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MechWarrior 3

Preview

Here's my preview of the next generation of MechWarrior!

Well, you see, it all started when I saw the cover of this month's Computer Gaming World magazine. It cought my eye so I took a closer look. When I looked at what the main story was, my eyes widened. "MechWarrior 3, Explosive Action in the Twilight of the Clans." I had to buy it, being the MechWarrior freak that I am. I had seen a catagory about it in Yahoo! before. It turns out, MechWarrior's future fell into the hands of a company called Zipper Interactive. And I tell you, it probably couldn't have fallen into better hands! You see, Zipper is peopled largely by military contractors who helped build the U.S. Army's SimNet experience. (SimNet was the networked universe of combat vehicle simulations that prepared U.S. troops for the Gulf War.) SimNet was so realistic that some tankers have been known to exit the simtank vihicle to take compass readings; others tried to apply that same professionalism to MechWarrior 3. You wouldn't believe some of the improvements:

• Deformable Terrain: Incoming artillery rounds pocketmark the ground with craters; even 'mechs leave leave distinctive footprints.
  

• More Deformable Terrain: The ground isn't the only thing deformable, buildings are also deformable. You can use the terrain against your enemy. Destroy a building beside your enemy and it can fall on them and destroy them.
  
• Smarter AI: The AI has greatly improved. It can ambush you and use the terrain against you.
  
• Command Interface: The command interface is considerably more friendly. There are pop-up windows you can use to position your subordinates (who are signifantly "smarter" than their MechWarrior predecessors) and direct them into action.
  
• More 'Mechs: You'll pilot or face the following beautifully portayed 'mechs: Avatar, Blackhawk, Bushwacker, Cauldron-born, Champion, Dasishi, Firefly, Mad Cat, Orion, Owens, Shadowcat, Strider, Thor, and Vulture.

• Down, But Not Out: When your fighting an enemy 'mech, you might see them fall down, but it's not over until the fat lady sings! They can get back up!

• High-Tech Chicken Dance: Experienced MechWarriors who have always enjoyed targeting one leg and shooting it until it is amputated will still be able to use that tactic. However, you will now have to deal double-damage to the leg to sever it. Single damage cause a distinctive, animated limp. It's very satisfying to have your enemy doing a high-tech version of the chicken dance while you outmaneuver the lame-duck pilot and take out a higher priority objective.
  

• Coolant: Your out in battle when your heat is sky-rocketing and your about to blow! But then, with just a keystroke, you automatically flush coolant through your 'mech's system! Finally, a cure to that annoying over-heating! But you can only do this twice during a mission.
  
• MCB: You have command of a MCB-rather a mixed blessing. MCB stands for Mobile Command Base. It is a boon because for the first time, you can replenish your ammunition and repair damaged armor in the midst of a mission. Unfortunately, the AI 'mechs will try to ambush the MCB while it's en route to certain waypoints and will directly attack it with your 'mech inside if they can.
  
• Much, Much, More!: There's TONS of more features in the new game. There's just about too much for me to write at one time, so I'm going to stop here. I might post the rest, probably, so check back!

From the way I see it, MechWarrior 3 is going to make the original MechWarrior look like basics!

Here's the info that I know about it:

Information taken from Computer Gaming World magazine and their web site. Screenshots taken from the Computer Gaming World Web Site's MechWarrior 3 preview.

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