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Halo |OT12| Last One Out, Get the Lights

willow ve

Member
How do devs not understand this?

Wreckage: Wreckage is the manifestation of the chaos of war. A medium-sized, asymmetrical map great for accommodating a wide range of objective-based game modes including King of the Hill and Capture the Flag

No one wants to play 2 flag CTF on asymmetrical maps. No one. Ever.

edit - Not sure if anyone posted this eariler. From Major Nelson's blog. http://majornelson.com/2012/11/29/h...mes-battlefields-and-new-game-type-on-dec-10/

The first of three Halo 4 map packs is coming Dec 10th for 800 points. Here are the details:

Wreckage: Wreckage is the manifestation of the chaos of war. A medium-sized, asymmetrical map great for accommodating a wide range of objective-based game modes including King of the Hill and Capture the Flag, it is a ravaged environment of crashed debris, where the surrounding destruction creates complex paths perfect for throwing off your opponents, or testing the limits of your Warthog. This devastated landscape provides plenty of cover, and tons of nooks and crannies are at your disposal while fighting for your turn to become King. Wreckage supports up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 players in a variety of other modes, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and Oddball.

Harvest: Harvest is a canon concept brought to life – the doomed agricultural planet where humans first made contact with the Covenant. A small to mid-size map, Harvest is ideal for Capture the Flag. Here, you’ll need to get creative to effectively use light vehicles which are limited to the exterior pathways and can’t get into the bases, making this map perfect for infantry firefights and face-to-face skirmishes. Snipers will also feel right at home; long sightlines are broken up by great cover and hiding spots. Harvest allows up to 12 players to face off in Capture the Flag, Infinity Slayer, King of the Hill, SWAT and Slayer Pro.

Shatter: Shatter is themed around natural crystalline surfaces and the huge UNSC factories mining them. This large, symmetrical map is a playground for the Warthog and Mantis – its open pathways make it easy to get around, whether on foot or in vehicles. Shatter is a great fit for Dominion and the new game type Extraction. For some close-quarters face-time, escape the open landscape and duck into a mining facility, or slip through a doorway and hunt unsuspecting Spartans. This map has variety for different types of players. Shatter enables multiplayer mayhem for up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 players in other modes, such as Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Dominion and Extraction.
 

Omni

Member
5 mins into Far Cry 3 and I've realised how little gore Halo has in comparison. They need to crank the blood up in H5, IMO. Dismemberment would be awesome. Loved shooting the arms and head off the Flood.
 

CyReN

Member
Fair call mate.
-edit-
Seems weird to have the "bandwidth hog" reasoning when you could just make spectator mode for custom games only. That way it's out of MM and the players could toggle it on or off for their custom games or LAN events etc. Also seems another reason dedicated servers would be beneficial. Why XBL don't have a premium or platinum membership for having your own dedicated servers paired to your PvP games is beyond me.

At this point there's so many problems that need to be patched that I rather have those fixed instead of spectator mode.
 
I dunno, upon second look at least it's clean. It's not a very inspiring one but at least there isn't tonnes of useless detail and the ground textures are quite nice.

With such slick art styles, why are these maps so dull to look at?? Why is everything so dark and bland?

343 could easilyyyyyyy make more maps like this

Hang_Em_High.png

but instead they choose this??


... and this??



So much love. So much frustration. Why, Halo, why? ;'[


v Hydra, couldn't agree more. In a game that's faster paced all around, getting stuck on invisible geometry or TINY LITTLE SHIT just to make the map look better is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo infuriating! That Anniversary map pack should've been saved for this game, not Reach. At least the Kryptonite on Shatter looks cool :]
 
As great as strewn about rocks are for aesthetics, I absolutely despise them in maps. Some of them are great mind you. I think back to the good ole days of Asylum where the jump up rocks made sense. However, there needs to be symmetry!!!

I hate Exile so much. There is too much there. There is that metal structure with a tarp on it between A and B that I just avoid at all costs every damn game. Why? Because it has bits jutting out all over the place. Gaps between the tarp and metal or just random bars of metal sprouting up. It just bothers me a lot to not have a clean line of sight from what could be very simple structures.

I think Longbow is a fantastic map but there seems to be a common trend I see popping up. That's rock cover. Meltdown. I just. Meltdown. You know those side rock cliffs on Longbow between the main bases and the background ones? I hate those. Meltdown is a map made entirely of those. They are not fun to hide behind and they are not fun to shoot in at.

How rocks differ from barriers of old and just simple flat textures? Affordances. I have a really good idea, almost instinctively, as to where I could throw a grenade to bank it off of a wall to hit the enemy on maps like the Pit and even Haven. This is because a flat surface (such as man made walls or forerunner structures) look flat. They just let me know if I throw the grenade where I think it'll go nicely, things will be cool.

Rocks? Not so much. They might be flat, but they certainly can't assuredly be flat. Sanctuary vs Asylum I guess? I mean, I think of trying to throw a nade from jump up to ring 2 on Reach and I cry a little bit. So much harder to judge and execute. Needlessly imo.

I don't hate Vic. I love the rocks. But rocks don't make for fun things to fight around in just about every Halo map ever...
 
I want maps that look like Mirror's Edge's Time Trial DLC. Clean, aesthetically striking, and low on resources. You don't need high res textures to have great looking maps
 

Tawpgun

Member
I want maps that look like Mirror's Edge's Time Trial DLC. Clean, aesthetically striking, and low on resources. You don't need high res textures to have great looking maps

I hope thats what Skyline is like.

The Majestic Map pack is infantry focused. So theres a glimmer of hope come February.

I think there's a good reason why Ragnarok, Exile, and Haven are by far the most popular maps. Very clean. Very vibrant.
 
How do devs not understand this?

Probably because they don't really play the game, you have like all these 343 "MS" shoe ins with these "positions" to fill, being like oh this is how to do a game. Its like when your parents try to text "texting lingo"

You cant just get an environmental artist, the environmental artist also needs to be a gamer. Without it you are going to get this map that can look great at times, but its all just soullesss.

You can hire a team of sustain playlist people but if they don't get what the players really want they will never put out quality material.

They do what they do to just get a good magazine review and have good relations with IGN and Co's. They no longer cater to us.
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
Yeah, Halo fans have enjoyed a wide variety of map aesthetics in the past. I mean, there's been some formulas that have been done into the ground, and some designs have gotten tired, but there's also been a lot of diversity. Even Reach did a better job: Powerhouse, Countdown, Reflection, Zealot, Sword Base, Boardwalk, Spire, and Boneyard. The BTB offerings were pretty bad aesthetically, but the small maps each had unique designs that were at least good, and in same cases really good. And then there's Halo 2 and 3, which blow the rest of the games in the series out of the water.

The maps in Halo 4 definitely feel like a downgrade. Too many rocks and UNSC labs. Haven looks great, though, and Adrift and Abandon are unique looking, at least.
 

wwm0nkey

Member
Yeah, Halo fans have enjoyed a wide variety of map aesthetics in the past. I mean, there's been some formulas that have been done into the ground, and some designs have gotten tired, but there's also been a lot of diversity. Even Reach did a better job: Powerhouse, Countdown, Reflection, Zealot, Sword Base, Boardwalk, Spire, and Boneyard. The BTB offerings were pretty bad aesthetically, but the small maps each had unique designs that were at least good, and in same cases really good. And then there's Halo 2 and 3, which blow the rest of the games in the series out of the water.

The maps in Halo 4 definitely feel like a downgrade. Too many rocks and UNSC labs. Haven looks great, though, and Adrift and Abandon are unique looking, at least.

Visually yes but man they still beat the shit out of the Reach maps when it comes to gameplay and map flow.

Well except maybe Abandon and Complex....
 
Yeah, Halo fans have enjoyed a wide variety of map aesthetics in the past. I mean, there's been some formulas that have been done into the ground, and some designs have gotten tired, but there's also been a lot of diversity. Even Reach did a better job: Powerhouse, Countdown, Reflection, Zealot, Sword Base, Boardwalk, Spire, and Boneyard. The BTB offerings were pretty bad aesthetically, but the small maps each had unique designs that were at least good, and in same cases really good. And then there's Halo 2 and 3, which blow the rest of the games in the series out of the water.

The maps in Halo 4 definitely feel like a downgrade. Too many rocks and UNSC labs. Haven looks great, though, and Adrift and Abandon are unique looking, at least.

Yup. We need some more unique looking locales badly. Also, please ditch the white UNSC lab theme.
 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
I'd like a Covenant themed map. Maybe a small one, symmetrical. It could also have a light bridge going across from it. Floating platform in the middle. Sword. Pink. Car...bine
 

Tawpgun

Member
Kinda rubbing salt in the wound when they take awesome screenshots with Depth of Field.

Why couldn't theater get something like that?
 

lilty

Member
Haven't posted in awhile because the junior wave was bothering me and Halo 4 has left me wanting more. Have you guys been playing customs at all, because the current playlists kind of suck. I haven't had a chance to play the competitive settings but they look great so I want to give those a try.

Add me: liltydude
 
I'd like a Covenant themed map. Maybe a small one, symmetrical. It could also have a light bridge going across from it. Floating platform in the middle. Sword. Pink. Car...bine

I'm sure the response will be "Midship sized maps won't work with sprint", but how much faster do sprinting players move in Halo 4 than regular movement speed players in Halo 2? Sprint feels faster, but in the same way that the roadie run from Gears feels faster.

Edit: the point I'm trying to make is that instant respawn would do more harm to a Midship-style map in Halo 4 than sprint would.
 

Redford

aka Cabbie
They can start with the skyboxes. The melancholic context of Reach which demanded ugly haze and cloudy skies at all times is gone now, but Exile and Haven are the only maps which don't default to that. It's why even though Ravine sucks as a forge map I still want to play on it's variants more than half the disc maps because of the pleasing, golden lighting and skybox.

Haven't posted in awhile because the junior wave was bothering me and Halo 4 has left me wanting more. Have you guys been playing customs at all, because the current playlists kind of suck. I haven't had a chance to play the competitive settings but they look great so I want to give those a try.

Add me: liltydude

So you were bothering...yourself?
 
Kinda rubbing salt in the wound when they take awesome screenshots with Depth of Field.

Why couldn't theater get something like that?

It's an illusion.

I'm sure the response will be "Midship sized maps won't work with sprint", but how much faster do sprinting players move in Halo 4 than regular movement speed players in Halo 2? Sprint feels faster, but in the same way that the roadie run from Gears feels faster.

Edit: the point I'm trying to make is that instant respawn would do more harm to a Midship-style map in Halo 4 than sprint would.

Have my babies.


For as much shit as we gave maps like Isolation at it's time, I appreciate the diversity of it. Some of those maps in Halo 2/3/Reach would've played great in Halo 1/4.

Tombstone in Halo 2? Shitty map because of inconsistent off-host BR, much like many other maps.

Controversial
Valhalla in Halo 3? Plays shitty in Halo 3 because of the inconsistent, piece of crap BR (some people would say that's a good thing, but I disagree and think Ragnarok plays much better.. just needs less Power Weapons dropping at my feet).

Boneyard in Reach? Plays shitty. The end.


How many years must I put up with these kind of things? I mean, we have a great Halo game at its core, but we have to now deal with other areas of the game that are disappointing and frustrating (instant respawn in a game that takes 7-8 secs to full recharge your shield). Time to go stuff my face with something delicious.. I can just keep complaining about this game/franchise that I love but what good does that do?
 
I mean look at this:

PCG201.shorts2.mirrors--article_image.jpg

mirrors_edge_pure_time_trial_map_pack_5.jpg


How hard would it be to just throw a few colored blocks together to make a map? Make the sides different colors, have some highlighted colors for navigating help, tada, good serviceable map.

I'd even take a Forge with a bunch of colored blocks over what we have now
 

Havok

Member
Visually yes but man they still beat the shit out of the Reach maps when it comes to gameplay and map flow.

Well except maybe Abandon and Complex....
Depends on what you want to play. I'd rather play CTF on Zealot (something something flag away spawn zone) than any Halo 4 map at this point. Haven is the one exception that I think really stands out in the game. The rest range from pretty good to god-awful, though the lows aren't as low as the worst of Reach. Part of it is that I'm really not digging the gametypes they've put into the game, part of it is just that the maps have issues of flow without static weapons to direct players, and part of it is that some of the maps just stink.

...well, Abandon/Complex CTF might be as low as Reach's lows. Yeah.
 
Well the DLC looks like complete shit, good to see 343i has taken zero interest in community feedback.

Community: "we want smaller maps please"

343i: "THREE LARGE VEHICLE MAPS, COMING UP!"

I'm pretty confident that I am going to avoid purchasing this map pack. I hope a lot of you guys do the same and show 343i that we cannot just be fed more bullshit maps.

You cripple forge and file sharing, and the give us the fewest maps in a Halo game to date. Then your first round of DLC is this? Really..
 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
I mean look at this:


PCG201.shorts2.mirrors--article_image.jpg

mirrors_edge_pure_time_trial_map_pack_5.jpg


How hard would it be to just throw a few colored blocks together to make a map? Make the sides different colors, have some highlighted colors for navigating help, tada, good serviceable map.

I'd even take a Forge with a bunch of colored blocks over what we have now

I would fucking die to play Halo maps like that.
 

rakka

Member
lol, people here telling me "just wait for the patch notes".

they're just as much of a disappointment as the map pack reveal was.
 

Tawpgun

Member
I'd like a Covenant themed map. Maybe a small one, symmetrical. It could also have a light bridge going across from it. Floating platform in the middle. Sword. Pink. Car...bine

Never gonna get anything that small. Haven is probably as small as it gets. Wouldn't mind something like a Pit remake. Or a spiritual succesor. Something along those lines is the perfect size for small H4 map.
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
Visually yes but man they still beat the shit out of the Reach maps when it comes to gameplay and map flow.

Well except maybe Abandon and Complex....
The BTB maps are leagues better than Reach's offerings, but the only small map I can truly say I enjoy playing on is Haven. Abandon is okay. In Reach I liked Countdown, Powerhouse, Zealot, and Asylum. I'd say most of the small maps in Halo 4 are on the level of Boardwalk -- I can enjoy them, but I find them mediocre.
 
Well the DLC looks like complete shit, good to see 343i has taken zero interest in community feedback.

Community: "we want smaller maps please"

343i: "THREE LARGE VEHICLE MAPS, COMING UP!"

I'm pretty confident that I am going to avoid purchasing this map pack. I hope a lot of you guys do the same and show 343i that we cannot just be fed more bullshit maps.

You cripple forge and file sharing, and the give us the fewest maps in a Halo game to date. Then your first round of DLC is this? Really..

To be fair, the scale of these maps has probable been set since the summer.. but yeah, they should have realized the game needed more small to medium symmetrical maps, especially when the objective playlists are symmetrical only. I also can't figure out why these look so visually repetitive, and seem very similar in map design.
 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
You should totally make maps bro that sounds like its off to a good start.

Lol I think if you just start with, "small map, symmetrical" you'll come out with a better small map than most in the game. But I don't wanna seem like I'm bashing. I'm actually enjoying the maps for the most part. However there are a few maps that are ok-decent that were so close to being really good.
 
To be fair, the scale of these maps has probable been set since the summer.. but yeah, they should have realized the game needed more small to medium symmetrical maps, especially when the objective playlists are symmetrical only. I also can't figure out why these look so visually repetitive, and seem very similar in map design.

Yeah I realize that the maps were probably finished before the game even shipped (DLC you're just the gift that keeps on giving), but as you said they should have at SOME POINT been like "oh fuck me, there are pretty much zero small maps, maybe we should do something about that".

Also the concept art vs reality on these maps is horrible. The concept art at least had some color in it and the maps looks pleasing visually, these just looks washed out and grey.

I just do not get it.
 

wwm0nkey

Member
Well the DLC looks like complete shit, good to see 343i has taken zero interest in community feedback.

Community: "we want smaller maps please"

343i: "THREE LARGE VEHICLE MAPS, COMING UP!"

I'm pretty confident that I am going to avoid purchasing this map pack. I hope a lot of you guys do the same and show 343i that we cannot just be fed more bullshit maps.

You cripple forge and file sharing, and the give us the fewest maps in a Halo game to date. Then your first round of DLC is this? Really..

I will say this when the 2nd pack comes out, these were probably well underway before the game came out so they didn't really have too much time to listen to feedback and its not like they would just scrap what they currently have done.
 

DeadNames

Banned
Holy shit. Just got the nemesis perk. Why anyone would ever use this shit i have no idea. Terrible.

Is that the one that lets you see the position of the last guy that killed you?

Remember how we freaked out about that one?

Oh how petty our worries were...

But to be honest, this game is NOT balanced. There are useless perks (grenadier) while things like dexterity are just WAY OP.
 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
Never gonna get anything that small. Haven is probably as small as it gets. Wouldn't mind something like a Pit remake. Or a spiritual succesor. Something along those lines is the perfect size for small H4 map.

And I might be ok with that. Haven is a good size. I would however just like to try a small map in H4. I want to try Midship.

Oh Midship, how I love you.
 

Trasher

Member
Lol I think if you just start with, "small map, symmetrical" you'll come out with a better small map than most in the game. But I don't wanna seem like I'm bashing. I'm actually enjoying the maps for the most part. However there are a few maps that are ok-decent that were so close to being really good.

If you replace the word "map" with "girl" it sounds like you are talking about your dating life.
 
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