- OksanaBayul
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- Elder Legendary Member
Posted by: Achronos
Sigh. While it is true I do get tired dealing with people like you who think that they know everything, thankfully most people around here are much more understanding.
Anyway, you seem to have completely missed the point. Matchmaking's purpose IS to match gamers up with people of similar skill, but quickly. This means less time in menus and more time actually playing the game. I was using it as an example of something in Halo 2 that nobody "requested" but after implemented, found it was a good solution to a problem with the status quo that nobody had ever solved in that way. Apparently, you latched on to the idea that playlists are our way of telling you how to play the game... which isn't the case at all. If it were, Custom Games wouldn't exist. Like so many others, you're complaining about a fault in the party system (it is hard to find other players to fill your party's empty slots) rather than the matchmaking system. Of course, we weren't talking about that particular issue, so I'm wondering what relevance it had to the actual conversation. Or are you just one of those people who talks at other people, rather than participating in the conversation? Ironic that you accused me of the same thing... at least I was on topic.
Regarding your other statements... well, I'm not sure what to say. I don't recall working on a game for children. I recall working on two M rated games that by all measures are successful. I'm sorry you think I'm preachy. Usually the only people who ever make silly claims like that are ones who either don't like what they're hearing (usually people who are getting banned) or people who can't discuss things on topic without making things personal. It is possible to disagree with what I've said without trying to insult someone. You should try it - maybe you should try to post again, and explain your position. Then we can engage in a real debate of ideas, and hopefully come off better for it. Or, you can post more drivel, and waste everyone's time some more. But that would probably irritate everyone else who enjoys having a good debate of design ideas. I think we just have a different perspective on the game. It is unfortunate that you use this forum (that the designers of the game read!) to be close minded instead of trying to get your throughts heard.
Here, I'll try and restart the discussion, to make things easier. I do believe most people don't know what they want. This isn't about playlists (focusing on that is simple-minded and not what I mean, pay attention now) - once you're presented with a list of features (say, all the customizations possible in a game of Halo 2), most people are easily capable of knowing what they want. I'm referring to the possibilities of what people want for Halo 3 - while some people are trying to think of new things they want in terms of gameplay, far more people just want "it to be like Halo 1", or "be like Halo 2", but with more maps and guns and better graphics. This becomes especially true the more popular something is - witness the calls we still get for a remake of Halo 1 that has Xbox Live capability. We think it is a good idea as a studio to include some stuff people expect, but that a sequel should tread off the beaten path and change up the status quo. Hence... matchmaking, destructible vehicles, etc. in Halo 2. They changed a lot about the way the game played. But we figure if we make then new game fun, then people have a reason to get the game versus playing its previous incarnation. It would have been easier in Halo 2 to simply make a new campaign, up the graphics a bit, and add a basic Xbox Live implementation. But I doubt the game would have been as popular, or as fun.
Anyway, this post is already too long. But maybe that will spur some relevant discussion. OksanaBayul, I'm sure you have some insightful comments to make, just stop trying to make it personal - this is supposed to be a discussion forum, not a place to insult people just because they have a different perspective on things.
Posted by: OksanaBayul
That's odd. I thought Matchmaking came about to match gamers up with other gamers of equivalent skill level. Now it also exists because people don't know what they want, and you are gracious enough to spoonfeed it to us. I see. I find your attitude egotistical and patronizing. It's always been your problem Tom. Take a page out of NoF's book. He listens. He converses. You preach. You talk at us, not with us. And you presume too much because you're probably burning out. And I don't blame you, you deal with children all day, because you designed a game for children. How ironic.
Kids don't know what they want most of the time, so you are correct with regard to children. Why? Because most experiences are new to them. Kids don't really know themselves...they are in the process of getting to know themselves. But kids aren't supposed to be playing your game. It's quite violent.
You presume too much about people knowing what they like. I've been walking around this planet long enough to know what I like and dislike. But thanks for your generalized opinion. It was fascinating.
Wow Tom, I'm at a loss. I hope I'm not going to be banned because I think you're preachy, egotistical and patronizing. Is thinking this against the rules of the board? You just put out that vibe. I could be wrong. Perhaps you're none of those things. It's just you come off that way in my opinion. But what do I know?
You think I'm a know-it-all that lacks compassion and understanding for the difficulties of game design, and I take no offense, though I'm neither.
I, like you, want Halo3 to succeed, which is why I post here. For the love of the game.
I made this topic about playtesting because I'm curious to see who's been tasked with the job...and how they are going to go about creating balance, if that indeed is the goal. The Matchmaking discussion was a tangent based on your response to another forum goer.
I was under the impression that the sole purpose of matchmaking was to match you up with like leveled players. The random game generating aspect is another conversation altogether. I never said I had a problem with Matchmaking. I have a problem with your stance on gamer preferences. Your stance effects how Halo3 and future Bungie games will be designed. That worries me.
If I've been overly critical of you, well, I apologize. But remember, we all want Halo3 to be a phenomenal success at the end of the day.