Way back when, (early 90s) there used to be some sit in Battletech "simulators" in London and elsewhere. I never went. Did anyone else try them?
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/BattleTech_Centers
http://www.sarna.net/wiki/BattleTech_Centers
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I remember being like 6 and watching people playing them at some random arcade that I don't remember. I don't have any memories of actually playing them though.
I did. There were some up in Indianapolis . I got a bunch of friends together for my birthday and we were going to make a day of it. We did all the research on how to play and was pretty hyped. When We got there the attendant refused to put it at level 2 or 3 difficulty which really killed most of the experience.
The pods themselves really cool. Most of the buttons didn't do anything though because of the abovementioned a-hole attendant . it wasn't long after that they got rid of the pods.
The pods themselves really cool. Most of the buttons didn't do anything though because of the abovementioned a-hole attendant . it wasn't long after that they got rid of the pods.
What a shame. I'd always wanted to go and would have been very disappointed to have had an experience like that.
The pods were really cool. Nice big screen in front of you . Arm and throttle controls . two system displayed in the upper corners.
I don't remember what the difference between level 1 and 2 play was but at level 3 you had to manage heat and coolant of all your weapons. The graphics were a little better that mw2 let's as I recall. I think only clan Mechs were available.
I think if someone had a mind to do it again or if that project had been able to evolve there was a lot of potential there. I kinda feel they were ahead of their time but at the same time they died out because arcades themself were dying out.
Yes, back in those "old" times i visited the "Virtual World" as they were called back there in Santa Monica, Los Angeles a few times!
And i spent all my money when i was in the US for tech training....
And i spent all my money when i was in the US for tech training....
Greetings MechWarriors!
Spinning up the KF-Drive to the more appropriate BATTLETECH Universe section.
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Jump Complete.
Carry on MechWarriors.
Spinning up the KF-Drive to the more appropriate BATTLETECH Universe section.
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Jump Complete.
Carry on MechWarriors.
Ah, I remember these! They actually came around to one of the larger cities in my state and my friends and I tried them out. It was utterly thrilling to try this new technology. I'll admit we might have burned all of our bar money one night on the things.
Wait, these are in Michigan?
I have been in the Neighbourhood for an exchange year (long ago) and did not know about these ... argh ...
I have been in the Neighbourhood for an exchange year (long ago) and did not know about these ... argh ...
There's still one working in denver. usually full of drunk fratboys alas.
Yeah, they're still around. They pack them up and bring them to cons and things like that. Back in the day they were at the Virtual World centers. Some of the earliest network sims. You had to punch in an override code if your mech was overheating, manage you weapons fire by adjusting weapon ties, control speed with one hand, targeting with another, and controlling torso rotation with the foot pedals. It was ridiculously complex and a a lot of fun.
If you can get to Gen Con in Indianapolis they've been bringing the Tesla 2 pods there for years. $8.00 (generic tickets) for 7 minutes in the pod.
General description here:
https://www.gencon.com/events/140160
General description here:
https://www.gencon.com/events/140160
What made VirtualWorld so great was the atmosphere. It was like an explorer's club. Mech parts and VTV models on display along with supposedly authentic photos from Mars and various Laboratories. Warm and inviting, and providing so much context for the games themselves. I never minded waiting my turn even on busy nights, because in addition to the scenery, there were live feeds from the matches that were happening.
When they were closed and the pods moved to Dave & Busters, all of that was lost... And you were left with dunk assholes and bored techs who had no idea what they were doing. On more than one occasion we had to explain to the employee's how to change various settings.
There was a "Slam Site" in a local mall that picked up a bunch of pods. They had a "Day Pass" deal where you could buy unlimited games for a full day. It was cheaper on Mondays, so my friends and I adjusted our class schedules to have Monday free. We would show up when they opened (10AM), buy a pass (I think it was $30 this was the late 90'2 early Naughties), and play until they closed (10PM), breaking only for lunch and dinner at the food court.
When they were closed and the pods moved to Dave & Busters, all of that was lost... And you were left with dunk assholes and bored techs who had no idea what they were doing. On more than one occasion we had to explain to the employee's how to change various settings.
There was a "Slam Site" in a local mall that picked up a bunch of pods. They had a "Day Pass" deal where you could buy unlimited games for a full day. It was cheaper on Mondays, so my friends and I adjusted our class schedules to have Monday free. We would show up when they opened (10AM), buy a pass (I think it was $30 this was the late 90'2 early Naughties), and play until they closed (10PM), breaking only for lunch and dinner at the food court.
If you go online and check some of Weisman's videos, you'll see that Virtual World was what he originally wanted to do with Battletech. Supposedly, when he was attending the Merchant Marine Academy he saw one of their bridge simulators and wanted to make a digital theme park based around the technology. But he was about a decade and a half ahead of the tech so we got the tabletop instead. When they go ally did get the tech to work, they weren't able to establish their brand before home network gaming essentially caught up.
Too bad, as CarpeMortis stated the atmosphere at Virtual World was awesome. I've still got a wall photo showing Einstein working on a pic that I got when they closed down. I really wanted the Anubis helmet from Stargate but someone grabbed that first thing.
Too bad, as CarpeMortis stated the atmosphere at Virtual World was awesome. I've still got a wall photo showing Einstein working on a pic that I got when they closed down. I really wanted the Anubis helmet from Stargate but someone grabbed that first thing.
Had the chance to go to the Chicago center 3 times, between 94-97. All the 1st generation white pods (not the 3.0 black coffins), then when half the pods were changed to the Tesla pods (only for red planet) and the last time BT 4.0 was running. Luckily had the chance to play at conventions like ACEN/Midwest since 2010 and have been helping them run their "booths". Though 5.0 "Firestorm) is quite different from 4.0's more simulator experience I've gotten to play over 200 drops and look forward to many more.
(360 view from the 2 remaining 4.0 pods from Tokyo)
There are still some "centers" open. MechCorps in Austin TX, Fallout Shelter Arcade in Minneapolis, Big Kidz Games in Grand Rapids MI, and for a time they are in Montreal CA at RDV Geek. (VGcorps used to be in dallas but not sure on their situation, and the Airlock in Seattle is closed but the pods are still local from what I last heard). This Gencon there will be close to 20 pods as FSA and BKG are both bringing pods for the first time (and all the MFD's original CRT's have been upgraded to LCD's cause after 20 years those monitors were starting to die)
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I know there are some in Minneapolis/St. Paul because when I went to an anime convention they there there for a few years. Wicked awesome things. While people might want things like Pac Man arcades in their house, I want a Mech Pod. Imagine playing MW4 Mercs in that.
Imagine playing MWO in one. I always thought it would be cool if they could activate heaters when you were overheating or have some rocking back and forth motion while walking.
For extra fun Internal flamethrower to nuke the player when they died to really add in some realism
For extra fun Internal flamethrower to nuke the player when they died to really add in some realism
They still have Pods in Albuquerque at hinkle family fun center. I may or may not have abused my mech warrior skills and destroyed the poor random families playing.