.
Atlantic failed. But as was demonstrated too late, there was some interest in making it work towards the end. The issue was that no one bothered switching to new region for extensive testing. Code something up so that a server can be listed in Amsterdam and Ashburn at the same time, while being physically in Iceland. Then give us some FUZZY BUNNY WARNING and we'll test it. Do something GROUND-BREAKING. Hawken was built on a reputation of mould-shattering. Leverage that. Do something no one has before. -
Rebuild the maps.
This one I admit to being hazy on. Apparently what they were built in was notorious for something that causes the BS sticky walls and floors (and maybe the gravity traps?). It's a massive undertaking, to be sure, but along with tweaks to run better on modern cards it would go a LONG way to making the game feel polished. Hawken's gameplay is solid, but its game world is a janky heap of awkward and anger. You're not Adhesive, no reason the walls need to be made of the stuff anymore. -
WAN Connections.
Look, guys, just... just fix the netcode. Make it server-side. Steal someone else's for all we care. If I need to watch one more goddamn grenade not register after my death I am going to fuzzy bunnyng scream myself Horus, lead an unholy crusade, backed by the powers of Chaos Undivided, to unseat the false Emperor on Terra. -
Integrate fully with Steam.
If you need evidence to bring to higher-ups, I will fuzzing find or do the research that shows a dinky little portal like Gamers First actively hampers profits. So help me god, I have multiple degrees in research and economic fields, I will fight you over this. Also bloody well get with the VAC because I am a vicious, vindictive wrath furnace, fueled by the digital corpses of weeping bads. -
Clan system to backburner.
Ok, I can see the pitchforks. Hear me out. Don't STOP development on it, but grow it with your population. It should be in no way be a priority. Right now Hawken's largest clans are struggling to break 50 members. That's a joke (sorry guys). Smaller, regional clans have three members. Building popularity is more important than maintaining it amongst current groups. Also, ffs, implement namechanges at some point in this timeline. Preferably via linking to your Steam account but make them purchasable for all I care. -
League/Comp Support.
A logical extension of the above. Right now, TPG and PT do a solid job of filling that role. There is little room left for expansion until population increases markedly. According to other TPG league statistics, the Hawken league could handle a 200% increase in participation without running into any administrative issues (barring the addition of a few admins, maybe). The same is probably true of PT, but I will leave that to Freeze's discretion. -
Voice.
See #5. Steal the fuzzy bunny out of it. Use Steam, TS, etc. Just get it done. Every minute your voice solution is being provided out of pocket by a sixteen year old funded by a bunch of shady internet figures your credibility falters. -
Don't Leave Beta.
Why would you? There is an enormous uphill battle to get this game in a strong position for release. Not necessarily in terms of gameplay, but certainly the UI, quality of life and reputation of the IP all need to be addressed before the game will be polished enough to be presentable as "finished." Leaving Beta is the last resort or triumphal moment of early access games. You better be sure it's one of them, because you do not get a second shot at the amount and thrust of attention you will get.