Let me start this out by asking a simple question…
One that’s been asked many times over…
What’s going to keep people playing Halo when they’ve reach the Level Cap?
It’s a simple enough question. A question worth asking; if you want the fans to keep playing a AAA title game loved by millions. It has, in my opinion a simple answer:
A Real Ranking System. 1-50.
What The? – What’s going on???
Many are comparing the Halo series to CoD and other titles now… Why? Because elements of the game is trying to simulate or copy the aspects of other games. Halo is trying to be CoD, but it’s not! Let bygones be bygones. Let Call of Duty be Call of Duty. Let Halo be Halo.
Three years after Halo3 there were still 200k+ people online. Why? Was it because there was no CoD??? Negative. There was always CoD. But the fact of the matter is, Halo 3 had a ranking system. It had what Halo4 does NOT have. Incentive to play. Goals. Ambitions. It not only was a badass and fun game, but… THERE WAS REASON TO PLAY.
I remember so many times when I would go online and see a 50 and want to REACH that rank. One day, I finally did. It was SEXAY times. lol. Point of the matter is, INCENTIVE KEEPS PEOPLE PLAYING. If there’s no point to playing, no goals, no ambitions - people get bored.
Do I think emuluating CoD and other games is a bad idea?
Hell yeah! Halo has been successful. But not by not running off of OTHER games ideals, but on it’s own. If anything, Halo has been THE game to copy, not the other way around!
( Halo! Stay true to yourself! Be what you are!!! )
Why do ranks in CoD not matter to some people?
The answer is simple - They release YEARLY titles. Halo does not.
Think of it this way – By the time you reach a high level/rank in CoD there will already be a new game on the way!!! It isn’t this way with Halo!!! Thankfully, Halo is not on an annual release schedule. ( consumers will get burnt out of a product over time with this strategy ) If there are no GOALS, then what’s the point? Eventually the game will just be bland and boring without incentive.
343, give us what we want! We are your customers and have put our faith in you to deliver a product that we can love and enjoy over the long run. Not just during launch! We want a ranked playlist AND a social/casual playlist. This makes people WANT to play. It gives them incentive!
It makes Halo - Halo!!!
Recap – So, if there is no incentive to play, then who the hell will play over the long run? No one. I want Halo to succeed, and in order for it to do so, WE NEED A REAL RANKING SYSTEM, not some BS EXP system. Hell, even Star Craft 2’s ranking system works. Why not borrow aspects of it ( Might as well do something positive with all of the borrowing going around. )
( P.S Visible IN GAME ranks is a must! 
)
Discussion. Thoughts. Go.