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Warning. Alot of baba-ji. I know I have already Jam with my stupid texts, but, bear with me :P
OK. You know guys, i'm always whining by reason, or without reason. But you know i'm always do this just because want better future for hawken. Some thing what i say is quite obvious, some is can be a quite stupid, but... anyway i just want talking about game, and probably, find some interest solutions (baba-ji solutions) for game!
I looked developers Q&A, and it led me to some thoughts. so I hope that the developers read the forum (who am I kidding, I know that's not true, but let me be a little naive), and they thinking about this. maybe.
So I'll start from afar.
What we know about new "Overwatch" online shooter?
It's quite popular online shooter, mostly by brand name devs. It is an interesting, colorful, has a good balance game with a stupid lore and storyline which nobody care. The main part of this shooter (and every other shooters too) - good gameplay!
Despite many people think than Blizzard games have "brilliant balance". it is not true. And Overwatch also have some drawbacks in balance (mostly based on personal skill, rather balance, and sometimes by unstandart characters pick by every team). Overwatch also have several objective game-modes where you need defend object, or attack object. or both.
Also, overwatch have many (21) different characters, divided by role, and have own weapon and several abilities, and one devastative ability like "ultimate" which can kill someone very fast.
Also, you can quickly change the characters in battle to change your team, and create a counter-tactic against the enemy team setup.
As you see, it is actually not a very different with hawken (and probably, with many other unknown online shooters). Let see.
When Hawken 3.0 Happens we have:
- hawken is still have nice looking colorfull graphics and looking good (btw, online shooters graphics doesn't matter)
- many mechs with their own class/role. it own weapon and ability. Yes, hawken mech don't have some Ultimate abilities, but with some items, it is +/- equal.
- after patch every mech will be unique and have his own weapons and can be easily identified on battle field.
- we have objective game-modes (siege/ma) which mostly based on protect point/atack point.
- we have some problem with balance based on skill (like pro say - scout is bad, nubs say - scout is OP etc.)
- in hawken you also can changes mech in fight and chage tactics in a middle of the fight. it is good.
we also have problem with Money (not We, Reloaded just don't have several millions like Blizzard :D), with small player base, with servers.
Now reloaded tell this in Q&A:
Ok. Now let's see what Hawken is different from a Overwath and why Hawken is not competitive and is actually looking like P2W.
Overwatch is not F2P, Hawken is a good F2P, but it is a totally P2W if compared with Overwatch.
what it does mean, and why.
- When you play in Overwatch, you can swap hero in any time, and you hero always equal enemy.
- When you play in Hawken, you can swap mech in any time, but you mech equal enemy only if it "full equiped" by items/internals.
- When you play in Overwatch, you can swap any Hero.
- When you play in Hawken, you can swap any mech which you buy for HC (or MC)
it is not P2W because you need buy mechs for MC, but it is P2W because some mech are restricted for you when you start play (below i tell what we can do with this, and how we can partcially solved this problem)
So, now Reloaded making a Hawken 3.0 patch in future, and delete 2 primary weapons from mech. If they do this, they actually Can making a simple conception mech, with it own role/class, advantages and disadvanges against another mech. It is a quite conception like Overwatch and many other shooters have. The only thing that will prevent the new players to enjoy the concept of flexible mech tactics in combat, and the selection of mechs to the situation on the battlefield - it is P2W...
Now we have Hawken, with pretensions to be a competitive gameplay, but don't have instument to realise it. This is actually a Problem ?1
The next thing is:
Current G2-salt and G2-raidah is an "Alternative" mech, not just more powerfull. and we love it. i mean, players want to see equal powerfull mechs. it is normal. we want "a balance" and asking about it many times.
So, this is actually a Problem ?2. I mean. G2-Mechs now can be a problem, for positioning as F2P competitve games. You know Devs, you can tell everything, but players not stupid. they see numbers in patch notes, they understand how it working. + Reloaded reputation problems. Let's be honest, you know about APB reputation.
But the main sense not in this. The main Question, how to make Hawken feel less P2W, and give a change (maybe) to be a competitive on PC and Consoles in future.
Here, My suggestion how to fix it, and not let go Hawken to acquire a P2W "seal" (maybe):
1) Increase amount of Trial mech with full equip items/internals to 6 (six). let new players use free 2 A-, 2 B-, and 2 C-classes. And Assault, sure. This gives the player more flexibility for the change his mech in combat when he start to play.
2) Presented items and internals like a mech active and passive "abilities", rather than "items which help you in fight".
It is probably not a bad made a mech with his own items. for example, brawler can use only shields, ISM and Blockades, despite on player choice. Raider can use only Detonators, Disruptor and HE. You can choice Beetwen 3 Disr+1 Det, or 2 Det + 2 HE, but you can't equip raider with scanners. lets scanner for scouts etc.
3) G2-mechs. Reloaded, please. Don't do it powerfull than G1. Just think about it.
you say that G2-Predator just have better ability. but you actually can be better in this! Just a liitle tuning can help, for example.
Let G2-Pred allow more walking speed while ability, but have less walking speed, than G1-Pred without ability. It's easy and good changes, is not it? It is just a one and simple example.
Now G2 pred is CAN be a bit better while stalking, but if you play not accurate, and being spotted, you have a little drawback in face-to-face fight. P2W now? Looks like No.
4) Old Players mechs. Ok guys. I know you love you super-raidah with red-death-EOC-mega-alpha, but...It should be deleted!
Seriously devs, Listen why. You can't delete camos/body parts, because it tons of whining and real money, we understand it. But you really can't made a game (probably oriented on competitve gameplay) where some % of players have mech and weapons which is just restricted for other players. My SA-Brawler can be a very devastative in some setup or situations, and other player can't play on it. the same with papa-incinerator, or flak-scout, which other players don't have.
Give a old player a compensation of it. I don't know, just give these scrubs unique camo and delete restricted weapons. If someone buy weapons with MC, return this player his MC amount which he spent for weapon unlock. It Should be done at any cost.
You can not give players the mechs that are not planned and did not fit into the overall concept of the gameplay. Do not repeat the mistake with incinerator, please don't break general rules of gamedesign twice.
5) After this, all what you need is correct to balance, add new mechs, make new bodyparts and camouflage/thrusters. Exclusive parts that are available only as part of a package, or can be purchased for a limited period of time. (Like Cupcake bodyparts, well, you understand me, i'm talking about limited-editions decorations for mechs). Trying to Fix game-servers, ping, and do some tech-service.
With those little changes we actually have the same gameplay like Overwatch have. It is obviously, still worse, but, when hawken more look like F2P, it is more attractively for people who see at gameplay (i talking about players, who play because "gameplay" not because "graphics", it is target audience, players who agrees to play in Hawken for a long time).
Devs, please, don't waste Hawken attractive design/graphics to earn "fast money" and sealed game as P2W forever.
Overwatch now is quite popular. People interested in it now, try it. play or not play. But Blizzard is not stupid, they know how to promote the product. In the near future will probably appear some overwatch-clones (if not appear already). and people will be interested in a similar gameplay like overwatch. therefore, we have a chance. We can offer them a similar gameplay, but in the style of a huge military mech + unique Hawken features (dodge, weapons, etc.). But P2W can spoil everything.
What we know about new "Overwatch" online shooter?
It's quite popular online shooter, mostly by brand name devs. It is an interesting, colorful, has a good balance game with a stupid lore and storyline which nobody care. The main part of this shooter (and every other shooters too) - good gameplay!
Despite many people think than Blizzard games have "brilliant balance". it is not true. And Overwatch also have some drawbacks in balance (mostly based on personal skill, rather balance, and sometimes by unstandart characters pick by every team). Overwatch also have several objective game-modes where you need defend object, or attack object. or both.
Also, overwatch have many (21) different characters, divided by role, and have own weapon and several abilities, and one devastative ability like "ultimate" which can kill someone very fast.
Also, you can quickly change the characters in battle to change your team, and create a counter-tactic against the enemy team setup.
As you see, it is actually not a very different with hawken (and probably, with many other unknown online shooters). Let see.
When Hawken 3.0 Happens we have:
- hawken is still have nice looking colorfull graphics and looking good (btw, online shooters graphics doesn't matter)
- many mechs with their own class/role. it own weapon and ability. Yes, hawken mech don't have some Ultimate abilities, but with some items, it is +/- equal.
- after patch every mech will be unique and have his own weapons and can be easily identified on battle field.
- we have objective game-modes (siege/ma) which mostly based on protect point/atack point.
- we have some problem with balance based on skill (like pro say - scout is bad, nubs say - scout is OP etc.)
- in hawken you also can changes mech in fight and chage tactics in a middle of the fight. it is good.
we also have problem with Money (not We, Reloaded just don't have several millions like Blizzard :D), with small player base, with servers.
Now reloaded tell this in Q&A:
We would love to see Hawken become an eSport on both Console and PC, but we realize that cannot happen without full developer support for the competitive community. Unfortunately, there is nothing set in stone right now. But it's on our minds for sure.
Ok. Now let's see what Hawken is different from a Overwath and why Hawken is not competitive and is actually looking like P2W.
Overwatch is not F2P, Hawken is a good F2P, but it is a totally P2W if compared with Overwatch.
what it does mean, and why.
- When you play in Overwatch, you can swap hero in any time, and you hero always equal enemy.
- When you play in Hawken, you can swap mech in any time, but you mech equal enemy only if it "full equiped" by items/internals.
- When you play in Overwatch, you can swap any Hero.
- When you play in Hawken, you can swap any mech which you buy for HC (or MC)
it is not P2W because you need buy mechs for MC, but it is P2W because some mech are restricted for you when you start play (below i tell what we can do with this, and how we can partcially solved this problem)
So, now Reloaded making a Hawken 3.0 patch in future, and delete 2 primary weapons from mech. If they do this, they actually Can making a simple conception mech, with it own role/class, advantages and disadvanges against another mech. It is a quite conception like Overwatch and many other shooters have. The only thing that will prevent the new players to enjoy the concept of flexible mech tactics in combat, and the selection of mechs to the situation on the battlefield - it is P2W...
Now we have Hawken, with pretensions to be a competitive gameplay, but don't have instument to realise it. This is actually a Problem ?1
The next thing is:
The G1 and G2 mech concept has been extended so that there is a bit of a power increase to the G2 variant of each mech.obviously, it is a 100% P2W pharase.
Current G2-salt and G2-raidah is an "Alternative" mech, not just more powerfull. and we love it. i mean, players want to see equal powerfull mechs. it is normal. we want "a balance" and asking about it many times.
So, this is actually a Problem ?2. I mean. G2-Mechs now can be a problem, for positioning as F2P competitve games. You know Devs, you can tell everything, but players not stupid. they see numbers in patch notes, they understand how it working. + Reloaded reputation problems. Let's be honest, you know about APB reputation.
But the main sense not in this. The main Question, how to make Hawken feel less P2W, and give a change (maybe) to be a competitive on PC and Consoles in future.
Here, My suggestion how to fix it, and not let go Hawken to acquire a P2W "seal" (maybe):
1) Increase amount of Trial mech with full equip items/internals to 6 (six). let new players use free 2 A-, 2 B-, and 2 C-classes. And Assault, sure. This gives the player more flexibility for the change his mech in combat when he start to play.
2) Presented items and internals like a mech active and passive "abilities", rather than "items which help you in fight".
It is probably not a bad made a mech with his own items. for example, brawler can use only shields, ISM and Blockades, despite on player choice. Raider can use only Detonators, Disruptor and HE. You can choice Beetwen 3 Disr+1 Det, or 2 Det + 2 HE, but you can't equip raider with scanners. lets scanner for scouts etc.
3) G2-mechs. Reloaded, please. Don't do it powerfull than G1. Just think about it.
you say that G2-Predator just have better ability. but you actually can be better in this! Just a liitle tuning can help, for example.
Let G2-Pred allow more walking speed while ability, but have less walking speed, than G1-Pred without ability. It's easy and good changes, is not it? It is just a one and simple example.
Now G2 pred is CAN be a bit better while stalking, but if you play not accurate, and being spotted, you have a little drawback in face-to-face fight. P2W now? Looks like No.
4) Old Players mechs. Ok guys. I know you love you super-raidah with red-death-EOC-mega-alpha, but...It should be deleted!
Seriously devs, Listen why. You can't delete camos/body parts, because it tons of whining and real money, we understand it. But you really can't made a game (probably oriented on competitve gameplay) where some % of players have mech and weapons which is just restricted for other players. My SA-Brawler can be a very devastative in some setup or situations, and other player can't play on it. the same with papa-incinerator, or flak-scout, which other players don't have.
Give a old player a compensation of it. I don't know, just give these scrubs unique camo and delete restricted weapons. If someone buy weapons with MC, return this player his MC amount which he spent for weapon unlock. It Should be done at any cost.
You can not give players the mechs that are not planned and did not fit into the overall concept of the gameplay. Do not repeat the mistake with incinerator, please don't break general rules of gamedesign twice.
5) After this, all what you need is correct to balance, add new mechs, make new bodyparts and camouflage/thrusters. Exclusive parts that are available only as part of a package, or can be purchased for a limited period of time. (Like Cupcake bodyparts, well, you understand me, i'm talking about limited-editions decorations for mechs). Trying to Fix game-servers, ping, and do some tech-service.
With those little changes we actually have the same gameplay like Overwatch have. It is obviously, still worse, but, when hawken more look like F2P, it is more attractively for people who see at gameplay (i talking about players, who play because "gameplay" not because "graphics", it is target audience, players who agrees to play in Hawken for a long time).
Devs, please, don't waste Hawken attractive design/graphics to earn "fast money" and sealed game as P2W forever.
Overwatch now is quite popular. People interested in it now, try it. play or not play. But Blizzard is not stupid, they know how to promote the product. In the near future will probably appear some overwatch-clones (if not appear already). and people will be interested in a similar gameplay like overwatch. therefore, we have a chance. We can offer them a similar gameplay, but in the style of a huge military mech + unique Hawken features (dodge, weapons, etc.). But P2W can spoil everything.
Don't think i'm absolutely mad or crazy, no i'm not (and i'm even not drunk like Tickle...xD). You know i still want back my 2012 Closed-Beta 3 HA?KEN and play in it, even with bugs, fps drop, and ugly balance.
Hawken was trying to find its niche. It did not work out. Even devs tell, that it is no another way, except making Hawking 3.0 and fully rebalance. So, if it right, why do not try oriented to a more successful/popular products on the market? It is really so bad?
It is just my feedback about "Devs Q&A". I hope devs read it.
"lol didn't read" comments indeed.
Edited by nepacaka, 22 June 2016 - 03:06 PM.
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