Bungie.net Community
This topic has moved here: Subject: As community guy, and now incharge of MM should sketch post more of...
  • Subject: As community guy, and now incharge of MM should sketch post more of...
Subject: As community guy, and now incharge of MM should sketch post more of...

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Posted by: Death v2
Posted by: twinkiemaker
I, for one, don't feel as I'm being slighted by lack of Bungie employee posts. Whatever info I get from the occasional post or update is just bonus info in my book.

Nor do I, I am simply asking a question of the community's opinion on a topic. As a side note, and please dont take this the wrong way, but I wouldnt expect someone who hasnt played this game online(IDK this for sure, but it says so in your profile, correct me if I am wrong, and if so I appoligize) in months, to really care about the actions of someone in reguards to their role in the Optimatch forums and MM in general. Like I said no offense, i'm just trying to say that your view on this would be different from those people who care more about MM.

No offense taken, but I must clarify that wanting to play and having the time available to play are two different things. Either way, it doesnt make my, or anyone elses opinion less valuable.

Personally, I trust Bungie. They have succesfully created games that are enjoyable whether you are a "play if you have the time" recreational gamer like myself up to the 'elites' of MLG. Everyone has minor tweaks they would make to matchmaking, but Bungie has the responsibility of making playlists that enjoyable to everyone. I for one would want the Optimatch forum to be the last place Bungie would look to for ideas. With a constant flood of people who think the game should be catering to them and them alone, I could care less if anything is taken from the Optimatch. Don't assume that I'm saying that there are never any good ideas presented, I'm jut playing the numbers.

I have a feeling that someone yelled, "Hey Sketch, look over there," and then blind-sided him with the matchmaking responsibilities.

[Edited on 04.30.2007 1:41 PM PDT]

  • 04.30.2007 1:40 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: twinkiemaker
Posted by: Death v2
Posted by: twinkiemaker
I, for one, don't feel as I'm being slighted by lack of Bungie employee posts. Whatever info I get from the occasional post or update is just bonus info in my book.

Nor do I, I am simply asking a question of the community's opinion on a topic. As a side note, and please dont take this the wrong way, but I wouldnt expect someone who hasnt played this game online(IDK this for sure, but it says so in your profile, correct me if I am wrong, and if so I appoligize) in months, to really care about the actions of someone in reguards to their role in the Optimatch forums and MM in general. Like I said no offense, i'm just trying to say that your view on this would be different from those people who care more about MM.

No offense taken, but I must clarify that wanting to play and having the time available to play are two different things. Either way, it doesnt make my, or anyone elses opinion less valuable.
I never said it did, I simply said that your view would be different from someone who plays more commonly.


Personally, I trust Bungie. They have succesfully created games that are enjoyable whether you are a "play if you have the time" recreational gamer like myself up to the 'elites' of MLG. Everyone has minor tweaks they would make to matchmaking, but Bungie has the responsibility of making playlists that enjoyable to everyone. I for one would want the Optimatch forum to be the last place Bungie would look to for ideas. With a constant flood of people who think the game should be catering to them and them alone, I could care less if anything is taken from the Optimatch. Don't assume that I'm saying that there are never any good ideas presented, I'm jut playing the numbers.
I understand that, but posters who make threads like that are confronted by numerous other posters. The only ideas generally taken from optimatch are ones met with almost universal agreement, or ideas which have been throughly discussed, so while the vast majority of ideas found there are incredibly dumb, the ones actually taken arent.


I have a feeling that someone yelled, "Hey Sketch, look over there," and then blind-sided him with the matchmaking responsibilities.

I think that I agree with you on this one, but my thoughts are simply that it wouldnt take much time at all to make one stickied post concerning the reasons behind the update, esepcially when he posts in other areas so much. He is a big time regular on the HBO forums, yet he is almost a ghost here. I'm simply saying that he isnt nearly as busy as people suggest, he just is more fond of other areas. All people really want are a couple of posts explaining things and showing that he is reading peoples ideas and thinking about his new responsibilities. He has a very hard act to follow in NoF, and we dont even expect the same amount of participation, we are just asking for a few posts every now and then.

  • 04.30.2007 6:11 PM PDT

Posted by: twinkiemaker
I for one would want the Optimatch forum to be the last place Bungie would look to for ideas. With a constant flood of people who think the game should be catering to them and them alone, I could care less if anything is taken from the Optimatch. Don't assume that I'm saying that there are never any good ideas presented, I'm jut playing the numbers.

I would hope that Optimatch wouldn't be the LAST place they look. The last place they should look for ideas for MM updates should be in that old pizza box under Frankie's desk. While it may not be the first place they should look, I would certainly want to think that they don't keep urging us to go and leave feedback there via WWU's and the actual Halo 2 XBL sign-in for nothing.

Digging through some VERY old updates, I found some proof that though perhaps a bit eccentric and single-minded at times feedback can make difference:
Brian’s Hopper Chopper


Brian and Jeremiah (Ninja on Fire) are working hard to prepare the new matchmaking playlist updates. Some old deadwood is being burned, and fresh saplings planted in the fertile forest of Matchmaking. Brian explains:

EDIT: Updated 11/14/05!
Last week's disclosure of plans regarding the state of Big Team Battle caused quite a stir amongst the community. While BTB is actually among the lesser played playlists and arguably offers a questionable experience for a great deal of players, there are cleary a good number of you who love your Big Team Battle. I spent a lot of time in our forums hearing your concerns, suggestions and complaints and we have since regrouped interally to re-evaluate our plans. Ultimately the Big Team Battle as you know it now (and likely every other playlist) will have to change to accommodate a shrinking player population and other factors associated with the game getting older. However, that time doesn't have to be right now. I'm happy to say that we're going to leave BTB as it stands for the time being. Before our next update we'll be taking a hard look at everything again and we will continue to make changes that we feel are necessary for the greater good of all players.

...

As always, please stop by the OptiMatch forum on Bungie.net and vote in our polls and share your opinions as we work on plans for future updates!


  • 04.30.2007 6:48 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

A Guide to Networking, Matchmaking, and Host in Halo (HBO mirror)

Bungie Friends and Family invitee, and sender of "random emails" about networking.

It would be good if Sketch could find the time to start posting more. But let's bear in mind that the level of hype around Halo 3 is pretty insane. Any remotely decent gaming site wants what Bungie are releasing tomorrow, today. Heck, the fans want next weeks information yesterday! Releasing details requires a lot of planning; does it give away things that Bungie want to remain secret? Would they prefer to hold back this for a later time when it's finalised or less likely to be cut? Is it counter-productive to the goals they have in mind (raising interest and hype for the most part, whilst keeping important stuff secret)?

When Jeremiah was in charge of MM, at least until relatively recently (when he still worked at Bungie), he did a very good job of interacting with the community. Unfortunately this dropped off somewhat, likely due to a slew of internal alpha and beta tests, and the heavy emphasis they placed on matchmaking/netcode. And this is (was) one of the most active staff on the forums.

So when you consider all the things going on behind the scenes and the additional duties they require, it's not too surprising that Sketch is unable to post more often. In an ideal world, I'm sure he'd do it in a heartbeat, but this is the real world, and sometimes other priorities, well, take priority.

It also may not have escaped your attention that more or less every Bungie employee is busier than usual - they're in a crucial stage of developing a flagship product after all, and so whilst at the moment we might not see as much of them on the forums, the chances are that they're doing cool stuff behind the scenes for the greater good.

And if you do need to get in touch with anyone, I've found a polite manner and some patience works wonders. Trust me when I say I have quite a bit of experience on that ;-)

- 117

  • 05.01.2007 2:06 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Elder Mythic Member

Quite honestly people, I'm fine watching my Halo 3 Beta videos than seeing Brian or Frank post. Analysing every last detail on 'Last Resort' has been fully enthralling, and made my jaw drop in a way that NOTHING here on Bungie.net ever has (or probably will).

I suppose I'm just happier with a piece of leaked/CLEVERLY DONE PIECE OF MARKETING FOR HALO 3, than just seeing old Sketch post.

  • 05.01.2007 4:23 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Mythic Member

The Frozen Minority - The most infamous clan borne from the Seventh Column.

Posted by: Achronos
Sketch's (and Franke, to some extent) lack of forum posting and even content production on this site has everything to do with the increased job responsiblity they have thanks to Halo's success. Sketch, as has been mentioned, is responsible for every interaction outside of Bungie. This includes not only media, but other types of marketing, promotion, IP licensing, etc. Frankie also has huge swaths of content to write that are frankly (hah) more important than forum posts - combat dialog, story tidbits, etc.

Assuming that we're not aware of this problem and are not doing anything about it is a poor assumption.



I understand, completely, they have jobs to do, I was never saying they have neglected us, but I still feel a twinge of frustration when I see a thread asking for clarification from an employee and yet knowing they will likely never get one outside of a WWUpdate.

I never assumed it was a problem, nor did I make an assumption of the visibility to those it is directed at. I was simply outlining a common feeling in the community that I share; The feeling that HBO is somehow a more favourable community than our own for those who we see as links to the inner circles of Bungie.

Now, in the hope of killing the chances of my future participation in this thread, the above is not a request, demand or complaint - it is a perception/opinion.

  • 05.01.2007 5:59 AM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Community members of any team need to do their best to interact with the community.
Finding out that they regularly contribute to other communities, shunning their own, was a little dis-heartening.

  • 05.01.2007 7:53 AM PDT

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Posted by: AnTi CaPo
Posted by: Recon Number 54
[quote]So why do the employees choose to post as individuals elsewhere? I can't answer for any of them. But if I were an employee and could choose where I spent MY time and shared MY opinions? I wouldn't choose a place where I would be crucified every time I opened my mouth.

Not everyone in the community is like that. Most of us are curious and want to discuss things personally with official Bungie staff.

Everyone may not be like that, but the members who would like to openly discuss anything Bungie related in a mature manner would be consumed and overwhelmed by hordes of less mature posters. This is reason enough to understand why they dont post here.

That doesnt happen at HBO. Thier community is mature enough that Bungie employees can post without fear of attack, and if they are 'attacked' it is done in a mature manner.

As Recon alluded to, Bungie.net is a very small piece of the Bungie community. Many people here have said Sketch is doing a poor job because he doesnt post in this small little piece of the Bungie community. Maybe you should ask yourself why you havent involved yourself in the rest of the community thats out there.

  • 05.01.2007 8:20 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: Recon Number 54
So why do the employees choose to post as individuals elsewhere? I can't answer for any of them. But if I were an employee and could choose where I spent MY time and shared MY opinions? I wouldn't choose a place where I would be crucified every time I opened my mouth.


I don't think anyone disagrees with that, but this was first (recently, anyway) raised back during the HaloGen shutdown, when sketch posted, what was if i remember correctly, an official response to the HaloGen close on HBO, whereas there wasn't a peep of it here until the Weekly Update days later. Well, i tell a lie, we did get some input from Achronos, but again, nothing from the community team, not even on their "official front page".

  • 05.01.2007 8:44 AM PDT

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Posted by: elmicker
Posted by: Recon Number 54
So why do the employees choose to post as individuals elsewhere? I can't answer for any of them. But if I were an employee and could choose where I spent MY time and shared MY opinions? I wouldn't choose a place where I would be crucified every time I opened my mouth.

I don't think anyone disagrees with that, but this was first (recently, anyway) raised back during the HaloGen shutdown, when sketch posted, what was if i remember correctly, an official response to the HaloGen close on HBO, whereas there wasn't a peep of it here until the Weekly Update days later. Well, i tell a lie, we did get some input from Achronos, but again, nothing from the community team, not even on their "official front page".

MIcrosofts lawyers shut down HaloGen. Microsoft owns Bungie. It's fairly easy to see why Bungie didnt want to release an 'official' statement regarding the BS that was the HaloGen shutdown.

  • 05.01.2007 9:05 AM PDT

Instant Message me if yeah want to chat
Aim:baccardinals
Wanna Play send me a Friend Request
GT:baccardinals

A. Hes to lazy to post

  • 05.01.2007 9:38 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: twinkiemaker
MIcrosofts lawyers shut down HaloGen. Microsoft owns Bungie. It's fairly easy to see why Bungie didnt want to release an 'official' statement regarding the BS that was the HaloGen shutdown.


BS? They were selling items that used bungie's graphics without their permission. That enough would make any self-respecting artist want them shut down. The fact that they were then using Bungie's IP without permission just compounded it.

It's already been stated in this thread that IP is one of Sketch's responsibilities, and that the front page is bungie's only "official" noticeboard. So why no mention of a massive IP fiasco from bungie's IP man on bungie's own page? why did he go to a third party's community forum?

  • 05.01.2007 9:53 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Elm is right on this one, its simply ignorant that the forum that says "We are not the official bungie forums" on the front is the one where "official" posts are made. It is ignorant that people should have to hear word of mouth unreliable information on the OFFICIAL site, while the unofficial sites are the ones which get reliable information.

  • 05.01.2007 10:38 AM PDT

If you don't got it, you want it. If you got it, you want more of it. Of course if you don't know what it is, it's hard to get any in the first place.

My question is, why is it so hard to drop us forum go-er's a line?

Such as Yesterday when Halo 3.com had some wrong information put up on it, and people began to assume that the Pistol from Halo 1 was back? Did they stop and make a locked sticky on the main Halo 3 forum letting people know it was a mistake? No, they went on over to HBO, and give a quick notice about it there.

Honestly, it's not that big of a deal. Most Bungie fans go over to HBO for news all the time, so in the end, word got out. But it's left me questioning certain things...

  • 05.01.2007 12:04 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Dont get us started on moderators Two posts in the last year... and one was a one liner in the flood, arent those not allowed? Two posts in this entire year 25 posts this entire year, with a few breaks of multiple months 25 posts this entire year aswell 8 posts this year I mean really none of this makes any sense, I know its off topic to an extent, but I think that generally, people who have positions of power should post commonly. DMB stepped down because he couldnt post enough, so why shouldnt others?

  • 05.01.2007 12:09 PM PDT

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Posted by: elmicker
Posted by: twinkiemaker
MIcrosofts lawyers shut down HaloGen. Microsoft owns Bungie. It's fairly easy to see why Bungie didnt want to release an 'official' statement regarding the BS that was the HaloGen shutdown.


BS? They were selling items that used bungie's graphics without their permission. That enough would make any self-respecting artist want them shut down. The fact that they were then using Bungie's IP without permission just compounded it.

It's already been stated in this thread that IP is one of Sketch's responsibilities, and that the front page is bungie's only "official" noticeboard. So why no mention of a massive IP fiasco from bungie's IP man on bungie's own page? why did he go to a third party's community forum?

What I meant is that the whole situation fell under the umbrella of Microsoft. Bungie, being a part of Microsoft, probably had its hands tied by the whole "No comments concerning ongoing litigation" stance. Specifically on the official Bungie website.

The unofficial site dont present the same legal restraints.

[Edited on 05.01.2007 12:24 PM PDT]

  • 05.01.2007 12:21 PM PDT