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[AllIsOneIsNone]

Listen guys who are usually putting forth effort to expand peoples' understanding of FPS design, I think what you're doing is nihilistic. And your "ironic humor" is just outing yourselves as an emotional children.

You don't expand people's minds by turning against everything with sarcastic reproach. You expand people's minds by exploring ideas with them in a clear, concise and cooperative manner. Constructive criticism requires compromise.

It's fine to be frustrated and vent a little if a franchise isn't going the way you want it to, but if you think "ironic" complaints are going to do anything to change a game of this size, then of course you're going to be let down. It's a self deprecating attitude. And I'm not talking about you, if that wasn't clear.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Lets just say my times in the warthog haven't been too fun

I go for the tank or Gauss hog (which should really be removed from Exile). A friend and I racked up something like 35 kills in one gauss hog rampage. With the tank I've gotten a few 15+ kill streaks.

I kill vehicles right away. The general population however...

 

[HollovVpo1nt]

There isn't a FOTUS code in the LE. It only comes with the LE Halo 4 Xbox.

Ah I see.

 

[Garrett 2U]

My post was saying this: if adding a global ordnance-style rotation to vehicles is a very bad idea, what makes is a good idea with power weapons? It is, at best, not as bad an idea. Which is why it should have stopped dead right there.

A lot of the power weapons are interchangeable in function, so it doesn't matter which similar weapon spawns.
Scattershot vs shotgun
Sniper rifle vs beam rifle.. vs binary rifle (sorta)
Rockets vs incendiary cannon

That redundancy (or variation) doesn't necessarily exist in the vehicles.

Although I really dislike the random spawn locations, there needs to be some sort of heads up to where a weapon is going to spawn beforehand.

 

[Diprosalic]

After 10 days i have come to the conclusion that halo 4 is an utter disaster. The sp is boring as fuck, the mp is a bad joke and spartan ops is just terrible.

I can't take a reviewer who gave this POS more than 6 points seriously.

 

[AllIsOneIsNone]

I'm honestly slightly confused about global ordnance still...I guess I haven't really thought about it. All the power weapons start in the same place, correct? Past that they spawn at random only once or twice a game. I just haven't had that much of a problem with it.

 

[Tashi]

After 10 days i have come to the conclusion that halo 4 is an utter disaster. The sp is boring as fuck, the mp is a bad joke and spartan ops is just terrible.

I can't take a reviewer who gave this POS more than 6 points seriously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c

 

[enzo_gt]

Mission 3 (Hacksaw). Grab rockets at the starting spawn, run to the back of the center structure, kill em, reload and repeat.

The end of Chapter 2 in Episode 1 has a couple Hunters at the end. I know there's another chapter in Episode 2 with them in it, however I forgot which one it was, or if it's shorter than Ch. 2 Ep. 1. I've been needing to get this challenge done too.

EDIT: Hacksaw. (Thanks Havok).

Thanks guys!

 

[Havok]

http://www.polygon.com/forums/halo-4/2012/11/4/3601370/halo-4-multiplayer-map-callouts

Some of these callouts are hilarious. Who is going to say "they're in the control center guys!" when playing on Exile? I'll continue to say top mid as always.

As for the Adrift issue, it's just that the sides are not easily distinguishable at a glance. Both lift hallways are a bit dark, the top hallways are indistinguishable, both bases are a bit orange, though the lighting is different enough that I could tell them apart if I saw them side-by-side. The lower hallways are well-distinguished, if I'm remembering them right, but that's about it.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

After 10 days i have come to the conclusion that halo 4 is an utter disaster. The sp is boring as fuck, the mp is a bad joke and spartan ops is just terrible.

I can't take a reviewer who gave this POS more than 6 points seriously.

Alright then. Good to know. Sorry to hear, but at least you'll get $40 from GameStop!

Also this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c

 

[Trey]

Not really. With power weapons galore and plasma pistol/grenades in loadouts, vehicles outside the scorpion, gauss, banshee and mantis can get like 4 kills max before dying.

Are you being facetious? You listed more than half of the vehicles, and in your mind the remainder can get you four kills thereabout. How does that refute my argument?

If you draw a spectrum, sure, they're at different points on the spectrum. But the argument that one damages the game to a lesser degree than the other is not a very persuasive argument.

My post was saying this: if adding a global ordnance-style rotation to vehicles is a very bad idea, what makes is a good idea with power weapons? It is, at best, not as bad an idea. Which is why it should have stopped dead right there.

It doesn't hurt the game, it hurts the classical interpretation of competition in Halo. To you that is one in the same, so you feel Halo is hampered thus, but as many have shown, people like those changes. They like Halo 4. Their opinion and that kind of game play is no less legitimate than your opinion and what you feel Halo should be - and what it was. Which is fine, we all have opinions.

It comes down to the fact that there is a game you want to play, and there is a game other people want to play. The silver lining is that these two factions agree on the base game play, which is the most identifying factor of Halo. 343 can either appeal to one at the expense of the other, or try to appeal to both.

 

[Tashi]

Some of these callouts are hilarious. Who is going to say "they're in the control center guys!" when playing on Exile? I'll continue to say top mid as always.

As for the Adrift issue, it's just that the sides are not easily distinguishable at a glance. Both lift hallways are a bit dark, the top hallways are indistinguishable, both bases are a bit orange, though the lighting is different enough that I could tell them apart if I saw them side-by-side. The lower hallways are well-distinguished, if I'm remembering them right, but that's about it.

Adrift was a fucking maze to me until we played a CTF game on it yesterday. It just clicked out of nowhere. So weird.

 

[AllIsOneIsNone]

Adrift was a fucking maze to me until we played a CTF game on it yesterday. It just clicked out of nowhere. So weird.

It's my favorite map. Makes for the most interesting encounters I think.

 

[Havok]

Adrift was a fucking maze to me until we played a CTF game on it yesterday. It just clicked out of nowhere. So weird.

Having the flag indicator to help orient yourself helps a ton with that map in particular, I've found. Adrift is one of my favorite CTF maps now, despite the weird spawning issues that can pop up.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Adrift was a fucking maze to me until we played a CTF game on it yesterday. It just clicked out of nowhere. So weird.

I thought I would hate CTF there, but it's actually quite nice. If the other team isn't paying attention you can mancannon your way to a win pretty quick.

 

[Tashi]

I like it for CTF as well. Slayer on the other hand...not so much

 

[Garrett 2U]

I like it for CTF as well. Slayer on the other hand...not so much

Such a camp fest in Slayer.
And it can become that way in CTF.

 

[BigShow36]

Not really. With power weapons galore and plasma pistol/grenades in loadouts, vehicles outside the scorpion, gauss, banshee and mantis can get like 4 kills max before dying.

And why should simply obtaining a vehicle guarantee you ANY kills, much less 4 minimum? What, from an actual gameplay and balance point of view, justifies overpowered vehicles?

 

[IHaveIce]

Wow the lag in this game is terrible.

Every second game is unplayable.


Also does anyone know how you unlock the Locus helmet without preordering? .. Is it tied to any commendation?

EDIT: Adrift for CTF? come on the flag timer makes it almost impossible to get your flag back against a decent team

 

[ElzarTheBam]

Adrift is great for CTF and King.

 

[NullPointer]

It doesn't hurt the game, it hurts the classical interpretation of competition in Halo. To you that is one in the same, so you feel Halo is hampered thus, but as many have shown, people like those changes. They like Halo 4. Their opinion and that kind of game play is no less legitimate than your opinion and what you feel Halo should be - and what it was. Which is fine, we all have opinions.

Pretty much how I'm seeing it as well. The new systems foster a different kind of play and push/pull, which is different but not objectively worse, as far as I can see. A big difference to me is that good teams have to not only take advantage, but work harder to keep that advantage. Early winners of a match don't necessarily determine who wins, as you're always given great tools to make a comeback.

 

[Enfinit]

I thought I would hate CTF there, but it's actually quite nice. If the other team isn't paying attention you can mancannon your way to a win pretty quick.

My favorite trick to do is launch off a man cannon, momentum jump forward, then jet pack to their flag at the top of your jump. Your momentum literally makes you fly up there before the enemies even see you.

Also does anyone know how you unlock the Locus helmet without preordering? .. Is it tied to any commendation?

I don't believe it's tied to any commendation, and outside of the pre-order bonuses, the only way to get it is through the Halo 4 King of the Hill iOS game (which I have yet to figure out how to do).

 

[GhaleonEB]

It doesn't hurt the game, it hurts the classical interpretation of competition in Halo. To you that is one in the same, so you feel Halo is hampered thus, but as many have shown, people like those changes. They like Halo 4. Their opinion and that kind of game play is no less legitimate than your opinion and what you feel Halo should be - and what it was. Which is fine, we all have opinions.

It comes down to the fact that there is a game you want to play, and there is a game other people want to play. The silver lining is that these two factions agree on the base game play, which is the most identifying factor of Halo. 343 can either appeal to one at the expense of the other, or try to appeal to both.

I emphatically disagree with your framing, and have described at length in the past why I think it specifically harms the game, rather than simply changing it. We won't agree, but I want you to understand it is NOT my opinion that what defines Halo is fixed, and cannot change, and just because it's different it's bad.

One example of where I wrote about global ordnance and why I think it damages the game is here, from my E3 impressions. Playing the game now that it is out has reinforced my thoughts from that time. Again, please understand I an not opposed to altering the "classical interpretation of competition in Halo". I've actually been one of the guys more open to evolving the game around here. I am objecting to what I think is a system that harms the game in general.

 

[orznge]

You don't expand people's minds by turning against everything with sarcastic reproach. You expand people's minds by exploring ideas with them in a clear, concise and cooperative manner. Constructive criticism requires compromise.

It's fine to be frustrated and vent a little if a franchise isn't going the way you want it to, but if you think "ironic" complaints are going to do anything to change a game of this size, then of course you're going to be let down. It's a self deprecating attitude. And I'm not talking about you, if that wasn't clear.

I just like participating in the HaloGAF community. I played like 100 hours of Halo post-H2 but I would be very receptive to a new, good entry in the series, since it is/was the only contemporary deathmatch FPS left with any chance of having a significant playerbase (not that that matters much, I do play other FPSes and I am fine with having a community of 50 people)

 

[dmg04]

Adrift was a fucking maze to me until we played a CTF game on it yesterday. It just clicked out of nowhere. So weird.

My ONLY gripe with that map is the fact that you can take a lift and jetpack straight to the flag.

 

[Tashi]

My ONLY gripe with that map is the fact that you can take a lift and jetpack straight to the flag.

That's just one of the perks of having a Jetpack though. So, whatever. You can slide jump up there as well but that's pretty damn hard.

 

[HiredN00bs]

My biggest problem with the global ordnance system right now is that it is susceptible to malfunction due to flaws in network communications. Many times we won't get notifications on the initial drop, or the waypoints will report the incorrect weapon, and it seems subsequent drops are either very rare, not reported, or both. Maps like Complex feel very empty when there are very often no other weapons besides those spawned in with players.

Also, there is a very annoying glitch with the Flagnum in which it does not read inputs normally after picking up the flag. I will often start firing after picking up the flag and it will just throw away my second shot as if I had never pulled the trigger.

Finally, that Boltshot reload glitch is pretty significant, and I hope it is targeted on the first major Title Update.

 

[kittens]

I told you guys Adrift would be cool, but nobody listened. BELITTENS.

 

[Havok]

Pretty much how I'm seeing it as well. The new systems foster a different kind of play and push/pull, which is different but not objectively worse, as far as I can see. A big difference to me is that good teams have to not only take advantage, but work harder to keep that advantage. Early winners of a match don't necessarily determine who wins, as you're always given great tools to make a comeback.

A) ...unless the drop system favors their side of the map that match, which is entirely possible, in which case they don't have to work at all to keep their advantage, it's being handed to them.

B) ...y'know, until you aren't given them and the enemy team is instead because the drops are in no way restricted to neutral locations. Small-scale outcomes can be entirely determined by chance when your team gets a Needler, which does not help you make a push, and their team is given an Incineration Cannon 2 minutes later, which absolutely does.

The system takes a lot of control out of the hands of the player. Changing it from "Okay, here are the things on the map, they spawn at this interval, have at it!" to "This time I choooose....you as the winner of the next encounter!" changes the tone of a Halo match from being tightly controlled to something much more frantic, sloppy, and yeah, way worse as far as I'm concerned.

 

[NullPointer]

One example of where I wrote about global ordnance and why I think it damages the game is here, from my E3 impressions. Playing the game now that it is out has reinforced my thoughts from that time. Again, please understand I an not opposed to altering the "classical interpretation of competition in Halo". I've actually been one of the guys more open to evolving the game around here. I am objecting to what I think is a system that harms the game in general.

In your example you make the point that comebacks like you describe can't happen without knowing in advance where power weapons will spawn, and I'd disagree with that. No, you can't predict that in Halo 4, but that doesnt stop you from acquiring them and utilizing them in a plan of attack.

Instead of "hey guys, lets push up and get those rockets", it's more "OK guys, I've got rockets, lets push up turret-side". It's more about seizing opportunities as they present themselves instead of planning them out in advance, but neither way seems to me to be 'damaging'.

A) ...unless the drop system favors their side of the map that match, which is entirely possible, in which case they don't have to work at all to keep their advantage, it's being handed to them.

B) ...y'know, until you aren't given them and the enemy team is instead because the drops are in no way restricted to neutral locations. Small-scale outcomes can be entirely determined by chance when your team gets a Needler, which does not help you make a push, and their team is given an Incineration Cannon 2 minutes later, which absolutely does.

Valid points I think. But are we talking about a case scenario where you're on the losing team, and don't have an advantage in power weapons or vehicles? In that case you're hoping the global ordnance system will throw you a bone. But in classic Halo, wouldn't you still have to take your disadvantaged team to attack the more powerful team at a weapon spawn?

 

[wwm0nkey]

Wonder if we will hear if they are working on the TU in todays bulletin.

 

[kittens]

What type of changes require a TU, and what things can just be added/removed in a normal update?

 

[Kibbles]

examples of Adrift callouts?

I believe there are 2 sides with yellow markings vs red markings, so red lift hall, yellow lift hall, red stairs, yellow stairs, top red, top yellow, etc.

 

[orznge]

It doesn't hurt the game, it hurts the classical interpretation of competition in Halo. To you that is one in the same, so you feel Halo is hampered thus, but as many have shown, people like those changes. They like Halo 4. Their opinion and that kind of game play is no less legitimate than your opinion and what you feel Halo should be - and what it was. Which is fine, we all have opinions.

It comes down to the fact that there is a game you want to play, and there is a game other people want to play. The silver lining is that these two factions agree on the base game play, which is the most identifying factor of Halo. 343 can either appeal to one at the expense of the other, or try to appeal to both.

the fact of the matter is the game's basic design doesn't matter at all to the game's largest demographic, whose main tie to the game, and to any other game, is mostly through marketing and brand equity

although maybe I'm wrong, since HaloGAF is a fraction of NeoGAF which is a fraction of the "gaming community" at large, and even in HaloGAF which many consider to be a "hardcore" community there are apparently people who basically hated Halo until Map Control was nerfed

saying that the outright bad design choices shoved into this game only harms one "interpretation" of Halo is a really, really bad and disingenuous thing to say because it's literally the equivalent of saying "I like that Halo 5 added Global Vehicle Ordinance drops, I know you other guys who play BTB and analyze its strategies don't like it, but Halo's different now, so your interpretation has no place in 343's New Framework For Basic FPS Mechanics"

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Me too man. It's a 10 week thing. If it doesn't get good in the next 2-3 weeks it'll mean that at least half of it sucks. That's jumping the gun a bit but other than the cutscenes there is no sign of life for this mode.

With this artifact it at least looks like they are trying to build something up, I am hoping next episode has a nice progression to what the artifact does and why it is important.

I also hope by at least week 5 the missions begin to vary, pretty much a lot of go push this button and then defend the LZ...this wouldn't be a problem if I had more story though.

 

[orznge]

like I've said 50 times before, we aren't opposed to changing the game's mechanics, even drastically - what we are opposed to however, is bad mechanics being added to the game

does anyone seriously, actually believe that over the course of a decade, no one could have came up with better mechanics for an FPS than "power weapons spawning at random locations" and "wallhack with a cooldown"? ESPECIALLY considering the amount of good FPSes that exist

 

[Ramirez]

examples of Adrift callouts?

You realize each side is red/blue tinted? I didn't notice until last night.

Also, fellow HaloGAF, keep me in your thoughts, I'm going through some terrible personal issues, and I've about hit my limit today. My son & nightly games of Halo are the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks <3

 

[orznge]

like I've said 50 times before, we aren't opposed to changing the game's mechanics, even drastically - what we are opposed to however, is bad mechanics being added to the game

does anyone seriously, actually believe that over the course of a decade, no one could have came up with better mechanics for an FPS than "power weapons spawning at random locations" and "wallhack with a cooldown"? ESPECIALLY considering the amount of good FPSes that exist

I'll answer my own question with a question that has probably been asked at many a Halo design meeting: How much Awesome shit can we put in this game?

 

[Fracas]

Anyone playing now? Hopping on.

You realize each side is red/blue tinted? I didn't notice until last night.

Also, fellow HaloGAF, keep me in your thoughts, I'm going through some terrible personal issues, and I've about hit my limit today. My son & nightly games of Halo are the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks <3

Will do. Stay strong, brother.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

I'll answer my own question with a question that has probably been asked at many a Halo design meeting: How much Awesome shit can we put in this game?

Pick a random number.

 

[Tashi]

You realize each side is red/blue tinted? I didn't notice until last night.

Also, fellow HaloGAF, keep me in your thoughts, I'm going through some terrible personal issues, and I've about hit my limit today. My son & nightly games of Halo are the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks <3

<3 Hope all goes well

 

[Risen]

It's off by like tenths of a second each drop that just accumulates towards the end. Last drop seems to be like a second late. Other than that it's pretty much right on time.



No way they definitely had better positioning to get rockets. They spawn right in front of the lift. Not only do they have quicker access but they also have the team backing them up because of the angle.

Not arguing really... but from my position Gold I could enter ring one unseen through two different doors. I should and could have been in there at spawn. For me... that means it's a pretty equal chance even if they have more options in how they push that front door - with cover... and Cam was directly above that cliff side door for my support.

Anywho - at the end of the day, the difference in the end of that game was the fortunate snipe spawn forcing us to turtle when we don't have eyes on him.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

You realize each side is red/blue tinted? I didn't notice until last night.

Also, fellow HaloGAF, keep me in your thoughts, I'm going through some terrible personal issues, and I've about hit my limit today. My son & nightly games of Halo are the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks <3

Hope everything works out bud. Do what you gotta do to keep it straight.

 

[enzo_gt]

You know what's fucking stupid? The number of credits you get from SpOps doesn't change no matter the difficulty your on.

Good shit 343.

 

[Havok]

Best wishes, Ram.

Valid points I think. But are we talking about a case scenario where you're on the losing team, and don't have an advantage in power weapons or vehicles? In that case you're hoping the global ordnance system will throw you a bone. But in classic Halo, wouldn't you still have to take your disadvantaged team to attack the more powerful team at a weapon spawn?

In the case of classic Halo, when you're put into a disadvantaged position, it was almost never because the game decided that was going to happen (apart from the rare BS spawn), it was because player action made it that way and you were outplayed. Even then, you could use prediction skills to anticipate the enemy team's behavior based on the current state of the map (which weapons were in play, when they would return, when powerups were going to come back so you could make a play for them). Now, you can't really make that prediction because the number of constants of a given match have been drastically reduced. If a team is handed a boon from on high because Infinity decided it was gonna be that way, they can take advantage and keep it and the only thing that the losing team can do to regain it is outslay them, not outsmart them.

Fundamentally, my problem with it is that it invites a reduction in the importance of player agency to the outcome of the match.

 

[Slightly Live]

You realize each side is red/blue tinted? I didn't notice until last night.

Also, fellow HaloGAF, keep me in your thoughts, I'm going through some terrible personal issues, and I've about hit my limit today. My son & nightly games of Halo are the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks <3

Kick some (figurative) real life ass!

 

[Franklinator]

I hope everything works out, Ram.

 

[Tashi]

Not arguing really... but from my position Gold I could enter ring one unseen through two different doors. I should and could have been in there at spawn. For me... that means it's a pretty equal chance even if they have more options in how they push that front door - with cover... and Cam was directly above that cliff side door for my support.

Anywho - at the end of the day, the difference in the end of that game was the fortunate snipe spawn forcing us to turtle when we don't have eyes on him.

I WANT TO ARGUE DAMMIT!

But yea the Sniper was the important one. Losing rockets was the dagger.

 

[ElzarTheBam]

You realize each side is red/blue tinted? I didn't notice until last night.

Also, fellow HaloGAF, keep me in your thoughts, I'm going through some terrible personal issues, and I've about hit my limit today. My son & nightly games of Halo are the only thing keeping me sane. Thanks <3

Fuck, hope everything turns out good for you Ram.

 

[AllIsOneIsNone]

Anyone playing now? Hopping on.

I should be on in an hour...add me if you like: EsotericDaemon.

(Sorry to hear that Ram)