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[MaritalWheat]

Arg, you lucky PAX bastards, I envy all the wonders you will witness. And if anyone could grab me one of those rad Bungie lightning fist shirts I'd appreciate it sooo much, PM if you wanna do some Paypal business, I'll gladly throw in a little for your troubles unless the shirts are insanely priced. Fuck I want to go!

 

[Domino Theory]

You should change you avatar back to Guile then change your name.. So those people that know you by avatar can make the connection. "Eggs L" incoming?

Nah, Thermite (who just changed his GT in real-time while we were in the MM lobby :lol ; it was fuckin' scary to see it happen) and Buttonbasher are hating on the new name hardcore so I won't do it (it wasn't going to be Eggs L).

EDIT: I think it's time someone create a PAX thread; not just for Halo, but in general, BUT we can use it to post our Halo content preview thoughts as well considering it's a part of PAX.

 

[Kibbles]

For those going to PAX, be sure to bring back pics and videos of Purple Reign!

 

[Dirtbag]

For those going to PAX, be sure to bring back pics and videos of Purple Reign!

Fuck that... I'm not leaving until I secure a lock of Marty's mullet.

 

[EazyB]

EDIT: I think it's time someone create a PAX thread; not just for Halo, but in general, BUT we can use it to post our Halo content preview thoughts as well considering it's a part of PAX.

I avoid the general GAF population so I could care less about a PAX thread. For all those less fortunate that can't go to PAX, I'll try to post as much Halo

Spoiler

and Rock Band 2

content as I can.

Fuck that... I'm not leaving until a secure a lock of Marty's mullet.

:lol

 

[The Librarian]

I need to make the obligatory notation that you did that to me for weeks.

So I can see your point.

Ghal, for one I don't recall sending you any chat invites. I sent you all those game invites becaue I wanted to play with you not because you had Recon.

The irony :lol

Yes, let's completely forget how you KEPT ON LYING to me about how YOU wanted to PLAY with ME.

 

[TDG]

Oh shit. This is Dax thing is like watching the end of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. The Blacks are about to realize that Larry shoved their hampster up his ass, and then things will get really ugly.

 

[t4ng0]

Yes, let's completely forget how you KEPT ON LYING to me about how YOU wanted to PLAY with ME.

can't wait to see what purple goodies bungie has in store

 

[Spasm]

Hot damn! DLC Big Team is about the sexiest playlist ever! DLC needed a population boost. REALLY hope this does it.

Avalanche 4EVER!

 

[Striker]

Here's my thoughts on the Update:

Ranked BTB removal
There were two things that may have seemed like good ideas at the time, but in essence, really failed to bring competitiveness and allowed the playlist to thrive. Two things were A) party restrictions [[ Was not in Halo 2, and it worked great without it ]] -- B) questioned gametypes [[ VIP, too-much-Territories, weight on Covies seemed way too high ]]

Ranked BTB could work. The solution? Re-set ranks in Ranked BTB. The split between ranks is what is hurting the playlist, and that was all began by the party restriction layout. I guess "retiring" the playlist, which basically kills two maps on the game, is a better option... derp.

6v6 Squad Battle
Really love what I'm reading so far, but I'm worried about the map variations that may linger. Here's what I know will work:

Standoff - Slayer (prefer without Warthogs and Laser; add a Ghost or Chopper to each side and place the lone Rocket Launcher to middle), Multi Flag - Assault would also work greatly

Valhalla - Slayer, Multi Flag, One Flag - like Standoff, Assault would also work

Last Resort - Slayer, 1 CTF - for sanity's sake, please make 1 CTF a higher weight? Slayer is fine there, but objectives is a better suit for that map - also, 1 Bomb and Territories would also work

Other possibilities? Rat's Nest, High Ground, Boundless (Slayer, CTF), The Pit

In other words, Halo 3, at this time, lacks the medium-large maps that made 6v6 in Halo 2 excel (Terminal, Burial Mounds, Relic, Zanzibar, Colossus, etc.).

--

Final Thoughts: Where is Team Snipers? There's tons of people calling for it, yet, no mention? Head to Head dies immediately, but that was expected since nobody wanted it.

--

Played a team with either immense lag or they standbyed. We were losing 32-33, but things went "off", and came back, it's 34-45. :lol IcyReggie was green the whole game, and everybody else was in red.

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=701676361&player=Striker029

- IcyReggie

 

[xxjuicesxx]

My thoughts.

-I don't see why they are removing the niche playlists, Rocket Race and H2H. These carried around 1000 people at all times and did not take away from other playlists. Is there a maximum # of playlists they can have like in H2.

-No Team Snipes? WTF

-SWAT changes = good

-Double Team changes = good but could have just removed objectives

-They finally set 8 players in LW, so I'll go get my 50 in that. Good move. 6 players made it more about positioning and spawns, less about quick reflexes and skill.

-Squad battles sounds AWESOME since I love CTF objectives. Can't wait to play that.

-As for the Magnum +AR starts in TS, I like it giving a headshot capable weapon off the start. Not exactly a BR but I guess its better than nothing.


Reading back a few pages

TDG says bungie does listen to us.

So basically I've been right all along, it just took Bungie 12 months to implement those ideas.

This.



Finally Bungie is halfway there. Next give me playlist control and let me finish it off, I'll even wear a rubber glove.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Well, I finally went back and read this update this morning with more sober eyes.

Broadly very happy. Map variants are good. No Ghost Town symmetrical type is good. Crazy King being sequenced and one minute is good. All the Team Doubles changes are good. All the SWAT changes are good. Rocket Race and Head to Head were not things I played, so I'm fine with their removal.

Squad Battle is what I have always wanted. My favourite Halo 3 multiplayer experience to date remains Multi-Flag on Standoff in DLC Objective, with 6v6. I believe it's the sweet spot for Halo's best larger maps (Standoff, Valhalla, Rat's Nest, Last Resort), and lets me enjoy larger-scale battles without the vehicle spam and probable lag of 8v8. Promise me that there are BR starts across the board on Standoff and Valhalla and my heart is yours, Shiska.

My only concern is Daravon's, much less strongly voiced. We all have lots of Halo-playing friends and want to fit as many of them as possible into our Halo experience at one time. On the one hand, a party of six is the sweet spot for me (not only in terms of the actual Haloing, but also for my transatlantic network experience, for maintaining reasonable conversation etc.) and I am glad people are going to be forced to conform to it. On the other hand, this is going to limit a lot of people, and their potentially Halo-playing friends, in terms of what they can do and with whom. Customs will be forced more often when parties swell, and as far as I am aware there is no way for the party leader to force teams, which is needed when things get unruly. The obvious solution is to find a way to make the Legendary maps free, and do it soon. I am hoping that when you announce day and date for the Mythic pack, that it is accompanied by a timetable for the Legendary pack becoming available to all.

I grade these changes overall as a B+.

But Squad Battle? My heart, you has it.

 

[Shake Appeal]

In other words, Halo 3, at this time, lacks the medium-large maps that made 6v6 in Halo 2 excel (Terminal, Burial Mounds, Relic, Zanzibar, Colossus, etc.)

I hated Burial Mounds, and Relic coloured me indifferent. I also don't share the Terminal love the way many do. Standoff and Valhalla, on the other hand, are two of my favourite maps in the entire series to date, and in my experience are an exact fit for 6v6. Same applies to Rat's Nest and Last Resort.

I mean I understand the objections people have (most of which would be solved by making the Legendary maps free), but I really feel that most of the 'BTB' maps are better suited to this. Only Sandtrap and Avalanche really feel like they were designed for sixteen players, and I never liked the former and wouldn't care if I never played it again. I am very happy about Halo 3 going forward. Give me one or two conventional 4v4 arena maps (a Sanctuary remake, please: give it Forerunner geometry, retain the jumps and grenade surfaces, and call it Safe Haven) and I am set to play this game for some time... provided these changes don't drive people away from playing it with me.

 

[Chinner]

I know alot of people here don't like Burial Mounds, but I LOVED it. I loved the majority of the Halo 2 BTB maps.

 

[meddow]

I know alot of people here don't like Burial Mounds, but I LOVED it. I loved the majority of the Halo 2 BTB maps.

most of halo 2 maps rocked, halo 3's not so much.

 

[DualX]

most of halo 2 maps rocked, halo 3's not so much.

Agreed.

 

[Walshicus]

I know alot of people here don't like Burial Mounds, but I LOVED it. I loved the majority of the Halo 2 BTB maps.

I like them all. Why can't we have all of them in one glorious game?

 

[Chinner]

I like them all. Why can't we have all of them in one glorious game?

Microsoft says sure, but at a cost!

 

[DualX]

I like them all. Why can't we have all of them in one glorious game?

Halo 4.

Microsoft says sure, but at a cost!

I would honestly love to have a straight port rather than some of these "tweaks" they love to try to pull on us. I'm looking at you Blackout. =/

I would have no problem paying for something like that.

 

[The Librarian]

I'm looking at you Blackout. =/

How can you say with 100% certainty that the old Lockout would have worked with Halo 3's gameplay better than Blackout? I am sure that whatever tweaks Bungie map, it was for the betterment of the map, not to gimp it. If Lockout would have worked perfectly, I don't think Bungie would have made any changes.

 

[FFChris]

How can you say with 100% certainty that the old Lockout would have worked with Halo 3's gameplay better than Blackout? I am sure that whatever tweaks Bungie map, it was for the betterment of the map, not to gimp it. If Lockout would have worked perfectly, I don't think Bungie would have made any changes.

I personally think it wouldn't.

Lockout was great for Halo 2, but even if we did get a completely straight port the game has changed so much I doubt it would be as much fun to play anymore. Blackout/Lockout just doesn't work in Halo 3. Bring on new, completely original maps.

 

[swander]

lol at no team snipers

maybe our team slayer playlist will be cleansed in september 09

 

[GhaleonEB]

lol at no team snipers

maybe our team slayer playlist will be cleansed in september 09

I suspect Team Snipers will continue to hold the slot it is now: as a recurring weekend playlist.

I just read through the playlist overhaul again. One thing that I'm wondering - when do the new maps (Assembly, Moon Base Alpha) hit? I'm guessing they'll land in the DLC playlists as well. Bungie tends not to show MP stuff until it's pretty much done. Launching the playlist overhaul, auto update and new maps all in September?

 

[The Librarian]

I personally think it wouldn't.

Lockout was great for Halo 2, but even if we did get a completely straight port the game has changed so much I doubt it would be as much fun to play anymore. Blackout/Lockout just doesn't work in Halo 3. Bring on new, completely original maps.

I think Blackout works for Halo 3. It's just that I hate it when people go "OMG, BUNGLE RUINED X MAP!!111!!!" without even considering why the changes were made, because, as you said, the gameplay of Halo 2 and Halo 3 are significantly differnt, and if the original map would have worked.

 

[DualX]

How can you say with 100% certainty that the old Lockout would have worked with Halo 3's gameplay better than Blackout?

Because Halo 3's gameplay really isn't that far off from Halo 2.

Can you grenade bounce on stairs? No. Are you able to shoot onto the top middle area inside of the library? No. Can you get hooked on random objects inside of the buildings? Yes...

But I'm sure this has all been discussed a ways back.

 

[The Librarian]

Because Halo 3's gameplay really isn't that far off from Halo 2.

Yes it is.
Edit: Do you want to go through a point by point list of the changes between Halo 2 and 3?

 

[Shake Appeal]

Look, I got a no scope.

http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/Backhand/676686

 

[Chinner]

Yes it is.
Edit: Do you want to go through a point by point list of the changes between Halo 2 and 3?

Movement speed and such are pretty familair though.

 

[Cuckooo]

in the wake of bts being axed i thought id load it up last nite and play a game, it was multi flag br's on standoff (woot) i went 38-2 and got an invincible!!

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=700988444&player=DUCKY is RIPPIN

and i also uploaded it to gamevee

http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/Multi_Flag_CTF/684336

 

[The Librarian]

Movement speed and such are pretty familair though.

Doesn't matter that much. Lockout was built around the weapons of Halo 2, the strength of the melee, etc.

 

[alisdair]

Doesn't matter that much. Lockout was built around the weapons of Halo 2, the strength of the melee, etc.

Which changes in Blackout were made to compensate for the stronger melee?

 

[The Librarian]

Which changes in Blackout were made to compensate for the stronger melee?

Have you been reading my posts? I am not arguing against changes that were made to Lockout into Blackout for the betterment of the map...

 

[Thermite]

Look, I got a no scope.

http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/Backhand/676686

He got a no scope. He didn't scope his gun. No, no, no scope was involved.

He got a no scope and now he's killed someone. He's dead he shot him in the head.

He got a no scope, what a wondrous feat. What a marvelous kill, I concede.

What do you get when you get real stressed quickly pull the trigger and
hope for the best call them a noob and hump their chest? I think he
just got a no scope...

 

[Kibbles]

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/08/22/560668.aspx

Bungie's next project?

Friday

2:00 PM Gears of War 2

3:00 PM Project Origin

4:00 PM Gears of War 2

5:00 PM Popfly

6:00 PM Project Origin

Saturday

10:00 AM Halo Wars

10:30 AM New Xbox Experience

11:30 AM Popfly

12:00 PM Gears of War 2

1:00 PM Gears of War 2 Signing Session

2:00 PM Gears of War 2

3:00 PM Project Origin

3:30 PM New Xbox Experience

4:30 PM TBA

Sunday

10:00 AM Halo Wars

10:30 AM New Xbox Experience

11:30 AM Popfly

12:00 PM Gears of War 2

1:00 PM Gears of War 2 Signing Session

2:00 PM Gears of War 2

3:00 PM Project Origin

3:30 PM New Xbox Experience

4:30 PM TBA

 

[Chinner]

Doesn't matter that much. Lockout was built around the weapons of Halo 2, the strength of the melee, etc.

Actually it does. Movement speed and player jump distance,which I listed as 'such', made Lockout into what it was. Saying strength of melee doesnt really make sense either, because the strength is pretty much consistant from H2 to H3 (although you probably meant lung and auto aim - still doesnt change it really). Weapon balance isn't making that much of differnece that you're trying to make it out to be.

 

[GhaleonEB]

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/08/22/560668.aspx

Bungie's next project?

No.

For the record, we have no plans to make any big announcements or huge reveals at PAX this year. While we will have some Halo 3 multiplayer stuff for you to check out, this is not going to be the "big announcement" many of our fans are clamoring for. Rest assured that when the time is right, we will be making announcements and talking about the stuff we're currently working on. At the moment we do have three distinct projects underway within Bungie - some familiar, some not. Some on a closer horizon, some quite far off.

http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&cid=14894

 

[Kibbles]

=( The new Halo from Gearbox maybles?

I need my Halo fix. Rawr.

 

[The Librarian]

Actually it does. Movement speed and player jump distance,which I listed as 'such', made Lockout into what it was.

Can you jump higher/run faster in Halo 3 than you could in Halo 2? I'm not sure.

Saying strength of melee doesnt really make sense either, because the strength is pretty much consistant from H2 to H3 (although you probably meant lung and auto aim - still doesnt change it really).

The melee in Halo 3 is twice as strong, if not more, than it was in Halo 2.

Weapon balance isn't making that much of differnece that you're trying to make it out to be.

Yes it does, and you also have to account for equipment balancing.

 

[Mr Vociferous]

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/08/22/560668.aspx

Bungie's next project?

Now that would kick all sorts of ass, but Ghaleon says no. :-(

I really think Squad Battle could be a golden playlist of Halo 3. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about 8v8, but 6v6 is so much more versatile. You go back to Halo 2, and they're throwing in BTB matches on Lockout - and, interestingly, they work (at least as a fun, Slayer diversion). For me, 6v6 could effectively be sprayed across almost all existing Halo 3 maps, but the following maps would work perfect with it:

• Valhalla
• Avalanche
• Last Resort
• Rat's Nest
• Standoff
• The Pit
• "Spacecamp"/"Moonbase Alpha" (as they've described it as a larger-sized map in the past)
• Unknown Forge Map (the one that looks to have the potential to be huge based on this image)
• Sandtrap/Sand Tarp

Then there are the smaller maps which could work with 6v6 on a sparing basis and strictly for Slayer matches:

• Blackout
• Ghost Town
• Guardian
• High Ground
• Snowbound/Boundless
• Assembly (if it looks like I'm guessing it does)

Anyways, I see a lot of potential in this playlist and hopefully it performs well.

 

[Tashi]

The strength in the melee difference between Halo 2 and Halo 3 is largely dependent on the weapon you're holding. In H2, if you beat someone down and then begin shooting him with an SMG it would take long to kill that person than if you were to do the same thing but with an Assault Rifle. However, a beatdown and a BR headshot is a automatic kill in both games.

Because of the ability to easily change things like run speed there is a difference in play MLG matches. Run speed is 110%. This changes things if you're not used to it because it makes harder jumps easier and even some seemingly impossible jumps, possible.

Ball beatdown damage has changed as well. All of you have played Lone Wolves Oddball on Epitaph and have seen people camping shield doors. They WANT people to come after them. Not the case in Halo 2. In Halo 2 it 2 regular beatdowns and 1 beatdown over the head. There was a lot more running around in Oddball in Halo 2. You could argue though that people would have done the same thing if there were shield doors in Halo 2. I personally don't think that would happen though.

 

[The Librarian]

The strength in the melee difference between Halo 2 and Halo 3 is largely dependent on the weapon you're holding. In H2, if you beat someone down and then begin shooting him with an SMG it would take long to kill that person than if you were to do the same thing but with an Assault Rifle. However, a beatdown and a BR headshot is a automatic kill in both games.

Because of the ability to easily change things like run speed there is a difference in play MLG matches. Run speed is 110%. This changes things if you're not used to it because it makes harder jumps easier and even some seemingly impossible jumps, possible.

Ball beatdown damage has changed as well. All of you have played Lone Wolves Oddball on Epitaph and have seen people camping shield doors. They WANT people to come after them. Not the case in Halo 2. In Halo 2 it 2 regular beatdowns and 1 beatdown over the head. There was a lot more running around in Oddball in Halo 2. You could argue though that people would have done the same thing if there were shield doors in Halo 2. I personally don't think that would happen though.

Good point. But in short, there is a lot to compensate for when doing a remake from H2 to H3.

 

[Chinner]

The strength in the melee difference between Halo 2 and Halo 3 is largely dependent on the weapon you're holding. In H2, if you beat someone down and then begin shooting him with an SMG it would take long to kill that person than if you were to do the same thing but with an Assault Rifle. However, a beatdown and a BR headshot is a automatic kill in both games.
.

Oh aye, I completly forgot about this. Brute shot was a pretty cool weapon back then for meleeing, although I prefer how it is now.

 

[Metroidvania]

Holy update changes, batman.

Can't wait to try epilogue, hope the bubble shield/shotgun combo is no more also.

 

[Voltron64]

I personally think it wouldn't.

Lockout was great for Halo 2, but even if we did get a completely straight port the game has changed so much I doubt it would be as much fun to play anymore. Blackout/Lockout just doesn't work in Halo 3. Bring on new, completely original maps.

This video captures a big reason why Blackout doesn't work in Halo 3...
http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/picardwtfisthisjpg/687306

 

[Deleted member 21120]

This video captures a big reason why Blackout doesn't work in Halo 3...
http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/picardwtfisthisjpg/687306

Jeez...

You know, this problem is SO bad in Halo 3... I just can't believe that it suddenly got this bad. It probably happened in Halo 2, we just couldn't go back and watch it; we always assumed that that person had just snuck up on us.

But then again, I've had plenty of times that I spawned in Halo 3 in the middle of six enemies who were all staring at me... and I don't remember that ever happening in Halo 2.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Jeez...

You know, this problem is SO bad in Halo 3... I just can't believe that it suddenly got this bad. It probably happened in Halo 2, we just couldn't go back and watch it; we always assumed that that person had just snuck up on us.

But then again, I've had plenty of times that I spawned in Halo 3 in the middle of six enemies who were all staring at me... and I don't remember that ever happening in Halo 2.

The small maps really suffer from it. I just can't understand how the spawns in that video could happen. Can't the spawn zone be expanded so that no enemies can appear on the platform if you're on it?

 

[FFChris]

This video captures a big reason why Blackout doesn't work in Halo 3...
http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/picardwtfisthisjpg/687306

God that is awful.

The spawning is bad, but just the feel of the map doesn't seem right. In Halo 2, Lockout felt amazing to play, but Blackout lacks something, and I don't think it's because its not a perfect port, just because Halo 3 plays so differently.

 

[Insaniac]

boy, claiming to be a bungie employee. He must not be very smart. And harassing me constantly.

 

[Tashi]

This video captures a big reason why Blackout doesn't work in Halo 3...
http://www.gamevee.com/viewVideo/Halo_3/GeeVee/picardwtfisthisjpg/687306

Lockout had some incredibly bad spawns also so I don't think it's fair to use that as a big reason. I think Blackout works in Halo 3 but doesn't work as a complete remake of Lockout. Sight lines are different, jumps are different and that changes the way I run around through the map. It changes the gameplay. Also Library window actually have a glass window changes it a lot. I find it to be a lot more hectic than Lockout. I used to play MLG games on Lockout and slayer games (and in team hardcore) would quite often run out of time before someone reached 50 kills. There were strict setups on that map for holding sides of the map for either Team Ball or even slayer. It's definitely different. I think Blackout is a good map but fails as a remake of Lockout for subtle differences.

We got Blackout 3 and 1/2 years after we played Lockout... I can't count how many times I played Lockout, I could run around the map blindfolded. Little things make all the difference.

 

[Insaniac]

thats not a problem with the map, thats a problem with spawns/spawn zones.