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  • Subject: How Combat Evolved ruined Halo (A community transformation of Reach)
Subject: How Combat Evolved ruined Halo (A community transformation of Reach)

@spawn031

"So much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, so it's gratifying to have something you have done linger in people's memories." John Williams

How Combat Evolved ruined Halo.

First I will have you know that these words are not my own. I do agree with some key aspects that FinalPOSTMORTEM brings forth and I shall iterate some of my own.

Posted on 02/05/2012 by FinalPOSTMORTEM
Firstly, that title would best be rewritten as "how Combat Evolved Anniversary shifted the community's focus, causing them to ruin their own enjoyment of Halo" but that was just too long to include in a headline. Secondly, don't think for a moment that my faith in the Halo franchise isn't as strong as ever. This is not a cry out against my community, my franchise, or the game which I love and call home. It is merely an observation and a suggestion.

Although the move to Chicago has occupied a vast majority of my time in recent days and packing before that even prior still you could find me sitting in my room playing video games. However if you were to look at my screen to see what I was playing you would be surprised to find that I was not playing Halo, as tended to be the case in years past. Why is this?

If the Halo Weekly Bulletin is to be used as an example of the general interests of the Halo community, then I am dismayed to offer these reports on the Bulletins we have received for the past weeks. Since the launch of Halo Anniversary, not a single Bulletin has been published in over twelve weeks that hasn't, for the bulk of its content, contained vast amounts of information on title and matchmaking updates (excluding holidays, major events, the recently launched Office of Halo Intelligence, and that interview with Tim Dadabo). That's nearly three months of Halo Bulletins directed primarily at gameplay.

But why is this important, you ask?

Well, firstly because I was not initially fascinated by Halo because of its subtle variations on gameplay and miniscule elements effecting the larger whole. It is not what drew me in and kept me fascinated. And while multiplayer is a crucial part of the Halo experience for me just as much as it is for anyone else, it stands separate in my mind from the core of Halo and stems (as I believe it should with all games) from a well-crafted campaign. While gameplay (and therefore multiplayer) is the backbone of Halo, standing as a foundation for great fun and socialization, campaign is the heart at the center pumping blood down this majestic beast's veins. And in the end, has Halo ever strayed from its course so much that that extreme amount of enjoyment cannot be found whilst playing Halo with others? As Leviathan put it on HBO:

"Do the changes in the TU actually change the core of Halo? Is shooting a needler no longer fun? Hearing the boom of a Scorpion's canon? Have we become so desensitized to the magic of Halo that simple changes disturb us so much?"

But there is more to my discomfort than simple personal choices in what makes or breaks Halo, and this stems directly from the many Bulletins we've had over these last few months and, more importantly, how it has effected us as a community (and vice versa).

If one were to journey to the strange lands of Halo.Bungie.Org, they would typically find a place of like-minded individuals, eagerly discussing the latest additions to the Halo storyline, or sharing gameplay tactics and custom maps. But, since the release of Halo Anniversary, conversations have tended to lean away from these kind-hearted approaches to conversations about Halo, and have gone down the terrible road of gripes and criticism, leading to an unfamiliar territory that has lost much of its excitement and character. Just as with the Halo Weekly Bulletins, I've found myself spending less time giving a thorough readthrough and instead skimming, only to find more and more conversations on the topic of title updates and matchmaking. The Halo Bulletins, and the Halo Community, all shifting focus away from the positive, greater picture and towards the negative, smaller one.

And again the question why?

With the transition of Halo from the hands of Bungie to 343 Industries, there was obviously a lot of eagerness for the newly formed studio to prove their worth. Taking on a remake of the game that started Bungie's forray into the Halo universe was a great technical and metaphorical way to test the waters and gain their footing, just as Bungie had ten years ago. But in doing so, the company (and therefore fans of Halo as well) began to focus so heavily on the original game and what made it good. This seemingly lead to a reexamination of the current Halo experience in Reach, and how 343 Industries could prove their worth as stewards of multiplayer as well. And it is because of this recent fascination with the past that they began to over-analyze, and over-think what should be, at its core, a simple exercise in restraint. Bungie, in their time as stewards of Halo, never once bothered to look back and ask what could be done to reclaim what was. They only ever looked back to see what could be done better, and this is part of what makes them a great studio that constantly puts forth amazing new ideas. As mentioned above, Halo is Halo, and will continue to be as long as its core mechanics stay the same. Every new installment to the franchise has changed one element or another, whether vastly or in more subtle ways, and yet the series persists and continues to provide the same level of enjoyment from game to game. If 343 Industries could take to heart the lesson taught by Bungie, and focus less on the minute details of what fans loved about the past installments of Halo and more on what unique ideas they have to bring to the table, they would be better equipped to handle the franchise that we all love.

It is my hope that, as Halo 4 draws nearer, 343 Industries and the community will begin to publicly shift their focus away from the past and a longing for what was, and instead begin to focus more on what can be. We know that great things are in the works for Halo 4, and I have no doubt that what 343i is making will be amazing, new, and distinctly Halo in a fresh and exciting way. HBO, and the Halo Weekly Bulletin are direct expressions of the fascinations and focuses of both the fans and the creators, and I believe that in order to cultivate a relationship that is beneficial for both parties, it is important for all involved to shift their focus away from the old, and towards the new.

Does anyone remember those times when Bungie was never focused on what they have done in the past and are always striving forth for what's to come in the future? This is exactly what this article is talking about.

I feel that the current "community" of Halo - if it can be called that - has always felt that we need to move backwards in time to improve a game. Bungie added it's own iterations to each Halo game, but kept it to the same style. At the end of the day when you think about it, does it really matter all the matchmaking updates that 343 is currently doing to try to get Reach to be the "core" game that Halo CE was?

I always put my priorities in the campaign rather than the multiplayer, that is what draws the most attention into gaming for me. As mentioned in this article, nearly every updates for the Halo 343 bulletin has ben about Multiplayer and how get the fans excited about playing it.

I feel that over the years the community has developed into this unknown shape, and we're a mixed combination of old and new fans. We don't know what we want and 343 is trying to do their best to fit everyone's needs.

With the upcoming release of Halo 4, how will the community change even further? How can 343 expect to bring along many fans with them if we're always stuck in the past about how things "should have" been. I will admit I have been a Halo fan for a long time, but after reading this article - just reflect on how Bungie was with managing Halo and how this "shift" to 343 will change everything.

So now I turn to you, how do you feel that the current "shift" in Halo will change? Will it change? What creates the sense ours that things always have to be nostalgic?

Thanks.

  • 02.05.2012 10:32 AM PDT

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Well this is an interesting perspective.

  • 02.05.2012 10:33 AM PDT

I agree with a lot of this post. Be prepared for a flame war though.


Edits:

Two things, IMO, made reach not as fun as previous halos:

The Campaign
The Maps

[Edited on 02.05.2012 10:40 AM PST]

  • 02.05.2012 10:38 AM PDT

THATS MY COOL MAN I CAN'T TAKE IT OFF!

I don't understand. Some dude is buttflustered because the waypoint bulletins don't talk about campaign?

I'd much rather read stuff about matchmaking updates than an interview with -blam!- Tim Dadabo or whatever.

  • 02.05.2012 10:40 AM PDT

Also, please post this over at waypoint as well. 'Tis a good read.

  • 02.05.2012 10:41 AM PDT

Forget it man, and get with the countdown. Shake this square world and blast off for Kicksville.

Reach host ranking algorithm: (a*quit_percentage + b*isMexican + c*(1/KDR) + d*hasGuest) * 100
where a > b = d > c

Posted on 02/05/2012 by FinalPOSTMORTEM
As mentioned above, Halo is Halo, and will continue to be as long as its core mechanics stay the same.
Indeed, which is why Reach isn't Halo and we all talk about matchmaking.

  • 02.05.2012 10:52 AM PDT

@spawn031

"So much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, so it's gratifying to have something you have done linger in people's memories." John Williams

Posted by: Sentox6
Posted on 02/05/2012 by FinalPOSTMORTEM
As mentioned above, Halo is Halo, and will continue to be as long as its core mechanics stay the same.
Indeed, which is why Reach isn't Halo and we all talk about matchmaking.

Perfect example of perception right here.

Who are we to say what is and isn't Halo? We're the community and customers sure. Why is it that Bungie always defined it as Halo? If anything, we're the minority.

You can't argue game mechanics if they're meant to be that way from a developer perspective, it would be foolish to do so. So why do we try? Feedback is great for the developers, but if games were always meant to be a certain way, does our opinion have any weight on it?

But there is more to my discomfort than simple personal choices in what makes or breaks Halo, and this stems directly from the many Bulletins we've had over these last few months and, more importantly, how it has effected us as a community (and vice versa).
This is what we're struggling with as a community.

  • 02.05.2012 11:05 AM PDT

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

I'm sorry, but that is way too much text.

  • 02.05.2012 11:10 AM PDT

Your presence here is quite unneeded. Begone you!!!

Two things I must point out about CE and why it was remastered:

-CE was the only Halo that wasn't made for Xbox live
-CE is what started the franchise and it be reasonable to remaster

*and you might want to change that title*

  • 02.05.2012 11:15 AM PDT

Ohai, I'm Loscocco (pronounced Loss-cocoa). I'm a college student (computer science major), 3D animator, and long-time Halo player.

The problem with that, IMO, is that sticking to the past isn't necessarily a bad thing and trying to get an overhaul with new features isn't necessarily a good thing either; it is about moderation. If a bad mechanic is injected into a new game, its horrible results are not justified by "it is new."

It isn't a problem that 343/Bungie is trying to go back to Halo's roots because Reach factually did worse than the previous titles in terms of keeping a steady population, etc... Saying, "there is a problem, we need to backtrack so we can move forward" is definitely a bolder, smarter move than, "If people think it is crap, lets pretend they don't exist, repackage the game that they don't like, and try to shove it back in their faces."

  • 02.05.2012 11:23 AM PDT

@spawn031

"So much of what we do is ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, so it's gratifying to have something you have done linger in people's memories." John Williams

Posted by: Mikelp_1
The problem with that, IMO, is that sticking to the past isn't necessarily a bad thing and trying to get an overhaul with new features isn't necessarily a good thing either; it is about moderation. If a bad mechanic is injected into a new game, its horrible results are not justified by "it is new."

It isn't a problem that 343/Bungie is trying to go back to Halo's roots because Reach factually did worse than the previous titles in terms of keeping a steady population, etc... Saying, "there is a problem, we need to backtrack so we can move forward" is definitely a bolder, smarter move than, "If people think it is crap, lets pretend they don't exist, repackage the game that they don't like, and try to shove it back in their faces."

Exactly. For a game the be factually worse than it's predecessors is a huge red mark. 343 has been trying to back track to previous installments to please those fans.

The problem is when the newer community of Halo is coming in. They don't know what the previous Halo's were like, so they repent. For players that are playing Reach as their first Halo game, they have come to know "Halo" as default Reach settings.

That's where the balance lies. How do you please everyone? When Halo 4 comes out, if it has "fast 4 shot settings" like Halo 2, what will become of the new members that joined on Reach's bandwagon? I appreciate the fact that 343 is trying to backtrack and get back to 343's "roots" of Halo. But Combat Evolved establish settings that the older fans would like, while new fans appreciate Halo Reach's settings - because that's all they know.

Where is the line of balance?

  • 02.05.2012 11:35 AM PDT


Posted by: spawn031
How do you please everyone?

Unfortunately, you can't. One of the few things that I think they should consider, is to not do remakes for multiplayer maps. Each game's sandbox differs, which changes the way that map is played and remembered.

  • 02.05.2012 11:56 AM PDT
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Hey, uh, if you like vs threads, then check out this little group right here, if you have the time. It's pretty fun, just hop right in.

Posted by: spawn031
How do you please everyone?


You don't.

What you do, is try to please the largest crowd possible. But pleasing everybody simply cannot be done.

  • 02.05.2012 12:02 PM PDT
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Good read, OP.

  • 02.05.2012 12:05 PM PDT

Forget it man, and get with the countdown. Shake this square world and blast off for Kicksville.

Reach host ranking algorithm: (a*quit_percentage + b*isMexican + c*(1/KDR) + d*hasGuest) * 100
where a > b = d > c

Posted by: spawn031
Perfect example of perception right here.

Who are we to say what is and isn't Halo? We're the community and customers sure. Why is it that Bungie always defined it as Halo? If anything, we're the minority.

I don't define what is and isn't Halo, true enough. But for the sake of discussion and avoiding pedanticism, I use "Halo" to refer to how the previous three games have played.

As Bungie themselves said, Halo is two men entering and the better man leaving. That's not always the case in default Reach.

  • 02.05.2012 12:22 PM PDT

"Bet you can't stick it"

I just want my thirty seconds of fun back, instead of thirty seconds of none.

  • 02.05.2012 2:04 PM PDT


Posted by: And Im Here Too
Posted by: spawn031
How do you please everyone?


You don't.

What you do, is try to please the largest crowd possible. But pleasing everybody simply cannot be done.


OP thanks for the thought prevocking words .
Is it fair to just try and please the largest crowd . What iv this does not include the people that grew up with halo that played the games from the beginning .
Without these halo would not be what it is today.
also times have changed halo 10years ago shock, wow ,fantastic ,mint, great graffs,i love it the start of something new.
10 years on everything has changed peoples expectations in a new game not just halo all the top games has changed .
people now want better graffs,better sound,better guns,better this and better that ive played all the top games and ime amazed at the complaints you here from the off .
Technology moves on people expect better ,in there heads they would like perfection without actually knowing what it is .
Ime sorry but allot of the people playing CE anniversary didnt
like it, wrong time in history .But 10 years ago it was ahead off its time a game changer to me and many others it was very close to perfect.


  • 02.05.2012 2:50 PM PDT
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Posted by: spawn031

But in doing so, the company (and therefore fans of Halo as well) began to focus so heavily on the original game and what made it good. This seemingly lead to a reexamination of the current Halo experience in Reach, and how 343 Industries could prove their worth as stewards of multiplayer as well. And it is because of this recent fascination with the past that they began to over-analyze, and over-think what should be, at its core, a simple exercise in restraint. Bungie, in their time as stewards of Halo, never once bothered to look back and ask what could be done to reclaim what was. They only ever looked back to see what could be done better, and this is part of what makes them a great studio that constantly puts forth amazing new ideas. As mentioned above, Halo is Halo, and will continue to be as long as its core mechanics stay the same. Every new installment to the franchise has changed one element or another, whether vastly or in more subtle ways, and yet the series persists and continues to provide the same level of enjoyment from game to game. If 343 Industries could take to heart the lesson taught by Bungie, and focus less on the minute details of what fans loved about the past installments of Halo and more on what unique ideas they have to bring to the table, they would be better equipped to handle the franchise that we all love.


This is where they lost me.

  • 02.05.2012 3:05 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.

Thanks for cutting that piece out Acid.

My opinion is that this guy is delusional if he thinks Reach is equally fun as CE.

  • 02.05.2012 3:09 PM PDT