Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Poll [28 votes]: Would you like a "lock on" indicator in Halo Reach?
  • Poll [28 votes]: Would you like a "lock on" indicator in Halo Reach?
Subject: "Lock On" Indicator

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Poll: Would you like a "lock on" indicator in Halo Reach?  [closed]
Yes, that would be good.:  82%
(23 Votes)
No, that is not necessary.:  18%
(5 Votes)
Total Votes: 28

In Halo 3, the missile pod locks onto vehicles and turrets. You know this lock on occurs when a high-pitched beeping sound occurs.

The problem with this is that in online play, there are occasions when this will not be sufficient to warn the occupants of the vehicle or turret that they are being tracked. Examples include high intensity battles with lots of explosions and grenades going off, as well as weapon fire. It can be really hard to tell the beeping from everything else from going on.

I propose that if Halo: Reach has weapons with a lock on function, not only would the targets be warned by a high pitched beeping, but also a flashing visual indicator on the HUD. It would be small, and flash red in time with the beeping, maybe an "x" inside a box.

This would ensure that people had adequate warning, and would also let deaf gamers know when they are being tracked.

What do you think?

  • 07.01.2009 12:32 AM PDT

Laggen' ain't easy

It is a minor detail,, but you have a point. I say why not?

  • 07.01.2009 12:35 AM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Reach seems like a good time to add it, since it is a fresh game. And it would be nice.

  • 07.01.2009 12:44 AM PDT

It would also help out those in the deaf community who can't normally hear the lock on noise.

  • 07.01.2009 7:21 AM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Which was actually where I got the idea from. A user posted, asking if Bungie could add this to a Title Update since he couldn't hear the lock on, and played a lot of BTB.

And if you vote no, I would like to know why. There might be some drawback I didn't think of.

  • 07.04.2009 11:01 PM PDT

Oh yeah It's Rayzed.

I see no problem with simply putting Missiles locked at the bottom of the screen. I'm all for it.

  • 07.04.2009 11:03 PM PDT

I don't see why not. Good idea, easy fix, and something that would help out a minority who actually need it. I see no con to this. Once again, good idea.

  • 07.04.2009 11:09 PM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Battlefield 2 has a good system for this. Its a semi-transparent box with an X in it that flashes in time with the warning siren.

  • 07.04.2009 11:16 PM PDT

I voted no for two reasons (bear with me here). 1, the missle pod is way too easy to dodge as it is (banshees, choppers, gooses, you name it, chances are ill dodge it. Sure, the beeping noise can go unoticed, but imagine a world where banshees, choppers and hogs all became UBER weaponry. Other than a peek out-the-corner random red blasts ive been seeing a lot of, experienced drivers would probably rule the battlefield FOREVER. The beeping noise sounds when the enemy is locked on, not when theyve fired (so u could hear it and be behind a wall and not killable) making it just a brease to twirl around a bunch of slow moving missles. And 2, why does one who is deaf stack up in halo anyway? (hey how did i die?) well, you didnt hear the incoming rocket, or the brs blazin, or that chopper that just mowed you down dealing an auto-extermination to the obviously unweary player. three words i heard: NO SPECIAL TREATMENT. While the idea is not to give a single player an advantage we dont have, the idea ist to treat everyone like they are deaf. "BLEEP, BLEEP, WARNING, YOU HAVE BEEN LOCKED ON TO. INITIATE EVASIVE MANUVERS!" seems like a little much for the uber players to take advantage of. There simply is too much time between beep, launch, and impact to give players an aditional warning to get the f!@K out of the way. Here's my sugestion: Speed up the missles, or do away with the pod and bring back the ol trusty looping, almost undodgeable rocket lock-on and then put in the o s#$% moniter. Because i swear, give me an inch and ill take a mile without looking back. No readouts, just the barely noticable beep. Its ok, ill survive.

  • 07.04.2009 11:22 PM PDT

Let there be light, created from fire

I am all i am, i am a team player(when im not pissed), i make great strategies, i will punch you in the face after armor locking, you have to be at sniper distance to not get headshot by my DMR or pistol, wraiths beware, i am DxXOrangesXxD and i am ready to rumble! (When Halo 4 comes out cause Reach is nothing but crap players now)

Posted by: Uncle Kulikov
In Halo 3, the missile pod locks onto vehicles and turrets. You know this lock on occurs when a high-pitched beeping sound occurs.

The problem with this is that in online play, there are occasions when this will not be sufficient to warn the occupants of the vehicle or turret that they are being tracked. Examples include high intensity battles with lots of explosions and grenades going off, as well as weapon fire. It can be really hard to tell the beeping from everything else from going on.

I propose that if Halo: Reach has weapons with a lock on function, not only would the targets be warned by a high pitched beeping, but also a flashing visual indicator on the HUD. It would be small, and flash red in time with the beeping, maybe an "x" inside a box.

This would ensure that people had adequate warning, and would also let deaf gamers know when they are being tracked.

What do you think?
I think its a great idea

  • 07.04.2009 11:24 PM PDT

Let there be light, created from fire

I am all i am, i am a team player(when im not pissed), i make great strategies, i will punch you in the face after armor locking, you have to be at sniper distance to not get headshot by my DMR or pistol, wraiths beware, i am DxXOrangesXxD and i am ready to rumble! (When Halo 4 comes out cause Reach is nothing but crap players now)

Post by: Maineger


Not everyone is you, ive seen many players die from the missle pod, we cant only focus on how good the best players are we have to think of the little noobish people

  • 07.04.2009 11:34 PM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Well, for point number 1,

The missile pod lock on wouldn't do anything to the missile pod but put an indicator on the targeted player's HUD when he was locked on. It wouldn't tell him the orientation of the rocket, or where they were coming from, just that a lock was present.

Banshees are hard to kill with a missile pod, but not Warthogs on most maps. For those vehicles, it makes more difference because there is more background noise of grenades, gunfire, and explosions that get in the way of the lock on noise. I have died several times because I just didn't hear the noise, and couldn't avoid the missiles.

Point number 2.

Deaf gamers are already at a disadvantage, since they cannot hear. Adding this in would benefit every player, because every player can use it equally. But deaf players would get the most out of it, since they have no alternative for Missile Pod lock ons. They won't get a special advantage, they will get the same warning that everyone else gets, but in a form they can interpret.

  • 07.04.2009 11:48 PM PDT

Im not trying to be discriminatory here. All im saying is it seems to be a little much. what if you were all giddy on the other side of a missle pod and your opponent gets a warning he might not have been paying attention too, but gets anyway. wouldnt you be fuming if you fired all eight missles only to be left with a bullet in your head and a tea bagging from your new friend. im all for giving the deaf kids an extra warning just in case they really cannot hear a thing. but giving everyone this addition would just once again put those lower level players in their place. no playing field leveling, just another way to beg for the more skilled players to pwn you. Hopefuly this last sentence will be enough to sway you, and if it doesnt, i realy dont care because the only opinion that matters here is bungie's. Im sure if they wanted you to have a specialty warning system in your hud, they would have included it in the oringinal shipped coppies, or maybe even the beta.

  • 07.05.2009 12:07 AM PDT

and by the way, i am definately thinking of the n00bs. see you in battle...

  • 07.05.2009 12:09 AM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Well since everyone gets the same warning, it is what you do with it, then skill and awareness does come into the equation.

My point is that everyone gets a benefit, but deaf players get a tremendous amount from it compared to the small amount that players with hearing do.

And the missile pod is pretty good as it is. This just makes sure that you know you are going to die. ;)

Also, the Beta isn't out yet. And they could add something like this. We don't know. But I don't want to pass up on this opportunity just in case it doesn't make it into the final game.

Who knows? There might not be any weapons that have a lock on.

[Edited on 07.05.2009 11:53 PM PDT]

  • 07.05.2009 11:52 PM PDT
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I dunno about an X, but all the players have a target reticule of some kind so maybe that could be altered in a non-intrusive way when the player is being locked onto. With the small alteration to the reticule it isn't necessarily going to give a big advantage to the players in the vehicle because it wouldn't be jumping out at you, but it would give deaf players the chance to get as much info as players without their disadvantage. This is a fantastic idea. I don't personally know any hearing impaired people, but I can see how this might cause a problem.

[Edited on 07.06.2009 12:14 AM PDT]

  • 07.06.2009 12:09 AM PDT