The Smart Scope Controversy

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

There is much argument over 343i’s change from the ‘traditional’ zoom to the new ‘Smart Scope’. In an effort to channel these debates into a single thread, I’ve compiled a list of arguments I’ve seen against this change, as well as counter-arguments.

If anyone has anything to add to the list or simply wants to further debate what’s already on it, feel free to leave a comment.

Arguments AGAINST Smart Scope:

  • The change from smart-linked zoom to Smart Scope is a detriment to player visibility, due to the opaque weapon sights. The traditional games’ zoom was superior because it didn’t impair vision, only having darkened portions of the screen.- Reducing spread when zoomed with some weapons isn’t “Halo”, as it rewards zooming and consequently penalizes un-zoomed fire.- The concept of Smart Scope is inconsistent with Halo’s lore. In Halo’s established canon, the zoom function is explained through smart-linking to weapons equipped with camera-like lenses, displaying the video feed directly to the user’s HUD.- The Smart Scope zoom speed is slower than in previous Halo games, thus making it clunky and cumbersome to use when compared to the traditional zoom, especially after being de-scoped during a firefight.- ADS is in every other major FPS, so Halo should avoid it to remain unique.Counter-Arguments:
  • The “detriment” to player visibility is negligible and if it is unacceptable to see your weapon when zoomed, it should also be unacceptable to see your weapon when un-zoomed. It isn’t (nor has it ever been) necessary to see your weapon in Halo, given the HUD displays the weapon you have equipped and how much ammo it has. The aversion to Smart Scope’s aesthetic is a double standard rooted in fear that Halo will become a “generic” FPS if allowed to take any aspects, gameplay or otherwise, from other games (namely Call of Duty).- While Halo has never (with certainty, anyways) reduced spread when zoomed, it has done something to achieve the same effect. In previous Halo games, zooming gave players an increased red-reticle-range (the range at which auto-aim benefits kick in), which made aiming (and as a result, shooting) easier at longer ranges when zoomed than un-zoomed. This is what reducing spread objectively does, so it isn’t really rewarding zooming/penalizing “hip-fire” any more than past games. It is another double standard that many fans seem to have.- I haven’t seen it explicitly said that Smart Scope is the same thing as smart-link. It has been said that the developers “went back to the lore”, but not that Smart Scope was the same thing. I believe Smart Scope is a technological advancement that offers more practicality (from a lore standpoint) and versatility. Utilizing the helmet’s internal zoom and holographic overlays allows Spartans to zoom with virtually any weapon, whereas the traditional smart-link technology is dependent on whether or not the weapon being used is fitted with a compatible smart-link system (nevermind the question of how this system was able to link perfectly with Covenant/Forerunner technology).- Why can’t the transition animation be sped up? They are already doing this for the Sniper Rifle, so its certainly not out of the question.- Why should Halo strive to be “unique” above all else? The logic in avoiding mechanics/concepts for the sole purpose of not having anything in common with [insert game here] is counter-intuitive to the design process.
2

I don’t really want to bother much about this topic since no matter how much we complain now they won’t remove anything but on point 5 I’d like to comment.

Every game, not only Halo, should strive to be unique. It removes repetetiveness and keeps originality within the games. The only thing that defeats this though is that sooner or later originality will be harder to achieve and people will either be forced to keep a franchise running forever or games will need to become alike by copying formulas.

Though Halo had a formula many didn’t copy literally because they think it’s too simple. Simple doesn’t meen it doesn’t have content or is boring, simple can be fun and contain alot of content. Just look at Halo 3, it had ALOT of content yet it’s gameplay was very simple for a shooter.

Modern shooters begin to water themselves out because they all copy a formula Call of Duty began with. Levels, overachieving, overcimplicating things because it’s apparently more fun to them, and many more things. This has left many other shooter types, such as Arena, to be left in the corner and looked down upon. Why do they get looked down upon you ask? Because they’re simple. People think that simplicity brings boredome but it doesn’t. Just give people a copy of Halo 3, QUAKE or DOOM and you’ll see that they will be surprised that they’re having fun without sprint, ADS, clamber or classes.

3

I think holographic sights would be a nice middle ground. It wouldn’t obscure as much of the players zooming but would still provide the immersion of ADS. Not to mention that it would fit with the lore of zooming since it would be linked to the Spartan HUD.

4

AGAINST reply:

  1. I have no issues with visibility albeit the DMR which was awful (and post beta 343 has already been changed)
  2. Halo 3, Reach, Halo 4 all have spread decreased while zoomed. Halo CE and Halo 2 dont. I hope Halo5 bridges the spread gap between old and new.
  3. I am indifferent to lore.
  4. I did not notice it being any slower. But constant descope rescope was annoying as hell. IMO a single descope should occur upon shield drop.
  5. Indifferent. Halo has never been that unique. All of its concepts have been used it other games.

Counter-Arguments reply:
I am apparently on the counter argument side, as I generally agree with most items you listed.

5

It’s not a controversy, it’s business as usual. Game companies change something, fans freak out and go insane because it isn’t exactly like the previous game.

6

> 2533274922858087;3:
> I think holographic sights would be a nice middle ground. It wouldn’t obscure as much of the players zooming but would still provide the immersion of ADS. Not to mention that it would fit with the lore of zooming since it would be linked to the Spartan HUD.

What do you mean exactly by “holographic sights”? The two things that come to my mind are THIS and THIS, and neither of them link to the HUD like the established lore details. I also wouldn’t say that either of these take up less screen space than Smart Scope, given that the first is on a pistol (of course its going to be smaller) and the other looks about as big as the DMR’s scope (during the beta).

7

I can justify the Smart Scope changes with my own rationale, hopefully others can grow to accept the change. I want h5 to be king of fps. Would be awesome.

8

> 2533274843463464;2:
> I don’t really want to bother much about this topic since no matter how much we complain now they won’t remove anything but on point 5 I’d like to comment.
>
> Every game, not only Halo, should strive to be unique. It removes repetetiveness and keeps originality within the games. The only thing that defeats this though is that sooner or later originality will be harder to achieve and people will either be forced to keep a franchise running forever or games will need to become alike by copying formulas.

Games should indeed strive to be unique in the sense that they should offer experiences that others don’t, not in the sense that they should avoid using a mechanic/concept solely so they won’t have said mechanic/concept in common with another game.

Read this if you have the time, and I hope to hear back from you.

9

> 2533274795233660;5:
> It’s not a controversy, it’s business as usual. Game companies change something, fans freak out and go insane because it isn’t exactly like the previous game.

It really is difficult for developers to please consumers, it would seem. Many players simultaneously claim they want something new/different and ridicule any changes the developers announce.

Fortunately, games are often seen for what they are with time. Imagine (or reminisce) back when Halo 2 was being criticized for its changes from CE (removal of health packs, faster shield recharge, absence of the 3-shot-kill Magnum, etc.) and look at its reception now.

10

> 2533274803493024;7:
> I can justify the Smart Scope changes with my own rationale, hopefully others can grow to accept the change. I want h5 to be king of fps. Would be awesome.

I’m almost certain the real root of all the Smart Scope hate is that merely that it looks like [insert modern FPS], rather than how it actually does/doesn’t affect gameplay (most seem to forget that de-scope is back).

Although I don’t think that’s a good reason to dislike it, I can understand the concerns that 343i are trying to attract the “CoD crowd” (especially after the last two games’ additions like loadouts). These changes were supposed to support the same player progression system that works so well for other current FPS, but failed because these other games did this so much better AND because they went against some of Halo’s defining qualities (like equal starts).

The problems with the last two games have caused mass “CoD-ophobia”, and a rejection that bears any semblance to such games.

11

> 2535440283237581;10:
> > 2533274803493024;7:
> > I can justify the Smart Scope changes with my own rationale, hopefully others can grow to accept the change. I want h5 to be king of fps. Would be awesome.
>
>
> I’m almost certain the real root of all the Smart Scope hate is that merely that it looks like [insert modern FPS], rather than how it actually does/doesn’t affect gameplay (most seem to forget that de-scope is back).
>
> Although I don’t think that’s a good reason to dislike it, I can understand the concerns that 343i are trying to attract the “CoD crowd” (especially after the last two games’ additions like loadouts). These changes were supposed to support the same player progression system that works so well for other current FPS, but failed because these other games did this so much better AND because they went against some of Halo’s defining qualities (like equal starts).
>
> The problems with the last two games have caused mass “CoD-ophobia”, and a rejection that bears any semblance to such games.

If the addition of Smart Scope doesn’t enrich the halo multiplayer experience in some way, then the change is not warranted.

If a change in a game doesn’t bring about meaningful enhancement then there is no point to it. Even though I’m on the fence about smart scope having a detrimental effect gameplay wise, I simply do not see Smart Scope bringing about any uplifting changes to multiplayer to justify such a radical departure from “classic” halo.

In my eyes it’s simply a blatant copy and paste from an established and popular game mechanic. Rejecting changes on the basis that is resembles other established titles can also be a valid argument. We don’t want Halo to mindlessly emulate other titles for the sake of superficially looking “fresh”.

12

> 2535440283237581;1:
> Counter-Arguments:
> 1. The “detriment” to player visibility is negligible and if it is unacceptable to see your weapon when zoomed, it should also be unacceptable to see your weapon when un-zoomed. It isn’t (nor has it ever been) necessary to see your weapon in Halo, given the HUD displays the weapon you have equipped and how much ammo it has. The aversion to Smart Scope’s aesthetic is a double standard rooted in fear that Halo will become a “generic” FPS if allowed to take any aspects, gameplay or otherwise, from other games (namely Call of Duty).

Negligible? Have you seen some of these visors? The DMR has been mentioned to death, but did anybody remember the new Rocket Launcher? ADSing with it basically covers the entire right half of the screen. I definitely wouldn’t call that “negligible”. Yes, weapon models have always been in the way of a clear view. But that’s exactly what whe had zoom for! It gave the player a clear, unobstructed view of his FOV, albeit smaller. Video games are about options, different possibilities, various approaches. Halo 5 now has taken one of these away for seemingly no reason.
The second part of that statement is A) pure speculation and B) polemics.

> 2535440283237581;1:
> 2. While Halo has never (with certainty, anyways) reduced spread when zoomed, it has done something to achieve the same effect. In previous Halo games, zooming gave players an increased red-reticle-range (the range at which auto-aim benefits kick in), which made aiming (and as a result, shooting) easier at longer ranges when zoomed than un-zoomed. This is what reducing spread objectively does, so it isn’t really rewarding zooming/penalizing “hip-fire” any more than past games. It is another double standard that many fans seem to have.

So instead of having one unfair advantage we now have two. That doesn’t make it better it makes it worse. It’s like increasing bullet magnetism because it has always been there anyways. Which funnily enough is exactly what 343 did in Halo 4.

> 2535440283237581;1:
> 3. I haven’t seen it explicitly said that Smart Scope is the same thing as smart-link. It has been said that the developers “went back to the lore”, but not that Smart Scope was the same thing.

You haven’t? That’s weird. Because I have.

> 2535440283237581;1:
> 5. Why should Halo strive to be “unique” above all else? The logic in avoiding mechanics/concepts for the sole purpose of not having anything in common with [insert game here] is counter-intuitive to the design process.

Au contraire, mon ami. From a buisness standpoint it is important to distinguish yourself from your competitors. The keyword is “unique selling proposition” or USP. Any buisness person will be able to explain to you that the more similar your product is to what’s already on the market, the less USPs you provide to your customers, the more problems you will have convincing the public why your offer is superior to that of your competitors. While I wouldn’t go as far as call Halo identical to [insert game here], it certainly has lost a lot of its USPs by assimilating mechanics from competitors. That’s only part of the problem, of course. Because it wasn’t just Halo that’s changed but the other games as well. Back in the day when CE came around, seemless transition between shooter-gameplay and vehicular combat was a novum, but nowadays this is commonplace. Various other aspects that Halo introduced were copied as well, like the ability to throw grenades/use melee weapons at any time instead of them occupying a weapon slot of their own, recharging shields, and so forth. So Halo would have already lost a lot of its USPs without modifying the gameplay itself. The problem here is that 343’s strategy for approaching this problem is by removing even more of the USPs that Halo still has left… This is what’s counter-intuitive to the design process.

> 2535440283237581;8:
> Read this if you have the time, and I hope to hear back from you.

Oh god, for me as a physicist, this was a real pain to read. I finished it and I get where he’s coming from… but the analogy to chemistry was just… wrong. On so many different levels…

.

On a side note, I think you have forgotten one argument in your OP:
“6. Smart scope on all guns promotes weapon redundancy as every weapon is now at least intended to be useful at all ranges instead of having a specific niche”

13

> 2533275021891261;11:
> If the addition of Smart Scope doesn’t enrich the halo multiplayer experience in some way, then the change is not warranted.
>
> If a change in a game doesn’t bring about meaningful enhancement then there is no point to it. Even though I’m on the fence about smart scope having a detrimental effect gameplay wise, I simply do not see Smart Scope bringing about any uplifting changes to multiplayer to justify such a radical departure from “classic” halo.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Every single discussion about ADS in Halo revolves around why it is or isn’t harmful to Halo… But to this day, I haven’t seen a single reason as to why it’s actually beneficial to the game, besides #immersion. Which is a purely subjective argument, since I know a lot of people, myself included, who are actually taken out of the game instead of being sucked in by it.

14

I really enjoyed all of the Spartan Abilities in the beta, because I felt like they really added another dimension to the gameplay.

I can traverse the play space with more ease and fluidity thanks to clamber.
I can rush to help my teammates out when they’re in a bind thanks to sprint.
I can lure people around corners and right to an unforeseen death thanks to ground pound.
I can dodge sticky grenades and move clear of frags thanks to thruster pack.
I can pick up weapons in an overly dramatic action flick kind of way thanks to slide (this is the most useless ability, in my opinion).
I can shove unsuspecting enemies into walls or off the edge of the map thanks to spartan charge.
And I can stop pretending like the spartans have some kind of disability wherein they can’t raise a gun and focus to get more range out of it thanks to smart scope.

I will agree that the constant de-scoping is really annoying. I think it would be better if you didn’t de-scope until your shields were popped, and then maybe not be allowed to re-scope until they are at least recharging (not counting weapons like the battle rifle, dmr, and sniper. Just the classic no-zoom weapons like the assault rifle and smg).

15

> 2535440283237581;1:
> Arguments AGAINST Smart Scope
> Reducing spread when zoomed with some weapons isn’t “Halo”, as it rewards zooming and consequently penalizes un-zoomed fire.
>
> Counter-Arguments:
> While Halo has never (with certainty, anyways) reduced spread when zoomed, it has done something to achieve the same effect. In previous Halo games, zooming gave players an increased red-reticle-range (the range at which auto-aim benefits kick in), which made aiming (and as a result, shooting) easier at longer ranges when zoomed than un-zoomed. This is what reducing spread objectively does, so it isn’t really rewarding zooming/penalizing “hip-fire” any more than past games. It is another double standard that many fans seem to have.

You seem to only be factoring precision weapons. This video demonstrates Smart Scopes effect on automatic weapons.

If this is indeed the intended effect of Smart Scope, to also reduce spread on automatic weapons, then there is a clear and irrefutable problem to Halo 5’s multiplayer. Halo multiplayer has always been about fluid movement, awarding players full mobility without the expense of accuracy.

If Smart Scope serves to increase accuracy on automatic weapons then you are going to totally disrupt the flow of gameplay Halo is known for and will foster gameplay behaviour from precision shooters, something Halo never was and should never be.

That being, to maximise a player’s potential to kill, the player may be forced to adopt the COD style of RUN → STOP → AIM → SHOOT → RUN, when Halo has always been about movement and shooting being able to occur in synchrony. Where movement is just as important as shooting.

16

> 2533274810150284;14:
> And I can stop pretending like the spartans have some kind of disability wherein they can’t raise a gun and focus to get more range out of it thanks to smart scope.

What are you talking about? Spartans already have their gun raised for increased range and precision at all times. The only weapons that have ever been actually “fired from the hip” were ripped-off turrets and the sword, for obvious reasons. This is most extensively noticeable in Red vs Blue where they make use of a “weapons lowered” animation that was specifically included with Machinima in mind.

Halo CE:
Example 1.
[Example 2.

](http://images.eurogamer.net/2014/usgamer/sapien-50-14-66.jpg)Halo 2:
Example 1.
[Example 2.

](https://mrghosty.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/winvista_halo2_01_02-1.jpg)Halo 3:
Example 1.
[Example 2.

](http://ripleyhs.jack.k12.wv.us/studentweb/spring09/Will/Will’sPersonalPage/images/halo3-4-full.jpg)Even it this weren’t the case, that’s a purely cosmetic problem that can be adressed simply by redesigning new, appropriate player models, without the need of radically changing gameplay elements.

17

Honestly, when considering “smart scope” purely individually and especially aesthetically it wouldn’t really bother me. I would still consider it pointless because it is more or less nothing else but visual fluff but I could fairly look past it.

The thing however what bothers me about it is what it, and with it Spartan Abilities and the general new stuff 343i introduced, stands for and what it tries to generate.
The substance (or better the lack of that) behind the implementation.

“being a Spartan”. “Halo 5’s gameplay inspired by the lore”. I personally think that are cool concepts. I think they have quite a lot of potential. I think that could result in several different and individual kinds of substantial gameplays and experiences.
But now 343i tries to convince me that H5 really followed and developed out of said concepts?
You want to tell me that the gameplay of H5 is in context with Halo’s lore? You want to tell me it is just coincidence that several recent games have focused on quite similar gameplay and mechanics and that H5 is not just uninspired aping and following what is currently popular?
You want to tell me the change to ADS aesthetics, making zoom a universal weapon trait and mapping zoom to LT on default and with all that combined, plus its combination with the typical hectic run-stop-shoot-gameplay generated by sprint, giving it, at least a seemingly, significant importance and familiarity like you know it from other shooter’s gameplay, happened because it has basically always been there in Halo’s lore?

But regardless if they followed an individual substantial concept or just what someone said is currently hip and cool, eventually smart scope and the majority of their other new features adds nothing or rather brings nothing to the gameplay but superficial shine even often for the price of former qualities additionally, what is then just another big disappointment on top of all that, at least for me, because the game, a personal favorite, is moving nowhere with that.
Even the concepts I would personally say have a fair amount of (potential) substance, speaking of thrusters, hover, slide and melee are so hollow and boringly conventional executed that the final mechanics do not. But I digress.

The point is, it is not smart scope alone and in itself that bothers and disappoints me but that 343i design, the bigger picture, the combination of all their stuff, of which smart scope is a part of, forms and represents, is just one that I cannot really follow because it significantly lacks ground and idea. It is neither one thing nor the other but just bumbling about various and incoherent gameplay mechanics and elements and that doesn’t inspire me because eventually in my opinion it plays exactly what it is: faceless mishmash.

18

> 2533274801176260;16:
> > 2533274810150284;14:
> > And I can stop pretending like the spartans have some kind of disability wherein they can’t raise a gun and focus to get more range out of it thanks to smart scope.
>
>
> What are you talking about? Spartans already have their gun raised for increased range and precision at all times. The only weapons that have ever been actually “fired from the hip” were ripped-off turrets and the sword, for obvious reasons. This is most extensively noticeable in Red vs Blue where they make use of a “weapons lowered” animation that was specifically included with Machinima in mind.
>
> Halo CE:
> Example 1.
> Example 2.
>
> Halo 2:
> Example 1.
> Example 2.
>
> Halo 3:
> Example 1.
> Example 2.
>
> Even it this weren’t the case, that’s a purely cosmetic problem that can be adressed simply by redesigning new, appropriate player models, without the need of radically changing gameplay elements.

I didn’t mean hip fire. Yes, they always have their weapons raised, but not to the extent of someone who is aiming down sights. There is a middle ground between ADS and hip fire, which is what Halo has always done in the past. Even CoD and Battlefield don’t technically “hip fire”, it’s also that “middle ground” that’s a bit more accurate than hip fire and slightly less accurate than aiming down sights.

My post was intended to say that Spartans of previous Halo games seemed incapable of aiming down their sights, which I think is a bit silly for a super soldier. How are you supposed to get the most range and accuracy out of your weapon if you don’t aim down the sights?

19

> 2533274810150284;18:
> > 2533274801176260;16:
> > > 2533274810150284;14:
> > > And I can stop pretending like the spartans have some kind of disability wherein they can’t raise a gun and focus to get more range out of it thanks to smart scope.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > What are you talking about? Spartans already have their gun raised for increased range and precision at all times. The only weapons that have ever been actually “fired from the hip” were ripped-off turrets and the sword, for obvious reasons. This is most extensively noticeable in Red vs Blue where they make use of a “weapons lowered” animation that was specifically included with Machinima in mind.
> >
> > Halo CE:
> > Example 1.
> > Example 2.
> >
> > Halo 2:
> > Example 1.
> > Example 2.
> >
> > Halo 3:
> > Example 1.
> > Example 2.
> >
> > Even it this weren’t the case, that’s a purely cosmetic problem that can be adressed simply by redesigning new, appropriate player models, without the need of radically changing gameplay elements.
>
>
>
>
> I didn’t mean hip fire. Yes, they always have their weapons raised, but not to the extent of someone who is aiming down sights. There is a middle ground between ADS and hip fire, which is what Halo has always done in the past. Even CoD and Battlefield don’t technically “hip fire”, it’s also that “middle ground” that’s a bit more accurate than hip fire and slightly less accurate than aiming down sights.
>
> My post was intended to say that Spartans of previous Halo games seemed incapable of aiming down their sights, which I think is a bit silly for a super soldier. How are you supposed to get the most range and accuracy out of your weapon if you don’t aim down the sights?

Spartans actually are indeed incapable of aim down the sights because their helmets are in the way. They cannot press their cheek against the rifle to look down the sights.
To get the most accuracy out of your weapon you do not have to manually look down its sights. All you have to do is hold it in a controlled position (what they do) and aim it precisely at the target (in which the HUD via smart link and a reticule and very likely the armor itself assists them).

With H5’s smart scope Spartans do not look down the weapons sights. The sights get simply projected on your visor now instead of just projecting a reticule, what appears to be a bit silly.

20

> 2533275021891261;15:
> If this is indeed the intended effect of Smart Scope, to also reduce spread on automatic weapons, then there is a clear and irrefutable problem to Halo 5’s multiplayer. Halo multiplayer has always been about fluid movement, awarding players full mobility without the expense of accuracy.
>
> If Smart Scope serves to increase accuracy on automatic weapons then you are going to totally disrupt the flow of gameplay Halo is known for and will foster gameplay behaviour from precision shooters, something Halo never was and should never be.
>
> That being, to maximise a player’s potential to kill, the player may be forced to adopt the COD style of RUN → STOP → AIM → SHOOT → RUN, when Halo has always been about movement and shooting being able to occur in synchrony. Where movement is just as important as shooting.

Sprint running and shooting while scoped are separate things.

Since Halo5 does not slow down movement when scoped, though I may indeed stop sprinting to shoot, I am in no ways using my AR in any less a manner than I would a precision from any Halo… It’s now about on par.

And of course lastly, stating a game has always had an imbalanced sandbox is no reason to continue creating an imbalanced sandbox. Forge and custom options can create the precision-centric gameplay one wishes, it’s just bogging down processor power to have weapons useless to the knowledge of the game, ie, We know to never use “X” weapon because it’s barely useful.

You have a problem with useful automatics? Not a problem to spend your time in the hardcore playlists.