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Halo |OT13|

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Anyone ever think that maybe people don't want Halo in general? It's not just 4? CoD is the hot series, maybe the masses are tired of Halo in general.

I don't think it's all "oh Halo 4 sucks so the numbers are low."
How do we know that if we haven't really gotten Halo in these last two sequels? I mean, people keep saying that going forward Halo can't go back to what it was, because people don't want that anymore. Why not? It's just completely unfounded when all the negativity, backlash and decline happened during Reach and 4.
 

CyReN

Member
Anyone ever think that maybe people don't want Halo in general? It's not just 4? CoD is the hot series, maybe the masses are tired of Halo in general.

I don't think it's all "oh Halo 4 sucks so the numbers are low" as much as some of you would like to believe.

Something to look at with how tired people are

Titles since 2005:
Call of Duty - 8
Halo - 6

The issue with Halo is they are breaking core gameplay and experimenting too much with stuff that hasn't really "worked" like Equipment and Armor Abilities. Bungie took a hint with Dual Wielding and removed it in Halo Reach even thought it was introduced in Halo 2. If Bungie was still behind the wheel with the series I honestly don't think AA would be in the game, not sure about Sprint though since it's in every big title now. Gameplay a big reason why CoD is successful, they don't break what isn't broken. That's why Halo 3 was popular since it added a little gameplay wise but not enough to overall game to turn off those Halo 2 fans. Reach was Reach, and we are seeing the same thing happen here with Halo 4 if you add onto what is already broken in that title.

Now this is all my opinion of course and will differ from others.
 

enzo_gt

tagged by Blackace
Anyone ever think that maybe people don't want Halo in general? It's not just 4? CoD is the hot series, maybe the masses are tired of Halo in general.

I don't think it's all "oh Halo 4 sucks so the numbers are low" as much as some of you would like to believe.
Numbers seem on-par with previous Halos without a significant difference to infer anything from. Ultimately I believe people will still buy what they want to buy, and the either-or decision doesn't hold up in the long run, if someone wants both, they will eventually buy both.

The numbers are low no doubt has to do with CoD though, I don't think many people divide their time so equally between different online games considering the investment you need to put in nowadays.

Halo will always have the additional appeal of the story and universe they've built, which I think people appreciate at large. You don't have that in Call of Duty, where more people than ever are only buying it solely for the MP because the SP fails to impress time and time again.
 

wwm0nkey

Member
Off-topic but since a lot of you own the game from what I recall, I just got done testing the new Murder Miners patch and it should be out soon and I think you guys will like it :)

-Split-screen with up to 4 players
-Ability to turn on/off Super Sampling.
-WEAPON TEXTURES!
-Armor textures (some will still be un-textured)
-More New Maps!

I would post these in the MM OT but the last 2 posts are already from me lol

Shotgun.jpg

MinerGun.jpg

525994_305281549573847_334847208_n.jpg

705355_301900679911934_903553603_o.jpg

Helmet2.jpg

jyIB3wPK41GtZ.bmp
 
Anyone ever think that maybe people don't want Halo in general? It's not just 4? CoD is the hot series, maybe the masses are tired of Halo in general.

I don't think it's all "oh Halo 4 sucks so the numbers are low" as much as some of you would like to believe.

if people were tired of Halo wouldn't all the changes that Reach and 4 made have brought them back, not driven them away?
 

Deadly Cyclone

Pride of Iowa State
I guess we'll never know. Maybe you all are right and people just hate the Halo Reach/4 mechanics. Or maybe I am right in thinking that some of you hate Halo 4 so much that you assume your reasons for disliking the game are the same reason the masses aren't playing it.

I think that even if they hired all of you and made your perfect new Halo game, the numbers would never be Halo 2 or even 3 numbers. Something we may never know though.

Everyone could be right, everyone could be wrong. I guess we just roll with whatever happens at this point. Play the games if you like the new direction, leave them if you don't. Playing "what if" scenarios just leads to upset people and that's too bad. I wish everyone could get the Halo they want, but we're on a set path now it appears.

if people were tired of Halo wouldn't all the changes that Reach and 4 made have brought them back, not driven them away?

No, because at the core both games are still Halo. People see both games and go "they made more Halo!" and even with the new mechanics (AAs, etc) the core gameplay is still Halo and if people are tired of that, then they may have given 4 a shot (as seen by the 400k+ numbers at launch) but then left for other games (now).
 
Forerunner I believe. I think the Vanguard helmet looks pretty boss.

alright I had two different sources that's why I was wondering

I think I'm gonna try to go for Protector, it was either that or Commando that I was gonna dedicate myself to

Commando is real cool but I feel like less people will have protector when all's said and done.

one thing I really hate is all these helmets with designs built into the visor. Like War Master would look really cool if it didn't have that stupid skull face design
 

Havok

Member
Anyone ever think that maybe people don't want Halo in general? It's not just 4? CoD is the hot series, maybe the masses are tired of Halo in general.

I don't think it's all "oh Halo 4 sucks so the numbers are low" as much as some of you would like to believe.
I'm more interested in the numbers as a function of how the game'll retain the hardcore, not so much the general population - I don't think we're at a point in the current environment where Halo MP is even capable of being the one big mainstream thing like it used to before. That was a function of Halo's timing and Live being the hot new jazz as much as anything. Upcoming balance changes and feature additions will be really interesting to watch. I'd hope that a similar effect to the Reach TU will happen, where a significant population bump happened as players who didn't like the vanilla mechanics returned, or started playing more.
 

Enfinit

Member
To be fair I haven't even played in a week. Between countdown to 2013 deals on Xbox Live, new BF3 DLC, and holiday travel and shenanigans I probably won't get back to Halo 4 until the new year.

Same here. The New Super Mario Bros. 2 DLC is fucking righteous.
 
Just spitballing ideas here. What would you guys think of this weapon conceptually if it were added to Halo 5's sandbox? It's worth keeping in mind that in this sandbox:

-The DMR and Needle Rifle are sparse on-map pickups.
-They're usually limited to bases or home spawns, as opposed to loadout weapons.
-Would most likely spawn no more than 2-4 per team, allowing the marksmen to shine picking off enemies but not making the game a pingfest like in Reach or in some cases 4
-They retain their 3x zoom.

Now on to the weapon itself:

The Sentinel Rifle (Name pending)
Nicknames: SR, Sentinel Blain, Predator Rifle, Predator
Faction: Promethean
Scope: 3x
Rounds Per Clip: N/A (Battery of 100)
Battery Per Shot: 5% (10% if overheated) Unscoped, 2% Scoped (5% if overheated)
Shots to Kill: 4 (headshot required) Unscoped, 5 Scoped
Kills Per Clip: 5 Unscoped, 10 Scoped
Loadout: NO
Initial Ordnance: YES
-Respawns after Initial: YES
Global Ordnance: NO
Alt-Fire: YES

Details
  • The Sentinel Rifle would be found equipped to "marksman" Sentinels in the campaign, designed to combat humans and Flood from a distance.
  • Its design would be the closest to a "movie blockbuster" alien weapon out of any of the other Promethean firearms. Length somewhere between a Light Rifle and a Binary Rifle, it has four large, imposing "dampeners" floating around a central scope, though the user's field of view is not impacted in any way.
  • These "dampeners" dampen recoil and any potential randomness found with shots (bloom), making it an ideal weapon for longer ranges.
  • Firing a shot will cause a dampener to "buck" while the main gun remains uniquely (and eerily) unmoving. The dampeners go in a 1-2-3-4 order, from left to right.
  • Similar to a combination between a Beam Rifle and a DMR, pacing is essential for timing shots right. The rate of fire is similar to a DMR, and while firing faster IS possible, it can cause the weapon to overheat.
  • Shooting unscoped will fire linear "beams" similar to the Beam Rifle, as well. The shots are very obvious to anyone nearby.
  • It's not possible to "blow and go" with the Sentinel Rifle by firing off 4 quick shots to kill a target; at maximum speeds, the gun overheats at 3, which is only enough to get shields to roughly 10% strength.
  • An alternate weapon with bleedthrough such as a Battle Rifle could be switched to in order to finish a kill, however.
  • Scoping in with the Sentinel Rifle activates its alternate "Power Saver" mode. Shots take less battery overall and overheats aren't as costly, but takes 5 shots to kill, which could lose a duel in circumstances where you're fighting a DMR, Needle Rifle or Light Rifle user.
  • Similar to the Binary Rifle, scoping in will activate 4 (much less pronounced) laser sights, which will train in on the target.
  • However, being a "Power Saver" mode, shots while scoped in are individual projectiles with faint trails similar to a stealthy Light Rifle rather than entire beams like unscoped.

I feel like this could have potential to be the HaloGAF Designated Marksman Donger given that it wouldn't have bloom OR recoil. Even as a map pickup I'd be worried it'd be too overpowered, though.
 

Fracas

#fuckonami
Anyone ever think that maybe people don't want Halo in general? It's not just 4? CoD is the hot series, maybe the masses are tired of Halo in general.

I don't think it's all "oh Halo 4 sucks so the numbers are low" as much as some of you would like to believe.

I wonder how other Halos fared in terms of online population over time/copies sold compared to online users. That would be somewhat telling.

Also, launching a week before Call of Duty was just plain foolish.
 

GolazoDan

Member
I'm still playing campaign. I'm genuinely the slowest video game player of all time, I'll just play a level a night then get distracted and not play for 3 weeks. I've nearly done level 6 (I think)
where you disable those two towers, gotta do the second tower where I guess I've gotta destroy 3 terminals, already done the first tower with the gondola
, hopefully finish it over the weekend. And then we do it all over again on a higher difficulty where I will definitely need help.
 

CyReN

Member
I wonder how other Halos fared in terms of online population over time/copies sold compared to online users. That would be somewhat telling.

Also, launching a week before Call of Duty was just plain foolish.

Can't say how accurate this is, but the numbers are from vg charts sales and the online population differs with Halo 4 since we only have the concurrent number of people on only in War Games.

 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
Pretty sure as far as NeoGAF policy is concerned ******** numbers are a joke and I actually don't think they're allowed lol.
 
Off-topic but since a lot of you own the game from what I recall, I just got done testing the new Murder Miners patch and it should be out soon and I think you guys will like it :)

-Split-screen with up to 4 players
-Ability to turn on/off Super Sampling.
-WEAPON TEXTURES!
-Armor textures (some will still be un-textured)
-More New Maps!

I would post these in the MM OT but the last 2 posts are already from me lol

Post. I need to boot that game back up.
 

Ken

Member
Am I crazy or was it on Halo 4 box art or some slogan itself in commercials for numbers?

it was

it's in one of the trailers being cited for some quote about how it's the greatest selling game ever and i think it's on the back of the box too

yap it is being cited for the quote "most anticipated game of 2012" or something
 
I still believe the statistics you reference at Halo charts are the wrong ones. I also believe you have incorrect statistics about Halo 3 populations, rose tinted glasses I'm afraid. Here we go -

Statistics gathered by Waypoint member eliteslaya13
February 12th, 2008
Halo 3, players online: 119,477

December 11th, 2008
Halo 3, players online: 49,144

February 18th, 2009
Halo 3, players online: 32,874

March 13th, 2009
Halo 3, players online: 40,168

May 12th, 2009
Halo 3, players online: 79,414

May 29th, 2009
Halo 3, players online: 143,375

July 24th, 2009
Halo 3, players online: 167,963

The numbers don't lie; what you remember about the Halo 3 player counts is wrong. Those times when Halo 3 had over 200,000 players online were rare occasions. Good luck trying to find a reliable source that shows a day, over one year into Halo 3's lifespan, when Halo 3 would have had over 200,000 players. Further this is not even factoring in the changes in statistics calculations or game modes either.

I used to use that population argument back in the days when Reach was released. But a matter of fact is, I got introduced to the cruel reality, the reality that Halo 3, in fact, didn't have an exceptional amount of active players over a year after its release. Not compared to Reach or 4, they are for the most part very much in the same boat regarding the current FPS genre and losing the king franchise status of that genre.


Some various posts about population statistics amalgamated.

Halo Charts peak population is not unique players per day or games played per day totals. You are looking at the wrong statistic and trend. Halo continues to be #2 on XBL overall for 2 months since release.


Major Nelson Xbox Live Charts from Dec 3rd. Clearly COD/BOPSII is popular and #1, clearly Halo 4 has remained as #2 and clearly the peak population chart over at Halo Charts is NOT the correct statistic to look at. The previous Major Nelson XBL chart for November 19 had Halo 4 as number 2 as well, see source link here. Halo 4 has beaten out ACIII, FIFA13, Skyrim, FarCry 3, Borderlands 2 & Reach of course. All while holding #2 against the COD juggernaut. Halo 4 is doing great and sales have been excellent with a huge cash pile for 343i/MS.

1. Only XBL or 343i numbers are the accurate ones, there is no official API support and already Halo Charts are missing a number of statistics to track population accurately. I appreciate Halo Charts they just don't have the API support to deliver the goods reliably or cover ALL game modes for correct population analysis.

2. Halo Charts does NOT include Spartan Ops numbers.

3. Halo Charts does NOT include Campaign numbers.

4. Halo Charts does NOT include Custom Games numbers.

5. Both #1 (COD) & #2 (Halo 4) will experience fluctuations over XMAS, gift giving and players having more time off over holidays to play games.

6. Halo has always been able to attract players back over months and I don't think Halo 4 will be any different this XMAS or through early next year either.

7. Most purchasers of Halo games buy it for the campaign, not what you'd think from being and XBL multiplayer but it has always been this way and that tradition continues with Halo 4 as well.

8. Show me a peak population for BOPSII and you'll see the same initial peak trend, it's all about the casual players who buy games and rarely revisit them again mate.

9. I expect a massive decrease in PEAK population, again it is NOT the number of unique players or total games played per day across all game modes.

10. Expect the same exact peak trend to occur over XMAS holidays as well.

11. Expect a similar peak trend as map packs, tweaks, playlists or updates are released.

12. ACIII & Borderlands 2 are no small games to compete against. Especially Borderlands 2 taking out lots of multiplayer awards too.

13. No need to get your panties in a bunch over a trend that is to be expected. Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with second place, it's a great achievement but sure I'd like Halo 4 to be #1.

14. 14 day free gold trial that came with the game.

Can we please now stop referencing the incorrect Halo Charts statistics!

Once again peak does NOT equal unique players or games played per day.
 

Havok

Member
Am I crazy or was it on Halo 4 box art or some slogan itself in commercials for numbers?
All the trailers that said "most anticipated" or stuff along those lines had an *according to chartz line in very subtle font.

And then everybody laughed.
 

orznge

Banned
I never realized the numbers were that low for Halo 3. With any luck the numbers will continue to decrease, thereby increasing the chances that a future Halo game will bear resemblance to any the pre-Reach titles.
 
I still believe the statistics you reference at Halo charts are the wrong ones. I also believe you have incorrect statistics about Halo 3 populations, rose tinted glasses I'm afraid. Here we go -

can you please not do this this is a friendly halo thread we welcome everyone even [SITE REDACTED: TOO MANY NEGATIVE VOTES]
 
I still believe the statistics you reference at Halo charts are the wrong ones. I also believe you have incorrect statistics about Halo 3 populations, rose tinted glasses I'm afraid. Here we go -




Some various posts about population statistics amalgamated.

Halo Charts peak population is not unique players per day or games played per day totals. You are looking at the wrong statistic and trend. Halo continues to be #2 on XBL overall for 2 months since release.


Major Nelson Xbox Live Charts from Dec 3rd. Clearly COD/BOPSII is popular and #1, clearly Halo 4 has remained as #2 and clearly the peak population chart over at Halo Charts is NOT the correct statistic to look at. The previous Major Nelson XBL chart for November 19 had Halo 4 as number 2 as well, see source link here. Halo 4 has beaten out ACIII, FIFA13, Skyrim, FarCry 3, Borderlands 2 & Reach of course. All while holding #2 against the COD juggernaut. Halo 4 is doing great and sales have been excellent with a huge cash pile for 343i/MS.

1. Only XBL or 343i numbers are the accurate ones, there is no official API support and already Halo Charts are missing a number of statistics to track population accurately. I appreciate Halo Charts they just don't have the API support to deliver the goods reliably or cover ALL game modes for correct population analysis.

2. Halo Charts does NOT include Spartan Ops numbers.

3. Halo Charts does NOT include Campaign numbers.

4. Halo Charts does NOT include Custom Games numbers.

5. Both #1 (COD) & #2 (Halo 4) will experience fluctuations over XMAS, gift giving and players having more time off over holidays to play games.

6. Halo has always been able to attract players back over months and I don't think Halo 4 will be any different this XMAS or through early next year either.

7. Most purchasers of Halo games buy it for the campaign, not what you'd think from being and XBL multiplayer but it has always been this way and that tradition continues with Halo 4 as well.

8. Show me a peak population for BOPSII and you'll see the same initial peak trend, it's all about the casual players who buy games and rarely revisit them again mate.

9. I expect a massive decrease in PEAK population, again it is NOT the number of unique players or total games played per day across all game modes.

10. Expect the same exact peak trend to occur over XMAS holidays as well.

11. Expect a similar peak trend as map packs, tweaks, playlists or updates are released.

12. ACIII & Borderlands 2 are no small games to compete against. Especially Borderlands 2 taking out lots of multiplayer awards too.

13. No need to get your panties in a bunch over a trend that is to be expected. Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with second place, it's a great achievement but sure I'd like Halo 4 to be #1.

14. 14 day free gold trial that came with the game.

Can we please now stop referencing the incorrect Halo Charts statistics!

Once again peak does NOT equal unique players or games played per day.
Halo 4 is bad. The population is lower than it should be because people know that the game is bad. The population indicates that people are not enjoying the game.
 

CyReN

Member
Why is the population so different at times with that? did one reference 5am when the others did 6pm? Seems weird to jump so high because of 1 map pack.
 

rakka

Member
Anniversary never seems to have DMR starts, always pistols and ARs. Lame

Don't know why anyone would use a DMR in Anniversary, it doesn't stand a chance against 3SK Magnum lol.

It's one reason I enjoy anniversary though.

If you're a good shot, hell, you can take on 3-4 players and still survive (a well timed grenade or two helps too). not nearly as possible with the much longer kill times of the DMR.
 

orznge

Banned
is there something wrong with the controller implementation in H2V? when I do diagonals on the right stick (360 controller) it feels like that shitty 8-way aiming from the 360 port of CoD 1

putting this on the new page in case anyone has an answer
 
As soon as the update is out we should all hop back on for a few games. Also Cryen should update the murder miners OT when the update hits.

Agreed. Also, I need to find a way to get boot camp running. I'd like to run some Halo1/2 PC game nights and Murder Miners nights in the future.
 
can you please not do this this is a friendly halo thread we welcome everyone even [SITE REDACTED: TOO MANY NEGATIVE VOTES]

What do the leg work to post factual statements with actual sources? Sure I'll join team downer and ignore research just for you mate.

I'm happy to admit population declines, when I see the correct and accurate statistics to back it up over a forum of like minded people with the same opinion.

Define "this", I don't understand your post request mate, sorry.
 

Havok

Member
Why is the population so different at times with that? did one reference 5am when the others did 6pm? Seems weird to jump so high because of 1 map pack.
Assuming I'm reading the timestamps correctly (and quickly) prior to the archived page loading, the first number is recorded at 9 PM in whatever timezone the site lists, the third is from 10 AM, the 4th from 9 AM, the last one from just after midnight. Assuming the timestamps are of an American timezone, the high numbers are during peak hours (mid-late evening) and the low numbers are far earlier. The second number is in the evening, and is still relatively low, though, so I don't know.
What do the leg work to post factual statements with actual sources? Sure I'll join team downer and ignore research just for you mate.

I'm happy to admit population declines, when I see the correct and accurate statistics to back it up over a forum of like minded people with the same opinion.

Define "this", I don't understand your post request mate, sorry.
He was making a joke. Calm down. Nobody is out to get you.
 

rakka

Member
believe stance requires forerunner ordnance mastery. it's only three weapons (scattershot, binary rifle and incineration cannon) so it's not as ridiculous as UNSC ordnance mastery (7? weapons). it's going to take a hell of a long time for me to master spartan laser. i have like 3 kills total with it. doesn't seem to appear often in IS. maybe BTB? i've mastered shotty and sniper, and almost mastered sticky detonator though.
 
What do the leg work to post factual statements with actual sources? Sure I'll join team downer and ignore research just for you mate.

I'm happy to admit population declines, when I see the correct and accurate statistics to back it up over a forum of like minded people with the same opinion.

I don't understand your post request mate, sorry.

Look, the truth is the population is low. It is sad. The population numbers indicate how many people enjoy the game. That is just the way it works. I hate to see this game have a low population because it is a Halo title. Halo is my favorite game series by far and away. I enjoy the story, the gameplay, and the community. Now, the story is a mess, the game doesn't play well, and the community is on it's last legs. We are all here because we like Halo. We care about it's continued survival but about the quality of the games in the franchise. We have offered our opinions time and time again since before the release of Halo Reach and we have been ignored. As a result the games we get are a mess. We see it and the casual fans see it. Halo is dying. We want to stop it but it may soon be too late.


A true craftsmen will be unhappy with even his most perfect creation and attempt to make it even better. With Halo, this is not the case. Halo is shaped by the developers and the community. We have done our part, now the developers must do theirs.
 

zap

Member
I still believe the statistics you reference at Halo charts are the wrong ones. I also believe you have incorrect statistics about Halo 3 populations, rose tinted glasses I'm afraid. Here we go -




Some various posts about population statistics amalgamated.

Halo Charts peak population is not unique players per day or games played per day totals. You are looking at the wrong statistic and trend. Halo continues to be #2 on XBL overall for 2 months since release.


Major Nelson Xbox Live Charts from Dec 3rd. Clearly COD/BOPSII is popular and #1, clearly Halo 4 has remained as #2 and clearly the peak population chart over at Halo Charts is NOT the correct statistic to look at. The previous Major Nelson XBL chart for November 19 had Halo 4 as number 2 as well, see source link here. Halo 4 has beaten out ACIII, FIFA13, Skyrim, FarCry 3, Borderlands 2 & Reach of course. All while holding #2 against the COD juggernaut. Halo 4 is doing great and sales have been excellent with a huge cash pile for 343i/MS.

1. Only XBL or 343i numbers are the accurate ones, there is no official API support and already Halo Charts are missing a number of statistics to track population accurately. I appreciate Halo Charts they just don't have the API support to deliver the goods reliably or cover ALL game modes for correct population analysis.

Can we please now stop referencing the incorrect Halo Charts statistics!

Once again peak does NOT equal unique players or games played per day.

What's funny is that you show us that Major Nelson list that gives NO hard numbers at all and expect that to convince us that the population for Halo 4 is awesome.

We have absolutely no figures from that. For all we know the numbers could be
BLOPS2: 100000000
Halo 4: 100
ACIII: 10
BL2: 5
Reach: 2

Obviously this isn't the case, but your list is pretty much irrelevant for comparison to prior Halo games.

Also, since this is about the fifth time you've brought this up, I'm so happy that MS and 343i have a big cash pile from Halo 4! It just warms my heart.
 

Deadly Cyclone

Pride of Iowa State
Halo 4 is bad. The population is lower than it should be because people know that the game is bad. The population indicates that people are not enjoying the game.

I'm not going as far as he is, but you can't assume this is the only reason. That's basically projecting your feeling onto the masses.

EDIT: Holy shit your name. Bravo. I like it.


Central time zone ftw

+1
 
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