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This topic has moved here: Subject: Revolutionary New Icon System?
  • Subject: Revolutionary New Icon System?
Subject: Revolutionary New Icon System?
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Frankie, our Bungie Insider, talked about it but wouldn't give us any details but I've been going over that 19 second in game video from e3. He spoke of a revolutionary new means of tracking your comrades in battle. He promised that we would never again be searching desperately for that ally of yours that is calling for help. All you had in Halo1 to guide you was a green arrow indicator over your head. One that was identical to every other member on your team. Which was your beleagered comrade?

First comes the synopsis of what I think has been done (the interesting stuff) followed by my observations in the very end. (for people to evaluate)

Now. All of your team members possess an icon over their heads. I am fairly certain that this Icon is the very same symbol you select for your "customizable" armour and uniquely identifies you from your other team-mates. Thus, when your friend "Flaming Ninja" asks for your help all you need do is swivel about and look for his Icon.

What is interesting to note is that the icon is surrounded by a border that forms an arrow pointing down at the combatant. This borders changes colours throughout the match.

Blue Border: Neutral State. Nothing's happening.
Yellow Border: Firing his Weapon
Red Border: Taking Hits

In this way, you can quickly evaluate the battle around you. Where the hot firefights are. Where which of your allies is, and in the case of an elaborate battle plan, if people are where they are supposed to be. (This also allows you to set up reserve forces and a slew of other awesome strategies for hardcore clan warfare.)

In this I think Bungie has scored tremendous points. Frankie was correct. This is an amazing feature that I'm very excited about.

Observations taken from the 19 second vid of in game multi-play: Not all of your friends possess the same Icons. Two of them for example are uniquely different. The rocket firing Spartan in the first few seconds has a circular yellow filled Icon. The one in the warhog in the last few seconds has a more open has something of a blue and green bio-hazard looking symbol.

Watch in the first few seconds when the Spartan fires the rocket. His border flashes to yellow from blue at the moment he firest the rocket and then back again, supporting my "firing" theory. Also... at the very end... while the wathog is racing away, the Spartan's border flashes red as he's getting hit!!

Questions, Comments?


[Edited on 5/12/2004 9:38:17 PM]

  • 05.12.2004 9:36 PM PDT
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sounds awesome, do you know where I can find this 19 second video if im not a member of IGN or Gamespot?

  • 05.12.2004 9:42 PM PDT
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good observation. sounds like it will work out nicely.

  • 05.12.2004 9:43 PM PDT
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Great insight - let's hope you are right! LawnGnome - the short vid is available on IGN in low res for non-insiders...

  • 05.12.2004 9:44 PM PDT
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thanks
to back up your theory:
there was a small red icon of the flag right under the reticle when the enemy had taken it, and when he killed the elite and the flag was not in enemy hands, but not returned, the icon turned yellow.
Good find dude.

[Edited on 5/13/2004 7:24:14 AM]

  • 05.12.2004 9:48 PM PDT
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That's actually different than what he's referring to, if I understood you correctly. He's talking about the boxes over peoples heads, and the border around them that changes color. The flag icon you're describing is read one somone is holding the flag, and yellow when it's on the ground. Maybe I'm mistaken, but that's what it sounds like you were talking about.

  • 05.12.2004 11:15 PM PDT
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Hopefully the person with your flag won't have an icon, i liked those times in CTF games where you had each others falg and it was a battle to see who could return and score.

  • 05.12.2004 11:18 PM PDT
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Yeah, part of the skill was having the guy with the flag hide while you went to return your own flag. It made for some VERY tense moments with my friends and I.

  • 05.12.2004 11:25 PM PDT
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Good stuff Draerden

  • 05.12.2004 11:32 PM PDT
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do you guys think that players will be able to create their own decals. Maybe using a quick paint like program. I hope they don't just give us a long list to choose from. I have already drawn up 15 possible decals the corrospond to my name.

  • 05.13.2004 1:24 AM PDT
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Actually, when someone has the flag (I don't understand why they say they captured it when they haven't), you see a red icon with a flag (might be different colors for different teams flags (the symbol could have been red because the flag was red)), when it was dropped another icon, blue with three symbols in it appeared..

  • 05.13.2004 5:00 AM PDT
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I think that they're using icons to show low ammo when the chief has low ammo in his battle rifle a blue icon appears when he fires his rocket launcher a orange icon appers.

  • 05.13.2004 5:08 AM PDT
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no thats not it, i am pretty sure its blue to tell u to reload, yellow when you have no reloads left(only the ammo in ur last catridge) and red wen ur out. go look when he is shootin the rocket around in the first video we got.go go look!

  • 05.13.2004 5:24 AM PDT
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Go to the 15 second mark when watching the 19 second muliplayer video. The master chief kills the elite who was holding the flag, the red icon turns yellow and a blue icon appears maybe telling him to reload.
(Sorry if the previous post was unclear, my bad)

[Edited on 5/13/2004 7:35:41 AM]

  • 05.13.2004 7:31 AM PDT
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Posted by: Ionic
do you guys think that players will be able to create their own decals. Maybe using a quick paint like program. I hope they don't just give us a long list to choose from. I have already drawn up 15 possible decals the corrospond to my name.


They've stated that the icons are totally customizable. That heavily implies (implies nothing; screams) that there will be a paint program.

  • 05.13.2004 12:22 PM PDT
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In a fire fight you would be firing and taking hits a the same time, sorry to be picky but would the boarder flash or something?

  • 05.13.2004 12:25 PM PDT
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ugg. it seems like there are waaay too many of theese things. one for if its nutral, one for if its firing, one for being hit, one for if he has the flag, for if he dropped he flag, for if he is in a hog, for if the is being boarded... ect. i think my head just exploded

  • 05.13.2004 1:03 PM PDT
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I would assume, yes assume meaning I have no proof at all, that if you were firing AND taking hits at the same time you would flash red since that's more urgent. Mind you... it only flashes so if they're in a heavy firefight it's likely to flash yellow and red intemittedly, showing the tide of the battle.

As for Night Potato. I like the Icons. Once in a while you miss the voice telling you that "Red Team has the flag" in middle of a few big explosions. The Icon is right next to your reticle and the reticle is your focus of attention. Will it take a little getting used to? Yes but it's far more intuitive.

  • 05.13.2004 2:37 PM PDT
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can someone hook me up with a link to where it is on IGN...im bad at finding things


edit:never mind got it


[Edited on 5/13/2004 2:48:00 PM]

  • 05.13.2004 2:42 PM PDT