The majority/minority opinion thing

Games Other Halo
1

You’re having that rare, intelligent forum discussion with a group of interesting posters, and some random guy posts this:

“Remember, your ideas for Halo 4 are a minority opinion. Most Halo players don’t even come to these forums, so 343 can’t cater to your personal ideas and leave everyone else out who isn’t even on here.”

Let’s actually analyze this. Knocking an idea with “it’s just one person’s opinion” sounds fair and reasonable, but is it?

First off, is there some magic number of agreement before an idea is valid? If so, what is that number? I’ve seen a dozen people agree with a good idea on here. Should it be a hundred? A thousand? When does an idea become “for everyone?”

A thousand people may believe the earth is flat–are they right? One person can discover a vaccine–is he wrong?

Think about this: how many people work at 343? A hundred? Three hundred? They are actually making Halo 4. Are their ideas for the game invalid because they don’t have a majority of Halo players signing off on them?

The fact is, a vocal minority guides every creative project–beginning with the small group that makes it.

Then, loyal fans. We are not better/smarter than those who don’t post here–but because we have an ability to express our ideas about Halo 4, we probably “represent” ideas that regular players have, but don’t have the time or skill to get across.

I’ve seen threads derail over who has the right to have a good idea for Halo, which is a shame. Unfocused ideas tend to die out. Good ideas gain momentum. A forum like this is where it happens. Your ideas on Halo 4 can be valid, even though they are literally a minority opinion. In fact, it is usually a minority of dedicated people who change things for the better.

What do you think? Do these forums represent a cross-section of average player ideas? Are we a biased minority? If so, is being a biased minority a bad thing? Or, should 343 not listen to us at all, and take inspiration only from its own team?

2

This forum is a microcosm of what Halo is: whatever you want it to be. Although the best assumption here is that all members on this forum are the ones with the highest emotional stakes in the franchise, even in this rising cream there are great divides. Some, for example, would love for Halo to remain the same for game after game. Others, like myself, are more creative and work with others like OP in the spirit of helping make something new and groundbreaking.

So yes, we are a minority. But when you split it down the line of creative vs. conservative, both parties are ultimately the same. There is balance in this universe between light and dark, up and down, new and old. Some advocate the progression of new ideas, and others work to moderate them and push we creative types to our logistical limit. As for how much of this 343 listens too, that’s anybody’s game. I believe they know when to listen and when to laugh.

3

> This forum is a microcosm of what Halo is: whatever you want it to be. Although the best assumption here is that all members on this forum are the ones with the highest emotional stakes in the franchise, even in this rising cream there are great divides. Some, for example, would love for Halo to remain the same for game after game. Others, like myself, are more creative and work with others like OP in the spirit of helping make something new and groundbreaking.
>
> So yes, we are a minority. But when you split it down the line of creative vs. conservative, both parties are ultimately the same. There is balance in this universe between light and dark, up and down, new and old. Some advocate the progression of new ideas, and others work to moderate them and push we creative types to our logistical limit. As for how much of this 343 listens too, that’s anybody’s game.

Dr. Rockout, I don’t know which university you got your doctorate from, but it taught you well. Great post, ha.

4

Thanks, but the great post was yours. In a game so fan-based as Halo, it’s only natural that community content stems from every possible facet. People want to create and be a part of things they love. Halo has developed to embody this, and I can only imagine what it will grow into next. Keep thinking big.