Big BATTLETECH News:
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- Опубліковано 25 вер 2024
- There are enough noteworthy things right now with #Battletech coming up that I think its worthwhile doing a short news video on it. It's not Huge, but it is big. Prepare for some unscripted Big Red News.
There is also, sadly, both good, and bad news.
#CGL #CatalystGameLabs #Catalyst #HBS #HarebrainedSchemes #HBSBattletech #PAX
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Note: I am not associated with the Battletech / Mechwarrior IP, and create this under fair-use. Ownership of the Battletech IP resides with several companies at this time. I support all official releases.
Resources:
Twitter Sad HBS Thread:
twitter.com/WeBeHarebrained/status/1720503219955363991
CGL Battletech ARt WIP and Artist information:
ua-cam.com/video/wXVWFKP-MJ4/v-deo.html&ab_channel=CatalystGameLabs
ua-cam.com/video/hXoZ2-2UMSA/v-deo.html&ab_channel=CatalystGameLabs
Check out the art videos, they're video cool WIP for what the artist is getting up to. I think its fantastic.
So I read through the thread and what I expected is the real problem. HBS "Licening cost$ and HBS doesn't have any". If what they said is true one of a couple of things happens. HBS goes closes it's doors sooner rather than later or two Someone like a MS buys them cheap. But if most of HBS staff is already been laid off I am not sure there is much of a point to that.
It also goes on to say they spun off with no funding. They are in real trouble
HBS did a great job with their game. I am sad to hear this.
Microsoft, "HBS has done wonders with the IP, their games were well received by a community who appreciated the respect they had for the lore. We better not let them ever touch it again."
YUP.
Big brain-soft.
Well yeah, that's how they sell their next cookie cutter first person shooter game. They take a really beloved property or game that is not the most basic bitch of settings, and then murder it on a sacrificial alter to appease the dark god Baphomet. You might also note this is how EA keeps selling the same damn boring sports game year after year. It's notable in Microsoft's case, however, that not only do they do this for newer studios but with the acquisition of Activision they also can do with with Raven down in the Call of Duty mines as well.
The best part is, Microsoft probably has no serious plans or even clue of what to do with the Battletech license. It's just now that it has accrued in value they want to sit on it just because they're not sure whether they want to make use of it themselves. It probably would have been a net gain for them to let HBS do a Battletech 2 of some kind since there's a good chance it would have even further improved the standing of the IP. But why let others with a proven track-record invest for you when you can just hoard what value you have now.
I came across some news as well! Catalyst is currently negotiating about a new German Battle Tech license.
Nothing is sure yet, and if you are not German (Austrian/Swiss) it will not affect you at all, but good to know that CGL was not completely abandoned the wide periphery outside the Anglosphere.
Given the history of German Battletech this is great news
Sehr gut.
I wonder if the Earthsiege, Heavy Gear or hell even GNome licences would be any cheaper, and if HBS could go for those first. I suspect their game engines would be very different but given the amazing job done with Battletech, I'd love to see them have a crack at those universes.
They're going to be working on their own IP again.
I don't see Hirez giving up any of the MetalTech properties (Earthsiege, Tribes, Cyberstorm) and Activision isnt likely to sell rights for Heavy Gear. Its a shame since I do like both of those properties.
Heavy gear could work, the community their has some interest in a table top like game that HBS battletech was like
Earthsiege Starsiege would be awesome.
Shazbot!
what HBS should do is a kickstarter campaign for battletech 2,show microsoft how much support there is ,hopefully new game!
They did it the first time, so why not?
Can't Kickstart something you dont' already have permission to make. Especially since it seems Microsoft is asking for a lot of capital.
its a shame there isnt something like survey form online for people to fill to show interest then show it to microsoft,kinda like a "kickstarter survey" type of thing :)
@@bigtangentI think something similar to that exists, but Microsoft could, and maybe even likely would ignore it. I think they should be able to point to the mercenaries Kickstarter and show that interest in the game is massively high still. Literally one of the biggest kickstarters ever and I bet hbs could get even more.
HBS away from Paradox is a good thing. Paradox has a history with TBS games of relying on Bullshit RNG to the point that it's a meme.
How they don't have the money to license anything. If you go through that thread they were spun off with no funding. No funding means they are not making there own IP either. Unless someone buys them it would seem they are dead and don't know it yet based on reading that thread. Sadly
@@TheGeneral308 It's a good thing because they were doomed under Paradox. Essentially Paradox did to them what EA used to do studios, they bought the company to acquire the IP and then instead of reinvesting in the company, They slowly siphoned of its profits which prevented them from funding new projects and then when the titles they had previously made stopped making money they started cutting budgets.
Had this continued Paradox would have shut them down. As hard as it is starting over finding new funding sources and building back up at least this way they have a chance to rebuild.
@@louiscypher4186 Paradox did invest in HBS. HBS owned zero IP's when they were bought. HBS new IP that HBS made failed. Lost 20 million. Paradox let HBS go with no IP's and no money after laying off 80% of the staff. You can't rebuild without those things. HBS is already dead they just don't know it yet. Unless someone comes in and buys a broke IPless company the situation is bad for HBS. From a PR point for Paradox when they close instead of it being In Paradox it will be on HBS which is brillant for Paradox
Microsoft wants the profits that HBS has made . MS thought BT was a dead market : MS does not like to be proven wrong so someone has to pay .
More that MS gave up on creating games almost all together. That said they have gotten very serious and seem to want to bring back dormat IP's and they have invested a large fortain in there own studios.
Wow... that made me sad. I was looking forward to some new Battletech or Shadowrun :/
So was I. :(
Battletech right now is typically "no news is good news" under Fanatics. Sure they are an improvement over Topps for production and distribution but on the creative side and community side they get a lot of flack and for mostly good reason.
As for the issues with the Battletech licence for video games, main issue on that front is that that Xbox executive who keeps trying to get MechAssault revived just got a promotion so he might finally have enough sway to get it done. While the original two MechAssaults got a lot of flack from fans for not respecting the setting's lore, given how well received BattleTech 2018 was and MechWarrior 5 where despite doing the same seems to indicate the fanbase is more willing to put up with that, though the general degradation of the setting itself certainly didn't help.
HBS Battletech did fantastically well.
@@BigRed40TECH Relative to its budget sure, though I think that success will also be used to justify a new MechAssault since being its own thing rather then adhering to the setting is something fans have shown we don't have issue with unlike 20 years ago.
@@ZontarDow hmmmmm. We'd have to see. I do think Microsoft may be doing something. What that is though, who knows? If it is Mechassault, it has to be better than before. And right now, Microsoft's trackrecord with games is not exactly great.
I don't think those factors would even be be on their minds if they were to greenlight more BT development. I think the only recent factor their Board would be eyeballing is how much success ArmoredCore VI just generated while completely ignoring the factor that it was riding high on the coattails of EldenRing's unquantifiable much larger success
Armored core 6 Was a huge success so if Microsoft is Willing to make another game. It will be mechassault. (More Action oriented, could appeal to a wider audience)
If there is a Hansen's Roughriders novella I look forward to finding out the author. One day the Oldguard captured on Terra shall be free
They should try a remaster collection of Mechwarrior 1 to 4 including all there expansion and released it on steam. Like they did with Halo.
Code's just ridiculously old. They'd have to make all new games mirroring them tbh
@@BigRed40TECH Man I would love a remaster/redone Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries. To relive that campaign with modern graphics would be awesome. The Battle of Luthien was a highwater point in BT videogaming for me I still remember the tension before the big finale. Hold the line at all costs, chills...
Microsoft: Thanks for dusting off the IP and making it a money-maker once again. Is there any way we thank you? How about we just make it unprofitable for you to continue and hopefully another studio will come along & do what you did in another 10 years?
Thanks for the news update.
XBox VP Phil Spencer recently talked about his love of Mech Assault
Yep. But that doesn't always translate into a game. I'll not lie, I'd also much prefer Battletech II, over Mechassault. :\
@@BigRed40TECH I would as well. My observation was more speculative on why the IP might be restricted at the moment (though why would ShadowRun be as well). A pity no one ever did turn based Renegade Legion games (I wonder where those rights are?)
I'd really love to see something like HBS' 2018 Battletech, but as a fully fledged RPG with the tactical turn based combat. It suddenly feels even more unlikely. :\
I wonder if HBS can do a DLC for the current Battletech game, it won’t bring the money that a new game would but it can be a lifeline
I'd buy a new DLC in a heart beat, but I wonder, would their license allow that?
They're sadly, not allowed to. :(
I believe they tweeted that they would love to but since they no longer have the rights to use the license it's a non-starter. Now maybe Microsoft could make a deal for the engine to license it for producing another content and maybe we could see a partnership in that regard where Microsoft takes much of the money but I doubt it
@@Veretax In some other tweets its alluded to pretty clearly that Microsoft basically wants way too much money for it, or won't license it at all.
Sounds like MS is more likely to just use one of there in house studios to do something. Given the amount of studios they have bought that seems logical.
Maybe. But they've not exactly been producing gems lately. lol
@@BigRed40TECH Starfield is a pretty good game. Hey and lets be honest BT gets a better "score" in our minds because we love BT. How many missions did tanks in BT just drive under the water? So if you want to point fingers at MS which is fair. Use that same level of pointing vs HBS. HBS has made good kickstarter games but nothing AAA either or even AA
Oh the suspense builds!
I hope we get a whole pack of hunchbacks
HareBrain should just go all in on "Going their own way"... Design their own "legally distinct" Aesthetics to avoid licensing but do those components in a Modular fashion like Warzone2100 did which people would know today as the "Armored Core" mix and match.
You mean run away into the fringes of space to create their own society to build mechs that are capable of hot-swapping their weapons?... Can't remember where I've heard that before ;P
Also if they just somehow acquire warzone 2100 licence, I would be just fucking stoked
With what money. When you read that thread they were spun of with no funding
Looks like we're going to mod MW5 Mercs and BattleTech till the end of time, just like MW3... I love how nobody cared about BattleTech until HBS made something out of it, and now suddenly the dragon needs to defend its prize.
Copyright and IP protections are ridiculous at this point.
Thank you, Red
Very welcome
Let the baseless speculation begin!!!!
I didn't baselessly speculate that much, it's why the video is only 5 minutes long! lol
@@BigRed40TECH You did not. But we as a community certainly will.
I'm confused about something. Jordan Weisman created BattleTech, who in turn founded HBS along with several other gaming companies over the years. Also, if I'm correct FASA Corporation holds the license (not to be confused with FASA Inc from back in the day.) so how does Microsoft fit into this since they gave up on Mechwarrior/BattleTech years ago? After all, if HBS must go through MS to make more BattleTech games, how did it make BattleTech for PC to begin with?
FASA was split into multiple parts, and bought by other companies. FASA interactive, and all the digital rights to Battletech, are owned by Microsoft, as they bought it.
@@BigRed40TECH Thanks. The BattleTech license is a confusing mess to keep up with.
It's a shame about HBS, I really like their stuff.
In my case at least this video was a net positive just because I'd already heard about the HBS situation so the 40th anniversary news was the only thing actually new to me😂.
Seriously though, I have a feeling that patience will pay off and Microsoft gaming is likely to become more reasonable before too long. They blew a ton of cash on buying all these studios only to see their production quality generally drop (almost like there's something wrong with Microsoft's managerial culture that's negatively effecting all studios they attach to their company... hmmmm....) and even Phil Spencer is now making public statements expressing concerns about large studio culture in general and veiled references to specific issues inside the MS umbrella. Frankly I think he knows exactly what's wrong and since he had to spearhead the effort to recruit dozens of new studios to come in and fix Halo Infinite after 343's constant problems I think he'll also be very open to bringing in another successful outside studio to help add some wins to the MS gaming portfolio again.
I like Phil Spencer, it's just a shame that they couldn't make this happen. It's broadly not great for the IP not to continue with popular titles.
@@BigRed40TECH Yeah, I have a high opinion of Phil as well. I used to work at MS until recently and have friends and family still there several of whom have interacted and worked with Phil and have good things to say about him.
In particular a lot of them say Phil really does "know the score" but he he's constantly having to fight a lot of interference from MS proper (both directly and through people they've put into MS gaming) that prevents him from really running everything like he wants. Given time though he does seem to be winning his battles one at a time and getting projects back on there feet, so fingers crossed!
@@corvus8000 and right there is one of the bigger problems for microsoft, being microsoft itself. There are too many middle managers that have way too much power, who outright don't have a clue what they're dealing with. Sometimes that's good since you get fresh eye's and perspectives on current divisions. Then you get the latter who really don't know, understand or care of the division they've been placed in. That's really where Microsoft fails badly. It's one of the reasons Panay went to Amazon. He was constantly being cut back and overuled by people who understand servers but not actual hardware. Let's hope Phil has better success.
If paradox ever releases a BattleTech or Shadowrun sequel, it better look like the second coming or I'm not buying.
Paradox won't. And sadly, now, HBS won't be able to :(
A little late, so... we talking novels getting new life? I'd be beyond down for that!
I'm kind of hoping that we get some of the original Hidden designs now that some of the legal issues have been ironed out.
Uhm. All of the Unseen have become Reseen a while ago tbh. That's not been an issue for years now.
@Big Red. What game footage is playing in the background of this video? It looks really good but I don't recognize the game it's from.
Mechwarrior 5.
@@BigRed40TECH Really?! I have MW5 on my Xbox Series X and it looks nothing like that. Is that a mod or something?
I have a sum total of 0 confidence for Microsoft to launch a good Battletech game.
Hmm... i was allways under the impression that microsoft only had the license for the mechwarrior franchise, not a cart blanche for all battletech video games... well poop...
Heard it here first folks: Battletech programmed by bethesda :P prepare for underground madcats!
Nah, they've got it all.
Why wouldn't Microsoft just hire hbs staff for in house strategy games in the BT universe. They could latterly make hundreds of them.
Your thinking like a rational person. Not Microsoft.
I missed the stream tho😓
New force packs, huh? dark age/ilclan era mechs OR some aerospace fighters would be nice.
Very much doubt Aerospace. That's gonna be a ways off imo.
I can't believe they wouldn't let hbs do another one their game was soo good. Great story.
Wouldn't let, or can't afford.
Leave it to Microsoft to gum up the works, AGAIN
I just bought a new elegoo Neptune 3 pro to print mini’s for battletech while not perfect prints you know what they are. Being a 3D printer newbie it is good to be able to print mechs, tanks, vtols and aerotech as needed and as I get better they will be better! I am very excited about being able to do this! Happy meching…
Good news, bad news, next stop: "ugly" news.😉
Nothing ugly atm
@@BigRed40TECH except microsoft being an a-hole.
Isn't that just the norm tho?
Which game companies does Microsoft own?
Lots.
So I’m confused does this effect in anyway either PGI or catalyst with the licensing stuff?
It may impact PGI, but in the long term, it's hard to know.
Sorry I might be sounding stupid but will it effect CGL or is it just the video game side of things?
@@wonkyorc9403 It effects CGL by not giving them help from the outside. Video games are how 50% of the audience finds their way into the tabletop game and books. With it not firing and bringing in new people, it will impact CGL, just not directly.
Yes more BT news.
When there is news, I report it. lol
Microsoft is a notoriously ugly company to get into bed with, only Disney is worse. I am disappointed by this news, but not surprised. Really sorry man. If I ever win one of those nonsense lotto jackpots I will purchase the license from Microsoft. One of my bucket list lotto things.
I thought the reason battletech could even happen was because it wasn't the mechwarrior licence, and they had the rights to battletech from the founder. Now they do need it from Microsoft? Wtf
Microsoft has held the license since the late 90's.
THe original owner of Battletech does not have ANY of the rights.
@@BigRed40TECH smh I seen to have believed a reddit post from 6 years ago as if that was in any way an arbiter of truth. Thanks burkmcmork2. Lol
I bet what happened in that meeting was Microsoft said "alright what are your plans this seems like a huge opportunity for micro transactions you can sell hundreds of Mechs in the in game store!" They responded back with oh...we were just gonna let them find the Mechs and use them without in game stores like we have been doing"............"oh well we need up front all the lost revenue then we will sell you the rights to the tune of $xxxxxxxxx dollars since you want to *snickers* make your player base happy haaaahahahahahahhahahah GTFO "
Nah, it's likely related to licensing fees tbh.
@@BigRed40TECH I have a strong feeling there was talks about monetization. I may be wrong but that would be one of the few things that makes sense they wouldn't sell the license for a reasonable price. Microsoft wants to dip its hands in the pot, thankfuly not as bad as EA, UBISOFT and Activision.... Blizzard, but they still want a spot in the buffet line.
@@Broly91571 Just read the Twitter thread. It doesn't appear linked to that tbh.
I remember getting rather put off by a bit of a severe almost illegal sounding "Need not apply" clause in one of HBS's help wanted ads, so as good as Battletech 2018 was, I feel a little schadenfreude watching them close.
"Force packs". No, thanks.
??? That means box sets with Mechs in it.
@@BigRed40TECH I preferred FASA's setup, where you'd buy one boxed set, and then buy your choice of mechs as you went. You know, the wall of individual blister packs at the game stores.
Ok,
I discovered your channel yesterday and I admire the length of your video's and your production scheduel to produce so many
What I can't forgive is your attrocious pronounciations
Focht does not ryhme with F'cked for example
You can do a very simple google search that will even provide a spoken clip if you are unsure.
I saw your prior post. It doesn't really have much to do with this news video. Have a good one.
Has Catalyst got no way to recover the IP from Microsoft?
CGL doesn't even own the tabletop license.
I think you mean HBS, and it seems to be no. Their own team seems to be confirming this unfortunately.
@@BigRed40TECH gods this is confusing
@@knicknac95 This is my understanding of the IP web so corrections if I am wrong are welcomed:
Topps (the trading card / collectible company) owns the rights to the BattleTech tabletop wargame and the official canon universe, which they acquired when they bought WizKids (formerly FASA Corporation, which created BattleTech) in 2003. (Topps is now owned by Fanatics, the merchandising retail company, however.) Topps licenses it out to Catalyst Game Labs, who produces and distributes miniatures and rules for the tabletop wargame as well as hires contract writers to write the in-universe novels and such.
Microsoft owns the rights to create BattleTech video games, which they acquired when they bought FASA Interactive in 1999. Microsoft licenses it out to other companies that wish to create video games officially under the BattleTech IP brand, such as Piranha Games Inc. (for MWO, MW5, and the upcoming MW5:C) and Harebrained Schemes (for the 2018 BattleTech game).
There isn't a single company/person that owns the BattleTech IP in its entirety, it is split between Topps and Microsoft. However, none of the video games are considered canon regarding mechanics and events, so one could consider Topps to be the sole owner of BattleTech; in a certain sense, but if Topps wanted to make "canon" video game content, it would have to get the approval of Microsoft first, and it would be a limited-time license like with PGI and HBS.
@knicknac95 everyone...just keep a wary eye on Harmony Gold. We don't want them to start up with something. . .
I truly do hate HBS after playing battletech for 538 hours so far I hope they never make another game
with the amount of missions that insta fail with no input from the player I still doubt they have ever played one of there games
Well i'm on the Rogue Tech mod have played just shy of 6750 hours. So there's plenty to play after the base game. If RT is too much there are others like Battletech Command exition and 3062. That might make it more interesting for you.
They game may sometimes have been unfairly hard, but if you have such a high amount of missions that insta-fail, I think it's more of a matter of tactics. Convoy ambush and assassination missions are the only ones where I have had occasional problems and mostly those end up being one of target selection. Any which way you flip it though, HBS did a solid attempt at the BT lore and the story was decent enough to become considered canon for the most part.. Same goes for their Shadowrun series: as isometric turn-based tactics games they leave some things to be desired, but the games are definitely playable and the stories and missions are definitely sufficiently Shadowrun in flavor to drag you into the world.