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[Zeouterlimits]

Tad different to what I meant Plywood .

Yes, yes, the act of pre-order exclusives is awful, but if it has to happen I'd rather lose out on an ugly Best Buy skin I'd never use anyways. Better that than having the BR exclusive to Amazon.

It shouldn't happen at all! Are there doubts as to how profitable the game will be without them? Or is it about squeezing extra dollars, shoving customer respect aside.

It's a step in depowering us, the consumers.

Because you're a grown up?

Aww, good argument bro. Crack a bud, sit back, leave us "kids" to have our "petty" squabbles.

 

[ncsuDuncan]

Not really interested in multi anyway, but juts something humorous that my dev side notices. Them cutting an entire biped class out of multi, then suddenly, a bunch of armor and emblem variants that would be easy to fit in now if you drop an entire biped class from being loaded in the maps. Each armor variant and emblem does have memory implications, because it has to load them in for each session.

I've already accepted Elites have been marginalized, they have been since Reach. You either use them in a special way or not at all. Although I'm still perplexed as to why they're hunched over again if they're not in multiplayer.. consistency with Halo 3?

Anyway, people that didn't like the Capcom disc unlocks should be raising just as much shit over this.

Wait, are you really implying they cut Elites to make room for emblems and armor skins? lol

I'm sure making a new emblem takes about 10 minutes and 600 kilobytes.

 

[StalkerUKCG]

Anyway, people that didn't like the Capcom disc unlocks should be raising just as much shit over this.

Vastly different, that's was full models and move sets that where locked with the intention of being sold later

While this is content that is preorder only it's certainly possible that this content will be unlocked later via dlc or pdlc but the price point will be different.

It's still a shitty tactic ultimately it rewards no one at the least all this stuff should be bundled with the LE.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

It doesn't have to happen. Halo 4 can be made and released without this retailer exclusive nonsense. Look at 99.999% of other video games releases.

It was a choice and a bad one.

I wouldn't say 99.9% don't have it. A ton of games do this now.

Also, it seems that MS wanted to do this and 343 at least said "hey, let's put the worst of the skins for bonuses if we have to do them."

Yeah, I'd rather just have them all, but I also know how this industry is running, and for a game this big MS would be dumb not to make some extra retailer money.

 

[Ryaaan14]

Doubt it'll get an answer, but for Frank; If the menus are a radical departure from Reach, are they closer to Halo 3, or something new entirely?

It would make sense to make them an evolution from the trilogy, but I might enjoy something brand new.

 

[FyreWulff]

Grizzlei on HBO pointed this out.

From the Limited Edition announcement bulletin:

There will be two options available at retail for Halo 4 - the regular version of the game and the aforementioned Limited Edition. We decided to focus our efforts on a single special edition instead of numerous ones so you wouldn’t have to pick and choose between what ancillary items you want. Now your primary choice is whether or not you just want the game, or the game along with all the goodies. And we’re hoping we made that decision an easy one for you…

So they didn't want us to choose between ancillary items when making decisions for Halo 4 in retail, and then basically decided to force everyone buying the game to then choose between ancillary items at retail.

Seriously?

"We didn't want to split Reach's playerbase with having Reach online and Halo 1 online"

*splits Reach playerbase between Reach online and Anniversary online*

Wait, are you really implying they cut Elites to make room for emblems and armor skins? lol

I'm sure making a new emblem takes about 10 minutes and 600 kilobytes.

Did you seriously just quote a post and wait 10 minutes until after I edited it to reply with it?

 

[Overdoziz]

It's safe to say that I can already cross out the HaloGAF meltdown square on my E3 Bingo sheet.

 

[StalkerUKCG]

Is the rest of the halo community reacting like this I'm in my phone so I can't check

 

[Plywood]

"We didn't want to split Reach's playerbase with having Reach online and Halo 1 online"

*splits Reach playerbase between Reach online and Anniversary online*

It's the same thing with the first 3 Halo 4 DLC they already have lined up, 3 maps per pack. Really?

4 will be more split up then ever.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Yes, it kind of sucks, but I'm really surprised how upset some people here are getting over some skins that they may have never used. If you want to fight the principal battle, that's fine, but there are far worse cases than a handful of weapon and player skins.

 

[Computron]

Jet set radio cell shading skin:

Sold

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

Wonder if this will be new content? Might be considering they have the key art on the cover - suggests it's more recent than the GI stuff.

Halo 4 Heads Up Issue 101 Of 360 Magazine

Link

When is it due out?

Grizzlei on HBO pointed this out.

From the Limited Edition announcement bulletin:



So they didn't want us to choose between ancillary items when making decisions for Halo 4 at retail, and then basically decided to force everyone buying the game to then choose between ancillary items at retail.

Seriously?

Yeah, well basically that reads that they phoned in the LE but tried to put a positive twist on it. And now I really am being forced into a rough situation..I do seriously want that 'web' skin, but I want the game at midnight...and on top of that, I like that best buy forerunner looking helmet.. blah.

 

[Slightly Live]

It's safe to say that I can already cross out the Unpopular Marketing Decision on my E3 Bingo sheet.

Fixed.

When is it due out?

30th May.

 

[Computron]

Fyrewulff, perhaps what that means is that the retailer exclusives may be unlockable in game?

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Hopefully we'll get clarification on all this soon, I seriously would be surprised if all these do not become available to everyone eventually. Heck, maybe you unlock them in the game still, but get them early for pre-ordering.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

If that is is the case and they don't come out and say it (for obvious reasons) then I wouldn't consider it much better. Transparency all the way. Please.

Yes, it kind of sucks, but I'm really surprised how upset some people here are getting over some skins that they may have never used. If you want to fight the principal battle, that's fine, but there are far worse cases than a handful of weapon and player skins.

It is most definitely a principle thing for me, and something I'd like to think is a principal for 343I.
Hell, I'm sure I remember Ellis condemning the practice on 4Guys1up.
It's widely acknowledged as a shitty thing to do.

 

[StalkerUKCG]

Hopefully we'll get clarification on all this soon, I seriously would be surprised if all these do not become available to everyone eventually. Heck, maybe you unlock them in the game still, but get them early for pre-ordering.

No previous halo preorder content has been dlc, however microsoft did see the success of the gears 3 stuff

 

[Overdoziz]

Fixed.

Not saying it's unjustified or not, keep that it mind.
I'm sure E3 will have enough "controversial" Halo 4 news just like with every other info drop so far.

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

Blah, this retailer exclusive stuff just rubs me the wrong way. We should be talking about the potential of skins in Halo 4, but unfortunately the excitement is killed by the downside of things. Still, I like that web skin.

30th May.

Cool, maybe it may have something worth while in it.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Not saying it's unjustified or not, keep that it mind.
I'm sure E3 will have enough "controversial" Halo 4 news just like with every other info drop so far.

Agreed. HaloGaf is going to burn down a week from Monday. Someone get fire extinguishers (or marshmallows).

 

[FyreWulff]

Fyrewulff, perhaps what that means is that the retailer exclusives may be unlockable in game?

The sane and "well okay" option would be that these are just early unlock codes, and all these armors are just something like a million spartan spoints in the 4rmory.

However, unlike the Gears option that Stalker clarified, where you eventually got the retailer models some other way with some color changes.. we don't have that history with the Halo side.


Edition specific:

Wars: Honor Wraith and Flaming Warthog - still unavailable to general public

Reach: First-shipment Recon -- still unavailable to general public

Reach: Legendary flames, Limited Elite Officer - still unavailable to general public

Halo: Anniversary: Grunt Funeral Skull - still unavailable to general public (and the beginning of actual in-game functionality locked away to sell preorders)

Retailer specific:

ODST Preorder: Sgt. Johnson - still unavailable to general public. Hell, some of the preorders got screwed out of Johnson due to Gamestop's incompetence.

Reach: Gamestop armor - still unavailable to general public



edit: had Anniversary skull under wrong category

 

[kylej]

If that is is the case and they don't come out and say it (for obvious reasons) then I wouldn't consider it much better. Transparency all the way. Please.

Considering they still won't explain why they removed Squad Slayer, expecting any type of transparency is just pissing in the wind.

Lot of negativity today. You guys need to embrace change, this is the natural Evolution of Halo. Trust in 343.

 

[Domino Theory]

The armor skins look pretty badass. Still holding out for a TMNT Ooze Shredder skin!

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Blah, this retailer exclusive stuff just rubs me the wrong way. We should be talking about the potential of skins in Halo 4, but unfortunately the excitement is killed by the downside of things. Still, I like that web skin.

Actually to take a moment to properly look at them (been on my phone previously), they're not bad. I'd certainly wear one for a while. I like a few of them.

Just.. not a practice I want to support. Kind of how I feel about the digital unlock stuff in the LE (but the box is sexy and hopefully they attempt to match the Halsey journal).

Considering they still won't explain why they removed Squad Slayer, expecting any type of transparency is just pissing in the wind.

I don't want to give up. Hell, I practically beg for transparency every chance I get.

 

[StalkerUKCG]

I want to write a large blog post detailing my history with preorder bonus the history of preorder bonuses in gaming and halo and why I think all this is a bad idea if
only someone had a blog they could host my stuff on

 

[Ramirez]

Hahahaha, sarcasm meter faulty today?

I figured you were joking, but the outrage from the majority was probably 100% real.

I care about pointless vanity customization since the game may not have ranks. I need something to fight for.

Fight for perfections?

lol, watch someone who was mocking people earlier for caring suddenly flip his shit because the emblem he's been using since Halo 2 is now exclusive to some retailer

edit- wait..

Anyone who cares that much about the tiny emblem that shows up on the scoreboard during a game probably needs to reassess their life.

It doesn't have to happen. Halo 4 can be made and released without this retailer exclusive nonsense. Look at 99.999% of other video games releases.

It was a choice and a bad one.

I'm sorry Dani, but you're going completely over the top with this whole thing. Any blockbuster game in the past 2-3 years has had some type of retailer exclusive nonsense. To not expect it was just setting yourself up to be burned. It's the same as the people who really thought 343 would take the game back to its root basics and not add anything new to the game.

Someone like Stalker who just absolutely has to have all of the exclusive garbage is the exact reason stuff like this will never go away. Whether that is a bad or good thing, is completely up to the individual, but that type of person is who you can thank.

 

[Slightly Live]

I'm sorry Dani, but you're going completely over the top with this whole thing. Any blockbuster game in the past 2-3 years has had some type of retailer exclusive nonsense. To not expect it was just setting yourself up to be burned. It's the same as the people who really thought 343 would take the game back to its root basics and not add anything new to the game.

To be fair, I was expecting it, just not on this scale. No other Halo game has had this large scale... mess.

I mean, if it just like Reach and everyone got the same thing I wouldn't have batted an eyelid. I owe it to myself as a fan to at least be vocal about it. This is not something I wanted to see and I'm very disappointed in 343 for doing this.

This kind of crap just gets in the way of being excited for the game and is an unnecessary distraction that could have been avoided.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Any blockbuster game in the past 2-3 years has had some type of retailer exclusive nonsense.

Funny, I must be ignorant of the retailer exclusive Diablo 3 stuff (I may infact be).
There are plenty of games that do it, and there are plenty that don't. If anything, it's the lower-AAA tier games that do it more often than the absolute guaranteed hits.

 

[CyReN]

Halogaf BR.

 

[Hydranockz]

Funny, I must be ignorant of the retailer exclusive Diablo 3 stuff (I may infact be).
There are plenty of games that do it, and there are plenty that don't. If anything, it's the lower-AAA tier games that do it more often than the absolute guaranteed hits.

After hearing of some of the clauses in the Destiny contract, one kinda wonders if the same applies here...

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Halogaf BR.

Alright, I'm back on board. Pre-ordering all the things.

After hearing of some of the clauses in the Destiny contract, one kinda wonders if the same applies here...

I was disconnected when all that stuff dropped. Crazy times. Did I miss any particularly good discussion here, on HBO, or on Gaming Side?

 

[Gabotron ES]

10 days till the biggest HaloGAF meltdown ever. Gifs at the ready!

 

[Ryaaan14]

How often are retail-exclusives unobtainable in the game? I didn't buy Gears 3, but I remember with Mortal Kombat all the retail exclusive characters became purchasable via DLC.

I personally have no issues with letting people purchase these if they feel like it at a later date.

 

[Hydranockz]

Alright, I'm back on board. Pre-ordering all the things.

I was disconnected when all that stuff dropped. Crazy times. Did I miss any particularly good discussion here, on HBO, or on Gaming Side?

Not much to discuss. Plenty of misplaced hatred for publishers, some soothing words from those saying that's just how these deals go down.

 

[StalkerUKCG]

How often are retail-exclusives unobtainable in the game? I didn't buy Gears 3, but I remember with Mortal Kombat all the retail exclusive characters became purchasable via DLC.

I personally have no issues with letting people purchase these if they feel like it at a later date.

Its a tricky issue, im going to write something large up on preorders a little later just for the sake of it with a history of them to some degree ill make some shitty free blog to post it on but its usually a 70-30 split 70% becoming available 30% not and that 30% includes previous halo titles

 

[m23]

How often are retail-exclusives unobtainable in the game? I didn't buy Gears 3, but I remember with Mortal Kombat all the retail exclusive characters became purchasable via DLC.

I personally have no issues with letting people purchase these if they feel like it at a later date.

I have the season pass for Gears 3 and I think with the latest DLC they unlocked all the pre-order characters. I was able to use characters that were previously only available to people who got the game from other retailers.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Not much to discuss. Plenty of misplaced hatred for publishers, some soothing words from those saying that's just how these deals go down.

Well it is Activision. And considering the circumstances that caused the document to come out.. but yeah. Seemed like a good deal from what I glanced at, assuming the content is of a good enough quality.

 

[Ryaaan14]

Also, holy shit at the amount of armor pieces you can customize on the Spartans. Have you guys really looked closely at the pieces?

All of the back/shoulder pieces are different, as well as previously customizable pieces. They seem to be a little more nuanced, but I can't wait to see how different people will appear depending on how many options we have available for so many slots.

Edit: EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF ARMOR VARIES. Mother of god...even the fucking shoes.

 

[Plywood]

Fight for perfections?

Another 100? Is such a thing possible?

Edit: EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF ARMOR VARIES. Mother of god...even the fucking shoes.

 

[789shadow]

Really couldn't care less about store pre-order exclusive skins and emblems. None of that will get in the way of me getting BR'ed BRing in the face.

 

[Overdoziz]

How often are retail-exclusives unobtainable in the game?\

In Halo Wars, ODST, Anniversary or Reach.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Edit: EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF ARMOR VARIES. Mother of god...even the fucking shoes.

We can finally customize shoes

Best Halo ever? Probably

 

[TheOddOne]

Deadeye looks freaking awesome, the rest looks ok.

Also, I saw The Avengers. MOTHER. OF. GOD.

 

[Woorloog]

Good games guys, i'll be staying online still. Hmm.
Maybe i'll switch to Mass Effect 3 MP... anyone here going to play it?

 

[op_ivy]

Also, I saw The Avengers. MOTHER. OF. GOD.

i was going to go see that the other day, but figured i should wait 2 or 3 years for the reboot

 

[Ryaaan14]

Guys...GUYS...

ALL THESE SPARTANS HAVE DIFFERENT ASSES. CUSTOM ASSES.

 

[Plywood]

We can finally customize shoes

Best Halo ever? Probably

Reach spartan shoes are hideous:

 

[ElzarTheBam]

Guys...GUYS...

ALL THESE SPARTANS HAVE DIFFERENT ASSES. CUSTOM ASSES.

http://i.imgur.com/mwgSp.jpgimg][/QUOTE]

welcome to the future of entertainment.

 

[TheOddOne]

i was going to go see that the other day, but figured i should wait 2 or 3 years for the reboot

Hulk SMASH.

 

[The Henery]

I wonder if decreased recoil on the BR will be a perk? I'm very interested in these 'specialisations', seeing as they break the rule of everyone starting on equal footing (much like AA's). I hope they detail everyone of them at E3 or in a vidoc/magazine reveal.