343 Industries fails to understand the times.

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

Last year I made a thread about how Custom Games Matchmaking would save the beloved activity all Halo players hold dear to their hearts.

However, I did not know how huge Forge would be, being able to control absolutely everything in the map, its something everyone was so stoked to know, including me.

Forge is fantastic, so that means Custom Games is as well! Finally, Halo is great again!

Wrong. I will admit, it is in a much better place than Halo 4’s Custom Games, but that is because 343 Industries only put the absolute bare minimum into it. Just enough for it to scrape by for another installment.

Why Halo 4’s scraped by is because it was accustomed to the level that Forge was at the time, they were perfect for each other, but not for the fans.

At this point, you already know where I’m going. I’m going back to Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, the absolute pinnacle of Halo. I understand fanboys can put up with what they purchased, because they want to try and justify their purchase as much as possible. While I cannot say they’re doing this with their own understanding, I can say that they miss old Halo as much as the rest of fans.

Fans are those who support the game and play it, but aren’t blinded by promises and visions companies shown them, they need to see it for themselves. They will complain for for the sake of complaining, but to make the series they love the best it can be, for them and others.

Fanboys are those who support the game and play it, but as long as the game fits their definition of okay, they’re willing to sacrifice all their decency to attack those who don’t agree with them. Their loyalty is strong and unbreakable, and they must be commended for it.

Both these parties can’t exist without the other, they’re both necessary for an interest. Enough of this, back on track.

Halo 3’s Custom Games was perfect not because it and Forge was absolutely perfect for each other, but because they were absolutely perfect for the players. It was a magical time that is all but forgotten now. The stars alligned perfectly, everybody had people on their friends list that’d join each other and play together for hours on end. Bungie made the system with full knowledge of their limits. 343 failed to understand the potential of this mode, which I believe was the problem for all the games they now published.

All they care about is the super elite MLG esports crowd. Campaign, Forge, Custom Games, Theater, everything besides that is a pure afterthought, and there is no denying that.

Bungie understood Halo was never a -Yoink- sport, it was an experience, not for the pro, for the casual gamer. All of this applies to Halo: Reach as well, but by then the times were changing, but it still enough to provide a good experience.

Bungie wasn’t at the mercy of Microsoft’s doing, but 343 Industries is, because they are a simple project that Microsoft uses as their advantage to keep Halo alive.

The problem here is that Halo 5’s Custom Games isn’t good enough for Forge. There are plenty of issues that still plague is despite coming on a year after launch, with plenty of options missing, with another issue being that people can’t talk to each other during the lobby.

I made this thread to prove a point, that Halo isn’t the Halo we used to know, and if people aren’t willing to fight for it, it never will be again.

2

I think 343 just fails to understand their fanbase.

Good post BTW.

3

> 2533274819567236;2:
> I think 343 just fails to understand their fanbase.
>
> Good post BTW.

Thank you. I expected the first post to be hate.

4

> 2533275064113844;3:
> > 2533274819567236;2:
> > I think 343 just fails to understand their fanbase.
> >
> > Good post BTW.
>
>
> Thank you. I expected the first post to be hate.

Sorry I’m late.

You’re opinions are different from mine, so therefore you’re wrong. Also, git gut, adapt or die, blah blah blah.

Am I doing this right?

5

Very well said OP

6

> 2533275064113844;3:
> > 2533274819567236;2:
> > I think 343 just fails to understand their fanbase.
> >
> > Good post BTW.
>
>
> Thank you. I expected the first post to be hate.

Not hate. Just acknowledgement of a misunderstanding. It is what it is.

7

I think that with the right amount of friends, this custom games is better than H3 and Reach could ever be, primarily because they were limited by Forge functions. Don’t get me wrong, I will always say that H3’s custom games was by far the best, but it was hard trying to find new game types that were fun and successful, (granted I was about 10-12 when I played it). I remember playing infection in it and I thought it was a good idea, but wasn’t meeting it’s full potential, however, in H5, all the infection gametypes (fat man especially) are addicting and exhilarating.
For me, one thing that H5’s customs games does better than H3 and Reach is that the community is given so many options, that they create a whole new experience and make it feel like a totally new game. A good example of this is Banshee Space Battles. It creates sort of a Star Wars Battlefront 2 feel that I had long forgotten about.
I didn’t really like Reach’s custom games as much because a lot of gametypes were focused around infection and got boring after a while, it was hard to find a party that was playing something different.
I do agree that they should try to recenter their focus on the community aspects of the game instead of on esports. Esports should not be taken out of Halo but instead it should come after everything else is established.

8

> 2535471109694535;7:
> I think that with the right amount of friends, this custom games is better than H3 and Reach could ever be, primarily because they were limited by Forge functions. Don’t get me wrong, I will always say that H3’s custom games was by far the best, but it was hard trying to find new game types that were fun and successful, (granted I was about 10-12 when I played it). I remember playing infection in it and I thought it was a good idea, but wasn’t meeting it’s full potential, however, in H5, all the infection gametypes (fat man especially) are addicting and exhilarating.
> For me, one thing that H5’s customs games does better than H3 and Reach is that the community is given so many options, that they create a whole new experience and make it feel like a totally new game. A good example of this is Banshee Space Battles. It creates sort of a Star Wars Battlefront 2 feel that I had long forgotten about.
> I didn’t really like Reach’s custom games as much because a lot of gametypes were focused around infection and got boring after a while, it was hard to find a party that was playing something different.
> I do agree that they should try to recenter their focus on the community aspects of the game instead of on esports. Esports should not be taken out of Halo but instead it should come after everything else is established.

A proper Fileshare system with a central hub for all community creations would do wonders. I believe that was also a big reason why H3’s custom games thrived.

9

> 2533274819567236;8:
> > 2535471109694535;7:
> > I think that with the right amount of friends, this custom games is better than H3 and Reach could ever be, primarily because they were limited by Forge functions. Don’t get me wrong, I will always say that H3’s custom games was by far the best, but it was hard trying to find new game types that were fun and successful, (granted I was about 10-12 when I played it). I remember playing infection in it and I thought it was a good idea, but wasn’t meeting it’s full potential, however, in H5, all the infection gametypes (fat man especially) are addicting and exhilarating.
> > For me, one thing that H5’s customs games does better than H3 and Reach is that the community is given so many options, that they create a whole new experience and make it feel like a totally new game. A good example of this is Banshee Space Battles. It creates sort of a Star Wars Battlefront 2 feel that I had long forgotten about.
> > I didn’t really like Reach’s custom games as much because a lot of gametypes were focused around infection and got boring after a while, it was hard to find a party that was playing something different.
> > I do agree that they should try to recenter their focus on the community aspects of the game instead of on esports. Esports should not be taken out of Halo but instead it should come after everything else is established.
>
>
> A proper Fileshare system with a central hub for all community creations would do wonders. I believe that was also a big reason why H3’s custom games thrived.

True, I knew I left something out. The only reason I find good maps/gametypes is through the forums and YouTube.

10

> 2533274819567236;8:
> > 2535471109694535;7:
> > I think that with the right amount of friends, this custom games is better than H3 and Reach could ever be, primarily because they were limited by Forge functions. Don’t get me wrong, I will always say that H3’s custom games was by far the best, but it was hard trying to find new game types that were fun and successful, (granted I was about 10-12 when I played it). I remember playing infection in it and I thought it was a good idea, but wasn’t meeting it’s full potential, however, in H5, all the infection gametypes (fat man especially) are addicting and exhilarating.
> > For me, one thing that H5’s customs games does better than H3 and Reach is that the community is given so many options, that they create a whole new experience and make it feel like a totally new game. A good example of this is Banshee Space Battles. It creates sort of a Star Wars Battlefront 2 feel that I had long forgotten about.
> > I didn’t really like Reach’s custom games as much because a lot of gametypes were focused around infection and got boring after a while, it was hard to find a party that was playing something different.
> > I do agree that they should try to recenter their focus on the community aspects of the game instead of on esports. Esports should not be taken out of Halo but instead it should come after everything else is established.
>
>
> A proper Fileshare system with a central hub for all community creations would do wonders. I believe that was also a big reason why H3’s custom games thrived.

Couldn’t agree more.

11

> 2533274819567236;8:
> > 2535471109694535;7:
> > I think that with the right amount of friends, this custom games is better than H3 and Reach could ever be, primarily because they were limited by Forge functions. Don’t get me wrong, I will always say that H3’s custom games was by far the best, but it was hard trying to find new game types that were fun and successful, (granted I was about 10-12 when I played it). I remember playing infection in it and I thought it was a good idea, but wasn’t meeting it’s full potential, however, in H5, all the infection gametypes (fat man especially) are addicting and exhilarating.
> > For me, one thing that H5’s customs games does better than H3 and Reach is that the community is given so many options, that they create a whole new experience and make it feel like a totally new game. A good example of this is Banshee Space Battles. It creates sort of a Star Wars Battlefront 2 feel that I had long forgotten about.
> > I didn’t really like Reach’s custom games as much because a lot of gametypes were focused around infection and got boring after a while, it was hard to find a party that was playing something different.
> > I do agree that they should try to recenter their focus on the community aspects of the game instead of on esports. Esports should not be taken out of Halo but instead it should come after everything else is established.
>
>
> A proper Fileshare system with a central hub for all community creations would do wonders. I believe that was also a big reason why H3’s custom games thrived.

Indeed, this would help tremendously.

12

I would agree with op, yea a proper in game fileshare system would be nice!

13

> 2533274819132930;12:
> I would agree with op, yea a proper in game fileshare system would be nice!

Yes it would, why 343 didn’t actually try putting effort into Halo 5 is beyond me.

14

Good read to an extent but I have to disagree on some points, bungie was in fact under microsofts rule cuz they could only make halo games and Microsoft wouldn’t let them do other projects unless it was halo related, hence why they left halo to do destiny. Number two is 343 advertised the story more than anything else so I fail to see where you can blame the mlg crowd for halos current stance. The issue is 343 just seems to make the wrong decision when to us it seems obvious on what they should do.

The he list goes from having a file share in game (wtf have it on a website?), downgrade on the UI and a boring menu to losing more playlists than we had in previous games. I cut them slack on h4 simply cuz it was their first game, but now it’s been 6 years I believe? They should now have the experience and feedback on what to do and what not to do, and to go further they have Bungies previous work to go off of as to what works and what won’t. At this point 343 gets some things right, but screw up the most obvious things that it’s now starting to irk people (could say it started with mcc as well).

15

> 2533275064113844;1:
> Last year I made a thread about how Custom Games Matchmaking would save the beloved activity all Halo players hold dear to their hearts.
>
> However, I did not know how huge Forge would be, being able to control absolutely everything in the map, its something everyone was so stoked to know, including me.
>
> Forge is fantastic, so that means Custom Games is as well! Finally, Halo is great again!
>
> Wrong. I will admit, it is in a much better place than Halo 4’s Custom Games, but that is because 343 Industries only put the absolute bare minimum into it. Just enough for it to scrape by for another installment.
>
> Why Halo 4’s scraped by is because it was accustomed to the level that Forge was at the time, they were perfect for each other, but not for the fans.
>
> At this point, you already know where I’m going. I’m going back to Halo 3 and Halo: Reach, the absolute pinnacle of Halo. I understand fanboys can put up with what they purchased, because they want to try and justify their purchase as much as possible. While I cannot say they’re doing this with their own understanding, I can say that they miss old Halo as much as the rest of fans.
>
> Fans are those who support the game and play it, but aren’t blinded by promises and visions companies shown them, they need to see it for themselves. They will complain for for the sake of complaining, but to make the series they love the best it can be, for them and others.
>
> Fanboys are those who support the game and play it, but as long as the game fits their definition of okay, they’re willing to sacrifice all their decency to attack those who don’t agree with them. Their loyalty is strong and unbreakable, and they must be commended for it.
>
> Both these parties can’t exist without the other, they’re both necessary for an interest. Enough of this, back on track.
>
> Halo 3’s Custom Games was perfect not because it and Forge was absolutely perfect for each other, but because they were absolutely perfect for the players. It was a magical time that is all but forgotten now. The stars alligned perfectly, everybody had people on their friends list that’d join each other and play together for hours on end. Bungie made the system with full knowledge of their limits. 343 failed to understand the potential of this mode, which I believe was the problem for all the games they now published.
>
> All they care about is the super elite MLG esports crowd. Campaign, Forge, Custom Games, Theater, everything besides that is a pure afterthought, and there is no denying that.
>
> Bungie understood Halo was never a -Yoink- sport, it was an experience, not for the pro, for the casual gamer. All of this applies to Halo: Reach as well, but by then the times were changing, but it still enough to provide a good experience.
>
> Bungie wasn’t at the mercy of Microsoft’s doing, but 343 Industries is, because they are a simple project that Microsoft uses as their advantage to keep Halo alive.
>
> The problem here is that Halo 5’s Custom Games isn’t good enough for Forge. There are plenty of issues that still plague is despite coming on a year after launch, with plenty of options missing, with another issue being that people can’t talk to each other during the lobby.
>
> I made this thread to prove a point, that Halo isn’t the Halo we used to know, and if people aren’t willing to fight for it, it never will be again.

Why are you calling those who like the game "fanboys and those who don’t “fans” Are players who like Halo 5 not Halo fans? Just curoius if I am misunderstanding the context. But good read.

16

> 2533274923562209;14:
> Good read to an extent but I have to disagree on some points, bungie was in fact under microsofts rule cuz they could only make halo games and Microsoft wouldn’t let them do other projects unless it was halo related, hence why they left halo to do destiny. Number two is 343 advertised the story more than anything else so I fail to see where you can blame the mlg crowd for halos current stance. The issue is 343 just seems to make the wrong decision when to us it seems obvious on what they should do.
>
> The he list goes from having a file share in game (wtf have it on a website?), downgrade on the UI and a boring menu to losing more playlists than we had in previous games. I cut them slack on h4 simply cuz it was their first game, but now it’s been 6 years I believe? They should now have the experience and feedback on what to do and what not to do, and to go further they have Bungies previous work to go off of as to what works and what won’t. At this point 343 gets some things right, but screw up the most obvious things that it’s now starting to irk people (could say it started with mcc as well).

Its 2019?

17

> 2535429756019039;16:
> > 2533274923562209;14:
> > Good read to an extent but I have to disagree on some points, bungie was in fact under microsofts rule cuz they could only make halo games and Microsoft wouldn’t let them do other projects unless it was halo related, hence why they left halo to do destiny. Number two is 343 advertised the story more than anything else so I fail to see where you can blame the mlg crowd for halos current stance. The issue is 343 just seems to make the wrong decision when to us it seems obvious on what they should do.
> >
> > The he list goes from having a file share in game (wtf have it on a website?), downgrade on the UI and a boring menu to losing more playlists than we had in previous games. I cut them slack on h4 simply cuz it was their first game, but now it’s been 6 years I believe? They should now have the experience and feedback on what to do and what not to do, and to go further they have Bungies previous work to go off of as to what works and what won’t. At this point 343 gets some things right, but screw up the most obvious things that it’s now starting to irk people (could say it started with mcc as well).
>
>
> Its 2018?

343 has been involved since reach, I’m going on about their years of existence.

18

> 2533274923562209;17:
> > 2535429756019039;16:
> > > 2533274923562209;14:
> > > Good read to an extent but I have to disagree on some points, bungie was in fact under microsofts rule cuz they could only make halo games and Microsoft wouldn’t let them do other projects unless it was halo related, hence why they left halo to do destiny. Number two is 343 advertised the story more than anything else so I fail to see where you can blame the mlg crowd for halos current stance. The issue is 343 just seems to make the wrong decision when to us it seems obvious on what they should do.
> > >
> > > The he list goes from having a file share in game (wtf have it on a website?), downgrade on the UI and a boring menu to losing more playlists than we had in previous games. I cut them slack on h4 simply cuz it was their first game, but now it’s been 6 years I believe? They should now have the experience and feedback on what to do and what not to do, and to go further they have Bungies previous work to go off of as to what works and what won’t. At this point 343 gets some things right, but screw up the most obvious things that it’s now starting to irk people (could say it started with mcc as well).
> >
> >
> > Its 2018?
>
>
> 343 has been involved since reach, I’m going on about their years of existence.

While they have been involved, they were only involved in the final map pack, this was going on as the exact same time as the failure that was CEA.

19

> 2533274923562209;17:
> > 2535429756019039;16:
> > > 2533274923562209;14:
> > > Good read to an extent but I have to disagree on some points, bungie was in fact under microsofts rule cuz they could only make halo games and Microsoft wouldn’t let them do other projects unless it was halo related, hence why they left halo to do destiny. Number two is 343 advertised the story more than anything else so I fail to see where you can blame the mlg crowd for halos current stance. The issue is 343 just seems to make the wrong decision when to us it seems obvious on what they should do.
> > >
> > > The he list goes from having a file share in game (wtf have it on a website?), downgrade on the UI and a boring menu to losing more playlists than we had in previous games. I cut them slack on h4 simply cuz it was their first game, but now it’s been 6 years I believe? They should now have the experience and feedback on what to do and what not to do, and to go further they have Bungies previous work to go off of as to what works and what won’t. At this point 343 gets some things right, but screw up the most obvious things that it’s now starting to irk people (could say it started with mcc as well).
> >
> >
> > Its 2018?
>
>
> 343 has been involved since reach, I’m going on about their years of existence.

Oh!!! nevermind, my fault, I was basing it off 4 and on, your right.

20

343 need to listen to what us fans have to say.