MechWarrior Online: Beta!

Big, big news out of Piranha Games today.. we have official announcement that the closed beta for MechWarrior: Online starts…..

TODAY!

Make sure you head on over to the site, and click the ‘activate beta profile’ button in your profile.. you can download and run their convenient system profiler to get the necessary info (note to Norton Anti-Virus users.. because this is a new file.. it gets flagged as ‘bad’ based on the reputation (or lack thereof) of the file).

Invites to closed Beta will start going out as early as tomorrow!

As if the Beta news weren’t enough… Piranha also announced “Operation Inception“.. which is a limited time pre-sale of Founder status… here’s the relevant chunk from the linked press release:

 Calling all MechWarrior® fans! An exclusive MechWarrior Onlineâ„¢ Founder’s Program goes on sale June 19th. It will offer die-hard fans of this beloved franchise valuable benefits including: in-game currency, a custom BattleMechâ„¢ (“ELITE” level only), up to a two-month free premium account, a permanent “Founder’s Tag” and more. Dubbed “OPERATION INCEPTION,” the Founder’s program gives fans a limited one-time chance to secure exclusive MechWarrior Online game content via two ranks:

$60 ELITE Founder’s Package Includes:

  •  Exclusive custom “Founder’s BattleMech.” This ‘Mech includes a lifetime, per-match C-Bill booster.
  •  $80 value of in-game currency* for in-game item purchases.
  •  Two-month premium account to MechWarrior Online at launch: Earn XP & C-Bills faster.
  •  Founder’s Tag – sets your status apart from the crowd & get noticed in-game and on the forums.
  •  Early access to the game along with Founder’s assets availability starts July 17th.

$30 VETERAN Founder’s Package Includes:

  •  $40 value of in-game currency* for in-game item purchases.
  •  One-month premium account to MechWarrior Online at launch: Earn XP & C-Bills faster.
  •  Founder’s Tag – sets your status apart from the crowd & get noticed in-game and on the forums.
  •  Early access to the game along with Founder’s assets availability starts July 17th.

OPERATION INCEPTION assets and early game access will be available for ELITE or VETERAN Founder’s Package players starting July 17th.

So, for what a ‘normal’ new game costs.. you get Founder status, an in-game quasi-exclusive Mech, some in-game cash, two month subscription, and early access on the 17th of July.

For 2 months subscription to a normal MMO.. you get a little less, but still some nice perks.

I’m hoping I get into the Beta… it’s been WAY too long since we’ve had a good game set in the BattleTech universe!

Grats to everyone at Piranha on getting to the Beta stage!