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[danwarb]

Outside of the ever increasing scope, I think the most noticeable improvement is model detail. Even with the Warthog comparison, you can see that handles, buttons, bumps aren't just textures anymore.

Also, the part in the Vidoc showing fully modeled nuts and bolts on a wall, their "nose-hair geometry" is something I haven't seen in many/any games.

 

[Trasher]

Outside of the ever increasing scope, I think the most noticeable improvement is model detail. Even with the Warthog comparison, you can see that handles, buttons, bumps aren't just textures anymore.

Also, the part in the Vidoc showing fully modeled nuts and bolts on a wall, their "nose-hair geometry" is something I haven't seen in many/any games.

Agreed, the detail on everything is the biggest improvement in my opinion.

 

[Tashi]

Outside of the ever increasing scope, I think the most noticeable improvement is model detail. Even with the Warthog comparison, you can see that handles, buttons, bumps aren't just textures anymore.

Also, the part in the Vidoc showing fully modeled nuts and bolts on a wall, their "nose-hair geometry" is something I haven't seen in many/any games.

Yea it looks nice until my grenades are getting caught in there lol

 

[Hellspawn23]

Oooh headset discussions for Halo!!!

Question: Can the A40s or Turtle Beach set work in conjunction with a surround sound receiver? I have a surround sound setup right now in our new place but the master bedroom is directly above the living room and the fiance has complained about the sound traveling to the bedroom. I already warned her about Reach coming out soon with its gauranteed all night sessions and she offered to buy me some new headsets so that she can sleep in peace!

In short, I want to be able to easily switch between the surround sound speaker setup and the headset setup when powering up the 360. Do either headset support switching sound output natively or will I need to invest in some more HDMI/toslink splitters. Any thoughts would be appreciated as it may save my future marriage.

My current setup is HDMI from the 360 to the receiver for both sound and video with another hdmi connection from the receiver to the tv.

i want to know this as well, i have been thinking about investing in a headset that features 5.1 sound also, reading about the astra, i noticed i need their mixamp too.

are there any other recommendations other than the astra one?

 

[Kapura]

Yea it looks nice until my grenades are getting caught in there lol

Them would be some sick film clips of a grenade getting wedged on a bolt or a protruding screw and taking a dude out by surprise.

Just read the Sandtrap postmortem. Incredible. Hiring urk was one of the best things Bungie's done for the community since the ability to make forge porn.

 

[Tashi]

Does your receiver have a 1/4'' output port?

 

[Crunchie Lunchie]

I finally got back to playing Halo =D and I am still shit. :lol

I'm looking forward to Reach too.

/end feeble hello

 

[BladedExpert]

Them would be some sick film clips of a grenade getting wedged on a bolt or a protruding screw and taking a dude out by surprise.

Just read the Sandtrap postmortem. Incredible. Hiring urk was one of the best things Bungie's done for the community since the ability to make forge porn.

Forge whatnow? :/

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

On the topic of guns, art style, and Reach's overall graphical overhaul I had a thought.

Who else would like to see a little more visual feedback when you shoot enemies? I am not talking about anything gory, or anything over the top such as head explosions or amputating sniper shots. Rather, should you hit somebody dead-on with a rocket, a chunk of chestplate may splinter and break off. Or, say the shoulder plate blasts off if you stick somebodies arm with a plasma.

I'm not talking about gore, just a little more kick. Reveal a little of the under suit, scorch the armor, etc.

This of course has no effect to gameplay, but rather is just a visceral experience. By no means is it a necessity, but just a thought. I am curious if others share these sentiments, or if they would rather not have anything that dramatic.

 

[Major Williams]

On the topic of guns, art style, and Reach's overall graphical overhaul I had a thought.

Who else would like to see a little more visual feedback when you shoot enemies? I am not talking about anything gory, or anything over the top such as head explosions or amputating sniper shots. Rather, should you hit somebody dead-on with a rocket, a chunk of chestplate may splinter and break off. Or, say the shoulder plate blasts off if you stick somebodies arm with a plasma.

I'm not talking about gore, just a little more kick. Reveal a little of the under suit, scorch the armor, etc.

This of course has no effect to gameplay, but rather is just a visceral experience. By no means is it a necessity, but just a thought. I am curious if others share these sentiments, or if they would rather not have anything that dramatic.

I have wanted this from Halo for a long time. It would be so awesome to see/experience. If you get hit by a rocket, it should have consequences.

Though, just a thought. The armor stays intact from even an orbital free fall. So... kinda debunks that actually.

 

[EazyB]

The dream.

On the topic of guns, art style, and Reach's overall graphical overhaul I had a thought.

Who else would like to see a little more visual feedback when you shoot enemies? I am not talking about anything gory, or anything over the top such as head explosions or amputating sniper shots. Rather, should you hit somebody dead-on with a rocket, a chunk of chestplate may splinter and break off. Or, say the shoulder plate blasts off if you stick somebodies arm with a plasma.

I'm not talking about gore, just a little more kick. Reveal a little of the under suit, scorch the armor, etc.

This of course has no effect to gameplay, but rather is just a visceral experience. By no means is it a necessity, but just a thought. I am curious if others share these sentiments, or if they would rather not have anything that dramatic.

From a purely gameplay perspective Halo's always been good at telling the player that they landed a shot when the player's shield is flaring up. Aesthetically I think they could borrow some things from Killzone 2 that would make the guns feel more powerful and give the player a better sense of their bullets actually landing on someone. I know in Halo 3 the elites kinda twitched and wiggled when they got shot but hit animations and better death animations/ragdoll can go a long way in making the guns feel more powerful.

 

[Apath]

I'll up the difficulty and give single-player campaign another try. Thanks Gaffers!

If you're looking for a tone to match COD or even GOW2 you'll be hard pressed to find it in Halo. Bungie apparently loves having completely epic scenarios at their hands, acknowledges it's what everyone is wanting, and then completely skips over it:
Halo 2:
What we expected - "Yes, we get to fight in the epic battle for Earth!"
What we got - "Yes, we get to fight the scouting party and leave before the main force arrives! Oh what's this? The battle is taking place?!! FINALL-- what?"
Halo 3:
What we expected - "Finally, the battle for Earth and the closing chapter to the Halo trilogy!"
What we got - "The battle is over. Earth lost. Now all we have left are two frigates and a bunch of long swords, which you will spend 1/3 of the game giving them an opening to shoot at a ship and deal no damage to it."

/bitter rant =[

 

[Trasher]

I have wanted this from Halo for a long time. It would be so awesome to see/experience. If you get hit by a rocket, it should have consequences.

Though, just a thought. The armor stays intact from even an orbital free fall. So... kinda debunks that actually.

I was just gonna mention that haha. Well it better be that good if it costs as much as a friggin starship.

 

[Major Williams]

The dream.


From a purely gameplay perspective Halo's always been good at telling the player that they landed a shot when the player's shield is flaring up. Aesthetically I think they could borrow some things from Killzone 2 that would make the guns feel more powerful and give the player a better sense of their bullets actually landing on someone. I know in Halo 3 the elites kinda twitched and wiggled when they got shot but hit animations and better death animations/ragdoll can go a long way in making the guns feel more powerful.

As much as I'd like to see a powerful level editor, I'm honestly thinking it's merely going to be forge 1.1. Looking at the map designs it looks like everything will be static with boxes you can move around. I'd still like to play Platypus creek (reach version of beaver) in Reach though.

Seeing your maps that you made with that editor from I think Farcry 2(?) was stunning.

 

[Kapura]

If you're looking for a tone to match COD or even GOW2 you'll be hard pressed to find it in Halo. Bungie apparently loves having completely epic scenarios at their hands, acknowledges it's what everyone is wanting, and then completely skips over it:
Halo 2:
What we expected - "Yes, we get to fight in the epic battle for Earth!"
What we got - "Yes, we get to fight the scouting party and leave before the main force arrives! Oh what's this? The battle is taking place?!! FINALL-- what?"
Halo 3:
What we expected - "Finally, the battle for Earth and the closing chapter to the Halo trilogy!"
What we got - "The battle is over. Earth lost. Now all we have left are two frigates and a bunch of long swords, which you will spend 1/3 of the game giving them an opening to shoot at a ship and deal no damage to it."

/bitter rant =[

IMO the situation makes the epic moments, not the canon behind it. Halo 3 especially has bunches of awesome, epic battles from the dam section at the end of the first level to the first chieftain encounter in crows nest to all of the scarab battles. Hunter battles have always been incredible too, especially in the first game (until you learned how to one-hit them with a pistol). With the new tech (40 enemies ) we can get even more epic moments even if it's not epic in the story.

 

[Phatcorns]

If you're looking for a tone to match COD or even GOW2 you'll be hard pressed to find it in Halo. Bungie apparently loves having completely epic scenarios at their hands, acknowledges it's what everyone is wanting, and then completely skips over it:
Halo 2:
What we expected - "Yes, we get to fight in the epic battle for Earth!"
What we got - "Yes, we get to fight the scouting party and leave before the main force arrives! Oh what's this? The battle is taking place?!! FINALL-- what?"
Halo 3:
What we expected - "Finally, the battle for Earth and the closing chapter to the Halo trilogy!"
What we got - "The battle is over. Earth lost. Now all we have left are two frigates and a bunch of long swords, which you will spend 1/3 of the game giving them an opening to shoot at a ship and deal no damage to it."

/bitter rant =[

You speak the utter and complete truth. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't played Gears of War 2 or Modern Warfare 2.

 

[Phatcorns]

IMO the situation makes the epic moments, not the canon behind it. Halo 3 especially has bunches of awesome, epic battles from the dam section at the end of the first level to the first chieftain encounter in crows nest to all of the scarab battles. Hunter battles have always been incredible too, especially in the first game (until you learned how to one-hit them with a pistol). With the new tech (40 enemies ) we can get even more epic moments even if it's not epic in the story.

I think he is also saying the situation makes the epic moments. It's just there aren't any epic situations. Have you played Modern Warfare where the US is attacked and you're assaulting the white house. Now THAT is epic. Halo's battles don't have any urgency to them whatsoever. It's just, shoot that guy, shoot this guy. They all sort of stand there.

 

[Major Williams]

You speak the utter and complete truth. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't played Gears of War 2 or Modern Warfare 2.

Not just those: Crysis, ME2, hell even Katamari. You got this epic sense of what was going on, and you felt how awesome your character really was.

Killing two hunters underneath a gun emplacement wasn't epic. Sure my shot to take them out was epic, but its place within the events of the game was just another stepping stone, and not a milestone.

Edit: Another thought: The two scarab battle should have felt epic. The last stand of the Voice of the Covenant (Truth) at the exact place where the rings were lighted before. Infected High Charity crash landing and Gravemind trying to get to YOU. A forerunner facility that controls ALL the Halo rings.

You had to figure it out yes, and that's what Bungie likes. But it never, ever felt epic. And it should have. That fell flat on its face I feel. The battle is awesome and epic, but the emotion and push simply isn't there.

 

[FourDoor]

i want to know this as well, i have been thinking about investing in a headset that features 5.1 sound also, reading about the astra, i noticed i need their mixamp too.

are there any other recommendations other than the astra one?

I just read the Turtle Beach manual and it looks like for my setup, I will need to convert the audio over to the toslink connection. The X41 at least has a toslink passthrough but that means I need to go buy that stupid toslink adapter for the 360 (if they even sell the the dongle separately without the hdmi cable). I am assuming all of the headset options out there all rely on a toslink optical connection which sucks for me since I really thought I had moved away from all optical connections. I need to do more research as I can't play Halo without surround sound anymore.

 

[big ander]

I think he is also saying the situation makes the epic moments. It's just there aren't any epic situations. Have you played Modern Warfare where the US is attacked and you're assaulting the white house. Now THAT is epic. Halo's battles don't have any urgency to them whatsoever. It's just, shoot that guy, shoot this guy. They all sort of stand there.

Personally, I like the final run in Halo 3 and CE more than the White House level in MW2.

 

[Kapura]

I think he is also saying the situation makes the epic moments. It's just there aren't any epic situations. Have you played Modern Warfare where the US is attacked and you're assaulting the white house. Now THAT is epic. Halo's battles don't have any urgency to them whatsoever. It's just, shoot that guy, shoot this guy. They all sort of stand there.

I agree that MW2 had some epic moments, but those were mostly just bits of geometry way off in the distance. I agree that there was certainly some effect there, that you're ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING, but the gameplay of those fights was pretty much shoot-duck, shoot-duck. Especially on higher difficulties. Halo has the ability to make even small skirmishes feel epic.

Example: First time you see a prowler on the level The Ark. You come out of the sterile forerunner cave onto a brightly lit crashed pelican. There are something like 8 dudes you have to dispatch. Then you walk over to the pelican, find a rocket launcher and ammo and thing to yourself "NOICE!" Then you hear something. Looking around, it's a metal boat leaping over the sand dunes towards you! And there's another one behind it! There is nothing in all of MW2 as satisfying as being able to rocket and blow up one of the prowlers before it can discharge it's furry payload.

 

[kylej]

Especially on higher difficulties. Halo has the ability to make even small skirmishes feel epic.

You still think shooting grunts and brutes feels epic? Feels like deja vu to me.

 

[Major Williams]

You still think shooting grunts and brutes feels epic? Feels like deja vu to me.

:lol
While short and simple, 'tis true.

The whole story of the Halo rings and what MC does is fascinating and epic and worthy of all of the praise it has received. But H3 didn't satisfactorily deliver on giving the player the experience of the moments that are kind of implied. It did deliver in a few areas though, for sure.

 

[Hydranockz]

I agree that MW2 had some epic moments, but those were mostly just bits of geometry way off in the distance. I agree that there was certainly some effect there, that you're ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING, but the gameplay of those fights was pretty much shoot-duck, shoot-duck. Especially on higher difficulties. Halo has the ability to make even small skirmishes feel epic.

This. COD just feels like aim and shoot sorta stuff. The line is hazy for me in regards to the training missions and every other one after it. Feels like all I shoot at are cardboard targets that pop up... infinitely at times. Halo gives the enemies distinct character. You feel like you have struck fear into the other brutes when you kill their chieftain. It... just works.

 

[Kapura]

You still think shooting grunts and brutes feels epic? Feels like deja vu to me.

By far and away better than shooting at the sixty trillion functionally identical enemies in MW2. You don't just shoot until dead, you need to use at least a minimal amount of strategy, whether it's throwing a stick at the highest ranking dude before charging in or using some plasma to strip shields before going for a headshot. So much more fun than Call of Duty, especially when you're fighting a dozen or so brutes at the same time.

 

[dilatedmuscle]

have you guys seen IGN's top 10 kills? #2 is awesome

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/734817/halo-3/videos/halokills_mnt_031010.html

 

[big ander]

have you guys seen IGN's top 10 kills? #2 is awesome

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/734817/halo-3/videos/halokills_mnt_031010.html

How does somebody walking on top of a grenade and sticking their own body beat what looked like an MLG FFA killimanjaro?
And why does IGN capture in a way that shows none of the HUD? I guess we're retreading, but those IGN top 10s are just so shitty.

 

[dilatedmuscle]

How does somebody walking on top of a grenade and sticking their own body beat what looked like an MLG FFA killimanjaro?
And why does IGN capture in a way that shows none of the HUD? I guess we're retreading, but those IGN top 10s are just so shitty.

LMAO when i saw the killimanjaro i thought to myself "this isnt #1? i doubt they will top this " lol

 

[The Librarian]

Example: First time you see a prowler on the level The Ark. You come out of the sterile forerunner cave onto a brightly lit crashed pelican. There are something like 8 dudes you have to dispatch. Then you walk over to the pelican, find a rocket launcher and ammo and thing to yourself "NOICE!" Then you hear something. Looking around, it's a metal boat leaping over the sand dunes towards you! And there's another one behind it! There is nothing in all of MW2 as satisfying as being able to rocket and blow up one of the prowlers before it can discharge it's furry payload.

I had always saved the rockets for what came after the prowlers. I'd hand it to a marine, grab a mongoose, made sure he was riding the passenger seat, and presto! Sweet carnage.

 

[Domino Theory]

I'm not expecting anymore Multiplayer information and media until early April.

Which is such a shame.

 

[Slightly Live]

1. Love the avatar. 2. Tag story: can we have it?

1. =) 2. Boasting about tag dodging and happily avoiding getting a tag in a thread about tags, bad decision.

And Urk, you deserve a nice pint of chilled booze for delivering us the Sandtrap article. Very interesting read and I really enjoyed the copious amount of images that accompany the piece.

 

[AwesomeSyrup]

I'm not expecting anymore Multiplayer information and media until early April.

Which is such a shame.

April isn't too far away. It sucks though because the beta is coming out right after finals but I know I'll be so excited for the beta that my studying will be nearly nonexistent.

 

[squidhands]

I had always saved the rockets for what came after the prowlers. I'd hand it to a marine, grab a mongoose, made sure he was riding the passenger seat, and presto! Sweet carnage.

You only need to save one rocket for the Marines. I'd always blast the first group, throw down the bubble shield and n00b combo'd the rest as they attacked the rest of the Marines. I never did use the Mongoose during that part; I had always loaded the Marines in the Prowler. I may have to try that next time.

 

[Lazslo]

I want this poster. Great pick for the visual ID!! From HaloWayPoint Tweet: (that word still never sounds right)

 

[feel]

1. =) 2. Boasting about tag dodging and happily avoiding getting a tag in a thread about tags, bad decision.

ooohh cut the crap, you wanted to get tagged, admit it :lol


nice avatar too, love that video/flash

 

[godhandiscen]

That Reach case will look ugly once the 360 branding in the box gets stamped. Hopefully they choose better colors for next gen.

 

[Domino Theory]

What the hell is Bungie "Aerospace"? http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/bungies-big/

 

[godhandiscen]

What the hell is Bungie "Aerospace"? http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/bungies-big/

Hopefully an SDK. Bungie's engine is the most solid on the 360. Also, maybe they could go multiplatform in the future since no SDK stays single platform, there is no money in that.

 

[Slightly Live]

What the hell is Bungie "Aerospace"? http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/bungies-big/

It's obviously the formal legal framework for the giant slingshot.

 

[Thagomizer]

Hopefully an SDK. Bungie's engine is the most solid on the 360. Also, maybe they could go multiplatform in the future since no SDK stays single platform, there is no money in that.

Let's not get too crazy now.

 

[Trasher]

April isn't too far away. It sucks though because the beta is coming out right after finals but I know I'll be so excited for the beta that my studying will be nearly nonexistent.

So you mean right after finals start then? That's perfect if it takes place as soon as you finish them. Perfect way to reward yourself!

Sadly, for me, the beta comes out on the same day that finals week starts for me... NOT GOOD.

 

[EazyB]

So you mean right after finals start then? That's perfect if it takes place as soon as you finish them. Perfect way to reward yourself!

Sadly, for me, the beta comes out on the same day that finals week starts for me... NOT GOOD.

Maybe ol' Bungie could hook you up by banning your console from the beta for a week.

 

[Princess Carl]

Let's not get too crazy now.

Its not crazy.

 

[Sai-kun]

Big slingshot confirmed!

 

[Blueblur1]

Clouds, mountains, sunsets... Blame marketing?

 

[soldat7]

Edit: Another thought: The two scarab battle should have felt epic. The last stand of the Voice of the Covenant (Truth) at the exact place where the rings were lighted before. Infected High Charity crash landing and Gravemind trying to get to YOU. A forerunner facility that controls ALL the Halo rings.

You had to figure it out yes, and that's what Bungie likes. But it never, ever felt epic. And it should have. That fell flat on its face I feel. The battle is awesome and epic, but the emotion and push simply isn't there.

Exactly.

 

[Randy5554]

Clouds, mountains, sunsets... Blame marketing?

More of the Blue-Orange marketing that was posted on another thread awhile back.

 

[Trasher]

Maybe ol' Bungie could hook you up by banning your console from the beta for a week.

I can see Luke doing that to me actually...

More of the Blue-Orange marketing that was posted on another thread awhile back.

Haha ever since that thread I notice that shit everywhere. It's true!

Btw, with all this headset talk, and with having recently vacuumed mine to its death, what would you guys recommend for around $100?

 

[AwesomeSyrup]

So you mean right after finals start then? That's perfect if it takes place as soon as you finish them. Perfect way to reward yourself!

Sadly, for me, the beta comes out on the same day that finals week starts for me... NOT GOOD.

Hey we can form some kind of support group for people struggling with balancing finals and the beta. I know I'll need it.

 

[les papillons sexuels]

What the hell is Bungie "Aerospace"? http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/bungies-big/

It's pretty obvious here, with the money that BUNGiE has amassed after developing the HALO franchise they are moving onto phase 7 of the bungie creed:

"Take over World. Shoot enemies into sun with giant slingshot."