Halo 5's "Universal" Ball Mode Discussion Thread

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

EDIT: After thinking about this topic more, I realized that all of the negatives I listed were a bit nit-picky, so I’m going to change the OP a little. This thread is instead going to be just a discussion thread on the new mode. Ideas people have, criticisms, etc.

I’m going to try and keep this very short and sweet with this OP, because for one, I have a LOT of theories about this decision, and two, we just don’t have much information on the subject. But without further ado, let’s begin.

First off, for people who don’t know, the way 343 is going to be adding things such as Oddball, Grifball, Ricochet, etc, is that they are ALL (or mostly all) going to be part of a single gametype. So basically, 343 is only going to be adding a single new mode in the February update. Technically. Now, before everyone comments on this thread with torches and pitchforks, let me explain.

343, hopefully in February, will be adding a core ball gamemode. This single gamemode will have a VAST (and oh boy do I mean vast) amount of customization options. One of these options will be different ways to actually score points within the gamemode. Meaning you can have a team/player score points by holding the ball, running the ball into a goal, throwing the ball into a goal, etc. which allows for gametypes such as the ones I listed to be created. This idea, in my opinion, is actually pretty genius. Not only is this a great way to (FINALLY) give the community a few of the gamemodes we have been asking for, but this will allow us to create almost ANY ball based gamemode we want. There is going to be crazy amounts of customization for this core ball gametype, and chances are that when the update launches in February, that it will contain preset modes such as Oddball that have been created WITHIN this whole standard Ball gametype. This really is a good idea, and will eventually produce some very interesting and unique custom games that can only be done with Halo 5. It’s pretty exciting.

Now, while it will still be interesting to see how 343 will do things such as announcer VO’s and ball models, I’m still somewhat skeptical on this idea. So, I’m starting this thread to be focused around this idea.

I want to hear everyones thoughts on this. What do you guy’s think 343 will do with this mode? Have any ideas? Criticisms? What customization options do you want? Throw distance, ball holder traits, etc? Comment down below. I myself am VERY interested in this topic, and would love to discuss the idea with others.

2

Announcer Lines and Ball Appearance are pretty unimportant even if I’d prefer to have them.

Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.

3

With each gametype there is a way to score (obviously). So the way you score will determine what the announcer announces. I imagine the selection for ways to score would be a bit like this:

:Hold the ball
:Pass the ball to [2/3/4] players
:Throw ball in appropriate zone
: All players on team hold ball simultaneously
: etc etc

The announcer would have preset announcements for given ways to score, and where I imagine the customisation will come in is in stuff like points to win and being able to choose the dimensions of the “goal zones”

4

> 2533274819302824;2:
> Announcer Lines and Ball Appearance are pretty unimportant even if I’d prefer to have them.
>
> Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.

343 has already said in the Livestream that EVERY single gamemode WAS an afterthought. They really thought that what we got at launch was going to be enough lmao.

But yeah, Oddball, Grifball, Infection, Assault, EVERYTHING was confirmed that they began working on those modes after Halo 5’s launch. None of these modes were in production before Halo 5, which really just boggles my mind.

5

I really don’t see how not having different skins for the ball is lazy, it’s not like that takes lot of effort since they pump out tons of reskinned weapons every update. In previous games the Oddball was just reused assets from campaign skulls, the griffball was just the assault bomb, the ricochet ball was the only unique one I remember. No unique announcer is a bit of a bummer, but there wasn’t much unique lines between the modes anyways (if I remember, the griffball and assault lines were identical)

6

> 2533274819302824;2:
> Announcer Lines and Ball Appearance are pretty unimportant even if I’d prefer to have them.
>
> Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.

According to a tweet from Josh Holmes, it seems like they had a lot more slated for launch, but ultimately ran out of time.

An option to change what the ball is whether it be a skull or actual ball doesn’t seem like that far fetched of a possibility. The announcer seems to be the least of worries.

7

> 2533274928710760;3:
> With each gametype there is a way to score (obviously). So the way you score will determine what the announcer announces. I imagine the selection for ways to score would be a bit like this:
>
> :Hold the ball
> :Pass the ball to [2/3/4] players
> :Throw ball in appropriate zone
> : All players on team hold ball simultaneously
> : etc etc
>
> The announcer would have preset announcements for given ways to score, and where I imagine the customisation will come in is in stuff like points to win and being able to choose the dimensions of the “goal zones”

Huh, those are some pretty interesting ideas. I really do hope the customization for this base mode will be just overwhelming, if this is supposed to cover every single ball based gamemode. That “passing” scoring idea was pretty cool though, I never thought of that.

Would be also cool if a way to score would be to plant the ball, and have it explode. I.e. Assault.

8

> 2533274885540369;5:
> I really don’t see how not having different skins for the ball is lazy, it’s not like that takes lot of effort since they pump out tons of reskinned weapons every update. In previous games the Oddball was just reused assets from campaign skulls, the griffball was just the assault bomb, the ricochet ball was the only unique one I remember. No unique announcer is a bit of a bummer, but there wasn’t much unique lines between the modes anyways (if I remember, the griffball and assault lines were identical)

Maybe the word lazy was a bit harsh. I’m just really worried, yet interested on how 343 is going to pull this thing off.

9

Honestly, they have demonstrated that they can be very thorough with game mode options. I don’t think we’ve had as many options for slayer as we’ve had in Halo 5, to list an example. Though, that is also due to the new mechanics, but still.

If they can bring this same mentality to the ball game mode, then it will work out for them. They have to be very thorough if they want this “swiss-army knife” mode to work, but I see no problem with the approach.

And in the long run, this may pay off. More fun/community game types could be made with the right mix of Forge and tinkering of the “ball” mode.

Honestly, as far as the announcer goes, they could just as easily add a few older recordings, (or record new ones) and have it be changeable in the mode settings. Their Megalo script (the language of the game mode-related offerings) is remarkably robust in terms of what it can offer. (At least, from Halo 3 onwards) I also wouldn’t be too sure that having one game mode would preclude them only having one ball model, as well. But we’ll wait and see.

I mean, if Bungie could design Halo Chess in Halo: Reach with the ability to possess pieces (who were represented as spartan models from the campaign), then I can’t really see why it wouldn’t work out, assuming that they expose as much of the functions to the user end as possible/feasible. So it might not be as “restricting, while flexible” as you think.

And despite what the community may think, they do, in fact, have the right to experiment on things from their own IP. Most of these game modes were more or less offshoots of eachother anyway. (Ricochet, Assault, and Grifball are the same save for some visual differences and slightly different functions) But they need to be incredibly mindful of the community, as well. Considering what they’ve done to Forge, they seem to be on the right track. Not to mention their own statements about them backing down on the remix concept and their acknowledgement that we want game modes, game modes, and more game modes.

The programming unit in 343 does have mixed priorities, at best. But the amount of options and scripting-power that H5 Forge provides should indicate that they’re anything but lazy. (perhaps a bit misdirected by the higher ups, if anything) Bugs nonwithstanding.

10

> 2533274819302824;2:
> Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.

I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.

11

> 2533274826920712;9:
> Honestly, they have demonstrated that they can be very thorough with game mode options. I don’t think we’ve had as many options for slayer as we’ve had in Halo 5, to list an example. Though, that is also due to the new mechanics, but still.
>
> If they can bring this same mentality to the ball game mode, then it will work out for them. They have to be very thorough if they want this “swiss-army knife” mode to work, but I see no problem with the approach.
>
> And in the long run, this may pay off. More fun/community game types could be made with the right mix of Forge and tinkering of the “ball” mode.
>
> Honestly, as far as the announcer goes, they could just as easily add a few older recordings, (or record new ones) and have it be changeable in the mode settings. Their Megalo script (the language of the game mode-related offerings) is remarkably robust in terms of what it can offer. (At least, from Halo 3 onwards) I also wouldn’t be too sure that having one game mode would preclude them only having one ball model, as well. But we’ll wait and see.
>
> I mean, if Bungie could design Halo Chess in Halo: Reach with the ability to possess pieces (who were represented as spartan models from the campaign), then I can’t really see why it wouldn’t work out, assuming that they expose as much of the functions to the user end as possible/feasible. So it might not be as “restricting, while flexible” as you think.
>
> And despite what the community may think, they do, in fact, have the right to experiment on things from their own IP. Most of these game modes were more or less offshoots of eachother anyway. (Ricochet, Assault, and Grifball are the same save for some visual differences and slightly different functions) But they need to be incredibly mindful of the community, as well. Considering what they’ve done to Forge, they seem to be on the right track. Not to mention their own statements about them backing down on the remix concept and their acknowledgement that we want game modes, game modes, and more game modes.
>
> The programming unit in 343 does have mixed priorities, at best. But the amount of options and scripting-power that H5 Forge provides should indicate that they’re anything but lazy. (perhaps a bit misdirected by the higher ups, if anything) Bugs nonwithstanding.

You have made some excellent points, and have definitely changed my mindset a bit. I forgot all about that Halo: Reach chess thing. I really do hope that 343 goes all in with this idea. It would greatly benefit the community, and would allow for some very flexible and unique modes to be created, for possibly even matchmaking. I’m also interested in this Grifball arena they are creating, and whether it will be a Dev map or a forge map. I do believe that 343 has some very talented people, I just wish a lot of that talent would’ve been used sooner.

It really is a shame that they began production on these modes post launch on Halo 5, but better late than never right? If this ball mode really works out in the end, I would honestly forgive them for how long they have made us wait. The customization be amazing, they really have no excuse for it to be anything less. If they are going the universal route with Ball based game modes, I wonder how they will treat the rest of the modes in the future. I really hope this universal thing ONLY sticks with ball modes, because everything else can’t really be done in a universal way, such as Juggernaut, Infection, V.I.P., Stockpile, and more. I have faith, but I hope 343 really knock it out of the park with this one.

12

> 2533274796457055;10:
> > 2533274819302824;2:
> > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
>
>
> I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.

Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this was planned, at least for launch anyways.

On the livestream, a 343 dev said that all of these modes began production AFTER Halo 5 launched. So, they pretty much were an afterthought, which is kind of disappointing.

13

> 2533274858004001;12:
> > 2533274796457055;10:
> > > 2533274819302824;2:
> > > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
> >
> >
> > I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.
>
>
> Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this was planned, at least for launch anyways.
>
> On the livestream, a 343 dev said that all of these modes began production AFTER Halo 5 launched. So, they pretty much were an afterthought, which is kind of disappointing.

I never said it was intended to be released at launch. I said that I disagreed with Ramir3z77’s line of thinking that ball mode is an afterthought.

I think having a ball mode has always been intended.

14

> 2533274796457055;13:
> > 2533274858004001;12:
> > > 2533274796457055;10:
> > > > 2533274819302824;2:
> > > > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
> > >
> > >
> > > I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.
> >
> >
> > Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this was planned, at least for launch anyways.
> >
> > On the livestream, a 343 dev said that all of these modes began production AFTER Halo 5 launched. So, they pretty much were an afterthought, which is kind of disappointing.
>
>
> I never said it was intended to be released at launch. I said that I disagreed with Ramir3z77’s line of thinking that ball mode is an afterthought.
>
> I think having a ball mode has always been intended.

Ahhh okay, I see what you mean. Yeah, that does make sense.

Turning every ball mode in the Halo franchise into one universal mode was definitely not a decision made overnight. The idea probably was discussed and planned for a while. It’s a pretty major decision they have made, and hopefully they can execute it well.

15

> 2533274858004001;14:
> > 2533274796457055;13:
> > > 2533274858004001;12:
> > > > 2533274796457055;10:
> > > > > 2533274819302824;2:
> > > > > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.
> > >
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this was planned, at least for launch anyways.
> > >
> > > On the livestream, a 343 dev said that all of these modes began production AFTER Halo 5 launched. So, they pretty much were an afterthought, which is kind of disappointing.
> >
> >
> > I never said it was intended to be released at launch. I said that I disagreed with Ramir3z77’s line of thinking that ball mode is an afterthought.
> >
> > I think having a ball mode has always been intended.
>
>
> Ahhh okay, I see what you mean. Yeah, that does make sense.
>
> Turning every ball mode in the Halo franchise into one universal mode was definitely not a decision made overnight. The idea probably was discussed and planned for a while. It’s a pretty major decision they have made, and hopefully they can execute it well.

I mean, it actually makes a lot of sense when you sit down and think about it. And it expands options available to you in the different game-modes. I’m curious to see what people do with it.

I can’t forge my way out of a paperbag so you won’t catch me making gametypes or anything like that but I do like seeing what people come up with!

16

> 2533274858004001;4:
> > 2533274819302824;2:
> > Announcer Lines and Ball Appearance are pretty unimportant even if I’d prefer to have them.
> >
> > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
>
>
> 343 has already said in the Livestream that EVERY single gamemode WAS an afterthought. They really thought that what we got at launch was going to be enough lmao.
>
> But yeah, Oddball, Grifball, Infection, Assault, EVERYTHING was confirmed that they began working on those modes after Halo 5’s launch. None of these modes were in production before Halo 5, which really just boggles my mind.

That’s incredible dissapointing/alarming if that’s true.

17

> 2533274796819040;16:
> > 2533274858004001;4:
> > > 2533274819302824;2:
> > > Announcer Lines and Ball Appearance are pretty unimportant even if I’d prefer to have them.
> > >
> > > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
> >
> >
> > 343 has already said in the Livestream that EVERY single gamemode WAS an afterthought. They really thought that what we got at launch was going to be enough lmao.
> >
> > But yeah, Oddball, Grifball, Infection, Assault, EVERYTHING was confirmed that they began working on those modes after Halo 5’s launch. None of these modes were in production before Halo 5, which really just boggles my mind.
>
>
> That’s incredible dissapointing/alarming if that’s true.

As snickerdoodle said, the modes may have been planned out before hand, but as far as actual work/production goes, that in fact was confirmed to be all post launch work.

18

> 2533274796457055;15:
> > 2533274858004001;14:
> > > 2533274796457055;13:
> > > > 2533274858004001;12:
> > > > > 2533274796457055;10:
> > > > > > 2533274819302824;2:
> > > > > > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this was planned, at least for launch anyways.
> > > >
> > > > On the livestream, a 343 dev said that all of these modes began production AFTER Halo 5 launched. So, they pretty much were an afterthought, which is kind of disappointing.
> > >
> > >
> > > I never said it was intended to be released at launch. I said that I disagreed with Ramir3z77’s line of thinking that ball mode is an afterthought.
> > >
> > > I think having a ball mode has always been intended.
> >
> >
> > Ahhh okay, I see what you mean. Yeah, that does make sense.
> >
> > Turning every ball mode in the Halo franchise into one universal mode was definitely not a decision made overnight. The idea probably was discussed and planned for a while. It’s a pretty major decision they have made, and hopefully they can execute it well.
>
>
> I mean, it actually makes a lot of sense when you sit down and think about it. And it expands options available to you in the different game-modes. I’m curious to see what people do with it.
>
> I can’t forge my way out of a paperbag so you won’t catch me making gametypes or anything like that but I do like seeing what people come up with!

Indeed. Maybe some of those custom games could be added to matchmaking. They explained the options as almost a “mode maker”, just how forge is a map maker.

The more I think about it, the more excited I get! I can’t wait to see all of the options that will be available. we already have crazy customization as it is, with the toggle-able Spartan Abilities, Grenade Explosion radius, assassination speeds, etc. If 343 can bring that much diversity to these new modes, this game might actually just make it.

As a side note, I hope in February’s update they also add a few more basic yet missing features to custom games, such as in-game team swapping, lobby chat, and more.

19

> 2533274858004001;18:
> > 2533274796457055;15:
> > > 2533274858004001;14:
> > > > 2533274796457055;13:
> > > > > 2533274858004001;12:
> > > > > > 2533274796457055;10:
> > > > > > > 2533274819302824;2:
> > > > > > > Though the way they’re going with all of this makes me wonder if all the ball modes were just an afterthought and never intended to be released in the first place.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I don’t think this is the case at all. I have my reasons/speculations but I’m fairly confident a ball mode has been planned for a while.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this was planned, at least for launch anyways.
> > > > >
> > > > > On the livestream, a 343 dev said that all of these modes began production AFTER Halo 5 launched. So, they pretty much were an afterthought, which is kind of disappointing.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I never said it was intended to be released at launch. I said that I disagreed with Ramir3z77’s line of thinking that ball mode is an afterthought.
> > > >
> > > > I think having a ball mode has always been intended.
> > >
> > >
> > > Ahhh okay, I see what you mean. Yeah, that does make sense.
> > >
> > > Turning every ball mode in the Halo franchise into one universal mode was definitely not a decision made overnight. The idea probably was discussed and planned for a while. It’s a pretty major decision they have made, and hopefully they can execute it well.
> >
> >
> > I mean, it actually makes a lot of sense when you sit down and think about it. And it expands options available to you in the different game-modes. I’m curious to see what people do with it.
> >
> > I can’t forge my way out of a paperbag so you won’t catch me making gametypes or anything like that but I do like seeing what people come up with!
>
>
> Indeed. Maybe some of those custom games could be added to matchmaking. They explained the options as almost a “mode maker”, just how forge is a map maker.
>
> The more I think about it, the more excited I get! I can’t wait to see all of the options that will be available. we already have crazy customization as it is, with the toggle-able Spartan Abilities, Grenade Explosion radius, assassination speeds, etc. If 343 can bring that much diversity to these new modes, this game might actually just make it.
>
> As a side note, I hope in February’s update they also add a few more basic yet missing features to custom games, such as in-game team swapping, lobby chat, and more.

I’m hoping that they decide to add their new weapon additions as of late, (SPNKR Rockets, BR55, Upcoming Gravity Hammer and M6D pistol) as starting weapons on the game types as well.

That’d make quite a few H2/CE maps feel quite a bit more authentic, and I’m not sure why they just added it in Forge and not there. But that’s probably an oversight.