There's a lot of reasons why the population is low. We keep hearing how they failed the competitive community which I do somewhat agree with, but they also failed the casual players as well.
Forge, file shares, lobby system, connection issues,ect. These things effected everyone. Also simple playlists like Flood, Action Sack aren't as good as Reach's versions and in Reach they kept big populations and I think Zombie is still more populated than Flood. Also vehicles get destroyed to fast and most casual players avoid warthogs because of this.
As far as population goes it has been up a little and I don't think the numbers take into consideration customs, campaign and Spartan Ops. The game has gotten much better, and I do see more people enjoying it.
The playlist should be cleaned up. This isn't just a 343 problem, but Bungie had issues with this aswell. Slayer Pro should be in the Throwdown playlist and Legendary Slayer should be in Infinity Slayer playlist, but listed as Slayer. Extraction should be in with Dominion. FFA and Regicide should be in same playlist. Multi-Team would be better as 4 teams of 3.
Yet, despite these glaring problems and other nagging ones, its better than Reach was. I'm still not sure how 343 could have undermined everything soe completely, albeit in minor ways, unless it was on purpose.
There's a lot of reasons why the population is low. We keep hearing how they failed the competitive community which I do somewhat agree with, but they also failed the casual players as well.
Forge, file shares, lobby system, connection issues,ect. These things effected everyone. Also simple playlists like Flood, Action Sack aren't as good as Reach's versions and in Reach they kept big populations and I think Zombie is still more populated than Flood. Also vehicles get destroyed to fast and most casual players avoid warthogs because of this.
As far as population goes it has been up a little and I don't think the numbers take into consideration customs, campaign and Spartan Ops. The game has gotten much better, and I do see more people enjoying it.
The playlist should be cleaned up. This isn't just a 343 problem, but Bungie had issues with this aswell. Slayer Pro should be in the Throwdown playlist and Legendary Slayer should be in Infinity Slayer playlist, but listed as Slayer. Extraction should be in with Dominion. FFA and Regicide should be in same playlist. Multi-Team would be better as 4 teams of 3.
Yet, despite these glaring problems and other nagging ones, its better than Reach was. I'm still not sure how 343 could have undermined everything soe completely, albeit in minor ways, unless it was on purpose.
I think Reach was better. It had the arena sure, but at least people didn't abandon it in droves...until 343i started messing with stuff.
Every night around 11 Eastern, I still have several friends on in Halo 4. They in turn are playing with their friends and I recognize them from over the years. If it wasn't so damn late I could be busy playing most nights.
Every night around 11 Eastern, I still have several friends on in Halo 4. They in turn are playing with their friends and I recognize them from over the years. If it wasn't so damn late I could be busy playing most nights.
If we're rolling with anecdotal stuff, I remember when we could fill a room of 8 for customs from 5 Eastern through a little past midnight Pacific every night. We're probably never going to get back to that point, though.
Every night around 11 Eastern, I still have several friends on in Halo 4. They in turn are playing with their friends and I recognize them from over the years. If it wasn't so damn late I could be busy playing most nights.
If we're rolling with anecdotal stuff, I remember when we could fill a room of 8 for customs from 5 Eastern through a little past midnight Pacific every night. We're probably never going to get back to that point, though.
Eight, pfft. How sad. I was responding to your anecdotal comment about Thursday being the only night anyone is on. ;)
You guys are completely missing the point. The reason people play COD has NOTHING to do with gameplay or map size or vehicles. I has EVERYTHING to do with how COD makes you feel like a fucking rock star every time you level up / level up a weapon / level up a grenade. All of the bells / whistles / perks that completely break the game for new people and make competitive play, honestly, silly make the game more like a first-person RPG. Which gives folks that suck something else to do while they are playing. Halo tried to replicate this (with Reach and 4) and still hang onto the hardcore / competitive folks. Surprise surprise, they don't matter for shit. Advertisers go where the masses are. The masses are playing shitty COD. So, that's where the game that advertisers will support.
You guys are completely missing the point. The reason people play COD has NOTHING to do with gameplay or map size or vehicles. I has EVERYTHING to do with how COD makes you feel like a fucking rock star every time you level up / level up a weapon / level up a grenade. All of the bells / whistles / perks that completely break the game for new people and make competitive play, honestly, silly make the game more like a first-person RPG. Which gives folks that suck something else to do while they are playing. Halo tried to replicate this (with Reach and 4) and still hang onto the hardcore / competitive folks. Surprise surprise, they don't matter for shit. Advertisers go where the masses are. The masses are playing shitty COD. So, that's where the game that advertisers will support.
NG
Probably true. At least I find it plausible. It makes me appreciate the tough job 343i took over from Bungie. Offering baubles to a Halo crowd, where purists take to the interwebs and crap all over the game before and after each COD session where they are leveling up the latest DLC, is a thankless effort.
I've no bones to pick with COD, it gives most people the FPS they want.
Case in point was this very negative "wish list" video by Scandi/Gandi. It was just complaining about current Halo in the guise of asking for a better Halo 5 while asking for stuff that will never bring the crowds. He tweets 343i employees all the time. They treat him all nice and shit then he kicks the chair out from under them with rants. He is simply turing off more youth by making it sound uncool.
You guys are completely missing the point. The reason people play COD has NOTHING to do with gameplay or map size or vehicles. I has EVERYTHING to do with how COD makes you feel like a fucking rock star every time you level up / level up a weapon / level up a grenade. All of the bells / whistles / perks that completely break the game for new people and make competitive play, honestly, silly make the game more like a first-person RPG. Which gives folks that suck something else to do while they are playing. Halo tried to replicate this (with Reach and 4) and still hang onto the hardcore / competitive folks. Surprise surprise, they don't matter for shit. Advertisers go where the masses are. The masses are playing shitty COD. So, that's where the game that advertisers will support.
NG
Thanks Normal. I didn't realize I was completely missing the point until you nonsenscially rambled.
What "advertisers" are magically supporting the success of COD? What is this mythical business model you have developed in your completely addled brain? Are commercials now being injected into COD that people want so desperately that they are flocking to buy it?
You guys are completely missing the point. The reason people play COD has NOTHING to do with gameplay or map size or vehicles. I has EVERYTHING to do with how COD makes you feel like a fucking rock star every time you level up / level up a weapon / level up a grenade. All of the bells / whistles / perks that completely break the game for new people and make competitive play, honestly, silly make the game more like a first-person RPG. Which gives folks that suck something else to do while they are playing. Halo tried to replicate this (with Reach and 4) and still hang onto the hardcore / competitive folks. Surprise surprise, they don't matter for shit. Advertisers go where the masses are. The masses are playing shitty COD. So, that's where the game that advertisers will support.
NG
Thanks Normal. I didn't realize I was completely missing the point until you nonsenscially rambled.
What "advertisers" are magically supporting the success of COD? What is this mythical business model you have developed in your completely addled brain? Are commercials now being injected into COD that people want so desperately that they are flocking to buy it?
Please DIAF.
I just learned "DIAF" means "Die in a Fire." That is totally harsh.
Halo 1,2,3 are some of the most successful multiplayer francises in gaming history. Halo 3 not only has to go up with CoD 4 Modern warfare but CoD MW 2 as well. the numbers drop but are still very repectable.
Bungie releases Halo Reach. Adopting many of the CoD formula wich is everybody is a winner. Halo 4 takes this same approach and the game basically is dead as disco.
Yea 343 gained 2,500 new players who would otherwise never have played Halo but they in turn lost 200,00 plyers since Halo 3.
One of the major and yet simple reasons as of why is that Halo was a competive based arena shooter. Now before all of the new Halo fans crap themselves and rubuttal what I just said, let me clarify. Even the Social settings of Halo 2,3 (which were the CASUAL playlists) still revoled around skill, poise, communication, intellegence, and teamwork. Those traits just mentioned are all peices that also just happen to make up the backbone of a good MLG team. All of my friends who have left the game did so because armor abilities and weapon drops totally negate the mentioned traits that were the reason we all loved Halo. And let's really be honest Halo as not felt as smooth as it once was with the addition of flinch, sprint, weak vehicles that spawn too often so everone gets a turn, the DMR and clutter in the way of what otherwise be good shooting lanes to (wait for it) balance the map because of the DMR.
I loved this francise but like all good thing they do eventually come to an end. I am going on the record and saying this now. If Halo 5 does not show me everything I want prior to the release of the game, I am retireing alltogether from video games.
I loved this francise but like all good thing they do eventually come to an end. I am going on the record and saying this now. If Halo 5 does not show me everything I want prior to the release of the game, I am retireing alltogether from video games.
We will be playing Halo 5 on Thursday nights as we do now. Forget all that crap you just said and come out and play. Halo will still be Halo even if some peoples armour has ribbons on it.
I loved this francise but like all good thing they do eventually come to an end. I am going on the record and saying this now. If Halo 5 does not show me everything I want prior to the release of the game, I am retireing alltogether from video games.
We will be playing Halo 5 on Thursday nights as we do now. Forget all that crap you just said and come out and play. Halo will still be Halo even if some peoples armour has ribbons on it.
I really apreciate that and you guys are all pretty awesome.
I loved this francise but like all good thing they do eventually come to an end. I am going on the record and saying this now. If Halo 5 does not show me everything I want prior to the release of the game, I am retireing alltogether from video games.
We will be playing Halo 5 on Thursday nights as we do now. Forget all that crap you just said and come out and play. Halo will still be Halo even if some peoples armour has ribbons on it.
If I can last a handful of games before I get frustrated, you can too.
I loved this francise but like all good thing they do eventually come to an end. I am going on the record and saying this now. If Halo 5 does not show me everything I want prior to the release of the game, I am retireing alltogether from video games.
We will be playing Halo 5 on Thursday nights as we do now. Forget all that crap you just said and come out and play. Halo will still be Halo even if some peoples armour has ribbons on it.
If I can last a handful of games before I get frustrated, you can too.
Call of Duty ghosts is coming out. I'm probably abandoning the Halo ship when it does. I'm a damn good Halo player, and I am very frustrated with the direction the franchise is headed.
People are "happy" that the skill gap was narrowed, and all that means is that good players are going to do even better and crappy players might do ok. There really is NO need to time weapons, or have map control, when you can call rockets onto a camped corner.
If I REALLY wanted to whore my k/d, I would hate to see what I would have to do. I now have to try to force myself into 2v1's to feel challenged (unless they give host to some third world host).
The "game" is still fun, it's just getting old very, very, very fast.
I wish I liked CoD more. I don't feel challeged playing that game. I could stop playing CoD for six months and go back and my first game I would be at the top of the leaderboard.
Plus for people who think Halo players bitch to much you haven't played with CoD players. CoD players are the biggest bunch of winers, at least the people I've played with. Yes I know you shot first, yes I know you where behind a wall, its been the same since MW2 get over it.
I'm assuming 343 is going to keep armor abilities even though they need to remove them. So if they're keeping AA's, they at least need to remove camo and jetpacks. They can make them as map pick-ups, but as of now, they are both map breaking abilities. Some might say remove PV too, but I rarely encounter anyone using it anymore aside from newer players. Get rid of those and remove ordnance drops, random weapon drops, and Halo 4 may be a really good game.
I'm assuming 343 is going to keep armor abilities even though they need to remove them. So if they're keeping AA's, they at least need to remove camo and jetpacks. They can make them as map pick-ups, but as of now, they are both map breaking abilities. Some might say remove PV too, but I rarely encounter anyone using it anymore aside from newer players. Get rid of those and remove ordnance drops, random weapon drops, and Halo 4 may be a really good game.
The maps need to be better too. A lot better.
I think the jet pack should be treated like a vehicle. Your team gets one and when its gone its gone for 3 min. If they do it like this can can make the jet pack badass
The maps and gametypes at launch turned me off to the game. I like Halo the best with smaller fast-paced maps and the throwdown settings like Simplex CTF.
The maps and gametypes at launch turned me off to the game. I like Halo the best with smaller fast-paced maps and the throwdown settings like Simplex CTF.
Some maps are surprisingly good without armor abilities. We all know Valhalla is a great map. When played with ordnance drops and AA's, I absolutely hate it. To me, it's unplayable. But BTB Pro on Valhalla is an absolute blast. Same with Exile. Exile plays surprisingly well without AA's. Outcast is decent. So is Daybreak, Harvest, and Shatter. AA's completely ruin maps, especially camo and jetpacks.
Some maps are surprisingly good without armor abilities. We all know Valhalla is a great map. When played with ordnance drops and AA's, I absolutely hate it. To me, it's unplayable. But BTB Pro on Valhalla is an absolute blast. Same with Exile. Exile plays surprisingly well without AA's. Outcast is decent. So is Daybreak, Harvest, and Shatter. AA's completely ruin maps, especially camo and jetpacks.
I was thinking more of the 4v4 maps. I like the BtB maps and you are right, playing with normal settings makes the maps so much more fun to play on.
Here's another discussion with Ghandi and Ghost about no-sprint which is pretty interesting. Personally don't like sprint for competitive play and would like to see it gone..probably my biggest gripe about the game now aside from the lack of good 343 made maps. One of the points they make is the halo population has bottomed out so what's there to lose in going back to an older halo formula.
Halo was good when it was basically the only game in town on XBL, but ever since Modern Warfare, Halo has struggled. As COD gains players, Halo is losing players.
You can make the argument of going back to the basics and "what do they have to lose". Well, the same can be said for making further changes to the game. The "competitive" crowd already does not support the "competitive" playlists, like Team Throwdown, so what assurance does 343 have that reverting back would be beneficial? I also have to wonder if 343 even has the power to make the kind of changes that would take away sprint and armor abilities.
If I'm 343, I make a game for the people still playing Halo - not the people that post on forums about how they quit playing because of whatever reason.
Imagine showing Halo 5 off to the corporate execs and demonstrating how the game was stripped of it's Reach/H4 gameplay mechanics for a more H2/H3 feel. All of this in an effort to possibly appeal to the Halo players that have stopped playing. I have a feeling the execs would be none too impressed.
You have to consider 343 is probably under a fairly sizeable microscope. Halo 5 has to be "good" as it will certainly be a catalyst toward moving more XB1 consoles. In fact myself, and others, are pretty much waiting on the XB1 until H5 is out. Now, the question is - what is "good"? This is what 343 has to figure out.
I figure we'll see more of the same - sprint and armor abilities. I really couldn't imagine (as much as I'd like to consider the possibility) that these mechanics will be removed completely.
BTW, this post is not targeted toward any individual person. I'm just rambling. However, you probably just skipped over my post anyway...
Imagine showing Halo 5 off to the corporate execs and demonstrating how the game was stripped of it's Reach/H4 gameplay mechanics for a more H2/H3 feel. All of this in an effort to possibly appeal to the Halo players that have stopped playing. I have a feeling the execs would be none too impressed.
Ghost said something similar. Execs would view removing sprint as taking a step back from the competition. Thing is, the competition's kill times are almost instantaneous while Halo has the 4 shot kill mechanic which I don't think works well with sprint, even non-competitively.
Doesn't matter anymore. CoD is more fun than halo. I said it. I enjoyed the times had, but the train left the station when the first black ops came out.
Doesn't matter anymore. CoD is more fun than halo. I said it. I enjoyed the times had, but the train left the station when the first black ops came out.
They're certainly supporting Blops 2 a lot better than 343 is supporting Halo.
Doesn't matter anymore. CoD is more fun than halo. I said it. I enjoyed the times had, but the train left the station when the first black ops came out.
They're certainly supporting Blops 2 a lot better than 343 is supporting Halo.
That's not true. H4 was a mess and it's getting much better. Blops2 was pretty much the same game as Blops.
Doesn't matter anymore. CoD is more fun than halo. I said it. I enjoyed the times had, but the train left the station when the first black ops came out.
They're certainly supporting Blops 2 a lot better than 343 is supporting Halo.
That's not true. H4 was a mess and it's getting much better. Blops2 was pretty much the same game as Blops.
With a lot more DLC released, more tournaments, more community involvement, and rebalancing and tweaking of weapons as it goes along versus 3 bouts of DLC, a couple of tournaments, less involvement, and waiting 6 months for the game to be what it should/could have been at release if they had a well-tested beta.
Yet, despite these glaring problems and other nagging ones, its better than Reach was. I'm still not sure how 343 could have undermined everything soe completely, albeit in minor ways, unless it was on purpose.
I think Reach was better. It had the arena sure, but at least people didn't abandon it in droves...until 343i started messing with stuff.
Every night around 11 Eastern, I still have several friends on in Halo 4. They in turn are playing with their friends and I recognize them from over the years. If it wasn't so damn late I could be busy playing most nights.
If we're rolling with anecdotal stuff, I remember when we could fill a room of 8 for customs from 5 Eastern through a little past midnight Pacific every night. We're probably never going to get back to that point, though.
You guys are completely missing the point. The reason people play COD has NOTHING to do with gameplay or map size or vehicles. I has EVERYTHING to do with how COD makes you feel like a fucking rock star every time you level up / level up a weapon / level up a grenade. All of the bells / whistles / perks that completely break the game for new people and make competitive play, honestly, silly make the game more like a first-person RPG. Which gives folks that suck something else to do while they are playing. Halo tried to replicate this (with Reach and 4) and still hang onto the hardcore / competitive folks. Surprise surprise, they don't matter for shit. Advertisers go where the masses are. The masses are playing shitty COD. So, that's where the game that advertisers will support.
NG
I've no bones to pick with COD, it gives most people the FPS they want.
Case in point was this very negative "wish list" video by Scandi/Gandi. It was just complaining about current Halo in the guise of asking for a better Halo 5 while asking for stuff that will never bring the crowds. He tweets 343i employees all the time. They treat him all nice and shit then he kicks the chair out from under them with rants. He is simply turing off more youth by making it sound uncool.
Thanks Normal. I didn't realize I was completely missing the point until you nonsenscially rambled.
What "advertisers" are magically supporting the success of COD? What is this mythical business model you have developed in your completely addled brain? Are commercials now being injected into COD that people want so desperately that they are flocking to buy it?
Please DIAF.
I just learned "DIAF" means "Die in a Fire." That is totally harsh.
Simple math.
Halo 1,2,3 are some of the most successful multiplayer francises in gaming history. Halo 3 not only has to go up with CoD 4 Modern warfare but CoD MW 2 as well. the numbers drop but are still very repectable.
Bungie releases Halo Reach. Adopting many of the CoD formula wich is everybody is a winner. Halo 4 takes this same approach and the game basically is dead as disco.
Yea 343 gained 2,500 new players who would otherwise never have played Halo but they in turn lost 200,00 plyers since Halo 3.
One of the major and yet simple reasons as of why is that Halo was a competive based arena shooter. Now before all of the new Halo fans crap themselves and rubuttal what I just said, let me clarify. Even the Social settings of Halo 2,3 (which were the CASUAL playlists) still revoled around skill, poise, communication, intellegence, and teamwork. Those traits just mentioned are all peices that also just happen to make up the backbone of a good MLG team. All of my friends who have left the game did so because armor abilities and weapon drops totally negate the mentioned traits that were the reason we all loved Halo. And let's really be honest Halo as not felt as smooth as it once was with the addition of flinch, sprint, weak vehicles that spawn too often so everone gets a turn, the DMR and clutter in the way of what otherwise be good shooting lanes to (wait for it) balance the map because of the DMR.
I loved this francise but like all good thing they do eventually come to an end. I am going on the record and saying this now. If Halo 5 does not show me everything I want prior to the release of the game, I am retireing alltogether from video games.
I really apreciate that and you guys are all pretty awesome.
If I can last a handful of games before I get frustrated, you can too.
Call of Duty ghosts is coming out. I'm probably abandoning the Halo ship when it does. I'm a damn good Halo player, and I am very frustrated with the direction the franchise is headed.
People are "happy" that the skill gap was narrowed, and all that means is that good players are going to do even better and crappy players might do ok. There really is NO need to time weapons, or have map control, when you can call rockets onto a camped corner.
If I REALLY wanted to whore my k/d, I would hate to see what I would have to do. I now have to try to force myself into 2v1's to feel challenged (unless they give host to some third world host).
The "game" is still fun, it's just getting old very, very, very fast.
I wish I liked CoD more. I don't feel challeged playing that game. I could stop playing CoD for six months and go back and my first game I would be at the top of the leaderboard.
Plus for people who think Halo players bitch to much you haven't played with CoD players. CoD players are the biggest bunch of winers, at least the people I've played with. Yes I know you shot first, yes I know you where behind a wall, its been the same since MW2 get over it.
I'm assuming 343 is going to keep armor abilities even though they need to remove them. So if they're keeping AA's, they at least need to remove camo and jetpacks. They can make them as map pick-ups, but as of now, they are both map breaking abilities. Some might say remove PV too, but I rarely encounter anyone using it anymore aside from newer players. Get rid of those and remove ordnance drops, random weapon drops, and Halo 4 may be a really good game.
The maps need to be better too. A lot better.
I think the jet pack should be treated like a vehicle. Your team gets one and when its gone its gone for 3 min. If they do it like this can can make the jet pack badass
The maps and gametypes at launch turned me off to the game. I like Halo the best with smaller fast-paced maps and the throwdown settings like Simplex CTF.
Some maps are surprisingly good without armor abilities. We all know Valhalla is a great map. When played with ordnance drops and AA's, I absolutely hate it. To me, it's unplayable. But BTB Pro on Valhalla is an absolute blast. Same with Exile. Exile plays surprisingly well without AA's. Outcast is decent. So is Daybreak, Harvest, and Shatter. AA's completely ruin maps, especially camo and jetpacks.
I was thinking more of the 4v4 maps. I like the BtB maps and you are right, playing with normal settings makes the maps so much more fun to play on.
I thought all the best maps in Reach were forged too. I think it would be cool if 343 took a couple community maps and make them into real maps.
Here's another discussion with Ghandi and Ghost about no-sprint which is pretty interesting. Personally don't like sprint for competitive play and would like to see it gone..probably my biggest gripe about the game now aside from the lack of good 343 made maps. One of the points they make is the halo population has bottomed out so what's there to lose in going back to an older halo formula.
TeamBeyond.net | First Strike Episode 10
Halo was good when it was basically the only game in town on XBL, but ever since Modern Warfare, Halo has struggled. As COD gains players, Halo is losing players.
You can make the argument of going back to the basics and "what do they have to lose". Well, the same can be said for making further changes to the game. The "competitive" crowd already does not support the "competitive" playlists, like Team Throwdown, so what assurance does 343 have that reverting back would be beneficial? I also have to wonder if 343 even has the power to make the kind of changes that would take away sprint and armor abilities.
If I'm 343, I make a game for the people still playing Halo - not the people that post on forums about how they quit playing because of whatever reason.
Imagine showing Halo 5 off to the corporate execs and demonstrating how the game was stripped of it's Reach/H4 gameplay mechanics for a more H2/H3 feel. All of this in an effort to possibly appeal to the Halo players that have stopped playing. I have a feeling the execs would be none too impressed.
You have to consider 343 is probably under a fairly sizeable microscope. Halo 5 has to be "good" as it will certainly be a catalyst toward moving more XB1 consoles. In fact myself, and others, are pretty much waiting on the XB1 until H5 is out. Now, the question is - what is "good"? This is what 343 has to figure out.
I figure we'll see more of the same - sprint and armor abilities. I really couldn't imagine (as much as I'd like to consider the possibility) that these mechanics will be removed completely.
BTW, this post is not targeted toward any individual person. I'm just rambling. However, you probably just skipped over my post anyway....gif "95")
Ghost said something similar. Execs would view removing sprint as taking a step back from the competition. Thing is, the competition's kill times are almost instantaneous while Halo has the 4 shot kill mechanic which I don't think works well with sprint, even non-competitively.
Maybe it's time to check out black ops
DARTH TABASCO is my Alt.
Fear my meat. Just saying. ;)
Doesn't matter anymore. CoD is more fun than halo. I said it. I enjoyed the times had, but the train left the station when the first black ops came out.
They're certainly supporting Blops 2 a lot better than 343 is supporting Halo.
That's not true. H4 was a mess and it's getting much better. Blops2 was pretty much the same game as Blops.
With a lot more DLC released, more tournaments, more community involvement, and rebalancing and tweaking of weapons as it goes along versus 3 bouts of DLC, a couple of tournaments, less involvement, and waiting 6 months for the game to be what it should/could have been at release if they had a well-tested beta.