Halo 3 Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Who is playtesting Halo3 for balance?
  • Subject: Who is playtesting Halo3 for balance?
Subject: Who is playtesting Halo3 for balance?

Death by figure skater.

Just curious. I assume NoF has a hand in this. He'd better be one of the testers. Is the whole staff responsible for playtesting?

Will some power weapons not respawn when held?

  • 06.13.2006 1:03 PM PDT
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/sigh


Fine, considering you're too much of a punk do it your self I'll help you out.



Posted by: OksanaBayul
omg, halo 2 is 4 nubz i want halo 3 2 b just liek halo 1 no spray and pray only 1337 3sks

  • 06.13.2006 1:06 PM PDT

We are the Halo Generation.

I am, of course.

  • 06.13.2006 1:09 PM PDT

Death by figure skater.

Posted by: KoinOperatedBoy
/sigh


Fine, considering you're too much of a punk do it your self I'll help you out.



Posted by: OksanaBayul
omg, halo 2 is 4 nubz i want halo 3 2 b just liek halo 1 no spray and pray only 1337 3sks


Did I say something to offend? Is playtesting discussion not allowed?

EDIT: I just read the forum guidelines, this type of discussion is permitted. Why wouldn't it be? I'd think a healthy discussion about playtesting would be encouraged.

[Edited on 6/13/2006]

  • 06.13.2006 1:18 PM PDT

Video of Rodent's Abode
Posted by: Cockburnicus
You missed the point like Vader missed the banshee, your whole argument is covered in bees.
Stop sending me group invites -blam!-s!

probably the bungie team themselves they only do the big playtests a couple months before release

  • 06.13.2006 1:32 PM PDT
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It would be very wise for Bungie to hire at least a few professional Halo/Halo2 gamers with no bias towards the average gamer population to help with balance.

  • 06.13.2006 1:35 PM PDT

It's fun when we win and funny when we lose: Le Mediocrity
OR
Come take your verbal beating like a man in THE CAVE

I believe the preferences of professional gamers matter LESS than the preferences of the "average" gamers. We (the average gamer) are their core audience. The professionals are a small, but vocal, minority. We are their cash cow. It would be a disaster if they made the game balanced, but inaccessible to the average Joe.

FUN>BALANCE

  • 06.13.2006 1:43 PM PDT
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Probably the mothers of young children who play soccer.

Wiltron > Pros

  • 06.13.2006 1:50 PM PDT
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Posted by: Crankiest weasel
Probably the mothers of young children who play soccer.

Wiltron > Pros


I nominate Cranky for the role of playtesting.

I would also like to add that Super Smash Brothers was probably the game that was the most enjoyable to play yet had no "skill" or "pro" factor.

Posted by: PREDAT0R
It would be very wise for Bungie to hire at least a few professional Halo/Halo2 gamers with no bias towards the average gamer population to help with balance.


They better do it quickly before school begins again.

[Edited on 6/13/2006]

  • 06.13.2006 1:53 PM PDT
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A Guide to Networking, Matchmaking, and Host in Halo (HBO mirror)

Bungie Friends and Family invitee, and sender of "random emails" about networking.

Bungie will be testing until the beta stage. At which point, there'll likely be a beta for Microsoft Employees/MGS Testers in order to test the netcode and multiplayer experience.

  • 06.13.2006 1:55 PM PDT

It's fun when we win and funny when we lose: Le Mediocrity
OR
Come take your verbal beating like a man in THE CAVE

Right.

Bungie, send a dev kit and your latest build to Cranky. I'll pay shipping. He'll make sure Halo3 Poo Poo King is playable.

  • 06.13.2006 1:57 PM PDT

Death by figure skater.

Posted by: Wiltron
I believe the preferences of professional gamers matter LESS than the preferences of the "average" gamers. We (the average gamer) are their core audience. The professionals are a small, but vocal, minority. We are their cash cow. It would be a disaster if they made the game balanced, but inaccessible to the average Joe.

FUN>BALANCE


I'd think they'd put a premium on fair and balanced gameplay, no matter what type of gamer one might be.

And true, the casual gamer is the cash cow...but at this stage in the game, Halo3 is going to sell no matter what type of gamer they make it for. THey could make it the most challenging, hardcore game in the history of the FPS industry, and the casual gamers will all buy it regardless. It's a no brainer purchase...so Bungie can make whatever type of game they desire. Let's just hope it's balanced.

[Edited on 6/13/2006]

  • 06.13.2006 1:58 PM PDT

Posted by: Wiltron
We are their cash cow.


Who are you calling a cow?

The casual gamer is Halo's biggest demographic, not the people who pour over spawn points and map balance ratios.

No map is ever perfect, and that's the way I like it. Because I play for fun. If someone get's to the sniper or rocket before me cause they spawned closer, who cares?

  • 06.13.2006 2:00 PM PDT

It's fun when we win and funny when we lose: Le Mediocrity
OR
Come take your verbal beating like a man in THE CAVE

If Bungie wanted to dead end the series and their reputation with the release of H3, you are correct, my tennis skirt wearing friend. But in the real world, not so much.

H2 on XBL is stil chock full of average gamers. They won't forsake us.

  • 06.13.2006 2:03 PM PDT
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Posted by: OksanaBayul
Posted by: Wiltron
I believe the preferences of professional gamers matter LESS than the preferences of the "average" gamers. We (the average gamer) are their core audience. The professionals are a small, but vocal, minority. We are their cash cow. It would be a disaster if they made the game balanced, but inaccessible to the average Joe.

FUN>BALANCE


I'd think they'd put a premium on fair and balanced gameplay, no matter what type of gamer one might be.

And true, the casual gamer is the cash cow...but at this stage in the game, Halo3 is going to sell no matter what type of gamer they make it for. THey could make it the most challenging, hardcore game in the history of the FPS industry, and the casual gamers will all buy it regardless. It's a no brainer purchase...so Bungie can make whatever type of game they desire. Let's just hope it's balanced.


They could do that, but when people start ragging on Halo because it's finally become an elitist asshoIe playground then people will stop loving Halo so much.

  • 06.13.2006 2:06 PM PDT

Death by figure skater.

Posted by: Wiltron
If Bungie wanted to dead end the series and their reputation with the release of H3, you are correct, my tennis skirt wearing friend. But in the real world, not so much.

H2 on XBL is stil chock full of average gamers. They won't forsake us.


But you won't know the difference, you'll just be playing Halo3.

If 2 came out and every map had a BR start since November 4th 2004, you'd think that's the way the casual gamer should be playing the game because you wouldn't know any better. "It's just Halo2" you'd say, and you'd still play it.

With Halo3, they get another chance to make a first impression. Why not make it as balanced as possible, because you won't know the difference anyway. The casual gamer will devour whatever they are spoonfed by Bungie with regard to 3. Do you understand my point?

Oksana is a figure skater by the way. :)

  • 06.13.2006 2:08 PM PDT

Death by figure skater.

Posted by: Caer Bannog
Posted by: OksanaBayul
Posted by: Wiltron
I believe the preferences of professional gamers matter LESS than the preferences of the "average" gamers. We (the average gamer) are their core audience. The professionals are a small, but vocal, minority. We are their cash cow. It would be a disaster if they made the game balanced, but inaccessible to the average Joe.

FUN>BALANCE


I'd think they'd put a premium on fair and balanced gameplay, no matter what type of gamer one might be.

And true, the casual gamer is the cash cow...but at this stage in the game, Halo3 is going to sell no matter what type of gamer they make it for. THey could make it the most challenging, hardcore game in the history of the FPS industry, and the casual gamers will all buy it regardless. It's a no brainer purchase...so Bungie can make whatever type of game they desire. Let's just hope it's balanced.


They could do that, but when people start ragging on Halo because it's finally become an elitist asshoIe playground then people will stop loving Halo so much.


Maybe I'm confused, but I run into casual jerks all the time. These idiots dual weild me into the great beyond and let me hear about what wonderful players they are in such colorful ways...it's such a joy. The casual gamer is the majority, as has been said in the posts in this thread.

Jerks are everywhere, the gameplay won't change that. Might as well make it as balanced as possible.

[Edited on 6/13/2006]

  • 06.13.2006 2:13 PM PDT

It's fun when we win and funny when we lose: Le Mediocrity
OR
Come take your verbal beating like a man in THE CAVE

Posted by: OksanaBayul
Posted by: Wiltron
If Bungie wanted to dead end the series and their reputation with the release of H3, you are correct, my tennis skirt wearing friend. But in the real world, not so much.

H2 on XBL is stil chock full of average gamers. They won't forsake us.


But you won't know the difference, you'll just be playing Halo3.

If 2 came out and every map had a BR start since November 4th 2004, you'd think that's the way the casual gamer should be playing the game because you wouldn't know any better. "It's just Halo2" you'd say, and you'd still play it.

With Halo3, they get another chance to make a first impression. Why not make it as balanced as possible, because you won't know the difference anyway. The casual gamer will devour whatever they are spoonfed by Bungie with regard to 3. Do you understand my point?

Oksana is a figure skater by the way. :)


Right, right, right ... figure skating.

I understand what you're saying and I disagree. If it turns into a single weapon test of marksmanship, it will fizzle out like every other FPS on XBL (though they fizzle for different reasons).

If they can make it perfectly balanced AND fun, I'm all for it. But I think the two goals are potentially contrary to one another.

  • 06.13.2006 2:14 PM PDT
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I really hope there are no BR's or Pistols in the next Halo.

[Edited on 6/13/2006]

  • 06.13.2006 2:14 PM PDT

It's fun when we win and funny when we lose: Le Mediocrity
OR
Come take your verbal beating like a man in THE CAVE

You're out of luck anyway, the following was posted by Achronos in a different thread:

"We shall do the same thing we have always done - we will make a game that we think is fun and hope everyone else likes it. So far, we've been pretty successful at that, so I think we'll be okay. And, if the anybody doesn't like the results (like the MLG, or anybody else), they can just play Halo 1 or Halo 2. We really don't take it personally if you like one game better than the other, like some of you guys seem to. "

^^aaaaaw yeeah!

  • 06.13.2006 2:23 PM PDT

Death by figure skater.

Posted by: Wiltron
Posted by: OksanaBayul
Posted by: Wiltron
If Bungie wanted to dead end the series and their reputation with the release of H3, you are correct, my tennis skirt wearing friend. But in the real world, not so much.

H2 on XBL is stil chock full of average gamers. They won't forsake us.


But you won't know the difference, you'll just be playing Halo3.

If 2 came out and every map had a BR start since November 4th 2004, you'd think that's the way the casual gamer should be playing the game because you wouldn't know any better. "It's just Halo2" you'd say, and you'd still play it.

With Halo3, they get another chance to make a first impression. Why not make it as balanced as possible, because you won't know the difference anyway. The casual gamer will devour whatever they are spoonfed by Bungie with regard to 3. Do you understand my point?

Oksana is a figure skater by the way. :)


Right, right, right ... figure skating.

I understand what you're saying and I disagree. If it turns into a single weapon test of marksmanship, it will fizzle out like every other FPS on XBL (though they fizzle for different reasons).

If they can make it perfectly balanced AND fun, I'm all for it. But I think the two goals are potentially contrary to one another.


Good point, and there is a risk with the marriage of balance and skill turning off the casual crowd. I think Bungie can afford to take a risk moreso than any other gaming company out there. And I'd bet the casual gamer will embrace whatever 3 has to offer from day one.

Halo3 will sell, and with DL content and fixes, we have to hope the game is built with some more flexibility, so their inevitable gameplay patches can be pervasive. No more jamming themselves in the corner, a la Backwash's No Grenades rigid map design.

  • 06.13.2006 2:24 PM PDT

Death by figure skater.

Posted by: Wiltron
You're out of luck anyway, the following was posted by Achronos in a different thread:

"We shall do the same thing we have always done - we will make a game that we think is fun and hope everyone else likes it. So far, we've been pretty successful at that, so I think we'll be okay. And, if the anybody doesn't like the results (like the MLG, or anybody else), they can just play Halo 1 or Halo 2. We really don't take it personally if you like one game better than the other, like some of you guys seem to. "

^^aaaaaw yeeah!


I never had much luck to begin with.

  • 06.13.2006 2:26 PM PDT

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

I think weapons are of secondary concern. In Halo 2, they added a little bit of auto-aim, but due to various issues (such as people not having access to decent broadband service), the amount of auto-aim introduced was insufficient.

We will always experience lag here and there for whatever reason, but if Bungie doubled, or even tripled the amount of auto-aim, then the game would be much more balanced.

  • 06.14.2006 6:39 AM PDT