Since it’s been stressed that the beta is for general testing and is not necessarily indicative of the final product, how far will it be taken? What’s in play? Is it just gametype elements? Or could default maps with different weapon spreads be used in there as well? Most of Reach’s maps need an overhaul; initial spawns need adjusting, more powerful weapons need to be included, and on shorter respawns, to increase map movement and especially to complement the increased DMR/NR/pistol power with zero bloom. Countdown definitely comes to mind, as do Powerhouse, Reflection, and Zealot. A space-free Anchor 9 should also be tested, if we were to go this route.
If we’re gonna work on fixing Reach’s abysmal maps, beta hoppers is as good a place to start on it as any.
343 isn’t “fixing” Reach. All the TU stuff, beta hoppers, etc. is all for Anniversary. It just so happens to be using Reach’s engine, and b/c of that Reach players can play Anniversary gameplay, but don’t think of all of this as 343 “fixing” Reach (as much as I’d want that to happen.)
Reach is still Reach, Anniversary will be Anniversary, but the fact that they use the same engine allows you to play both.
Did I say ‘fix’ Reach? No. I said ‘fix Reach’s abysmal maps’. Reach’s maps, while okay in core design, have some of the hilariously bad, disjointed initial spawns and weapon placements in all of Halo. End of story. It’s time for changes in that area. I don’t mean to ask for the world, but it really does show how badly Bungie -Yoink- the bed when virtually the entire experience needs a change.
If we’re going to make these maps less horrible, beta hoppers is a good place to do it.
Like I said, if 343 isn’t fixing Reach then they wouldn’t fix Reach’s maps either. They’ve got enough to worry about with Halo 4 on their hands. There just isn’t enough time to get it done. They’re leaving the game the way Bungie left it and only focusing on Reach to make things ready for Anniversary, not overhauling it whether it’s settings, maps, playlists, etc.
I agree 100% that Reach needs changing and that they should do it, but why bother? 343 is very respectful of Bungie which is why they aren’t gonna come in and change everything that Bungie did. Good or bad. They’re only tampering with Reach enough to make way for Anniversary, nothing else. So that includes maps. Like Frankie said, games only have about a 9 month life-span nowadays and Reach is far past that.
Once Anniversary is out the door then they’re full steam ahead on Halo 4 seeing how they’ve only got a bout a year left in development. Reach had it’s time and now it’s done. There is no need to try to keep it alive when there is so much other stuff to be done.
It’s not hard to whip up a more respectable Powerhouse or Reflection. Hell MLG’s Countdown already has a proven weapon alignment that works really well. You could just plug that right in.
Just let someone in the community make the variants, and simply plug them in. This isn’t exactly a massive undertaking here. If we’re already testing the gametypes on these maps, you might as well try to improve the maps themselves while you’re at it.
> > 343 isn’t “fixing” Reach. All the TU stuff, beta hoppers, etc. is all for Anniversary. It just so happens to be using Reach’s engine.
>
> The ability to play campaign without an HDD sounds like a “fix” to me.
>
> Gotcha!
True, but that isn’t the same kind of problem that we’re talking about, it’s more like a bug that needed to be fixed in order to play the game right and was blocking players that paid for the game just b/c they didn’t have an HDD. Map changes aren’t the same thing b/c they are an in-game preference as opposed to an actual game-breaking problem.
Also, something like that is needed to be fixed in order for Anniversary players to play through Reach. Yes, it fixes campaign, but it also fixes things like Firefight as well which will be coming in Anniversary.
So, ha! (says my inner 5-year-old)
343 is only changing in Reach what is NEEDED to be changed for Anniversary. Yes, we might see them change some Reach playlists around here and there, but only if they take away from the Anniversary experience. Take the removal of Team Classic for example. Yes, they are also doing things like adding Stockpile back in, and removing other things, but they are just doing exactly what Bungie did to Halo 3 before Reach came out which was condensing the older game so they won’t have to deal with it anymore after the new game releases.
Once Anniversary releases, the Anniversary playlists will be the only ones getting attention. Until then 343 is only changing the things in Reach that are needed. An overhaul of the maps aren’t one of those things (even though everyone wants it to be, myself included).