It’s a very tough thing to, pleasing everybody. Actually, it’s impossible. I have complete faith in Microsoft/343/Bungie to test various data groups with all sorts or variables to make this game the best it can be.
Halo has to cater to the masses, while retaining some of the original flavor that it’s creators want to contribute to the game.
Believe me when I say many, many, people were incorporated into their testing process. Males, females, teens, adults, gamers, casuals, pros, n00bs, and probably more variables. Not to mention that the team creating it has tested the crap out of it. In the end, they shipped the game they felt would cater best to their target audience, which is a lot bigger than the niche group that frequents forums, makes posts online, or voices their opinion in a setting such as this.
Don’t think your views are not heard, understood, or important, because they are. Bungie listens. As does the team at 343/Microsoft. You may not see it, but believe me when I say they’re there, feverishly working to make the best experience possible.
There are more things going into this user research than just consumer input. While I’m not 100% sure what other tools are used, I can take a guess and say they have a plethora of data constantly pouring in showing game completion, weapon choice, death/kill locations, average time alive, and who knows what else. All these things are accounted for and incorporated into their creations.
In no way am I trying to negate your point, because again it is a good point. It’s tough to believe that your ideas are being heard when you don’t hear back from a company, or don’t see exactly what you wanted implemented in a game. But again, they listen. There are just a lot of different ways they go about it!
