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This topic has moved here: Poll [71 votes]: My question is, who thinks the AR needs to be updated a bit more ?
  • Poll [71 votes]: My question is, who thinks the AR needs to be updated a bit more ?
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Subject: Design of the new MA5B Assault Rifle
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Poll: My question is, who thinks the AR needs to be updated a bit more ?  [closed]
No, I like the basic design of the old AR.:  25%
(18 Votes)
Yes, Update it but keep the aesthetic styling.:  49%
(35 Votes)
Yes, And give it a grenade launcher.:  20%
(14 Votes)
I don't like it at all and hope its not in Halo 3.:  6%
(4 Votes)
Total Votes: 71

I myself am a little disappointed with the new AR as it looks to similar to the original. It needs a make over like the pistol had. The new pistol in H2 looked a lot more realistic than the old chrome one. I was expecting the designers to give the AR the same treatment and to fix a few design flaws like not having any sights or a trigger guard and the tiny little magazines that are supposed to hold 60 rounds of 7.62mm ammo.

So what I would like to see is an improved design that still keeps the aesthetic style of the original but is more realistic. Here is a quick pic of what I have in mind. I have fitted the weapon with basic iron sights like the other human weapons have and also included a smart-link camera in the design similar to what the original pistol had but without the zoom. This would provide MC with his on-screen targeting crosshair and could (if the developers wished) also be used to fire around corners like the camera gun in GRAW. I have extended the butt stock to accommodate a larger capacity magazine and have given the weapon a rotating breach. The rifle should also fire caseless ammo enabling more rounds in the magazine. And finally the grey metal should be replaced with the matte black colour of the SMG from H2.

Additionally the non working flashlight module underneath the weapon should work and be turned on / off with the flashlight button. This means that if the player uses weapons without a flashlight like the pistol or SMG then no flashlight would be available. Alternatively what I would really like to see is a single shot grenade launcher mounted underneath. The GL would fire grenades that detonate on impact unlike the brute shots bouncy grenades. To balance this out with hand grenades the GL would have a much longer range but would take longer to reload than it would take to throw a couple of frag grenades.

Link to pistol poll

[Edited on 7/11/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 6:10 AM PDT
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Personally, I actually would like to see it with a underslung Grenade launcher, I mean the M16A2 has the M203 40mm Grenade Launcher, why cant the MA5B have one? Another thing is that if you have the GL, you sacrafice some of your frag and plasma grenade carrying capacity, like say by about half. And btw, I like your design there Zero.

  • 07.10.2006 6:16 AM PDT

Why should it look more "realistic"? The old one looked great. And the chrome pistol looked a lot better than the newer one. Who cares about realism, it is science fiction. They should look futuristic. Frankly if it is going to do the same job as it did in the first one (ie unscoped automatic weapon) I say leave it exactly as it was.

  • 07.10.2006 6:43 AM PDT
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Yeah it looked good in Halo 1. But this is H3 we are talking about with a new graphics engine and machine to play it on. Also there is no way the chrome pistol looks better than the new black one.

  • 07.10.2006 6:54 AM PDT
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true think about it ur playing a xbox 360 and ur bringing back a halo 1 game ( and tell me u dont want halo 1 graphic guns on a xbox 360 game in halo 3?) ur basicly getting bad grapics and putting into a 360 which has the power to have unbelivable graphics.....for me? i think it should change in design

  • 07.10.2006 6:56 AM PDT

Posted by: Zero7
Yeah it looked good in Halo 1. But this is H3 we are talking about with a new graphics engine and machine to play it on. Also there is no way the chrome pistol looks better than the new black one.

That is a fair point. But I don't think making it a dull black constitutes using the updated graphics better. But how can you say the dull steel-coloured pistol looks better than the old chrome badboy? The chrome one would be using the graphics more effectively - think of the reflections and lighting effects possible with it.

  • 07.10.2006 6:58 AM PDT
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That could be said about any weapon or object with a sexy chrome texture. I liked the chrome in H1 but prefer the black pistol because its more realistic in that the UNSC are not going to issue marines with brightly coloured reflective weapons that can easily give away there position. When was the last time you saw a modern day soldier carrying around a chrome plated weapon ?

Anyway going a little off topic here. Back to the AR.

[Edited on 7/10/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 7:11 AM PDT

Ok I'll go over it one last time -

Realism is totally irrelevant.


(And the UNSC already did, remember?)

  • 07.10.2006 7:19 AM PDT
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How can realism be irrelevant ?

I would say its more important to make things realistic in a sci-fi game because it makes the world and story much more believable. I don’t believe in realism at the expense of gameplay but when its cosmetic in nature it’s a good thing and increases the immersion factor.

  • 07.10.2006 7:26 AM PDT

Posted by: Zero7
How can realism be irrelevant ?


Because it's a science fiction game set 500 years in the future where you play a cyborg superhuman with an energy shield fighting brightly coloured aliens with energy swords and space zombies controlled by a giant talking plant. That's how.

  • 07.10.2006 7:33 AM PDT
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Ha ha thats quite funny but this could go on forever.

Lets just say that you come from the Star Wars school of sci-fi and I am more into the James Cameron [Aliens] style of sci-fi.

[Edited on 7/10/2006]

  • 07.10.2006 7:40 AM PDT
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A fine argument. Hell, do you think they'd even be using guns at this period. The first rifle's only been around for roughly 100 years & the assault rifle's only been around for about 60. Do you really think we'd be using such 'today' weapons 500 years in the future?

  • 07.10.2006 7:43 AM PDT

Down, down to hell and say that I sent you there...

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Posted by: RhythmKiller
Posted by: Zero7
How can realism be irrelevant ?


Because it's a science fiction game set 500 years in the future where you play a cyborg superhuman with an energy shield fighting brightly coloured aliens with energy swords and space zombies controlled by a giant talking plant. That's how.


Cyborg: Short for cybernetic organism. A robot exoskeleton covered with a layer of organic living tissue.

The Chief is not a cyborg. He is a human with genetic implants and enhancements.

And back on topic here. This is a game somewhat grounded in reality. If Bungie wanted unrealism and balls-to-the-wall science-fiction, we would be shooting laser guns instead of standard ballistic weapons. So why would you want a chrome plated pistol that could easily give your position away to the enemy? Think about that for a minute.

  • 07.10.2006 7:54 AM PDT
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Why would we need a grenade launcher when we can just throw one?

  • 07.10.2006 8:05 AM PDT

Just trust in Bungie's ability to make a game you're gonna love. Sit back and daydream about the results. Take it easy man.

  • 07.10.2006 8:08 AM PDT

Posted by: Master Fox
Posted by: RhythmKiller
Posted by: Zero7
How can realism be irrelevant ?


Because it's a science fiction game set 500 years in the future where you play a cyborg superhuman with an energy shield fighting brightly coloured aliens with energy swords and space zombies controlled by a giant talking plant. That's how.


Cyborg: Short for cybernetic organism. A robot exoskeleton covered with a layer of organic living tissue.

The Chief is not a cyborg. He is a human with genetic implants and enhancements.

You were doing alright until you invented the bit about the 'robot exoskeleton'. You just described the Terminator. How can an exoskeleton be covered anyway? That would make it an endoskeleton. Don't make crap up, yeah? The manual for Halo states he's a cyborg, I guess because he has neurological implants and metal bones or some -blam!-.

And back on topic here. This is a game somewhat grounded in reality. If Bungie wanted unrealism and balls-to-the-wall science-fiction, we would be shooting laser guns instead of standard ballistic weapons. So why would you want a chrome plated pistol that could easily give your position away to the enemy? Think about that for a minute.
I'll give you it was somewhat grounded in reality. As soon as Audrey from the Little Shop of Horrors turned up though I presumed they had tossed reality aside, but that's neither here nor there. It is however still very much a secondary concern when compared to style though. This is a vision of the future, it's a space opera for god's sake. Your idea of realism is far less important than what people like and what looks good. A fat chrome pistol not only looks cooler than a dull grey one, but could show off the 360s graphical power more. If they're concerned with visibility how come the Chief doesn't sport a camoflage pattern? Answer - they're not.

  • 07.10.2006 8:08 AM PDT
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The assualt rifle should have 3 modes-3 shot, single shot, and rapid fire. (topping the BR, carbine, and smg)

  • 07.10.2006 9:00 AM PDT
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The pistol from Halo CE didnt get a "make-over".... the Pistol in Halo 2 is a completely different model. Just like the AR is different from the BR.

  • 07.10.2006 9:05 AM PDT
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The new one is longer, thinner, and no longer chrome. I think it has changed enough appearance wise. Besides, it is how the weapon functions that counts.

  • 07.10.2006 9:08 AM PDT
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Posted by: RhythmKiller
And the chrome pistol looked a lot better than the newer one. Who cares about realism, it is science fiction.


Getting Technical, its Military Science Fiction, theres a difference. And just because something is chrome, doen't mean its cool. If it was from the 1950s it would look futuristic, same with neon, but its not, its just stupid and pointless. If it was to be militaristic, it would look like the one from Halo 2 or like this .

  • 07.10.2006 2:09 PM PDT
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they are going to update it stupid

  • 07.10.2006 6:25 PM PDT

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I loved the original and don't want it changed

  • 07.10.2006 6:31 PM PDT
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the smg does the exact thing the ar did, automatic with no scopes. i think the br is more realistic than the ar.

  • 07.10.2006 6:43 PM PDT

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