I’m reading an article about how the Halo community is apparently upset with Halo Infinite’s ammo counter ditching the visual bullet/rocket symbols in favor of a numeric system, and it makes me feel like people really need to rethink their priorities. Why does it matter if Infinite tries a new approach to how its HUD visualizes the player’s ammo? It’s a feature that’s barely noticeable to begin with. There are plenty of legitimate concerns that Halo fans have about the upcoming game, but this new ‘problem’ just seems like phony outrage to me.
Articles in general (and especially gaming articles) usually have a much stronger rhetoric in their message than what most people feel. I’ve been pretty active on the forms over the last 6 months or so and I’ve not seen really anyone take a strong stance on this issue (if that’s even what you want to call it). The article is trying to get you to stay on their website for as long as possible to so they can make advertising revenue on your screen time. So don’t be surprised when a video or article tries to fabricate a bit a drama that doesn’t really exist.
I care about it, though probably not as much as that article wants you to believe. I was disappointed to see the bullet ammo counter removed in the demo. It’s another small detail that is unique to Halo that has been removed for seemingly no reason. I’m all for exploring new concepts. I think it’s necessary for developers to take risks. However, in this case, there’s nothing unique about having ammo represented by a number. Nearly every first-person-shooter does that already. It’s not a big deal by any means, but hopefully this sheds some light on where some fans are coming from.
It is simple custom to see some pictures instead of having a number as such, and if certain people are bothered and want to die just by seeing a number next to a weapon
As I always say it’s the small things that make a good game a great game.
does removing the actual bullet for the counter ruin the game? No. But would people rather see the actual bullets? Yes. Does it matter? Depends.
For weapons like the Assault Rifle and the Saw, I do find it a lot quicker to see how many bullet drawings I have lit up than see a number and try to remember how many in a full clip and do quick math in my head while waiting to get shot at. Quick visual reference VS basic math. In the end, not terribly important, but most use one or the other primarily.
I liked the bullets being shown, but I’m not too upset about it being changed to a number. There are bigger things that need to be discussed, of greater importance. Such as the biomes in the campaign, if indeed there is only one biome.
It’s a very unique HUD element to Halo, and while I don’t think anyone is having panic attacks about it, it does seem like another 343 change-for-the-sake-of-change decision. In particular, showing an image vs. a number is pretty effective because our brains recognize shapes and patterns much faster than characters or numbers. I recognize that I have half the ammo left in a BR magazine when half of the bullets are missing on the HUD, but I couldn’t tell you if half the magazine is 12, 15, or 18.
Additionally, the size of the bullets in the HUD tells you the power of the weapon you’re using. It’s a clear and effective way of communicating it. Two large rockets, four large bullets, 6 large shells.
I wouldn’t say it’s barely noticeable, as it’s a HUD element that has been consistent in the games for 20 years now. It never needed changed, it worked, and it was one of those quirks of Halo. By changing it, Halo falls further in line with other games. Halo has borrowed and adapted enough mechanics and visual styles from other popular shooters, while it’s not a hill I’m going to die on, I’ve always been a fan of the HUD layout and style, and I’m sad to see it reduced to a clone of the Destiny HUD.
Also this could entirely be fixed by having multiple HUD layouts and styles to choose from and I certainly think it’s the way to go for Infinite.
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> Articles in general (and especially gaming articles) usually have a much stronger rhetoric in their message than what most people feel.
Yeah, that’s fair. The article links to a Reddit post with 14,000 likes, which is why the author likely assumed this is some sort of hot-button debate in the community.
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> Quick visual reference VS basic math. In the end, not terribly important, but most use one or the other primarily.
Good point. I read through some comments on the Reddit post that the article links to (so I could see how ‘divided’ people are), and it’s surprisingly all really civil. People are just talking about exactly what you said—why they prefer one or the other.
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> I’m reading an article about how the Halo community is apparently upset with Halo Infinite’s ammo counter ditching the visual bullet/rocket symbols in favor of a numeric system, and it makes me feel like people really need to rethink their priorities. Why does it matter if Infinite tries a new approach to how its HUD visualizes the player’s ammo? It’s a feature that’s barely noticeable to begin with. There are plenty of legitimate concerns that Halo fans have about the upcoming game, but this new ‘problem’ just seems like phony outrage to me.
Why does it bother you so much as to what other people enjoy in a video game? This seems very close-minded.
I like the new style actually, but I would love for there to be an option rather at launch, or post launch, for you to be able to switch between bullets or number counter.
Articles tend to overblown a story into something bigger than it actually is.
Honestly I think people are just afraid of change. Anything 343i do people want to scrutinise. Even something as small as a ammo counter…
I personally prefer the new look. It’s more condensed but still conveys the relevant information. Leaves more screen space open and less cluttered with a huge ammo counter in the corner.
Either one works for me. I’m not really too bothered. 343i Could make a happy medium and allow players to choose which one they want in the settings. A traditional ammo counter or the newer one.
Its the result of 343 often changing things for the sake of change.
Doesn’t help that often tout features already done in other games as new and revolutionary, while doing them in inferior ways to other titles.
The bullet counter is nostalgic, but I’m not bothered by it, it’s just a little change it’s not that big of a deal to me
Numbers are likely so xCloud users can read their ammo when playing on their phones. That’s my guess at least. I didn’t even notice until this thread came up 
Id like to have the old representation on the HUD but i am used to these stylistic changes and really dont think it will be that big of a difference. I will probably completely stop noticing within a week or so
It matters the same way we care about how the warthog sounds. It’s just one of those little things that makes Halo feel more like Halo.
I care about it. All the small details really add up at the end of the day. It’s a a small cosmetic thing that makes it easier to see what percentage of ammo you have left at a glance. Yes, I could do quick math to know 3 rounds in a Sniper means the magazine is 75% full, but I enjoy seeing a different ammo counter in Halo, because it does something other games don’t. Halo has been doing this for so long, it has become a subtle part of its identity.
Yes
> 2533274866989456;2:
> Articles in general (and especially gaming articles) usually have a much stronger rhetoric in their message than what most people feel. I’ve been pretty active on the forms over the last 6 months or so and I’ve not seen really anyone take a strong stance on this issue (if that’s even what you want to call it). The article is trying to get you to stay on their website for as long as possible to so they can make advertising revenue on your screen time. So don’t be surprised when a video or article tries to fabricate a bit a drama that doesn’t really exist.
As someone who works in SEO Content with a focus on writing various pages for different sites, I can confirm this is spot on. It’s all about that time spent on page and to make sure users aren’t “pogo-ing” by just clicking on it and then immediately hitting the back button.