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[neoism]

you know, they can bring back armor lock and have 1000% bloom and i would still buy this game because it looks fucking amazing. i am completely amazed, never thought a halo game could look this good

it is about time though right... halo is the best franchise M$'s got.. About time it looks the part. Not saying 3 or Reach looks bad they look amazing. This game truly looks insane. 30fps LOCKED and its game of the forever.

 

[Overdoziz]

How is this running on a 360?! Wow.

Cinematically.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Do we have any cause to believe that 343i are going to do a better job narrative wise? As in, are there any known developers on board who might be able to change things around a bit?

Well we had Payton from 2008-2011. We have Frankie. We have Kevin. Maybe have Cocop/Voc too. And whoever else. All fictionheads.
So much of what they've talked about (giving the Chief's life and character a greater focus in the games, his relationship with Cortana, etc) has been around narrative.
Even if I disagree with some of their plot decisions, I have faith in their narrative chops/emphasis.

 

[ElzarTheBam]

it is about time though right... halo is the best franchise M$'s got.. About time it looks the part. Not saying 3 or Reach looks bad they look amazing. This game truly looks insane. 30fps LOCKED and its game of the forever.

I have got to say, you couldn't see it at first, but that really looks like jet fighter's helmet HUD, the detail is immense.

 

[indubitably]

The detail on Cortana is truly stunning, the only poor looking pic I could find was the first one of the cryo tube behind Cortana.

 

[Hitmonchan107]

I'm sure 343 is going handle the multiplayer well, but for now, my full hype rests in Campaign and Spartan Ops. (Silly name, but the concept has me foaming at the mouth. I'm hoping they'll make 15 to 20 missions, but three to five will launch with the game. I want each mission to receive the polish it deserves. I haven't read the Game Informer information, so I'm basing this off my limited knowledge of the mode.)

 

[.shin]

The textures on Chief's armor and the Elite itself are really bad imo.

 

[kylej]

Favorite Halogaffer, and least favorite (besides Dax)
KyleJ, for his relentless love of Halo: Reach. I know behind his snarky remarks is a love of the game.

 

[feel]

ZOMG love ya too WJD!

 

[WJD]

Well we had Payton from 2008-2011. We have Frankie. We have Kevin. Maybe have Cocop/Voc too. And whoever else. All fictionheads.
So much of what they've talked about (giving the Chief's life and character a greater focus in the games, his relationship with Cortana, etc) has been around narrative.
Even if I disagree with some of their plot decisions, I have faith in their narrative chops/emphasis.

The actual story has never been a problem for Halo though, just the way it gets told. Hoping for big changes in that department for 4.

 

[DarkChild]

There is one picture missing...Cortana with Chief.

 

[neoism]

The textures on Chief's armor and the Elite itself are really bad imo.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Nah, I spotted some very questionable bits on the Elite armour too.
Putting it down to it being early, but I was surprised honestly. Assume these would be supersampled perfection to hide stuff like that.

 

[Fracas]

I don't suppose Frankie or Ellis can say whether it's locked at 30 FPS, right? If not, I understand, the game still has a long way to go before you can call it "done" and whatnot.

 

[Sai-kun]

The textures on Chief's armor and the Elite itself are really bad imo.

I don't like the scaly look of the under armor, but the actual stuff above that looks awesome.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Nah, I spotted some very questionable bits on the Elite armour too.
Putting it down to it being early, but I was surprised honestly. Assume these would be supersampled perfection to hide stuff like that.

Gotta get that 30 fps, bro.

 

[.shin]

I admit, the game looks absolutely stunning. But the Elite's arm though...

 

[DarkChild]

Nah, I spotted some very questionable bits on the Elite armour too.
Putting it down to it being early, but I was surprised honestly. Assume these would be supersampled perfection to hide stuff like that.

Its normal. Every game has texture budget, and you can't expect miracles with 512 megs, its just where they cut it that matter.

 

[kylej]

I don't suppose Frankie or Ellis can say whether it's locked at 30 FPS, right? If not, I understand, the game still has a long way to go before you can call it "done" and whatnot.

Should be 60fps with occasional dips. Throw the superfluous mechs out of every MP level and bring that baby up. If COD can do it with unrelenting amounts of crazy shit in its levels, Halo MP can do it.

 

[DarkChild]

I don't suppose Frankie or Ellis can say whether it's locked at 30 FPS, right? If not, I understand, the game still has a long way to go before you can call it "done" and whatnot.

Every developer will say "30 locked" because 30 locked means game won't go above 30fps. GTA IV is unlocked 30 and it can go up to 40fps on 360, but can fall to 22fps as well.

 

[WJD]

I don't think my mind could deal with 60fps Halo.

 

[op_ivy]

I don't suppose Frankie or Ellis can say whether it's locked at 30 FPS, right? If not, I understand, the game still has a long way to go before you can call it "done" and whatnot.

iirc, framerates are typically one of the last hurdles. i'd imagine they are aiming for a locked 30, but in all likelyhood there may be some moments were it drops. hopefully nothing like the maw run or halsey's underground lab though...

 

[Zeouterlimits]

Its normal. Every game has texture budget, and you can't expect miracles with 512 megs, its just where they cut it that matter.

Oh I can see it being in the final game. Just surprised it's in these marketing shots, that's all.
Hey, I'm all for transparency, just surprised to see it.

 

[lybertyboy]

Should be 60fps with occasional dips. Throw the superfluous mechs out of every MP level and bring that baby up. If COD can do it with unrelenting amounts of crazy shit in its levels, Halo MP can do it.

I'll add a kylej edition of Halo 4 to the marketing plans. 3700fps running at 5p.

 

[NullPointer]

You're going to start off as a recruit, and proceed through the ranks. As you rank up, you'll unlock more abilities. You gain Spartan points, which you can use to purchase items to put in your loadouts... Players slowly unlock an array of weapons, armor abilities, and modifications for a soldier to bring into battle.

Please spin this in a positive light HaloGAF. I know the so-called perks need clarification but I didn't know until now that those unlocks included weapons and armor abilities.

 

[Tashi]

Just gimme locked multiplayer.

 

[Zeouterlimits]

I'll add a kylej edition of Halo 4 to the marketing plans. 3700fps running at 5p.

Could just put it out on pc.

 

[Hydranockz]

Should be 60fps with occasional dips. Throw the superfluous mechs out of every MP level and bring that baby up. If COD can do it with unrelenting amounts of crazy shit in its levels, Halo MP can do it.

I can't help but feel as though as the lifecycle of the 360 goes on, the chances of getting stable frames decreases. The way they are squeezing every drop out of the system really doesn't look to me as though they can guarantee a solid FPS.

 

[kylej]

I'll add a kylej edition of Halo 4 to the marketing plans. 3700fps running at 5p.

I played 9000+ games of sub-HD Halo this gen. Bring it on sir.

 

[MrBig]

Should be 60fps with occasional dips. Throw the superfluous mechs out of every MP level and bring that baby up. If COD can do it with unrelenting amounts of crazy shit in its levels, Halo MP can do it.

That kind of like comparing Crysis 1 to Oblivion. It just doesn't work that way.

 

[op_ivy]

Please spin this in a positive light HaloGAF. I know the so-called perks need clarification but I didn't know until now that those unlocks included weapons and armor abilities.

maybe there are near weapon duplicates (for example dmr/br) and you only unlock the second weapon after a specified milestone. the second weapon isnt exactly the same as the original, but fits basically the same role in the sandbox and allows a player to fine tune their loadout more precisely with how they play.

?

 

[TS x Massacre]

Please spin this in a positive light HaloGAF. I know the so-called perks need clarification but I didn't know until now that those unlocks included weapons and armor abilities.

The fact that you can still pick up weapons on map? hahah. No idea to be honest. We'll just have to see how it plays out. And maybe there's modes where everythings unlocked, like a traditional mode or something.

Also, I can't get over how pretty this game looks, may just get a new monitor so i can enjoy it in all it's glory.

maybe there are near weapon duplicates (for example dmr/br) and you only unlock the second weapon after a specified milestone. the second weapon isnt exactly the same as the original, but fits basically the same role in the sandbox and allows a player to fine tune their loadout more precisely with how they play.

?

Or this would be nice =)

 

[Shadders]

Please spin this in a positive light HaloGAF. I know the so-called perks need clarification but I didn't know until now that those unlocks included weapons and armor abilities.

I don't know if this is "positive", but it's possible you start with the BR and then unlock DMR, AR etc. later. You get the good shit first and just unlock options down the line.

I expect the perks will all have a bit of give and take to them, so you might get +10% shields, but that comes with a -15% run speed or something.

 

[Arnie]

Yeah, but I'd rather Halo not run at 600p-640p with low rez textures and simple geometry.

With regards to geometry there's 'simple' at one end of the scale and 'Orbital' at the other. That mech in particular looks to veer towards the latter. I'd rather the game consistently fell somewhere in the middle.

 

[kylej]

That kind of like comparing Crysis 1 to Oblivion. It just doesn't work that way.

What? Halo 3 or Reach doesn't look any better than COD imo. COD has way more insanity going on at all times with chopper gunners and dogs and rockets going off and all sorts of nonsense too. Halo stumbles while rendering grey blocks on a green field.

Yeah, but I'd rather Halo not run at 600p-640p with low rez textures and simple geometry.

I would rather it have simple geometry and low rez textures to get 60fps. Up-rez H2 Lockout and Midship to 720p, abstain from placing mechs inside them, and ship it. Sounds good to me.

 

[neoism]

I admit, the game looks absolutely stunning. But the Elite's arm though...

meh looks good to me.. owell I was wondering about that though. why his arm covered with armor. My eyes are shit anyway so no difference. Man Elites must look terrible naked.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Favorite HaloGaffer for a reason

 

[NullPointer]

maybe there are near weapon duplicates (for example dmr/br) and you only unlock the second weapon after a specified milestone. the second weapon isnt exactly the same as the original, but fits basically the same role in the sandbox and allows a player to fine tune their loadout more precisely with how they play.

?

OK, that sounds a bit more reasonable.

...I expect the perks will all have a bit of give and take to them, so you might get +10% shields, but that comes with a -15% run speed or something.

And now I'm back to hyperventilating again ;P

 

[Poker Face]

the screenshots... :')

 

[Computron]

Should be 60fps with occasional dips. Throw the superfluous mechs out of every MP level and bring that baby up. If COD can do it with unrelenting amounts of crazy shit in its levels, Halo MP can do it.

Here's an interesting fact.

I don't know about Reach, but in Halo 3, if you held on to the fast forward button in theatre, it would uncap the FPS and just draw as fast as it could simulate the game, i.e. physics, player movement, networking, etc... (Theatre actually simulates the game all over again, its not a video, obviosly)


So if you made a film with nothing moving on the map and hold fast forward you can see what its like to play at 60+ fps. It only starts to stutter when it has to simulate stuff moving or shooting on the map, so the xbox is more than capable of 60 fps halo, if you throw out everything else. (Not going to happen)

The camera moves super silky on valhalla at 60+ fps this way. try it sometime.

Too bad you can't record a normal speed game at this rate, since the gameplay animations and physics (outside of non gameplay effecting things like time-varying shaders like particle effects and swaying grass) is still only simulated at 30 times a second for the sake of syncing the gameplay and lowering saved film size.

 

[neoism]

I don't think my mind could deal with 60fps Halo.

60fps is stupid. one of the reason I quit playing COD. 30 is all the should ever go for. They should just LOCK it at 30. I hope Halo 6 is still 30 on 720, 60 just doesn't fit the game.

 

[zap]

The difference in what you, kyle and juices are doing now... and then... is number of players in the list. The divisions are distributions... fewer players in the list, mean fewer players in each division.

I've seen several folks say it's all about wins/losses now and ratings don't matter... I'm not sure where they pull that from, but from what I understand your daily ratings are what place you in a division. You are still compared to whom you are playing. If it were all about wins/losses then going undefeated would have you in Onyx - that's doesn't necessarily happen.

I don't think it takes any longer for trueskill to "work" in Arena. Rate poorly against bad kids and win (relative to others in the game)... and it will take longer to reach Onyx for sure. Rate highly and you should be seeing Onyx folks on your last day of rating. That scenario has been true for me every season I've played Arena... even this one. Kyle and I went in with just use two recently. It was my fifth day of ratings... and as expected, we matched against kids who were Onyx after our first game and got dumped on because we had a couple silver guys. Typically, I see Iron on the first, Bronze second, Silver third, Gold fourth, and Onyx fifth - depending on number of games and where my daily ratings ended the previous day. Both seasons I played I qualified in single digits in Onyx but as others, the number slid from lack of play.

If you want to hit Onyx quickly, it's almost better to go in without 4 heavy hitters so that you rank first or second every game on your team and maximize your ratings.

I know I am about 10 pages late to the party here, but Jeremiah and Urk specifically told us that it was Win/Loss ONLY that counted. Ratings were kept in as an indicator as to how well you played that day. If you win, but have a lower rating than everyone else, you still won. You (should) rank up eventually doing that.

In Juices' case, the game hasn't matched him against top players for unknown (trueskill) reasons - so he is only in Gold still.

I'm sure Fyre has a copy of the posts about Arena (were they on Optimatch?), but I am 99% sure ratings mean nothing now.

 

[Garrett 2U]

I would rather it have simple geometry and low rez textures to get 60fps. Up-rez H2 Lockout and Midship to 720p, abstain from placing mechs inside them, and ship it. Sounds good to me.

Lol.
The mech takes as much processing power as the conveyor belt from Elongation in Halo 2, stop using that as an example.

 

[Tawpgun]

Should be 60fps with occasional dips. Throw the superfluous mechs out of every MP level and bring that baby up. If COD can do it with unrelenting amounts of crazy shit in its levels, Halo MP can do it.

No.

Locked 30 fps > Dips in 60 fps.

The dips is what your eye picks up on. When I'm playing Halo for a while it seems smooth as hell (until forgeworld comes up) Then I play CoD and it feels off until I get used to it. When I go back to Halo it feels choppy as hell.

I'd take perfect locked 30 over 60 with dips anyday.

Anyway.......



I want to mention something about animations, specifically death animations. I feel like there's no ragdolls anymore in Reach. Everytime you kill someone they go into a preset animation. It looked awesome the first time, but not its just lame. I saw some Halo 2 and 3 gameplay and I REALLY miss that flip spartans used to do if you headshotted them. Seems like that doesn't happen as much anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5VmyrHNEmFI#t=74s

Here is a short example. Sometimes the flips were bigger.

 

[senador]

I'm counting on non-locked 30fps and framerate stutters here and there. Wouldn't Halo without it. Prove me wrong 343.

 

[kylej]

I mean

or

 

[zap]

60fps is stupid. one of the reason I quit playing COD. 30 is all the should ever go for. They should just LOCK it at 30. I hope Halo 6 is still 30 on 720, 60 just doesn't fit the game.

Wait... what?

 

[Computron]

I want to mention something about animations, specifically death animations. I feel like there's no ragdolls anymore in Reach. Everytime you kill someone they go into a preset animation. It looked awesome the first time, but not its just lame. I saw some Halo 2 and 3 gameplay and I REALLY miss that flip spartans used to do if you headshotted them. Seems like that doesn't happen as much anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5VmyrHNEmFI#t=74s

Here is a short example. Sometimes the flips were bigger.

I miss T-bagging actually moving the corpse.

T-bag you off a cliff.

They lowered network overhead in Reach by not syncing the corpses, that's why when someone tags you they might not be where they should be.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

60fps is stupid. one of the reason I quit playing COD. 30 is all the should ever go for. They should just LOCK it at 30. I hope Halo 6 is still 30 on 720, 60 just doesn't fit the game.

 

[kylej]

60fps is stupid. one of the reason I quit playing COD. 30 is all the should ever go for. They should just LOCK it at 30. I hope Halo 6 is still 30 on 720, 60 just doesn't fit the game.

Early and very strong candidate for HaloGAF's 2012 BK Post of the Year.