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  • Subject: Matchmaking Playlist Update
Subject: Matchmaking Playlist Update
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Okay, here goes nothing.

To those of you complaining about the lack of resetting the ranks and updating the playlists, please, shut the -blam!- up. Did any of you download the map packs in the past? Do you not remember that other than them adding a "preview" playlist, they didn't integrate the maps into the actual playlists for a LONG time? Here we are a week later and you want them fully integrated into the system even though there are thousands (I'm guesstimating) out there that wouldn't be able to play the multiplayer aspect of the game to its full potential. To tell them to go play the campaign is just stupid...why don't you do the same thing while waiting for an update you are paying NOTHING for? That brings us to the next point...

To those of you saying that you have paid for and downloaded the maps and that Bungie or M$ isn't living up to their side of the transaction, are you seriously that brain dead? You paid for the maps. PERIOD. The ability to play them in matchmaking is an added bonus and involves much more than flipping a switch and having the games available for online/multiplayer game play. Congratulations on getting the maps without any hitches and there are many that envy you and your "no-problems-download", but to say that you paid and now M$ and Bungie aren't delivering, you just don't understand much of anything do you. To borrow an analogy used earlier, imagine that 10 people want a specific car and 5 are able to obtain it right away while the other 5 are forced to wait and pull out their hair in frustration. Now, do we penalize the 5 that could get the car? No, we allow them to drive it with no issues and tell the 5 that couldn't get the car that it sucks to be them, but we're not waiting. Okay, fair enough. Now, say there is no gas available anywhere on the planet until 2 or three weeks after getting the car. Do you still want the car? Of course. Do you still sit in it and act like you have gas? Of course, you do...especially those under 16 out there. Car = Maps. Gas = Matchmaking with new Maps. Don't hate because the other 5 might get the car before the gas comes in, just sit there and enjoy your car/maps in custom games.

To those of you that think that this is user error and that those that can't get the maps are the ones that don't know what they're doing, if you would also shut the -blam!- up. These people have tried EVERYTHING to get these maps and there is an admitted problem with the download process that is stopping them from downloading them. (Just a side note here...although they probably won't, the only quick fix I see is to make the maps free...this would kill the "purchase" error)

To Bungie, I'm not hating here and I did see the response that programming/updating/releasing/patching/etc is difficult especially with the cross-platform issue we are seeing, but this is ridiculous. Can or can not the maps be put onto the marketplace? I don't want to hear bull-blam!-, I want to hear why you CAN NOT put them on the Marketplace. What is the structure of these files that make them so difficult to put on the Marketplace? Are the map packs from the past not standalone files? Is there a file in the gamer profile that wouldn't be updated if installed from something other than the in-game download manager? If so, how did you do the Halo 2 Map Pack DVD released via retail? I can keep going, but I'll stop.

To everyone. I'm one of the ones that doesn't have the maps on my 360. They downloaded first try on my original Xbox. Not good enough for me. Picking up the controller for the Xbox was so strange I honestly thought that I was suffering from arthritis. I can only imagine if I tried to play H2 with my original S- controller...actually, I'd still suck, just more than usual.

Honestly, I don't care that much if I never get them to download onto my 360. H3 is right around the corner and seeing the video of the new Zanzibar got me stoked for it. I can keep playing BFMC, GHII, and GOW till then...or I'll just power up the Wii. My point here is that I'm not completely pissed about not having the new maps on the 360...I actually like the challenge of trying to figure out what's wrong...but in this case, I'm just frustrated that Bungie, a division of M$, can't get the support necessary from their parent company to support the players that have made the Halo series one of the biggest in history and the only reason so many of us got an Xbox in the first place...let alone being disappointed, and yet super-excited, that H3 would only be on the 360.

Meh, none of it matters, but, there, I said it and I feel better.

  • 04.26.2007 8:00 PM PDT
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Posted by: SHADY K1LLAZ
[quote]Posted by: Sitius86

As for all friends constantly playing custom games on the new maps, that is not the case for me. Most of my friends hardly ever play halo 2 anymore because they have moved on to bigger and better 360 games. I have tried and tried to get into custom games with those that do still play, but am finding it difficult to get into a game with a decent amount of people in it (more than 3-4)

."


hey shady, if u wanna play custom games with more than 3-4 people....add xxsquirtgunxxiO im always having games with at least 10-16 people in them. i got another accout and this is my brand new one so dont think i suck just cuz my real low level (if u check b4 the rank reset)

[Edited on 04.26.2007 8:07 PM PDT]

  • 04.26.2007 8:06 PM PDT
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My question is: it says - See www.xbox.com for more support information. I have been to the site numerous times and it has no support or any information about the downloading issues, and it certainly seems like many people are having the same difficulty I am having.

I am upset about the downloading issues, but I am glad Bungie is posting on their site about it. I am disgusted that Microsoft is completely ignoring the issue.

If Microsoft is going to act like the problem does not exist - do not direct people to their site.

  • 04.26.2007 8:13 PM PDT
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Posted by: bored28
Explain the logic behind this statement: "...so I for 1 am glad there holding off instead of leaving others in the dust for something beyond the users control." If 50,000 people bought a can of soda and 25,000 people wanted that soda but couldn't get it, how is it that those 50,000 people should wait to drink that soda until those other 25,000 people get it?

Even better, lets say 10 people buy a brand new car. However, 5 more people want to buy the same car but are unable to. Now, according to your logic, those 10 people should not be allowed to drive those cars until the 5 other people are able to buy it. If I paid some amount of money for a car, I want to use it as it is intended. I do not want the use of my car to be limited by the manufacturer simply because not everyone can have it. I bought it. I paid money for it. In reality, I SHOULD be able to drive it without any stipulations. If not, then I am not being allowed to use it as it is intended and in many way, i've spent some amount of money for a really nice lawn ornament that only my friends can see. See the connection?

That rationale doesn't quite pull its weight.


So let's use your car example since its "better". How about if those 10 people had to use the car they bought in a race? Why would it be fair to let them use the racetrack that they would be using before everyone got to try it? They would get more familiar with the track and know how you had to do things on it. They can drive the car all they want to get an essential idea of how it goes, but once they get on the track it would be a whole new ball game. So they wait for everyone to get the car so that the chances of a better race are increased. Maybe thats why theyre waiting and not leaving people in the dust. Ever think about that?
And for all of the people complaining about not having the maps, maybe its not bungies fault or xbox lives. Maybe its your xbox. Granted i am also one of those people that doesnt have the maps yet, and i want them just as much as the next guy, but i can find other things to do in my spare time while i wait. Perhaps you should try reading a book. Stephen King writes pretty good books, maybe you should check them out.

  • 04.26.2007 8:21 PM PDT


That becomes clear when you think we're not doing what you think is a good course of action because "it is too much work." Do you honestly have an idea what or who you're talking about?

The next time you ask a question like "Do you have any idea what you're talking about" you should read you're own post. According to what you said, yes I do know what I'm talking about - - "We can't simply "whip one [playlist] up" - it takes a while. As in a few weeks. ".
That sounds to me like you're saying "It takes a lot of work" in a nutshell. Again, why do you have to be so rude and sarcastic? Wouldn't a simple - "yah you're right, it's too much work and there is a lot involved" - have been just as simple and to the point? I guess not because instead it's not a sarcastic shadow of a response filled with more hypothetical and demeaning questions than answers.

I'm sorry, you must be used to normal large company sanitized PR. My goal here is not to make you feel good. My goal here is to be honest with both the events and my take on them. I do not expect you to like everything that I have to say. I fully expect people to complain about things like crappy Support experiences and the inability to get maps. You SHOULD complain about those. But if you're going to do so, you should have your facts straight. I don't like that you guys are having trouble getting the maps. Yet many people seem to think we're doing this on purpose, or that because we aren't giving you transcripts of our many conversations with the Xbox Live engineers that we're just twiddling our thumbs and being unprofessional about this. I've been making post after post about the importance of calling support and such so they don't think they've solved the problem when they haven't, and I've since been accused of doing nothing to inform you, and now you are questioning my professional integrity... apparently because I'm not being nice? My job description doesn't include making you feel happy. My job does include being honest and direct with you. If our positions were reversed, I'd MUCH rather have someone be honest and truthful rather than get some sanitized PR sanctioned "We're working on it" message. I'm curious - why do you think a "nice" response that doesn't say anything is better than something that tries to honestly answer questions, even if said answers aren't what you want to hear?

You need to stop trying to have it both ways - you can't be honest and direct and still please everyone at the same time. I expect people to be honest with me, even if I won't like what they have to say. It can be hard sometimes, but in the end, it always better than if someone tries to sugarcoat something.

I guess you're right - my preconceived notion of Bungie having professional employees that actually care about how they represent their company must be vastly jaded. I apologize for thinking that a business would want to have a good PR Image - it is fairly obvious from your posts that you could care less about your company's reputation and more about your own personal reputation. I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't appreciate knowing that a company they own doesn't care about their PR image.

Being honest and direct is one thing, but being outright rude and confrontational to prove a point is another. I'm not asking for you to sugar coat anything, but I sure as hell am not asking for you to try and make a fool out of me because I don't know your insider information. Why don't you share some of that information with us instead of holding it above us like a prized "golden ticket"?

  • 04.26.2007 8:46 PM PDT
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i guess im one of the very few who cant download the maps still i hope the bungie team and xbox live team fix this situation soon

  • 04.26.2007 9:21 PM PDT

no there are quite a "few" of use who can't download the maps

  • 04.26.2007 9:37 PM PDT
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Wow - guess I'll be waiting even longer. Don't see the point of the delay regardless of what replies I've seen. If someone doesn't have the maps - they'll still be able to play certain game types. So why wait - just do the update so we can start playing games on the new maps to see if they're worth the four bucks.

[Edited on 04.26.2007 9:47 PM PDT]

  • 04.26.2007 9:40 PM PDT
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Alright! So at least we know they are trying to fix the prob... hope it does get fixed soon....

  • 04.26.2007 9:49 PM PDT
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i agree with janitor.....dont disappoint the people who have the maps...uppdate the playlists...reset the levels...and then fix the problem for those of u who have ur xbox directly connected 2 a router (gives u a less % of acctually having the map download work)(how i know that...dont ask) or cant get the maps 4 other reasons (and for u people, u can still play some playlists until they fix the problem, so ur not completely "locked out" of the game)

[Edited on 04.26.2007 9:53 PM PDT]

  • 04.26.2007 9:53 PM PDT

It's just a game folks.

All you did was twist my analogy to fit your agenda, as did another poster above. I will, for the sake of debate, comment on both variations.

Posted by: FatalisticDread1

To those of you saying that you have paid for and downloaded the maps and that Bungie or M$ isn't living up to their side of the transaction, are you seriously that brain dead? You paid for the maps. PERIOD. The ability to play them in matchmaking is an added bonus and involves much more than flipping a switch and having the games available for online/multiplayer game play. Congratulations on getting the maps without any hitches and there are many that envy you and your "no-problems-download", but to say that you paid and now M$ and Bungie aren't delivering, you just don't understand much of anything do you. To borrow an analogy used earlier, imagine that 10 people want a specific car and 5 are able to obtain it right away while the other 5 are forced to wait and pull out their hair in frustration. Now, do we penalize the 5 that could get the car? No, we allow them to drive it with no issues and tell the 5 that couldn't get the car that it sucks to be them, but we're not waiting. Okay, fair enough. Now, say there is no gas available anywhere on the planet until 2 or three weeks after getting the car. Do you still want the car? Of course. Do you still sit in it and act like you have gas? Of course, you do...especially those under 16 out there. Car = Maps. Gas = Matchmaking with new Maps. Don't hate because the other 5 might get the car before the gas comes in, just sit there and enjoy your car/maps in custom games.


The problem with this variation is that it assumes that people would buy a car if they knew there was no gas. Would you buy a car if you knew there was no gas for two weeks or would you wait two weeks and see if the gas ACTUALLY becomes available? I'm guessing the majority of people would wait, but that is what common sense tells us. So the variation here holds no merit.

I will not quote the second variation, however; its flawed as well.

If I bought at car FOR THE EXPLICIT PURPOSE of racing, then would it not be sensible to assume that I would be able to race it after I got it? Why would anyone buy a race car if they didn't know whether or not they could race it? They wouldn't. Again, common sense dictates that when you pay for something, you expect to be able to use it to its fullest potential.

All i've seen thus far is twisted analogies used to support someone's agenda without thinking it through properly. There is no denying the fact that if someone buys something, they should be entitiled to use it in the manner within which it was intended. You have thousands of people waiting around to use their purchased goods.

People are simply frustrated, and rightfully so. However, the rest of us that have paid for our items should be able to use it as it was intended and assumed at the time of purchase. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I recall a poster stating that we will get a leg up on some people, etc, etc. How so? Do we not already have that since we own the maps? What will change? Thinking that everyone should start using their purchased items at the same time even though they were bought at different times is absurd. Consider the following:

When H3 Beta comes out, do you think that everyone will start playing the Beta at the exact same time. No. Some people will play it well before others. So, do they not have an advantage over the others that have not played it yet? Should everyone wait until a specified minute during May 16th so that everyone with a Beta invite and start at the exact same time? Thats ridiculous, and so is the notion that we should have to wait for others to get the maps in order to used the goods that we already purchased. Lets say some of the people cannot get the beta to work properly (scratched disc, etc). Should we all wait until those people get their versions working before we start playing it? Those in line with this train of thought agree that if a few people cannot run their beta version of H3, then the start date should be pushed back until everyone is ready to go. How does that sound? Yeah, not very practical. Yet, here we are. The same situation and the same illogical mindset. I

  • 04.26.2007 10:18 PM PDT
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good point bored28 but microsoft have to con us out of money by only giving the beta to people that spend $80 on crackdown. they knew if they put h3 beta in the game then everybody would buy it :O

[Edited on 04.26.2007 10:49 PM PDT]

  • 04.26.2007 10:48 PM PDT
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Wow, I'm shocked by all the "screw those without the maps" responses. Please, take a second and think about this situation for a moment. It could be you that paid $4 and can't download them. It could be you potentially locked out of Matchmaking through no fault of your own. It could be you stuck "sitting on the bench" while your friends that were able to download them are out on the court playing. Would you still be so anxious and upset about the Matchmaking update?

Just stop and really think about it for a second. That shoe just as easily could've been on the other foot.

[Edited on 04.27.2007 1:12 AM PDT]

  • 04.27.2007 1:07 AM PDT
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"WHO DARES WINS"


My mate on XBOX Live ( NAPALM mjg1 ) still can't download the map it starts it then just jumps right to the end and say FAILED! and here can't play any off the MatchMaking as it say has not downloaded the Maps yet? But the Update hasn't been done so why can't he play MatchMaking still?

( TIGER mdc )

  • 04.27.2007 1:44 AM PDT
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Can you maybe give us some information about what the probem could be with the new maps. Because I got the same error (instalation of contend failed). And I would be pleased to have some more info about the issue

  • 04.27.2007 3:26 AM PDT

The Master of Stealth ......I am the SILENCE

mine works just fine love the new maps just wish bungie would stick em in match making

  • 04.27.2007 5:43 AM PDT
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OHH NO.. MY GIRLFRIEND LEFT ME AND I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE THE NEW MAPS ARE NOT PLAYABLE IN MATCHMAKING.. OHH NO.. GOD FORBID I SPEND ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT PLAYING IN THE NEW MAPS.. MOM.. I WANT TO CRY ON YOUR SHOULDER... :(

JUST SUCK IT UP PEOPLE.. ITS A GAME..

POOR BUNGIE... WITH ALL THE COMPLAINING ABOUT CHEATING, DE-RANKING AND LITTLE KIDS COMPLAINING ABOUT NEW MAPS. LETS HOPE THE ADULTS HERE ARE SCREWING THEIR WIVES OR HUSBANDS..EWWW... AND WAITING PATIENTLY... :)

  • 04.27.2007 9:22 AM PDT
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Your right! It could be me! On with the update!!!!!!!

  • 04.27.2007 9:24 AM PDT
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I'm kind of confused on the wording of the news. so when they say 'resetting ranks' and stuff like that, does that mean that we're all going be brought back down to level one? i'm not sure. help, please

[Edited on 04.27.2007 9:32 AM PDT]

  • 04.27.2007 9:25 AM PDT

Tom Achronos
Bungie.net Overlord
twitter: http://twitter.com/Achronos

"I have no words that would do justice to the atrocities you commit to the English language, as well as your continued assaults on the concepts of basic literacy and logical reasoning."

Yeah, we've mentioned that to them too, among a few other support type things. They do make changes eventually, it just takes them longer to do it, I guess because they are support for all of Xbox, not just our games.

Posted by: GXTJo3yJoJo
My question is: it says - See www.xbox.com for more support information. I have been to the site numerous times and it has no support or any information about the downloading issues, and it certainly seems like many people are having the same difficulty I am having.

I am upset about the downloading issues, but I am glad Bungie is posting on their site about it. I am disgusted that Microsoft is completely ignoring the issue.

If Microsoft is going to act like the problem does not exist - do not direct people to their site.

  • 04.27.2007 10:49 AM PDT
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Well SOB...I guess all that time i spent geting my rank up is going to be for nothing....this sux....but can't wait to play on the new maps

  • 04.27.2007 11:04 AM PDT

Tom Achronos
Bungie.net Overlord
twitter: http://twitter.com/Achronos

"I have no words that would do justice to the atrocities you commit to the English language, as well as your continued assaults on the concepts of basic literacy and logical reasoning."

Posted by: SHADY K1LLAZ
quote] "We can't simply "whip one [playlist] up" - it takes a while. As in a few weeks. "[/quote].
That sounds to me like you're saying "It takes a lot of work" in a nutshell. Again, why do you have to be so rude and sarcastic? Wouldn't a simple - "yah you're right, it's too much work and there is a lot involved" - have been just as simple and to the point? I guess not because instead it's not a sarcastic shadow of a response filled with more hypothetical and demeaning questions than answers.


Too me, that sounds like I said "it takes a lot of time" not "a lot of work". There is a large difference there - I'm sorry, I should have been more specific about the time requirement. And I'm not being sarcastic or demeaning. I am trying to answer your complaints, point by point. I could very easily ignore you, but you seem like an intelligent guy who's not trying to be a jerk but rather someone who just wants answers. I think you deserve that kind of attention. Would you like me to stop attempting to answer your questions?

I guess you're right - my preconceived notion of Bungie having professional employees that actually care about how they represent their company must be vastly jaded. I apologize for thinking that a business would want to have a good PR Image - it is fairly obvious from your posts that you could care less about your company's reputation and more about your own personal reputation. I'm sure Microsoft wouldn't appreciate knowing that a company they own doesn't care about their PR image.

Being honest and direct is one thing, but being outright rude and confrontational to prove a point is another. I'm not asking for you to sugar coat anything, but I sure as hell am not asking for you to try and make a fool out of me because I don't know your insider information. Why don't you share some of that information with us instead of holding it above us like a prized "golden ticket"?


I'm not really sure how to respond to this. You want a response, but when you don't like what I have to say, then you demand someone else to come tell you what you already know; i.e. "We're working on it, call support for details."

Well, okay, as you say, then. Because apparently being honest and attempting to discuss things with you is not your goal, I will instead give you what you want. Now, we've already said this before, but since you don't want me talking directly to you because you don't like what I have to say, I guess it bears repeating. I apologize to everyone else who prefers additional, direct conversation here. But, I guess that's rude and confrontational.

Bungie and Microsoft are aware of the issues some people are having with getting the maps. We are working on the problem, and ask that you please call Xbox Live Support to get help with the problem. Please see bungie.net for information about the status of the upcoming rank reset and matchmaking playlist changes. Under no circumstances, though, will you get any more information than this, because you may not like what you hear, and we have been informed that is bad.

Okay, that last part is a little tongue-in-cheek. I have an odd sense of humor. But this seems to be what you want from reading your posts. Now, you know and I know that it isn't what you want - you really want as much detail as possible. You want to be in the loop. But you need to understand that sometimes, because you don't have all the information, when you complain about something, there is the possibility that you will be corrected by someone who has more information than you do. That person is generally not out to make a fool of you, but rather they are simply trying to be helpful. I apologize if you don't think our conversation has been helpful. I remind you though... it would be very easy to ignore you. But that'd be rude, especially considering that you seem to have gone to great effort to construct your thoughts here.

  • 04.27.2007 11:13 AM PDT

Tom Achronos
Bungie.net Overlord
twitter: http://twitter.com/Achronos

"I have no words that would do justice to the atrocities you commit to the English language, as well as your continued assaults on the concepts of basic literacy and logical reasoning."

Unfortunately, there are several possibilities that are somewhat complicated to describe over the forum. That is why you really need to call Xbox Live Support.
Posted by: II Tr1n1tY II
Can you maybe give us some information about what the probem could be with the new maps. Because I got the same error (instalation of contend failed). And I would be pleased to have some more info about the issue

  • 04.27.2007 11:15 AM PDT

Tom Achronos
Bungie.net Overlord
twitter: http://twitter.com/Achronos

"I have no words that would do justice to the atrocities you commit to the English language, as well as your continued assaults on the concepts of basic literacy and logical reasoning."

Yes, all playlists will have all levels reset to 1.

Your game history will not be cleared, however.

Posted by: Max Anderson
I'm kind of confused on the wording of the news. so when they say 'resetting ranks' and stuff like that, does that mean that we're all going be brought back down to level one? i'm not sure. help, please

  • 04.27.2007 11:16 AM PDT

"Fatty is your daddy."

I think we all need to stop the whining guys. As mentioned, top people are all over these issues. The playlist will be ready when its ready, you WILL be able to get the maps, and the Halo 3 beta comes out on the 16th. Call me crazy, but what else could you ask for? Go out this weekend, have a few beers or do whatever it is that you do to unwind, and give these guys time to make the magic happen. Do this and before you know it, BAM! ... you're a 1 rank with a fresh start. Personally im looking to go on a little boning spree this weekend, if you know what I mean! Thanks Bungie!
Good luck all!

  • 04.27.2007 11:57 AM PDT