- Spearmint
- |
- Elder Heroic Member
Do you really care? you can't automatically see my signature anyway.
Some people seem to worry that Halo Reach won't include a custom game search, mostly due, because Halo 3 didn't include a custom game search. However, I feel your fears are unfounded because you haven't done the proper research on why Halo 3 never included a custom game search.
Article links:
Kombo
1up
Posted by:Kombo
I like Halo 3. The game's been out for two weeks, so I think it's safe to say that I'm truly liking the game, and I'm not just riding the hype train. That said, there's a serious problem with it, and to be honest, I don't understand why Bungie would let this happen.
I'm talking about the lack of a custom games server list - or custom games browser, as some call it. Maybe you've heard about the fabled "XBL Public," maybe not. Xbox Live Public is the name of a feature Bungie at one time had hoped to include in its final Halo game.
Posted by:1up
1UP: There was no way to "search" for a particular gametype in Halo 2 matchmaking. Will there be a way for players to search for a particular map or mode?
CN: We are definitely taking steps to solve the issue of people wanting to play custom games and not having friends online to play with. We'll have more details on how this is being accomplished in the near future.
1UP: One of the menus we saw while we were at Bungie said XBL Public, it was described to us as a "Matchmaking for Custom Games." What is XBL Public bringing to the matchmaking space? Is there an XBL Private, as well for Halo 3 online play?
CN: The basic idea with our online play still begins with our party system. You can invite your buddies to the party and it's easy stay together and play whatever you want in the game. If you want to keep it private you can set the privacy so that only friends can join, or so that an invite is required in order for any player to join the party. On the other hand you might need more players to play the type of game you want to set up and that's where XBL public comes in handy. When you need more people you can just open your party to the public. It's the perfect way to create a custom game and find people to join you.
1UP: If I've created a game with my friends and don't have enough people for a good match, will there be a way for us to meet up with players that we don't know and have them join our game?
CN: That's the perfect example of how XBL public works. In a party with 3 friends but that game you've created really needs 8 players to be fun? Set the maximum party size to "8" and open your party to the public. Public players will be able to find you and join, so you'll get the other 5 that you need for the game.
Posted by:Kombo
Better yet, why not allow players to simply browse through a list of currently open games? Halo PC had this feature four years ago, and it worked just fine. StarCraft, a ten-year-old RTS on PC, has the feature. And so does every WarCraft game ever made. Numerous first-generation Xbox Live games - on the original Xbox - allowed you to do it, too. Rainbow Six 3. Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. Crimson Skies. Mechassault. Project Gotham Racing 2. Do I need to continue? Why doesn't Halo 3?
Why doesn't Halo 3 feature a custom games server list - Halo PC-style? Perhaps it's because of matchmaking. If such a feature was available to Halo 3 players, the number of people using matchmaking would decrease. But wouldn't that be because gamers would be able to do what they want? And, if so, doesn't that mean they're only playing matchmaking because that's their only option if they want to get their Halo 3 on? Isn't that a bad thing?
Maybe people would continue playing matchmaking - perhaps I'm wrong in my assertion. Maybe it's the custom games browser that nobody would use. I doubt it, but it could happen. Anything can happen.
More likely, the userbase would become divided. Those that want to use matchmaking would continue to do so. They could earn their levels, ranks, whatever. Meanwhile, those that clamor for a method of joining other people's custom games would use the custom games browser.
IMHO, H:R will have a custom game search, bungie can't afford not to include one. The question is will XBL Public get a 2nd chance or will they just go with a GOW CG search?
...I swear if one person TL;DR 's me, I'll hunt you down and hug you to death.