[The Henery]

"The game is looking really sharp and fairly far along, which is always great to see this early. The reveal of [Yoink!] is going to be the 'Holy sh--' moment. That's going to be the star of our story, I think." -Matt Miller, Game Informer

So, what was YOINK!? Spartan op's?

[dragonelite]

So, what was YOINK!? Spartan op's?

Reveal of the Didact or forerunners?
The third faction seems more like a robotic enemy.
Maybe kinda like the Geth in Mass Effect the more there are in a area the smarter they become.

This looks a bit robotic to me


Please dont make a vent god 343I

[TheOddOne]

I wrote the details of Spartan Ops down and shared some thoughts.

[Striker]

lol, still find it hilarious that people act like 2 & 3 were really THAT different. Aside from the BR spread, their about as close as a game could get without heavily changing it like Reach did. I need to buy me a pair of those rose tinted Halo 2 glasses.

I'm not sure how to say this without going all over the place in the various subjects, but there's to many little things Halo 2 did, like flag and bomb contesting, that Bungie neglected in Halo 3. Sticky arming in Assault, and the planting which blended in all so well and were great reasons why it was my favorite gametype in the whole series. These were extremely vital and worthwhile in Team Skirmish games. And the larger things, like slow base speed, extremely floaty jumps which made you feel like Neil Armstrong, overpowered melee, equipment all over the place, bad weapon sandbox, etc. On that related note, gametypes. Instant arm Assault? Long ass return time in CTF? Territories? Land Grab? VIP? Those were the top default objective modes, and in my view, all were absolutely terrible. No CTF Classic, no 3 Plots, just did not have fun with many all around. MLG rectified these in their settings, and added on the base speed which I know you loved, because I'm quite confident MLG was your favorite playlist in H3. It was mine, too, but not because it made you into a faster Spartan and weighed down on the moon jumps, but it removed the awful AR and its melee smacks, it removed the redundant weapons like the Spiker, Plasma Rifle, and SMG, which nobody ever picked up. And because MLG removed equipment, which none of them were any good except the grav lift and were only there to cause frustration and slow down the game.

I do agree Reach is a completely different ball game, but H3 was pretty damn different. Just jumping around, shooting, and killing a couple guys in your first 30 secs. of gameplay will let you know immediately.

Deputy Moonman has the same idea... BTB and Team Objective, or Skirmish as it was properly called in 2, were my destinations. The best memories were from those two playlists, and both were all but neutered in 3.

[Dax01]

I wrote the details of Spartan Ops down and shared some thoughts.

Great summary, man.

[TheOddOne]

Great summary, man.

Thanks, bro.

[The Henery]

Reveal of the Didact or forerunners?

Weren't Forerunners basically confirmed anyway?

[Myyke]

I wrote the details of Spartan Ops down and shared some thoughts.

The thing that really surprises me is that it seems that we are essentially getting a second, albeit seemingly more compartmentalised, co-op campaign which I can only applaud 343 for undertaking. I like the fact that they are releasing the content gradually, seems like the best way to keep players coming back with the promise of something new, rather than losing the players who power through all available content fairly quickly and abandon ship until DLC hits months down the line.

I think Bungie put significant development resources into Firefight with Reach but I don't think that the number of people who actually ended up playing the mode regularly is proportional to the amount of time and effort they put into making it. Don't get me wrong, I love me some firefight when I can play without lag, but I think 343 have perhaps realised that it just wasn't optimal, both in terms of the content's development and ultimately player usage patterns.

[Dax01]

Weren't Forerunners basically confirmed anyway?

"Not at all." And given that it's a new group of enemies, with different classes – a "new Covenant" – I don't think it is the Forerunners.

[dragonelite]

Weren't Forerunners basically confirmed anyway?

Most people just assume Forerunners as the race.
Because of the novels and 343I linking them to Halo 4.
But we dont know if 343 will pit us against an organic Forerunner faction or a Artificial Forerunner Faction(Sentinels,War sphinxes etc)..

[kylej]

So, about that Halo 4 framerate?

[FL1Psyde]

Happy Easter everybody

[Overdoziz]

So, about that Halo 4 framerate?

Double digits.

[Myyke]

Happy Easter everybody

I'm spending the day at work, and on Zombie Jesus Chocolate Day of all days!

[kylej]

Double digits.

The framerate is telegraphed and in some ways, predictable. There is variation, however.

[ElzarTheBam]

I'm spending the day at work, and on Zombie Jesus Chocolate Day of all days!

My parents bought me this from asda yesterday.

[IMG]http://i.*****************/i/pix/2012/02/29/article-0-11F842BB000005DC-91_224x335.jpg[/IMG]

Glorious Belgium chocolate, all over my face, I wonder if this is what BlueNinja tastes like, hmmmm?

[thezerofire]

Bumper jumper is easily the best. Why would you pass up having everything you need to do in combat available without taking your thumbs off the sticks?

[Dax01]

Leaving a game of Team BRs on Citadel before it even starts. Never thought I'd see the day. smh

[Falagard]

The framerate is telegraphed and in some ways, predictable. There is variation, however.

Haha Classic!

[The Henery]

Remember when you and your buddies played Zombies during Halo CE LANS? No? Then why the fuck is it in the FFA playlist celebrating H:CE? Oh that's right they tied an achievement to Zombies on the Anni maps so badscrubs have even more of a reason to block vote for it.

The framerate is telegraphed and in some ways, predictable. There is variation, however.

Amazing

[Louis Wu]

So Marty was working on the music for Halo 4? Congratulation, TOO, you found out the secret composer! Anyway. That's not the tour I was talking about. He does another tour during the Halo 2-3 interim where he does a far funnier impression of Marty...and Marty walks in on him. As I said, can't find it on Youtube. :(

I realize you posted a google video link - but for anyone who wants a download version...

It was originally hosted by Microsoft - linked from here. That link no longer works, but we hosted both the original .mov file and a re-encoded .wmv, back in the day (both of those links still work).

On a totally different subject:

Fact of the matter is, we got burned by Reach. Badly. So badly that it's hard to accept almost all change.

Compared to other Halos, I think it's weaker, but compared to pretty much every other non-halo shooter, it's the best. When everything works correctly, it's brilliant.

These two comments were posted by the same person, about the same game, 25 minutes apart.

When your hyperbole gets this absurd, I can't listen to what you're saying any more. If you want to discuss something intelligently... USE REASONABLE WORDS.

[Dax01]

Thanks, Wu! Downloaded.

[Overdoziz]

When your hyperbole gets this absurd, I can't listen to what you're saying any more. If you want to discuss something intelligently... USE REASONABLE WORDS.

RIP Halo.

[Magni]

These two comments were posted by the same person, about the same game, 25 minutes apart. When your hyperbole gets this absurd, I can't listen to what you're saying any more. If you want to discuss something intelligently... USE REASONABLE WORDS.

Halo is so good that even at its worse, it's among the best console FPSs out there. That doesn't mean we shouldn't want the game to be at its best.

Halo wasting its potential (through bad gameplay and playlist decisions) hurts.

[Gui_PT]

Yeah happy Diabetes day

[Hydranockz]

These two comments were posted by the same person, about the same game, 25 minutes apart. When your hyperbole gets this absurd, I can't listen to what you're saying any more. If you want to discuss something intelligently... USE REASONABLE WORDS.

Badda bing badda BOOM :p

[GhaleonEB]

It seems to me like he's portraying anyone who's concerned as a cry baby.

That's now how I read it. "Fear is the enemy of progress. Just like in this amusing picture, for example."

Truth.

[Louis Wu]

Halo is so good that even at its worse, it's among the best console FPSs out there. That doesn't mean we shouldn't want the game to be at its best.

No, absolutely, you SHOULD want the game to be its best. (Even if what YOU think is its best is not what I think is its best.)

But you can't really expect people to engage you in a discussion about that if all of your comments boil down to "IT SUCKS!" and "IT'S FANTASTIC!" (look at those two quotes again) in nearly the same breath.

A lot of people on GAF dislike armor abilities. I get that. And they're disappointed that 343 would ignore their unhappiness and bring those armor abilities back for the next game. I get that, too. (They're disregarding the fact that this community is NOT the bulk of 343's market, but that's fine - almost all sub-communities do that.) What bothers me is that 343 has said, over and over and over again, that they've heard the complaints and concerns, and developed a game that addresses some of these - but the majority of posters are ignoring that and jumping to conclusions because they simply cannot imagine HOW someone could include armor abilities that they might live with.

And I fully agree that when all is said and done, and the game comes out, we MIGHT find that what we get is exactly what the complainers have been worried about. At THAT point, they'd have every right in the world to bitch and scream and vote with their wallets, and find another game to play. But who knows? Maybe they'll find something they actually like!

We're a bit over half a year from release. We're past the point where major features can be added or removed - things you're worried about are either IN THE GAME, or NOT IN THE GAME. (Hmm. I could be wrong about that, I guess. I don't think so, though.) All this yelling about 'preorder cancelled' and 'I'm never buying another 343 product again' is absurd - until you actually know what you're talking about. :(

That's all I was saying.

[Hypertrooper]

I can neither confirm or deny but I heard that there will be a video where Hitmonchan is dancing and I move some body parts.

Otherwise I was a guest with Mig, Duststorm and GrimIV on the Waypoint Modcast. Nothing special and I said nothing but yeah I just want to tell you that.

"Not at all." And given that it's a new group of enemies, with different classes – a "new Covenant" – I don't think it is the Forerunners.

Why? We literally know nothing about the Forerunners. Cryptun gave us some hindsight in the Forerunner society but not much. The warrior class can still be divided in different groups.

And Tashi: I should have retweeted a hilarious pic of me.

[Tawpgun]

I'll be honest, before Reach was announced I was getting tired of Halo 3's gameplay.

When Reach was announced I expected a radical departure. Something more like Ghost Recon with Spartans. Tactical as shit, but far more fast paced due to them being Spartans.

I would have been fine with that. I want Halo games to either do something completley different, or stay true to some tightly held Halo Design Staples. You can change some stuff around, but keep it true to Halo. Reach still played and felt like Halo, but it felt like a sloppier version of it.

Reach took a dump on a lot of Halo staples.
-Uneven Starting Abilities
-AA's like camo, jetpack, armor lock.
-Inconsistencies with bloom

And honestly, Halo 4 is looking to go down this path again.
I'll give 343 the benefit of the doubt with the "random" power weapon drops. Maybe it really predictable.
Maybe sprint won't fuck up the strafing and base speed of the spartans
But the fact that we have loadouts again? And gameplay changing "modifications" That you unlock through leveling up?

Bleh.

I'll still buy it, I'll still love it... but it feels like some of Halo's integrity is being lost. Not entirely its fault, more of CoD's fault and the new trends in shooters. Halo needs to be successful and you need to evolve with the times. Unfortunately the times suck.

[GhaleonEB]

Maybe it's because I'm older (though not yet Wu-old) and have gone through the Halo release cycle so many times (all but Halo 1, here on GAF). But I'm just weary of the kind of hyperbolic responses that Wu was just lamenting. I find I can't get worked up about the most objectionable thing I've read, because they are either devoid of context (implementation and balance, for starters) or not described adequately.

We know how this works: after the Game Informer details have been able to breathe, clarifications come. Podcasts, interviews, Bulletins, forum posts. And then finally, the game, at which point I'll be bitching right along with everyone if there are things I find objectionable (and there are sure to be). So I just don't understand the knee-jerk freakout cycle. I've been through it many times (and participated many times) and am content to simply wait for more information and then the game itself to worry.

I wrote the details of Spartan Ops down and shared some thoughts.

Two cynical responses, and then some positive thoughts:

One could interpret the "new missions after release" strategy as meaning they simply won't be done by the time the game ships. Or, there wasn't room on the disc for them.

Or (and I really like this one), the remaining modes are so ambitious, the dev schedule had to prioritize them to make sure they didn't stretch their resources out too far, and give the Ops missions the proper, focused attention post-ship. Which would be a very good thing.

Regardless, the post-release schedule is pretty neat. I enjoy unlocking content, but having new content scheduled and dropping regularly for a while post-release will be a lot of fun. I just hope there are at least a couple good missions on disc to tide us over, as I suspect I'm going to be all over this mode.

[Dax01]

Why? We literally know nothing about the Forerunners. Cryptun gave us some hindsight in the Forerunner society but not much. The warrior class can still be divided in different groups.

We only know of one – Prometheans – and neither Forerunner book has heavily implied different classes of fighting Forerunners. The GI information made it out to be a "new Covenant." I just don't see it.

[Overdoziz]

Remember Reach.

[Dax01]

There's seems to be a more up-to-date concept art of my desktop background, or is it a screenshot? The buildings look organic. Or is that just me?

[Hydranockz]

We only know of one – Prometheans –

;)

[ViewtifulJC]

Remember Reach.

I think 343 should hang that above their desks, should be the mantra behind this game.

[bobs...onGaf]

On a totally different subject: These two comments were posted by the same person, about the same game, 25 minutes apart. When your hyperbole gets this absurd, I can't listen to what you're saying any more. If you want to discuss something intelligently... USE REASONABLE WORDS.

His posts were certainly full of hyperbole but they echo my sentiments. Reach as a Halo game was a burn, thats not to say its a bad game, but as a Halo game it felt like a lot of what I enjoyed about Halo had been removed. Essentially while its a good game, to be it didnt feel like Halo.

If we take the GI article as black and white (which it certainly isnt) Halo 4 could be a brilliant game, one which I may enjoy, it would be quite the departure from why I enjoy Halo though and would almost feel like another I.P. I would enjoy it but be resentful that Halo has taken a direction I do not care as much for. That said, the GI article is far from clear, I am just talking in extremes here for the sake of the point I am trying to make. Halo Reach is a pretty good game in its own right, but to me feels like a poor Halo game.

One thing that kept me going back to Halo 3 when CoD4, WaW, MW2 BO and even Reach came out was the fact that everyone started off on an even footing, I am not a fan of AA's or Perks which add elements of rock paper scissors gameplay. With CoD while I enjoy those games immensely (I played a ton of Black Ops!) I enjoyed traditional Halo more.

For all I know the direction taken with Halo 4 is just fine, but if its as heavily influenced by CoD/ Battlefield as GI makes out then I reason that other directions for innovation could be taken which allow the core of Halo to remain intact.

We're a bit over half a year from release. We're past the point where major features can be added or removed - things you're worried about are either IN THE GAME, or NOT IN THE GAME. (Hmm. I could be wrong about that, I guess. I don't think so, though.) All this yelling about 'preorder cancelled' and 'I'm never buying another 343 product again' is absurd - until you actually know what you're talking about. :(

Halogaf will all be there day one, personally I will be there day one with nerves on edge to see how it plays, but I know I will be there day one lol.

[Stinkles]

I think 343 should hang that above their desks, should be the mantra behind this game.

Did I play you in a game of H3 yesterday? Either Team Slayer or SWAT?

[CyReN]

Happy Easter Everyone!



not mine

ps: EGL Halo will be on for awhile, great stuff.

[MrBig]

;)

Shh, you weren't supposed to notice

There's seems to be a more up-to-date concept art of my desktop background, or is it a screenshot? The buildings look organic. Or is that just me?

It's a different area. iirc those pillars are support structures arrange throughout the dyson sphere.

[Karl2177]

I'm reading this funny, and need a bit of clarification. Is multiplayer a part of Infinity or is Infinity a part of multiplayer?

[The Real Napsta]

Did I play you in a game of H3 yesterday? Either Team Slayer or SWAT?

If only there were a website that you could use to check that.

[Trey]

Due to sprint being a default ability in 4, I wouldn't be surprised if the control scheme (or at least an optional one) has sprint on the left stick click.

Doubt it.

Also, I don't agree that the general consensus is that Reach sucks and is a bad game.

headnod.gif

Halo 1, 2, 3 were good games. But the only one I would go back and play for any extended time is CE.

[GhaleonEB]

I'm reading this funny, and need a bit of clarification. Is multiplayer a part of Infinity or is Infinity a part of multiplayer?

Infinity is the fictional and structural wrapper for Multiplayer.

[Dax01]

It's a different area. iirc those pillars are support structures arrange throughout the dyson sphere.

How are the pillars support structures? Link to what? Isn't the "star" in the center of the entire thing?

[kylej]

I really hope all the mp existing in some giant ship doesn't mean it's Forge World v2. Do not sacrifice framerate for some boring canonical reasons or sense of scale please please please please please.

[Zeouterlimits]

I'm in two minds about Wu's post.
Yes, the hyperbole is absurd. It always is, and unfortunately, it always will be. And it's stronger than it has been previously because of feeling burned by Reach.

But people want to like the game, they want Halo 4 to be great. There are certain members who have strong reservations about what they have seen so far and expressed these reservations in a non-hyperbolic manner.
I don't think people should feel bad for reacting negatively to data they don't like, even at this stage in the year. People's hyperbole will always frustrate me, but there are plenty critical posts that exist in the thread without it.

I'm not sure where I stand. After the showcase a few weeks ago, 1up wrote an article where they described their fear that Halo 4 was going in a very COD direction and that was sad. I, based on the vidoc & previews disagreed with them and we had a discussion about it over twitter, they maintained they got a COD vibe.
Now we see this glut of information and part of me has to wonder if I was too quick to defend 343.
I'm not judging the game before it is out, I am commenting on the data I have before me.

[Stinkles]

I'm reading this funny, and need a bit of clarification. Is multiplayer a part of Infinity or is Infinity a part of multiplayer?

Infinity contains every aspect of MP, except campaign co-op.

Instead of seeing

Campiagn
Multiplayer


You will see:

Campaign
Infinity

With new and traditional modes under that umbrella. Infinity will have zero effect on the scale, size, content or appearance of MP spaces.

[ElzarTheBam]

I'm reading this funny, and need a bit of clarification. Is multiplayer a part of Infinity or is Infinity a part of multiplayer?

I thought infinity was the name of the hub/option, where matchmaking and spartan ops can be found.

Edit: unfairly beaten by a unholy combination of American and Scottish. : )

[MrBig]

I'm reading this funny, and need a bit of clarification. Is multiplayer a part of Infinity or is Infinity a part of multiplayer?

Infinity is the multilayer, according to the GI article. The multiplayer aspect of H4 takes place on the UNSC Infinity, and since they want to focus on the story driven aspect of the MP, they really want to drive it into peoples heads that the Spartans have a reason to be fighting eachother, and for them to be fighting in the (virtual) places that they are.

How are the pillars support structures? Link to what? Isn't the "star" in the center of the entire thing?

I'll try to find the section of the article that said it. I may be remembering completely wrong.