HiredN00bs
Member
Cairo Station Legendary complete. Had to stockpile plasma pistols for that hangar bay encounter.
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Halo |OT| HaloGAF Evolved
- Thread starter GhaleonEB
- Start date
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Reagan's BR
Banned
That encounter turns boys into men.
That's hot.
Captain Blood
Member
Jetpack could be a ton of fun.....in the campaign. Hopefully they leave it there.
Yea I was talking about Halo 4. I thought it looked like a jetpack in the teaser but could be wrong. Either way nothing breaks a MP map like a jetpack so hopefully it won't be in Halo 4 MP.
Hypertrooper
Member
I thought that isn't a jetpack? (We are talking about Halo 4?)
Stripper13
Member
Now... I'm not the judge of all things Halo. But I suspect you may be playing that gametype incorrectly. I believe the objective is to attempt to stand in that green box - not spam DMR shots into it relentlessly from the opposite side of the map.
Still... nice.
Gabotron ES
Member
Possibly a dumbed down version we'll see in Halo 4, more like a jump pack which gives you an additional boost to your jumps.
Hellooo sexy!
I feel dirty thinking I could use it StreetHawk style:
Agreed. I came for the fight and stayed for the pink.
I don't think Halo 4 will go the gritty way (Reach...), but I still believe 343i is distancing itself (a bit) from the pink (possibly because Bungie alone can make a game about the end of humanity in which you fight yapping turds-looking aliens).
Slightly Live
Dirty tag dodger
Another week and Beyond the Frontline Volume Two continues with a new entry by Postmortem.
I disagree completely with the premise. If I wanted gritty war games there's no shortage of them out there. I'm not playing Halo for the solider's perspective. I'm there for the bright laser guns and huge alien spaceamabobs. And the saving the galaxy as a badass cyborg. Halo's theme lends itself well to campaign and multiplayer, something a more military focused game couldn't do without being a boring COD clone.
The full entry is copied below.
BTF #7 : The Deeper End of the Military Sci-Fi Pool
Link
Beyond the Frontline is a regular feature on Forward Unto Dawn where the staff get up on the soapbox and put forward a personal idea relating to Halo. Each BTF is a talking point designed to start a dialogue and unlike our regular word blasts and articles, the entries are short and sweet.
_______________________
When I first entered the world of Halo, Eric Nylunds graphic war stories from this amazing universe were part of the welcoming party. They were gritty, brutal, and (most importantly) human. They helped to solidify the idea that this war was real that this was not just some action game, but that every life spent in pursuit of a goal was a real human, trying to survive. In the books engagements were chaotic and frightening, with soldiers fearing for their lives at every second; how combat should be portrayed. In the games, things were different. You could laugh and smile as you jumped around, smashing the enemies before you with your Spartan might. It never got anywhere near the level of vulnerability that a war game should in my opinion portray.
Since the first time I entered, I was immersed. 100%. There was never a moment where I didnt feel on some level as if I were actually there, going through the same trials as Chief. This is namely because of one important thing, which happens to be Halos strong openings. Every game has had amazingly immersive introductory gameplay, trying to place the brief tutorial within the bounds of the fiction. From Chiefs awakening from cryo to his revival in the deep jungles of Africa, every tutorial and intro has helped to immerse you in the world and situation more and more.
ODST was no different. In fact, I believe ODST has one of the strongest openings of any Halo game, really giving you a glimpse into what it would be like to drop into combat from the outer atmosphere. Its terrifying, yet empowering, to plummet towards the battlefield, ready to land and burst from your suborbital cocoon, to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting enemy.
And yet this is when ODST takes a turn for the different. As the Carrier makes a slipspace jump inside the city and the shock wave smashes into your pod, the Rookie blacks out, likely from the gravitational effects of an incorrectly oriented entry. When you awake, it is six hours later, and your squad is nowhere to be found. You are stranded, alone in a hostile city, and most importantly you arent a Spartan. You are vulnerable.
This vulnerability was one of the defining points of ODST, creating a much different playing experience than any other Halo game so far. The rifles, and especially the silenced M7 submachine gun are visibly held to the shoulder, tucked up close to the Rookies face for quick and accurate shots. It feels much more tactical, like this is actually a highly trained spec ops soldier, and he knows hes alone and in an environment where enemies lurk around every corner. Hes alert and ready for a firefight at any moment.
When crouched, the camera will bob up and down realistically with each step the Rookie takes, further emphasizing the fact that you are not a Spartan. You are not equipped with Mjolnir armor, and are not trained to be anything more than human. While a Spartan could walk with smooth, streamlined efficiency, the ODST is still held back by those basic functions which the rest of us humans cant overcome.
Reach met ODST halfway, presenting a more vulnerable Spartan, but with all the capabilities of their older brethren. To date, Reach and ODST are the most realistic Halo experiences we have had, but the possibilities dont end there. The Halo universe is full of interesting stories and perspectives on war, just ripe for the picking.
Imagine a Halo game designed to present the Halo universe as it actually is. No stylization, no pleasantries. Just pure, unadulterated war. Weve seen this take on Halo before, in the amazing works of Neil Blomkamp and Rupert Sanders.
Not unlike WWII in the nineteen forties, this war had a great effect on not just the men and women who served, but society as a whole. It greatly impacted humanitys outlook on life in general, as seen visually in Sanders BELIEVE campaign.
Dont you think its about time we got to see the war that these men experienced? Not some stylized, brightly colored romp through alien vistas, but a dark, gritty, humbling experience? Not unlike what we were shown in Reach, but from the perspective of those that truly had little to no hope.
The Halo sandbox is already beautifully set up for an installment such as this. All human weapons possess an extraordinary amount of detail and realism, with features such as rail mounts, attachments, and beautifully sculpted iron sites that would be a blast to experience from a more realistic perspective, scoping in by pulling the weapon up to your eye, instead of digitally zooming the battlefield through a smart-linked scope.
However, this doesnt exclude a HUD in all situations, as we know that this technology wasnt limited to Spartans; the Marines possessed such technology as well. However, what if instead of either permanently having or not having your helmet on, it was able to be knocked off in the heat of battle, requiring you to pick it up much like armor abilities in the Reach campaign. It would add another level of realism, and a lot of variety to combat scenarios.
Grunts, Jackals, and Drones would become your equals, while Brutes and Elites would be the dominant players on the battlefield, much more like Hunter encounters are currently.
And when a Mgalekgolo finally did make its way onto the battlefield you should leave that battle with mental trauma.
Cover would become an essential mechanic, as energy shielding and stamina would be out in all but perhaps some unique sequences (much like Vergils overshielding in ODST). Weapons fire could do much more realistic damage on both ends, with plasma shots boiling away armor and flesh, while ballistic ammunition realistically tears through the enemys body.
If stamina were to be included, it would be as part of an endurance system where your level of endurance effects your sprinting speed, your jump height, and your weapon accuracy (much like limb damage effects your accuracy in Fallout: New Vegas), heightening the sense of immersion and reality tenfold.
This game would also give 343 the opportunity to really show off its talent when it comes to graphics. While many disagree with Call of Dutys approach to building games, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would say with a sincere face that the game's set-pieces aren't stunning. The opening level from Modern Warfare 2 is what immediately comes to mind.
Although its a tutorial for the games basic controls, there is activity all around you. Troops relax by playing a game of basketball, men argue about water consumption, and mechanics work on vehicles. There is no point to this level of detail, other than to get the player more immersed in the world they have created, to breath life into it and make it real. Halo has immersion nailed, but I for one would love to see the series delve into a higher level of detail than it ever has before, rivaling, if not surpassing those games which are known for their extreme thoroughness. We as Halo fans know that the designers can take the time to hide the most minute details inside of these worlds that we love. Now it may be time for them to step it up to the next level and apply that attention to detail to all areas of the game.
I disagree completely with the premise. If I wanted gritty war games there's no shortage of them out there. I'm not playing Halo for the solider's perspective. I'm there for the bright laser guns and huge alien spaceamabobs. And the saving the galaxy as a badass cyborg. Halo's theme lends itself well to campaign and multiplayer, something a more military focused game couldn't do without being a boring COD clone.
The full entry is copied below.
BTF #7 : The Deeper End of the Military Sci-Fi Pool
Link
Beyond the Frontline is a regular feature on Forward Unto Dawn where the staff get up on the soapbox and put forward a personal idea relating to Halo. Each BTF is a talking point designed to start a dialogue and unlike our regular word blasts and articles, the entries are short and sweet.
_______________________
When I first entered the world of Halo, Eric Nylunds graphic war stories from this amazing universe were part of the welcoming party. They were gritty, brutal, and (most importantly) human. They helped to solidify the idea that this war was real that this was not just some action game, but that every life spent in pursuit of a goal was a real human, trying to survive. In the books engagements were chaotic and frightening, with soldiers fearing for their lives at every second; how combat should be portrayed. In the games, things were different. You could laugh and smile as you jumped around, smashing the enemies before you with your Spartan might. It never got anywhere near the level of vulnerability that a war game should in my opinion portray.
Since the first time I entered, I was immersed. 100%. There was never a moment where I didnt feel on some level as if I were actually there, going through the same trials as Chief. This is namely because of one important thing, which happens to be Halos strong openings. Every game has had amazingly immersive introductory gameplay, trying to place the brief tutorial within the bounds of the fiction. From Chiefs awakening from cryo to his revival in the deep jungles of Africa, every tutorial and intro has helped to immerse you in the world and situation more and more.
ODST was no different. In fact, I believe ODST has one of the strongest openings of any Halo game, really giving you a glimpse into what it would be like to drop into combat from the outer atmosphere. Its terrifying, yet empowering, to plummet towards the battlefield, ready to land and burst from your suborbital cocoon, to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting enemy.
And yet this is when ODST takes a turn for the different. As the Carrier makes a slipspace jump inside the city and the shock wave smashes into your pod, the Rookie blacks out, likely from the gravitational effects of an incorrectly oriented entry. When you awake, it is six hours later, and your squad is nowhere to be found. You are stranded, alone in a hostile city, and most importantly you arent a Spartan. You are vulnerable.
This vulnerability was one of the defining points of ODST, creating a much different playing experience than any other Halo game so far. The rifles, and especially the silenced M7 submachine gun are visibly held to the shoulder, tucked up close to the Rookies face for quick and accurate shots. It feels much more tactical, like this is actually a highly trained spec ops soldier, and he knows hes alone and in an environment where enemies lurk around every corner. Hes alert and ready for a firefight at any moment.
When crouched, the camera will bob up and down realistically with each step the Rookie takes, further emphasizing the fact that you are not a Spartan. You are not equipped with Mjolnir armor, and are not trained to be anything more than human. While a Spartan could walk with smooth, streamlined efficiency, the ODST is still held back by those basic functions which the rest of us humans cant overcome.
Reach met ODST halfway, presenting a more vulnerable Spartan, but with all the capabilities of their older brethren. To date, Reach and ODST are the most realistic Halo experiences we have had, but the possibilities dont end there. The Halo universe is full of interesting stories and perspectives on war, just ripe for the picking.
Imagine a Halo game designed to present the Halo universe as it actually is. No stylization, no pleasantries. Just pure, unadulterated war. Weve seen this take on Halo before, in the amazing works of Neil Blomkamp and Rupert Sanders.
Not unlike WWII in the nineteen forties, this war had a great effect on not just the men and women who served, but society as a whole. It greatly impacted humanitys outlook on life in general, as seen visually in Sanders BELIEVE campaign.
Dont you think its about time we got to see the war that these men experienced? Not some stylized, brightly colored romp through alien vistas, but a dark, gritty, humbling experience? Not unlike what we were shown in Reach, but from the perspective of those that truly had little to no hope.
The Halo sandbox is already beautifully set up for an installment such as this. All human weapons possess an extraordinary amount of detail and realism, with features such as rail mounts, attachments, and beautifully sculpted iron sites that would be a blast to experience from a more realistic perspective, scoping in by pulling the weapon up to your eye, instead of digitally zooming the battlefield through a smart-linked scope.
However, this doesnt exclude a HUD in all situations, as we know that this technology wasnt limited to Spartans; the Marines possessed such technology as well. However, what if instead of either permanently having or not having your helmet on, it was able to be knocked off in the heat of battle, requiring you to pick it up much like armor abilities in the Reach campaign. It would add another level of realism, and a lot of variety to combat scenarios.
Grunts, Jackals, and Drones would become your equals, while Brutes and Elites would be the dominant players on the battlefield, much more like Hunter encounters are currently.
And when a Mgalekgolo finally did make its way onto the battlefield you should leave that battle with mental trauma.
Cover would become an essential mechanic, as energy shielding and stamina would be out in all but perhaps some unique sequences (much like Vergils overshielding in ODST). Weapons fire could do much more realistic damage on both ends, with plasma shots boiling away armor and flesh, while ballistic ammunition realistically tears through the enemys body.
If stamina were to be included, it would be as part of an endurance system where your level of endurance effects your sprinting speed, your jump height, and your weapon accuracy (much like limb damage effects your accuracy in Fallout: New Vegas), heightening the sense of immersion and reality tenfold.
This game would also give 343 the opportunity to really show off its talent when it comes to graphics. While many disagree with Call of Dutys approach to building games, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would say with a sincere face that the game's set-pieces aren't stunning. The opening level from Modern Warfare 2 is what immediately comes to mind.
Although its a tutorial for the games basic controls, there is activity all around you. Troops relax by playing a game of basketball, men argue about water consumption, and mechanics work on vehicles. There is no point to this level of detail, other than to get the player more immersed in the world they have created, to breath life into it and make it real. Halo has immersion nailed, but I for one would love to see the series delve into a higher level of detail than it ever has before, rivaling, if not surpassing those games which are known for their extreme thoroughness. We as Halo fans know that the designers can take the time to hide the most minute details inside of these worlds that we love. Now it may be time for them to step it up to the next level and apply that attention to detail to all areas of the game.
squidhands
Member
ODST was a nice change of pace, but the midway point between Chief and The Rookie is just too flawed to work right as Reach has shown me. Keep the realism with the other military shooters that I couldn't care less about; my heart lies in the near-absurdity of Master Chief's abilities. Good read, though; it's nice to have something Halo-related to talk about.
ncsuDuncan
Member
HaloGAF.com/gamertags
Heh, thanks. Only took about 3 minutes to make. (It's just a piece of the holiday card, with the colors inverted and color balance tweaked; throw some Century Gothic text on it and BLAM - done.)
Hypertrooper
Member
I hope it is more than that. Give me
"press thruster button" + holding A (during a jump)= to get an additional boost.
"press thruster button" + left analog stick specific direction= get an additional boost in that specific direction.
Gabotron ES
Member
So I had to post this here since this is plagued with CC's.
Regarding Heavy variants, have 343 stated what gametypes they're willing to use with our maps? We had Heavy Slayer and 2 Flags Heavy back in 3 and Slayer is pretty much obvious right now, what about these CTF and Bomb settings?
Regarding Heavy variants, have 343 stated what gametypes they're willing to use with our maps? We had Heavy Slayer and 2 Flags Heavy back in 3 and Slayer is pretty much obvious right now, what about these CTF and Bomb settings?
ncsuDuncan
Member
Those thrusters in the Halo 4 trailer? I hope they're only used in a zero-G sequence in campaign. (I think Dead Space did that well.)
The Bullfrogs section of Exodus was awesome, but the jetpack breaks the intended flow when it pops up in the rest of the campaign.
Also, I don't want any more zero-G (well, low-G) areas in multiplayer maps. They're neat in concept but slowing players down just causes frustration.
The Bullfrogs section of Exodus was awesome, but the jetpack breaks the intended flow when it pops up in the rest of the campaign.
Also, I don't want any more zero-G (well, low-G) areas in multiplayer maps. They're neat in concept but slowing players down just causes frustration.
DMR/AR start is all that is known at this point.
Gabotron ES
Member
Ok, thanks.
Hypertrooper
Member
Yeah. Sounds better than my idea. When I thought my idea I fear that it could break the halo gameplay too much.
ncsuDuncan
Member
Gabotron ES
Member
:lol perfect. Maybe they'll add CTF to the bunch later.
Cuban Legend
Member
Gabotron ES
Member
Is this broken enough 343?
I don't know why they keep the Banshee in matchmaking when it's clearly broken... they spent the whole match doing barrel rolls so we couln't really do anything.
They also were abusing the sniper + Revenant exploit and they weren't even a coordinated team. So much spawn killing.
I hope they contact the author or simply remove the map from matchmaking's rotation.
When there's people going +68 and +50 you know something is broken.
This is not the first time this has happened to me on the same map.
I don't know why they keep the Banshee in matchmaking when it's clearly broken... they spent the whole match doing barrel rolls so we couln't really do anything.
They also were abusing the sniper + Revenant exploit and they weren't even a coordinated team. So much spawn killing.
I hope they contact the author or simply remove the map from matchmaking's rotation.
When there's people going +68 and +50 you know something is broken.
This is not the first time this has happened to me on the same map.
Haha Renegade, that map is complete garbage. That kind of crap makes me never want to play in regular BTB, no matter how old it gets playing Ridgeline over and over again in Anniversary BTB.
The Henery
Member
Playing the objective in multi-team. That's a good one
Gabotron ES
Member
I don't even know how that map passed the testing phase, Paradiso already demostrated a map CAN'T HAVE TWO BANSHEES. Never.
Edit: Oh yeah, Paradiso is still there, even when we have a "slightly" better variant.
Utopia is only slightly less of a pile of shit and it only has one Banshee. Can't polish a turd, can't fix that stupid island.
Gabotron ES
Member
I know, I was going to post the rendered video where I get spawn killed three times in a row by the Banshee on that map. It looks like I've lost it.
Surprisingly enough, removing the neutral Banshee and replacing it with a neutral Falcon works pretty well.
I've still got it. This one?
http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Reach/FileDetails.aspx?fid=20585481&player=Karl2177
I've had that same experience. I think this kind of just points to the need for them to focus on fixing old content instead of creating new stuff. People love the idea of new content...but part of that is just because it's less obviously broken than the old stuff is.
That's because the Falcon is actually balanced. The Banshee just wrecks shit. It needs to be deleted until it's patched.
I don't even care if it breaks immersion on Invasion Spire, give the Elites a Falcon too.
Also, I swear Renegade was one of the first community maps to switch from Banshees to Falcons? Must be thinking of a different one.
Gabotron ES
Member
:lol yeah, thanks for posting it!
B-but spawn killing Elites is so fun, DUN FIX IT 343!!1!!
Renegade's earlier version (before it was put into matchmaking) had a neutral Falcon at the middle structure, it was later "fixed" by adding a Banshee behind each base.
You're probably thinking about Breakpoint, both Banshees were replaced by Falcons.
Wait... your gripe is that it's wired? Does not compute...
I like my controllers to be wireless all the time. Can't stand extra wires.
At work, soon to be "learning" in class which means I'll be on.
My secret new solution is to force choke and/or lightsaberize people instead of playing Reach
Gabotron ES
Member
I've no problem with 343 adding new
grey
Forget about Race and go for the safe bet, lots of mini-games already out there.
But how do you feel about responsiveness? Certainly the form factor of the wireless controller is better, but for performance, the Microsoft wireless controllers feel so much less responsive than the Microsoft wired controllers.
I honestly can't comment because it's been so long since I've used a wired one. I don't play competitively (because the very notion of that is laughable due to skill) but I haven't ever noticed enough lag where I sit and scratch my head in wonder. The reviews I've read of the MLG controller have piqued my curiosity enough though that I may invest in it just to try something new. Madcatz have gone from old third party garbage to getting the MLG license and that enough is a great review for me.
Madcatz actually made a really good OG Xbox controller that had the Black and White buttons where the bumpers are now. The only thing is that they are backwards from what it is today.
Future PhaZe
Member
lol
Hypertrooper
Member
People are paying $250 for a fighting stick.
thezerofire
Banned
my favorite parts of using wired controllers is the lack of weight, and the lack of "oh shit batteries are gone in the middle of a game" situations
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
Link to the MLG controller?
I don't compete anymore and like my stuff wireless and want a good controller, I know I'm weird.
I wonder how successful Madcatz will be with these? In my circle of competitive friends, I've yet to find anyone who has picked one up. I'm really curious how willing folks will be to shell out the money. Most folks I've spoken with seem to think the additional money isn't worth it. That's certainly my chief obstacle...
I'm definitely curious to hear real reviews outside of those who have a vested interest in MLG products.
Its a REALLY nice controller.
So is a new default one.
Not a lot of people are going to have them yet with Amazon trickling them out, I'm curious to see what people have to say too with no biased opinions. I've only seen this guys review and it seems solid from his controller experiences in the past. I'm really on the fence, I do lan a decent amount but I'm not sure if I want to drop $100 on it. If it has a night and day effect like Astro Mixamp/Headphones compared to default 360 headset I may get it. Right now it's a no until I hear more.
I guess Madcatz is in the office today, one of the guys I know at the office posted this:
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
Wait, so since it comes with swappable parts, does it come with a cord for both PS3 and 360? Or can you only use it on one?
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