More playing Halo 3 - US players

[TXPaladin]

Love this Live Eye (http://www.theliveeye.com/game.asp?ID=888) thing... look we're up to 18 players now.

[Squidpunch]

hah, they probably saw the official "we wont ban you" post (http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2007/09/19/553394.aspx) and decided it was safe.

[TXPaladin]

I agree with your thinking Squid. Just makes me want the game more...

[Rhyme]

As long as the Youtube videos dont start dropping messing it up for the rest of us.

[TXPaladin]

As long as they all keep their traps shut! Don't care what they think, one way or the other. If they have to talk, then the first word better be SPOILER ALERT!!!! and the subject best not give any clues as well.

[DeaconBlade]

Live Eye is the shiz ;)

[AeroHudson]

Good for them as long as they keep their traps shut as others have mentioned. If I could play it early I would. ;)

[Sirharper]

I could care less if they blabber about details. Who cares? Not like it's an RPG with a secret ending. It's an FPS, the story is barely relevant.

[Sirharper]

***** SPOILER ALERT *****

Master Chief saves the universe.


...and Darth Vader is his father.

[AeroHudson]

I could care less if they blabber about details. Who cares? Not like it's an RPG with a secret ending. It's an FPS, the story is barely relevant.

I will respectfully disagree. Not knowing whether Chief lives or dies as well as some of the inner workings of the Covenant, where the flood come from, who are the forerunners, etc. would be major spoilers for the Halo fans. I think Halo has one of the better FPS stories out there. Not Bioshock level IMHO but definitely much better than your run of the mill shooter.

[Sirharper]

LOL, if they killed MC geeks would weep all over the world. He saves the universe and lives happily ever after, it's the only way. The Flood came from deep space, novel idea eh? Forerunners were developed by Toyota in the 1980's. Mysteries solved!

Besides, 75% or more of the game will be in multiplayer (evidenced by LIVE stats and the almost universally agreed upon opinion that Halo2's storyline sucked). Where's the storyline behind MC going around shooting clones of himself? That is the entire premise of multiplayer.

[AeroHudson]

LOL, if they killed MC geeks would weep all over the world. He saves the universe and lives happily ever after, it's the only way. The Flood came from deep space, novel idea eh? Forerunners were developed by Toyota in the 1980's. Mysteries solved!

Besides, 75% or more of the game will be in multiplayer (evidenced by LIVE stats and the almost universally agreed upon opinion that Halo2's storyline sucked). Where's the storyline behind MC going around shooting clones of himself? That is the entire premise of multiplayer.

I'll speak for me...the Halo series has been all about the story and the coop. I had some fun with the original Halo LAN parties but where it is at is seeing the story concluded and hanging out with friends playing coop.

I enjoy the story and I think alot of fans do as evidenced by the best selling Halo novels and most of my friends that feel the same way. You take out the cliffhanger ending and the giant talking plant and I think most would have rated Halo 2 a bit higher. Now that Halo 2 is coming, the cliffhanger ending will be forgiven and hopefully Bungie ties up the loose ends of the giant talking plant (crossing my fingers on that one).

A lot of folks might buy Halo 3 for mainly the MP but that's not the case with me. It's all about the story and hanging with friends killing Covenant.

As far as storyline around MP, most MP games are inherently not realistic (how can it be with respawning?). Red vs. Blue has become a cult classic set of videos which were spawned by the whole MC vs. MC melee. I'll forgive Bungie for their oversight of reality considering the game is sci fi with mutant spawning flood and an alien race the covenant that wants to kill all human kind. MP is what it is...more for your money if that is your bag.

[Sirharper]

Most people I've met that have read the novels say the game's storyline is only loosely related to them. In that case they should almost be treated as a seperate entity like the Star Wars novels they seem to only use the same characters and little else.

A quick check of your "best selling" claim reveals they are merely best selling of the video-game genre (don't forget the add the big 'ol * to that). They appear to have never registered on the NYT list. Makes sense considering the original author and publisher both dropped the series.

[AeroHudson]

Most people I've met that have read the novels say the game's storyline is only loosely related to them. In that case they should almost be treated as a seperate entity like the Star Wars novels they seem to only use the same characters and little else.

A quick check of your "best selling" claim reveals they are merely best selling of the video-game genre (don't forget the add the big 'ol * to that). They appear to have never registered on the NYT list. Makes sense considering the original author and publisher both dropped the series.

My recollection is that 2 of the novels hit the NY best sellers list although I don't recall which ones (I think First Strike and the Fall of Reach). Either way, there is interest in the storyline and the backstory that makes up the universe. Again, speaking just for me that's the main reason I am buying it. Also, most folks on my friends list that are picking it up are doing the same and have stated they will play through the campaign first before touching MP as I will be doing. If Halo 3 was a MP title only I probably wouldn't pick it up.

[Rhyme]

My recollection is that 2 of the novels hit the NY best sellers list although I don't recall which ones (I think First Strike and the Fall of Reach). Either way, there is interest in the storyline and the backstory that makes up the universe. Again, speaking just for me that's the main reason I am buying it. Also, most folks on my friends list that are picking it up are doing the same and have stated they will play through the campaign first before touching MP as I will be doing. If Halo 3 was a MP title only I probably wouldn't pick it up.

I think the story will be good.Im getting it for both reasons. MP and Single player.

[AeroHudson]

I think the story will be good.Im getting it for both reasons. MP and Single player.

Yeah, I'm getting it for both as well with the single player being the main reason.

I'm sure there are a ton of folks that are getting it just for MP which I can understand. The Halo series became the genre's defining MP title for consoles when the original Halo hit. If you look around, you can point out a ton of games that have utilized, copied and / or progressed concepts from both Halo and Halo 2 (i.e. COD4 party system, console shooters using the Halo control scheme, being able to only pick up 2 weapons at a time, etc.).

I will definitely play some MP it just isn't the primary perk for me. I can definitely understand why alot of folks would get it for primarily the MP.

[Sirharper]

Found the real answer...

None of the Halo novels ever rated on the NYT Bestsellers List. A search on the official website shows no listings back as far as 1981.

Halo novels have however made the Publishers Weekly bestsellers list. A wikipedia search revealed that Publishers Weekly is a very small publication (less than 25k circulation) and publishers must submit sample and get this...FEES...in ordered to be ranked on the lists.

Oops.

[Sirharper]

For comparative purposes a #1 entry on the NYT fictional paperback list sells on average 2.5 million copies. The top selling Halo novel sold 250,000 copies.

[AeroHudson]

Found the real answer...

None of the Halo novels ever rated on the NYT Bestsellers List. A search on the official website shows no listings back as far as 1981.

Halo novels have however made the Publishers Weekly bestsellers list. A wikipedia search revealed that Publishers Weekly is a very small publication (less than 25k circulation) and publishers must submit sample and get this...FEES...in ordered to be ranked on the lists.

Oops.

My bad. I think we can agree that the books have been popular with video gamers and also help expand the universe. I enjoyed the books. I thought they were well written and filled in some holes for me considering I like and want to follow the story.

Again, the intent of my posts were to point out that quite a few Halo fans are looking forward to the story and don't want to see it spoiled if that can be avoided.

[AeroHudson]

For comparative purposes a #1 entry on the NYT fictional paperback list sells on average 2.5 million copies. The top selling Halo novel sold 250,000 copies.

That's still pretty good IMHO for a novel about a video game. The novels are actually pretty good.

[TXPaladin]

Story - Co-Op - MP for me... I've loved all the books, almost done with Ghosts of Onyx, will wrap that up by Monday.

[Rhyme]

I have lost all interest in reading anything besides poetry since The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. LOL and I never finished the last one.... :( I ready all them and half of the last one in about 5 months.

[Squidpunch]

since TX asked

19 live eye members tracking on halo 3

6 USA
1 France
Rest UK

8 of the 19 online right now

nobody at 100% on all achievements yet, highest has
26/49
775/1000

[Squidpunch]

its also interesting to mention that you CANNOT see the achievements via xbox.com (not sure if you can on a console comparing a friend) I have never seen a pre-released game that didnt display the achievement list when looking at someones gamercard - it says 'not available' and shows nothing but we have the persons actual completed number achievements for the game ;)

[TXPaladin]

Now how did the 6 in the US get the game... hmmmm :|

[AeroHudson]

Some hot videos hit yesterday...

- IGN has 4 videos on Halo 3 with 2 using the replay feature to walk through a level of the campaign. This replay feature is hawt!

- Replay Vidoc on Xbox Live detailing the replay feature in full. I have to say I was very impressed!

[Sirharper]

I wonder if there will be a console update that hits before Halo3. It's happened before.

[AeroHudson]

I wonder if there will be a console update that hits before Halo3. It's happened before.

They had one yesterday but word on the street was that it was for the new scene it game. They could have had some Halo 3 updates in there as well though.

[Rhyme]

Im thinking they will because the big mystery with the whole Clan support is still out there. It clearly states on the dashboard that clans are going to be available in the game but bungie has also stated that clan system will not be put in by them. So that could only mean its some sort of thing Microsoft is doing.

[Sirharper]

Thats an interesting observation.

Lack of clan support and meaningful multiplayer options are what kept GoW from being a serious contender with Halo.

[AeroHudson]

I would imagine that bare minimum Halo 3 will have equitable clan support compared to Halo 2. Just makes sense they would not take a step back when it looks like they are taking significant steps forward with the feature set of the game.

[Rhyme]

Thats an interesting observation.

Lack of clan support and meaningful multiplayer options are what kept GoW from being a serious contender with Halo.

Yeah I agree. I think if they do a Dashboard update to have a mainstream clan support it will help all the online games.

[Rhyme]

I would imagine that bare minimum Halo 3 will have equitable clan support compared to Halo 2. Just makes sense they would not take a step back when it looks like they are taking significant steps forward with the feature set of the game.

Here is the link to the Bungie Podcast where Frankie says it will not be included in the game. He says he feels like the clan system was nothing more than a second friends list........Link (http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/8/5/d85ce76f-0cb2-41df-aaae-a8c96790332b/Bungie_Podcast_81007.mp3)

[Sirharper]

Wow, that has the potential of causing a SERIOUS letdown.

It very much supports MS's anti-clan stance.

[Sirharper]

I would imagine that bare minimum Halo 3 will have equitable clan support compared to Halo 2. Just makes sense they would not take a step back when it looks like they are taking significant steps forward with the feature set of the game.

All early indications are showing you may be wrong on both points.

[AeroHudson]

All early indications are showing you may be wrong on both points.


Looks like it. I wasn't aware of the podcast. Not sure why they would make the decision to take it out considering how well it worked in Halo 2 and the fact that they have been feature complete since June. They had plenty of time to get it in.

At the end of the day, it will not impact my enjoyment of the game. Even COD2 doesn't look to have clan support with the exception of being able to create your own clan tag off of your gamertag. As a matter of fact, most MP games on 360 and PS3 don't have clan support. Who knows, it could be coming with the Fall update and that's why Bungie decided to ditch it.

[Rhyme]

Looks like it. I wasn't aware of the podcast. Not sure why they would make the decision to take it out considering how well it worked in Halo 2 and the fact that they have been feature complete since June. They had plenty of time to get it in.

At the end of the day, it will not impact my enjoyment of the game. Even COD2 doesn't look to have clan support with the exception of being able to create your own clan tag off of your gamertag. As a matter of fact, most MP games on 360 and PS3 don't have clan support. Who knows, it could be coming with the Fall update and that's why Bungie decided to ditch it.

Im thinking the same thing Aero......:iagree:

[TXPaladin]

So do people use 3rd party sites for Clan tracking, stats, and matches then?