Halo: Reach

[Stoney Mason]

Apparently info coming in the Feb Game Informer.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Howard Alan Treesong]

is the guy with the skull paint Master Dude or Broster Chief

[archie4208]

halo sucks

[Barry Egan]

what happened with this franchise

[MCD]

another masterpiece.

old distinguished effete fellows annihilated.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

what happened with this franchise

the guy who read Banks left Bungie

[Madrun Badrun]

Master chief crossed with a ninja turtle. 

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Halo has entered the Tomb Raider and Tony Hawk era of its lifecycle. Games still come out, the dinosaur media still fawns over them, but gamers stopped caring years ago.

[Stoney Mason]

I like the franchise so I'm interested but for the MP I hope the rumours of all the class based stuff are true. I've reached the point in MP shooters where I want to play with the class and style of weapon I want all the time. I'm sort of over the spawning weapons map control concept of an fps that Halo inherited from the Quake school of shooters.

[Stoney Mason]

Halo has entered the Tomb Raider and Tony Hawk era of its lifecycle. Games still come out, the dinosaur media still fawns over them, but gamers stopped caring years ago.

I don't know that this is accurate at all. (Despite how I personally feel about ODST)

[Bebpo]

Halo has entered the Tomb Raider and Tony Hawk era of its lifecycle. Games still come out, the dinosaur media still fawns over them, but gamers stopped caring years ago.

The difference is that Bungie is still a really good developer who releases quality polished products.

[Herr Mafflard]

nice bullshots

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Halo has entered the Tomb Raider and Tony Hawk era of its lifecycle. Games still come out, the dinosaur media still fawns over them, but gamers stopped caring years ago.

The difference is that Bungie is still a really good developer who releases quality polished products.

Halo 3 killed any goodwill I had for the franchise and ODST peed on the ashes. The series is in full-on fanboy nosedive at this point.

[Stoney Mason]

nice bullart?

fixed.

[Herr Mafflard]

that passes for art these days 

[Bebpo]

I think the franchise is just not for you!

[Stoney Mason]

Halo 3 killed any goodwill I had for the franchise and ODST peed on the ashes. The series is in full-on fanboy nosedive at this point.

I know what's wrong with ODST and I agree and moreso. That was a scam. (More likely because of Microsoft)

What's your issue with 3? Serious Question. Seems fine to me. Multiplayer is better than 2 even though I never became hooked on 3 like I did 2 .Story wise I've always thought Halo was over-rated but gameplay wise 3 seemed fairly consistent with the series.

[Bebpo]

And how is that bad art?  That is a gorgeous spread.  I'm not big on the super bulky dudes in it, but artistically I think it's a very nice painting.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I'm not into Halo MP at all, and I hear Halo 3 is prettty decent in that regard. So I'm admittedly biased on that regard. Still, the campaign is just a giant clusterfuck of "I dunno, we give up!" for what felt like the longest 5 hours of my life.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

They really fucked up with ODST. Releasing that rip-off so close to MW2 has really damaged the average dude's perception of the franchise I think.

[bork]

I'm not into Halo MP at all, and I hear Halo 3 is prettty decent in that regard. So I'm admittedly biased on that regard. Still, the campaign is just a giant clusterfuck of "I dunno, we give up!" for what felt like the longest 5 hours of my life.

Multiplayer is where its at in these games.  Halo 3 campaign was fun with players, but I really didn't care; I got it for the MP and it definitely delivered.  ODST was the let down, but it was never anything but an overpriced expansion pack on a disc anyway.  I would have sold it off within a week or two, had it not been for the Halo 3 MP Mythic disc and the Reach beta.

[bork]

They really fucked up with ODST. Releasing that rip-off so close to MW2 has really damaged the average dude's perception of the franchise I think.

Didn't it sell over two million copies?

[BobFromPikeCreek]

They really fucked up with ODST. Releasing that rip-off so close to MW2 has really damaged the average dude's perception of the franchise I think.

Didn't it sell over two million copies?

Yeah, but I doubt a lot of those two million people were happy with what they got.

[Bebpo]

wtf
I feel like I am surrounded my MP gamers.  I don't play MP and don't care about MP in FPS games.

In terms of SP content, ODST >>>>>>>>>> MW2.  ODST was not a fuckup.  It reaffirmed my stance that Halo is the best SP FPS on consoles and each game brings extremely satisfying battles that are fun and varied along with enjoyable stories that are well presented.  ODST had almost no new assets, but instead it had some of the best damn FPS levels out there.  Shame about the filler hub between them but meh, it was like 10 mins of walking.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

The average person doesn't give a shit about SP.

[Bebpo]

The average person doesn't give a shit about SP.

and this is what is wrong with the game industry!

[BobFromPikeCreek]

I don't disagree.

[Third]

Looks like Gears of Halo.

But 13 year olds don't care much for this franchise anymore. They now play the new hot fps in town: Call of Duty

[bork]

wtf
I feel like I am surrounded my MP gamers.  I don't play MP and don't care about MP in FPS games.

That is half (sometimes more than half) of the game's content.  For me its "WTF!?  People play these games just for the campaign?"  Why even buy the game in the first place?  Just rent it.  

It's different for something like Bioshock; I wasn't like "WHERES TEH MULTIZ!?!?!"  and I don't think they needed to add it for the sequel, but Halo?  Modern Warfare?  The campaigns are nothing; it's all about that multi.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

There were some screens posted a while back with mountain textures that looked like what you'd find on Goldeneye on the N64.

Halo has been on the decline after the 2nd and it is evident that Call of Duty has usurped the console FPS crown.  ODST going virtually head to head with MW2 and getting demolished on its own platform is pretty telling.  Reach could restore a lot of its damaged reputation but I don't see anything that will do so...yet.  You never know but if it is half assed like ODST, might as well not even bother.

[Eel O'Brian]

i wish the games were more like the commercials

[Herr Mafflard]

And how is that bad art?  That is a gorgeous spread.  I'm not big on the super bulky dudes in it, but artistically I think it's a very nice painting.

the whole point of that picture is super bulky dudes? you can't just disregard 80% of it because the other 20% is nice  

i like halo games btw, solo legendary on all of them. we should play Reach co-op   

There were some screens posted a while back with mountain textures that looked like what you'd find on Goldeneye on the N64.

I think those were just placeholder textures. those screens got leaked

[Howard Alan Treesong]

Halo has been on the decline after the 2nd and it is evident that Call of Duty has usurped the console FPS crown.

Unfortunately, there's been so many departures post Halo 2 and the whole buyback brouhaha that the series is basically being run by the B-team at this point.  

[Joe Molotov]

Halo: Reach. Dude tested, Bro approved.

[Raban]

They need to through this shit on PC, so I can pirate it and criticize the fuck out of it without feeling guilty.

[Stoney Mason]

That is half (sometimes more than half) of the game's content.  For me its "WTF!?  People play these games just for the campaign?"  Why even buy the game in the first place?  Just rent it.  

It's different for something like Bioshock; I wasn't like "WHERES TEH MULTIZ!?!?!"  and I don't think they needed to add it for the sequel, but Halo?  Modern Warfare?  The campaigns are nothing; it's all about that multi.

This.

If you aren't playing these sort of shooters for the entire package (MP & SP and nowadays co-op) I sort of feel like you are missing the boat. It's like playing Left for Dead for the single player campaign or something. Just my imo

I'm also a bigger fan of Modern Warfare MP but what does it really matter what is the most popular shooter on the market. That's some fanboy bragging rights shit. Is that why you were playing it before?

[Brehvolution]

[archie4208]

.

a picture of your typical halo fan

[drew]

rebel?

[Joe Molotov]

Halo: Reach's target audience right there.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

L4D is co-op, so I love it!

I hate competitive MP, it can go fuck itself

[Beezy]

I hate competitive MP, it can go fuck itself

wtf

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I do not and have never enjoyed PVP or Vs gameplay!

[demi]

Halo has co-op too, though. Pretty fun on Legendary even.

[Nintendosbooger]

I really loved Halo 1 & 2. I think the problems with the franchise have been outside of its control. But it did own a whole genre for an entire generation and continues to sell, which is pretty impressive.

[cool breeze]

I'd say the problem is that it's the same game over and over with minor changes each time.  Series was pretty much "complete" with Halo 2, or at least it should have been.  Ignoring the PC release, the big thing about Halo 2 was Halo online multiplayer.  The big thing about Halo 3 was, uh, online co-op (which should have been in Halo 2). Then the campaigns are basically the same thing over and over.  It's like they go out of their way to make a shitty flood based level to make sure it's consistent.  Still, I enjoy the games.

Don't know if I'll buy Reach because I'm burnt out on Halo multiplayer.  I'm still pumped for the second or third final Halo game from Bungie.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I just think each console generation has an FPS series favorite.  Last generation was Halo; this generation is Call of Duty.  Doesn't mean Halo Reach won't be a success, just not as big as it once was.

[Beezy]

I do not and have never enjoyed PVP or Vs gameplay!

At all or just in fps games?

[Stoney Mason]

I just think each console generation has an FPS series favorite.  Last generation was Halo; this generation is Call of Duty.  Doesn't mean Halo Reach won't be a success, just not as big as it once was.

Times change. Taste change. Especially in a competitive genre.

Personally I think its pretty much impossible to judge when a series has "peaked" until way after the fact. Halo 3 was the most broadly popular one they have done. ODST was a gimmick and it still sold expectionally well for what it was although it did not review as well. The next Modern Warfare may not sell as much as this last one did simply because this was the high water mark for a shooter sales wise. I'm not sure going by sales for these mega franchise type games is the best way to determine quality. Not to mention there is always a hater brigade that surfaces whenever anything gets "too" popular. There are certainly valid critcisms to target at Halo like any other game. Although often when I hear people say a series has changed little, I sometimes think, well that is the case with nearly all franchises. That's why they are franchises. And the ones that do change a lot suddenly get a lot of hate for changing and not giving people what they wanted.

[bork]

I do not and have never enjoyed PVP or Vs gameplay!

Not even when everyone playing are personal friends?  That's what got me loving Halo-- 6-12 player LAN matches.

[Stoney Mason]

That some people don't like PVP isn't that surprising to me. Some people just prefer the co-op experience which is cool and understandable. I'm just saying the big MP franchises of this gen clearly have a split focus. It's a bit unfair to not take into account the full package because for other people that is what draws them. That they can buy one game and spend hundreds of hours with it and that presents a great bargain value.

[The Fake Shemp]

Life without my multiplayer games is not a life I want to live! Ever since I started to frag in the mid to late-90s on the PC, I never turned back.

[bork]

That some people don't like PVP isn't that surprising to me. Some people just prefer the co-op experience which is cool and understandable. I'm just saying the big MP franchises of this gen clearly have a split focus. It's a bit unfair to not take into account the full package because for other people that is what draws them. That they can buy one game and spend hundreds of hours with it and that presents a great bargain value.

When you do team battle matches, it's like co-op against smarter opponents!

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I do not and have never enjoyed PVP or Vs gameplay!

Not even when everyone playing are personal friends?  That's what got me loving Halo-- 6-12 player LAN matches.

yeah, I don't like PVP or Vs at all in any genre, I also don't like any sort of professional sports. competition is boring!

[Stoney Mason]

When you do team battle matches, it's like co-op against smarter opponents!

I think you need a gateway MP PVP drug game that gets you hooked for whatever reason. And it varies from person to person. And then from there you start to expand out a little and appreciate different types of MP in different games.

Of course some people just don't like the genre. I don't like MMO's. Its hard for me to imagine that an mmo will ever "hook" me but even one day that will happen I suppose...

[Howard Alan Treesong]

also, I totally understand/agree that a lot of modern games are MP focused, but since I don't play or care about that part I can't really judge the Halo series on it at all. I openly admit that is unfair to the kind people at Bungie working so hard on MP but that's life

[OptimoPeach]

I kinda try to avoid multiplayer lately because it ALWAYS ruins my gaming habits. The only time I'm having fun with competitive multiplayer (at least online) is when I'm goin SKEET SKEET SKEET all over everyone, meaning I tend to pour all of my free time into a single game and put all the others on hold. It does wonders for my e-peen when I'm 100-0ing people in WoW or averaging a 5:1 k/d ratio in an FPS, but the invariable nerdrage that comes with vidya competition makes the whole thing a bittersweet experience. I think I end up having more fun competing with myself (speed runs, etc), as gay as that sounds. And missing out on the more scrub-friendly games kinda sucks as well.

Despite all that, I'm still sorta thinking about getting GUD at MW2 cuz the lack of emphasis on teamwork in pubs is pretty appealing after doing Gladiator runs n stuff in WoW

[drew]

L4D is co-op, so I love it!

I hate competitive MP, it can go fuck itself

dont worry, it hates you too

[Great Rumbler]

L4D is co-op, so I love it!

I hate competitive MP, it can go fuck itself

L4D's versus mode is totally awesome though.