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Halo |OT9| One Final Effort Is All That Remains

I want an arena 2.0, just so I could avoid it.

Take out all the fun stuff and additions mid match joins, loadouts etc and have the craziest, most detailed and harsh ranking system imaginable.

You can do it 343.
 

blamite

Member
First thing I did when I got to my dorm this year was head to the nearest Best Buy and preorder the LE, so I'm set. :D

Last I checked they were only offering the Venator skin (which was why I chose best Buy instead of Gamesop, actually), so getting the Deadeye helmet as well is a nice bonus, especially if the entire helmet really is retailer exclusive.

I'd still like to be able to get the rest f the stuff as well, though... mainly the weapon skins. Those I can actually see myself using.
 

Amazing Mic

Neo Member
I'm convinced that if Arena had a "highest rank achieved" and bumped up the onyx bracket from 5% to 20%, half of the gameplay complaints would disappear and the pop would jump.
 
Funny thing about LOCUS... looks a lot like this gem from DOOM 3...



Anyone wanna take a guess at who the Art Director was on that game?

Kenneth Scott

Either that or there are Megadeth fans at 343 :p

3371236941_f60590857c.jpg
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
I think a ranking system is nice for peen waving purposes, but I won't be too upset if it's not included. I have other outlets for peen waving. /wahrer
 

JackHerer

Member
No one else bothered by the random weapon drop system?

That ship has long since sailed.


If I'm better at you in Team Slayer (which I am), I want that to be represented in matchmaking lobbies and the people I am matched with.

Otherwise, there is no persistent motivation from game to game to perform well. If nothing is on the line, why bother? As a competitive person, I like ranks. Unfortunately, it definitely led to people manipulating games (host booting for example, which was rampant in Squad Slayer and higher levels of the ranked playlists in H3)

How about the game is fun in and of itself? (hopefully)

I get the desire for a ranking system. It gives you something concrete to work for that is based on skill not just grinding and it raises the stakes of each game which can be exciting. I want one too but I don't get this argument that, without a ranking system, you have no motivation to win.

But if the game is good then winning will always provide a strong enough intrinsic reward regardless of whether or not that is communicated visually through a number. Plus, there's always Halo tracker if you really want something to work for. Although getting 50s on there is pathetically easy in Reach due to the terrible matchmaking.
 
I think a ranking system is nice for peen waving purposes, but I won't be too upset if it's not included. I have other outlets for peen waving. /wahrer

If I'm better at you in Team Slayer (which I am), I want that to be represented in matchmaking lobbies and the people I am matched with.

Otherwise, there is no persistent motivation from game to game to perform well. If nothing is on the line, why bother? As a competitive person, I like ranks. Unfortunately, it definitely led to people manipulating games (host booting for example, which was rampant in Squad Slayer and higher levels of the ranked playlists in H3)
 

Amazing Mic

Neo Member
As a competitive person, I like ranks. Unfortunately, it definitely led to people manipulating games (host booting for example, which was rampant in Squad Slayer and higher levels of the ranked playlists in H3)

When I stopped playing Arena - manipulation (boosting or booting) was around 1/4 of my games. It's happened 1 time in 2k games since (and it was against Arena kids in doubles). I love ranks, but I don't miss the BS at all.

If 343 finds some way of making it work and implements it- I'd be stoked... but I get it if it's not in there.
 
K

kittens

Unconfirmed Member
If I'm better at you in Team Slayer (which I am), I want that to be represented in matchmaking lobbies and the people I am matched with.

Otherwise, there is no persistent motivation from game to game to perform well. If nothing is on the line, why bother? As a competitive person, I like ranks. Unfortunately, it definitely led to people manipulating games (host booting for example, which was rampant in Squad Slayer and higher levels of the ranked playlists in H3)
I was serious when I said I like it for peen waving purposes. It's an important element in matchmaking, and definitely a motivation to play and to play better. But ultimately, the fun that comes with playing and winning would still be there for me, even if skill based ranks were just working (like, actually working, preferably) behind the scenes.
 

willow ve

Member
I'm convinced that if Arena had a "highest rank achieved" and bumped up the onyx bracket from 5% to 20%, half of the gameplay complaints would disappear and the pop would jump.

You also need the rank shown in every hopper at all times. Then the general population would actually know "oh, there's a rank?" instead of "herp-derp armor lock and jet-pack are so cool in Team Slayer!"
 

Ramirez

Member
Arena's biggest mistake was indeed hiding it from every playlist other than Arena. I really think people might have cared more if it actually showed up beside your name in every playlist...
 

Brolic Gaoler

formerly Alienshogun
Arena's biggest mistake was indeed hiding it from every playlist other than Arena. I really think people might have cared more if it actually showed up beside your name in every playlist...

And then that playlist would clear out even more than it does now when they see a group of Onyxes matched up against them.

I think the issue was that it wasn't persistent, or instant. It took too long to know what your rank was, only required few matches per day and once you were done, you were off doing something else, then to top it off, in a few weeks none of it mattered.

That doesn't promote a good population.
 

heckfu

Banned
Arena's biggest mistake was indeed hiding it from every playlist other than Arena. I really think people might have cared more if it actually showed up beside your name in every playlist...

True story: I was never placed in a rank because I didn't ever care long enough to play. Arena rankings were bullshit to me.
 
I was serious when I said I like it for peen waving purposes. It's an important element in matchmaking, and definitely a motivation to play and to play better. But ultimately, the fun that comes with playing and winning would still be there for me, even if skill based ranks were just working (like, actually working, preferably) behind the scenes.

Yeah I was definitely that way outside of ranked. My other major playlist was BTB with those "soft" ranks (Halo 3), so I just played to win and for the fun there.
 

Amazing Mic

Neo Member
The fact that I never returned just goes to show hoe bad it was. The system is horrible. The end.

I miss trying to level up in TS in Halo 2/3 with a party of my friends.

The end? Yeah, H2 never reset their ranking system after launch or anything like that. Arena certainly had flaws, but it shouldn't be that overblown.

Something like that SC2 ranking system or that system COD is implimenting- now that would work... wait.
 
Can you pre-order Halo 4 in Wal-Mart in-store or is it only online?

How long would you guys say it takes to complete Quarantine Zone on Heroic on average?
 

Tawpgun

Member
That doesn't mean shit.

I've heard this reasoning and critique from a lot of people. It's not just an opinion, its an opinion a lot of people who enjoy ranks have.

Add in the population of Arena and the frequency of people comparing their rank in reach with each other to when we had Halo 3/2 ranks and I think a safe conclusion was the system sucked.

I think getting a group of people who played a lot of arena and ranked halo 3/2 and asking them which system was better... I think the answer would be obvious.

Not saying to return to the system, but 343 needs to see what worked, what was flawed, and adjust accordingly.

Unfortunately, despite the big media blowout, ranks are still in the dark. Wheres the MP vidoc? I'm assuming its coming after the Promethean Weapon Dubstep video?
 
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