I think a new MW came could or maybe even should be set during the Djihad. I have played both BT and ClickTech AKA Darkage and I miss a lot of informations regarding the time between. Ok I haven't read the new books, maybe there are some infos about this time.
Still I think a game set in this very part of the BT universe could be interesting.
You could start as a kind of neutral Pilot in a Merc unit or a planetary garision and then the Djihad comes around and you are forced to decide to go with or against them.
I don't know if he holds any rights on it but does anyone knows the game Mechwars/Succession Wars where you play as one of the big houses of the IS. You are moveing around units instead of a single mech. Kind of a Risk game for Battletech.
I would like to see that kind of game with a bit more complexity and an multiplayer part. Keep it turnbases and add some options for diplomacy.
When playing the boardgame the most fun part was to have these secret diplomatic chatter. Mostly it was like "We need to talk!" then both picked up there money, looked at where there units where positioned and they went out of the room.
It was allways a strange feeling not knowing what they have spoken about.
It could be a very helpfull tool to create confusion since all contracts that where made outside where not binding. Only contracts that where made public are binding...and even the following them by the latter could cause quite some problems.
Ah I remeber some good games doing so ^_^
Anyway I think the BT universe holds enough options and places to make a good game. Only thing is that they find a good storywriter, an engine that can give the player the feeling to command a Battlemech and not some Gundam-Ninja-Mech. We don't need any Mech-Fu where you can dodge a gaussrifle ^_^
(No offence against the anime series but hopping around Battlemechs would be strange)