- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Basically, when you sign into Live matchmaking gives you a playlist of what kind of games you want to play. Do you want to play a game of free-for-all? Then the Rumble Pit is for you. Want to play a team game where all you do is try to get the most kills before the other team does? That's what Team Slayer is for.
Matchmaking, and Halo 2 on Live for that matter, is a bit complicated to explain. Matchmaking basically assigns you, and other players of similar or equal level, in one game. Where you play and what gametype you play is completely up to the system.
Now, the alternative to playing Matchmaking is making a custom game, where matchmaking sits this one out and lets the party leader, or host, choose the map, gametype, and can boot players at his free will. The host's friends then join into the game, and the host's friends' friends can join in too. Instead of having a password system so not any random person on your friend's list can join in, you have the option of making the game invite only, where you can send invites to friends and they can play.
I know it sounds very confusing, you have to play it to understand it.
Hopefully they have a combination of Halo PC's game lobby and Halo 2's matchmaking, clan, rank, and friends list system. It's going to be interesting to see how Bungie's going to work this out.