I have been curious about the 15 free maps we would be given by June of this year, and here it is June the “last” update with free maps. Most of us here have short memories. I know this has been discussed already, and it may even be pointless to bring it up again. However, I think it is important not to forget. What we have been told and what we have been given is not necessarily the same thing. So I thought I would break it down:
Maps at launch:
Warzone and Warzone Assault: (6)
-
Escape from A.R.C. - Raid on Apex 7 - March on Stormbreak - Dispatch - Array - SummitWe all know that 3 out of 6 of these maps are basically the same maps. I leave it up to you if you want to view them as independent. In my opinion they are not.
Arena: (16)
-
Gambol (forge) - Orion (forge) - Pegasus (forge) - Trident (forge) - Trench (forge) - Crossfire (forge) - Altitude (forge) - The Rig - Fathom - Coliseum - Eden (remix very similar to Empire) - Plaza - Empire - Truth - Regret (remix)In essence 9 out of 22 maps are original, non-forged maps.
Now for the “free DLC maps”, a total of 15 that we were promised according to July issue of gameinformer. I will list them most recent to least, and include a link to the community update in case there is any question.
Hog Wild
-
No maps just Hogs and REQ’sMemories of Reach
-
Arena Map: Stasis (very similar to Torque)Ghosts of Meridian
-
Arena Map: Tyrant - Warzone Map: Skirmish at DarkstarHammer Storm
-
Arena Map: TorqueInfinitys Armory
-
Arena Map: Riptide - Warzone Assault: Urban (reused Warzone map)Cartographer
-
Arena Map: Overgrowth - Warzone: Battle of Noctus - BTB: Entombed (forge) - BTB: Antifreeze (forge)Battle of Noctus
-
BTB: Guillotine (forge) - BTB: Recurve (forge) - BTB: Deadlock (forge) - BTB: Basin (forge)9 out of 14 maps are forged or reused maps.
I believe there was a time when we were hoping that the BTB forged maps were not included in the 15, but I believe it is now obvious that they are.
Currently what we have been given is 15 original maps, and 21 either forged, “reskinned”, and unoriginal (inspired by previous) maps. I have to say it is a little disappointing. When we were told free DLC maps I was expecting more than community forged maps. Even with all the revenue from REQ’s it is still majority forged and reused maps.
It is little things like this that make for an environment of distrust. They said that the reason for this DLC free thing was to help unite the community. That in the past not enough players would buy the DLC maps, and thus create a divide. I experienced this with both Reach and Halo 4. I purchased all the DLC only to play those maps on the very rare occasion because no one purchased them.
I am not trying to be negative or callout 343i. I admit I may be a little naive since I am hoping that in the future, if they do this same type of thing with Halo 6, that they will call the maps what they are; some original, some remixes of previous maps, “reskins” of other maps, and some forged by the community. Instead of what we have received from them: a majority of launch maps and dlc maps that are not original, and, in a way, are attempting to masquerade as such.
I propose, keep the REQ system the way it is, thereby to help finance “free” DLC maps, but make all the DLC maps dev originals that must be purchased for early, exclusive play and later make them available to all the community.
I completely agree. Unique and original maps developed by 343 are what I prefer. To me, there is something special about these maps because the developer takes their time and brings in unique set pieces. Not to say forge is bad or anything but I do feel developer maps bring in a whole new aesthetic.
At this point, the biggest wish I have for 343 is to drastically improve the forge service in halo 6 for the community to utilize. I absolutely disagree with the developer kit maps and forge maps from the CCs. Their design philosophy is frustrating to play on and ultimately creates stale game play in the long run, which is why I hope that 343 relies more on the community to play test maps so that they can focus on other assets of the game, unlike the mess within halo 5’s launch.
I like all these maps.
I’m just sad they removed so many of these from playlists… e-sports crap happened, damn. <_<
Bring them back and make a separate playlist for those e-sporties and not the other way around, removing the fun.
> 2533274807506528;2:
> I completely agree. Unique and original maps developed by 343 are what I prefer. To me, there is something special about these maps because the developer takes their time and brings in unique set pieces. Not to say forge is bad or anything but I do feel developer maps bring in a whole new aesthetic.
Wow, I totally forgot about posting this. Thanks for commenting. I could be wrong, but were any of the Reach or Halo 4 DLC maps basically reskins?
> 2533274968707582;3:
> At this point, the biggest wish I have for 343 is to drastically improve the forge service in halo 6 for the community to utilize. I absolutely disagree with the developer kit maps and forge maps from the CCs. Their design philosophy is frustrating to play on and ultimately creates stale game play in the long run, which is why I hope that 343 relies more on the community to play test maps so that they can focus on other assets of the game, unlike the mess within halo 5’s launch.
I don’t really have a lot of experience with any of the forge aspects of Halo. My main issue has been that at least 6 out of the 15 free maps were community forged. In my opinion they should not have been included.
@DaxSeven09 As a part of the free DLC map count, the forge maps shouldn’t have been included, especially with the atrocious mess of Antifreeze (no offense Warholic). But it’s great that 343 is continuing to accept community forge maps as shown within the community creations forum.
Assuming that they continue to use maps from the community in halo 6, that should free 343 enough time to make more maps from their developer kits for once.
> 2533274971171822;4:
> I like all these maps.
> I’m just sad they removed so many of these from playlists… e-sports crap happened, damn. <_<
> Bring them back and make a separate playlist for those e-sporties and not the other way around, removing the fun.
Yes, but this isn’t about whether we like them or not. It is the fact that part of these “15 free maps” are not all developed by 343i, and in essence just reskins.
The REQ system was touted as to help with the free DLC as well as these maps were “an apology” for their MCC debacle. The way I am looking at it we got about 9 original dev maps as a thank you.
> 2533274863544717;5:
> > 2533274807506528;2:
> > I completely agree. Unique and original maps developed by 343 are what I prefer. To me, there is something special about these maps because the developer takes their time and brings in unique set pieces. Not to say forge is bad or anything but I do feel developer maps bring in a whole new aesthetic.
>
>
> Wow, I totally forgot about posting this. Thanks for commenting. I could be wrong, but were any of the Reach or Halo 4 DLC maps basically reskins?
>
>
> @Daxseven09 Yeah probably haha. But when the maps are truly unique, I feel so much more immersed in the game.
>
>
> > 2533274968707582;3:
> > At this point, the biggest wish I have for 343 is to drastically improve the forge service in halo 6 for the community to utilize. I absolutely disagree with the developer kit maps and forge maps from the CCs. Their design philosophy is frustrating to play on and ultimately creates stale game play in the long run, which is why I hope that 343 relies more on the community to play test maps so that they can focus on other assets of the game, unlike the mess within halo 5’s launch.
>
> I don’t really have a lot of experience with any of the forge aspects of Halo. My main issue has been that at least 6 out of the 15 free maps were community forged. In my opinion they should not have been included.
Would have been a better apology for 343 to release the full amount of game modes like we have today while trickling in those maps. Unfortunately, the maps and launch of halo 5 have the replay value of CoD sometimes.
I’m fine with Re-Mix maps but the whole “Forge maps counting as DLC” is a little offensive to the customer. I guess my only solace is that forge is good enough that the maps feel different.
(On another note Is it just me or is BTB always standoff, recurve and the occasional Valhalla. I’ve never played on sandtrap yet, and that awesome Wreckage - esque map has drifted off.
> 2533274968707582;9:
> Would have been a better apology for 343 to release the full amount of game modes like we have today while trickling in those maps. Unfortunately, the maps and launch of halo 5 have the replay value of CoD sometimes.
Hmmm…I don’t totally agree with that. I am actually okay with the trickle. Although, I wouldn’t have minded if some of it was added at launch. What I would have liked was less forged of the 15 maps.
I cannot compare it to CoD, because I don’t play it.
> 2533274824175624;10:
> I’m fine with Re-Mix maps but the whole “Forge maps counting as DLC” is a little offensive to the customer. I guess my only solace is that forge is good enough that the maps feel different.
>
> (On another note Is it just me or is BTB always standoff, recurve and the occasional Valhalla. I’ve never played on sandtrap yet, and that awesome Wreckage - esque map has drifted off.
I remember when those maps came out, and some people were saying that there was no way they were included as DLC. Well it looks like they were wrong. It is unfortunate. I am not so much as offended. They never said these maps are only going to be dev made maps. It’s all good. What we should take note of, and ask for, is if they want to continue the free DLC idea for Halo 6 that the community forged maps are a completely separate thing.
I was looking forward to BTB when they announced it. I played one, ONE, game of it… and the map was horrible. It looked so pathetic. Nothing was aligned properly and it looked like a hack job from a Forge editor in Halo: CE. It was not polished in any way and I absolutely hated it 1min in.
That was not what I was hoping for. I was hoping for a polished map made by the devs. Not something thrown together in a couple hours.
> 2533274863544717;11:
> > 2533274968707582;9:
> > Would have been a better apology for 343 to release the full amount of game modes like we have today while trickling in those maps. Unfortunately, the maps and launch of halo 5 have the replay value of CoD sometimes.
>
>
> Hmmm…I don’t totally agree with that. I am actually okay with the trickle. Although, I wouldn’t have minded if some of it was added at launch. What I would have liked was less forged of the 15 maps.
>
> I cannot compare it to CoD, because I don’t play it.
I don’t think anyone can really defend the laziness in 343’s additions of staple game modes that were available at launch for other halo games. It’s a silly mentality to think that if you release too much content in 1 moment, that people will get sick of the game faster. If that was truly the case, then your clear problem would be the replay value of the game.
Just a heads up but you listed trident twice in your list.
The problem with BTB being all forged maps was 343i level design team was solely focused on 4v4 Arena for e-sports/mlg.
Same with the remixes, they wanted to keep everything familiar for the “pro” players so if they knew one map, it would be too different from it’s remix but still be “new”.
> 2533274946317298;15:
> Just a heads up but you listed trident twice in your list.
Thanks for the heads up!
> 2731647631135596;16:
> The problem with BTB being all forged maps was 343i level design team was solely focused on 4v4 Arena for e-sports/mlg.
> Same with the remixes, they wanted to keep everything familiar for the “pro” players so if they knew one map, it would be too different from it’s remix but still be “new”.
I highly doubt that. Especially since they asked for feedback from the whole community concerning the maps in Team Arena. It was fairly recently that the maps and weapon spawns were changed around based off of that feedback.
I don’t mind forge maps as much (even though I really dislike the plastic texture) but the remixes annoy me to no end.
343i also said the campaign would be the darkest yet. They advertised the story as a mysterious campaign of Locke finding out why Chief is activating Guardians and running away with destruction in his wake. They said it would be 8-12 hours long in Normal difficulty. They had Cortana dead and brought back. These guys kept the news of no split screen quiet until they finally had to break the news. Of course they counted Forge and Remix maps as the 21 maps at launch and 15 maps as free DLC. They call it free DLC when these updates are actually supposed to be at launch and now they are making more $$$ off REQ micro transactions than they would have with paid DLC.
And people call 343i generous…
These guys really have a lot of players fooled.