Time to Rant

Games Other Halo
1

I had high hopes for this game for a long time; 343i looked like it was doing great things. The gameplay looked to be improving, they appeared to be listening to several audiences for what they wanted and the game looked like it would be really awesome.

Then in the last week things went downhill. First the rank system being left out, that hit hard because I wanted it. I could live without it; because I believed it may come eventually, which it sounds as if it might.

But then last night the launch playlists were released and I could not be more stunned, shocked and disappointed. I really got into Halo when Halo 2 was launched, I had more games played there then anyone I knew; the majority of those games were in Rumble Pit, Team Slayer and Double Team. After that was Team Swat and Team Snipers. With Team Skirmish a distant last, near Big Team.

I don’t mean to speak for everyone, so I won’t; but I recall the populations of Team Slayer, Double Team and Rumble Pit being way higher than Team Skirmish ever was. These were staples of the game. Whenever I went to a LAN party, the only thing we played was FFA slayer, Doubles, or 4v4 games. This even included LAN parties with 16 people; we just split up into smaller games.

So the playlists have been released; and of the 9 of them, 6 are skirmish gametypes (at least what I consider skirmish). And just 3 true Slayer gametypes. King of the Hill, Oddball and CTF all have their own playlists. Which means the old Team Skirmish, which had low populations has now been broken up into three playlists; while the slayer fans have just three options to choose from. And realistically, most people who like Slayer Pro aren’t fans of Big Team, and vice-versa.

Anyone who loves just slayer and slayer gametypes has been left out in the cold, they have just three options, which lend to very little variety. None of the Halo Favorites have been brought back, none of the true classics have been brought back besides Big Team and 4v4.

I feel betrayed at this point. I scheduled a dentist appointment to get to work from home so I could play the majority of the game; but at this point I’m almost not sure if it’s even worth it. The gameplay looks great, but the matchmaking options just look like they are going to get old fast.

2

Wow, they don’t have a straight-up FFA playlist? I skipped over that part of the bulletin (along with much of the other drivel); I would have never guessed that. Straight-up FFA deathmatch represents one of the most quintessential first person shooter experiences; I can’t understand why they would neglect to include it. Then again, most players who have seen how 343 has “managed” the playlists in Reach won’t find this too surprising.

Maybe as people play the game and offer playlist feedback, they will adjust the playlists to include some of those tried-and-true game modes. We can use the forum to encourage them. Hey. Why are you laughing?!

3

They have Regicide, which I don’t quite understand how it works, but I know that it is 100% not ffa slayer.

4

it is free for all. there are no teams. there IS a “king” but all he is a the lead player and you just get more points for killing him.

in regicide you CAN KILL EVERYONE ELSE AND GET POINTS. that is the definition of FFA right? NO teams.

5

I dont see why everybody is complaining, the playlists and game modes in H4 are good, theyve tried some new things with Dominion and regicide sounds promising. cut 343i some slack, its not easy recreating a game which is highly anticipated, let alone the pressure of making a better game than its Predecessor

6

> it is free for all. there are no teams. there IS a “king” but all he is a the lead player and you just get more points for killing him.
>
> in regicide you CAN KILL EVERYONE ELSE AND GET POINTS. that is the definition of FFA right? NO teams.

I’d like to see 343 replace team slayer with a variation that gives red team’s players 10 points for each kill while giving blue team’s players only 1 point for each kill. No one will complain, because it will fit the definition of team slayer: a pair of TEAMS trying to KILL THE OTHER TEAM AND GET POINTS. :wink:

7

I 100% agree with you. Where’s rumble pit, doubles, swat and even snipers? It’s so weird I don’t understand what 343i is thinking! Also I’m in a clan and every Friday we play in big team battle, it’s so fun playing CTF and assault and some slayer mixed in but instead were forced to play all slayer which just isn’t as fun to us.

8

Edit

9

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10

> Regicide looks terrible - it is no way a replacement of FFA slayer.
>
> The leader is handicapped and players with less kills can win the game by killing the ‘king’ a few times - who everyone is going for and has a Waypoint over their head.

exactly. it gives the game a focus and makes it fun to play.

when you’ve become the target, you need to rely more on your sense of fight or flight. knowing the map is crucial to this. you CAN pick your battles because these people are going to kill each other if you can make them do it.

mindless games like slayer are fun, but it’s the kind of dynamics centered around an objective that interest me right now, and what create more unique experiences. people need to get more involved with how you can play the new game and adjust to what it now offers, not whine at it for moving on. the objectives change a game’s pacing, and make its experiences more particular to the game. halo 4 isn’t a throwback, it’s a brand new step. so why can’t you quit being nostalgic and enjoy the new ride?

11

I love these words:
“Looks”, “Read”, “Heard”…

These are really good words, but when used in the context of something that noone really has experienced yet (Yes, I know there are a handful, but I am speaking of the Halo population in general), they mean less than a handful of dog poop…

Okay kiddos… this is like your parents making you try different foods while you were growing up. It may LOOK horrible, it may SMELL horrible, it may even be made with your least favorite primary ingredient of all time… BUT… Until you actually taste the food, you have absolutely NO clue whether you like it or not. Okay, now, allow me to present the parallel I’ve drawn in plain english.

until you actually put the game in your xbox and play it (or go to a friend’s house and borrow theirs if you are unwilling to buy the game on faith), you have absolutely NO clue as to whether you are going to like it or not

12

I can’t speak for anyone else here, but I don’t make a habit of eating things that look bad and smell bad!

On second thought, though, I’m starting to look forward to Regicide. I have trouble winning games a lot of the time, but thanks to Regicide I can win games by tallying only 9 kills throughout. I can’t wait to hear the wails of my 20+ kill competitors as I abscond with the trophy, yo!

13

> I can’t speak for anyone else here, but I don’t make a habit of eating things that look bad and smell bad!

chuckle agreed. I don’t either. Simply making the point that no matter what it is, you cannot truly form an opinion until you personally have experienced something.

I used that analogy since I am a father of 4 and #2 (6 yrs old) refuses to willingly eat anything other than grapes, hot dogs, mac n cheese and chicken nuggets whereas #1 and #3 will try pretty much anything they see us try first. #4 doesn’t count since she’s not even close to being on solid food

14

> But then last night the launch playlists were released and I could not be more stunned, shocked and disappointed. I really got into Halo when Halo 2 was launched, I had more games played there then anyone I knew; the majority of those games were in Rumble Pit, Team Slayer and Double Team. After that was Team Swat and Team Snipers. With Team Skirmish a distant last, near Big Team.

Halo 2 launched without a Team Slayer playlist at all.

> I don’t mean to speak for everyone, so I won’t; but I recall the populations of Team Slayer, Double Team and Rumble Pit being way higher than Team Skirmish ever was. These were staples of the game. Whenever I went to a LAN party, the only thing we played was FFA slayer, Doubles, or 4v4 games. This even included LAN parties with 16 people; we just split up into smaller games.

Obviously you don’t speak for everyone. At our LAN parties, Slayer was always viewed a warmup for 8v8 CTF. Splitting up 16 people seems like an incredibly waste of a LAN.

> So the playlists have been released; and of the 9 of them, 6 are skirmish gametypes (at least what I consider skirmish). And just 3 true Slayer gametypes. King of the Hill, Oddball and CTF all have their own playlists. Which means the old Team Skirmish, which had low populations has now been broken up into three playlists; while the slayer fans have just three options to choose from. And realistically, most people who like Slayer Pro aren’t fans of Big Team, and vice-versa.

Part of the problem with objective gametypes have always been that they got lumped together. Just like Slayer people like you don’t like Objective, just because I like CTF doesn’t mean I want to play 4 games of something else to play one game of CTF. A CTF only playlist is long, long overdue. Three Slayer playlists seems reasonable to start with.

> Anyone who loves just slayer and slayer gametypes has been left out in the cold, they have just three options, which lend to very little variety. None of the Halo Favorites have been brought back, none of the true classics have been brought back besides Big Team and 4v4.

Most of the Objective gametypes are a lot different in Halo 4 as well, so we are all in the same boat with regards to that. I think (hope) 343 is just trying to get us to try them before adding in Classic playlists/options. It’s good to start with a few streamlined playlists, and then branch out in the coming months. Playlist updates are easy to do compared to patches, so I hope to see them either monthly like in previous games or even more frequently.