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[Magni]

Of course, if you have a DS, you could always wait for the next Pokemon game.

Dax says something smart!

Spoiler

Get SuperiorSilver

 

[NOKYARD]

I'm sure that this is really LTTP, but I replayed The Storm again over the weekend and came across a weird little poster in the ship where the Scarab encounter is. Anyone got info on who this is and what the joke is supposed to be (if there is one)?

(best shots I could get; the poster kept fading in and out of legibility.)

I believe it's "Shi Kai Wang, who goes by the nickname Shiek"

from that Halopedia page:

On the level the Storm, if you go to theatre mode and fly through a window of the boat you can see a poster with him on it. It reads, "Shiek of the Sea".

 

[squidhands]

Thanks, NOKYARD. Makes me wonder what else I've missed, and I've played a lot of the campaign.

 

[Merguson]

Well, all those tie-in novels/comics of Halo really fleshes out the series.

If Joseph Staten can write a pretty decent novel in Contact Harvest, I can't see why we can't have a richer story in Halo.

I know they tried in Halo 2 but I felt it wasn't executed properly. I think the Halo Universe is worth looking at but Bungie hasn't developed a story that is deep enough.

 

[Revelations]

If Joseph Staten can write a pretty decent novel in Contact Harvest, I can't see why we can't have a richer story in Halo.

I know they tried in Halo 2 but I felt it wasn't executed properly. I think the Halo Universe is worth looking at but Bungie hasn't developed a story that is deep enough.

A main reason why I hope MSFT/343 Industries does a better job in the story department. Really. I actually hope thats their strong point.

 

[randomlyrossy]

If Joseph Staten can write a pretty decent novel in Contact Harvest, I can't see why we can't have a richer story in Halo.

I know they tried in Halo 2 but I felt it wasn't executed properly. I think the Halo Universe is worth looking at but Bungie hasn't developed a story that is deep enough.

Well a novel and a game are fairly different mediums. The books benefit from being able to fill out alot of the lore and backstory, trying to do that in the game would just get it a bit bogged down in details I think.

I do agree they could do a better job though, that being said the story telling in Halo 1 and ODST was pretty good I thought. I admired Halo 2s ambition but I think it tried to do a bit too much and 3s lacked direction.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

If Joseph Staten can write a pretty decent novel in Contact Harvest, I can't see why we can't have a richer story in Halo.

I know they tried in Halo 2 but I felt it wasn't executed properly. I think the Halo Universe is worth looking at but Bungie hasn't developed a story that is deep enough.

Agreed.

I'd say they succeeded in Halo 2 (putting aside the trimmed/deleted levels, especially post-ending levels).

 

[NOKYARD]

Agreed.

I'd say they succeeded in Halo 2 (putting aside the trimmed/deleted levels, especially post-ending levels).

Still holding my breath for Halo 2: The Director's Cut. (with the extended sex scene)

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Still holding my breath for Halo 2: The Director's Cut. (with the extended sex scene)

That explains what Jason Jones has been been working on since.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

Still holding my breath for Halo 2: The Director's Cut. (with the extended sex scene)

I dunno, I couldn't stomach that Brute scene any longer. Too much hair.

 

[squidhands]

I dunno, I couldn't stomach that Brute scene any longer. Too much hair.

I found it rather touching. Who knew that nipples could go there...

 

[electricpirate]

Brutezoned

 

[The Librarian]

*looks at posts 10060 - 10063*

wat

 

[BladedExpert]

*looks at posts 10060 - 10063*

*unzips*

Fixed

 

[Stinkles]

A main reason why I hope MSFT/343 Industries does a better job in the story department. Really. I actually hope thats their strong point.

"It was a dark and stormy night. Her eyes were blue, like the color of the sky."

 

[electricpirate]

"It was a dark and stormy night. Her eyes were blue, like the color of the sky."

A good start, but it needs more brute ugly bumping.

 

[Flipyap]

"It was a dark and stormy night. Her eyes were blue, like the color of the sky."

That was beautiful.
What about her chin? Tell me something about her chin. Was it like a mountain? I bet it was. Oh, I bet it was.

 

[NOKYARD]

A good start, but it needs more brute ugly bumping.

Who said anything about Brutes?

 

[big ander]

Who said anything about Brutes?

 

[lybertyboy]

"It was a dark and stormy night. Her eyes were blue, like the color of the sky."

"The night was...

Spoiler

moist

."

 

[Sill4]

....the hell?

 

[dilatedmuscle]

One problem i have with the Halo Universe is that they have covered so much of it that Bungie needs to be careful not to step on any toes while weaving their story. Im sure they are getting absolutely sick and tired of people questioning how reach is involved in the canon and how is this or that possible because the canon says something else. Like the addition of the Skirmishers, they have to come up with a reason why they arent in the rest of the games or novels... If there wasnt so much canon, bungie would have far more creative leeway in their story.

Lets face it, he Halo Universe has become a ClusterF* and people will always have questions about why this or why that. Lehto already commented that they will take some liberties with canon, probably because he felt constrained and annoyed by having to tip toe around the timeline and events all the time.

 

[Major Williams]

For the mysterious new sound posted on the BWU - anyone else feel like it was the weapon that Mr. Morello mentioned?

There is a new worthog that shoots volley missles. It seemed very overpowered, but fun. It would shoot about 4-6 shots and they explode upon contact. Then there is about a 5 second wait. Then you can shoot again (basically a 5 second cooldown for every time you can fire).

Also, it seemed to me to sound like the Lobber DLC gun from Crackdown, which I loved, so right on Bungie! It was very unexpected to see that much content in a BWU this early, but I loved reading (and listening) to every bit of it.

 

[feel]

That seems about right, good catch. Should be fun in campaign.

 

[Sai-kun]

"The night was...

Spoiler

moist

."

Ohgosh.png :3

 

[Sibylus]

Rise from yo gwave, Rockethog!

 

[Gui_PT]

You guys are scaring me

 

[Frenck]

Oh god keep that Gearbox abomination out of my sacred Reach.

 

[Kibbles]

I'm looking for something pretty meaty. The only genres I don't like are racing, sports and music. I have a preference for action, RPGs, and the hybrids therein. That said, I have a handful of specific preferences in games that are deal breakers and they're increasingly commonplace, so that's leaving me feeling picky as hell.

Halo 3, ODST, Oblivion, Condemned, Crackdown, and Fable II are probably my favorite retail games this generation. Lately I've been feasting on XBLA games and retro collections, such as Miner Dig Deep, Defense Grid, Kingdom for Kelflings, tons of puzzle games, the Genesis Ultimate Collection and Raiden Fighters Aces. I thought the first Gears was pretty good. I played through and was very disappointed in Bioshock and Half-Life 2. I briefly played (mostly by purchasing and returning the next day, my wallet reminds me) absolutely hated: Dead Rising, Mass Effect, Modern Warfare and Gears 2.

But I digress. Thanks for the suggestions, and if you know of any that seem to fit into the above mess, lemme know. I'll poke around some more and end up with something. I've just queued up a half dozen demos. Time to go to town.


Three things prevented me from playing this (it's the first game I downloaded): It's EA (yuck, but I'll live), it's MP only (I want to at least learn the controls before I jump into a match made game), and the request to make some kind of account and give EA my email before I could play anything. Not happening.

It's not MP only. It's DICE, not just EA. DICE is one of the best dev teams out there, imo. Along with Bungie of course

 

[Major Williams]

Oh god keep that Gearbox abomination out of my sacred Reach.

You referring to Borderlands? That amazing, GOTY candidate that has great gameplay? Sure, the story was confusing, smiliar to Halo CE (maybe simplified a bit more too), but it was still compelling and fun as crap to play. So if by 'abomination' you mean 'fun game', then I would have to disagree with you.

 

[Sibylus]

You referring to Borderlands? That amazing, GOTY candidate that has great gameplay? Sure, the story was confusing, smiliar to Halo CE (maybe simplified a bit more too), but it was still compelling and fun as crap to play. So if by 'abomination' you mean 'fun game', then I would have to disagree with you.

Gearbox made the Halo 1 port, so by extension the Rockethog.

Only babies complain about that glorious, spinning black deathmachine. The perfect companion vehicle for Scorpion assaults.

 

[ManCannon]

"It was a dark and stormy night. Her eyes were blue, like the color of the sky."

For shame! It's "blue, like the color of the OCEAN." Come on, how can you so easily forget something as impactful as the original passage, written by your padawan no less.

 

[Stinkles]

For shame! It's "blue, like the color of the OCEAN." Come on, how can you so easily forget something as impactful as the original passage, written by your padawan no less.

Dammit. Was it Ocean? I am sending your Facebook info to him.

 

[Frenck]

You referring to Borderlands? That amazing, GOTY candidate that has great gameplay? Sure, the story was confusing, smiliar to Halo CE (maybe simplified a bit more too), but it was still compelling and fun as crap to play. So if by 'abomination' you mean 'fun game', then I would have to disagree with you.

I meant the Rocket Hog in the giant pic above my post. That thing sucked.

 

[Major Williams]

Re-reading The Fall of Reach -

Nylund is a master with the early details of the Halo Universe. It would have been awesome to hear the discussions between him, the Halo board (i.e. Staten, Jones, McLees, Lehto, etc), and what was already established with Halo CE to create this amazing, convoluted, yet somehow plausible depiction of how chaotic a planet-scale war can be with an alien threat. I mean, the book was released in 2001, and still in 2010 it holds up to this awesome universe that is still compelling and mysterious, and incredibly detailed (i.e. UNSCTTP addresses).

___________________________________

To the comment about 343 and the future of Halo with MS vs Bungie:

Bungie have established that you experience Halo through the eyes of a Spartan and various cutscenes, and with Halo Wars, MS showed that the power of battles can be experienced outside of the Spartan program. The only thing they'll struggle with IMO is the public's perception and reception (i.e. buying power) of a game without the Chief, or any mention thereof, in perpetuity.

The hardcore of us would be hard-pressed to not purchase any new offering within the Halo Universe, but the fact remains that the more cooks you put into this kitchen, the more complex and ridiculous it becomes to keep on top of the details of each game/event in the timeline simultaneously. I want complexity, hell I need it in a game, to keep me interested and engaged. With each new game I have to figure something new out, and there's only so many mysteries they can stuff into this universe without me losing interest because I already know it or becoming so confused I stop caring.

Tough work ahead. Lots of planning and careful monitoring of what they put into the public perception.

Tl;dr: 343 has a lot to live up to, and has to choose carefully what they want the consumer to buy into - the wrong choice could alienate and disinterest the community at large.

 

[Warm Machine]

Are people expecting 343 to make the next Halo game or something?

 

[Kibbles]

Are people expecting 343 to make the next Halo game or something?

Yeah, it's all but confirmed atm.

 

[Tashi]

Are people expecting 343 to make the next Halo game or something?

No, I'm expecting the next Final Fantasy.

 

[Captain Blood]

No, I'm expecting the next Final Fantasy.

I was totally thinking it would be KOTOR 3........this is horrible news.

 

[Metroidvania]

I was totally thinking it would be KOTOR 3........this is horrible news.

DON'T TOY WITH ME, BLOOD.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

No, I'm expecting the next Final Fantasy.

I want to make a Legends joke but considering I've it pre-ordered I'd be a huge hypocrite :lol.

 

[dilatedmuscle]

Off topic again but I just started playing Mass Effect 2 and i must say they set a new standard for game intro's . I hope bungie takes a look at the cinematic quality of this game.

 

[OverHeat]

Off topic again but I just started playing Mass Effect 2 and i must say they set a new standard for game intro's . I hope bungie takes a look at the cinematic quality of this game.

I Agree!

 

[The Librarian]

Off topic again but I just started playing Mass Effect 2 and i must say they set a new standard for game intro's . I hope bungie takes a look at the cinematic quality of this game.

BioShock introduction >>>>> Mass Effect 2 introduction.

 

[EazyB]

If Joseph Staten can write a pretty decent novel in Contact Harvest, I can't see why we can't have a richer story in Halo.

I know they tried in Halo 2 but I felt it wasn't executed properly. I think the Halo Universe is worth looking at but Bungie hasn't developed a story that is deep enough.

Halo's story is as integral to the experience as Super Mario's story.

 

[CrazedArabMan]

BioShock introduction >>>>> Mass Effect 2 introduction.

:lol

Mass Effect 2 >>>>>>>>>>> Bioshock and most likely Bioshock 2 also.

 

[dilatedmuscle]

BioShock introduction >>>>> Mass Effect 2 introduction.

I felt like Bioshocks intro was more about curiousity and shadowy uneasyness. ME2 is far more engaging.

 

[Tashi]

I gotta get Mass Effect 2

 

[Thermite]

BioShock introduction >>>>> Mass Effect 2 introduction.

lol no.

Edit: They're both awesome, don't get me wrong. I just, personally, like Mass Effect 2's intro better. Bioshock is a classic, though.

Also, Reach.

 

[The Librarian]

I felt like Bioshocks intro was more about curiousity and shadowy uneasyness. ME2 is far more engaging.

In terms of cinematic quality, ME2 has BioShock beat, but in terms of presentation and making the player feel like he/she is engrossed in a world, BioShock has ME2 beat. I mean, all ME2's opening is

Spoiler

have a talk with Liara, save Joker, then watch the ship blow up.

Sure, if you think an opening that has lot of explosions and some pew pew firing makes for the most amazing opening, then, yeah, ME2's is better than BioShock's.