- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
I put this up on the forums almost 2 years ago... figured it might be relevant in this thread (though it doesn't follow the format of making a numbered list... sorry =\). I posted this in a thread called "Why people should quit playing Halo 2, but don't."
"You sit down to play some Halo 2 (all and all probably the best console FPS to ever go online), and you get onto XBOX live, you get in a game, and no sooner than you start does someone quit on your team, you spawn in a -blam!- location, opening lag prevents you from getting in any tactical advantage, XBOX live drops you from the game, or you get matched against the overabundance of cheaters currently populating XBOX live. Sound familiar? I know if you play nearly as often as me it does.
These are very important design flaws that Bungie/Microsoft need to get together and fix, because it ruins gameplay for everyone. But they don't... or they won't, and why? Money might be a reason. I mean, if you booted all the people who cheat on XBOX live, you might not have enough people to start a game anymore (so that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much). It might be too hard to fix some of those problems from their standpoint (although if they want any sympathy from the millions of people playing it because "it'd be too hard" then they can cram it!). The fact of the matter is, those problems are there, and there to stay. What frustrates me (and I imagine legions of other players on XBOX live) is that Bungie claimed to have fixed, or at least partially fixed some of the problems on Halo 2 (i.e. Standby, level balance issues, broken weapons, etc.), when in fact they just traded them for new problems, or even the same problems. Anyone who's played Team Rifles on Ascension knows what I'm talking about. And if they claim that Standby (or cheating related to standby) has been quelled, then I haven't seen it. People cheat all the time, standby or otherwise.
So, with all the complaints I here from people on XBOX live, why do people keep playing Halo 2 online? Because it is a great game. And because video games are addictive, there is no denying that. But it has the potential to be a great online game. Bungie just needs to get their act together and start looking at obvious problems and fixing them. If someone wants a list from me, or to start a list of their own, reply to this thread and add your commentary about what you think needs to be taken out, put in, or changed, or even changed back (like what's with beatdown damage???).
Oh, and one last comment -- I read a while back on a Bungie post about greifing and cheating (basically their comment was on people who abuse the system in a way unintended by the designers), and they said, "people who say 'it's your fault for putting it in the game' are wrong because other people choose not to use it" is a load of bull. If you put something in a game that unbalances it (glitch or otherwise), and you expect people not to exploit it (especially when they pay you money for your product and the online service you provide), then you are a bad designer, and somebody should call the "Waaaaambulance" for you."
Here is the response I got from the Master forum ninja, Anton P Nym:
"Posted by: SirRosencrantz
If you put something in a game that unbalances it (glitch or otherwise), and you expect people not to exploit it (especially when they pay you money for your product and the online service you provide), then you are a bad designer, and somebody should call the "Waaaaambulance" for you.
Oh yeah, totally. LIke, if they didn't want hockey players to skate across the crease, then why is it possible? Those NHLers really screwed up with that one, and then blame players for what's THEIR FAULT!
And it's TOTALLY the fault of the American auto industry that I can exceed the speed limit. Man, putting the finger on me is just UNFAIR! Why can't I drive 100mph if that's what the car can do? Send my tickets to Detroit, please, lamz0rs law guys, 'cause it's NOT MY FAULT.
And I can post off-topic in the Underground. Obviously, if they'd wanted me to just post about old-school games and happenings in Bungie Studios they would have installed a massive keyword-driven autocensor that prevents me from putting the wrong post in the wrong place. So SUCK IT, D00DS! I'll post where I want and it's YOUR FAULT.
(If you think that any of the above are reasonable, please consult your doctor. Brain injury is a silent killer.)
-- Steve thanks you for your attention to this public health message."
First off, lemme say that the examples this guy gives are retarded. Largely because *every single one of them* has some form of regulation on them. Hockey has refs to *enforce* rules. We follow speed limits because we pay the salary of public servants called *police*, to enforce those speed limit laws. There are forum moderators (and here's the irony... can you see it?) who enforce the rules of the forums. The point I was making in my original post was that it is the responsibility of Bungie and Microsoft to make their game better, whether that be to enforce rules against the people who ruin the game, or improve on design. An example in the auto industry is seat-belts... sure, it's not the auto industry's fault if you get in a head on collision and kill yourself... I guess they shouldn't have to put safety measures like seat-belts in, cause it's the stupid drivers fault for getting in the accident. Amirite!?
So, I guess if I had to number a reason here it would be:
644) The lack of foresight and lack of responsibility shown by Bungie and Microsoft to make their game as enjoyable by all, as possible. (See above "Master forum ninja" Anton P Nym's post from two years ago...).
Disclaimer: I still think Halo 2 is the best FPS to ever go online. And I appreciate the work that Bungie and Microsoft have put into the game, especially the work beyond the initial set up of the game and it's online play. Such as banning of cheaters and balancing boards/weapons. However, it is injustice to tell players that they shouldn't do what the game designers allow them to do, not enforce anything to the contrary, and then tell the players who refuse to abuse it that "it's not our fault... blame the idiots that do it." IMO, take some responsibility, apologize for not having put in obvious counter-measure to many situations, and suck up the criticism in stride.
[Edited on 08.16.2007 9:37 AM PDT]