MetalCore - NFT-based, open world, mechanized combat game

Introduction

If you enjoy action packed games where real time strategizing and reflexes are required, then Metalcore is one you will want to pick up. Metalcore has a similar feel to Titanfall, where players get to operate Heavy Machinery with serious firepower to overcome obstacles in the style of a first-person shooter. 

The goal in Metalcore is, as of writing, fairly simple: dominate your enemies in a battle for territory. Multiple players are placed in an arena where control points and respawn bases must be captured, or all enemies must be eliminated. These battles also affect the Global Map of Metalcore, where three factions are fighting against each other for resources.

If you don’t like fighting or competing with other players, then there is also a Player vs. Environment (P2E) option, where you can play solo. You could also decide to become a Baron, where you acquire land to mine for resources and loan out your mechs to players for extra and passive rewards. 

Your NFT mechs will have several options for customisation falling into one of five categories, being Class, Type, Weapon Slots, Utility Slots& Chassis combining into the overall power of your vehicle. Your vehicle tag will also come with a color to indicate its rarity. Your mechs are by no means limited to the ground, as you can create aircrafts for aerial combat to support your ground troops. 

Gameplay

The game starts off with the aspiring pilot being taken into the Player vs. Environment game style in order to learn the basics. Through this play, the new player can start earning the local FAB-token and acquire the basic necessary skills. Once level 4 is reached, the Player vs. Player (PvP) section opens up and the player can engage in massive Faction Wars. 

In these fights, the player can call in their NFT Battlemech in order to gain the advantage by utilizing their NFTs’ specific skills, be that artillery, airpower, scouting or otherwise. Only the NFT owner can ride the vehicle, but other players may come along as board gunners, creating a need for strategic cooperation. 

If your Mech takes damage, you can either choose to bring it back to a repair zone, call in engineers to take care of it, or keep fighting and move back to a respawn point for a new “cell” to call it in again later if it breaks. In addition, most vehicles have limited ammunition, making every shot count. If you happen to run out, the player can retreat to a Reload & Recharge station on the map. 

It is also important to note that it is not necessary to own a battlemech in order to start playing, as the team wants to keep the game open and available to a wider public. In order to keep the game Free-to-Play, there is an infantry mode where your character runs through the battlefield with their own set of weapons, and are still able to earn the local currency and work their way up. 

Players can also come together in guilds or ‘Baronies’ where Player vs. Environment events can be planned and scheduled, or where land can be bought in order to mine resources. The player will also gain access to their own ‘Garage’ which functions as a central hub for vehicle modification as well as lending practices.

Roadmap

The current roadmap extends only to the end of 2022, but is expected to be expanded further after the release of the full whitepaper in Q3 of 2022. For the moment, the team is working towards creating the NFT genesis and getting the first modes of play ready to be tested. 

Over the coming three to four months the team aims to launch its NFTs, vehicle crafting and the Player vs. Environment play style to test the game mechanics etc. through early access. As of writing, the chain for launching these NFTs has not yet been decided on. 

Team and Partnership

The game is backed by an extensive team of 28 people, together forming studio 369. The team is fully doxxed and has a lot of experience working with Unreal Engine 4, where the game is being created. Their self-proclaimed mastery lies in Multiplayer, Live Operations, and Community Management. 

Their previous co-operations include working with Activision, EPIC GAMES, Paramount Pictures, Skybound, Phosphor, Daybreak, and SONY. Their contributions include games like Fortnite, H1Z1, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, Gears of War 3, MechWarrior 2, Nether, and many others.

The studio was created after EPIC GAMES’ Rune 2 received a hard time upon release and Studio 369 Matt Candler was called upon for help. In doing so, Matt founded a team of initially 12 developers to create a decently reviewed game out of the ashes, and a team was born. 

Furthermore, their team is open and reachable, with a multitude of moderators always being available on the Discord server to either answer your questions or to ask the right people of the team in order to get the answers you need. 

In addition, Metalcore has partnered up with familiar names in the space like Animoca Brands, Delphi Digital, Spartan Group and many more to ensure proper and smooth development of the in game assets as well as the game itself. 

Assets & Ecosystem

As of writing, there has been no official announcement about which chain the team is planning to use in order to launch its genesis series of NFTs, nor do they have a public plan for tokenomics. The chain to be used is expected to be announced near the end of June 2022 and the tokenomics are to be explained when the full whitepaper releases to the public in Q3 of 2022.

Conclusion

Metalcore seems to have a trustworthy and strong team developing it, with an open attitude towards questions. Because of the early stage of its development, users can not interact with it yet, and will have to wait for more information regarding NFT chain, tokenomics, and the exact way to get started until the full Whitepaper is released. 

Any investment in an early stage project is risky, so make sure to only invest what you can afford to lose if you plan to do so.