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Forums - PC Discussion - Here's Why HAWKEN Is Going To Change Free-To-Play Gaming

zarx on 03 March 2012

Next week at the Game Developers Conference (GDC 2012), a brand new game publisher will be in town. Meteor Entertainment recently raised $10 million to finish up the amazing new Unreal Engine 3-based, free-to-play game, HAWKEN. In development at Adhesive Games, HAWKEN is set to change the concept (and quality) of free-to-play gaming when it launches 12/12/12. You can see why in this new gameplay video below.

HAWKEN has already wowed the gaming community. And the title will be showcased next week in San Francisco and is sure to continue its upward spiral. The sci-fi multiplayer game is now part of Meteor’s new approach to free-to-play gaming, which includes a brand new server technology that has been designed to not only support HAWKEN, but will be licensed out for other game companies to take advantage of.

Having beaten out established game publishers for this hot title, Meteor is assembling an impressive team of talent to support this game, and other titles in the pipeline. Mark Long, former Co-CEO and Founder of Zombie Studios, is CEO of Meteor. He’s working on putting together a team to launch HAWKEN and establish its new back-end technology.

Long was brought in by Mitch Lasky, general partner at the Silicon Valley venture firm Benchmark Capital, who’s backing the new company. He was an early investor and board member at Riot Games through the company’s launch of League of Legends and eventual $400 million sale to Chinese internet giant TenCent. Prior to Benchmark, he held senior management positions at Electronic Arts and Activision, and was chairman and CEO of startup JAMDAT Mobile.

Rick Heitzmann, Founder and Managing Director of FirstMark Capital, is also on board. His company focuses on investments in the digital media, advertising and commerce spaces, with an emphasis on the video games industry.   Rick has long invested in the transition to online free-to-play video games including being the first investor and Board member of platform companies including Riot Games, Live Gamer and Playnomics.  In addition, Rick is focused how media and commerce intersect with investments including Pinterest.

And, of course, there’s Khang Le, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Adhesive Games.  He has led his tight development team over the past 18 months of production, resulting in a game with stunning visuals and groundbreaking gameplay. It’s sure to not only impress with quality gameplay, but also raise the bar in the very concept (and quality) of free online games.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/03/01/heres-why-hawken-is-going-to-change-free-to-play-gaming/



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Kasz216 on 03 March 2012

How is it trying to change the concept of multiplayer games?



blkfish92 on 03 March 2012
Kasz216 said:
How is it trying to change the concept of multiplayer games?


That's my question.



           

blkfish92 on 03 March 2012
pezus said:
blkfish92 said:
Kasz216 said:
How is it trying to change the concept of multiplayer games?


That's my question.

They said the game will change Free-to-play gaming, by being a high-quality game with a pretty big budget. I didn't see them say they'd change multiplayer gaming.


Oh whoops lol



           

Kasz216 on 03 March 2012
pezus said:
blkfish92 said:
Kasz216 said:
How is it trying to change the concept of multiplayer games?


That's my question.

They said the game will change Free-to-play gaming, by being a high-quality game with a pretty big budget. I didn't see them say they'd change multiplayer gaming.

that's what i mean to say.  Though free to play games are pretty much all multiplayer games.

Nothing said actually changes that.  Being a high quality game with a budget?

That doesn't change anything.

I mean, high budget MMO games pretty much all go free after a couple months anyway.

See DCU online for example.

 

Outside which there have been a few big budget immediatly free to play MMORPG games.  They've just kinda failed.


Besides, a higher budget means what exactly?  Better graphics/need for way more consistant player support so they can afford to add new content?



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Kasz216 on 03 March 2012
trasharmdsister12 said:

pezus said:

They said the game will change Free-to-play gaming, by being a high-quality game with a pretty big budget. I didn't see them say they'd change multiplayer gaming.

"The sci-fi multiplayer game is now part of Meteor’s new approach to free-to-play gaming, which includes a brand new server technology that has been designed to not only support HAWKEN, but will be licensed out for other game companies to take advantage of."

I may be wrong but I believe this is what Kasz is referring to. Little is mentioned of what this "new" server technology really is, what it does, or how (if at all) it will improve Hawken's free to play strategy over what is already out there. The way "server technology" is brought up in the article makes it seem like it is meant to improve the multiplayer experience.

Nah, just mispoke.  "New Server Technology" doesn't sound likve a new approach.

It just sounds like they're trying to create a framework they can liscense.  So what.

Based on that article I'd say freaking Valve is doing more to revolutionize free to play games, just based on the fact that they've stealthy positioned Steam to be the natural hub for free to play games with an easy unified system to spend money on those games. (Steam wallet into the individual game, no doubt with steam getting a cut.)



usrevenge on 04 March 2012
pezus said:
blkfish92 said:
Kasz216 said:
How is it trying to change the concept of multiplayer games?


That's my question.

They said the game will change Free-to-play gaming, by being a high-quality game with a pretty big budget. I didn't see them say they'd change multiplayer gaming.

this just means they will have a terrible cash shop that is basically pay or lose, or worse, "pay or you only get 1 free game per day!"




Kasz216 on 05 March 2012
usrevenge said:
pezus said:
blkfish92 said:
Kasz216 said:
How is it trying to change the concept of multiplayer games?


That's my question.

They said the game will change Free-to-play gaming, by being a high-quality game with a pretty big budget. I didn't see them say they'd change multiplayer gaming.

this just means they will have a terrible cash shop that is basically pay or lose, or worse, "pay or you only get 1 free game per day!"

That is the primary issue, when you consdier the bulk of most successful free-to-play games sales is alternate skins.

High quality graphics means you need to pay more for each skin, meaning you have to either sell more or for it to cost more.

Guess they could go the boosters route if there is significant RPG like things.



menx64 on 06 January 2013

sorry to bump this thread, is there anyone playing Hawken?



Menx64

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Kasz216 on 08 January 2013
menx64 said:
sorry to bump this thread, is there anyone playing Hawken?


You know... i got a Betakey for it.... and never ended up using it.  Felt like kind of a dick because of it.