> "For now, here are the changes that will hit Halo 4 once you’re prompted to download this update.
>
> • Enabled “X-Markers” on the HUD to designate when and where teammates are killed.
> • Updated Active Camo to fully reveal players when they fire all weapons.
> • Reduced the auto aim, magnetism and damage on the Gauss Warthog.
> • Fixed an issue in which some players at SR-130 did not see their Specialization on their in-game Player Card.
> • Fixed various issues with ordnance navigation markers.
> • Fixed various join-in-progress issues with Flood.[/color]
> • Added the ability to make weapon adjustments via backend tuning.
>
> “… With this title update, we are adding the ability to make weapon adjustments outside of the standard title update process. This will allow us to fine tune and tweak the Halo 4 sandbox as often or not as often as needed… We’ll be sharing more about the different things we can do with our soon-to-be-acquired weapon-tuning “knobs” in our PAX East panel…”
This is a happy post, and a bit of a read. tl;dr at bottom
I’m also an old semi-professional player from Halo 2 and 3(I say that as it should be noted that a “competitive” player is actually happy with something about the game. Imagine that?).
You know, it is awfully odd for me of all people to be saying this, but 343i this may be your crowning moment as a developer, and if this is as great as I think it sounds I take back my many times thrown “maybe I won’t buy Halo 5” thought. I’ve thrown that thought around haphazardly like toddler with vegetables. You’d be surprised how determined I was with that thought, too. But, with that last line in that change log came to sudden change of heart that I’d been hoping for from the beginning.
When Halo 4 was being developed I was as happy as anyone could be, and I had the utmost faith in 343i. In fact, I was fanboy’ing so hard over the franchise, and the fact that Frankie and the rest of the team were hyping the game as much as they had done that I had thoughts of getting down on one knee, and proposing to the company. Then, Halo 4 was released and my optimism dropped as fast as I had shoved that disc into my Xbox’s slot. The thing is I still hadn’t given up hope.
If you are an old enough player of the franchise, by my relative terms, you probably remember Halo 2, and how terrible its online experience was for about a year. Then, the big Title Update happened for it and BOOM, it played like the best game in the series, in my opinion that is also shared by many. Halo 3 had a few title updates as well that changed the game and made it for the better. Halo: Reach was unplayable, to me, until its update hit. See, this is why I was still confident in 343i because I knew that just something like an update could fix everything- and then the first Title Update, that felt more like a hot/bugfix, came out for Halo 4 and once again my optimism dropped like a diabetics blood pressure. All that hope I had…it all felt like for nothing.
With the last update I was convinced that the death knell was being rung; that I had to put on my suit and tie and then attend a funeral for a company that was still just a kid. It’s a shame when you lose them so young, so innocent. I was flat-out taken aback and was frustrated. Frustrated so much, in fact, that I’d let that frustration out a few times on these very forums(Not that any of you had seen, as I really don’t post too much.). I’d rant and rave, I’d -Yoink- and moan and I’d certainly disregard any other opinion unless it was shared with the same distrust and disgust that I had had. Now, I’m a patient man. Patience is one of my many virtues, but I was fit to be tied and let patience hit the dust so my disappointment could take the wheel.
And now, something good. This isn’t a new chapter in the Halo 4 book: this is a new beginning. This is the best news that I could have hoped for. Sure, I have other wants and needs for my Halo, but this encompasses so many of those wants and needs that I’m like a little girl or boy who just got exactly what they wanted on whatever holiday you chose to imagine that involves presents as I mentioned this. This is their rallying cry that is certain to turn the tides on the war of thoughts and opinions on the multiplayer of this game. If you were hurt before, this is their graphic BandAid that they are putting on you with a kiss applied after.
If you don’t understand what this means then you probably never had a problem with the game before, and this really won’t affect you. If you don’t understand, but still wish to understand I’ll make it simple: This will allow the tweaking of various weapon characteristics that allows for a much more tailored, well suited game that can be fit to every single group of the Halo Multiplayer’s experience. This is what is going to get the people who you may think are “whining” about weapons to never have to “whine” again. This is going to get the peace and happy quiet that everyone wants.
This is a big deal, and a big step. My trust was torn down, but this was the first step taken that is placing the brick with mortar and building it back up. This is exactly what this game needs, but the process to acquiring back the community will be slow even if word of mouth travels fast. It is a necessary, but much appreciated step in the right direction to make Halo as grand as it once was. All I know is this: 343i, if your intention was to do one of the best things you could do for every single person who has ever or will ever have love for this franchise you hit the nail perfectly on the head. Like I said earlier, I have other wants, but this really meets my needs. Thank you so much.
My only hope is you let the community help you with this task by opening up hoppers with adjustments that is regular to scheduled change with various days for specific testing. Make it like a beta-esque type experience, requesting feedback with coordinated planning and fixes. I am 99% sure that this will be something good, and I can’t wait until you prove me right so we can add 1% and make it a beautiful, and happy 100%.
tl;dr Weapon adjustments? Weapon adjustments!!! No more weapons being underpowered or overpowered. 343i did something great, not just decent or good. Thank you guys so much, and high five.
