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[Slightly Live]

I don't get why they're stressing this so much. LOD models have been used in games for a longgggggg time. Every Halo game has used LOD models. Unless the GI people didn't really know what to say about it, and Bungie has smoothed out the LOD transitions(I remember in Halo 2, you could see one of the LOD models of Elites on New Mombasa, and I'm sure plenty of other places too).

The only bit of weirdness I remember in Halo 3 was...objects fading into view I believe? And that happened with things that weren't even that far away. Enemies didn't do this, but scenery objects like barrels and stuff did.



This was also in Halo 3. But from the VGA trailer, it seems they've done a way better job of it this time around.

Yeah, the GI article doesn't seem to be on the ball with all the details, but what is printed is printed.

 

[danwarb]

Probably just an extra LOD step, rendering dynamic sprites in place of distant objects.

 

[PnCIa]

I don't get why they're stressing this so much. LOD models have been used in games for a longgggggg time. Every Halo game has used LOD models. Unless the GI people didn't really know what to say about it, and Bungie has smoothed out the LOD transitions(I remember in Halo 2, you could see one of the LOD models of Elites on New Mombasa, and I'm sure plenty of other places too).

When you don´t have anything special to present, you just take normal stuff and make it seem special. I´m curious what happened to that tessellation rumor...

 

[danwarb]

When you don´t have anything special to present, you just take normal stuff and make it seem special. I´m curious what happened to that tessellation rumor...

If their "impostors" look great and free up resources to add tons more to the environments, that’s a special thing.

 

[Slightly Live]

If their "impostors" look great and free up resources to add tons more to the environments, that’s a special thing.

Reach is really just the Halo 3 engine in disguise with a few things added, see Bungie are conning us all, the "imposter" system, don't you see? They're hiding the truth in the open and admitting it!

 

[Gui_PT]

Bastards!

 

[voltron]

I really hope Reach is still fun to play single player not coop. Coop is great and 6 player Im sure will be awesome.

But Halo for me is all about the solo experience. I need that to be good first, then the other modes can follow.

 

[The Librarian]

Correct. The image shows a full clipped AR with 28 rounds in the upper right hand corner in addition to big neon number painted on the back of the weapon itself.

AR slightly beefed up as a result?

Probably. My guess is greater accuracy and distance.

 

[Arnie]

Probably. My guess is greater accuracy and distance.

I hope so. I hope the new reticule will indicate that. It's quite clear that Bungie removed the AR's reticule for the in game screen, perhaps the guns reticle hasn't been finalised yet.

 

[Blueblur1]

I just got my GI issue in the mail today and I have to say: you guys really need to check out a hard copy for yourselves. The scans leaked online don't do the pictures ANY justice. All the excessive glare is causing those pictures to lose detail.

When you look at the scans straight from the magazine (what I'm doing right now), they look SUPERB and damn near close to the VGA trailer, especially the picture of the AR being fired in FP view.

Oh and if this amounts to anything: If what I'm seeing from that AR-in-first-person-view picture is correct, then the AR's clip has been reduced from 32 to 28.

Uhh, maybe it's just my issue but the images look the same or worse (I'm referencing one of my previous posts about the magazine's paper quality). As for the AR, I wouldn't put too much stock in that picture. On the left hand side, there are textures missing under the Skirmisher, the Skirmisher appears to be standing on thin air, the reticle is missing and the AR is firing but the ammo count reads as if it's full. In other words, it's still super early, mang.

 

[Walshicus]

Coop is great and 6 player Im sure will be awesome.

Huh? Did this get confirmed?

 

[Falt]

I don't know. I could just be getting my hopes up but I'm expecting a lot. I mean Bungie eventually tweaked forge from a weapon placer to how it exists in Sandbox. If they set out from the get-go to make forge a map creator then I don't see why it wouldn't be exponentially better.

Far Cry 2 standard or bust.

Spoiler

I too, dreamed a dream

Huh? Did this get confirmed?

Nope. I think if anything, it's inferred from the early Tom Morrello shots. I could be completely wrong on this though.

Also lttp: Oonsk <3

 

[squidhands]

I don't know. I could just be getting my hopes up but I'm expecting a lot. I mean Bungie eventually tweaked forge from a weapon placer to how it exists in Sandbox. If they set out from the get-go to make forge a map creator then I don't see why it wouldn't be exponentially better.

Took the words right out of my brain. This exactly why I'm excited for the new Forge. If it even makes the halfway point between Sandbox and FC2, I'll have a serious forge-gasm.

 

[The Librarian]

Huh? Did this get confirmed?

No. Don't know what he's talking about.

I hope so. I hope the new reticule will indicate that. It's quite clear that Bungie removed the AR's reticule for the in game screen, perhaps the guns reticle hasn't been finalised yet.

Same here. And, hm, I didn't see that the AR's reticule wasn't on the screen. Interesting.

 

[Arnie]

Ok so I know this is the Reach thread but Bungie employees are present. I just played a game of Snipers and this guy on our team was deranking. He got a -18 but we still only lost by 2. I was wondering if anybody from Bungie could ban this asshole. He will just continue to ruin peoples games. Oh and his motto is "derankin". What a cock.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=1516586558&player=arnie%20lfc&lc=1033
His name is OXM 3motastic. Please Shishka, I ask you for this favour.

 

[kylej]

I hope we don't get the same old matchmaking algorithm in Halo Reach.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=1516589285&player=jelyk

This is a masterpiece.

 

[Striker]

I hope we don't get the same old matchmaking algorithm in Halo Reach.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=1516589285&player=jelyk

This is a masterpiece.

That's quite fair, sir.

I reckon you should use the AR more.

 

[alisdair]

I hope we don't get the same old matchmaking algorithm in Halo Reach.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=1516589285&player=jelyk

This is a masterpiece.

If you would like competitive matches, maybe you should play ranked playlists.

 

[Magni]

Ok so I know this is the Reach thread but Bungie employees are present. I just played a game of Snipers and this guy on our team was deranking. He got a -18 but we still only lost by 2. I was wondering if anybody from Bungie could ban this asshole. He will just continue to ruin peoples games. Oh and his motto is "derankin". What a cock.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=1516586558&player=arnie%20lfc&lc=1033
His name is OXM 3motastic. Please Shishka, I ask you for this favour.

Yeah I played with him last week, deranking asshole. Avoid.

 

[Frenck]

I really hope that Bungie doesn't make the AI Spartans invincible in SP. They did that in the past with important characters and I hated it but at least you didn't have them around you in every mission. Even if it is considered archaic game design I would rather see a game over screen when a Spartan is killed than invincible Spartans.

Of course there are other options somewhere in between a gamer over screen and complete invincibility but to be honest they really aren't all that good.

Bungie could choose the console RPG way of reviving characters at the end of each battle but that really doesn't work in Halo since RPG battles are usually pretty static. In Halo the encounters push you through a level and you would be forced to leave your Spartan AI partner behind.

Another possible way to solve this problem would be to give the AI Spartans a very generous amount of hitpoints in order to make the game over screen appear less frequently if the AI does something stupid (Bungie used this system for the AI Arbiter in Halo 3). This is probably very unrealistic since Reach's HUD seems to show the energy shield and health of our squad members which would be a waste of screen space if our AI squad had shields which are ten times as strong as ours.

Maybe Bungie is planning something special though. They could let us switch between members of our squad via the d-pad, which would explain why the squad status display above the motion sensor was blurred in that Game Informer screen. Maybe each squad member has an icon next to it for the corresponding button/d-pad direction that we need to press to switch to them. Seems like a pretty ambitious idea to me and maybe it's a bit hard to implement in the classic Halo sandbox which makes it unlikely.

Since I can't come up with a good solution myself it's very interesting to see what Bungie is going to do.

 

[Tashi]

I hope we don't get the same old matchmaking algorithm in Halo Reach.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=1516589285&player=jelyk

This is a masterpiece.

owned lol

 

[The Librarian]

If you would like competitive matches, maybe you should play ranked playlists.

Man's got a point.

 

[kylej]

If you would like competitive matches, maybe you should play ranked playlists.

I can't relax when I play ranked. I want to be able to chill and listen to music and have a fair chance at winning. I doubt I'm the only person here who's bored to tears of BTB because when you go in with a team it is a neverending torrent of guests and people that offer no challenge whatsoever. When you find a match in any social playlist you basically flip a coin and hope you land on the team that has disproportionately better players than the other. It's not fun for the people who are good and it's not fun for the new players/scrubs.

 

[Zabka]

I was just going to add some stuff to the OP, here's some extra bits, which will be added to OP.

• Lighting being one of those aspects
• From Halo 3's 3 or 4 light sources, Reach's engine presents 20 to 40 dynamic lights at the same time
• Weapon effects benefit greatly from the improved lighting, ie Plasma bolts moving across the screen with their own independent light source, casting colour and shadow across the environment

I never thought Halo 3's lighting was particularly impressive, but this sounds like a massive improvement. I can't imagine this being done with the same engine as Halo 3.

 

[Gui_PT]

I can't relax when I play ranked. I want to be able to chill and listen to music and have a fair chance at winning. I doubt I'm the only person here who's bored to tears of BTB because when you go in with a team it is a neverending torrent of guests and people that offer no challenge whatsoever. When you find a match in any social playlist you basically flip a coin and hope you land on the team that has disproportionately better players than the other. It's not fun for the people who are good and it's not fun for the new players/scrubs.

It's ok. I suck at Halo too

 

[Tashi]

You guys gotta play more MLG man!! I haven't touched an AR in MONTHS, my Halo experience couldn't be better. lol

 

[Arnie]

You guys gotta play more MLG man!! I haven't touched an AR in MONTHS, my Halo experience couldn't be better. lol

I play it all the time, but a mixture of US hosts and quitting teammates makes it a sour experience for me. Couple that with teammates who don't call out and it just aggravates me. But I agree, when you have teammates of a decent standard, and a good connection, MLG is hands down the best Halo experience you can have.

 

[kylej]

You guys gotta play more MLG man!! I haven't touched an AR in MONTHS, my Halo experience couldn't be better. lol

Yeah I should probably go in and learn some of the MLG map strats. I've played like 50 games total in that playlist so I'm only a 37 or so.

I'll pay Walshy to coach me.

 

[Ramirez]

You guys gotta play more MLG man!! I haven't touched an AR in MONTHS, my Halo experience couldn't be better. lol

This. MLG is the only playlist you can play in by yourself and have a decent time, even if you get donged on.

 

[ToyMachine228]

Went looking for the Reach GI today. Didn't find it anywhere. Still reading Evolutions. Good stuff so far.

 

[urk]

I never thought Halo 3's lighting was particularly impressive...

That's because you can't see the subtle beauty. It's like Magic Eye.

 

[Thagomizer]

I never thought Halo 3's lighting was particularly impressive

Forgive me for sounding like a defense force goon, but what?

 

[Gui_PT]

Forgive me for sounding like a defense force goon, but what?

Sheesh. You sound like a defense force goon!

 

[feel]

Forgive me for sounding like a defense force goon, but what?

Lightning too subtle, not enough bright light sources shining on the characters as they walk past dark corridors. Better luck next time Bungie.

 

[Tashi]

Yeah I should probably go in and learn some of the MLG map strats. I've played like 50 games total in that playlist so I'm only a 37 or so.

I'll pay Walshy to coach me.

All you have to do is learn the spawns.

 

[Arnie]

Forgive me for sounding like a defense force goon, but what?

Butthurt.

Spoiler

Kidding bro.

That's because you can't see the subtle beauty. It's like Magic Eye.

Can you help me with my problem urkle, or are Bungie above improving the matchmaking experience of Halo 3 nowadays? I don't want to return to the Team Snipers playlist in fear of repeating such an aggravating, demoralising experience.

 

[Magni]

What's your level in Snipes Arnie?

I'm doing some Forza right now but after my race if you wanna play => SAE Magni
Mostly play MLG (36), Snipers (36), SWAT (36), and Mythic. I'm not stuck at 36, just only got back to H3 after a long time playing other games :lol

 

[Captain Blood]

Yeah I should probably go in and learn some of the MLG map strats. I've played like 50 games total in that playlist so I'm only a 37 or so.

I'll pay Walshy to coach me.

Does he have a group rate?

 

[Zabka]

Forgive me for sounding like a defense force goon, but what?

It was nice, but it didn't blow my skirt up.

 

[Arnie]

What's your level in Snipes Arnie?

I'm doing some Forza right now but after my race if you wanna play => SAE Magni
Mostly play MLG (36), Snipers (36), SWAT (36), and Mythic. I'm not stuck at 36, just only got back to H3 after a long time playing other games :lol

My Snipers is 30, although I have just started playing the playlist this last week and have been going up in 2's. My MLG is now a 35 after a recent frustrating spell which dropped me down from 39. My Swat is 46, although I find Swat to be relatively cheap and easy. I'll add you later but I won't be on tonight, got some college work to do and Liverpool are playing in 2 hours.

 

[Magni]

My Snipers is 30, although I have just started playing the playlist this last week and have been going up in 2's. My MLG is now a 35 after a recent frustrating spell which dropped me down from 39. My Swat is 46, although I find Swat to be relatively cheap and easy. I'll add you later but I won't be on tonight, got some college work to do and Liverpool are playing in 2 hours.

I just now understood your Gamertag :lol

 

[GhaleonEB]

I don't know. I could just be getting my hopes up but I'm expecting a lot. I mean Bungie eventually tweaked forge from a weapon placer to how it exists in Sandbox. If they set out from the get-go to make forge a map creator then I don't see why it wouldn't be exponentially better.

I'm expecting a lot as well. Halo 3 has a genuinely astonishing feature set, IMO, and given Bungie's track record, it's a given that Reach will only expand on it significantly.

Look at how each feature set in the game has evolved from one to another, and it's hard not to anticipate a HUGE step forward for Forge in Reach. I'm also expecting truly great things from Firefight and whatever other MP modes they have in the works (the leaked TOM MORELLO screen had some interesting options at the title).

But I reflexively keep my expectations in check, with all things (you can see me over on PoliGAF doing the same thing). I prefer to be pleasantly surprised than not.

 

[Major Williams]

I still don't know how I feel about Bungie calling this a "new" engine for Reach.

What defines calling a game engine new?

 

[Nutter]

I still don't know how I feel about Bungie calling this a "new" engine for Reach.

What defines calling a game engine new?

For every Oonsk added to the game. The engine becomes a new beast.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I still don't know how I feel about Bungie calling this a "new" engine for Reach.

What defines calling a game engine new?

Pretty sure most developers do iterations on their tech, rather than start from scratch, so as to not have to throw out and rebuild their tool pipeline. So, call it whatever you want, it's an evolved/changed/new/tweaked/expanded/refined/modified/augmented/enhanced/rebuilt/altered engine compared to the Halo 3/ODST one. Does the word even matter? The engine does new stuffz.

 

[urk]

...or are Bungie above improving the matchmaking experience of Halo 3 nowadays?

What's the problem, precious?

 

[urk]

Pretty sure most developers do iterations on their tech, rather than start from scratch, so as to not have to throw out and rebuild their tool pipeline. So, call it whatever you want, it's an evolved/changed/new/tweaked/expanded/refined/modified/augmented/enhanced/rebuilt/altered engine compared to the Halo 3/ODST one. Does the word even matter? The engine does new stuffz.

This is correct. It's just 1's and 0's. The end result is what matters.

 

[FoolsRun]

What defines calling a game engine new?

What qualifies any form of software as being new? When overhauling an application, you rarely have the opportunity to throw everything thing out and start from scratch. You can tack new stuff onto the existing code base (which I believe Bungie did for ODST), or you can rip out existing code and replace it with something new (which it appears Bungie is doing quite a bit of for Reach).

Whether it's a relatively "new," or just a heavily modified version of Halo 3 engine isn't that important. It's what the end result can do that really matters. Hell, Modern Warfare 2 still has traces of the Quake 3 engine in it.

I understand your concern. The Halo 3 engine had certain limitations, and you're worried that they'll remain for Reach. We'll have to wait and see for ourselves when the Beta is released.

 

[Magni]

I still don't know how I feel about Bungie calling this a "new" engine for Reach.

What defines calling a game engine new?

Halo 1 -> Halo 2 = new engine
Halo 2 -> Halo 3 = new engine
Halo 3 -> Halo 3 ODST = updated engine
Halo 3 -> Halo: Reach = new engine

Do you see it better now?

---

I've been playing some Forza today and it made me think of a little feature that UIM wouldn't be that hard to implement but would be really nice in Reach: in-game timers.

&#9679; Total time spent in Halo: Reach

&#9679; Time spent in Campaign
&#9679; Mission A
&#9679; Easy
&#9679; Solo
&#9679; Co-op
&#9679; Normal ...
&#9679; Mission B ...

&#9679; Time spent in Firefight
&#9679; Mission A
&#9679; Easy
&#9679; Solo
&#9679; Co-op
&#9679; Normal ...
&#9679; Mission B ...

&#9679; Time spent in Multiplayer
&#9679; Local
&#9679; LAN
&#9679; Live
&#9679; Playlist A
&#9679; Playlist B ...
&#9679; Map A
&#9679; Map B ...
&#9679; Gametype A
&#9679; Gametype B ...

&#9679; Time spent in Forge 2.0
&#9679; Map A
&#9679; Map B ...

&#9679; Time spent in Theater

&#9679; Time spent in Menus

Heck, even some fun ones.

&#9679; Time spent respawning

5 GS - Had fun respawning? - Spend a total 77 777 seconds at the death screen.

 

[Nutter]

This is correct. It's just 1's and 0's. The end result is what matters.

Get to it bungle. Tighten up those graphics on Level 3.

Spoiler

Needs more Oonsk