- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Exactly, so like I said matchmaking will be present in Halo 2 Vista multiplayer for those with Gold LIVE memberships and most likely stat tracking along with it.
Some evidence for the "nonbelievers/misunderstanders":
Posted by: MGS_Hired Gun Blog: Search and Destroy
There were many challenges moving the existing system to the PC. First and foremost, the Xbox version by design needs a lot of gamers to be online or the matchmaking waits can become really long. If the first people to buy “Halo 2” for Windows Vista had to wait 30 minutes to be set up for a simple match, they’d be pretty ticked off. Knowing that PC gamers are simply used to a game browser, we voted to make a change in the way players enter multiplayer matches. Typical PC gamers also like exceeding control over what they’re doing, while mucking with the advanced settings in any program which allows it. The game browser provides that advanced control, while assuring we get to choose the game to play. If there weren’t a browser, it just wouldn’t feel like a PC game – it would feel like an Xbox game that was jerry-rigged to run on a PC.
They are talking about added matchmaking control for PC gamers.
In addtion, Agamemnon's FAQ:
Q: How will online play work if XboxLive is no longer the system that Halo 2 Vista will use?
A: Bungie is implementing a new system called Live Anywhere, which is, a service similar to Xbox Live and will bring matchmaking to H2V players. It is stated that we will be able to do all the things we could do before; system links for local connections, global online play, and dedicated servers. Bungie has stated that there will be no ranking or player stat tracking systems for Halo 2 Vista, nor will it offer clan support.
Upon recent events, we also learned that matchmaking will only be available to those with Gold memberships. Also, it will no longer be possible to run a dedicated server and play on that server at the same time, as it is supposedly restricted. In order to host a regular game, you also must have a Gold membership.
Q: Will we have to pay to play Halo 2 Vista?
A: For a free Silver membership, no, you won't. With a Silver membership, you will be allowed a single gamertag, a common gamerscore and and gamer profile, single player achievements, private chat via text and voice, a common friends list and online presence, and a browsing list. With a Gold membership (which you do have to pay for), you have everything the Silver membership offers, matchmaking, and multiplayer achievements.
Cheers.