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Gaming News - March 2002
Redmond, WA (March 21, 2002) - Microsoft today announced the
Mechs picked by players to appear in future MechWarrior 4 expansions.
From Microsoft:
The results are in! Microsoft today announced that its MechWarrior® 4
"Select A 'Mech" online surveys are complete. The winners: From the
MechWarrior universe's Inner Sphere, the Zeus, an 80-ton long-range Assault 'Mech;
and from the world of the Clans, the Masakari, a deadly-accurate, 85-ton Assault
'Mech.
The surveys allowed MechWarrior fans to help decide which 'Mechs will appear
in future MechWarrior releases. The Zeus will play a featured role in the
MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak, and the Masakari will appear in the
MechWarrior 4: Clan 'Mech Pak.
Tens of thousands of votes were cast in the two surveys, and both were close
contests. The Zeus took the top spot in the Inner Sphere poll by fewer than 200
votes over the massive, jump-capable Highlander, which will also be featured in
the Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak. Write-in nominations included many favorite 'Mechs,
including the Avatar, the Devastator, and the lovable "Urbie" (UrbanMech)
from MechCommander 2.
"All the familiar names were there," said FASA studio producer TJ
"PAINGOD" Wagner. "We'll take a long look at these 'Mechs and
explore every possibility of getting them added to future titles."
In the Clan poll, the Masakari edged out the Kodiak by less than one
percentage point, so the Kodiak will be another featured player in the Clan 'Mech
Pak. The top five write-in 'Mechs were the Blood Asp, Cauldron-Born, Puma,
SuperNova, and the Turkina. "This one was really down to the wire,"
Wagner said. "I kept refreshing my browser every 30 seconds to see who was
winning."
Players can check out the Inner Sphere survey results at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mw4_blackknight/is_mechs.asp.
Clan results are available at http://www.microsoft.com/games/mw4_blackknight/future_mechs.asp.
The Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak will contain the following four 'Mechs:
Zeus – A classic Inner Sphere design, the Zeus is an extremely reliable
long-range Assault 'Mech (80 tons)
Highlander - A massive jump-capable Assault 'Mech and signature 'Mech of the
Northwind Highlanders mercenary unit (90 tons)
Hunchback - Easily identified by its oversized shoulder-mount auto-cannon, the
Hunchback is a tough brawler armed for short-range combat (50 tons)
Dragon - A speedy all-around frontline striker and a favored 'Mech of House
Kurita commanders (60 tons)
The Clan 'Mech Pak will feature the following four 'Mechs:
Masakari - Easily identified by its squat torso, jutting head, and broad chest,
this 'Mech has become notorious for its deadly accuracy (85 tons)
Kodiak - A large, fast-moving Assault 'Mech that carries impressive medium-range
firepower (100 tons)
Arctic Wolf - Loaded with SRMs, this BattleMech can rapidly close with an enemy
and shower it with more than 40 missiles (40 tons)
Cauldron-Born - Named for the unstoppable zombies of Irish myth, this 'Mech can
take immense damage and remain operational (65 tons)
Both 'Mech Paks will also feature a new multiplayer map, plus new weapon and
sensor technology.
The MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak will include:
Coliseum Multiplayer Map - 'Mechs duke it out in a gigantic arena, entertaining
millions
Heavy Gauss Rifle - The HGR hits harder than the standard Gauss Rifle, at the
expense of tonnage and range
IFF Jammer - This cutting-edge tech lets the new Inner Sphere 'Mechs spread
confusion in the enemy's ranks
The Clan Pak will include:
Factory Multiplayer Map - Combatants fight for position amid the ruins of a huge
factory on Solaris
Streak MRM - A new, homing version of the Medium Range Missile, made possible by
Clan technology
Enhanced Optics - This component of the new Clan 'Mechs gives the MechWarrior a
larger field of view when zooming in on distant targets
The Paks extend the gameplay for the best-selling, award-winning MechWarrior 4:
Vengeance, based on the popular game of mechanized combat from FASA Studios™.
Each Pak will give players new 'Mechs, a new electronics package, a new weapon,
and a multiplayer map. Cyberlore, the team behind the successful MechWarrior 4:
Black Knight expansion, is developing the Paks in conjunction with the FASA
MechWarrior 4 team. The MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere 'Mech Pak will be available
in retail locations throughout North America in May. The Clan 'Mech Pak will be
available this Summer. Both will have an ESRB rating of "T" for Teen
and a suggested retail price below $20. For more information, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/games/mechpaks.
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