Topic: Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries free release! (NOW!)

[Sapphirus]

So what are you waiting for?  Just download this baby and get MW4 Mercs for free! (if you're interested):
http://www.mektek.net/mtx/beta/SetupMTX1.0.1.7.exe

Unfortunitely you need the CD of Mechwarrior 4 Mercenearies to play (NOT for installation (which is optional).

Please note that the following mechs originated from Macross are removed:
Archer
Wasp
Rifleman
Warhammer
Marauder
Marauder 2
(I think that's all of them)

[PyroJockey]

April fools?

[Sapphirus]

April fools?

This is no April Fools joke, it's for real, man.

[D2Disciple]

So... Question. What's the purpose of downloading Mechwarrior 4 when you still need to have a disc to play it? I would have to buy a disc - and in turn, the game itself - so I could play the game I just downloaded (and one missing some mechs, at that). Seems rather pointless to me. 

[Sapphirus]

So... Question. What's the purpose of downloading Mechwarrior 4 when you still need to have a disc to play it? I would have to buy a disc - and in turn, the game itself - so I could play the game I just downloaded (and one missing some mechs, at that). Seems rather pointless to me. 

Technically, after celebrating the 25th anniversary of Battletech, Mektek got the rights to make Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries free to download.
But for now, it's not completely free yet.  (it's pretty much semi-free).
About the Macross based mechs?
They were excluded, due to copyright issues with Harmony Gold (the guys behind Robotech)

As for cool stuff (that I can think of)...
You can now purchase Mekpak mechs within the campaign! (the ones not included before Mektek's Mekpaks)

[D2Disciple]

So is there a truly free release coming out in the near future?

[Sapphirus]

So is there a truly free release coming out in the near future?

Technically, yes.
As they say on the mektek.net forums:
Soon (tm)

[PyroJockey]

The original press release from Smith & Tinker on 7/09/2009 stated:

MechWarrior to be Distributed Free on BattleTech.com

In honor of BattleTech's 25th anniversary, Smith & Tinker has authorized MekTek.net and MekTek Studios to distribute MechWarrior 4 (along with its expansion packs) completely free. For years, MekTek.net has been the central point for online distribution of MechWarrior 4 expansion packs. Now they can provide the core game free to the fans as well. Keep an eye on BattleTech.com – the free download will be available soon!

It is still posted verbatum on thier website

http://www.smithandtinker.com/news/mechwarrior-to-be-distributed-free-on-battletech-com.php

The link SapphireWolf provided appears to be for their MTX downloader and the most current offering is just an expansion pack, MekPak 3.1, for MW4 Mercenaries.

Looking on the MekTek site, they start by stating "Sorry this is not the free release".

http://www.mektek.net/projects/mw4/

I think the "completely free" release is still pending, or they're just blowing smoke...

[Matthew]

So there's really no point in downloading this, since if you already have a disc it would be faster to just pop in the disc, and if you dont have the disc you can't play it? Uhg.

I was promised free MW4 months ago. Where's my free MW4?

[Sapphirus]

Update your MW4 with MTX!
The mechs that are currently unseen are back in Mekpak 3.1
(Marauder, Archer, Warhammer, Rifleman, Wasp, Marauder 2)


(I don't know how they manage to bring them back, either way, I'm happy now)

But... it's for limited time until the open beta of MP4.

[NUMBERZero]

Ooooohhhhhhhhhh. I like, I like. Finally I get my favorite Clan mechs. Personally, I don't considder myself a Clanner, but I do like their firepower. Come to think of it, IDK what would classify someone as an Inner Sphere or Clan.


I seem to remember loading up 20 LRM 20s back in MW2 Mercs.  Although I able to pack that many 20s because I used the unlimited ammo cheat all the time and had the spare room. 


Too bad you are now restricted to certain weapons in certain slots.

[Sapphirus]

Technically the ones from Macross has to leave again for Mekpak4 
Sooo... the other mechs that are 'formerly known as the unseen' will still remain seen.

BTW, the Rifleman, Warhammer, Marauder and Marauder 2 are Inner Sphere
But... there are clan versions of the Rifleman, Warhammer, and Marauder, but they have the 'IIc' designation at the end to be major clan updates.
And don't worry the 'IICs' from Technical Readout 3055 are back (in Battletech) and WILL remain seen

(I hope that all y'all might get the legal stuff about the Macross mechs)
(and I know you haven't read any sourcebooks of Battletech like Technical Readouts, etc.)

[Sapphirus]

*bump*
The true-free-release of Mechwarrior 4 is coming soon via MTX!
Here are the words from the man of Mektek-

If you've been following the drama surrounding the free release of Mechwarrior4, than you would be aware that the initial announcement, made last summer, was a bit premature. After nearly a year since the announcement came, MekTek Studios is pleased to announce, that Microsoft Legal has given the all clear for the free release of Mechwarrior4. This hallmark movement by Microsoft Games couldn't come at a better time, as the Mechwarrior community is attempting a rebirth, amidst announcement of a Mechwarrior Reboot. Thank you Microsoft.

A few weeks ago we stuck our neck out and announced that our studio was struggling to see this release through to the end. We also released our MekPak 3.1, through our distribution and patching system MTX, which gave our developers an opportunity evaluate any unknown bugs. We're glad our announcement and release worked, and we have many to thank for raising awareness, as the release of Mechwarrior4 is now imminent.

Some of the people we'd like to thank, to name a few, are those reporting gaming news such as Joystiq, Bluesnews, BigDownload, Fragland, Gamespy, IGN, Shacknews, and Slashdot. We'd also like to thank all major gaming forums for keeping this topic in discussion and not letting people forget about the promise of a Mechwarrior free release. Of course, we'd like to thank our partners for pressing Microsoft to allow for the release of Mechwarrior to the community including Smith and Tinker, INC., Virtual World Entertainment, LLC., and Catalyst Game Labs. And finally we'd like to thank our community and the Mechwarrior fans for standing behind MekTek when things appeared to be at their worst. Thank you for your continued support. Please stay tuned for the release launch!

Source:
http://www.mektek.net/index.php?ind=news&op=news_show_single&ide=1143

[D2Disciple]

Sweet! Keep us posted (as I'm quite sure you will) 

[Matthew]

Just a little update here, MW4 HAS been officially released, however, mektek's site is currently offline due to a traffic-related crash. However, you can download MTX from fileplanet, and I can confirm that the MTX client is still able to download it both in torrent and http mode. And it's fast too. My current speed with http mode seems to average around 260 kbps. At this rate it takes about 100 minutes to download, so not bad at all.