If you’re an old geek like me, you probably remember playing the old MechWarrior games back in the day. Remember those? Windows 95, dial-up connections, and flickering screens… and a 100-ton Clan Mech bearing down on you while your smaller, damaged Mech was floundering in place, waist deep in a swamp and helpless. Good times.

There’s been a resurgence lately in old-school gaming. Younger gamers playing Atari and NES games from a generation ago, and waxing poetic about how gaming used to be. But so many gamers overlook the Mechwarrior franchise, which was one of the first and best platforms available for PC gaming.

Microsoft released the rights, and a team of programmers is donating their time and effort to make MechWarrior 4 available for FREE – with upgrades to improve gameplay without sacrificing the elements that made MechWarrior awesome!

One of the greatest features of MekPak3.1 and of Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries is the ability to customize. Mechwarrior always has been about the Mechlab, especially in multiplayer.

The Mechlab truly distinguishes MW4 from a long list of shooters that have come out in the past 10 years. The ability to create literally thousands of configurations allows the game to continue in popularity over its lengthy life span. Since the Free Release not only comes with the original mechs and weapons of Mercenaries, but also with the Clan and IS Mech Packs and all the Mektek mechs and weapons here is what you are getting...for free.

• 111 different mechs ranging from 20 to 100 tons.
• 9 Battle Armor
• 6 Infantry
• 32 Beam Weapons
• 43 Ballistic Weapons
• 44 Missile Weapons
• 7 Electronic Components
• 3 different types of armor

And, let's not forget the ability to add Heat Sinks to help with Heat Management, upgrading the Engine to increase Speed, and the option to add armor in incremental amounts. The same Mechlab you love has only gotten better over the years.

There’s a lot to enjoy, here, gamers. And no price tag, and no catch. It’s free, it’s legal, and it lets you shoot other Mechwarriors in the faceplate with missiles! What’s not to love?