Phil Spencer on Halo 2 Anniversary

Cow

Member
Halo 2 remake would be great, wouldn't mind if button glitches weren't there or super bouncing etc. Just need a Halo game with in game skill ranking and cuts all the bullshit out that was introduced with Halo 4 and Reach. Give us a Halo game where you have to fight for map control and communicate to win, get rid of all the randomness. Fuck its so simple it gets me so frustrated.
 

Chettlar

Banned
I seriously think this will preemptively harm Halo 5 multiplayer.

Well hey then, that can only mean that Halo 5 has to compete with Halo 2 and thus be better to survive.

I like that. I like that a lot. If it isn't better or pretty much comparable, people will keep playing Halo 2A, so if they want people to play 5, they gotta make it better.
 

Nydius

Member
H2A has some of them talking about getting an Xbone for- as long as the original MP is largely intact. And I'm completely on board with them.

This a bit of a pipe dream though, realistically. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think 343i has the old engine. I'm pretty sure they only have the core Reach engine and the modified version of that engine they used for Halo 4. HCEA used the Reach engine for the added Live multiplayer and I can't see any reason why I should expect anything different from H2A.

There's no way they'll have a "largely intact" multiplayer compared to the original source. Most of the engine and texture glitches will be gone, weapon balance will be completely different, I doubt clan support will return, et cetera. It's nice to dream but I'm afraid H2A will be a fundamentally different game simply because 343i is going to have to build it with the scraps of what they have rather than the original material.
 

nomis

Member
This a bit of a pipe dream though, realistically. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think 343i has the old engine. I'm pretty sure they only have the core Reach engine and the modified version of that engine they used for Halo 4. HCEA used the Reach engine for the added Live multiplayer and I can't see any reason why I should expect anything different from H2A.

There's no way they'll have a "largely intact" multiplayer compared to the original source. Most of the engine and texture glitches will be gone, weapon balance will be completely different, I doubt clan support will return, et cetera. It's nice to dream but I'm afraid H2A will be a fundamentally different game simply because 343i is going to have to build it with the scraps of what they have rather than the original material.

They ended up with an emulation layer for HCE Anniversary, but I'm pretty sure that was for convenience since making a native port would have meant a lot more bug fixing. I think they have all the code from previous games on hand though.
 

Flipyap

Member
Being able to play out this comic would be perfect

http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Halo:_Uprising
But... nothing happens in it on the Master Chief side. Adding yet another chapter where your goal is just jumping out of the level (this time without any plot points to push it forward) would only hurt the pacing, probably more than it already was by the brevity of the original ending cutscene. Especially if it's placed AFTER the cliffhanger, which it would have to be, if the whole point of doing this would be to let people finish the game as the dude from the cover, instead of the only interesting protagonist in the series.
 
Different glitches, different game, not as game-breaking.

Halo 2 Vista has dedicated servers.

*fistbump*

Surprised I didn't see you in this thread:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=790127&page=7

Could've used some support at the tail-end, breh.

But it's a pointless discussion anyways, which is why I just rambled most of my posts.
OH you reminded me! I've been meaning to dive into that thread because the OP sent it to me in a PM and it was an interesting read, but I've been so busy that I keep forgetting once I get home hahah

Definitely looking forward to that this weekend. Always interesting to discuss CE/Halo ;]
 

IHaveIce

Banned
There's no more going downhill from Halo 4 MP. Yikes.

We can only go up from here.
We said exactly those words after Reach.

Well.



If Halo 2 Anniversary comes out I don't need a Halo 5 in the coming years, 343 is just unable to go back to a MP that is on the level of Halo 2, they just introduced too much crap into it, and they are scared the casuals are gonna give them crap if they throw Loadouts, AAs and Sprint away.

Pls god just port the MP over with a graphic overhaul.
 

Rockyrock

Member
We said exactly those words after Reach.

Well.



If Halo 2 Anniversary comes out I don't need a Halo 5 in the coming years, 343 is just unable to go back to a MP that is on the level of Halo 2, they just introduced too much crap into it, and they are scared the casuals are gonna give them crap if they throw Loadouts, AAs and Sprint away.

Pls god just port the MP over with a graphic overhaul.

This is exactly what im afraid of when it comes to the future of the franchise.

Personally I think sprint is the biggest determent to the core Halo formula, but its just so part of the FPS genre I dont see 343 having the balls to remove it.
 
dvQe9o.gif

QFT.
 
The last Halo I played online was 3 and I played and enjoyed it a lot. I didn't even bother with Reach's, much less 4's when it came out since by then they added too much to it and I was out of the loop.

I liked Halo 2 and 3's pretty simple multiplayer. A few modes, guns, grenades, dual wielding, memorable maps, and only a few power ups in 3. If they make Halo 2 HD with the same online, I'm in.
 

MysteryM

Member
...is this a serious post? Suggesting _dedicated servers_ are what longtime Halo fans want, and would be the redemption of the franchise?

As a halo fan (10k multiplayer team slayer and sniper games clocked up in halo 2), dedicated servers is my number one requirement, the only reason i've stopped playing each of the halo games is because of lag. Constantly taking 8-10 BR shots to finish someone off when they can 4 shot you back is no fun. My brother and I were in our early 30's when halo 2 came out, so I wasn't a screaming 12 year old playing halo 2.

I still would be playing halo 2/3 if the playing field had been levelled.

Above all else dedicated servers are my number one requirement, without it my halo 2 experiance will be shortlived.

So yes it is a serious post, dedicated servers is a must.
 
Reveal it already.. Instead of teasing give me some glorious 60fps@900p or 1080p footage if possible. Also for an preview for halo 5 Engine. With h2a i can choose what multiplayer i want to play if halo 5 mp sucks..
 

Plasma

Banned
For those that keep saying I hope they don't use the halo 4 engine you know they can change the code right? They could run it on Unreal or Unity if they wanted to and still make it play like Halo 2.
 
For those that keep saying I hope they don't use the halo 4 engine you know they can change the code right? They could run it on Unreal or Unity if they wanted to and still make it play like Halo 2.

People are just still upset at what happened with CEA, and rightfully so.
 

Akai__

Member
This reminds me... Halo 5 should totally focus on the campaign, instead of making a seperate MP, if Halo 2 Anniversary comes with MP. Just add a DLC expansion for Halo 2 Anniversary's MP, which comes with a large amount of maps.

Who knows, maybe this is already their plan. I really hope so.
 
I'll give you 2 having better maps, but I enjoyed 3 much better. Everything just felt more balanced and enjoyable. Loved 2, but I just have so much of a better time with 3.

Agreed. Halo2 felt like forever playing a beta; full of exploits, and OP weapons & combos. It was fun in its day because it was the real first Halo online game. But it was a disappointing mess, even to Bungie. Halo2 was thrown together in record time, but I doubt you'll find any Bungie guy who says the game couldn't have used another 6mo-1yr longer in the oven.

Halo3 nailed it, and felt like a balanced game. I think the equipment drops were a great addition, certainly a better idea than load-outs or armor permutations.
I had more fun longer with Halo3, than any other Halo game. Didn't Halo3 stay on the most-played XBL charts for a really long time?

Honestly, I think Halo2 is going to feel like a massive throw-back, and only entertaining for a short while...once I get the play Bungie's magnum opus = DESTINY.
 

monome

Member
why am I here?

Can Certain Affinity and Saber make a dent in the MP FPS space when they face a new (and certainly eager to prove its worth) COD studio, Titanfall and Destiny?

Halo2:A MP will be a wasteland. unless it gathers the best word of mouth since mouths exist.
 

J-P

Neo Member
why am I here?

Can Certain Affinity and Saber make a dent in the MP FPS space when they face a new (and certainly eager to prove its worth) COD studio, Titanfall and Destiny?

Halo2:A MP will be a wasteland. unless it gathers the best word of mouth since mouths exist.

I think you seriously underestimate the nostalgia and reverence that people have for Halo 2. IF, and it's a huge if, but if it truly is Halo 2 multiplayer as it was, this game will not be a wasteland. Just look at how many people in this thread alone said they would buy an XB1 solely for this game. COD is on massive decline, and i daresay there may even be somewhat of a backlash brewing against filling bars and all that. Granted some will always be drawn to that but you're crazy if you don't think this will make a big splash.
 

Ein Bear

Member
Most of the elements of that level made it into Halo 2 in other forms.

What's more likely is they'd re-implement Forerunner Ship as the final level of Halo 2, since a) it was almost done before the game shipped, and b) you can add it and have zero effect on the canon

of course, this depends on if Bungie actually retained whatever remants of Forerunner Ship existed and it didn't disappear into the bitbucket when they moved on to Halo 3.

Have Bungie ever spoken about their original plans for the Halo 2 ending? I've always been incredibly curious about it. Was the final level supposed to be on Chief on board the Forerunner Ship, then? Would the game have ended after that, or were they planning on doing some more back on Earth, like the Jungle from the start of Halo 3 and such?

(Is cool seeing some old PA Halo people in here btw)
 
Have Bungie ever spoken about their original plans for the Halo 2 ending? I've always been incredibly curious about it. Was the final level supposed to be on Chief on board the Forerunner Ship, then? Would the game have ended after that, or were they planning on doing some more back on Earth, like the Jungle from the start of Halo 3 and such?

(Is cool seeing some old PA Halo people in here btw)

Halo 3 is the Halo 2 ending.
 

Fotos

Member
Have Bungie ever spoken about their original plans for the Halo 2 ending? I've always been incredibly curious about it. Was the final level supposed to be on Chief on board the Forerunner Ship, then? Would the game have ended after that, or were they planning on doing some more back on Earth, like the Jungle from the start of Halo 3 and such?

(Is cool seeing some old PA Halo people in here btw)

It was supposed to end around the 5th or 6th mission in Halo 3 I think.
 

harmonize

Member
Have Bungie ever spoken about their original plans for the Halo 2 ending? I've always been incredibly curious about it. Was the final level supposed to be on Chief on board the Forerunner Ship, then? Would the game have ended after that, or were they planning on doing some more back on Earth, like the Jungle from the start of Halo 3 and such?

(Is cool seeing some old PA Halo people in here btw)
I think I remember them saying that 2 was supposed to end when the ark fired.
 

FyreWulff

Member
Have Bungie ever spoken about their original plans for the Halo 2 ending? I've always been incredibly curious about it. Was the final level supposed to be on Chief on board the Forerunner Ship, then? Would the game have ended after that, or were they planning on doing some more back on Earth, like the Jungle from the start of Halo 3 and such?

(Is cool seeing the old PA Halo people in here btw)

They've never told us the literal stuff. Only that the original ending was recorded. For example, the Arbiter's scene where he kills Truth was actually recorded for Halo 2.

The original end of Halo 2 was actually a portion of Halo 3. Joe Staten said it himself that basically, Halo 2 had 3 acts, and they lopped off the third act to ship the game. The major plot points and locations from the third act of Halo 2 became the basis for Halo 3.

We know for a fact that Halo 2 had these levels cut that were concrete ideas. possibly forgetting one:

Covenant Ship - took place after the Cairo Station level. Featured you dropping onto the ship with Miranda and ODSTs. Was converted to the cutscene where Chief pushes the bomb IN SPACE and then flies IN SPACE onto the top of In Amber Clad

Forerunner Tank - was supposed to take place after Regret and before the Gravemind cutscene. The only design points were gravemind tentacles rushing through the Halo structure like trains, and riding a tank with awesome lights on it, and "awesomeness ensues".

Forerunner Ship - Chief goes through the Forerunner Ship. This was supposed to have the "hog run" of Halo 2, with giant gravity lifts and such. Apparently the level was modeled, but they had nowhere enough time to set it up for encounters, etc.


We also know the Portal in africa scene was supposed to be for Halo 2. You can see the whiteboard for it in Halo 2's making-of DVD, and it was mentioned elsewhere that the attempt at that level pretty much killed the original Xbox.

tl;dr Halo 2 was supposed to legitmately be the end of the Flood storyline and wrap that story up. Then the terrorfuck of Halo 2's development happened. The end.
 
Um, you don't seem to get it. We're not talking Halo 2 HD. Halo 3 and 4 HD yes, but not 2. We're talking Halo 2 Anniversary, as in CE Anniversary.

You don't seriously think CEA is just CE in 1080p do you? That was actually released on XBLA before CEA came out.

And besides, Halo 2 is a butt ugly game.

I think we know that CEA was more than just an HD upgrade, but I think I've seen a few people that thought they messed with the textures a bit to much. I always liked the aesthetics of forerunner technology, the plain gray metallic look. Then they went back in CEA and turned it all into Tron shit.
 
I think you seriously underestimate the nostalgia and reverence that people have for Halo 2. IF, and it's a huge if, but if it truly is Halo 2 multiplayer as it was, this game will not be a wasteland. Just look at how many people in this thread alone said they would buy an XB1 solely for this game. COD is on massive decline, and i daresay there may even be somewhat of a backlash brewing against filling bars and all that. Granted some will always be drawn to that but you're crazy if you don't think this will make a big splash.
I still can't believe some people believe that little to no people are anticipating a new Halo release when we have so many instances of people going batshit crazy over any bit of info.
I think we know that CEA was more than just an HD upgrade, but I think I've seen a few people that thought they messed with the textures a bit to much. I always liked the aesthetics of forerunner technology, the plain gray metallic look. Then they went back in CEA and turned it all into Tron shit.
I always took the gray textures as limited hardware for the time. CEA turning it into "Tron shit" is how I've always imagined Forerunner tech. Halo 2 changing Forerunner architecture to Mayan/Egyptian ruins threw me off..

Fits the idea of powerful/advanced tech IMO.
 

monome

Member
I think you seriously underestimate the nostalgia and reverence that people have for Halo 2. IF, and it's a huge if, but if it truly is Halo 2 multiplayer as it was, this game will not be a wasteland. Just look at how many people in this thread alone said they would buy an XB1 solely for this game. COD is on massive decline, and i daresay there may even be somewhat of a backlash brewing against filling bars and all that. Granted some will always be drawn to that but you're crazy if you don't think this will make a big splash.

yep.

I'm positive Halo2 A can have mutliple thousands of avid players.
A few ten thousands of regular players? maybe, for less than a month.
Over a hundred thousand semi-regular players? lol. never. not even on Week 1.

Halo 2: A will release against :

Titanfall + DLC
Destiny
and probably a future oriented COD with a strong gimmick.
and soon after Sunset Overdrive (MP oriented and MS published).

kenishiroyouralreadydeadHaloMP.gif

Verdict : Halo2 MP should be a digital DL and free to every X1 user with Gold. with no DLC. and focus on maintenance/matchmaking/balance.
Halo 2 A SP should be 40$.

2014 Halo filler game should be treated more like Killer Instinct than 2014 COD.
Halo 5 should be treated exactly like KI, with bigger ambitions.

not happening, tho.
 

AU Tiger

Member
Jesus Phil just say that it's real and it's happening.

I haven't bought either console yet. I'm still on the fence. Sony has given me a hundred awesome things to make me excited about the future of the PS4. Give me some awesome news to make me think twice about going out and buying Sony's console.

Seriously to me, the secrecy surrounding this industry and what's being developed is the most retarded thing I have ever witnessed. We talk about wanting to make games more cinematic or film-like quality and story telling but yet won't dare talk about games early in development the way news breaks about movies either being written or casting or early filming, etc.

That kind of stuff gets me excited for new movies even if they're a year or more away. Why can't the game industry do the same thing? If anything, we're an even more enthusiastic demographic of customers.
 
I still can't believe some people believe that little to no people are anticipating a new Halo release when we have so many instances of people going batshit crazy over any bit of info.

I always took the gray textures as limited hardware for the time. CEA turning it into "Tron shit" is how I've always imagined Forerunner tech. Halo 2 changing Forerunner architecture to Mayan/Egyptian ruins threw me off..

Fits the idea of powerful/advanced tech IMO.

The tron stuff fits the typical idea of advance tech, yes. But I think that's why I liked the metallic look. It seemed more mysterious to me. You see these big huge towers shooting lasers and stuff, and then you look at it and there's like, barely any moving mechanical parts, almost like it's magic.

Then you have the new look in CEA, and it looks like what human technology already looks except with blue LED's strapped to every thing.
 
yep.

I'm positive Halo2 A can have mutliple thousands of avid players.
A few ten thousands of regular players? maybe, for less than a month.
Over a hundred thousand semi-regular players? lol. never. not even on Week 1.

Halo 2: A will release against :

Titanfall + DLC
Destiny
and probably a future oriented COD with a strong gimmick.
and soon after Sunset Overdrive (MP oriented and MS published).

kenishiroyouralreadydeadHaloMP.gif

Verdict : Halo2 MP should be a digital DL and free to every X1 user with Gold. with no DLC. and focus on maintenance/matchmaking/balance.
Halo 2 A SP should be 40$.

2014 Halo filler game should be treated more like Killer Instinct than 2014 COD.
Halo 5 should be treated exactly like KI, with bigger ambitions.

not happening, tho.
I don't see why people can't play H2A along with Destiny and DLC for a game that came out ~7 months earlier.

I mean, that's what I'm going to be doing with Titanfall, Mario Kart, Smash, Destiny and Halo.. I don't see how this is a legitimate "excuse" people use for thinking there won't be a population to find quality games lol
 
The tron stuff fits the typical idea of advance tech, yes. But I think that's why I liked the metallic look. It seemed more mysterious to me. You see these big huge towers shooting lasers and stuff, and then you look at it and there's like, barely any moving mechanical parts, almost like it's magic.

Then you have the new look in CEA, and it looks like what human technology already looks except with blue LED's strapped to every thing.
Yeah I definitely hear ya, CE had a great feeling of mystery all throughout. I would like for Halo to revisit that atmosphere in Halo 5 and set the story up in a way that he's gone rogue or something to allow for it..
So what was everyones favorite maps? I for one loved CTF on Water Works.
Headlong, Terminal, just about every single map in that game, including Yoda's Backwash ;]
 

monome

Member
I don't see why people can't play H2A along with Destiny and DLC for a game that came out ~7 months earlier.

I mean, that's what I'm going to be doing with Titanfall, Mario Kart, Smash, Destiny and Halo.. I don't see how this is a legitimate "excuse" people use for thinking there won't be a population to find quality games lol

as said prior.

Once the game and its MP are released, an avid population of gamers will play it regularly. especially if it's great they will do so for a long time.

what % of gamers switch regularly between 5/6 MP games?
Halo 4 got burned by COD because of the "de facto MP game" effect.
 
as said prior.

Once the game and its MP are released, an avid population of gamers will play it regularly.

what % of gamers switch regularly between 5/6 MP games?
Halo 4 got burned by COD because of the "de facto MP game" effect.
What are the 5/6 MP games? Are they drastically different from one another? I thought Titanfall being released would destroy PvZ:GW's population and ability to set up quality matches, but that wasn't the case at all. In fact, I've been finding that a lot of people see them as complimenting each other extremely well.

This is what I'm thinking will happen, at least for me, later this year. Sure the population won't be as huge as it could be if it was the only game releasing during that window, but I don't think we'll have a problem finding games (quality ones at that).
 
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