- The Computer Game Preview -

Salvage & Other Details

Pilots can salvage partially destroyed 'Mechs, using their armour, ammunition, weapons or engines in future battles. This sounds familiar to MechWarrior 2 but apparently the salvage you obtain is real (in other words, what you destroy is what you get, it is not just randomised).

At the end of a battle pilots will have the chance to re-configure their 'Mechs. As with all BattleTech related games, all 'Mechs can only take a certain amount of equipment and weapons before they become too cluttered or over-weight.

One exciting prospect that MechWarrior 3 offers is deploying a refit vehicle into battle. While the truck is defenceless, it can make armour repairs and replenish ammunition when not having to avoid enemy 'Mechs.

                           
Click on an image to enlarge

Graphics

Even when the game is played in conjunction with a 3-D graphics accelerator card the resolution will only be as high as 640-480. However, Zipper Interactive's teams are considering adding an 800-600 mode before the game is distributed.

To make the most of the game users will want to obtain a 3-D graphics accelerator card capable of single-pass multi-texturing. One example is the Voodoo 2. These hardware cards are normally quite expensive, but buying one is worthwhile since more and more games are beginning to use them

Zipper Interactive's amazing game engine will take advantage of multi-texturing under Direct3D 6.0, but hopefully it will also support 3Dfx's native API, Glide.

Commanding & Multiplay

Communicating with your wingmen is another old idea that seems to have been totally revamped. You can supposedly issue quick, instant orders such as, "Stop" and, "Follow me." A small pop-up command computer also allows you to make more complex commands, and this is best used when the coast is clear since it will require a bit more concentration.

Enemy and allied forces will react according to how the battle is developing. While the enemies in MechWarrior 2 just relentlessly attacked you no matter what their situation, in MechWarrior 3 they will call for reinforcements or retreat if things go wrong (who ever heard of a Clan pilot running from a fight?!).

                           
Click on an image to enlarge

MechWarrior 3 will feature multi-play capabilities. Up to eight players can battle over a LAN or the Internet, and head-to-head battle is also expected.

The multi-player game will feature three different modes of chat. Messages can be sent to your comrades only, which is great for making secret plans. The second type of communication is chatting to individual players. Finally, messages can be sent to all players, brilliant for annoying the enemy! Mircroprose seems to be considering the idea of allowing players to add customised decals to their 'Mechs. Whether this is only in multiplay games or in the normal game is unknown.

The Companies

Taking into account the popularity of the BattleTech Universe (especially in America) MechWarrior 3 is likely to sell to all 'Mech fans no matter how it turns out. Despite this Microprose and Zipper Interactive are putting in a great deal of effort to make sure it ends up a really good game and sells to audiences who are not part of the BattleTech cult. Fasa Interactive must be praying that the game turns out well!

The release date for MechWarrior 3 is said to be early 1999.

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"Send in the Junior Officers Group for a little creative requisitioning."

-Leftenant-General Andrew Redburn