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[Pop]

Remember guys skill ranks cause boosting and is the reason we don't have them. People only boost for a 50 and never just for xp.

--------

Everyone wins in the eyes of casual lazy fucks. If that mindset was used, we wouldn't even need sports. Internet has ruined the masses.

 

[Blue Ninja]

Okay, so let me get this straight:

We've all walked in to the opening of a new restaurant. It's a spiritual successor to an older restaurant you used to love and eat at almost weekly. The place is under new management and while there are some familiar faces most of these people are new and different. You've eagerly been awaiting your chance to eat here because you loved the meals at the old place and these people have given you certainty that these meals will be just as good if not better than the old ones.

You sit down and look around you. You see some buddies you used to eat with and wave to them. They wave back. You can see the look of excitement on his face and you wonder if it's the same as yours. A friend of yours is sitting a little ways off to your left. He wasn't so sure of this new place because he didn't completely trust some of the staff and the advertisements were lackluster. The place looks nice but they can't think of how anyone would be able to match the older restaurant with this new staff or methodology.

Orders for drinks are taken and the staff disappears for some time. You ask when you're going to get the meal you ordered, but the waiter only says "It's on its way, trust us."

Suddenly, it's time. The chef himself appears from the kitchen to present the inaugural meal of this restaurant and you can't wait. He opens reveals the plate and puts in in front of you and... you're very underwhelmed. The plates and maybe the bread are even from this restaurant. The steak you ordered is an undercooked microwave meal from a grocery down the street, the mashed potatoes are imitation. They're cold to the touch and have obviously been out of the microwave for some time. You also have a side of fries from Burger King, still in the paper holster with their logo on it. You look around to see that the staff has started filing out of the restaurant. You manage to flag one down to ask what's going on and why they're all leaving. "We're going on vacation," he says. "It's almost the holidays, you know."

"But who's going to get my drink?" your skeptical friend asks. "I could maybe wash this down if I could get a drink."

"Soon, trust us," the staff replies as he turns and makes his way towards the door. People begin picking at their food and most appear to be disappointed. You're not horribly thrilled but you're glad that someone opened the old restaurant back up. Your furious friend is shouting to the staff and slamming on the table, your excited friends from earlier are cramming the food down and asking for seconds, and you look down and just can't seem to finish it.

You look down to your phone and start watching trailers for movies while you think. Twitchcops, a buddy cop movie staring Cosmo and Siglemic as new partners in a police department in downtown LA trying to save their dog, Frankie. It looks interesting, maybe you'll watch it later.

A look up to the side of the table shows a group wearing matching jackets for some sport you've hear of. "We were told the 'Bacon Double Guiltyburger' was on the way," one of them says to the waiter. "Where are our orders?"

"Oh, we don't have them right now," the waiter says. "We have the ingredients in the kitchen if you'd like to make it yourself, though."

"BRO THIS SHIT IS AMAZING!" you hear one of your friends shout as he highfives one of the group that he came with. Your furious friend gets up from the table to hunt down some of the staff, and you start poking the leathery meat-thing with your plastic spork. You would have liked a metal fork, but it doesn't really matter to you. You're just glad the restaurant is open.

Back to the phone. You see that there's a showing for Twitchcops in about forty five minutes in a theater not too far from here. A glance to the side shows some of the patrons at the bar watching a sport they all seem to hate. It came as a part of a package deal for the restaurant's parent company, so it's showing this new sport instead of the one the old owners used to show.

You look up to see that your furious friend is actively starting fist fights with the staff who are left somewhat dazed as your excited friends are simultaneously ripping down the pants of the staff and attempting to put their penises in their mouths. You don't understand anything, but you'd like some A1 or something with your leathery thing, which is something most places have, but no one is listening to you. You can't tell if they can't hear you, or if they don't care, or if they're avoiding you because for some reason they don't have A1.

The police arrive and cuff your friend for assault, but it appears as though your excited friends have finished fellating the staff and resumed their seats at the table, so they aren't arrested. You get up and leave with someone else at the table. You look at each other but neither of you say a word, your eyes have said everything that needs to be said. You flag a cab to go to the theater and briefly, if only for a second, you remember that you never got your drink.

Welcome to Halo 4.

 

[TheOddOne]

It involves other restaurants doing some of the legwork and Sir Richard Branson. Or at least that's what I've been told.

Interesting response from Virgin Gaming over at THC.

Not to be a dick, but they said a lot of words but none of it meant anything.

Hey Juices, Overdoziz and Havok:



Send him stuff.

 

[Enfinit]

Interesting response from Virgin Gaming over at THC.

So, in layman's terms, what exactly is the deal with Virgin Gaming and MLG?

I feel like 85% of that post was the same stuff we've been reading for months. "We're dedicated to the players", "We want to provide a great environment for all gamers", and other similar general statements. If you would've said a member of 343i posted that, I wouldn't have noticed any difference.

It's great that Virgin made a statement and is trying to connect with the community. Seriously, good for them. It'd be nice to also have a statement from 343i...

...after they get back from vacation.

 

[Hydranockz]

Not to be a dick, but they said a lot of words but none of it meant anything.

Learn to read gooder, dutchie!

 

[th3dude]

I really, really miss the Halo 3 ranking system. I hope they deliver on that.

 

[Hypertrooper]

When is 343i going back to work ????

Monday. I believe.

EDIT: just read Virgin Gaming's reply that Cyren tweeted. One quote stood out, "We’re here to allow any gamer the chance to compete for epic prizes, without prejudice to his skill level". This is as far as I've read because I have serious doubts that this post is real. Can anyone confirm?

At the moment I can only find the official reply at TheHaloCouncil. I am not thinking TheHaloCouncil faked it. Why shouldn't they? If it were a fake, they would destroy their reputation...

Also lol at the Mexican voice overs. I hadn't realised that you could never change it back to English.

It is a shame that the most European voice overs just sound terrible because the local Microsoft branch doesn't really check it etc. It annoys me that Cortana says "sie" to the Chief instead of "du" when I play the German version. Especially since their relationship is very personal. (It isn't really wrong, still...)

 

[TheOddOne]

Learn to read gooder, dutchie!

"Yo bro, we got that that deal locked. Nah nah."

 

[kylej]

a rank only visible on waypoint might as well be no rank because that site is hot stinky garbage

 

[Hydranockz]

I really, really miss the Halo 3 ranking system. I hope they deliver on that.

I really don't miss the boosters, derankers and hostbooters. I'm not suggesting the 1-50 was bad. I just don't miss those aspects it attracted.

 

[Enfinit]

At the moment I can only find the official reply at TheHaloCouncil. I am not thinking TheHaloCouncil faked it. Why shouldn't they? If it were a fake, they would destroy their reputation...

Apparently it was first posted on the Waypoint forums (according to THC). Searched for about thirty seconds in General Discussion and Halo 4 sections and couldn't find it. THC also doesn't have a reference link anywhere in the article.

 

[Dirtbag]

I really don't miss the boosters, derankers and hostbooters. I'm not suggesting the 1-50 was bad. I just don't miss those aspects it attracted.

Maybe just one or two ranked playlist to pair alongside the rest is all that's needed. You can't let the terrorists win!

 

[xxjuicesxx]

Tweet @Bravo "Hire Juices. kthxbye."

Regarding that Virgin Gaming response, lol...

"Ill keep it short but super wordy: "No we have exclusive rights to Halo, suck it MLG"

No MLG, No ranking system. No competitive support. Good luck making Halo 4 good 343. Seriously...

"we like to creat tournaments that everyone can access, however you will need to not have a job, gf, or social life, because thats the only way you'll come close to winning it"

 

[Tashi]

I think all the shit I've seen today has inspired the 2nd segment on the next podcast. I just need time to digest all of it. Serious overload right now.

 

[Hypertrooper]

This made me chuckle.

 

[Talents]

I really, really miss the Halo 3 ranking system. I hope they deliver on that.

Seeing as you'll only be able to see your rank on waypoint, they won't deliver on it.

 

[OverHeat]

Tweet @Bravo "Hire Juices. kthxbye."

Regarding that Virgin Gaming response, lol...

"Ill keep it short but super wordy: "No we have exclusive rights to Halo, suck it MLG"

No MLG, No ranking system. No competitive support. Good luck making Halo 4 good 343. Seriously...

"we like to creat tournaments that everyone can access, however you will need to not have a job, gf, or social life, because thats the only way you'll come close to winning it"

Wonder if Blops 2 will be better because of MLG......sarcasm

 

[th3dude]

Seeing as you'll only be able to see your rank on waypoint, they won't deliver on it.

Link or explanation for more details?

 

[xxjuicesxx]

Wonder if Blops 2 will be better because of MLG......sarcasm

I doubt having an extra tournament using its game makes Blops II worse...

NO SARCASM.

 

[Talents]

Link or explanation for more details?

http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/post/2012/11/02/Halo-4-Competitive-Skill-Rank-Announcement.aspx

"At Halo 4’s launch, the competitive skill system will measure your performance against other players in Halo 4 War Games and use this information to match you up against opponents of comparable skill ranks. When the CSR system is fully implemented post-launch, Waypoint will assign each player a visible and detailed Skill Rank, viewable in the player profile section of Halo Waypoint."

 

[TheOddOne]

Halo 4 has it's problems, but damn leave people alone when they are on vacation.



That is just effed up beyond anything.

 

[J10]

Link or explanation for more details?

The people they outsourced the UI to didn't leave any room for in-game displays of ranks.

 

[OverHeat]

I doubt having an extra tournament using its game makes Blops II worse...

NO SARCASM.

Having community setting in custom is still possible Who care if MLG do not have halo on it's roster. The only loser is microsoft for having less exposure for H4

 

[Pop]

Halo 4 has it's problems, but damn leave people alone when they are on vacation.

longggg vacation

 

[bobs...onGaf]

So, we're in our third month with Halo 4 and we still have the same basic monthly challenge that we had at launch?

EDIT: just read Virgin Gaming's reply that Cyren tweeted. One quote stood out, "We’re here to allow any gamer the chance to compete for epic prizes, without prejudice to his skill level". This is as far as I've read because I have serious doubts that this post is real. Can anyone confirm?

I can't wait for MLB to hand me my World Series MVP trophy. Why shouldn't I get one? Is Bud Selig prejudiced against my skill level?

But by doing so they deny many gamers from competing, gamers who may enjoy a competition but have commitments such as employment.

I would never win anyway, but am I right in thinking the entire thing is time based? You either win by getting the most accumulated score in War Games or being the person who completes the most Sparton Ops games. I know there is also a competition for who can complete weekly challenges faster - but thats even worse, because then you are prejudicing against time zones.

So they dont prejudice against skill level, but they do prejudice against:
- People who cannot play all the time
- Timezones (I cant complain from a personal point of view, the timezone challenges resets at is pretty reasonable. I do however have work, and by the time I am done there is no way I can compete with people who have had at least 8 hours of a headstart.)

Prejucide sounds awesome, and is a typo I constantly made while typing that. I do hope those quotes are fake btw.

 

[Bregmann Roche]

Having community setting in custom is still possible Who care if MLG do not have halo on it's roster.

We don't need MLG now that we've found a tournament organizer that isn't skill-prejudiced.

 

[TheOddOne]

longggg vacation

2 to 3 year production is nothing to scoff at though. However you feel about the end product, people need time to reboot and find some rest. Constant breathing down their neck isn't really going to help anything.

 

[OverHeat]

We don't need MLG now that we've found a tournament organizer that isn't skill-prejudiced.

Are you a pro gamer? How much $$$$ a year do you make playing Halo at tourney?

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

It works, mostly as intended. I just don't like the intended result.

^That's the scariest part about all this.

I really don't miss the boosters, derankers and hostbooters. I'm not suggesting the 1-50 was bad. I just don't miss those aspects it attracted.

I really hate the afk'ers, the people who just slay in objective games to make their KD go up, just about every kind of vile player that a "progression XP" system creates because people care less about the team and more about being selfish by boosting their individual stats. I'm not suggesting that progression systems are bad. I just really hate those aspects it attracted.

 

[Enfinit]

Forget Halo, I'm going back to butt chugging

 

[Reagan's BR]

RIP Halo is no longer a joke. It is the truth.

 

[Bregmann Roche]

Are you a pro gamer? How much $$$$ a year do you make playing Halo at tourney?

According to Virgin Gaming's Community Manager I am. As for your second question: I may or may not be getting my hands on a sweet truck.

 

[th3dude]

http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/post/2012/11/02/Halo-4-Competitive-Skill-Rank-Announcement.aspx

"At Halo 4’s launch, the competitive skill system will measure your performance against other players in Halo 4 War Games and use this information to match you up against opponents of comparable skill ranks. When the CSR system is fully implemented post-launch, Waypoint will assign each player a visible and detailed Skill Rank, viewable in the player profile section of Halo Waypoint."

The people they outsourced the UI to didn't leave any room for in-game displays of ranks.

Man.

I skimmed the blog way back when and was excited, but didn't catch that you'd see it 'on Waypoint' specifically. Very disappointing.

And at the second note, that seems to make sense after re-reading the blog. I thought they'd update the UI to show these new ranks. Grinding XP to 130 is so boring. I'm very sad now.

 

[Hypertrooper]

Former HaloGAFfer tweeted me a link to the source of the press release. Not sure if it's legit...

 

[Overdoziz]

Didn't they just have like 3 to 4 years of vacation?

 

[OverHeat]

Didn't they just have like 3 to 4 years of vacation?

Low blow dude.

 

[TheOddOne]

Didn't they just have like 3 to 4 years of vacation?

Ohh, c'mon man.

 

[Overdoziz]

Oh, lighten up.

 

[kylej]

lol

 

[bobs...onGaf]

Oh, brighten up.

We all need a vacation from your jokes.

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

Didn't they just have like 3 to 4 years of vacation?

Low blow dude.

He just overdosed on Halo and you've overheated because of his insult.

Spoiler

Sorry, had to try.. I'll walk away now.

 

[Talents]

Didn't they just have like 3 to 4 years of vacation?

Dammmnnn.

 

[OverHeat]

He just overdosed on Halo and you've overheated because of his insult.

Spoiler

Sorry, had to try.. I'll walk away now.

Lol

 

[Bregmann Roche]

We all need a vacation from your jokes.

You're just prejudiced against his humor-level. At Virgin Comedy, Overdoziz gets epic laughs regardless of how bad his jokes are.

 

[Reagan's BR]

Wow.

 

[bobs...onGaf]

You're just prejudiced against his humor-level. At Virgin Comedy, Overdoziz gets epic laughs regardless of how bad his jokes are.

It would be really appropriate if a laugh track played every so often on Halo 4.


Imagine boltshotting someone and all he hears is fake laughter.

 

[th3dude]

Also from the blog regarding Competitive Skill Ranking...

The CSR will appear post-launch in an update to Halo Waypoint and associated Smartglass applications.

Waypoint and Smartglass... not in game... Such a letdown...

 

[feel]

Didn't they just have like 3 to 4 years of vacation?

Halo didn't go to shit by itself you disrespectful jerk.

 

[Ramirez]

You're just prejudiced against his humor-level. At Virgin Comedy, Overdoziz gets epic laughs regardless of how bad his jokes are.

 

[Bregmann Roche]

It would be really appropriate if a laugh track played every so often on Halo 4.


Imagine boltshotting someone and all he hears is fake laughter.

Or every time JiP activated. Or whenever someone killed you immediately after they respawn. Or when a jetpacker does anything on Solace. Or when a 4v4 game starts on a DLC map. Or when you try to do anything with the menu system. Or when you get personal ordnance options of grenades-needler-speedboost. Or etc. etc. etc.