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[Valhelm]

No one knows. everything is speculation.

Actually, we have quite a good idea. Going from the Forerunner novels, the Origins shorts, and Halo CE: Anniversary, Forerunners have a complex, striated culture of various trade guilds, all with their own unique customs, traditions, and beliefs. The protagonist of Halo: Cryptum and Primordium, a member of the Builder class, first is described as looking almost identical to a human.

Many Forerunners go through "mutations", though, in which their bodies morph. Some can be three meters tall and very beautiful, if the transformation is a success, while the less fortunate are described as having shapeless masses of muscle and tendons for faces.

 

[AllIsOneIsNone]

What I hated in H3 was that you could constantly be MVP, but still lower in rank because your teammates sucked.

I don't think you lower in rank if you're first place on the losing team, not positive though.

 

[too much eslim]

What I hated in H3 was that you could constantly be MVP, but still lower in rank because your teammates sucked.

I didn't have a problem with that your rank slowly went down. The solution was to play with at least 1 person you knew was good.

 

[soldat7]

I hope we learn nothing more of the single-player campaign until release.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I hope we learn nothing more of the single-player campaign until release.

Agree, but I'd love to see some extended SP footage.

 

[too much eslim]

I hope we learn nothing more of the single-player campaign until release.

That is wishful thinking, but I think i can agree with that. I really don't want to know who the enemy is until I play the game. I rather they just talk about multi-player and all game modes.

 

[Kujo]

I don't think you lower in rank if you're first place on the losing team, not positive though.

You did, happened to me a ton. :/

 

[higherARC05]

That is wishful thinking, but I think i can agree with that. I really don't want to know who the enemy is until I play the game. I rather they just talk about multi-player and all game modes.

Can not wait to see Forge and Fire Fight and Theatre!

 

[Portugeezer]

God I hope this game has more than 9 maps and Forge created ugly ass maps.

Bungie really dropped the ball with Reach when it came to maps. Give me 10 good unique maps and I would be happy.

 

[Conor 419]

Chums, I do not know whether this has been posted yet, but there's an opportunity to have question answered in the Halo:Bulletin

In my opinion, finding out whether there is custom game browsing and dedicated servers in Halo 4 is extremely important, so I'd love it if you guys could support that notion.

Cheers

http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_postst64027p16_Ask-a-Halo-4-Question-for-the-Bulletin.aspx

 

[higherARC05]

Awesome find

 

[EvB]

Halo 3 version of ranking was fine. Have a main rank and a sub rank for each playlist. The only problem with Halo 3 ranking was that it seemed forever to get a 50. You could win 7 games straight, lose a game, and you would need to win 20 games straight just to get a 50 from 49. It was crazy.

Outiside of that I would prefer a modified version of Halo 3's ranking system.

The problem with the Halo 3 ranking system was that people couldn't understand/accept that not everyone will reach level 50 and that most players should of reached a plateau and not rank up further.

They made it worse by having emblems that required to be a level 50 or whatever.

I got fed up of the constant "2nd accounts" where I was playing against people who were vastly better than I was because they were speeding their way up to a quick level 50.

All for vanity.

I'm not even that bad at Halo (Was 46 in halo 3) but I can see why lots of people hate the online mode, it's effing frustrating being matched against players that blow you out the water.

I've had far less of this in Reach, but what I tend to find in Reach is that the actual skill matching is quite poor (does it reset you truskill each day?)
It seems like I will play a couple of games and absolutely trounce the opposition, then 2 games in it decides I'm too good for that and matches me against people who literally rip my face open and probe me.

I prefer the Reach emblem system to be honest, but I don't think the Arena fullfilled the need for bragging rights that some people have.

 

[Conor 419]

I'm very worried that the Waypoint forum will fuck up and the top question will be 'Will there be assassinations'? Which would obviously spell absolute disaster for the fanbase.

So yeah, imo

1| Will there be dedicated servers and custom game browsing
2| What will the ranking system be like?
3| Can you elaborate on what has been called the 'perk' system?
4| In what direction do you plan to take Forge?
5| Is the campaign open world?
6| What is the maximum player count?

Are up there, in terms of mega importance.

So yeah, let's get on it chums.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

There aren't gonna answer any of those cool questions. Its gonna be minor shit like, "Hey 343, can you confirm if there's gonna be offline multiplayer" "Ah yes, concerned consumer, that thing that's been in all our games so far will be there in Halo 4. Well, that's it for this week's Q&A folks, but we'll have some really COOL stuff to show you very VERY soon!"

 

[higherARC05]

There aren't gonna answer any of those cool questions. Its gonna be minor shit like, "Hey 343, can you confirm if there's gonna be offline multiplayer" "Ah yes, concerned consumer, that thing that's been in all our games so far will be there in Halo 4. Well, that's it for this week's Q&A folks, but we'll have some really COOL stuff to show you very VERY soon!"

Reading that got me excited.

 

[Trans]

I'm very worried that the Waypoint forum will fuck up and the top question will be 'Will there be assassinations'? Which would obviously spell absolute disaster for the fanbase.

So yeah, imo

1| Will there be dedicated servers and custom game browsing
2| What will the ranking system be like?
3| Can you elaborate on what has been called the 'perk' system?
4| In what direction do you plan to take Forge?
5| Is the campaign open world?
6| What is the maximum player count?

Are up there, in terms of mega importance.

So yeah, let's get on it chums.

Wowow, I had forgotten about this completely. Hasn't this been on everybody's wish list since, like, the beginning of time (when Halo was first released)?

 

[fnmore1]

Probably a little late but, I think the reason behind them wanting to create a "story" for multiplayer is because they might be aiming for the same thing Killzone 3 did with the cinematic intro, which made it feel like you were actually playing a single player mission, but within multiplayer. I don't see any other reason to why they would try and create a story for multiplayer unless it's for this purpose.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Clan support...gives it to us 343!

I have never understood why Halo doesn't have this feature.

 

[Conor 419]

Begrudgingly, I have to agree with you.

"Hoy goys, will there be guns in Halo 4?"

"You bet junior!"

 

[Lingitiz]

Probably a little late but, I think the reason behind them wanting to create a "story" for multiplayer is because they might be aiming for the same thing Killzone 3 did with the cinematic intro, which made it feel like you were actually playing a single player mission, but within multiplayer. I don't see any other reason to why they would try and create a story for multiplayer unless it's for this purpose.

It sounds like they are incorporating some new MP modes that probably require some sort of story background. Maybe something for a separate 4 player coop type mode, who knows. Frankie is being a bit mysterious about the reasoning behind the story in interviews.

Clan support...gives it to us 343!

I have never understood why Halo doesn't have this feature.

I enjoyed it in Halo 2, although it was limited. I have no idea why Bungie cut it though.

 

[Conor 419]

Wowow, I had forgotten about this completely. Hasn't this been on everybody's wish list since, like, the beginning of time (when Halo was first released)?

Yes, which is why I made this thread right from the very beginning as a constant reminder to 343i that this is a very highly sought feature.

http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_topics12_Halo-4.aspx

If we don't get it this time round, despite vocal support from myself and my best men. I will accept that it's probably a Microsoft decision rather than one from 343i/Bungie. I will also have to sadly accept that Halo's online community will never ever match that of the TF2, CSS or Halo PC community from the old days.

 

[EvB]

Clan support...gives it to us 343!

I have never understood why Halo doesn't have this feature.

Halo 2 did, even if it was just a cheap way the expand your friends list, the actualy clan rank was cool

 

[Old Gimlet Eyes]

Clan support...gives it to us 343!

I have never understood why Halo doesn't have this feature.

Halo 2 had it. On why Halo 3 didn't have clan support....

Also mentioned in the podcast. Halo 3 will not ship with clan support. As Frankie puts it, the clan support in Halo 2 really amounted to no more than a second friends list.

I would guess that Halo 4 will not feature any type of clan support. Hope I am wrong though.

Yes, which is why I made this thread right from the very beginning as a constant reminder to 343i that this is a very highly sought feature.

http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_topics12_Halo-4.aspx

If we don't get it this time round, despite vocal support from myself and my best men. I will accept that it's probably a Microsoft decision rather than one from 343i/Bungie. I will also have to sadly accept that Halo's online community will never ever match that of the TF2, CSS or Halo PC community from the old days.

With as hard as the Halo franchise has pushed matchmaking and playlists, I really doubt we will see a custom game browser. Really unfortunate too, one of the main reasons I do not like playing Halo online. I just can't get into the matches I want to play (CTF classic allll dayyy).

 

[KageMaru]

I hope we learn nothing more of the single-player campaign until release.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a SP demo at MS E3 press conference with a MP demo on the showroom floor.

I'm hopeful we'll see more of the campaign since that's what I care about the most.

 

[Conor 419]

Halo 2 had it. On why Halo 3 didn't have clan support....



I would guess that Halo 4 will not feature any type of clan support. Hope I am wrong though.




With as hard as the Halo franchise has pushed matchmaking and playlists, I really doubt we will see a custom game browser. Really unfortunate too, one of the main reasons I do not like playing Halo online. I just can't get into the matches I want to play (CTF classic allll dayyy).

Exactly chum, the first thing I'd do is set up a server and have it so voice chat is mandatory. Play my favourite gametype alllllllllllllllllllll day long, kick trashtalkers/betrayers/twats, make friends and hopefully have it so they become regulars to the server as well.

I don't get what MS wouldn't do it. The community would grow stronger, game quality would increase, abusive players would be forced to comply with the rules or stick together. It'd also mean that everyone can play what they want, when they want.

I'm hoping they could just do ranked playlists and social browsing. That'd be a great compromise, I guess we'll see.

 

[JonCha]

bah Halo 2 system was the best

it worked, until you got up to level 35 and were constantly facing cheaters

You mean it was hard to get to the high levels, which is how it should be. The good players were very, very good unlike in Halo 3.

 

[DR3AM]

1| Will there be dedicated servers and custom game browsing
2| What will the ranking system be like?
3| Can you elaborate on what has been called the 'perk' system?
4| In what direction do you plan to take Forge?
5| Is the campaign open world?
6| What is the maximum player count?

Copy and paste these, hopefully someone at 343 will notice ( hi there) and answer.

 

[Trans]

1| Will there be dedicated servers and custom game browsing
2| What will the ranking system be like?
3| Can you elaborate on what has been called the 'perk' system?
4| In what direction do you plan to take Forge?
5| Is the campaign open world?
6| What is the maximum player count?

Copy and paste these, hopefully someone at 343 will notice ( hi there) and answer.

Maybe add something about clan support?

However, most of these are super specific and they probably won't answer these this early.

 

[Oozer3993]

1| Will there be dedicated servers and custom game browsing
2| What will the ranking system be like?
3| Can you elaborate on what has been called the 'perk' system?
4| In what direction do you plan to take Forge?
5| Is the campaign open world?
6| What is the maximum player count?

Copy and paste these, hopefully someone at 343 will notice ( hi there) and answer.

Here, I'll play the role of 343i and tell you:

1. No and No.
2. Can't talk about that yet.
3. Really can't talk about that yet.
4. Really, really can't talk about that yet.
5. Absolutely can't talk about that yet.
6. 16

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Halo 2 did, even if it was just a cheap way the expand your friends list, the actualy clan rank was cool

Ah. I was late to the Halo 2 community so didn't even know the feature was there...whoops. haha

I do feel like it should be included in future iterations of the franchise, it seems like a natural progression of the party system. Just an extra option for those ultra competitive players out there.

 

[Old Gimlet Eyes]

I really doubt Halo 4 will have a custom game browser, clan support, dedicated servers or more than 16 players online. Hopefully those were Bungie choices not to have those features though and 343 changes it up a bit and supports, at the least, dedicated servers.

Here, I'll play the role of 343i and tell you:

1. No and No.
2. Can't talk about that yet.
3. Really can't talk about that yet.
4. Really, really can't talk about that yet.
5. Absolutely can't talk about that yet.
6. 16

Sounds about right to me.

Halo 2 Clans system is still better than most clan support that exists today.

Clan ranks were amazing and clan matches were amazingly competitive.

Going back to the Ranking discussion, I was really disappointed when I hit 50 in Halo 3 because it really was a bummer to know that they are still people better than me but they're stuck in the same group as me. Being 50 really didn't seem to matter anymore.

And as far as clan support we have microsoft to thank for that since they made everyone use the 360 friends system. A system which is still worse than the Halo 2 interface

Halo 2 and Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow had better clan support than any current gen game and that was on OG xbox.

 

[Princess Carl]

Halo 2 Clans system is still better than most clan support that exists today.

Clan ranks were amazing and clan matches were amazingly competitive.

Going back to the Ranking discussion, I was really disappointed when I hit 50 in Halo 3 because it really was a bummer to know that they are still people better than me but they're stuck in the same group as me. Being 50 really didn't seem to matter anymore.

And as far as clan support we have microsoft to thank for that since they made everyone use the 360 friends system. A system which is still worse than the Halo 2 interface

 

[too much eslim]

The problem with the Halo 3 ranking system was that people couldn't understand/accept that not everyone will reach level 50 and that most players should of reached a plateau and not rank up further.

They made it worse by having emblems that required to be a level 50 or whatever.

I got fed up of the constant "2nd accounts" where I was playing against people who were vastly better than I was because they were speeding their way up to a quick level 50.

All for vanity.

I'm not even that bad at Halo (Was 46 in halo 3) but I can see why lots of people hate the online mode, it's effing frustrating being matched against players that blow you out the water.

I've had far less of this in Reach, but what I tend to find in Reach is that the actual skill matching is quite poor (does it reset you truskill each day?)
It seems like I will play a couple of games and absolutely trounce the opposition, then 2 games in it decides I'm too good for that and matches me against people who literally rip my face open and probe me.

I prefer the Reach emblem system to be honest, but I don't think the Arena fullfilled the need for bragging rights that some people have.

That is competition.I'm sorry but what most people don't understand that the skill level from 48 and up is vastly different from the any other rank in the 40's. If the person was legit anyway.

To be amongst the best you have to be at the skill level. Halo 3's ranking for that part at least did its job. I was able to get to a 48 on my own and needed one of my friends help to get to a 50 because you need at least one person you can rely on. Even after I lost my 50 and went down to a 47 I was able to get back up to a 49 on my own.

Not trying to sound like an elitist but legit 50's are in a class of their own. You can't be good you have to be amazing. Reach ranking has no incentive. You don't fear to lose a rank and you don't enjoy gaining a rank.

 

[too much eslim]

Halo 2 Clans system is still better than most clan support that exists today.

Clan ranks were amazing and clan matches were amazingly competitive.

Going back to the Ranking discussion, I was really disappointed when I hit 50 in Halo 3 because it really was a bummer to know that they are still people better than me but they're stuck in the same group as me. Being 50 really didn't seem to matter anymore.

And as far as clan support we have microsoft to thank for that since they made everyone use the 360 friends system. A system which is still worse than the Halo 2 interface

Once you get it doesn't matter anymore. i stopped caring after that, but i had fun creating alternate accounts to help friends and stuff. Also there is always going to be somebody better than you.

 

[Portugeezer]

Chums, I do not know whether this has been posted yet, but there's an opportunity to have question answered in the Halo:Bulletin

In my opinion, finding out whether there is custom game browsing and dedicated servers in Halo 4 is extremely important, so I'd love it if you guys could support that notion.

Cheers

http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_postst64027p16_Ask-a-Halo-4-Question-for-the-Bulletin.aspx

God, the Halo fanboys on that forum... ridiculous bunch.

 

[FyreWulff]

1-50 should never come back as a visible ranking system. It wouldn't even work like Halo 3's 1-50 anyway.

The mass of developers that have elected to hide trueskill in later games, and Epic's patching OUT of visible trueskill in Gears 2 (they didn't even wait for 3 to get rid of it) should tell you that making the matching tool visible defeats the point of it, because it's supposed to get you into fair games, it's not a WoW level you grind for.

 

[darthbob]

1-50 should never come back as a visible ranking system. It wouldn't even work like Halo 3's 1-50 anyway.

The mass of developers that have elected to hide trueskill in later games, and Epic's patching OUT of visible trueskill in Gears 2 (they didn't even wait for 3 to get rid of it) should tell you that making the matching tool visible defeats the point of it, because it's supposed to get you into fair games, it's not a WoW level you grind for.

Yet that's what people treated it as in H2, and H3.

I got pretty sick of the sense of entitlement that the playerbase has regarding trueskill. Comments like "I gotta get to my 50." "Gonna boost to get my General." just sicken me.

 

[FyreWulff]

Yet that's what people treated it as in H2, and H3.

I got pretty sick of the sense of entitlement that the playerbase has regarding trueskill. Comments like "I gotta get to my 50." "Gonna boost to get my General." just sicken me.

Yup. People's want to "get their 50" basically made so many people boost and cheat their way to the top that everyone along the way paid the price for it.

But then it doesn't matter how many people you tell that Trueskill is in every 360 game, they think no 1-50 = no Trueskill matching is going on.

 

[EvB]

That is competition.I'm sorry but what most people don't understand that the skill level from 48 and up is vastly different from the any other rank in the 40's. If the person was legit anyway.

I frequently got pawned by level 50s, all I could see was that there were people with 0 gamerscore who had played 50 games and were level 50.

It was rare to see a player who had a high ranking and had played an equally as impressive number of games. Which I suppose is what you would call legit

Was the matchmaking system reset each day in reach as opposed to being persistant like Halo3?

I think I got matched up against similar skill levels of players in 3 when I wasn't being match up against people boosting through the ranks.

Maybe they should have a permanent BPR ranking on your service record, but not visible next to your name, but then with an ever increasing emblem for lengh of service like Reach.
That might stop people cheating for the glory of undeserved badges of honor ala Halo 2/3 but with a steady progression for everyone else.

 

[DR3AM]

Whichever ranking system they decide to use, they really need to think about boosters, new accounts and quitters. Those 3 types of people ruin Halos matchmaking. Cheaters too but that’s a different story.

 

[too much eslim]

I think you guys miss the point. At least for me it was something tangible for me to attain. It what set every other shooter different from me. In Halo 2 I accepted the fact I couldn't get past a certain rank but it was due to modders.

In Halo 3 as long as the game wasn't broken like Halo 2 I knew I could attain a 50. It was a goal for me. It is what kept me playing and had me always tried my best.

If I can't see my rank then rank doesn't matter anymore. The game loses that competitiveness. I played way less games of Halo reach then i did halo 3 because of this.

 

[too much eslim]

I frequently got pawned by level 50s, all I could see was that there were people with 0 gamerscore who had played 50 games and were level 50.

It was rare to see a player who had a high ranking and had played an equally as impressive number of games. Which I suppose is what you would call legit

Was the matchmaking system reset each day in reach as opposed to being persistant like Halo3?

I think I got matched up against similar skill levels of players in 3 when I wasn't being match up against people boosting through the ranks.

Maybe they should have a permanent BPR ranking on your service record, but not visible next to your name, but then with an ever increasing emblem for lengh of service like Reach.
That might stop people cheating for the glory of undeserved badges of honor ala Halo 2/3 but with a steady progression for everyone else.

It reset monthly but kept tracked of what you did in the past. The problem is i never played arena. Didn't see a reason too.

 

[FyreWulff]

I think you guys miss the point. At least for me it was something tangible for me to attain. It what set every other shooter different from me. In Halo 2 I accepted the fact I couldn't get past a certain rank but it was due to modders.

In Halo 3 as long as the game wasn't broken like Halo 2 I knew I could attain a 50. It was a goal for me. It is what kept me playing and had me always tried my best.

If I can't see my rank then rank doesn't matter anymore. The game loses that competitiveness. I played way less games of Halo reach then i did halo 3 because of this.

But you shouldn't "deserve" a 50. A proper ranking system means that a SMALL number of people should see the highest rank, and an extremely small number should be at the lowest rank.

This should be true in every playlist. Even for MLG, if your ranking system is perfect then everyone's ranks in the playlist should fall into a bell curve. But Halo 3 just let you bruteforce your way to a 50 - it could be done in roughly 30 games (I believe the record is 28) with the proper setup.

50 doesn't mean a certain k/d, it doesn't mean you know the weapon timers, it just says that you should beat anyone that's 1-49 if you were matched up against. Trueskill never cared about the win margin, it just cared if you won or lost, and who the ranks were of the people you lost to or the people that you beat.

 

[too much eslim]

Whichever ranking system they decide to use, they really need to think about boosters, new accounts and quitters. Those 3 types of people ruin Halos matchmaking. Cheaters too but that’s a different story.

this didn't become an issue with reach ranking, but it is also why the multiplayer tailed off from its usual numbers.

 

[clashfan]

Chums, I do not know whether this has been posted yet, but there's an opportunity to have question answered in the Halo:Bulletin

In my opinion, finding out whether there is custom game browsing and dedicated servers in Halo 4 is extremely important, so I'd love it if you guys could support that notion.

Cheers

http://halo.xbox.com/Forums/yaf_postst64027p16_Ask-a-Halo-4-Question-for-the-Bulletin.aspx

I dare someone to ask about ironsite.

 

[NullPointer]

I thought the Arena in Reach was meant to deal with this ranked e-peen stuff. I take it that didn't work?

 

[EvB]

I think you guys miss the point. At least for me it was something tangible for me to attain. It what set every other shooter different from me. In Halo 2 I accepted the fact I couldn't get past a certain rank but it was due to modders.

In Halo 3 as long as the game wasn't broken like Halo 2 I knew I could attain a 50. It was a goal for me. It is what kept me playing and had me always tried my best.

If I can't see my rank then rank doesn't matter anymore. The game loses that competitiveness. I played way less games of Halo reach then i did halo 3 because of this.

You've got something to achieve each month with arena , right now you've got a BPR to improve on , which is a good indication of skill. You have sites like halotracker that physically rank you against other players.
There is loads to achieve and aspire to, just not a number next to your name.

I love being able to spy on other people's stats online

 

[Yo Gotti]

Comments like "I gotta get to my 50." "Gonna boost to get my General." just sicken me.

:lol. Seriously? Getting that legit 50 was damn satisfying.

Halo 2's ranking system was the best in any online game I've played. Especially when it came to the clan matches, it gave your whole team a reason to want the win.

Damn, now I'm reminiscing. Halo 2 online was fucking amazing.

 

[Princess Carl]

Once you get it doesn't matter anymore. i stopped caring after that, but i had fun creating alternate accounts to help friends and stuff. Also there is always going to be somebody better than you.

Thats my point. In halo 2 this was represented by my max rank of 40 and the games max rank of 50.

All this bitching about booosting confuses me also. Because for me, the only place my rank mattered to me and to anyone else was in the matchmaking lobby before and after the game. I couldn't care less how many boosters there supposedly were in Team Slayer because the only people I was playing were the people playing team slayer. Of course, modding and standying excluded when i say this.


Halo Reach was the victim of needing a time investment for "gear" AND a time investment for your Team Slayer rank. It should have only be one or the other.

 

[EvB]

Good times, the days before private chat.