It's a F2P Game, you get *4* mechs right out of the gates instead of having to grind the cash for them AND you earn bonus cash when you use them. It also includes 3 months of their "Premium" access (common F2P with subscription options) and $80 to burn in the store.

It's a pretty good headstart, actually.

The reality is, there's a bunch of people who've been DYING for a new 'Mech experience.. it's looking good so you have a ton of the classic "TAKE ALL MY MONEY" responses.

I'd say it's better that they go that route instead of.. oh.. getting $75m worth of loans from Providence, RI to finish their development...

--Micah

Why would they get money from the state of Rhode Island? I'm sorry but that's just way too much money to pay for a game that I've not even had a chance to play. Too much money just to give to them on good faith. I don't care how good the old mechwarrior games were. I can't believe anyone would pay that much for virtual temporary benefits.

I can understand your perspective, but there have been tens of thousands of people who have pre-purchased one of the founder packages for MWO Mercs. In addition to the virtual TEMPORARY benefits, you get the 4 mechs, permanently. You would normally have to grind the cash to unlock / purchase them (even the Catapult is like $9m C-Bills) - and while you play them, you actually gain +25% more C-Bills while playing them (ammo, repairs, etc). So there's permanent in addition to the 3-months of Premium Access and $80 of in-game currency to spend (not sure what's going to be in their MTX store, etc). There's also the feeling that they're helping Piranha raise the funds to continue developing the game.

As for people submitting cash in advance, it's a growing trend - especially with stuff like over at kickstarter.com.

The state of Rhode Island was a reference to the now defunct 38 Studios. btw.. =)

--Micah

Just got a Beta invite, anyone want to get together?

Playing and yawning... Not impressed at all. Older versions were better