No, I feel you. I think a lot of expectations were on Infinite, especially considering how long the development time was. But we ended up with an incomplete title, slow development, just so many bad choices in customisation and micro transactions.
It aimed to reach out to an ever wider audience, but it couldn’t sustain their interest. Thinking about it makes me sad really.
hahahaha - I love how dramatic you are. True indeed, nice metaphoric links.
One must have a certain flair to keep it interesting and to declare sincerity.
Here’s the thing though - Late Stage Capitalism finds more value in churning out products that are sold on promises and are seen as investments. That way they can always sell you what you want, because you NEVER have what you want…
Then when you do have what you want (and they are perfectly capable of making it happen…)
They begin to sell you a new product.
We saw this with Halo 5. Movement mechanics aside, Halo 5 was a very very good Halo game by the end of its lifespan. I imagine it will take that long for Halo: Infinite as well. But by then… We’ll want the shiny new Halo product with marketing campaign that promises everything we want.
Like couch co-op on release.
Forge.
3 Month seasons.
The most flexible customization yet.
Et al.
And then, we will never get it. But how is this profitable? It’s cheaper to hire non-full-time or short-term contract contractors than it is to hire full-time or long-contract staff. They save on medical insurance costs and contractors are cheaper investments.
It is about maximizing profit and keeping the carrot on the stick.
They will never give us what they want because then they have nothing to sell us anymore. That’s why when a game is “Complete” or launches “Finished”, people aren’t incentivized to purchase MTX, Expansions, or invest further. Live Services, sadly, do make more money. It doesn’t look like that to us… But it does to them. If it were not profitable, they would not do it, because at the end of the day…
Microsoft is a corporation - a business meant to make money. 343i was lab-vat-grown to pump out precisely what Microsoft Executives say. There IS creative vision in 343i, sometimes people slip through the cracks… and sometimes the money making plan fails.
They did not bring Staten in for his vision.
They brought him in to ensure profit was earned. That die was cast, rolled a hit, and the blow was dealt - we’re just living in the aftershock of it.
No matter what features Halo: Infinite makes, it proved its value as an Xbox Games pass seller and subscriptions skyrocketing looks INCREDIBLE to shareholders and investors.
Halo: Infinite is a financial success, but not a creative one.
343i and Microsoft are not separate entities. To believe such is folly. 343i cannot die, because 343i only exists to make Halo. If 343i is "Shuddered’ it will simply be rebranded as a new studio with many of the old alumni. It is not a studio that can lose rights, because they do not own Halo. Microsoft does.
They’re just the printing press.
People have been saying how it’s the “end of Halo” since the Reach days. Halo will never be a top game again but it will always be a niche game with a good following. I mean I a still finding games in MCC and it’s not even on the top 50 most played games at times in the Xbox store. Sure it’s really slow match making at times (I search FFA most of the time) … Infinite is still in the top 20 in most played.
For me Chiefs story should have ended at 3. 4 and 5 are just not good story wise, especially 4. 5 is lackluster with its story but at least it didn’t betray the characters and make so many mistakes like 4 did. Each game had enjoyable multiplayer and i personally enjoyed 4s better, mainly due to the maps as 5 has the worst MP maps in the series by far. Reach also wasn’t the greatest MP as the DMR was so dang oppressive and i can’t think of any game ever that has let a gun be that OP and not nerf it in some way.
Infinite finally feels like the sequel to Halo 3 i have been waiting for and while its not perfect its definitely the most fun ive had in Halo in a decade or so. Made it to Onyx today and i enjoy BTB a lot. I think i don’t get burned out like many others do because i don’t/can’t play one game for too long. Elden Ring has been my main go to but i still play Halo about once a week or so and its still enjoyable.
I think Halo is going in a good direction finally but i will say the pace is a bit concerning.
Nah.
It needs to be an antithesis of 343 Industries.
343 is the number of Guilty Spark, the delusional betrayer.
Industries want to ship out as much product as possible, oftentimes sacrificing quality for quantity.
117 was the number of John, who tried his damndest to hold close to his promises and fought against all odds yet still succeeded. And when he didn’t, he admitted his failures and worked to correct his mistakes.
Studios tend to create works of art, taking their time to guarantee a quality piece of work that satisfies while also making the money their investors seek.
I seek to be a studio.
I seek to fulfill the promises I make, instead of saying “I’m sorry I dun goofed. I will do better next time,” and then proceed to doofy-goof it again.
I am a dedicated fan of the Halo franchise, so I hold a deep level of care as I will craft its angles, carve its refinements, and grind its flaws to a fine polish.
My goals are to be the perfect appeaser to both sides - provide Microsoft and the investors the cash they desire BY THE METHOD OF providing the fans the peak possible Halo experience.
We want Halo.
Not Call fo Halo 4: Copycat Generic Warfare
Not Halo 5 Gorbians
Not Halo Infinite Broken Promises.
I aim to achieve the ability to make Halo the titan flagship title it once was, not the dirty sock puppet of the Xbox.
Yeh I have played the game - once or twice! I just wanted to throw in a bit of pulp and fiction… for some fireworks.
Rambo I’ve really come to like and appreciate you but quite frankly: What makes you think you’ll actually have creative control over anything more than the guys at 343i do currently?
I couldn’t have said it any better.
This is where I feel I’ve diverted from the modern gamer. I was actually planning to spend at least $60 on by now but, thanks to it being free to play, I was able to see the state of the game before buying anything. I’m glad I have saved that money. I’m still willing to give 343 my money, but they’ll have to earn it first.
Step 1 - Schedule a meeting with the necessary names and meet at the Microsoft HQ in Redmond Washington.
Step 2 - Point out the many flaws and stumbles 343 Industries has done over the past decade. Pointing out their failure and how by simply listening more to the fans, avoiding their needles “don’t hire fans” policy, and how by not crossing the lines that were marked in the sand; this entire fiasco could’ve been avoided.
Step 3 - Introduce models of how I would work to correct the many mistakes that 343 Industries had done over the years. I seek to mend the trust that was broken between Producer and Consumer.
I would point out that by actually appeasing the desires of fans, you guarantee dedicated player followings - which means profits would be on the rise by ensuring that DLC content is properly priced; a talking point that would likely help my case for the money-oriented people at the meeting.
By hiring Halo fans that have the skills necessary, you guarantee a workforce that is both dedicated to the craft and also careful not to cross the lines into territories that anger fans; after all - they do not want to ruin the franchise they hold so dear.
Also instead of an over-abundance of books left-and-right, I would have it be so that animated comics and even spin-off games are the means to bridge the gap between the mainline games that have large gaps between them INSTEAD of novels. Not all fans wish to take time to sit down and read thick books. Know your audience - gamers aren’t exactly the bookish type. Sure, novels will still exist; but be more akin to Cole Protocol or Contact Harvest - providing optional side lore and stories.
After all, pointing out that a dude from the middle of Nebraska has a better work-model would probably pique their interest.
That and my obsessive nature over the intellectual property would ensure that changes and additions are looked over with a Promethean Mindset and a fine comb for potential ways that such alterations could lead to catastrophe that could be avoided.
And that is just to scrape the iceberg.
Step 4 - With my proposed architecture of how to restructure 343 Industries into Studio-117, I request that I help to manage the studio. Keyword being HELP to manage. Co-Franchise director with the likes of Joseph Staten, it would ensure that I am not stumbling too much in my duties as I have someone of equal capacity and capability I could seek guidance or advice from. Studio-117 separates into five separate teams that work-in-tandem.
Blue Team focuses on story and campaign development.
Red Team focuses on multiplayer development and server optimization.
Grey Team focuses on Engine fixes and Forge Development.
Green Team focuses on multiplayer cosmetic development.
Noble Team is an all-rounder staff group that helps out in all other departments, sending extra workers towards whatever task needs to take priority first.
Campaign development running behind? Send more man-hours from Noble Team to assist Blue Team.
Multiplayer has an error that is gamebreaking? Noble Team sends over more eyes to locate and patch the issue.
Forge needs assistance in meeting quota time for the new Forge Map? Send some Nobles over.
Green Team is running behind on player cosmetic development for an upcoming season? Send over a dozen Nobles who know modeling, rigging, texture mapping, and animating!
Of course, there is a sixth team - Omega Team, which refers to the companies we would contract out for extra assistance or the development of spin-off titles. Again, Noble Team would be the ones to send over assistance developers should these Omega Teams need assistance in their development endeavors.
Using this system, I believe that we can better organize our workforce and alleviate crunch stress; which is probably one of the main factors as to why 343 seems to be always understaffed.
Step 5 - In my spare time, actively browse the forums to see what is angering the fanbase at the current time and think-tank with other key staff on methods to mitigate this frustration. Why declare the fanbase is toxic when you can instead remove the poison that causes said toxicity? I like to put myself in the player’s shoes because, well, I am a player of Halo.
And I don’t want to play bad Halo.
I want to be able to sit back, relax after a long day, and enjoy playing Halo.
It might sound prideful as all hell to say that it would satisfy an itch to know that “this perfect Halo . . . I helped to make it. I am enjoying this.”
But it also would bring me great joy to know that something I helped to direct and craft has brought so much gamer joy in others and alleviated the stresses that plague us to this day.
As an empath, that brings me pretty darn close to a form of serenity and peace of mind.
I seek Satisfaction in my work, from all perspectives - Consumer, Producer, Publisher, Director, Profiteer, and Dreamer.
Nirvanah with a controller in hand.
Nostalgia not simply being utilized as a selling point, but something that also inspires a new nostalgia that would stack further upon itself.
An experience that I would enjoy showing off to my own kids someday and say “This is what dad grew up on.”
Because as it stands right now, the current decade of Halo has me wanting to avoid exposing my future kids to Halo beyond a few outliers such as Halo Wars 2.
I seek to, with Studio-117, fulfill a subtle promise.
“You gave me $60. I give you a disc/entitlement code to not just play a game . . . but to enjoy practically every second of it. I guarantee that every time you log in, you will have that giddy grin you had on your face whenever you logged in to play a few matches with the bois a decade ago. That is my promise. Enjoyment and satisfaction.”
Well, once Halo MCC gets mod support for every title and gets a robust dedicated Steam Workshop, the Halo Community will basically be able to create playable content for itself for pretty much as long as it wants to.
I feel like the best examples that come to mind are Left 4 Dead 2 and Skyrim. Seriously, the sheer amount of mods is stupidly high, it goes into tens of thousands for both games.
This depends at least a few big things.
Again, I look to Left 4 Dead 2 as a big example, as it’s very easy to turn on/off whichever mods you want, play online with friends with those mods (at least in campaign co-op), and look at which mods are downloaded and compatible with one another.
Rambo… I honestly don’t have the energy to deconstruct this.
So I’ll just wish you good luck.
Luck is something that John and I have in common.
Perhaps when you do have the energy, you can read what I have written above (it is late after all. 0100 hours where I am sitting).
So here is the TL;DR
“343 dun goofed. I shall deconstruct all of their goofs and point out that with some simple examination of your target audience and thinking ahead to the consequences of your actions; you can actually piece together a virtual experience that would satiate the itch that Halo fans crave while also maximizing profits. A literal Win-Win. With some PR work and some policy restructuring, Studio-117 would be born from 343 Industries and begin working diligently on the franchise.”
I read it all, Rambo.
I just don’t want to rend it.
Genuinely good luck.
I sorta feel like this too, but I think in a few years when the game is functioning correctly (hopefully) I won’t think this. As long as Halo is making money they will continue to make it, but it just might not be very popular.
Halo infinite isn’t the worst launch of a Halo game, MCC has that title, but in my opinion it’s second so things aren’t great…but like MCC, I think it’ll get turned around, it’ll just take them 2-5 years I feel.
This game was clearly FAR from done. The amount of issues it has is staggering and frankly embarrassing! Even during the pro tournament, players were getting disconnected…over LAN lol that is sad!
So as I said, as long as Halo makes money it will be around but I think the bigger question is going to be will anyone be around when this game is actually solid? Will anyone be around for the next game? I’m not convinced this game’s going to be a 10 year thing either if things continue in this direction.
No, I believe it too since 343i keeps screwing things up, even before the recent employee exodus.
Then again, all things considered, Knuckles said the whole thing best in Sonic Boom.
Blockquote
“Game companies ALWAYS ruin their beloved franchises.” ~ Knuckles the Echidna.
i think we’re not just heading toward the end of halo, but towards a gigantic video game industry crash. bc the publishers are getting so greedy and almost every game is now designed mainly around microtransactions (yes, especially halo infinite), at some point one of the following things will happen (i think)
in the third scenario the industry would have to rethink it’s way of creating games and after a while the industry would start to make games for gamers again (not for investors) and the industry could flourish again.
in the first two scenarios, the cycle would just start a new (see the video game crash of the 80s… many parallels to todays situation already)
Well it’s definitely not the new beginning people were expecting.
You’ve got a small, boring and uneventful campaign that hasn’t caught peoples attention and interest. When per 343 this is meant to be a mystery box game and the state of the Galaxy is meant to provoke these questions. But people just see most of this as a retcon and aren’t too fussed. I’ve not seen any lore YouTubers (ones crying out for content BTW) speculate for more than a few seconds on Earth; even after 343 put the Encyclopaedia out. It’s awkward when the best part of your game is a eulogy for the previous one and the game you didn’t get to play.
You’ve got a half baked 4v4 arena multiplayer that keeps breaking and has limited post launch support. This isn’t going to cut it compared to modern shooters.