Biggest Gaming Event in History: Halo 3 has arrived

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Asher

Lead Designer on which game?

I don't see any titles like that for him.


"Lead Programmer" can best be named "Chief Codemonkey".

I mistyped, I meant lead progammer, not designer. Chief codemonkey, yeah, that was my impression.

[Wiglaf]

I want to emphasize something even Asher agrees with: If Halo 1 and 2 single player did not appeal to you, or if it got stale after the 30th hour of playing it, then Halo 3 isn't worth the $60 (or $70 or $120). It's just a standard FPS we've seen a zillion times before.

On the other hand, if you game a lot on Xbox Live with friends, it's worth it. Somehow though, I doubt everyone buying Halo 3 jumps on XBL.

[Asher]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
I mistyped, I meant lead progammer, not designer. Chief codemonkey, yeah, that was my impression.

DrSpike will be pleased to know that this genius gets excited every time a Sims expansion pack comes out.

He's so insightful, that industry pro.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by Asher

No one said PR doesn't help. Reading 201.

You said the game would be huge without it. Maybe, but not nearly as big as it is. Certainly not the biggest in gaming history.

Now you're saying Halo 3 is a "rehash". Right. How much have you played? Are you basing this "rehash" comment on the glowing reviews, or your own gameplay?

Right. Move along...

The single player is a rehash. I base this on Gamespot and 1Up's reviews (the latter states there isn't anything that jumps out in Halo 3 like in 2 or 1), as well as the now 40 minutes of the SP video I've watched from gamespot. It looks the exact same as the previous games' gameplay.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
I want to emphasize something even Asher agrees with: If Halo 1 and 2 single player did not appeal to you, or if it got stale after the 30th hour of playing it, then Halo 3 isn't worth the $60 (or $70 or $120). It's just a standard FPS we've seen a zillion times before.

I don't think anyone who has a brain can agree it's just a "standard FPS we've seen a zillion times before". Considering the review scores and the fact that it's basically the baseline for all other comparisons of FPS these days.

On the other hand, if you game a lot on Xbox Live with friends, it's worth it. Somehow though, I doubt everyone buying Halo 3 jumps on XBL.

Why the hell would you doubt that? Halo 2 still tops the XBL charts 3 years after its release...

I think it's clear you still don't know what you're talking about.

[Wiglaf]

I don't think anyone who has a brain can agree it's just a "standard FPS we've seen a zillion times before". Considering the review scores and the fact that it's basically the baseline for all other comparisons of FPS these days.

So, tell me: what does Halo 3 add we haven't seen from 2 or 1 in single player? Ignore the review scores -- even 1 UP, which stated there is nothing new in Halo 3 SP, gave it a 10/10. Think for a bit -- don't get swept away by the hype like the reviewers. Too late, I know, but try to be objective and answer the question.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
You said the game would be huge without it. Maybe, but not nearly as big as it is. Certainly not the biggest in gaming history.

Halo 3 would be huge with or without PR.

The single player is a rehash. I base this on Gamespot and 1Up's reviews (the latter states there isn't anything that jumps out in Halo 3 like in 2 or 1), as well as the now 40 minutes of the SP video I've watched from gamespot. It looks the exact same as the previous games' gameplay.

Describe what is the same?

Is it the new equipment you can use, is that the same? The new weapons and their new strengths/weaknesses? The new AI that is a considerable upgrade from Halo 1/2?

You must be reading very different reviews from me and watching very different footage.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Asher


DrSpike will be pleased to know that this genius gets excited every time a Sims expansion pack comes out.

He's so insightful, that industry pro.

Whether or not he shares your tastes, or mine, Spikeys, he IS an industry pro, like many at Qto3.

Im looking forward to hearing what role he has on Halo Wars.

[Wiglaf]

Why the hell would you doubt that? Halo 2 still tops the XBL charts 3 years after its release...

That doesn't mean everyone who buys it jumps on XBL. It means maybe 1/3 do, or less. Think..

[Wiglaf]

Describe what is the same?

Is it the new equipment you can use, is that the same? The new weapons and their new strengths/weaknesses? The new AI that is a considerable upgrade from Halo 1/2?

So new weapons make a shooter innovative? I'd like to sell you a few fps's I've got ...

Also, the AI has a few new tricks, but it's not great. I saw it throw a bubble shield quite uselessly at the player, who then walked through it in 1 second.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wiglaf


So, tell me: what does Halo 3 add we haven't seen from 2 or 1 in single player? Ignore the review scores -- even 1 UP, which stated there is nothing new in Halo 3 SP, gave it a 10/10. Think for a bit -- don't get swept away by the hype like the reviewers. Too late, I know, but try to be objective and answer the question.

Let's cut the crap, Wiggy.

You citied the 1Up review, so let's quote from it:

Halo 3's campaign is better in every way imaginable. Subtly beautiful, rich and lush graphics, a heart-pounding orchestrated score, new weapons, vehicles, and enemies...and even better enemy and teammate A.I.

[Asher]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Whether or not he shares your tastes, or mine, Spikeys, he IS an industry pro, like many at Qto3.

Im looking forward to hearing what role he has on Halo Wars.

Judging from his latest credits, he's been demoted to playtester.

[Wiglaf]

Right after that..

No one is saying that we should go back to the game designs of either of the first two titles -- everything just looks and feels so good now. But in Halo 3, the big "oh wow!" gameplay moments just aren't there, although some bits are still memorable nonetheless, like fighting the Scarabs, at least one (that we've found) off-the-beaten-path joke scene, and a frantic stage at the end that's clearly a throwback to something everyone loved in Combat Evolved.

No surprise
So depending on your mood, campaign mode either delivers what's expected or delivers that very well, but anyone would be hard pressed to call it mind-blowing. The same goes for versus multiplayer. Like campaign mode, it's also really refined and built very well from top to bottom, but it doesn't hold any big surprises for fans of the last two titles (those come later).

Hm.. seems like it's not better in every way imaginable. Of course it has nicer graphics and sound...its on 360, not Xbox 1. It adds fluff...not substance.

[lord of the mark]

Bruce Shelleys blog


"Mark Rosewater on Creativity: A link to an interesting paper on creativity by the designer behind Magic the Gathering was passed around this week by Rob Fermier. The paper discusses what creativity is and how one can become better at it. A creative person has the ability to generate and act upon new ideas with regularity. Creativity flows from seeing connections between things that others do not. Mark lists five
attributes in people that lead to creativity and then also a list of 10 things to do that will improve your creativity. He has obviously given this a lot of thought and the paper is well worth reading.
When I consider the design staff at ES I see a lot of the attributes in my colleagues. Our brainstorming sessions are very lively and productive. We recently had a thread going for coming up with ideas for games on an entirely new kind of platform. We quickly generated a lot of ideas that I would consider creative. The 10 things that Mark lists for improving creativity (play games, do puzzles, read talk to others, etc.) I see going on every day in our teams.
I have written before that I see our industry gradually establishing a foundation of learning and science upon which we are building the art of our craft. I see this paper as more bricks in that foundation. Check it out here.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
So new weapons make a shooter innovative? I'd like to sell you a few fps's I've got ...

I'm not playing your stupid games. Read what I write, or don't reply at all.

Also, the AI has a few new tricks, but it's not great. I saw it throw a bubble shield quite uselessly at the player, who then walked through it in 1 second. [/QUOTE]
What difficulty was it played on? Don't you think that matters?