A Message to 343...

Games Other Halo
1

I’m in no way representing a majority of consumers here, I’m simply voicing my opinion that a few of my friends (some pretty die hard Halo fans) share.

There’s also a petition on facebook for those of you who dislike the changes. You can find it Here.

I understand that you’re trying to make game sales and are adapting the game to suit the market of today, but you’re honestly losing all the Halo fans that were here from the start. If you’re looking for sales and sales alone, I think you’ve probably gone too far because ultimately the game now is only worth playing for the Campaign storyline (Again, this is my opinion and not of the entire Halo community), so with that said, instead of 20 or so sales that you would have had guaranteed in the bag with us, you guys might now secure 1 or 2 sales, and a few of us may or may not rent the game to see what the storyline has to offer.

IF this same representation is taken into account by the entire Halo community that have been greatly disappointed by this recent release of information, you’re going to find that the Trilogy has failed before it’s even began. With a vast majority (using the above statistics) 90-95% of current customers, not even bothering to buy the game. (Again, these statistics are unfair of the entire community and I cannot say are an accurate representation. They are just our statistics between me and my friends)

I see that a market demands specific features in a game and they’re requested by publishers etc… but honestly, going against what Halo stands for just to sell the game to an under-appreciative audience as a whole just seems wrong? Half of my mates that used to play games no longer do because there are NO innovative new games being released and all of them are identical in nature with the only differences being texture packs and a campaign. Which, ironically, is not what the games industry should be focused on to sell a game, it should be their matchmaking ideas because THAT is what keeps a gamer playing the game, and THAT is what influences their opinon of such a game.

Now, the ideas suggested, albeit rather creative, do not reflect Halo in the slightest. The Random Weapon Drops idea as a concept currently removes all tactics, Teamwork and map control from the game which was something Halo was recognised for. Halo, in my eyes and a lot of other people’s eyes, is about fairness. You start in a fair scenario and you create your advantages by utillising your strengths available to you. You work as a team, you dominate as a team. You control the map. The Random Weapon Drop idea singly removes all teamwork from the match because you are required to control the entire map to ensure success. (To any readers not aware of how this removes teamwork. A single team could not possibly control an entire competitive map, while remaining in close proximity of one another to assist each other when in need) If you choose not to, the Random Weapon Drops could fall or reinforce a much weaker (in ability) team 10/10 times during a game, securing them victory… which ultimately removes fairness from the game, as well as the tactic of controlling the map from specific points while keeping team work in play. In either scenario, the Random Weapon Drop concept removes what Halo is about, therefore making the game NOT Halo, despite what’s written on the disk.

In conclusion, I don’t really need to stress what probably thousands of other gamers have done in the last 24-48 hours because my single opinion is irrelevant… However, if this was all thought out to generate the most sales, you could be shooting yourself in the foot as the majority of die hard Halo fans may completely disregard purchasing the next title after being let down so much by Halo: Reach (While not actually your fault)… So much so, that they won’t even consider Halo 5 or Halo 6 in the future due to failure of the first game of the trilogy. In all honesty, I’ve been a dedicated Halo fan purchasing every game for every platform so far (Excluding H:CE for PC as I didn’t have a decent computer back then, Halo: CEA (although purchased map packs), and including Halo Wars). I have all the books available and all I want is for this trilogy to actually succeed as a successor to the original trilogy. Think about the fans who appreciated the Multiplayer of ALL Halo games, not just the one that sold the most most recently because everyone has the console to play the game on now.

Slightly off-topic; Halo: Reach has already failed for a vast majority of people. Matchmaking is dull and boring, despite having recent updates. The game just doesn’t feel like a Halo game… so why make another game that’s due to fail before it gets released?

2

You can flame all you want, but the forum community does NOT speak for the entire community.

You haven’t even played the game yet let alone seen solid lengthy gameplay vids yet to have a real opinion.

Long standing franchises need to change every once in a while to survive. Doing the same thing over and over again kills the franchise. Whether you want to believe it or not, the MAJORITY want to be surprised with new things, not carbon copies of old ideas where the only difference is a new shade of graphics.

Reach was one of the first games to provide players with numerous ways to play Halo, more than the other ones. Halo 4 looks to only be expanding on that and if you think there isn’t going to be some kind of classic way of playing the game that has a ranking system, then you’re delusional.

Developers need to appeal not to just a small minority of the community, but to a large audience. what is so bad about having more options and more things for MORE people to enjoy instead of small select crowd. It’s not only a better thing for business, but it’s better for the fun factor of a game.

As a long time Halo fan and I’ve been there since day one and have also been there on ever single midnight release, I am excited to see that 343 is taking the risk and changing Halo up a bit. I always wanted to see more with Halo and the multiplayer has been pretty much the same for 10 years. It’s time for Halo to change.

You mention losing fans. Why do you care about what other people like or dislike. With change, Halo 4 is most likely going to get NEW people to play Halo because finally, there will be more ways to play this great franchise instead of only being sucked into one or two ways of playing the game.

I really get sick and tired of reading posts from people whoa re so brainwashed into thinking that certain franchises should always have to played a certain way. What is so bad about playing our favorite games slightly different and having more options?

3

> You can flame all you want, but the forum community does NOT speak for the entire community.
>
> You haven’t even played the game yet let alone seen solid lengthy gameplay vids yet to have a real opinion.
>
> Long standing franchises need to change every once in a while to survive. Doing the same thing over and over again kills the franchise. Whether you want to believe it or not, the MAJORITY want to be surprised with new things, not carbon copies of old ideas where the only difference is a new shade of graphics.
>
> Reach was one of the first games to provide players with numerous ways to play Halo, more than the other ones. Halo 4 looks to only be expanding on that and if you think there isn’t going to be some kind of classic way of playing the game that has a ranking system, then you’re delusional.
>
> Developers need to appeal not to just a small minority of the community, but to a large audience. what is so bad about having more options and more things for MORE people to enjoy instead of small select crowd. It’s not only a better thing for business, but it’s better for the fun factor of a game.
>
> As a long time Halo fan and I’ve been there since day one and have also been there on ever single midnight release, I am excited to see that 343 is taking the risk and changing Halo up a bit. I always wanted to see more with Halo and the multiplayer has been pretty much the same for 10 years. It’s time for Halo to change.
>
>
> You mention losing fans. Why do you care about what other people like or dislike. With change, Halo 4 is most likely going to get NEW people to play Halo because finally, there will be more ways to play this great franchise instead of only being sucked into one or two ways of playing the game.
>
>
> I really get sick and tired of reading posts from people whoa re so brainwashed into thinking that certain franchises should always have to played a certain way. What is so bad about playing our favorite games slightly different and having more options?

Yes this guy is right in the head, people need to quit complaining over a few images and articles, plus they never said anything was final. Quit your female dogging. Plus if you really don’t want it to be like COD then don’t just make a remake of h1-reach, add some variety, that’s what cod has done always. They barely improve graphics but always kept perks same overpowered weaps and same game play style.

4

I understand how you two both want change in a game, however, while you’re both calling me dellusional, or claiming I’m female dogging (lolwut?)… you’re both actually asking for a reskin of games already on the market.

If you want a game that’s easy to play, that requires no skill, teamwork, map control, tactical advantage, and requires a 50/50 scenario in all scenarios with the only exception being it isn’t a 1 hit kill game… As Lavadeeto already made the comparsion: Go play COD.

I mean seriously… why play Halo at all when you can remove every piece of skill-orientated gameplay from the game? Why stop there as well? Why not just make it one shot kill? After all, you can already SEE through the damn walls… so what’s the point in putting walls there in the first place?

I’m simply providing my opinon, alongside all the opinions of all my friends who have played Halo from CE to Reach. Not one person out of 24 has actually stood up and said “Nah, these changes are actually really good. I can see 100% why they made them. I can’t wait for it to be released”. Instead, it’s filled everyone with doubt… and out of those 24, there are only 2 of us that still play Halo: Reach. Myself, because I’m a member of an active community, and my friend that plays Reach maybe once a month?
Before that, every one of the 24 played Halo 2 and Halo 3 from the day they got it, to the day Reach came out and destroyed their faith in Halo games.

And Lavadeeto; Really? COD adds variety every game they bring out? I had COD3. COD4 was a reskin of COD3 with a new perk system… THAT was variety, THAT was change. Every game after that, it’s a texture pack that you pay full game price for… not a new game. Even the damn campaign missions are the same boring crap.

BADMAGIK; as you’ve said it… why should old gamers, who have been with the franchise for 10 years, have to stop playing the game because people who don’t like the game, want the game to be different? I’ve probably invested £350(?) into games, hardware, books and spent thousands upon thousands of hours reading back stories and contributing to communities based around the game… so why should someone who clearly doesn’t like the franchise, be given all these new treats so the game appeals to them a little more, yet completely disregards what I believe to be a true Halo game.

5

All I’m reading is ‘feeling’ and ‘opinion’. So basically, nothing. You think Reach failed, doesn’t have that Halo feel, et cetera? What does that mean? Nothing at all, it’s hot air. I could easily say the same about CE or Halo 2.

6

How? Those games succeeded where Reach failed? Continuous play until the servers were turned off. There are STILL players on Halo 3. I was told a group of guys who loved Halo 2 kept the servers running over the time because they refused to log off when in game (whether true or not I don’t know). If Halo: CE failed so much, then how did the franchise get off the ground in the first place? It was the pinnacle of FPS games when it was released. It was THE ****. How long do you think it’s going to be with players staying on Reach once Halo 4 comes out? More or less than Halo 3 players?

It’s already been said by hundreds of people that Reach blows. The only reason people returned was for the TU. Even still, the vast majority of players go on to play custom games and that’s it.

It may be hot air to yourself, but I ask you… how much time have you dedicated to this franchise?

7

I think true die hard fans would not make judgements based upon limited leaked info and base their judgement upon official information.

8

Well… that’s the problem. The way things are going, even after the thousands upon thousands of hours I’ve invested into the game and the communities based around this game… I’m no longer a die-hard Halo fan.

This isn’t even Halo anymore, so you’re right. Why should I bother posting this stuff because the real Halo doesn’t exist anymore?

Edit: Further to this… maybe I asked you all the wrong questions. Would you be honestly pissed off if you got a game based on Halo 3 that had all these attributes the competitive games requested? Would you refuse to buy the game if these changes weren’t implemented and we didn’t have Armour Abilities that remove the aspect of fairness? I’m pretty sure a lot of competitive gamers would refuse to buy Halo 4 at the minute…

9

> I’m in no way representing a majority of consumers here, I’m simply voicing my opinion that a few of my friends (some pretty die hard Halo fans) share.
>
> I understand that you’re trying to make game sales and are adapting the game to suit the market of today, but you’re honestly losing all the Halo fans that were here from the start. If you’re looking for sales and sales alone, I think you’ve probably gone too far because ultimately the game now is only worth playing for the Campaign storyline (Again, this is my opinion and not of the entire Halo community), so with that said, instead of 20 or so sales that you would have had guaranteed in the bag with us, you guys might now secure 1 or 2 sales, and a few of us may or may not rent the game to see what the storyline has to offer.
>
> IF this same representation is taken into account by the entire Halo community that have been greatly disappointed by this recent release of information, you’re going to find that the Trilogy has failed before it’s even began. With a vast majority (using the above statistics) 90-95% of current customers, not even bothering to buy the game. (Again, these statistics are unfair of the entire community and I cannot say are an accurate representation. They are just our statistics between me and my friends)
>
> I see that a market demands specific features in a game and they’re requested by publishers etc… but honestly, going against what Halo stands for just to sell the game to an under-appreciative audience as a whole just seems wrong? Half of my mates that used to play games no longer do because there are NO innovative new games being released and all of them are identical in nature with the only differences being texture packs and a campaign. Which, ironically, is not what the games industry should be focused on to sell a game, it should be their matchmaking ideas because THAT is what keeps a gamer playing the game, and THAT is what influences their opinon of such a game.
>
> Now, the ideas suggested, albeit rather creative, do not reflect Halo in the slightest. The Random Weapon Drops idea as a concept currently removes all tactics, Teamwork and map control from the game which was something Halo was recognised for. Halo, in my eyes and a lot of other people’s eyes, is about fairness. You start in a fair scenario and you create your advantages by utillising your strengths available to you. You work as a team, you dominate as a team. You control the map. The Random Weapon Drop idea singly removes all teamwork from the match because you are required to control the entire map to ensure success. (To any readers not aware of how this removes teamwork. A single team could not possibly control an entire competitive map, while remaining in close proximity of one another to assist each other when in need) If you choose not to, the Random Weapon Drops could fall or reinforce a much weaker (in ability) team 10/10 times during a game, securing them victory… which ultimately removes fairness from the game, as well as the tactic of controlling the map from specific points while keeping team work in play. In either scenario, the Random Weapon Drop concept removes what Halo is about, therefore making the game NOT Halo, despite what’s written on the disk.
>
> In conclusion, I don’t really need to stress what probably thousands of other gamers have done in the last 24-48 hours because my single opinion is irrelevant… However, if this was all thought out to generate the most sales, you could be shooting yourself in the foot as the majority of die hard Halo fans may completely disregard purchasing the next title after being let down so much by Halo: Reach (While not actually your fault)… So much so, that they won’t even consider Halo 5 or Halo 6 in the future due to failure of the first game of the trilogy. In all honesty, I’ve been a dedicated Halo fan purchasing every game for every platform so far (Excluding H:CE for PC as I didn’t have a decent computer back then, Halo: CEA (although purchased map packs), and including Halo Wars). I have all the books available and all I want is for this trilogy to actually succeed as a successor to the original trilogy. Think about the fans who appreciated the Multiplayer of ALL Halo games, not just the one that sold the most most recently because everyone has the console to play the game on now.
>
> Slightly off-topic; Halo: Reach has already failed for a vast majority of people. Matchmaking is dull and boring, despite having recent updates. The game just doesn’t feel like a Halo game… so why make another game that’s due to fail before it gets released?

Agreed and To all of the “Old School” Halo fans: Halo as we know it… Is Dead. Unless 343i gives us a fully “Classic Halo” Play list or group of play lists, The younger generation will NEVER know the TRUE “Competitive Fun” of an “Everyone Created Equal” game of Halo.

10

> This isn’t even Halo anymore.

And what is Halo exactly?

11

> You can flame all you want, but the forum community does NOT speak for the entire community.
>
> You haven’t even played the game yet let alone seen solid lengthy gameplay vids yet to have a real opinion.
>
> <mark>Long standing franchises need to change every once in a while to survive.</mark> Doing the same thing over and over again kills the franchise. Whether you want to believe it or not, the MAJORITY want to be surprised with new things, not carbon copies of old ideas where the only difference is a new shade of graphics.
>
> Reach was one of the first games to provide players with numerous ways to play Halo, more than the other ones. Halo 4 looks to only be expanding on that and if you think there isn’t going to be some kind of classic way of playing the game that has a ranking system, then you’re delusional.
>
> Developers need to appeal not to just a small minority of the community, but to a large audience. what is so bad about having more options and more things for MORE people to enjoy instead of small select crowd. It’s not only a better thing for business, but it’s better for the fun factor of a game.
>
> As a long time Halo fan and I’ve been there since day one and have also been there on ever single midnight release, I am excited to see that 343 is taking the risk and changing Halo up a bit. I always wanted to see more with Halo and the multiplayer has been pretty much the same for 10 years. It’s time for Halo to change.
>
>
> You mention losing fans. Why do you care about what other people like or dislike. With change, Halo 4 is most likely going to get NEW people to play Halo because finally, there will be more ways to play this great franchise instead of only being sucked into one or two ways of playing the game.
>
>
> I really get sick and tired of reading posts from people whoa re so brainwashed into thinking that certain franchises should always have to played a certain way. What is so bad about playing our favorite games slightly different and having more options?

stopped right there, that says it all. smart man i applaud someone who is not a monkey
clap

12

> > This isn’t even Halo anymore.
>
> And what is Halo exactly?

You might want to read all of what I’ve wrote before questioning me.
I’ve already said what Halo is to all the fans that were there from the beginning. Reach wasn’t a Halo game… and Halo 4 is shaping up in the same formation, possibly worse.

13

my bad, i agree with the changes not with you :wink:
subtract one from agree and put it in disagree

its time for some new blood my dude

14

> my bad, i agree with the changes not with you :wink:
> subtract one from agree and put it in disagree
>
> its time for some new blood my dude

Unfortunately, there won’t be any blood in Halo 6 due to the amounts of people jumping ship with Halo 4 and what appears to be 5 at this rate.

15

> > > This isn’t even Halo anymore.
> >
> > And what is Halo exactly?
>
> You might want to read all of what I’ve wrote before questioning me.
> I’ve already said what Halo is to all the fans that were there from the beginning. Reach wasn’t a Halo game… and Halo 4 is shaping up in the same formation, possibly worse.

Why are people acting as if they’re speaking for “the fans” and thinking they know exaclty what they want? So many people have tried to use this as part of thier argument and make it seem as if they know what Halo is. It pisses me off.

3rd of March, 2002 was the day I bought Halo CE on the Xbox. I played the poop out of it for years until Halo 2 came out. I did the same thing with Halo 2. Every Halo game since then, I’ve bought on it’s release day (Yes, that includes Halo Wars. Notice how that’s a Halo game when it plays nothing like the others?) and I’ve completed every game on Legendary multiple times. I’ve bought every Halo book and read them through multiple times. I bought Halo Legends. I’ve bought every soundtrack. I have nearly all of the achievements for the games. I’ve spent hours making maps in Forge, making machinima and trying to rank up on Xbox Live. Staying up late playing splitscreen with my friends or playing matchmaking with my Xbox Live friends.

I’ve played the hell out of every Halo game and I’ve dedicated a lot of my time throughout the last 10 years into this franchise. I love this franchise to bits and you think I’m not TRUE Halo fan?

16

> > > > This isn’t even Halo anymore.
> > >
> > > And what is Halo exactly?
> >
> > You might want to read all of what I’ve wrote before questioning me.
> > I’ve already said what Halo is to all the fans that were there from the beginning. Reach wasn’t a Halo game… and Halo 4 is shaping up in the same formation, possibly worse.
>
> Why are people acting as if they’re speaking for “the fans” and thinking they know exaclty what they want? So many people have tried to use this as part of thier argument and make it seem as if they know what Halo is. It pisses me off.
>
> 3rd of March, 2002 was the day I bought Halo CE on the Xbox. I played the poop out of it for years until Halo 2 came out. I did the same thing with Halo 2. Every Halo game since then, I’ve bought on it’s release day (Yes, that includes Halo Wars. Notice how that’s a Halo game when it plays nothing like the others?) and I’ve completed every game on Legendary multiple times. I’ve bought every Halo book and read them through multiple times. I bought Halo Legends. I’ve bought every soundtrack. I have nearly all of the achievements for the games. I’ve spent hours making maps in Forge, making machinima and trying to rank up on Xbox Live. Staying up late playing splitscreen with my friends or playing matchmaking with my Xbox Live friends.
>
> I’ve played the hell out of every Halo game and I’ve dedicated a lot of my time throughout the last 10 years into this franchise. I love this franchise to bits and you think I’m not TRUE Halo fan?

I never said you weren’t. You’re entitled to your opinion which is why I gave you a disagree option. I don’t appreciate people saying my opinion is invalid because it’s true of 90%+ of me and my friends, guaranteed.

Reach failed to a hell of a lot of people… making another game based on the things Reach failed for is a recipe for disaster. The point is, you will still play Halo 4 if it’s like Halo: CE, 2 or 3… where as we all feel like we’ve been thrown to the curb after all our efforts because we hated Reach and we’re getting Halo: Reach 2.0 which is something we’re refusing to pay for currently.

Who knows? Maybe these changes might be able to create a competitive atmosphere, which is why I haven’t mentioned armour abilities, constant sprint etc… because they COULD be implemented in a competitive way IF we all enter the game on the same basic level where everyone is EXACTLY the same in damage, health, movement. Regardless, Random Weapon Drops is the only exception which cannot be included in a competitive environment under any scenarios. THAT is why I’m annoyed, because even the Competitive side of the game has already become Casual.

17

> I think true die hard fans would not make judgements based upon limited leaked info and base their judgement upon official information.

Judgements should be made about gameplay or footage not leaked info.
I agree.

18

> I think true die hard fans would not make judgements based upon limited leaked info and base their judgement upon official information.

Here here. Have faith in 343i, don’t stray away because of words and leaks.

19

As far as I know… they’ve already confirmed these things being included. Random Weapon Drops were mentioned ages ago, this leaked article about it all (which has been confirmed already as far as I know) further confirms it. Thats the worst bit about the changes, because it makes every game a game of chance and not skill.

20

If they don’t make A LOT of changes, I am not buying the game, and I will just buy whatever Bungie has to offer next. (I will buy Bungie’s game anyway.) End of story.