- SHADY K1LLAZ
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- Exalted Member
(quoting frankie here)
In Halo 3 though, we made a deliberate and difficult choice. Believe it or not, it would in some ways have been easier to just storyboard this and hand it off to someone like Digital Domain to render into CG. Instead, we took the harder and seemingly counterintuitive route so that our Cinematics will blend, as seamlessly as possible with our gameplay.
I can't wait to see this - I was most excited to purchase my 360 for this reason. Games have been evolving, and it's finally at a point where amazing cinematics CAN be what you see in the game, and you'll never know the difference. Great work!
So, after the poor fellows at Xbox Live learned some harsh lessons about how to implement new content internationally, across two different hardware platforms, two different billing systems, two operating systems and 35 different age rating systems, they’ve finally ironed out all the kinks in the somewhat flawed rollout of the Blastacular map pack. Everyone, with scant few exceptions, should now be able to download and install Desolation and Tombstone, the two new Halo 2 maps. But there’s more positive news on that front.
Great news - I'm glad everyone can enjoy the news maps. Interesting though how blame was pushed entirely on the "poor fellows" at Xbox Live, although they might have the system by which content is delivered, this is your game fellows and therefore ultimately your responsibility, is it not?
After launch, players quickly discovered a couple of geometry flaws in the maps (typical of the kind found in Halo 2) that enabled superjumping and created “invisible walls.” Well the good news is that in part, due to the systems we’ve set up to implement the maps on two hardware platforms, and thanks to heroic work by Certain Affinity (the maps’ creators), we are able to repair the more glaring flaws in these maps. We intend to do this in very short order, and almost immediately thereafter, roll them into matchmaking proper.
Now the inconvenience in this is that you will have to update the maps. There are a couple of things to consider here. . Everyone who paid for them already will not be re-billed. The fixed maps are of course free to previous purchasers.
That said, a few thousand players managed through a billing system bug, to get the maps for free. Some folks actually did this on purpose, some by accident while trying everything to get the maps to install. Neither group is in any kind of trouble, and both groups are considered blameless. Unfortunately, since the billing bug is fixed – when they get the updated maps they will be successfully charged the original four bucks they evaded first time around
Again, apologies for the inconvenience. The new maps are almost ready and we’ll give you full details about the timing as soon as Monday. Both the map replacements and the Matchmaking update are likely to happen next week, but will be separated by a couple of days to give players time to get the replacements.
What?? I'm confused by these statements. I'm going to attempt to take my time now and iterate my points clearly so I'm not flamed for simply stating my opinion:
1.By "invisible walls", do you mean invisible death barriers that kill you in places where you can legitimately jump to (IE the massive fllood lights that make a great sniper position until you jump and die?) -- Because that would be great.
2. If you are repairing the "flaws" that enable superjumping on the new maps, than why have the old maps not been updated? (Or why were the new ones so bad that they had to be repaired when the other map packs didn't?) - I could be wrong, but I don't ever remember having to re-download map packs after they were already successfully downloaded. Is it just because Certain Affinity was willing to help repair the maps whereas it just wasn't possible with the older map packs?
3. Why re-release the maps to begin with? I know, it's redundant but come on man, are you crazy??? Ok.. <takes deep breath><***sigh***> if the maps are really that bad and need to be fixed, fine, fair enough, I will download the maps again and keep my fingers crossed. It just doesn't make any sense to me to, for all intents and purposes, go back to square one, but that is my opinion It seems like I'm already seeing the writing on the wall with statements like "The (NEW)new maps are almost ready.... timing as soon as Monday... updates are likely to happen next week..." -- is this really all going to happen this week? I sure hope so, like I said I'll keep my fingers crossed.
As for the beta / friends and family info, all great knowledge to know and I can't wait for the 16th, although I did see some bearded mysterious iceman the other day, so in the spirit of random chance I will be checking on the 11th for the small hope of getting an invite, although I know my chances are slim to none. All I can hope is that my near 10,000 games shows my dedication to the game and the community. ;) Thanks for the updates, and I hope someone actually reads this because I know that reading the first 8 pages of butt-kissing made me dizzy.