Software:MechCommander 2

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Short description: 2001 video game
MechCommander 2
Developer(s)FASA Interactive
Publisher(s)Microsoft
Producer(s)Mitch Gitelman
Designer(s)Michael Lee
Programmer(s)Frank Savage
Artist(s)Leigh Kellogg
Composer(s)Duane Decker
SeriesBattleTech
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: July 19, 2001[1]
  • EU: August 24, 2001
Genre(s)Real-time tactics
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

MechCommander 2 is a 2001 real-time tactics video game based on the BattleTech/MechWarrior franchise, developed by FASA Interactive and distributed by Microsoft. It is a sequel to MechCommander.

Development history

In 2006, Microsoft released a portion of the source code along with most game assets (i.e. everything needed to compile the game without networking support and without all the art) under a Shared Source license in order to demonstrate its XNA Build system.[2] The source release documentation warns developers that not all code necessary to produce a complete build has been included:

Source files are not provided for all of the output files from the MechCommander 2 build. For these output files, the built file itself exists in the source folder and is simply copied from there to the FinalBuild folder. Be careful not to delete .fst or .pak files that exist in the source directory at the time of installation because you will not be able to rebuild these.

The game is under mod by several projects and hosted on a GitHub repository.[3][4][5] As of 2017 there is a project fork on github with the goal to port the source code to Linux.[6]

Plot

The single-player game takes place on Carver V, a planet previously held by House Liao, but recently mostly captured by the Federated Commonwealth, who killed the local Liao ruler Mandarin Cho in combat. At the beginning of the story, the Federated Commonwealth, an alliance of House Steiner and House Davion, is breaking apart due to Archon Katrina Steiner's controversial seizure of power. All the Houses on Carver V are avoiding any military action that could endanger the peace, so when a suspiciously well-equipped bandit force threatens Steiner territory, House Steiner employs a mercenary team led by the player, who takes the role of their commander.

In Campaign 1, the player is under the command of Colonel David Renard of House Steiner, and starts with relatively simple missions to destroy minor bandit forces. However, a chase of a bandit convoy results in a firefight with Liao units. It is then revealed that the bandit leader is an ex-Liao officer. Renard authorizes full-scale attacks on Liao forces despite protests from Steiner Ambassador Yee. The final mission of the campaign ends with the destruction of the bandit HQ and the death of their leader. Over the course of the campaign, Colonel Renard becomes increasingly unstable, ending the campaign with the words: "Do this and get out. I've got plans for Carver V and you don't want to be part of them".

In Campaign 2, the player's mercenary team enters into a new contract with House Liao. The player is under the command of Mandrissa Anita Cho (widow of Mandarin Cho), who wants the planet for her son, Captain Jason Cho. The player is tasked with various covert operations, including the destruction of the interstellar communications relay on Carver V's moon and strikes against House Davion and House Steiner designed to implicate each other. Between Mandrissa Cho's machinations, Renard's instability, and the lack of off-world communications, Steiner and Davion forces on Carver V go to war. House Liao then makes a grab for power, but due to Jason Cho's incompetence as a commander, Liao forces are badly beaten and are forced to negotiate a truce with House Steiner. Colonel Renard agrees to share Carver V with House Liao in return for their help eliminating the Davions and the player's mercenaries. The player is forced to flee before the advancing Steiner and Liao forces, and are saved by resistance forces led by Baxter, a local partisan leader who wants his planet to become independent.

In Campaign 3, it is revealed that Baxter and Davion commander Major Kelly (Patricia Kara) have allied, as Davion supports an independent Carver V. In exchange for the opportunity for revenge and Clan technology, the player fights for the rebels, destroying the Liao palace, killing the crazed Colonel Renard, and destroying Steiner High Command on Carver V.

The Campaign ends with Archon Katrina Steiner mourning Colonel Renard's death, Baxter becoming President of Carver V, which is renamed Liberty, and the mercenary team returning to the Periphery - raising their price on MercNet: "Peace has been restored on Carver V by an unlikely source - a mercenary commander".

BattleMechs

A BattleMech attempts to sneak up behind a hostile Highlander 'Mech.

MechCommander 2 features 29 mechs each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Generally, the lighter Mechs scout while the heavier mechs fight. Depending on which side the mercenary Mechcommander works for, different mechs would be available for purchase and salvage after combat missions. The mechs from each House also display different characteristics; heavy firepower for House Steiner mechs, agility and advanced sensors for House Liao mechs, and superior-quality 'imported' Clan mechs for House Davion.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic80/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGMStarStarStarHalf star[8]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[9]
Edge4/10[10]
Eurogamer7/10[11]
Game Informer8.75/10[12]
GameProStarStarStarStar[13]
GameRevolutionB+[14]
GameSpot7.7/10[15]
GameSpy84%[16]
GameZone9.3/10[17]
IGN8.2/10[18]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[19]
PC Gamer (US)80%[20]
X-PlayStarStarStarStar[21]

The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7] John Lee of NextGen called it "An eminently playable, thoroughly engrossing game that's very close to its roots."[19]

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (July 19, 2001). "Mech Commander 2 now in Stores [sic"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/19/mech-commander-2-now-in-stores. 
  2. ↑ Fleshbourne, Daniel (August 18, 2006). "Microsoft MechCommander 2 Shared Source Release". Neowin, LLC. https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-mechcommander-2-shared-source-release. "This is the Shared Source release for MechCommander 2. This release contains all of the source code and source assets required to build MechCommander 2. This release can be used with the Microsoft XNA Build March 2006 Community Technology Preview (CTP)." 
  3. ↑ "MechCommander 2". 3 September 2022. https://github.com/mechasource/mechcommander2. 
  4. ↑ "What is MechCommander Omnitech ?". https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=11aa29b35d380c0f1f0a86f782146dd9&topic=82518.0. 
  5. ↑ Homeless Bill (February 15, 2015). "MechCommander 2 HD Development Blog #1". Advance Publications. https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/2vyh7w/mechcommander_2_hd_development_blog_1/. 
  6. ↑ "mc2". 31 August 2022. https://github.com/alariq/mc2. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "MechCommander 2". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mechcommander-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  8. ↑ Mayer, Robert (October 18, 2001). "MechCommander 2". theGlobe.com. http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/mechcomman-02-r1.html. 
  9. ↑ Brown, Ken (October 2001). "Lightning Bugs (MechCommander 2 Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (207): 74–75. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_207.pdf. Retrieved February 7, 2022. 
  10. ↑ Edge staff (October 2001). "Mech Commander II [sic"]. Edge (Future Publishing) (102): 84. https://retrocdn.net/images/3/3c/Edge_UK_102.pdf. Retrieved February 7, 2022. 
  11. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (September 23, 2001). "MechCommander 2". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_mechcommander2. 
  12. ↑ Brogger, Kristian (August 2001). "Mechcommander 2 [sic"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (100). http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200108/R03.0811.1033.23990.htm. Retrieved February 7, 2022. 
  13. ↑ Jake the Snake (August 9, 2001). "Mech Commander 2 [sic Review for PC on GamePro.com"]. GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/16021.shtml. Retrieved February 9, 2022. 
  14. ↑ Johnny B. (August 2001). "MechCommander 2 Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33254-mechcommander-2-review. 
  15. ↑ Geryk, Bruce (July 19, 2001). "MechCommander 2 Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mechcommander-2-review/1900-2792191/. 
  16. ↑ Abner, Will (July 27, 2001). "MechCommander 2". IGN Entertainment. http://gamespy.com/reviews/july01/mc2/. 
  17. ↑ immortal (July 23, 2001). "MechCommander 2 Review". http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r14581.htm. 
  18. ↑ Butts, Steve (July 23, 2001). "MechCommander 2". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/07/23/mechcommander-2. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lee, John (November 2001). "Mech Commander 2 [sic"]. NextGen (Imagine Media) (83): 113. https://archive.org/details/NextGen83Nov2001/page/n113/mode/2up. Retrieved February 7, 2022. 
  20. ↑ Klett, Steve (October 2001). "MechCommander 2". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 8 (10). http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/mechcommander_2.html. Retrieved February 7, 2022. 
  21. ↑ Rubenstein, Glenn (August 10, 2001). "'Mech Commander 2' [sic (PC) Review"]. TechTV. http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3340247,00.html. 
  • Official website (archived)
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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