So today's release brings new Head weapons to the Gameshow planet and buffs the Mechatron SCMM model.

Here's Vivi with a rundown of the SCMM changes: 

Switched the BA so that the specials are more aligned with the rest of the mecha 
BA is more damaging 
Head is clickable, toggles whether you'll turn shifting on or off when you attack with it 
Head gives +30 defense or boost depending on your current toggle 
Shifted body keeps some crit damage and reduces bonus by 10 per crit instead of 7 
Shoulders deal a bit more damage, effects are slightly stronger 
FA Crits on second hit whether or not you are shifted

Also the default weapons have +2 to crit, and the body has +10 to crit.  That's a database-based tweak, suggested by golden1231 on the forums. Besjbo created the discussion, and notable participants were EinhanderX01, glaisaurus_x, NaturallyMaria, Selutu, Street Halo, TostiTostelli, $$$$ (and maybe more but those were the constructive posts that stood out for me - if I missed your post, it was nothing personal - please PM me on the forums please with a link!) - thanks as always for your valuable input!  

Then back to Vivi again:

NG Head: 
150% damage 
Even odds of either +40 boost to yourself for 5 turns, -40 boost to opponent for 5 turns, or both ("even odds" meaning 1/3 chance of each) 
If you're in the Mechatron, this will also trigger or disable the data shift the same way its default head does 

SC Head: 
First hit gives -20 defense 
Second hit deals 150% damage and either stuns the enemy or heals you equal to damage dealt (50/50 chance of either) 

NSC Head: 
120% damage 
Chance to inflict a 1.5x HP DoT on hit

Thanks again, Vivi!

We worked hard on getting this together for you, and we really hope you like the new Heads!  Also, in theory the buff to the SCMM should set it up to power standards.  We tested it and it definitely plays better - if you have something more tweak-needing to discuss, please use the Mechatron thread in the Game Balance Discussion forum.

If you're in the area, you should check out PariahCon this weekend!  Korin & Charfade were instrumental in setting this up, and ArtixEntertainment has a booth so you really should go if you can! And on that note - thanks for playing MechQuest - please don't forget to tell your friends - and have a fantabulous weekend!

Mech Quest Trivia Questions Contest: Many thanks and congratulations to all those who participated in the MQ Trivia Contest!  YOU ALL WON!  Every person won 100 Nova Gems.  All prizes have been awarded to the people who submitted entries in the forum thread!  (And wow that took me a while - that was a LOT of characters!) (And a ton of questions and answers, and now I also have them all coded into the quest - and here's hoping I've got them typo-free, too!) Note: Original wording of submissions may have been edited by the MechQuest staff 

(This quest pulls from a pool of a LOT of questions - so even if you read all the submissions on the forums you still don't have all the answers in front of you.)

Credits: Trivia Questions Contest Winners

• PD
• THIS_IS_SPARTA 
• Wolfencreek 
• Krillin
• Griffin the awesome 
• Ted Zlammy 
• Stealthwings 
• Demonic Sage 23 
• Komoto
• NeoMecha
• fhiz
• Dev
• Avantir Mardrak Yihn
• Nosey123
• qubattle
• Drakyloid 
• MQfan555
• Airfireice
• Forumlogin
• RealSSSSSD11
• Diamond: 
• Wendros
• Lectrix
• Mechbuster1
• terror_89 
• hydra095
• SoulWing
• josh_et 
• Leon~o
• Selutu
• Astroking112
• Anduriel
• Wryder
• electricwolf 
• #13
• crazy penguin
• Highlord Sendai
• Andrew 
• BaronPraxis350 
• mastamaker
• golden1231 
• Darkai - DiEgO26 
• Matri Dunadan
• $$$$
• Dreshun
• Mr. minimum 
• dusty2050
• TostiTostelli
• lucifur
• Redosis 
• Destroyer 
• keng4896
• Clown the Jester
• Lord Areswe
• jordan .c.
• Slayer M.
• DREggman
• Arghasti
• Firearm
• jaykthepikachu 
• Nechrono21 
• BMAN270 
• MQmaster3009 
• Mechbuster1
• Byrn Dragonstone 
• Mikey Pisan
• tecno
• Joe10112
• Baron Nathanel
• Incinerator1 
• Exodus man
• The Death Angel 
• Martyaldrinmendoza 
• millionsaur
• emilchowking
• awesome101
• midnight striker
• angel7090695001
• Routa
• Kade300
• 9skullc
• Exsessum
• Brownie
• Runer

Also thanks to the members of the moderation team (ArchKnights and Moderators) who contributed MQ trivia to Dumoose for another project - and thanks to Dumoose for giving the MQ trivia to us to use for this planet:

• Bomber of Justice
• Crimzon5
• Denolth
• Dragonnightwolf
• Hogo
• Kosefira
• neodiabolusS
• yr Frostbite
• Z.324
• Zhukai

Thank you all very, very much!  

Has it really been a week since I last put up Design Notes?  Where does the time go?  It's May the 4ce already??  May it be with you all!

I read a post by acidoverride on the forums asking what's going on behind the scenes and what we've got in store for you.  We're all working like... like bees! I like bees!  

So first-off, did you know that Korin added a very cool new feature to the Options interface?  Some of you wanted the option to color-customize the now-rare Maypril Derpmachine mecha model, and Korin not only made that possible for Star Captains, but also turned it into an option!  If you prefer it in its original color scheme, you now have that as a choosable option.  The toggle button is in the Graphics section of the Options panel.  (You'll need to re-equip the mecha to see the change.)

Also this week Korin added the long-promised new animations to the Korin Heads from last year.  If you have one you should check it out!  There are two new animations tied to existing specials!  

Korin's been working on the Gameshow planet and he's calling on you (via the forums) for help!  You have the opportunity to win 100 Nova Gems by providing MechQuest Trivia in this thread.  He's been working closely with Minar for background art and with Arklen as well!  Can you tell that I'm excited about the new planet?  I know you're going to love it.

As I'm sure you know, we've got a Friday the 13th coming up!  Lyris and Vivi (and I) are putting together an event.  I can tell you that there will be at least one cutscene from Lyris with animation. I can't say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but I can say that it's looking fantastic! Also a new quest that Vivi's putting together.  A higher-level version of Uber Jameson complete with a couple of buffs (and the buffs will apply to last year's models) which I'm working on right now. Vivi helped me understand how to add some code - blues provided some numbers and ideas for the buff. blues is about to go on a nice vacation!  

blues & Vivi & I are going to get the next chapter of the Star Captain Xtreme Challenge put together for you when he gets back - in a month.  I'll get the quest written and coded and perfected while he's relaxing, and maybe get some new lessons from Korin and Vivi on programming enemy attacks in preparation for blues' return. Vivi will probably be the one adding anything new and fancy on the enemy challenges!

I know I'm leaving a bunch of stuff out...

So much has been going on.  The long-running GEARS games have a winning  House - Wolfblade! Check out the storyline quests following the fate of their kidnapped leader, Xaria! (Hint - if the timed quest is difficult, try using hard-hitting one-hit weapons - maybe stun your enemies - and remember that you don't have to heal yourself all the way to full values at the stations along the way.)  Grab your grand and well-earned rewards: weapons designed by the astounding Thyton, including a special Valor Badge merge shop item, plus the Starship Items which Star Captains can display with pride in the Starship - all courtesy of the talented Minar!

Ok I guess I will stop talking for now. I'll try to talk here more frequently - and see you on the forums!