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[GM Bullfrog]

Is it Prepare to drop? I may get on xbox for that.

It is.

 

[GhaleonEB]

These question gets my speculation engine running

If all the MP levels are shared with campaign, why is this one special? Why does it need a special gametype to test it on? and Why do we have a gametype that's existing for purely testing purposes?

quick possibilities

1) NT1 will be an even larger scaled Gametype (8 vs 8) to test bigger games
2) NT1 is testing some elements related to the networking of some other undisclosed gametype, that relies on spaces closer to the single player experience, IE, it's using the networking code from firefight instead of normal networking code.
3) NT1 was created with the ingame user tools that haven't been revealed yet and they want to see how the networking performs on those.
EDIT
4) Wizman's idea above mine .

I wanted to come back to this. It really does sound like Generator Defense/NT1 is intended to test something other than strictly MP. There's Firefight, and from the leaked menu a while back, Activities. In either case, they seem like the kind of gametypes that would involve additional AI opponents on the field. Perhaps they're testing, as you said, a different set of net code, and a gametype that's not so much destined for MP but Firefight (destroy generators against an entrenched Covenant force). They could even be simulating additional AI on the battle field, but not display them.

Either way, it's clear they're testing something other than just MP with NT1.

A million times this. Dear lord. I just want to be able to turn on developer commentary and wander around to the soothing sounds of Sage explaining exactly how and why everything got polished to such a fine sheen of awesome and win.

At PAX, Lars mentioned that he wanted to include tons of skulls hidden around the game in ODST, each of which would trigger a developer commentary entry, but they ran out of time. IIRC, he hinted that he was wanting to add the idea to Reach. I hope that makes it in.

 

[Hydranockz]

People are seriously bitching about graphics?? Come on guys if any of you don't notice the massive upgrade from Halo 3 to this you are just plain blind.

Does that really surprise you? They'll find anything to complain about after all

 

[Miggytronz]

People are seriously bitching about graphics?? Come on guys if any of you don't notice the massive upgrade from Halo 3 to this you are just plain blind.

this

 

[Slightly Live]

A million times this. Dear lord. I just want to be able to turn on developer commentary and wander around to the soothing sounds of Sage explaining exactly how and why everything got polished to such a fine sheen of awesome and win.

That particular feature seems to be a signature Valve game feature but one I'd love to see Bungie rip off in the most direct way possible.

At PAX, Lars mentioned that he wanted to include tons of skulls hidden around the game in ODST, each of which would trigger a developer commentary entry, but they ran out of time. IIRC, he hinted that he was wanting to add the idea to Reach. I hope that makes it in.

Do want.

 

[JaggedSac]

They could even be simulating additional AI on the battle field, but not display them.

I was going to post something along these lines. Sounds like this could mean campaign, firefight, and MP are going to be using the same networking systems. Hopefully this means matchmade campaign and firefight(we have some quotes that hint this) are now possible.

 

[metareferential]

I wanted to come back to this. It really does sound like Generator Defense/NT1 is intended to test something other than strictly MP. There's Firefight, and from the leaked menu a while back, Activities. In either case, they seem like the kind of gametypes that would involve additional AI opponents on the field. Perhaps they're testing, as you said, a different set of net code, and a gametype that's not so much destined for MP but Firefight (destroy generators against an entrenched Covenant force). They could even be simulating additional AI on the battle field, but not display them.

Either way, it's clear they're testing something other than just MP with NT1.


At PAX, Lars mentioned that he wanted to include tons of skulls hidden around the game in ODST, each of which would trigger a developer commentary entry, but they ran out of time. IIRC, he hinted that he was wanting to add the idea to Reach. I hope that makes it in.

You kind Sir are pushing my hype beyond legal boundaries.

I love you. I love you all. Bring on the beta. :lol

 

[big ander]

I wanted to come back to this. It really does sound like Generator Defense/NT1 is intended to test something other than strictly MP. There's Firefight, and from the leaked menu a while back, Activities. In either case, they seem like the kind of gametypes that would involve additional AI opponents on the field. Perhaps they're testing, as you said, a different set of net code, and a gametype that's not so much destined for MP but Firefight (destroy generators against an entrenched Covenant force). They could even be simulating additional AI on the battle field, but not display them.

Either way, it's clear they're testing something other than just MP with NT1.


At PAX, Lars mentioned that he wanted to include tons of skulls hidden around the game in ODST, each of which would trigger a developer commentary entry, but they ran out of time. IIRC, he hinted that he was wanting to add the idea to Reach. I hope that makes it in.

NT1 was maybe the most interesting part of the article.

And that Lars scoop: =O

 

[bobs...onGaf]

It would be REALLY jarring for a player who didnt know about the feature though. Imagine picking up a ingame object in any game and then hearing a godly voice - would scare the hell out of you :lol

 

[Kibbles]

Pretty disappointed in the lack of first person screenshots though, I always find those to be the best.

 

[nilam01]

People are seriously bitching about graphics?? Come on guys if any of you don't notice the massive upgrade from Halo 3 to this you are just plain blind.

It's partly bungie's fault for showing that VGA trailer first. Bungie never seem to reach their target renders. If there wasn't such a big graphic hype prior to the reveal it wouldn't take so much flak.

 

[metareferential]

It's partly bungie's fault for showing that VGA trailer first. Bungie never seem to reach their target renders. If there wasn't such a big graphic hype prior to the reveal it wouldn't take so much flak.

Well, the campaign ViDoc Uno already showed that the graphics in Reach are up to that level of quality.

Of course the AA in the vga teaser was way beyond actual render capabilities, but the overall quality in the campaign is already there.

 

[dslgunstar]

Looking at some of these images of high tech military installations and thinking about the Laser debate, I had an idea for how it could be implemented, at least for some objective gametypes.

This is a prequel, and I don’t know my Halo fiction, but say it was in the REALLY early prototype phase at this point in the cannon. Like only top tier R&D people have access. That would mean it would be held under pretty intense security at a military installation.

So what if you had a map, indoor/outdoor at one of these military installations, and in order to get the laser, you had to hit like a series of switches or something. The same way you have to hit a switch to lower the barricades in Last Resort or High ground, but timed so that teams had to coordinate. In order to get your hands on the thing you have to a) fight your way to it, b) remove yourself from immediate combat and temporarily put your team at a disadvantage, and c) use teamwork to get at it (one guy to work the switch, one guy to make the run for it).

This is all assuming the Laser is as powerful as it was in Halo 3. It obviously has to be worth the effort needed to acquire it. It would take some weapon and map design balancing to make sure that players don’t just say ‘screw it’ but not so easy that it once again dominates the map.

Other games have incorporated this kind of map design into their multiplayer, but never Halo.

 

[Domino Theory]

Damn, those 4 maps are awesome. I was initially worried about the vast amount of verticality on SwordBase, but the interview and screens calmed me down. Powerhouse does look like it'll be the next High Ground (only a lot better). Can't wait.

Also, NT1 is...interesting. I'm also guessing that the "new" map that GTTV will reveal next week is Boneyard to the fullest extent along with Invasion.

And wtf is Stockpile?

 

[InvincibleAgent]

Get the early intel on most of the multiplayer maps featured in the Halo: Reach Beta.

So there are 5-7 maps in the beta

 

[urk]

So there are 5-7 maps in the beta

Nah.

 

[GhaleonEB]

So there are 5-7 maps in the beta

They only detail three of the four.

 

[feel]

People are seriously bitching about graphics?? Come on guys if any of you don't notice the massive upgrade from Halo 3 to this you are just plain blind.

Seriously? The game will be the tits, the ultimate halo, GOTF, or whatever, but let's not get carried away. Models, particle effects, and etc are miles better, but these MP environments on the technical side don't look much better than the stuff we saw in Halo 3 DLC. But like I said, as long as this game has better IQ (still not confirmed sadly) it's all good since to me Halo 3 was beautiful, just like these new maps are.

 

[InvincibleAgent]

2 concept arts, a setting description and the fact that it is the vehicle-heavy map don't count as "detail"?

 

[Wizman23]

I wanted to come back to this. It really does sound like Generator Defense/NT1 is intended to test something other than strictly MP. There's Firefight, and from the leaked menu a while back, Activities. In either case, they seem like the kind of gametypes that would involve additional AI opponents on the field. Perhaps they're testing, as you said, a different set of net code, and a gametype that's not so much destined for MP but Firefight (destroy generators against an entrenched Covenant force). They could even be simulating additional AI on the battle field, but not display them.

Either way, it's clear they're testing something other than just MP with NT1.


At PAX, Lars mentioned that he wanted to include tons of skulls hidden around the game in ODST, each of which would trigger a developer commentary entry, but they ran out of time. IIRC, he hinted that he was wanting to add the idea to Reach. I hope that makes it in.

Good call. I keep forgetting about Firefight with all this wealth of information we keep getting each week. It just seems funny that Bungie is telling us that "Generator Defense" may not ship with the retail game. This to me means that whatever generator defense is a cover up for will be something huge, epic, and awesome in the retail version

 

[ManCannon]

There is a lot he can elaborate on, though.

Suggestions? Questions? Do share, help a brother out. What elaboration would you like? (note: Invasion/Boneyard is unfortunately off limits as it's committed elsewhere and gametypes in general are outside the scope for this week - you'll learn more about those next week!)

 

[metareferential]

Firefight!

Ok, not beta-related, but still.

xD

 

[Domino Theory]

Suggestions? Questions? Do share, help a brother out. What elaboration would you like? (note: Invasion/Boneyard is unfortunately off limits as it's committed elsewhere and gametypes in general are outside the scope for this week - you'll learn more about those next week!)

Gameplay videos coming this week or do we have to wait until next week?

 

[ManCannon]

They only detail three of the four.

Technically 3 actual multiplayer maps and 1 special test bed.
Hopefully people enjoy Generator Defense as much as I have and we can rally to convince the boys to include it in the final game (with a little bit o' final polish and tweaking). (SHISHKA I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS)

 

[Nutter]

Speculation time.

Invasion = Versus[L4D]/Firefight in 1 mode.

Control 6 Elites, along with "other" AI controlled jackals, grunts, hunters thrown in the mix against 6 spartans.

 

[ManCannon]

Gameplay videos coming this week or do we have to wait until next week?

Video is still a little bit off. We're still building up.. someone nailed it already, map shots this week, 'action shots' next week with more details on gametypes and then on next Friday's GTV you'll see some footage of Boneyard and Invasion along with some details. A flood of footage is still a little ways off though.

 

[Thagomizer]

Video is still a little bit off. We're still building up.. someone nailed it already, map shots this week, 'action shots' next week with more details on gametypes and then on next Friday's GTV you'll see some footage of Boneyard and Invasion along with some details. A flood of footage is still a little ways off though.

:O

Zombies to use Flood models confirmed!

Spoiler

Why wasn't done for Halo 3? It seems like such an obvious thing.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Video is still a little bit off. We're still building up.. someone nailed it already, map shots this week, 'action shots' next week with more details on gametypes and then on next Friday's GTV you'll see some footage of Boneyard and Invasion along with some details. A flood of footage is still a little ways off though.

*flexes*

Suggestions? Questions? Do share, help a brother out. What elaboration would you like? (note: Invasion/Boneyard is unfortunately off limits as it's committed elsewhere and gametypes in general are outside the scope for this week - you'll learn more about those next week!)

You have an overhead view of Powerhouse. I'd love to see the overhead views of Sword Base and Overlook to get a better feel for the layouts.

Do these maps have any major features on each (ie, gates triggered by switches)? It was mentioned after Marcus did a recent fly-through of Powerhouse behind closed doors that it had destructable walls.

During the fly-through I got to see the interior of the power station, filled with corridors and lit walls (which can be shot and destroyed).

Is destructibility a feature in other areas of the map? Or other Beta maps? How will we distinguish which elements can be destroyed? Is the destruction more akin to Zanzibar in Halo 2, where odd bits of the map get knocked off, or is this a significant gameplay feature?

 

[Domino Theory]

Video is still a little bit off. We're still building up.. someone nailed it already, map shots this week, 'action shots' next week with more details on gametypes and then on next Friday's GTV you'll see some footage of Boneyard and Invasion along with some details. A flood of footage is still a little ways off though.

Cool beans, almost there. So next week is the gametype blow-out...what does that leave for the week after? And after that? Hehe (not sure if you can answer those, but it is peculiar what's left to show off after next week).

 

[InvincibleAgent]

:O

Zombies to use Flood models confirmed!

Spoiler

Why wasn't done for Halo 3? It seems like such an obvious thing.

Would be funny if their HUD was all messed up

 

[electricpirate]

Suggestions? Questions? Do share, help a brother out. What elaboration would you like? (note: Invasion/Boneyard is unfortunately off limits as it's committed elsewhere and gametypes in general are outside the scope for this week - you'll learn more about those next week!)

If you can't guess from my wild speculation on overlook, I'd love to hear some more about what it's specifically testing.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Technically 3 actual multiplayer maps and 1 special test bed.
Hopefully people enjoy Generator Defense as much as I have and we can rally to convince the boys to include it in the final game (with a little bit o' final polish and tweaking). (SHISHKA I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS)

What are the current reasons for Generator Defense possibly not being in the final release?

 

[NJ Shlice]

Boneyard's size can be comparitive to what previous Halo maps?

 

[Thagomizer]

Would be funny if their HUD was all messed up

You could also force the player to spawn a sword, reskin it into a Combat Form arm (the golf club proves that this possible and probably not particularly difficult, as it was done as a one-map gag) give it unlimited ammo, and make it unable to switch out, and you'll have an arm whip.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Cool beans, almost there. So next week is the gametype blow-out...what does that leave for the week after? And after that? Hehe (not sure if you can answer those, but it is peculiar what's left to show off after next week).

Playlists, videos, vidoc, final Beta feature set (file sharing, saved films, etc.).

 

[Stormtrooper30]

Suggestions? Questions? Do share, help a brother out. What elaboration would you like? (note: Invasion/Boneyard is unfortunately off limits as it's committed elsewhere and gametypes in general are outside the scope for this week - you'll learn more about those next week!)

Will we finally be able to shoot ligts out in MP? It was promised in Halo 2 but never delivered.

New maps look awesome. Not sure that I want another Longshore-ish type map aesthetically, but it sounds fun. The fact that Sword Base (please dont be the final name) is a combination of Prisoner and Boarding Action is awesome. Overlook and PowerHouse also look great.

Also, :lol at this quote:

Will those that like the classic, small and enclosed maps like Rat Race find anything up their alley in the beta or beyond?

 

[Domino Theory]

Boneyard's size can be comparitive to what previous Halo maps?

They said it's the biggest map they've ever done so I'd imagine it's at least bigger than Sandtrap (since that's what they said about Sandtrap when H3 was coming out).

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Will we finally be able to shoot ligts out in MP? It was promised in Halo 2 but never delivered.

I wouldn't count on it. If they talked about it in H2 it means they gave it thought, maybe tested it, and it wasn't a go. Really you might as well not put any lights on any maps because little kids will just shoot them out at the beginning of each match.

I don't want to play in darkness. :lol

 

[Striker]

Hoping Reach launches with lots and lots of maps. Thinking around 15-16. We got little for Halo 2/3 around eleven or so. And including that amount, we got little BTB variants.

These names all seem to strike me as codenames.

Bone-yard
Sword-base
Power-house
Over-look

Boneyard and Powerhouse sound ok, but the others, meh.

EDIT

Like this, may mean the do-away with invisible walls:

One of the ways we do that is that we actually have a warning system now. If they're getting into a location where we don't want them to be -- or where we know is a really bad position for a sniper with a jet pack – we tell them 'Hey, you have 10 seconds to get out of here and if you don't we're going to kill you.' That's pretty cool. As designers, that's giving us the opportunity to say if you try to get on top of Overlook or way up in the mountains in Powerhouse, we may let you get there but you won't get to stay there alive for very long.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

They said it's the biggest map they've ever done so I'd imagine it's at least bigger than Sandtrap (since that's what they said about Sandtrap when H3 was coming out).

Hopefully it isn't as bland, and boring as Sandtrap. Even though it does have a very fitting name, I really feel like I can't escape the boredom when I play on it.

 

[Shishka]

(SHISHKA I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS)

Reading what? *innocent*

Spoiler

Gen Defense is awesome. If we don't get it, I want something like it.

We'll probably be able to explain why it's currently slated only for Network Test 1 closer to the release of the full game.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Hoping Reach launches with lots and lots of maps. Thinking around 15-16. We got little for Halo 2/3 around eleven or so. And including that amount, we got little BTB variants.

These names all seem to strike me as codenames.

Bone-yard
Sword-base
Power-house
Over-look

Boneyard and Powerhouse sound ok, but the others, meh.

This is my biggest complaint.

We need a mixture of different sounding names! Not four names that can be broken into two component words each! "Sword-base" is particularly bad.

P.S. Chances Boneyard is influenced by Burial Mounds?

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Reading what? *innocent*

Spoiler

Gen Defense is awesome. If we don't get it, I want something like it.

We'll probably be able to explain why it's currently slated only for Network Test 1 closer to the release of the full game.

Understandable, can't wait to play it and at least glad to hear that something like it is still wanted if it doesn't make it in. The more objective game types the better.

 

[Hydranockz]

These names all seem to strike me as codenames.

Bone-yard
Sword-base
Power-house
Over-look

or...

Bone-base.
Power-yard.
Over-house.
Sword-look.

Better... or worse?

 

[Shake Appeal]

It's cool because it's built for four on four Slayer, which I think is all of our favorite game type, so we play a ton on that map.

Good to know Bungie are among the enlightened.

 

[InvincibleAgent]

Y'all are crazy. Sword Base is a badass name.

 

[Devin Olsen]

Technically 3 actual multiplayer maps and 1 special test bed.
Hopefully people enjoy Generator Defense as much as I have and we can rally to convince the boys to include it in the final game (with a little bit o' final polish and tweaking). (SHISHKA I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS)

Not a question, just a comment...

I think it is awesome that you guys have decided to include a game-type that you're so uncertain about... I actually mean that.

Gives it an extra 'beta like' feel

<3

 

[urk]

*flexes*


You have an overhead view of Powerhouse. I'd love to see the overhead views of Sword Base and Overlook to get a better feel for the layouts.

Sword Base would be really tough to comprehend looking at it from the top down. Five floors, yo.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

Will we finally be able to shoot ligts out in MP? It was promised in Halo 2 but never delivered.

New maps look awesome. Not sure that I want another Longshore-ish type map aesthetically, but it sounds fun.

I don't know if it's really worth the effort to put in breakable lights. It sounds like a cool idea when brought up in conversation, but what would it truly bring to the game? That is, of course, unless shooting a grouping of lights out will throw an area into complete darkness where your helm's spotlight is the only means of seeing anything.


And ditto on the "Longshore-ish" looking map. It's probably not fair to judge it based on its appearance alone, but I think Longshore didn't really jive too well with a lot of people. So seeing a map in a similar setting gets me concerned even though I know the two maps are gong to be completely different.

Sword Base would be really tough to comprehend looking at it from the top down. Five floors, yo.

We could always let Dax figure it out!

 

[Kibbles]

EDIT

Like this, may mean the do-away with invisible walls:

That's awesome. With unlimited health in custom games or something, I hope we can go explore.