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[Syracuse022]

rofl

People like you are so fun to debate...

That spice was distinctly un-Australian. Awesome.

Oh god. Dax is at it again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29SYD...eature=channel

"Steven LOL" on the wall behind his bed... I lost it.

 

[Chinner]

Oh god. Dax is at it again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29SYDC6Tdmo&feature=channel

our little babby is growing up

 

[urk]

our little babby is growing up

Please tell me that's not you in the comments trolling a little kid on YouTube over his video's "production values."

 

[Trasher]

Please tell me that's not you in the comments trolling a little kid on YouTube over his video's "production values."

:lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[2 Minutes Turkish]

It seems to me that trend can be more readily traced to the amount those games were played. Logically, the more people play the game, the less likely they are to give up a huge lead. That connection follows much moreso than a commentary on weapon balance. However, i'd very much like to hear how a better wrapon balance makes comebacks easier.

Already mentioned it in examples.

But I guess our views on what consitutes weapon balance varies greatly, just one more annoying hurdle that Bungie deals with (or doesn't I guess, do they really need to listen to us? I mean, it's not like we know what we're talking about).

To me, having a sidearm like the pistol in Halo 1 was the ultimate balancer because it could get you out of ANY situation in MP games.

3 and to a lesser extent 2, does not have such a weapon.

You either try and master 1 weapon (hence all the BR/AR/whatever talk that goes on) or try and be a jack of all trades and still get owned by the BR guys.

 

[feel]

Please tell me that's not you in the comments trolling a little kid on YouTube over his video's "production values."

 

[Deadly Monk]

Kind of off topic but Halo Legends is only 420msp for HD and 1200msp for standard definition to own. Is this a screw up?

 

[Stabby McSter]

Kind of off topic but Halo Legends is only 420msp for HD and 1200msp for standard definition to own. Is this a screw up?

Is the HD only to rent?

 

[Deadly Monk]

To rent and buy are both 420 msp for HD...I would hurry since this has to be a mistake.

 

[Stinkles]

Dax? I thought you'd be bigger.

 

[urk]

Nice technique with the AR, though. Burst firing like a pro.

 

[godhandiscen]

To rent and buy are both 420 msp for HD...I would hurry since this has to be a mistake.

Not in the Zune store...

"purchase error"

Meh, I have the BR, but a digital version would have been nice.
Now, off to buy a cheap XBLA game!

I didn't know he was Asian.

 

[Stinkles]

Nice technique with the AR, though. Burst firing like a pro.

I assume from the angle, that he is accurately placing rounds on the Moon.

 

[Princess Carl]

To rent and buy are both 420 msp for HD...I would hurry since this has to be a mistake.

purchasing error.

They know about it but haven't changed it.

 

[RocketMoose]

Eh, I can't really see a reason why games with players or higher skill would be more predictable than games at lower levels, I'd actually be inclined to say the opposite. Sure players of higher skill play more consistently which would lower the chance of random comebacks and they also work together with map/weapon control so momentum plays a bigger role and if a team has that momentum coming into a 40-30 lead it'll be harder for the losing team to come back. Then again that ability to conserve momentum can also work against the leading team if the losing team gains map/weapon control towards the end and plays consistently enough to hold onto it.

From my experience comebacks in Halo 3 aren't too rare. Sure there are some maps like Valhalla, Standoff, and Avalanche that all too often get decided within the first minute because one team grabs laser and assumes uncontested vehicle control but other than that I've witnessed plenty of comebacks from both sides of the event. I appreciate Halo 3's momentum, map, and vehicle control which does make things a bit more predictable than say MW2 where a single person can camp on the outskirts of a map until he gets a AC-130 and decimate the other team no matter what's happened throughout the rest of the match. Come backs aren't supposed to be a frequent occurrence and that's what makes them fuck-awesome, more comebacks can also be a sign of inconsistency in the game which can be pretty shitty.


Eh, I'd argue anyone that didn't get past level 10 was just messing around on an alt account or didn't even try to play the playlist long enough to have their level balanced out. The spectrum of Halo 3 levels for those that have actually sunk a decent amount of time into a ranked playlist is probably has a normal distribution with a mean around 30. Considering that and the fact that many people try to get their highest ranks in other playlists like SWAT or Team Doubles and I think the amount of people 45+ is significantly greater than 2.3%

It's nearly impossible to map out a worthwhile projection so the argument is pretty trivial.

It should be noted that the graphs are live data of the current population, so the graph doesn't include level 50's who have stopped playing, nor would it include level 3's who only played a few games then quit, unless their last game was today.

 

[urk]

It should be noted that the graphs are live data of the current population, so the graph dosen't include level 50's who have stopped playing, nor would it include level 3's who only played a few games then quit, unless their last game was today.

 

[GhaleonEB]

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Isn't there a link in the Bungie store that lets you shop the rest of Amazon.com, but in a way that Bungie gets a cut? Someone posted a link a while back and I don't spot how from the site.

 

[EazyB]

It should be noted that the graphs are live data of the current population, so the graph doesn't include level 50's who have stopped playing, nor would it include level 3's who only played a few games then quit, unless their last game was today.

Oh, wow, had no idea. Makes it even more futile to guess what the distribution of ranks out there looks like. I know I and most of the people I play with can't be the only ones who've given up on ranked matches once true-skill slowed them down to a crawl. Can't remember the last time any of us have dug into Team Slayer. I can't even envision a method of getting an accurate distribution of player skills with things like alt accounts, boosters, and other things thrown into the mix.

 

[Stinkles]

Oh, wow, had no idea. Makes it even harder to guess what the distribution of ranks out there looks like. I know I and most of the people I play with can't be the only ones who've given up on ranked matches once true-skill slowed them down to a crawl. Can't remember the last time any of us have dug into Team Slayer. I can't even envision a method of getting an accurate distribution of player skills with things like alt accounts and other things thrown into the mix.

It still shows you the distribution of current ranks, which is the only relevant one. Level 50 players who're not playing...are not playing...

It's a snapshot of who's playing now and what the environment is like now.

 

[EazyB]

It still shows you the distribution of current ranks, which is the only relevant one. Level 50 players who're not playing...are not playing...

It's a snapshot of who's playing now and what the environment is like now.

Level 50 players who aren't playing that playlist or on their level 50 account aren't included, regardless of whether they're an active Halo 3 player or not. While Wu never pretended like his methods were concrete, it'd take a lot more than a graph like that to determine what percent of the Halo 3 population is over level 45.

It's a snapeshot of the accounts in that playlist. While that's obviously the most accurate snapshot one could hope for, I'd argue it's a pretty terrible one to go off of when even beginning to determine skill distribution. The graph is useful in seeing how impossible it will be to find a group of level 20s in a playlist such as Team Throwback as "the distribution of current ranks" is the only relevant one. BTW I trust Bungie has much better ways of getting a feel for their play base's skill distribution, alt accounts, boost, and other things excluded.

 

[Stinkles]

Level 50 players who aren't playing that playlist or on their level 50 account aren't included, regardless of whether they're an active Halo 3 player or not. While Wu never pretended like his methods were concrete, it'd take a lot more than a graph like that to determine what percent of the Halo 3 population is over level 45.

It's a snapeshot of the accounts in that playlist. While that's obviously the most accurate snapshot one could hope for, I'd argue it's a pretty terrible one to go off of. I trust Bungie has much better ways of getting a feel for their play base's skill distribution, alt accounts, boost, and other things excluded.

Of course Bungie has better data, but I can't help but feel that you want the level of 45 players to be higher than it is and I don't really know why.

 

[Sai-kun]

ilu lol. that's awesome.

 

[Ramirez]

Of course Bungie has better data, but I can't help but feel that you want the level of 45 players to be higher than it is and I don't really know why.

To prove the dominance of Brigadier Generals.

 

[user_nat]

To prove the dominance of Brigadier Generals.

I don't think that needs to be proven. It's already fact.

 

[Stinkles]

To prove the dominance of Brigadier Generals.

Stars are for Squares! Bars are for Men!

 

[big ander]

Would be interesting if Greg Bear were exploring some of this terrain.

:O

Awesome.

I feel like I should get my gold bars before the beta. Only 161 exp to go.

 

[minasodaboy]

Bars are for Men!

gold bars.

 

[EazyB]

Of course Bungie has better data, but I can't help but feel that you want the level of 45 players to be higher than it is and I don't really know why.

My main point is that it's futile for anyone on this board to make claims like players 45+ only make up 3% of the population. It seems low-balled considering my experience with the vast range of skills that all make up that small, 5 level, range of players. I could just as easily say people may want to cast remotely high level players into a finer minority than they really are. The point is no one is in any position to claim to know anything about it, even though Wu probably wasn't pretending to.

The reason why I'd rather the population be comprised of people who appreciate higher levels of play is because Bungie hasn't figured out how to cater to both adequately. Like you said yesterday they probably do it better than most other developers out there but they're far from the point where their playlist, MM, and gameplay design could be if they were more focused. Hopefully Reach's infrastructure will remedy some of this and I won't have to dip into Social Skirmish to find an objective game or BTB to get more flexible weapon starts, but that's certainly not the case now.

 

[GhaleonEB]

My main point is that it's futile for anyone on this board to make claims like players 45+ only make up 3% of the population. It seems low-balled considering my experience with the vast range of skills that all make up that small, 5 level, range of players. I could just as easily say people may want to cast remotely high level players into a finer minority than they really are. The point is no one is in any position to claim to know anything about it, even though Wu probably wasn't pretending to.

The reason why I'd rather the population be comprised of people who appreciate higher levels of play is because Bungie hasn't figured out how to cater to both adequately. Like you said yesterday they probably do it better than most other developers out there but they're far from the point where their playlist, MM, and gameplay design could be if they were more focused. Hopefully Reach's infrastructure will remedy some of this and I won't have to dip into Social Skirmish to find an objective game or BTB to get more flexible weapon starts, but that's certainly not the case now.

I think every skill level probably wishes the playlists were more tailored for their liking. I'd like to see more stuff tailored to my preferences - and I'm in a larger pool, skill-wise. I imagine population management across such a wide range of skill and game-type options - especially the smaller populations of high ranked players - is quite difficult. Which is not to say there isn't room for improvement.

There's a playlist specifically for those types of people, where you're given a BR every game... and in the other playlists you regularly get "Team BR" gametypes. It's weighted at least 25% of the games in the slayer playlists. I don't think anyone could argue that that weighting isn't representative of the types of players who play the game. You yourself constantly complain that the majority of players love the AR and simultaneous deaths.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

 

[Deleted member 21120]

There's a playlist specifically for those types of people, where you're given a BR every game... and in the other playlists you regularly get "Team BR" gametypes. It's weighted at least 25% of the games in the slayer playlists. I don't think anyone could argue that that weighting isn't representative of the types of players who play the game. You yourself constantly complain that the majority of players love the AR and simultaneous deaths.

 

[urk]

I imagine population management across such a wide range of skill and game-type options - especially the smaller populations of high ranked players - is quite difficult.

Nah, you just load up Forge and move some coils around. I do it all the time.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

I skipped ODST and couldn't get into Halo 3. But if Reach really does turn out good and different for the series, I'd definitely check it out!

It looks darker, more serious, but hopefully Bungie doesn't follow the same patterns as the other Halos and make something that stands out.

 

[big ander]

I skipped ODST and couldn't get into Halo 3. But if Reach really does turn out good and different for the series, I'd definitely check it out!

It looks darker, more serious, but hopefully Bungie doesn't follow the same patterns as the other Halos and make something that stands out.

So far we've basically been promised the definitive Halo, with the best of every game. So they are going to be following "the same patterns."

Spoiler

???

If you don't like Halo, chances are you won't like Reach (from what I've read/seen/heard).

 

[dilatedmuscle]

All i gotta say is.... The Hunters better be some menacing mofo's

 

[EazyB]

There's a playlist specifically for those types of people, where you're given a BR every game... and in the other playlists you regularly get "Team BR" gametypes. It's weighted at least 25% of the games in the slayer playlists. I don't think anyone could argue that that weighting isn't representative of the types of players who play the game. You yourself constantly complain that the majority of players love the AR and simultaneous deaths.

Even if exactly 25% of the total population wants BR starts while 75% want AR starts in Team Slayer making those exact weighting for everyone is far from ideal. That means 75% of those like me have to put up with something they don't like. When we get an experience we want only 25% of the time it decreases the chances that we'll even continue playing Halo and instead go somewhere else, leaving that 25% minority at an even slimmer minority. As unfortunate as that is, if it were the most ideal solution it would have to be acceptable, but it's not.

Like I said yesterday, I don't think a the weighting of maps and gametypes should be based off the entire population's veto data. If they were to isolate the data at certain increments of levels they'd be able to tailor the experience to those minorities much better. I'll go on a limb and say players of higher skills tend to prefer BR starts and want less gametypes like team duals and team rockets, whether or not that's the case, targeted veto data could spell that out and if MM were set up to accommodate for it, weighting would be different for each group.

Example: Assuming 75% of the overall community prefers AR starts, maybe only 25% of the people level 45+ prefer AR starts. So while 75% of the people are getting what they want, only 25% of the 45+ community would be satisfied. If the weightings were set up in level increments MM could deliver 75% BR starts to player 45+, only 25% of that population would be dissatisfied, and they wouldn't have to all be pushed to one playlist that may or may not tailor to their desired playstyle.

This is just an example of something I came up with that could help deliver a better experience to all players and not push the majority's preferencesonto players who happen to be in the minority. I'm sure if Bungie put made an effort to do something like this or maybe tackle it from a different angle those wizards could conceive something even better. It's just the jump from Halo 2's MM setup to 3's wasn't all that impressive nor have they mentioned anything like this as a focus or concern. For all I know they may be doing exactly that as we speak and I can assure you I'll be the first one to thank them. Right now MM is shit for me and it doesn't have to be that way in Reach.

 

[Trasher]

I assume from the angle, that he is accurately placing rounds on the Moon.

datrange.jpg?

Also, memorable quotes from this instant classic of a youtube video:

"All you have to do is shoot it in the air!" - Is a solid strat, so long as you burst right?

"You can sleep on it too!" *imagines Dax and Coco hugging their AR's tight as mom and dad tuck them in to bed*

 

[metareferential]

All i gotta say is.... The Hunters better be some menacing mofo's

Aesthetically yes, they do need (and will get, given the new visual trend) a significant overhaul.

As far as in-game behaviour is concerned, as seen in ODST, they already are some menacing mofo's.

 

[duk]

wens the next halo book coming anyoen know?

 

[Deleted member 21120]

wens the next halo book coming anyoen know?

did u red evilutions

 

[duk]

did u red evilutions

um nope never heard of it =/

 

[Deleted member 21120]

um nope never heard of it =/

Halo: Evolutions

 

[NOKYARD]

oh no i was talking about epic comebacks

where you are coming back over 20 kills

i've only had it pulled off really once, in double team...

down like 22-6 on epitaph... came back to win

Won 50-48 after being down by 21 in Standoff Team Slayer.

I win.

It's located underneath the ONI CASTLE base. It's eventually unearthed. It contained a forerunner artifact that could bend time and space which was subsequently destroyed (leaving only fragments).

So, in Halo: Reach's Campaign we travel the countryside searching for and collecting fragments of Hiro Nakamura?

Am i getting warmer?

 

[Mr Vociferous]

The whole BR v. AR debate is old sauce at this point, right? Them's swabbie weapons and as I understand it, the Army's outfitting Noble--not the Navy or the Marines. I'm not saying that folks won't have their favorites from the new stock, but I'm going to wait and see what Bungie has in store. It all looks (and sounds) like gravy to me, right now. Looking forward to finding out how it plays.

 

[Domino Theory]

The whole BR v. AR debate is old sauce at this point, right? Them's swabbie weapons and as I understand it, the Army's outfitting Noble--not the Navy or the Marines. I'm not saying that folks won't have their favorites from the new stock, but I'm going to wait and see what Bungie has in store. It all looks (and sounds) like gravy to me, right now. Looking forward to finding out how it plays.

Do you honestly expect us to believe you don't know how the MP is going to work out? Or that you haven't played Reach yet? ;P

 

[Corky]

dauym, I wasnt expecting this kind of graphical leap, the vidoc was awesome

 

[joey_z]

The chances of this are slim to none but...
I really hope we're introduced to a new type of covenant during the game not revealed in the media at all.

I actually have no idea whether the hunters were shown off in the CE trailers or not, but when I first came across them there was a sense of awe simply because I had not read or heard anything about them. They required a change in tactic and a bit of a learning curve from the elites we had been facing up till that point. Such variance added another layer to the game that has sadly been missing since then. It forced you to adapt quickly and made you think on your feet. The drones don't count because they sucked ass and the Brutes in Halo 3 were just boring versions of the elite (don't even want to mention the Halo 2 Brutes).

I don't care what a new type of covenant would mean for the canon. An aggressive, offensive and challenging type of covenant that doesn't play like the elite, brute or hunter would be interesting and would add a lot of value to the game.

 

[Domino Theory]

I don't care what a new type of covenant would mean for the canon. An aggressive, offensive and challenging type of covenant that doesn't play like the elite, brute or hunter would be interesting and would add a lot of value to the game. Those flying

Marcus already said that the destruction of the planet Reach is what caused the complete extinction of the Skirmisher species (new Convenant enemies) so I guess they could use that excuse for any other new enemies they may add.

 

[BakedPigeon]

We're down 0 to -7, and it's 2 v 5.

We win, 50-38.
::shrug:: Because it was rockets? Maybe. I've seen some amazing comebacks on, say, the Pit (standard weapons) - we're down 43-49 and one guy goes nuts and we win 50-49. Shit happens.

It is the easiest to come back when you are outnumbered IMO, you have more targets while they have less.

 

[Hydranockz]

And I wonder why I rarely post here... Seriously, another AR/BR debate? I would never put it past you guys at this stage. Especially cuz the BR is confirmed for Rea...

Spoiler

Oh wait.

When is the plasma/spiker debate touching down?

There is a differene between speculating features for a new game and beating an age old debate to death.

Spoiler

It reminds me of parts of bnet

Quite simply, I will take whatever Bungie gives me (indeed). Maybe it's because I am a sucker for games that are overall too fun to notice these things. Reach won't be sub-par, in fact, it will be pretty far above it. There are far too many awesome details on the wave that was the the last few weeks of media embargo lifting and I am quite happily riding this wave to the shore.

 

[bobs...onGaf]

And I wonder why I rarely post here... Seriously, another AR/BR debate? I would never put it past you guys at this stage. Especially cuz the BR is confirmed for Rea...

Spoiler

Oh wait.

When is the plasma/spiker debate touching down?

There is a differene between speculating features for a new game and beating an age old debate to death.

Spoiler

It reminds me of parts of bnet

Quite simply, I will take whatever Bungie gives me (indeed). Maybe it's because I am a sucker for games that are overall too fun to notice these things. Reach won't be sub-par, in fact, it will be pretty far above it. There are far too many awesome details on the wave that was the the last few weeks of media embargo lifting and I am quite happily riding this wave to the shore.

Consumer rights be damned :lol

Seriusly video games are expensive, and weve all invested a fair amount of time into Halo, if they decided to change things up a lot and didnt do well then people have a right to complain, or at the very least debate.