Halo 3 beta...PTT and more

Take a gander at any gaming website or gaming forums and you will run across the discussion on PTT in Halo 3. While it is very clear that the majority (a very large majority) of Halo players would like to see open coms rather than PTT, pretty much everyone agrees that making it an option would completely solve the problem. I'm on the side that is against PTT simply because I cannot see a valid reason that I should have to push a button to communicate with my team. It's simply an unnecessary inconvenience. That being said, it's an inconvenience I can live with if it stays "as-is" between now and retail release, which is September 25, 2007 for anyone who just recently returned from outer space and hasn't yet heard.

The great thing about this argument is that it's the most prominent discussion going on right now. Afterall, this is a beta version. What does it say about the game when the biggest issue being discussed is whether or not to tap a button to speak?!? To me, it says that Bungie has done an OUTSTANDING job with the game and should be very proud of their work up to this point.

I was lucky enough to have taken part in the Friends and Family "early start", so I have already played 120+ games. Throughout these games i have only seen visual proof of latency ONE time..ONCE. I realize that mild latency still exists, of course, but at least I'm not seeing players jumping all over the place, or visiting the blue screen very much.

I am very happy with everything they have done, but one thing that I absolutely LOVE is the vast amount of decent weapons on the maps. The game is no longer a "race to the power weapons" game, which is a huge help to the casual player like myself. The above average players most likely won't mind it either because even if these weapons allow me to grab an extra kill or two, the higher skilled players will be on top at the end anyway.

 It simply makes the game more fun for me than it was when I'd spawn with a smg and never be able to secure anything better throughout most of the game. Now everyone has access to some type of viable weapon, which makes for a much more even level of play. Grab your weapon of choice and may the best man/woman win! Outstanding work Bungie!

Another feature that made me a happy camper were the added "voice/sound" options. You may now choose to hear "only teammates and party members", which is a Godsend. I always viewed proximity voice as nothing more than a trash talking tool for the army of 12-year-old 1337 speakers polluting live on a daily basis. Being able to turn off their squeaky little voices is one of the best things I could possibly imagine and it is a very much appreciated feature! Once again, thank you so much, Bungie!!

Playing the F&F beta was an incredible experience for me. I've been incredibly lucky on several occasions. I actually appeared on the Spike TV special episode of Game Head featuring Halo 3, I had the chance to play with (and have my ass kicked by) MLG pro player Fonzi, and a couple screenshots of me playing actually ended up on Gamespot. Pretty lucky for a 35 year old Halo noob!

Game Head episode - I'm about 2min 15 seconds into segment 2.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=19453&pl=game&type=wmv

Gamespot Screenshots

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/image_viewer/frame_lead.php?pid=926632&img=31

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/image_viewer/frame_lead.php?pid=926632&img=35

Game with Fonzi

stats - http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStatsHalo3.aspx?gameid=4889&player=SG%20Steelhead

Gameplay vid - http://media.putfile.com/H3-FF-Beta-footage---Pwned-by-Fonzi