MechWarrior Online Founder's Program Announced

By: Julian 'MakAttack' MacDonnell

Piranha Games, developer of the upcoming free to play mech combat game MechWarrior Online, has just announced their Founder's Program. In an attempt to drudge up further support for the already highly anticipated summer release of this long awaited sequel to one of PC gaming's nearly forgotten franchises, Piranha Games has announced a three tier Founder Program where anyone willing to shell out the big bucks can not only start playing the game before it's actual release date, but get some bonus perks as well; both for their mechs and their user profiles.

At the first tier, priced at $30 and titled Veteran, you get early access to the game come August 7^th with a special Founder's Tag that will show along side your in-game user name. Players regular accounts will also be upgraded to a premium account for one month which allows every subscriber to earn more C-Bills(the in-game currency) and experience points per match played. On top of that you get $40 worth of in-game currency for use with in-game item purchases. From here on up each tier gets slightly more stuff. The next level titled Elite has the same early access date, a slightly different Founder's Tag, two months of premium account access, $80 worth of in-game currency and the choice of 1 of 4 Founder's mech. All of which are shown on MWO's web site.

If you're feeling really generous, you can go all the way to 'Legendary' status for a mere $120. With this tier you get the same early access date and amount of in-game currency as Elite purchasers. However, you get a slightly different Founder's Tag, 3 months of premium account access, all four of the Founder's mechs and your name placed in the credits for the game. So yes, all this can be yours if you're willing to shell out a ton of mullah.

So what does all this add up to? Not much really. While I'm down for exclusive mechs and early access, I don't think any of it is worth more than the price of the Elite status, and even then that's asking for a bit much coming from a free to play game. I understand that these types of sales are what's going to help keep this game alive, but it has yet to prove itself in my eyes. Mech Warrior looks fantastic, yes, but there have been so many other games before it that have been in similar positions as MWO is now and I have been burned by them in the past. I'm hoping that MWO is a very solid game and doesn't tank(yes, the pun is intended) in it's first month or even it's first year, but at the prices Piranha is asking for their program, I think it's just a bit too much for what you really get. With all that said, I will be keeping my eye on the game and playing it the second it's released to the masses. You can expect to hear more on the game here as news trickles out.