343, I want to say thanks.

Games Other Halo
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343,

You’ve seen your absolute lion’s share of threads and posts in these forums about what many think went wrong with Halo 4. These posts are not without merit. They don’t however, tell the entire story. Even I have a fair list of things that I’m not particularly happy with, whether it be from a technical standpoint or from an artistic one. But I will say one thing, there is an incredible list of things that I am happy with, and I think that it’s something that goes far too unnoticed in the louder voices on these forums.

I want to tell you some of the things that I love about your maiden game, and I would encourage other members to do the same in this thread if they so see fit. Again, it’s not that complaints aren’t very real or often very valid, but there are more than enough threads where the more negative thoughts (and even well-thought out criticism) can find a home. This thread is for nerd chills, for endless smiles, and for appreciation.

Thank you for an emotionally engaging story and relationship between the Chief and Cortana. I rewatched all the cutscenes from the H4 campaign this morning and found myself becoming pretty emotional by the end. Personally, I’m going through an incredibly tough time in regards to the notion of relationships fought-for and potentially lost, and the interactions between Chief and Cortana felt like they were written in poetic empathy to a faithful fan like myself. It became so much more than a science fiction story. It was all at once a fight to save humanity, and a fight to hold on to a love that was slipping through well-armored fingers. It’s something I feel like I will revisit again and again as I go through my own process of hope, hurt, and healing. Every glance, every knowing inflection, it resonated through the chambers of a hall built over twelve years of fiction.

Thank you for Spartan Ops. No matter how many buttons we were required to push, I absolutely adored the intent and overall execution of the Spartan Ops campaign and experience. Getting to outfit my own personal member of Fireteam Crimson and fight through the fields and hallways of Requiem with my brothers and sisters by my side was an absolute rush. We developed a weekly ritual built around the release of the trailers for upcoming episodes as well as the episodes themselves. The cinematic experiences were absolutely top-notch, and the legitimate and importance of the Infinity story woven into the overall fiction was incredibly wonderful. I hope that you are able to take what you learned from Season One, and create an even greater experience in the future, whether that be a part of Halo 5 or something altogether separate.

Thank you for rewarding multi-modal fan investment. The payoff for someone like myself who breathes in every scrap of fiction in every form it comes in was wonderful. Seeing threads of story come together from novels, comics, games, journals, film, and more was so gratifying. I would love to think that it might encourage others to explore more corners of this ever-expanding universe, and find all the hidden treasures awaiting them. I also really appreciate the heavier integration of applications like Waypoint, where we can access everything from new bits of armor to (more excitingly) extended pieces of fiction like the Rebirth Terminal from Silentium. And speaking of which…

Thank you for the Terminals. They have quickly become one of my most looked-forward to aspects of any Halo game. As I mentioned above, I love and appreciate the payoff for spending extra time exploring the hidden bits of story you’ve hidden throughout this fantastic universe. I hope that no matter where Halo games go in the future, no matter what new platforms we might find them on, that there will always be things like this for fans to hunt down and learn just that much more about.

Thank you for ever-more armor choices. Do I like them all? Nah, but I love that each piece isn’t just a visual adornment, I love that it’s an actual piece of the story. It has a history and a purpose. I love that since H3, we’ve been blessed with more and more choices to select from. I certainly hope that kind of growth continues in the future.

Thank you for multiplayer that is still fun to play. I adored the MP from H3 and earlier, while Reach was much more hit and miss for me. But Halo 4, for all it’s quirks, is still damn fun to play. I’ve killed so much time in Extraction lately it’s not even funny. I love the sandbox, I love the teamwork, I love the payoff.

Thank you for your heart. This has not been an easy task for you. Going from zero-300+ employees in record time and attempting to pull of the herculean task that is taking the reins of a franchise that isn’t just a game franchise, but the face of a platform and a cultural icon… it’s damn near crazy if you ask me. Thank you for the time you sacrificed away from your loved ones to try and make this fickle ocean of opinions happy. Thank you for trying to listen to your community, even if you get those messages wrong sometimes. Hell, sometimes the messages we send aren’t necessarily that great to begin with! Thank you not necessarily for always succeeding, but thank you for trying. It’s all that can possibly be asked of you. Will there be more mistakes? Absolutely; many I’m sure. But I have faith that the thought and time being put into the effort is one of hearts in the right place, and that still counts for something to so many of us.

So again, thanks. Even if no one adds to this thread with positive thoughts of their own, know that I’ve been a fan from the beginning, having had a life literally changed by the franchise, and that you delivered a product that I am as proud to play as you should be to have created. Be confident, be bold, be aware, be understanding, be yourselves. Halo became great because it was made by people who unabashedly and quite literally “made games that they wanted to play.” And the fans followed. So keep making the games that you want to play, 343. You’ve got talent and heart in spades, and more support than you might think or realize waiting to share the experience right along side you.

Much love,
Grim

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Hop off the D.

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all they did better was campaign that is all.

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First post I’ve ever made on HW just to say I echo Grim and I look forward to what’s next while enjoying what’s here.

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Aya, op. Even if multiplayer were to degrade below previous standards (which would still be incredibly fun), the stellar story aspects ensures these “Halo will die, nurrrrr” comments so common here, are bull. It was, after all, what made the franchise such a powerhouse in the first place, as people tend to forget.

As it is, I can enjoy Halo 4’s multiplayer as is alongside campaign, so yay for me.

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I’m with you on the Campaign and Spartan Ops there Grim, just not everything else unfortunately. Also, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you post here, besides the Welcome thread and the guidelines.

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Absolutely agree with GRIM in his OP. He hit on most of the points I too feel were so good about Halo 4.

Thanks for making worthy commentary GRIM.

Thanks to 343i for a great experience in Halo 4 and I look forward to your next Halo game.

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This may or may not be my first post here, and I tend to ignore this forum (and most forums, actually) since an overabundance of negative thoughts and opinions is scientifically proven to spoil your enjoyment of anything. I find that the best way to think positively and enjoy the Halo series anymore is to just avoid the internet entirely. Abandoning the internet to the jerks, as it were, and finding refuge in The Ark just playing the game and enjoying it. 343, of course, can’t do that, so it’s great to give them reminders that those of us who still care, still believe are still out here. Well spoken Grim. I have my problems with Halo 4 as much as anyone else, but a million voices have already tread that ground. Instead I’ll share what I loved:

I was going through a pretty intense breakup (first love and all that bs) when Halo 4 came out, so I was not in the greatest of moods starting the campaign up for the first time. However, I was stunned by the beauty of the game right from the start. The first time I saw Requiem, the first Forerunner structures we come across, the incredible lighting, a Tank section within the first three levels, the Mantis, the Didact, meeting the Librarian, blowing up like literally everything - I loved it. I was lost in the world, completely engrossed, and loving every second of it.

And then Cortana… oh Cortana, I didn’t spoil myself, but somehow I always knew. Well done, 343. I only started to nitpick after I had come down off my high and started to really think about the game, but even then I believe that Halo 4 is a splendid game, and after reading Silentium, my faith in 343 has been completely renewed. Bring on whatever’s next friends. I’ll be waiting.

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Not enough of these threads. Nice post op, I also enjoy the game. Though like you, I have my gripes.

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I have to admit, if you aren’t stubborn and you look past Halo 4s problems, you can find the best halo game ever. Of all time.

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Blindsided fanboy… Hey look listen, 343 did well with the Campaign and thats about it.

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You’ve only played 3 games… I bet you lost them.

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Time to wait for the flood of hate, you make a post like this and you should expect it.

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This is my second Account… I played on this when I was silver. Ok message me and we can 1v1 if I suck

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I never said you suck, I was making a guess sorry if I offended you.

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> Time to wait for the flood of hate, you make a post like this and you should expect it.

Blind and irrational hate neither brothers nor scares me, and the last thing that I’m going to do is not post my own thoughts just because I’m worried about others inability to compose themselves in a respectful and positive way befitting a rational, sentient life form. :wink: i appreciate the sentiment though!

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Every post I have seen you on… is thrashing someone and something… do you not have anything better to do…

Now, personally, yeah Campaign and Spops are about the only good things out of Halo, in a sense we should be thankful for them bringing MC back… but least make the Campaign longer nxt… maybe some dedicated time to the Hog… sure the previous Halos did it… want to change things up… but if you ditch Spops… racing through a lvl killing ET with a hog was just awesome.

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Its all good bro

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> I have to admit, if you aren’t stubborn and you look past Halo 4s problems, you can find the best halo game ever. Of all time.

Looks at gutted Custom Games and weakened Forge

No, not even close.

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I am happy that you can find it in you to enjoy halo 4 and I hope you continue to enjoy it, but me and 3/4 of the community disagree.