Why is Halo taken so seriously?

Games Other Halo
1

Now I generally ignore most of the MM threads because I don’t care enough about the game to even bother. But I have read a few on the first page and found it highly highly enlightening. Now video games have created a sub-culture in our society, and we are a predatory species. Survival has taught us many things. And it comes out in the strangest of ways. In early days we measured success and later social standing by how well one hunted, how big your flock is, the number of wives that you had. In this sub-culture it seems that our competitive and predatory nature comes out a bit to strongly.

Your own survival or that of your family group is not at stake. What is the near flight-or-fight response most seem to have when they rant and vent about a game that has no bearing on their lives beyond when it is turned on? You can’t display your trophies, your own personal success and power does not grow, your survival is not affected.

Is it the condition of anonymity that empowers so many people? They can’t see me. I can’t be called into account for my actions. Again this shows how the psychology of humanity can be so flawed. Why is the energy spent towards ranting and raving not directed outwards into more productive pursuits? I’ve seen some rather well written dissertations about the flaws (and boons) of this game. Some can articulate very well it just baffles me at the emotional response this game gathers.

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That’s humanity for ya!

3

I see what you are saying OP, yes it is just a video game and not the most important thing in life. I married with four kids they are my top priority. But saying Halo is just a game to some people is just like saying Star Wars is just a movie. Things like that connect with people on a personal and emotional level. Halo from its story, lore and music is something that I hold very special. Its something I cant explain to people cause if I have to explain it they wouldnt understand it. Cause Halo is almost like a way of life. The song that played at me and my wifes reception after we were married as we took our first dance as husband and wife was ‘Never Forget’ from Halo 2. Most of the people didnt know what the song was which was fine cause its a song me and my wife love as is the Halo franchise. If its something you dont get then its something someone wont get if I explain it. Halo is special and means so many things to different people.

4

Oh I understand Halo, it is perhaps one of my favorite series out there, what I don’t understand is such extreme reactions that others display for a thing that has no bearing on their survival. This is what has me so interested in Psychology and what I am going back to school for the Fall is all about.

The story is compelling and emotional. The musical score has to be my favorite aspect of the games. I can listen to the musical score for hours.

If it is not fun for them, if they find so many flaws then why continue playing it? Sell it, give it away or trade it in are all valid options but yet some express their continued dislike and frustration in such unproductive ways.

5

I dont get that part either I think maybe cause they dont want to play anything else and they want to like it but its not what they want it to be. Yes I have some complaints about Halo 4 multiplayer but its not the end of the world. I am with you on that though if someone despises something so much they really should do themselves a favor and not play it.

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> that has no bearing on their survival

Does Psychology have any bearing on survival?
Does Art have any bearing on survival?
Does Philosophy have any bearing on survival?
The pursuit of knowledge?
The pursuit of wealth?
The pursuit of pleasure?

Survival alone is meaningless.

People are passionate about things that give value to their life. Things that give value to actually surviving.

Surely you’ve heard the phrase “nothing left to live for”.

> If it is not fun for them, if they find so many flaws then why continue playing it? Sell it, give it away or trade it in are all valid options but yet some express their continued dislike and frustration in such unproductive ways.

Venting is productive.
So is explaining what it is you dislike about the game.

> they really should do themselves a favor and not play it.

Just because they post on the forums doesn’t automatically mean they play the game.

Furthermore, its aggravating. People similar to the OP, who don’t even care, rant on in defense of the game while apparently not caring.

While the people who DO care are left to argue with such people.

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I am not defending the game. I am curious as to the reactions people have about the game.

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> Does Psychology have any bearing on survival?
> Does Art have any bearing on survival?
> Does Philosophy have any bearing on survival?
> The pursuit of knowledge?
> The pursuit of wealth?
> The pursuit of pleasure?
>
> Survival alone is meaningless.

In the modern era success and survival are measured by a different standard than what was used in previous ages.

For me personally? Yes Psychology will have a bearing on my survival. It will shape who and what I become. And will I bring enough success to support myself and family. Will I be happy, will I be able to look at myself in the mirror and not feel ashamed or guilty.

Art, Philosophy and Knowledge all helped to bring us to where we are today. The questions many of these pioneers asked shaped the basis for all that is to come. The technology and knowledge gained from their skills has lead to an increased survival of the species.

Wealth and Pleasure are the results of success and survival in this modern world. Some pursue them to the exclusion of all others. And our society recognizes their success, their survival.

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why do people find reasons to complain and name-call the people that like the game? cruelty? jerkiness? just being an -yoink-? no one knows…

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This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not create alternate accounts to bypass forum bans. Alternate accounts will be permanently banned, and offending users will be subject to both temporary and permanent bans.

*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

> > that has no bearing on their survival
>
> Does Psychology have any bearing on survival?
> Does Art have any bearing on survival?
> Does Philosophy have any bearing on survival?
> The pursuit of knowledge?
> The pursuit of wealth?
> The pursuit of pleasure?
>
> Survival alone is meaningless.
>
> People are passionate about things that give value to their life. Things that give value to actually surviving.
>
> Surely you’ve heard the phrase “nothing left to live for”.
>
>
>
> > If it is not fun for them, if they find so many flaws then why continue playing it? Sell it, give it away or trade it in are all valid options but yet some express their continued dislike and frustration in such unproductive ways.
>
> Venting is productive.
> So is explaining what it is you dislike about the game.
>
>
>
> > they really should do themselves a favor and not play it.
>
> Just because they post on the forums doesn’t automatically mean they play the game.
>
> Furthermore, its aggravating. People similar to the OP, who don’t even care, rant on in defense of the game while apparently not caring.
>
> While the people who DO care are left to argue with such people.

Good for you. And what about the people who DO enjoy playing the game?

How would you feel if you really enjoy something (game “meaning” to your life, like you say), then people get on here constantly spewing venom at it?? How’d that make you feel?

You don’t care. Because judging from your post, obviously…you are one of the 343i hate train riders. So you will just brush this post aside to.

p.s. OP is just curious, because hes one of the few rare human beings that notice the constant psychological trash threads on these forums.

11

This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not create alternate accounts to bypass forum bans. Alternate accounts will be permanently banned, and offending users will be subject to both temporary and permanent bans.

*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

> why do people find reasons to complain and name-call the people that like the game? cruelty? jerkiness? just being an -yoink-? no one knows…

This.

I’ve seen a good amount of positive threads get crapped on by all of the haters…but then as soon as you jump into their thread, saying good things about the game and disagreeing; they cry foul.

They make me laugh. They are like the annoying kids in grade school who pick on others but then when they get picked on themselves, they cry to their teacher.

12

To some people who have no life, games are their life.Its silly and stupid to most people, but to those people that only have video games in there life, it means more to them than there own life.If you are questioning how they can live that way, then you would never ever understand no matter how it is explained, since its a mental state of being that empowers them.

So them complaining about how their favorite game is not what they expect or enjoy, its practically the same if something happened to you in real life.For example, your job decided on taking away or adding something that would effect you greatly in a negative way to the point of frustration.Like taking away all of your benefits that you worked hard for after 10+ years and no more pay raises.Perhaps even taking away overtime with that too.I realize that this comparison is poor in relation to gaming or entertainment, but it gives the average person a perspective on how serious gaming is to these people in question.

13

> Good for you. And what about the people who DO enjoy playing the game?

Find it hard to believe when I see those same people become bored with it. Plus, the amount of “I like Halo 4, I think it’s great, BUT <giant list of issues here>…” threads I see is ridiculous. It’s like people think it’s a bad thing to just come out and say “I dislike Halo 4”. It’s not.

> How would you feel if you really enjoy something (game “meaning” to your life, like you say), then people get on here constantly spewing venom at it?? How’d that make you feel?

You mean like how I feel when people insult Halo 1-3, rely on fallacious arguments to defend this game, and promote change to the formula just because many of them never even liked the originals?

I’m not demanding Justin Bieber plays classical just because I dislike his music.

Or perhaps how I feel when I make perfectly reasonable suggestions, such as “Ok, why can’t we have both styles of play?” and they say “why don’t u just go bak to halo 3 and stop QQ”.

Though honestly, people’s emotions don’t matter. What matters is what the logical answer is. So if people have valid reasons to bash things I like, have at it. That’s how progress happens. Not by being blind.

I’m not so biased I can’t recognize good arguments. I just rarely see any. “Learn to adapt” is not a valid response when the DMR is statistically proven to be overpowered. “Your stats are wrong” is a valid response because it addresses the issue at hand.

> You don’t care. Because judging from your post, obviously…you are one of the 343i hate train riders. So you will just brush this post aside to.

I dislike the game. I do not hate 343I, they are just a company doing what companies do best - lie and attempt to appeal to the masses. I wouldn’t expect any more or less from any other company, including Bungie. I am certain Destiny will borrow elements from popular games as well.

And I really did want to brush that aside after reading “343i hate train rider”. The things people come up with…

> p.s. OP is just curious, because hes one of the few rare human beings that notice the constant psychological trash threads on these forums.

What’s psychological trash is how I can hammer people with empirical evidence or at the very least decent anecdotal evidence and the point is still lost on them.

14

Reason and debate go a long way. Debate is how we learn and grow both individually and as a group. I would prefer empirical evidence over anecdotal any day, but that is just me. Insults don’t make you reason or debate better it makes you look foolish. The sooner one resorts to insults and slander the weaker their opinion is and they feel cornered that they are being “attacked” and feel compelled to lash out as both a means to “survive” and to save face.

15

Ramir3z77, you and i have had our differences in the past, but i can totally agree with all aforementioned statements.

16

>

You see the problem is you like to troll and be insulting to the people who do not like the game. I never once did anything too you and in a thread a few weeks back you started to attack me. That is the problem, its not because we are on the “hate” train. It is because we get treated like crap by the supporters of this game. I dont know how many times ive been civil with people just for them to start bashing me because i dont agree with there ideals of what this game is.

17

That, (sigh) man that was beautiful…
btw good luck with the family

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> You see the problem is you like to troll and be insulting to the people who do not like the game. I never once did anything too you and in a thread a few weeks back you started to attack me. That is the problem, its not because we are on the “hate” train. It is because we get treated like crap by the supporters of this game. I dont know how many times ive been civil with people just for them to start bashing me because i dont agree with there ideals of what this game is.

i would just like to point out i have been civil and polite but as soon as i say i like the game i get “defence force” and “cod fanboy” so i don’t know what to tell ya

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> > You see the problem is you like to troll and be insulting to the people who do not like the game. I never once did anything too you and in a thread a few weeks back you started to attack me. That is the problem, its not because we are on the “hate” train. It is because we get treated like crap by the supporters of this game. I dont know how many times ive been civil with people just for them to start bashing me because i dont agree with there ideals of what this game is.
>
> i would just like to point out i have been civil and polite but as soon as i say i like the game i get “defence force” and “cod fanboy” so i don’t know what to tell ya

Yea ive seen that aswell but honestly i have not seen it much. It will happen though I will never do that. Dont know what too say both sides do have there terrible people. But once you forget about them (they are a very small part of both sides) its just fine.

20

Because we love the story, entertainment and all around fun it brings to our lives. When I am stressed, I would love to just fall into the endless universe that is Halo and not be so stuck in my daily routine. Its a mental vacation. Its not that big of a question. Why do people like movies? Because of the entertainment it gives them for two hours to laugh or cry or feel. Sometimes that’s all we need.