Yea im down for that.... Do we need a CD key to play on the servers????
In a manner, yes. There is no cd key to enter on install, but suposedly the servers recognize a unique copy of the game. Not sure if this applies to us now, with the game being as old as it is and playing the mod we play. The only thing required at least to play on the servers we play on, is to have our version of the game. If an admin would be so kind, perhaps create a locked topic with the installation procedure I'm about to outline, so that it can be used for future reference and easily located. Basically you're looking at 3 downloads, 2 at 500-700MB each, and a smaller 40MB which will auto update game to current version for you. When all is said and done, your
MW folder will be somewhere on the order of 3.5GB. This is as small as it will be, as it strips down requirements and provides only the files necessary from all other installs of other versions/expansions of MW4. This way you no longer need Mechwarrior 4 Vengeance, the IS and Clan mech paks, or the Black Knight expansion, which together would put your HD requirement triple what this is.
The installation process will probably take anywhere between 15min to an hour depending on your machines, not including download time. Be sure to completely read and follow the instructions to the letter, otherwise you may find yourself lost somewhere in the install process.
Do not interrupt anything during the install process, even if it looks like it is hung up. The patch is for some very large files and will appear that way at times.
I've been playing for years, its worth the trouble going through the install, its an older game and the procedure has been reworked so much, and is soooo much better than back in the days when I installed it.
lucky you
If you do not currently have a copy of the game, you can buy one online for around $10 US at...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...FZASRK&v=glance
FWL uses Teamspeak for communications, if you get through the download and would like to join us for some friendly games, send me a
PM and I can send you our connect info. teamspeak is free to download and use, but you'll need a mic to be heard.
www.goteamspeak.com, make sure you download the client not the server
A joystick is highly recommended for gameplay, many of us use the Saitek X52(higher end, more expensive, and not yet working on Vista machines) or the Saitek ST290 (plug and play, not as feature rich, but reliable stick)
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
NOTE: The following assume that you are using the default installation drive & directories!
Obtain NBT CD1, NBT CD2 (Note the .exe versions save you the steps of having to burn CDs from the .iso files):
http://www.netbattletech.com/download/nbt-cd/
Obtain the NBT Hardcore Updater:
http://www.netbattletech.com/downlo...NBT-Updater.zip
Run the Microsoft MW4 Mercs CD1 (Express Install is sufficient)
When prompted, run the Microsoft MW4 Mercs CD2
Run the NBT CD 1 and then 2 that you downloaded earlier
Run C:/Program Files/Microsoft Games/Mechwarrior Mercenaries/UpdatesCache/mercpr1.exe
Run C:/Program Files/Microsoft Games/Mechwarrior Mercenaries/UpdatesCache/mekpak21a(pr1).exe
Extract the NBTUpdater.exe file (from the NBT Updater.zip file you obtained earlier) to C:/Program Files/Microsoft Games/Mechwarrior Mercenaries
Run C:/Program Files/Microsoft Games/Mechwarrior Mercenaries/NBTUpdater.exe
MAKE SURE YOU RUN THE FILE FROM THE SPECIFIED FOLDER OR IT WONT WORK...
Start the NBT-Hardcore and click yes to all when it asks you to download updates.
Click on the NBT-Hardcore icon (the NBT Updater), and select Available Packages.
Install Map fixes (missing TGAs), Grids Patch (v3) [Note: not all maps will get grids, but most will], Signed Variants (Key-0) HC, Magnus MapPack V1.0, and finally MekMatch Registry Update
BEWARE VISTA USERS...
If you are installing on a vista machine, install the game as you would any other, except for the following...
completely disable UAC (user account control) and reboot the machine
install game cds as above, all subsequent nbt patches (NBT CD1 and 2, the HC updater, the PR1 and MP2.1a patch) right click on each before running and run in windows xp sp2 compatability mode and also run as admin
once complete, reboot again, then reenable UAC and reboot again, and you should be fine
