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[Ramirez]

The difference here is that 343 is working on a established franchise. So yes, I do expect them to use the sound files for the returning weapons and items. These changes are like changing the sound effects that play when Mario is powered up by a mushroom or collects coins or like when Sonic picks up rings. Those sound effects are iconic and distinctive parts of the series; of the experience.

I'm just going to disagree and leave it at that. There are plenty of sounds that sound like past games, and their are new sounds, which IMO, sound vastly superior to past games.

I'm not nostalgic to gun sounds, and let's be honest, no one is going to be harping on this a day or two after release.

 

[Tashi]

From Wu's post about our GAF vs 343 games:

Those poor poor baby rabbits

 

[Blueblur1]

Bungie did this. Weapons from game to game, that carried over, got a new audio pass. I can't think of any weapon from the games that sounds the same in each. Some are close, but they all got updated; listen to the AR in each game it appeared. And that was the same audio team.

Here's a new team with a new developer with a decidedly different take on their vision (hmmm) for the sound scape.

I can't comment on how it compares to other games, since I don't play a lot of other shooters. Maybe it's generic and I don't know it. But when played it, I thought 1) this is totally different and 2) it's pretty great.

It also has problems. More on that in a few hours, gotta make lunch.

Technically, we're both right. Yes, certain weapons did change like the Assault Rifle and Plasma Rifle but everything else sounds just about the same. The vehicles sound the same in every game and so do the audio cues such as the one played when a flag is stolen. Hell, Halo 1 and Reach share the same health pack healing sound effect. So yeah, some weapons changed and other sound effects received additional treatment but everything sounded like it came from a previous Halo game. In Halo 4, everything sounds completely different. The only legacy sound effects are the drained shield warning sound and the respawn timer sound effect (which sounds like it has been run through a filter).

 

[Recarpo]

That direct feed game is great, thanks Wu. The audio sounds great to me, can't wait to hear it through my headset rather than my terrible computer speakers.

 

[xxjuicesxx]

devs not being good at their own game?

tell me more.

/wonka picture

 

[Flipyap]

Steitzer: "KILL THEIR CARRIER"
Me: "STFU STEITZER, STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!"

I think they would be better off if they changed the announcer and their role in the game, or even turned Steitzer into an actual character barking out orders at the Spartan teams.
I don't like the way he alternates between the ridiculously goofy in-jokey medal announcements (FLAGSASSINATION, ROOOOAAAAAD TRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP) and giving you direct commands. One is meta commentary, the other feels like the announcer should "physically" exist in this new multiplayer "fiction".

 

[Hydranockz]

Yes it is.

:lol I hoestly thank you for taking part in the discussion but couldn't you explain your stance in any way so I can even begin to try and understand how you feel?

 

[neoism]

Curious, what sounds did you feel were not "Halo" in Reach?

DMR in 4 sounds powerful, but goddam that BR sound. Gross.

Reach sounded like halo throughout, because they have the best... this does not.. it sounds too different ...I thought they would make there own sounds for the guns they made up... not completely change everything.... for things that have had a pacific sound for 10 years. It sounds like something I'll get bored of hearing after a half a day. Also glad to see thruster is pointless now... going in third person for 2 seconds...I thought I remembered it being in firstperson.. :|

 

[Vire]

By the way, I'd like to give a shoutout and thanks to Wu.

Looking forward to seeing an HD version though!

 

[Tha Robbertster]

I don't really like most sounds either. Doesn't sound like a Halo game to me. Anniversary sounded great. They changed the audio of the guns but they sounded like Halo guns to me.

 

[Orochinagis]

It would probably be less problematic if she was still the one in charge, in full control, but if she's going to spend the game looking scared and freaking out, while an almost entirely male cast stands around staring at her... things are going to get pretty awkward.

Metroid other M.....oh god why...

 

[Talents]

Developers are like never good at their own games (well, Bungie definately weren't good at their Halo games, they were terrible).

 

[Blueblur1]

Honestly, Halo 4 seems to be a game I don't want to play. I'm stepping away from the thread because there's no point to arguing about things when the game is so close to release.

 

[darthbob]

What's the issue with setting up a torrent of the file, Wu?

 

[PNut]

I don't really like most sounds either. Doesn't sound like a Halo game to me. Anniversary sounded great. They changed the audio of the guns but they sounded like Halo guns to me.

DMR sounds really weird to me. Sounds too muffled or something.

 

[Hydranockz]

To say that Ellis is bad at Halo is really not true. Instead, it's just a testament to how good our HaloGaffers are at adapting.

This post slurped both teams!

 

[Steelyuhas]

Those poor poor baby rabbits

We were talking so much shit to them, especially Domino who was absolutely ruthless. Also, we may or may not have had some beers in our system.

Playing them was incredibly fun.

devs not being good at their own game?

tell me more.

/wonka picture

It's too bad that the first game wasn't captured, it was a really good game. The second one was destruction though.

To say that Ellis is bad at Halo is really not true. Instead, it's just a testament to how good our HaloGaffers are at adapting.

This post slurped both teams!

A new level of SLRP!

 

[Homeboyd]

Cyren, Wu, OddOne, PAX-goers and others... thanks for the constant media updates and impression posts. Makes it very easy to get all caught up on the goodies.

Can't wait to see what's outside the Grifball arena.

Edit: Goin to jump on some Reach. Anyone down?

 

[Recarpo]

Could the grenade indicator showing grenades that won't hurt you potentially be there because of the larger blast radius perk? You'll get the indicator if you're inside the radius a larger blast could hurt even if that person doesn't have the perk attached type of thing.

 

[The P of Poland]

I love the sounds of this game. People, so far as I can tell, are complaining because the UNSC weapons don't sound like Halo. What does sound like Halo? Lasers that go "pewpewpew"? There's plenty of that with the Covenant and Forerunner weapons. The UNSC weapons fire high caliber gunpowder cartridges and they should sound like it- for example, we know for a fact the AR is chambered in 7.62 NATO. The human weapons sound to me the way they always should have sounded.

 

[JackHerer]

I think they would be better off if they changed the announcer and their role in the game, or even turned Steitzer into an actual character barking out orders at the Spartan teams.
I don't like the way he alternates between the ridiculously goofy in-jokey medal announcements (FLAGSASSINATION, ROOOOAAAAAD TRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP) and giving you direct commands. One is meta commentary, the other feels like the announcer should "physically" exist in this new multiplayer "fiction".

All the ridiculous medals and constant Steitzer announcements about every inane thing the player does kind of contradict what they are going for as far as making it feel like a military training simulation.

I loved it in previous games but it definitely looks like they went to far in 4 and it will get annoying.

 

[Ramirez]

Reach sounded like halo throughout, because they have the best... this does not.. it sounds too different ...I thought they would make there own sounds for the guns they made up... not completely change everything.... for things that have had a pacific sound for 10 years. It sounds like something I'll get bored of hearing after a half a day. Also glad to see thruster is pointless now... going in third person for 2 seconds...I thought I remembered it being in firstperson.. :|

What in the...?

This is Waypoint quality posting.

I'm more partial to Atlantic sounds myself.

 

[Izick]

Holy hell does Griffball look fun! Cannot wait!

 

[neoism]

It seemed like Ellis was going for a respawn milestone achievement. Sprint and die, sprint and die, sprint and die.

plays to much BF3

 

[Devolution]

I keep hearing the core is good which makes me optimistic but that optimism only extends as far as it can when the reality sets in that playlists will ultimately decide how MP goes.

 

[Steelyuhas]

plays to much BF3

Why you so bad at BF3 though?

I keep hearing the core is good which makes me optimistic but that optimism only extends as far as it can when the reality sets in that playlists will ultimately decide how MP goes.

Agreed.

 

[Arnie]

I keep hearing the core is good which makes me optimistic but that optimism only extends as far as it can when the reality sets in that playlists will ultimately decide how MP goes.

Precisely why I'm eager to know if they'll be utilising all this contact time with pro players to embed a preliminary MLG playlist from launch.

A solid core plus MLG centric design decisions are guaranteed fun for a player of my personal tastes, and those are specific tastes which 343 don't satisfy very well. See: no proper skill based ranking system, despite the game having COD's ranking system.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Could the grenade indicator showing grenades that won't hurt you potentially be there because of the larger blast radius perk? You'll get the indicator if you're inside the radius a larger blast could hurt even if that person doesn't have the perk attached type of thing.

We don't really know. It's most likely just hardcoded distance, so if it's fallen behind a rock but still within range, you're probably fine. I'd prefer there were no grenade indicators at all, but they're not anywhere near as obtrusive as other HUD elements.

 

[Akai__]

Return to Battlefield timer is back...

The rest looked very cool, especially the concept art.

 

[Pop]

I keep hearing the core is good which makes me optimistic but that optimism only extends as far as it can when the reality sets in that playlists will ultimately decide how MP goes.

Classic Playlist or bust + MLG/Hardcore playlist

I can do without all these gimmicks in my Halo and bring back flag dropping for classic.

Thx 343i

 

[Fuchsdh]

I think there was a happy medium in games on improving what came before, keeping what wasn't broken, and putting in new stuff.

I can't say much about the gameplay stuff since I haven't played it, but I can judge the aesthetics and design, and I think that 343i went too far away from what we had before. Even things like the all caps and typeface don't feel much like Halo to me, and that's ignoring the complete retcon of the Chief's armor, the Forward Unto Dawn, etc. It makes me sad that they didn't put their energies into the new stuff as opposed to redesigning the things that certainly didn't need it.

 

[ArchedThunder]

I'm not a fan of most of the weapon sounds in Halo 4. A lot of things sound like they are going through tubes and just don't sound powerful or like real weapons. Also what the hell did they do to the sound of the Gauss and Plasma Pistol? Why change sounds that have been pretty much the same for 10 years?

 

[feel]

Is there an HQ video of the Halo panel? Kinda interested now after that Wu video.

 

[Slightly Live]

Is there an HQ video of the Halo panel? Kinda interested now after that Wu video.

Lookie.

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

Just a couple quick thoughts:

• As suspected, no one will ever use the automatics over the precision weapons since Haven/Adrift are going to be the smaller maps of the game.
• Anyone notice the changes to the PP and how fast it drains? It also takes 20% off a full charge shot now.
• Light Rifle could use a couple more bullets.
• Dexterity seems like a significant boost..
• No powerups on maps is still a bigger issue than I think people seem to be caring about.

Game looks fun at least.. Let's hope it plays out that way in the long term.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I keep hearing the core is good which makes me optimistic but that optimism only extends as far as it can when the reality sets in that playlists will ultimately decide how MP goes.

On my second game, it felt like I spent most of the time respawning because the other them had gotten the tank and their Gauss Hog up and running, and pinned us out in the open (for some reason I didn't spawn inside).

I figured it was just a crazy mode for exhibition, but at the Halo Reborn panel pains were taken to show how the tank was rebalanced for matchmaking (more effective turret, the cannon round drops with distance, longer pauses between shots).

So, yeah. The core can be a gold covered diamond but if there are two Gauss hogs and Banshees and a tank on the map, it's not going to play well in any context. I'm hoping it was just a crazy, Heavies style mode.

On the two infantry maps, I had a lot of fun in every game. Regicide is a lot of fun.

 

[Akai__]

Is there only 1 Halo 4 panel at PAX or is there a 2nd, too?

Edit: Nevermind. Found out, that there is only 1.

 

[Steelyuhas]

Precisely why I'm eager to know if they'll be utilising all this contact time with pro players to embed a preliminary MLG playlist from launch.

A solid core plus MLG centric design decisions are guaranteed fun for a player of my personal tastes, and those are specific tastes which 343 don't satisfy very well. See: no proper skill based ranking system, despite the game having COD's ranking system.

There might be a "hardcore" playlist that has input from MLG players/other hardcore communities, but there certainly won't be an "MLG" playlist until and IF MLG picks up the game for their circuit.

Just a couple quick thoughts:

• As suspected, no one will ever use the automatics over the precision weapons since Haven/Adrift are going to be the smaller maps of the game.
• Anyone notice the changes to the PP and how fast it drains? It also takes 20% off a full charge shot now.
• Light Rifle could use a couple more bullets.
• Dexterity seems like a significant boost..
• No powerups on maps is still a bigger issue than I think people seem to be caring about.

Game looks fun at least.. Let's hope it plays out that way in the long term.

Using Storm Rifle as a secondary with fire power quickly became my go to. The thing shreds people, so useful to switch for close range. Used it a lot.

 

[Hydranockz]

Watching the Wu's video and something struck me.

It seems as though Halo 4 is a game you can play on mute and still be completely aware of everything going on. People watching by at PAX could probably grasp what was going on easily enough.

So, we have the kill text above the radar. Then we should have medals popping in above that. Above the medals we have the Objective/Streak text. I just feel like I could only have the chat audio on and not miss a beat. Could also be handy if you don't have the luxury of gaming headphones and you don't want to be screwed over if you want to play without any audio.

 

[feel]

Lookie.

Thanks!

No Frankles? The fuck is this shit.

 

[Shake Appeal]

I figured it was just a crazy mode for exhibition, but at the Halo Reborn panel pains were taken to show how the tank was rebalanced for matchmaking (more effective turret, the cannon round drops with distance, longer pauses between shots).

It was weird when they talked about 'rebalancing' the Banshee so it maneuvers more slowly (and is thus more vulnerable) but fires faster (and is thus more powerful), when the problem most people seemed to have with the Banshee in Reach was that it was simultaneously too powerful and too vulnerable. It's like they set out to make it even more of a glass cannon than it was before, likely shortening average lifespans for both Banshee pilots and those on foot. That doesn't make sense to me.

Why not make the Banshee more nimble, more challenging to fly and fight (in terms of its maneuvering), and more of a suppression/assistance vehicle rather than being a easy-to-use devastating killing machine for the thirty seconds it can stay in the air before being shredded by small arms?

It seems to be a game where you die frequently, but that's not punishing because you can just jump back in and rack up more points, brah. Comeback kill, you bad thing you! I like slower-paced building of sprees, staying alive, withdrawing from situations to fight another day, while from all the footage I've seen 343 seem to want to make everything as cluttered and hectic as possible.

 

[Rickenslacker]

Watching the Wu's video and something struck me.

It seems as though Halo 4 is a game you can play on mute and still be completely aware of everything going on. People watching by at PAX could probably grasp what was going on easily enough.

So, we have the kill text above the radar. Then we should have medals popping in above that. Above the medals we have the Objective/Streak text. I just feel like I could only have the chat audio on and not miss a beat. Could also be handy if you don't have the luxury of gaming headphones and you don't want to be screwed over if you want to play without any audio.

That's actually something I like, which is why I don't really mind all the grenade indicators and such that some aren't all too happy about. I tend to play in low volume so it'll come in handy for my playing.

 

[Tashi]

Developers are like never good at their own games (well, Bungie definately weren't good at their Halo games, they were terrible).

They were good enough to beat HaloGAF

Team 2 for lyyyfe

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Lookie.

Thanks bud!

Thanks!

No Frankles? The fuck is this shit.

He's behind the curtain, pay no attention.

 

[Hydranockz]

On my second game, it felt like I spent most of the time respawning because the other them had gotten the tank and their Gauss Hog up and running, and pinned us out in the open (for some reason I didn't spawn inside).

I figured it was just a crazy mode for exhibition, but at the Halo Reborn panel pains were taken to show how the tank was rebalanced for matchmaking (more effective turret, the cannon round drops with distance, longer pauses between shots).

So, yeah. The core can be a gold covered diamond but if there are two Gauss hogs and Banshees and a tank on the map, it's not going to play well in any context. I'm hoping it was just a crazy, Heavies style mode.

On the two infantry maps, I had a lot of fun in every game. Regicide is a lot of fun.

I think you made a pretty good distinction though. When we hd Reach, you could eventually take the Scorpions off of Blood Gulch and outright scrap the banshee, but at the end of the day, you were stuck with Reach's core mechanics ruining the experience for players.

While Halo 4 might not have a perfect experience for players, at least the playlist updates will maintain a very good base level of core mechanics throughout any of the superficial elements which will be changed around post launch.

 

[Ramirez]

They were good enough to beat HaloGAF

Team 2 for lyyyfe

Bu bu bu but they used the Banshee!

 

[Sai-kun]

Using Storm Rifle as a secondary with fire power quickly became my go to. The thing shreds people, so useful to switch for close range. Used it a lot.

Storm Rifle is a beaaasttttt. I was rolling people with it + BR.

I enjoyed the fuck out of my time with the game. I don't think I'll get a chance to play again today unless the lines are super short, but I'm glad I got a chance to lessen my worry about the game firsthand.

I still think Steitzer talks too much though. Flagsassination was hilarious, but some things are just a bit over the top. If his voice was mixed a bit quieter, I don't think I'd mind, but as it was in the build we played, it was kinda loud.

edit: also I want to see ALL the pics y'all took. i'm gonna upload mine to Facebook eventually this week. I took a ton.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I think you made a pretty good distinction though. When we hd Reach, you could eventually take the Scorpions off of Blood Gulch and outright scrap the banshee, but at the end of the day, you were stuck with Reach's core mechanics ruining the experience for players.

While Halo 4 might not have a perfect experience for players, at least the playlist updates will maintain a very good base level of core mechanics throughout any of the superficial elements which will be changed around post launch.

And to be fair, there may have been effective anti vehicle weapons and tools at my disposal, but I did not understand the sandbox well enough to find or utilize them.

 

[ArchedThunder]

Anyone else notice in the HBO video that sound effects keep disappearing?

 

[OdysseusVA]

Wu,
Have you tried using Handbrake to make the file smaller?