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Subject: The psychology of Halo: My Observations

*DISCLAIMER* I in no way claim to be a psychologist, or anything of the like. These are based off of my observations of the game after playing a few matches in Matchmaking. Treat this thread accordingly.

Today, I decided to play some Halo: Reach. It is the first time I've played in quite a while, and so I'm prepared to be the worst player. However, that's fine with me. I've always been a casual gamer, and I'm not into hardcore gaming.

To my surprise, I get a +19 K/D and win the match with 25 kills... What happened? Well, to be honest, in a one on one, open field fight with anyone, I lost. The only advantage I had: My holograms. That's right. The unspoken armor ability that I very rarely see.

However, surely this is just a fluke? Maybe it was just the map, or the people I was playing with? So I would believe, but a few matches later, I got a +12 K/D on a different map with different people. Once again, my only real advantage was my holograms. Once again, I ask you: what happened? I didn't use any power weapons. Heck, I only really used the default weapons except in cases where I stumbled across the needle rifle, or DMR and just happened to pick them up.

Now, normally, I'm really bad at Halo. I usually tend to get the lowest score. In fact, you can normally judge how well my team is doing by where I am in the rankings. If I'm at the top, we're sure to lose.

Well, I have my explanations, and I hope that this information can help you in the future with your games if you choose to heed what I say. I will begin by going over the main issues that people I faced had.

1. PRIDE. Now, this is probably the biggest one, and it lead to the majority of the kills I got that could have EASILY been avoided. Instead of dropping the fight, and ducking behind cover, many people would choose to instead continue the charge despite having lower shields. Many would rather die than simply run away. Also, many would continue to try and get the person they initially were trying to kill even at the cost of their own life. They figured that they owned the kill that they started to get.

My recommendations:
If you aren't going to win the fight, find a way out of the fight. Better to lose one kill and live than simply die.

2. FIXATION. I'm almost reluctant to admit why this one was the case because this got me so many kills, and it ties into pride a little bit, but here it is anyway. When I placed a hologram, some people would see the hologram, and me shortly behind it. They happened to shoot the hologram first, and thus went after the hologram despite its blatantly counterfeit nature while I, the real one, was shooting at them. Why? I have a few theories, but they generally tend to be that the person now figured they either had to finish what they started, or they didn't want to give up the kill that was theirs, tying into pride again.

My recommendations:
Pay close attention to what the enemy is doing. If they are walking straight into a wall, just standing there, or running in a straight line, it's too good to be true. Also, if you figure out it's a hologram, then find the source. Don't keep shooting at the hologram. Also, holograms don't produce a red reticule. Take note.

3. ROUTINE. As I've said, I'm not a pro player. I may not know the best strategies, the best camping spots, etc. However, if YOU know the best spots, and you keep going to those spots, then you can bet I know where you are. Some people would always patrol the same areas, would always camp the same areas, and would always go after the same weapons. This made them predictable. I am a child of the Quake/Unreal games, so maybe I'm just more accustomed to this, but just play the cards you're dealt.

My recommendations:
If you CAN get a good weapon, great, but don't rely on having that weapon. If you HAPPEN to end up in your camping spot, great, use it, but don't continuously go to that same spot. Heck, even the default weapons, when used right, would outdo people who had predictable patterns with power weapons and camping.

4. IGNORANCE. I got many kills by merely trying to duck out of a fight, only to find someone back right into me, or just stand there as I walked by, giving me an easy assassination. People do not seem to be checking their motion trackers very often. Heck, one that stands out in my mind was someone who had a jetpack, and was on top of a building. I was walking by the building, noticed him on my motion tracker, and just sort of stood there a minute figuring out how to get out of a potentially lethal scenario. Suddenly, he just sort of fell right in front of me, and I got an easy assassination.

My recommendations:
Be aware of your surroundings. Check your motion tracker, try to keep tabs on the people around you, and try to figure out the possible threats BEFORE entering a combat scenario.

5. LACK OF STRATEGY. Some people may think that this just comes with skill, but even the veterans that I saw tended to run guns blazing into the battlefield, ignoring the easy kill right next to them, or the weapon that would help them win the fight, or a simple change of approach. Many people I fought would be beaten by me just hiding behind pillars and using guerrilla tactics on them. Try to be unpredictable, rather than doing the same things over and over, or running a straight line.

My recommendations:
Be unpredictable. Strategize. Walk in other patterns than just a straight line. Use your environment to your advantage, plan your attack, and gauge your opponents first before entering combat with them. If the cards are not in your favor, simply fold this round and take them on at a different time when you are better suited for winning.

After playing some rumble pit, I moved on to invasion. I remembered some of these problems, and even today still faced them. The problems I already listed were definitely present, but with more issues, since it was team based.

1. DO NOT FOCUS ON KILLS. The goal of invasion is to either deter the enemy for X amount of time, or to get an objective within X amount of time. Simply pinning down the enemy delays time, and simply keeping opponents away works just as well as killing them when trying to get the objective. The biggest example of this: On Boneyard, I was able to single-handedly take the first objective because the Spartans were too focused on getting kills on the elites approaching, rather than protecting the objective. Not kidding, a good three of them had their backs to me while I took the objective, and they didn't even bother turning around to get me. I ended up sticking them and killing them in various ways, but it could have been avoided by worrying about the objective for a minute.

2. SET UP FOR VICTORY. At the last few seconds of the Boneyard game, the core was dropped right in the circle of victory, and we would have won if ANYONE picked it up. However, we didn't, because everyone was focusing on getting the core rather than killing the Scorpion tank that kept killing everyone on their way to the core. Die once and get victory than die three times trying to attain victory and losing. This also ties into pride because everyone wanted to be the one who won the match.

3. RELY ON YOUR TEAM. Far too often did I see everyone cluster together to get an elite at one side of the room, and let one in to get to the core. Instead of being the one to get the kill yourself, let your team take on the single elite, and stay watch over the core. You'll find that sneaky elite and save the day from the sidelines. This, once again, ties into pride. Everyone wanted to be the one to save the day and get the kill, and neglected their flanks.

Well, there is my essay on the matter. I hope that this information can help everyone here improve their playing. See if you end up practicing any of the follies I mentioned above, and try to fix your playstyle. You might just find your abilities improving.

  • 01.03.2012 5:15 PM PDT

And so God called Moses to come forth but he came fifth and was therefore disqualified.

Sorry, but I'm not going to read that.

  • 01.03.2012 5:16 PM PDT

Posted by: Darkside Eric
So basically... Waypoint is pro-vanilla?

Posted by: Sentox6
Waypoint isn't pro-anything so much as they're just anti-intelligence.

tl;dr

China called, they want their wall back.

  • 01.03.2012 5:17 PM PDT

Member of team Master Theory.

17th Mythic Conqueror of Halo 3.
5th Mythic Conqueror of ODST.
If you would like to know more about Mythic difficulty please go to this thread. Thank you.

Please do not send me "recruitment messages" as I'm not interested in joining any groups currently.

You seem to know how to play much better than most on XBL. I kid you not when I say that running in straight lines, ignoring the motion tracker and being predictable are all extremely common traits of the average Reach player.

  • 01.03.2012 5:20 PM PDT

100% Australian.

My Connection
My House
My Pet

Scanned a bit, seems interesting.

  • 01.03.2012 5:22 PM PDT

And so God called Moses to come forth but he came fifth and was therefore disqualified.


Posted by: A Dumb Door
*DISCLAIMER* I in no way claim to be a psychologist, or anything of the like. These are based off of my observations of the game after playing a few matches in Matchmaking. Treat this thread accordingly.

Today, I decided to play some Halo: Reach. It is the first time I've played in quite a while, and so I'm prepared to be the worst player. However, that's fine with me. I've always been a casual gamer, and I'm not into hardcore gaming.

To my surprise, I get a +19 K/D and win the match with 25 kills... What happened? Well, to be honest, in a one on one, open field fight with anyone, I lost. The only advantage I had: My holograms. That's right. The unspoken armor ability that I very rarely see.

However, surely this is just a fluke? Maybe it was just the map, or the people I was playing with? So I would believe, but a few matches later, I got a +12 K/D on a different map with different people. Once again, my only real advantage was my holograms. Once again, I ask you: what happened? I didn't use any power weapons. Heck, I only really used the default weapons except in cases where I stumbled across the needle rifle, or DMR and just happened to pick them up.

Now, normally, I'm really bad at Halo. I usually tend to get the lowest score. In fact, you can normally judge how well my team is doing by where I am in the rankings. If I'm at the top, we're sure to lose.

Well, I have my explanations, and I hope that this information can help you in the future with your games if you choose to heed what I say. I will begin by going over the main issues that people I faced had.

1. PRIDE. Now, this is probably the biggest one, and it lead to the majority of the kills I got that could have EASILY been avoided. Instead of dropping the fight, and ducking behind cover, many people would choose to instead continue the charge despite having lower shields. Many would rather die than simply run away. Also, many would continue to try and get the person they initially were trying to kill even at the cost of their own life. They figured that they owned the kill that they started to get.

My recommendations:
If you aren't going to win the fight, find a way out of the fight. Better to lose one kill and live than simply die.

2. FIXATION. I'm almost reluctant to admit why this one was the case because this got me so many kills, and it ties into pride a little bit, but here it is anyway. When I placed a hologram, some people would see the hologram, and me shortly behind it. They happened to shoot the hologram first, and thus went after the hologram despite its blatantly counterfeit nature while I, the real one, was shooting at them. Why? I have a few theories, but they generally tend to be that the person now figured they either had to finish what they started, or they didn't want to give up the kill that was theirs, tying into pride again.

My recommendations:
Pay close attention to what the enemy is doing. If they are walking straight into a wall, just standing there, or running in a straight line, it's too good to be true. Also, if you figure out it's a hologram, then find the source. Don't keep shooting at the hologram. Also, holograms don't produce a red reticule. Take note.

3. ROUTINE. As I've said, I'm not a pro player. I may not know the best strategies, the best camping spots, etc. However, if YOU know the best spots, and you keep going to those spots, then you can bet I know where you are. Some people would always patrol the same areas, would always camp the same areas, and would always go after the same weapons. This made them predictable. I am a child of the Quake/Unreal games, so maybe I'm just more accustomed to this, but just play the cards you're dealt.

My recommendations:
If you CAN get a good weapon, great, but don't rely on having that weapon. If you HAPPEN to end up in your camping spot, great, use it, but don't continuously go to that same spot. Heck, even the default weapons, when used right, would outdo people who had predictable patterns with power weapons and camping.

4. IGNORANCE. I got many kills by merely trying to duck out of a fight, only to find someone back right into me, or just stand there as I walked by, giving me an easy assassination. People do not seem to be checking their motion trackers very often. Heck, one that stands out in my mind was someone who had a jetpack, and was on top of a building. I was walking by the building, noticed him on my motion tracker, and just sort of stood there a minute figuring out how to get out of a potentially lethal scenario. Suddenly, he just sort of fell right in front of me, and I got an easy assassination.

My recommendations:
Be aware of your surroundings. Check your motion tracker, try to keep tabs on the people around you, and try to figure out the possible threats BEFORE entering a combat scenario.

5. LACK OF STRATEGY. Some people may think that this just comes with skill, but even the veterans that I saw tended to run guns blazing into the battlefield, ignoring the easy kill right next to them, or the weapon that would help them win the fight, or a simple change of approach. Many people I fought would be beaten by me just hiding behind pillars and using guerrilla tactics on them. Try to be unpredictable, rather than doing the same things over and over, or running a straight line.

My recommendations:
Be unpredictable. Strategize. Walk in other patterns than just a straight line. Use your environment to your advantage, plan your attack, and gauge your opponents first before entering combat with them. If the cards are not in your favor, simply fold this round and take them on at a different time when you are better suited for winning.

After playing some rumble pit, I moved on to invasion. I remembered some of these problems, and even today still faced them. The problems I already listed were definitely present, but with more issues, since it was team based.

1. DO NOT FOCUS ON KILLS. The goal of invasion is to either deter the enemy for X amount of time, or to get an objective within X amount of time. Simply pinning down the enemy delays time, and simply keeping opponents away works just as well as killing them when trying to get the objective. The biggest example of this: On Boneyard, I was able to single-handedly take the first objective because the Spartans were too focused on getting kills on the elites approaching, rather than protecting the objective. Not kidding, a good three of them had their backs to me while I took the objective, and they didn't even bother turning around to get me. I ended up sticking them and killing them in various ways, but it could have been avoided by worrying about the objective for a minute.

2. SET UP FOR VICTORY. At the last few seconds of the Boneyard game, the core was dropped right in the circle of victory, and we would have won if ANYONE picked it up. However, we didn't, because everyone was focusing on getting the core rather than killing the Scorpion tank that kept killing everyone on their way to the core. Die once and get victory than die three times trying to attain victory and losing. This also ties into pride because everyone wanted to be the one who won the match.

3. RELY ON YOUR TEAM. Far too often did I see everyone cluster together to get an elite at one side of the room, and let one in to get to the core. Instead of being the one to get the kill yourself, let your team take on the single elite, and stay watch over the core. You'll find that sneaky elite and save the day from the sidelines. This, once again, ties into pride. Everyone wanted to be the one to save the day and get the kill, and neglected their flanks.

Well, there is my essay on the matter. I hope that this information can help everyone here improve their playing. See if you end up practicing any of the follies I mentioned above, and try to fix your playstyle. You might just find your abilities improving.

You take this really, really seriously, don't you?

  • 01.03.2012 5:22 PM PDT

Posted by: TurnedSculpture
You take this really, really seriously, don't you?
Not really. I just sort of noticed this going on, and figured I'd make a little thread about it on the Reach forums in an attempt to help people willing to read a bit. As I've said, I'm not a hardcore gamer by any means. I'm EXTREMELY casual. However, I sort noticed all of these things happening a lot even despite my casual nature, and figured I'd post about it.

  • 01.03.2012 5:24 PM PDT

I intend to live forever, or die trying,

so far, so good.

Beware, some people run into a wall hoping you believe they are a Hologram, as you walk past, they turn and assasinate you.

I know, becasue I do this trick.

You set your hologram, at a hiding point, and you run out in a line. They normally go for the person standing still.

It funny when you get people like this. It sucks when they don't fall for it. Best to use on noobs.

  • 01.03.2012 5:27 PM PDT

I intend to live forever, or die trying,

so far, so good.


Posted by: A Dumb Door
Posted by: TurnedSculpture
You take this really, really seriously, don't you?
Not really. I just sort of noticed this going on, and figured I'd make a little thread about it on the Reach forums in an attempt to help people willing to read a bit. As I've said, I'm not a hardcore gamer by any means. I'm EXTREMELY casual. However, I sort noticed all of these things happening a lot even despite my casual nature, and figured I'd post about it.


For a casual gamer, you know your stuff. Good work.

  • 01.03.2012 5:28 PM PDT


Posted by: Destiny 7
Nice blog you got there.

Surely a mythic member knows that blogs are a big NO here at b.net.

Surely a guy who has 7 alternate accounts knows that your post is off-topic and ban worthy.

OT: I wouldn't say that getting cocky would be a downfall. Maybe that isn't what you said, I only skimmed. Will look over.

  • 01.03.2012 5:28 PM PDT

It was a good read, thanks OP.

Personally I love to use holograms, because to use them properly it takes a tiny bit of consideration and thought before you press your AA button.

You also raise good points about pride. Reading all this has changed the way i perceive any given situation from now on while playing Halo.

dwam.

[Edited on 01.03.2012 5:31 PM PST]

  • 01.03.2012 5:30 PM PDT
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All I'm going to say is the Halo 2 instruction booklet pretty much defined how to win games.

  • 01.03.2012 5:42 PM PDT

Posted by: THOMSY99
Beware, some people run into a wall hoping you believe they are a Hologram, as you walk past, they turn and assasinate you.

I know, becasue I do this trick.

You set your hologram, at a hiding point, and you run out in a line. They normally go for the person standing still.

It funny when you get people like this. It sucks when they don't fall for it. Best to use on noobs.
Yeah, that's a pretty risky strategy. Some people may accidentally hit the right one and kill you. Also, that strategy relies on them seeing the hologram, and thinking it's not tied to you. Although if it works, it's rather lulzy, I'd imagine.

  • 01.03.2012 9:09 PM PDT

the gun pointed at the head of the universe

And remember that a quick crouch-walk here and there pays off.

  • 01.03.2012 9:27 PM PDT
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Posted by: Horse Repairman
RC RuNz the internet. Like the superintendent.

Posted by: SouthPoIe
Clone is an internet God.

Posted by: DerpRoids
RC Clone is the anti-thesis of a lurker.

I see you manage to have common sense and am attention span longer than 5 minutes. Too bad the players this could greatly help don't have the maturity to fully read this.

  • 01.03.2012 9:30 PM PDT

Please don't hype for games...
They'll just fall short of your expectations and you'll complain for months.

Very interesting read, OP.

Although I more have a "situational awareness issue." I check my motion tracker and know when and enemy is coming, but I have a bad habit of walking into walls while trying to escape and then getting gunned down.

  • 01.03.2012 9:36 PM PDT

Posted by: Alpha00
Very interesting read, OP.

Although I more have a "situational awareness issue." I check my motion tracker and know when and enemy is coming, but I have a bad habit of walking into walls while trying to escape and then getting gunned down.
Theoretically, if you were absurdly dedicated to Halo, I'd tell you to practice an exercise. This is actually a drill used in the Russian martial art to make sure that this doesn't happen in a real fight:
Walk into a room, give yourself a brief moment to scan the room, and then close your eyes. Now navigate the room.

Of course, while I doubt you're actually that dedicated to Halo, it's still a really good drill to practice to prevent accidentally walking into stuff in real life.

  • 01.03.2012 11:11 PM PDT

alot of people play casually. they play to have fun, win or lose.

  • 01.03.2012 11:38 PM PDT
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Posted by: Horse Repairman
RC RuNz the internet. Like the superintendent.

Posted by: SouthPoIe
Clone is an internet God.

Posted by: DerpRoids
RC Clone is the anti-thesis of a lurker.


Posted by: A Dumb Door
Posted by: Alpha00
Very interesting read, OP.

Although I more have a "situational awareness issue." I check my motion tracker and know when and enemy is coming, but I have a bad habit of walking into walls while trying to escape and then getting gunned down.
Theoretically, if you were absurdly dedicated to Halo, I'd tell you to practice an exercise. This is actually a drill used in the Russian martial art to make sure that this doesn't happen in a real fight:
Walk into a room, give yourself a brief moment to scan the room, and then close your eyes. Now navigate the room.

Of course, while I doubt you're actually that dedicated to Halo, it's still a really good drill to practice to prevent accidentally walking into stuff in real life.

I can perfectly navigate my own room in pitch black after waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

Also I forgot to post this last time I was here.

  • 01.03.2012 11:45 PM PDT

Can I have a pursuit warthog? (red&blue flashing lights, siren, black and white paint job, gull-wing doors, no turret but a truckbed cap where the turret assembly should be, and the ability to arrest players :)

A police falcon would be great as well... (Black&white paint job, flashing red & blue lights on the wing struts and tail, no turrets and doors that open and close similar to the republic gunships in Star Wars. Kick... Ass.)

Police pelican would be cool too!!!

That's some very interesting observations. And... Glad to see I'm not the only casual gamer around here.

  • 01.03.2012 11:59 PM PDT
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It appears most players lack common sense. This statement sums it up well.


I would like to add that for the section titled "Fixation", I do this a lot. Challenge a person even though I am likely to lose. Want to know why? I win a lot of the time, and I only do it because I know I'm dead anyway. If I run i'll die, might as well try for a kill right?

Hope that made sense. Nice post by the way.

  • 01.04.2012 12:03 AM PDT
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Posted by: Horse Repairman
RC RuNz the internet. Like the superintendent.

Posted by: SouthPoIe
Clone is an internet God.

Posted by: DerpRoids
RC Clone is the anti-thesis of a lurker.


Posted by: Javelin434
That's some very interesting observations. And... Glad to see I'm not the only casual gamer around here.

There are lots of casual gamers here. Some just take the game too seriously.

The ones that take it too seriously are just hardcore (for lack of a better word) fans.

  • 01.04.2012 12:04 AM PDT


Posted by: TurnedSculpture
Sorry, but I'm not going to read that.

  • 01.04.2012 1:47 AM PDT

dont like my driving? stay off the sidewalk

i remember the good days of H2 when winning mattered. you had your gun, a few nades, a motion tracker and your team. it wasent a matter of kills so much as it was a matter of who WON the game, who was the better team but now with this new point system you can just sit in a corner with rockets to advance a virtual rank in a video game that has no real weight in the real world. people have become arrogant, they try so hard to rise above the others that they ruin the real meaning of the game not only for themselves but for all the others that had the misfortune of sharing a match with that player.

video games are supposed to be fun. if you enjoy a challenge then great but at the end of the day you should be entertained and not frustrated that someone else topped the leaderboards because GUESS WHAT.... none of it matters.

i must admit. i dont like what has become of halo.

TL;DR: people need to chill the f%<k out.

  • 01.04.2012 3:29 AM PDT

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