So.. where do fans draw the line?

Games Other Halo
1

I don’t post here often, usually just lurk and read the usual sprint/AA/ranking system squabbles, but after seeing the overwhelming reaction from many other forum members last night, I noticed how a few people were quick to say “Deal with it. We will have fun with Halo 4 while you miss out.” And yes I agree, because there’s nothing else we can do except deal with it.

However, I have one question: Where do people draw the line then?

Back during the VGA incident in December, people complained about the lack of Halo 4 info. The usual response from was something like, “Too early for info, wait longer and deal with it.” I agreed with that. Then last month 343 finally gives us the First Look video. Some were pleased, others not so much. I personally didn’t mind sprint so much, but the screen shot with the possibility of jet pack worried me a bit. The Chief looked awesome, but I thought the default Spartan IV’s looked hideous, yet I figured there would be plenty of better armor to unlock. But I reserved any major judgement to see what else 343 had in store. For some of those who complained, the response was “Change has to happen, so deal with it.” I half agreed, in that it should only be good change, not change for the sake of change. Now this happens, and saying I’m not too happy from what I’ve heard would be an understatement.

And although there are many that have voiced their displeasure, there are a few who still say, “Adapt. Deal with it.” Now, I’m not implying that you don’t have a right to say that, but my question to those people is: Where do people draw the line then? When is it okay for them to voice complaints? I’m serious. Are you guys willing to accept anything that 343 is going to give you?

By no means do I mean that condescendingly or as flamebait, I just genuinely want to know what you are willing to accept. Maybe you can say “It’s 343’s game. They can do what they want with it. Be lucky you’re even getting another Halo.” True, but they won’t get very far if the things that go into it aren’t well thought out. If they are just adding things in for popularity’s sake, then maybe they should’ve not made the game in the first place. Or maybe you’re just bored with the old formula, which is perfectly fine, that doesn’t really make you any less of a fan. However, some of the new Halo 4 features mentioned are just plain ridiculous IMO. I don’t even claim to be an MLG pro or an expert on map control and weapon spawns because I’m honestly just an average Halo player at best, yet even I think these “additions” might completely destroy any sense of balance. I would rather play a game I can improve at than having a game hold my hand, never really knowing whether I’ve improved or not.

However, this is not to say that some complainers are entirely free of blame though. Some of those who have posted truly sound like angry preteens going off on annoying rants. No one is going to take them seriously, and they make the rest look bad.

I still believe this might have a chance to be fixed if there are separate playlists implemented without these add-ons, but we’ll have to wait to see what Frankie has to say about it. Maybe it was just a troll, or maybe we will have solid, competitive playlists. I hope so because then my mini-rant would be pointless. But until then, I will keep trying to reserve judgement, though it’s becoming pretty difficult now.

This thread will probably go without replies and be dead by the time I come back to it, but oh well I don’t mind, I’m tired anyway. Yet my question still stands. Where can people draw the line for what should and shouldn’t be in Halo 4?

2

…

I just typed up a massive reply and it didn’t post. Damn. Sorry, I don’t think I’m gonna retype it…

3

The problem is 343i is doing things that go against what Halo as a series is about and making Halo like cod to try and sell more copies.

4

I just felt 343i, especially that Frankie, has been lying to all of us all this time. I just don’t trust them as a studio anymore. Sure, the visuals will probably be great, but everything else that made Halo such a competitive and unique experience is just being tossed out like garbage.

See-through walls vision, instant respawns, active camo as armor ability AGAIN??!, and choosing classes?!!

Haha, I’ll be laughing my -yoink- off when their response to all of this is “Oh, we’re not copying any game out there, we’re just trying to be innovative.”

5

> The problem is 343i is doing things that go against what Halo as a series is about and making Halo like cod to try and sell more copies.

This.

6

I draw the line at characteristics of gameplay that set the Halo series apart from all other FPS on consoles, such as:

  • Slower gameplay requiring more thought and planning (e.g. Spawn waiting times meaning that each life is more valuable, and you can’t just charge into a base gung-ho, normal running speeds leading to longer and more intense fighting, rather than quick pop-out-and-die action of most other FPS)

  • Fairness at the start of every game (e.g. Everyone starting on a level playing field, and the only advantage being the player’s knowledge of the game mechanics, the map, and the gametype.)

  • Games played for fun and competition rather than hoarding points/unlockables (e.g. The inclusion of Credits and unlockables in H3 and Reach leading people to hold objectives so they can get more kills, whereas none of that happened in H2).

These are the characteristics that I think makes Halo a unique game, and makes the gameplay more mentally engaging than most other first person shooters.

7

I drew a line about 4 months ago, 343i just rode right over it and kept going.

I was sad :frowning:

8

I am simply astonished that people are still saying “Learn to adapt; this game needs to evolve!”, even after the GI article. Why do people even play Halo if they want it to change that much?

9

@Sphinx No worries man.

> I just felt 343i, especially that Frankie, has been lying to all of us all this time. I just don’t trust them as a studio anymore. Sure, the visuals will probably be great, but everything else that made Halo such a competitive and unique experience is just being tossed out like garbage.
>
> See-through walls vision, instant respawns, active camo as armor ability AGAIN??!, and choosing classes?!!
>
> Haha, I’ll be laughing my -yoink- off when their response to all of this is “Oh, we’re not copying any game out there, we’re just trying to be innovative.”

I’m sure he will say something to that effect actually. Like, “Yeah these changes have been implemented, but dont worry they have been fully tested! Theyre amazing and as a bonus, balanced! You’ll see when then game ships!”

Sorry to sound like a Debbie Downer, but Im just pessimistic.

10

Right here. Not buying this game.

11

> - Fairness at the start of every game (e.g. Everyone starting on a level playing field, and the only advantage being the player’s knowledge of the game mechanics, the map, and the gametype.)

Very good points, and this one was a huge one for me. I could have handled sprint, maybe even jet pack, even minor perks like extra ammo or something, as long as every single player started off on equal footing. I honestly thought they would have learned at least that one thing from Reach.

@Mitch My thoughts exactly. How can some of them still defend this when its so painfully obvious its not the same game anymore?

12

They NEED a beta. The things they are doing. They need a beta, for the sake of the franchise.

13

There won’t be a public beta sadly. Sad not because I want to play the game early (I’ve never really done public betas before), but because the feedback they would receive would at least help in shaping the game properly.

14

The line doesn’t need to be drawn… not yet anyway. I can’t see why people can’t just wait until we get some good gameplay footage to show us how these things work in the game.