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[user_nat]

Maybe the AR spray is so large now that it doesn't matter where the reticle is?

 

[Olivero]

I take back my complaints on the earlier pictures. These are GORGEOUS! Urk, I can give you my money right -now-. C'mon, lets make this happen.

 

[Kapura]

Halo: Reach: Taking the "pray" out of spray n' pray. It is these forward thinking ideas that keep Bungie ahead of the FPS curve.

 

[les papillons sexuels]

http://i50.tinypic.com/sg27ur.jpg

So, I'm guessing the little lightning bolt icon in the lower left, above the radar, is the armor ability. Previously I'd assumed the blurred out portion of the HUD was to not show an armor ability that hadn't been announced. So maybe there's another ability or such that hasn't been talked about yet.

But it's location is odd; next to the other icon would make more sense. It's almost as if the HUD is displaying information on that enemy.

I was actually think it might be some sort of negative effect notice, like the character's being disoriented by something, hence why the reticule is so far off.

Just a theory /shrug.

 

[joey_z]

So...uh...anyone remember the tenga warriors from The Power Rangers?

Edit: Works perfectly with my theory of Bungie being a company full of tracing men and women. Full evidence here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303199

 

[les papillons sexuels]

So...uh...anyone remember the tenga warriors from The Power Rangers?

Edit: Works perfectly with my theory of Bungie being a company full uninspired men and women. Full evidence here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303199

I keeping thinking of the skeksis from 'the dark crystal'.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

So...uh...anyone remember the tenga warriors from The Power Rangers?

Edit: Works perfectly with my theory of Bungie being a company full of tracing men and women. Full evidence here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303199

It's called "Reference", everyone does it.

 

[JohnIIVII]

So, I'm guessing the little lightning bolt icon in the lower left, above the radar, is the armor ability. Previously I'd assumed the blurred out portion of the HUD was to not show an armor ability that hadn't been announced. So maybe there's another ability or such that hasn't been talked about yet.

But it's location is odd; next to the other icon would make more sense. It's almost as if the HUD is displaying information on that enemy.

My guess is that the blurred out part is your current squad mates health bars. I wanna say I vaguely remember Tom Morrello mentioning this. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[Devin Olsen]

Probably a bug.

I highly doubt they would release a screen shot with a bug like that.

What sense could that possibly make?

 

[DragoNZ DZ]

People getting spoiled by what they're reading? perhaps it's time to make myself scarce in regards to Reach.

Btw, I managed to get a few Sgt. Johnson codes for ODST so if anyone still needs a Johnson to play with just let me know.

I'd gladly take one if you're willin'.

 

[Ramirez]

So...uh...anyone remember the tenga warriors from The Power Rangers?

Edit: Works perfectly with my theory of Bungie being a company full of tracing men and women. Full evidence here:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303199

smh

 

[Captain Blood]

smh

Don't you see the new amazing smiley face in there?

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

I'd gladly take one if you're willin'.

Alright no problem. PM sent.

Still have a few more if others want.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Don't you see the new amazing smiley face in there?

Spoiler

chest plate?

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Alright no problem. PM sent.

Still have a few more if others want.

Would love one as well, was waiting for other people to ahve the chance to claim.

 

[Captain Blood]

Spoiler

chest plate?

Haha nah I am just joking. I am sure someone can and will find something in there though.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Haha nah I am just joking. I am sure someone can and will find something in there though.

:lol Eh, I tried.

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

Would love one as well, was waiting for other people to ahve the chance to claim.

Alrighty. Sent.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Alrighty. Sent.

Much appreciated.

 

[SynthetiCTS]

I may be going out on a limb here but, the reticule in the FP screenshot looks overly big and out of place for it to be the actual aiming reticule. I am thinking that this may be a "threat marker" for use on your HUD. It seems that the Skirmisher on the left is elevated slightly more than the other three or four in plain sight. When looking at the radar, this Skirmisher's waypoint blip is elevated with a thin line and pink in color. This could possibly signify a color change or flash to bring your attention to an immediate threat. With that information, the reticule as-well looks to be somewhat opaque, almost laser-ish (new word?), and could be on the move towards the closest threat.

If my memory serves me correct, Nylund spent quite a-lot of ink in FoR explaining the Spartans efficient use of their HUD and comm system with battlefield mapping, blinking blue lights, etc. etc. This seems like a fresh way to promote the feeling of having a team at your back, and an excellent tool for knowing your surroundings. Anyways, it may be some decent food for thought, or the leftovers from a month ago, who knows?

Also, I have lurked here for quite some time and quite frankly, enjoyed watching this and the other HaloGAF threads unfold. I look forward to getting to know you all from inside the fishbowl.

 

[derFeef]

Man, four hours of sleep and I missed the new shots. They look so awesome - gives me warm CE feelings inside my stomache. About that reticule - maybe something Natal-y?

 

[∀ Narayan]

Maybe the reticule moves? I don't know. No more centered aiming, or something?

 

[Truant]

So, I'm guessing the little lightning bolt icon in the lower left, above the radar, is the armor ability. Previously I'd assumed the blurred out portion of the HUD was to not show an armor ability that hadn't been announced. So maybe there's another ability or such that hasn't been talked about yet.

But it's location is odd; next to the other icon would make more sense. It's almost as if the HUD is displaying information on that enemy.

What's up with the crosshair?

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Man, four hours of sleep and I missed the new shots. They look so awesome - gives me warm CE feelings inside my stomache. About that reticule - maybe something Natal-y?

Natal-y? Very unlikely, would be a huge risk by Bungie.

 

[les papillons sexuels]

I think the reticule is off due to some negative effect on the character, like a flash-bang or concussion grenade. Maybe something to do with the blurred out text too.

 

[JSRT]

These are some great screenshots, are these from the current build or are these the "pre- Thanksgiving" build that was mentioned earlier?

 

[Truant]

I think it's worth to mention, yet again, that the quality of these shots is largely based on the glue that holds everything together - image quality. Do people really expect the AA and AF to carry over to the actual game?

Halo 3 looks tight in processed screenshots, but terrible when you actually play it. That's what I'm worried about here.

Just release a PC version, Bungie.

 

[goldenpp72]

I think it's worth to mention, yet again, that the quality of these shots is largely based on the glue that holds everything together - image quality. Do people really expect the AA and AF to carry over to the actual game?

Halo 3 looks tight in processed screenshots, but terrible when you actually play it. That's what I'm worried about here.

Just release a PC version, Bungie.

Didnt bungie say one of the primary engine updates for reach was to clean up the in game image quality?

 

[RdN]

I liked the screenshots.. and I'm very curious about the explosions and particles.. hope to see it soon.

 

[Princess Carl]

I may be going out on a limb here but, the reticule in the FP screenshot looks overly big and out of place for it to be the actual aiming reticule. I am thinking that this may be a "threat marker" for use on your HUD. It seems that the Skirmisher on the left is elevated slightly more than the other three or four in plain sight. When looking at the radar, this Skirmisher's waypoint blip is elevated with a thin line and pink in color. This could possibly signify a color change or flash to bring your attention to an immediate threat. With that information, the reticule as-well looks to be somewhat opaque, almost laser-ish (new word?), and could be on the move towards the closest threat.

If my memory serves me correct, Nylund spent quite a-lot of ink in FoR explaining the Spartans efficient use of their HUD and comm system with battlefield mapping, blinking blue lights, etc. etc. This seems like a fresh way to promote the feeling of having a team at your back, and an excellent tool for knowing your surroundings. Anyways, it may be some decent food for thought, or the leftovers from a month ago, who knows?

Also, I have lurked here for quite some time and quite frankly, enjoyed watching this and the other HaloGAF threads unfold. I look forward to getting to know you all from inside the fishbowl.

this post. i like it.

 

[derFeef]

Natal-y? Very unlikely, would be a huge risk by Bungie.

Well, we do know there is something going to happen with Natal and Reach. What exactly that is - we do not know. It could be a hud-placeholder for some tracking feature.

 

[RdN]

Man, four hours of sleep and I missed the new shots. They look so awesome - gives me warm CE feelings inside my stomache. About that reticule - maybe something Natal-y?

It gets me curious and worried at same time..

 

[Domino Theory]

Considering this comment from the "Abbreviated Fiction" article from a GI employee:

The good stuff on Reach is coming, this is all a deliberate build up for newcomers and fans alike. Trust me, Bungie has given us some info. to play with, and we'll be passing it along. We promised Reach, and we'll deliver. Just be patient.

and the fact that Monday will see TWO updates to the Reach Hub in addition to the Reach Hub being updated every week day starting tomorrow AND the Reach Audio Reel, I'd say this'll be a great week for Halo: Reach coverage.

Oh and

Spoiler

Mass Effect 2 <3

 

[Flipyap]

I can't tell if this elite is frightened, angry, or... aroused.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/EazyB/Games/Reach leak/gamereactorspelarhalo_201493b.jpg

Woah, cowboy, what the hell is going on down here?

 

[TheLOLMan]

I like the overall screenshot except I am pretty dissapointed with the gun model detail in first person view....still very Halo3. (i am looking for MW2, Killzone 2, BF2 quality...)

 

[derFeef]

Considering this comment from the "Abbreviated Fiction" article from a GI employee:

and the fact that Monday will see TWO updates to the Reach Hub in addition to the Reach Hub being updated every week day starting tomorrow AND the Reach Audio Reel, I'd say this'll be a great week for Halo: Reach coverage.

Oh and

Spoiler

Mass Effect 2 <3

Thank you for the reminder, I almost forgot about the GI articles. And I will use this opportunity to say - I love your avatar, for obvious reasons.

 

[Pug]

In the EDGE article, when Bungie showed the 2 levels from the game to the Journo's they made it clear that the majority of the team on the floor were not particulary happy that they were showing off the game in such early form. There are place holders with regards to some textures and more enviromental detail is to be added. As for the weapon art, it is well beyond Halo 3.

 

[RdN]

I like the overall screenshot except I am pretty dissapointed with the gun model detail in first person view....still very Halo3. (i am looking for MW2, Killzone 2, BF2 quality...)

Agreed.. I know it's too early and all, but the AR looks like a plastic toy gun instead of a 9 pounds metal badass weapon. I'm sure Bungie will give it a lot more polishment before the Beta.

 

[Stabby McSter]

Woah, cowboy, what the hell is going on down here?

http://i46.tinypic.com/2mpfpsz.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]
That, combined with the facial expression, makes that concept art AWESOME. :lol

 

[DragoNZ DZ]

Didnt bungie say one of the primary engine updates for reach was to clean up the in game image quality?

Yes, though there are numerous ways to accomplish that technically.

increased resolution
increased AA (standard MSAA)
increased AF
edge detect/blur filters (The Saboteur or whatever game that was...)
etc...

AA + AF would be the most welcome of all, IMO. Hopefully at least the former.

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

2 things.

1. I play with the EVA perm in H3 so I'm definitely playing with the skull one.

2. I like the looks of it. The new screens seem to be graphically better than H3 which is good. Those dark screens look amazing. The only problem I have - and please don't kill me - is the style(??).

I hope they add that lived in/worked in/used look to final game because they still are missing that special aspect to make it look really real. (not just reach but others) Like there being trash flying or laying around. I can't really explain it but mostly everything is clean, perfect and sterile especially the ground. Some stages have it in H3 but by and large its too perfect.

Think about Star Wars 4-6 opposed to 1-3 or the Neil Blomkamp shorts. Hope that doesn't ruffle any feathers and hello Halo-gaf!

 

[advent29]

Maybe that's how badass the new AR is, it has that much recoil. :lol

 

[abacab driver]

I like the overall screenshot except I am pretty dissapointed with the gun model detail in first person view....still very Halo3. (i am looking for MW2, Killzone 2, BF2 quality...)

Youre talking about artstyle. The detail on the gun is fine.
The weapons arent the american/german (exact or influenced) military guns you see over and over in every fps you just mentioned, Its a gun from Halo and it's universe (a more detailed version of exactly that).

 

[Striker]

2. I like the looks of it. The new screens seem to be graphically better than H3 which is good. Those dark screens look amazing. The only problem I have - and please don't kill me - is the style(??).

Art style?

 

[Flipyap]

2. I like the looks of it. The new screens seem to be graphically better than H3 which is good. Those dark screens look amazing. The only problem I have - and please don't kill me - is the style(??).

What bothers me is the color palette in daytime screens. I would not like to spend hours staring at that. There's something about those greens that makes my stomach turn. Crow's Nest had a similar effect on me.

Also, that is a very cute kitten.

 

[Always-honest]

I keeping thinking of the skeksis from 'the dark crystal'.

i heard there is a remake coming?..

 

[Slightly Live]

I think it's worth to mention, yet again, that the quality of these shots is largely based on the glue that holds everything together - image quality. Do people really expect the AA and AF to carry over to the actual game?

Halo 3 looks tight in processed screenshots, but terrible when you actually play it. That's what I'm worried about here.

Just release a PC version, Bungie.

No it's not worth mentioning again. No one needs or wants your reminders about their expectations based on these screenshots. No one.

You do realise that coming into a thread and demanding a game be released on another platform with or without warrant has gotten folks banned, right? Just check the old NBA Jam/Epic Mickey threads if you want a reminder.

Bungie have clearly stated that they will be increasing the graphical fidelity of the game, up from Halo 3, so there is no point in you parading Halo 3's graphical limitations around to try to prove something.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Well, we do know there is something going to happen with Natal and Reach. What exactly that is - we do not know. It could be a hud-placeholder for some tracking feature.

??? How do we know this? Sounds just like seculation to me.

 

[Hydranockz]

Damn those pics look good! Hard to tell some of the landscapes from being in game or concept art ^^ For the casual gamer that I am, I really could not care less about AA or not.

 

[Slightly Live]

Damn those pics look good! Hard to tell some of the landscapes from being in game or concept art ^^ For the casual gamer that I am, I really could not care less about AA or not.

The vistas are really impressive, aren't they?

Now, speculation time.

We know, or we can safely assume, that the screenshots and in game images released are all from the same build. The released articles so far all share the same assets and describe the same encounters which are reflected in the images shown.

Right, it is also then fair to say that the screenshot showing the first person gameplay point of view is what journalists seen when they were shown the game and, again, from the same build.

The blurred out "mystery item" in the image must have clearly been visible to these journalists, as the blurring effect used seems to be added outside of the game engine, ie using Photoshop or whatever.

So whatever it is, the journalists either missed a detail completely, which is unlikely, or they seen it and were told not to mention it, which is much more likely.

The journalists also seen something in the Pause menu, the Grades and Credits bar/items, which Bungie decided not to comment on, but this was mentioned in at least one of the articles, along side information that the armour customisation spans both single and multiplayer, so we can already figure out a brief idea of what that feature is, despite not being officially told anything specific about it.

The "mystery item", if it was simply a redesign of an existing HUD feature, it would not be withheld. Likewise if it was a feature that was related to an already revealed mechanic, such as the armour abilities/customisation, then it would have probably been revealed or at least hinted at.

So logicially, or more likely as is the case here, it is probably a standalone mechanic/HUD feature in it's own right. A new element of the Reach gameplay not previously mentioned and not yet ready to be revealed.

Now someone here already pointed out a small detail which seems to be overlooked, In the same image of the mystery item was have, what seems to be a massive error or glitch visible - the aiming reticule.

Think about it logically, we know that all media assets are carefully selected internally before release. We know Bungie and the marketing team both pour over the assets to ensure that they put out only what they want in the fashion that they want. So, have Bungie and the marketing team missed a big glaring issue, highly visible and spotted by fans almost instantly? Most likely not. So, if it is not a mistake, it has to be deliberate.

The aim is closer to the Skirmisher on the left hand side. Now, focus on the radar and examine the blips, you'll find that all of the enemies on screen from the player perspective match up with the radar readings. The skirmisher on the left is elevated and isolated from the group of three on the right side.

The left sided skirmisher's blip colour is a lighter red/pink colour in contrast to the traditionally red blip colour of the enemies on the right. Again, this could be an error, a glitch, a technical oversight, but it is unlikely.

This new pink blip colour just happens to be the same enemy that the aim is hovering beside. This could be a co-incidence, but it is unlikely.

So adding it up, what do we have?

If you look at the other enemies, you can clearly see they have their backs turned away from the player as he opens fire, yet the left sided one is not. Could also be a co-incidence, but I think at this point likelihood and chances are a bit one sided.

So adding it up, what do we have?

Threat/Enemy Alert Indicator? - Enemies appear as red dots on radar, as they traditionally have, when they are not aware of your presence. Upon seeing you, their status on your radar changes to pink to indicate the enemy is now alerted to your presence, a message pops up on the HUD specifically telling you that you are now spotted and the aiming reticle quickly moves over to indicate where the enemy is.

Or it could be something completely different altogether. =P

These little bits seem to add up with just an ounce or two of jumping to conclusions and guessing to glue it together.

This mechanic would certainly help boost and aid some specific new areas of Reach gameplay that we already know about, such as the Camo ability and the assassinations.

At this time, we are terribly lacking more first person perspective screenshots and again I think this is deliberate too. The one image we have I think speaks a few words more than what first appears and I'm sure I could debunk this guesswork or confirm it with more screenshots from the gameplay perspective.

Looks like some of you have beaten me to the punch regarding some/most of my guesswork. Cretins.