Hey guys!
Sorry, it's been a very busy week, and we've been head down in hustle mode. There's a lot to get done before the studio breaks for Christmas. But I have a few free minutes (posting over dinner, heh), so here's a status update:
December 11 Update
The December 11 playlist update is well into testing. This playlist is going to include a playlist specifically for the new Heroic DLC maps (so that early adopters can get their fix in), as well as incorporating those maps into the general playlists. In addition, we're reasonably sure that variety updates to almost all of the playlists will be included. This includes some long requested BR Start variants, wider map selection in the Ranked playlists, and a couple of map variants that we're going to try in BTB to start with.
We're a little hamstrung on this first update because the studio resources are giving priority to finishing and testing the Heroic DLC maps, but we do have more in mind for December. Hence...
December 18 Update
An extra week buys us some extra testing time. The December 18 update will include the Team Hardcore playlist. I will post some specifics about the composition of this playlist by the end of the week--we're still playtesting. What I can be pretty sure about is that we're trying to stay true to Halo 2's THC playlist, which means nothing crazy, but a solid variety. I fully expect this playlist will be a fixture of our playlists from here on out, so it will refine and improve over time too.
In addition, the current plan includes an overhaul for Team Objective. This playlist will henceforth be focused on CTF (both One Flag and Multi Flag variants, as has been frequently requested) and Assault (One Bomb, Multi Bomb, and Neutral Bomb) variants. VIP is out, until we have some time to bang on it and get something we're happy with.
No more Territories?
Not in Team Objective. However, we are going to introduce a playlist called Team Control, which is based on zone control gametypes like Territories, Land Grab, and a little bit of Team King (but incorporating some suggestions to make it more about map control, and less about grenade spam.) We're going to see how people react to this new playlist, and play it by ear. We're hoping that the sum is greater than the parts here, and that some teams will find their niche in this playlist.
Any update on Ranked BTB?
Actually, yes.
And for at least of few of you, it should be good news. In investigating ways to improve upon Social BTB's match quality, we hit a snag--it turns out that a key matchmaking setting (that restricts matching between teams of roughly equal sizes) is not being used in social playlists. Having explored the problem, I do not believe we can give you guys the match quality we want to without it--so, we will be introducing a Ranked BTB playlist early in the new year.
zomg
Slow down. There is a lot of testing that will have to go into this playlist, and because Bungie has some other irons in the fire (and a damned inconvenient Christmas-New Year break in the way), I can't get that playlist ready and tested before sometime later in January. It is my priority for the new year, though, and if we get nothing else updated in the playlists, I'll try to make that my priority.
In planning the addition of a Ranked BTB playlist, we'll be looking over a lot of the feedback you guys have given, and continue to give. So keep that discussion going, because it does help, and will have an impact. And even though it sucks to have to ask this, please be patient--it's coming, but it's not a trivial change.
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Once again, sorry about the lack of posts this week (and last.) I'd love to be able to tell you guys what I've been working on, but unfortunately, my cortex bomb would detonate instantly. I think it's wired to the webserver now. In fact, I think I can see the red light blinking when I close my eyes, right now...
In lieu of that, I'll see if I can dig out some good questions from the last week, and answer them before or around Friday. Thanks for your patience!