Halo 3 - now coming to Xbox One. MC Collection.

[BeeJay]

Had the laggiest piece of shit games ever last night. BTB all UK players too.

Halo can the best experience but when it's laggy it's painful beyond all belief.

[Jumble Jumble]

I'm not having any fun with it at all. I played a couple of games just after it was released, and had some luck, which pushed me up to level 5. Then I couldn't play for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I come back and everyone knows every inch of the maps, all the weapon spawn points etc, not to mention the fact that everyone else I play has probably been playing Halo 2 for years whereas the last time I played it was May 2005. I need to be matched against people who have just started the game. Matchmaking is putting me up against people who are level 10. So I'm in the classic run/die/respawn cycle that made me eventually quit Halo 2, and the beta's only been out 4 days. I haven't the time nor the inclination to practise.

It looks nice and it plays well and all the new features are well-implemented and fun to use. But I've worked that out over a series of 15-second lives.

However much data Bungie collect from this, I can't imagine that they're going to work out the fact that matchmaking simply isn't fun for someone who doesn't play very much. It's so frustrating that I probably won't play it for more than a couple of hours over the entire length of the beta.

[DC]

I'm not having any fun with it at all. I played a couple of games just after it was released, and had some luck, which pushed me up to level 5. Then I couldn't play for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I come back and everyone knows every inch of the maps, all the weapon spawn points etc, not to mention the fact that everyone else I play has probably been playing Halo 2 for years whereas the last time I played it was May 2005. I need to be matched against people who have just started the game. Matchmaking is putting me up against people who are level 10. So I'm in the classic run/die/respawn cycle that made me eventually quit Halo 2, and the beta's only been out 4 days. I haven't the time nor the inclination to practise.

It looks nice and it plays well and all the new features are well-implemented and fun to use. But I've worked that out over a series of 15-second lives.

However much data Bungie collect from this, I can't imagine that they're going to work out the fact that matchmaking simply isn't fun for someone who doesn't play very much. It's so frustrating that I probably won't play it for more than a couple of hours over the entire length of the beta.

This is my issue with it. I love the way it feels (and I thought Halo was poo) and get quite excited about playing it but the reality is I just die over and over again, which is in no way fun.

[moosegrinder]

Ace games last night, proper RLLMUK shoot each other in the face team fests. The neutral bomb games were tense as hell.

I'm shit at Halo. Always have been, always will be, but the thing that keeps me playing is the people I play with. If you're shit this game is utter fucking wank and a proper miserable experience, but with mates (even ones that are considerably better and snipe everyone to fuckery, mentioning no names but he fucking knows who he is ) it's as fun as online gaming can be.

[Guest alisdair]

Matchmaking is putting me up against people who are level 10. So I'm in the classic run/die/respawn cycle that made me eventually quit Halo 2

Are you playing in Rumble Pit/Training or the team modes? I'm rubbish at Halo, and have the run/die problem in Rumble Pit, but the team skirmish and slayer modes are still great fun. Just concentrate on sticking close to your team mates and trying not to die. You help the team, mop up a few kills, and sometimes even stay alive for a full minute.

Ace games last night, proper RLLMUK shoot each other in the face team fests. The neutral bomb games were tense as hell.

They were both totally awesome, despite being low-scoring draws. Did anyone save a replay? If so, can you send it to me?

[moosegrinder]

Both ties weren't they?

[McCoy]

I'm not having any fun with it at all. I played a couple of games just after it was released, and had some luck, which pushed me up to level 5. Then I couldn't play for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I come back and everyone knows every inch of the maps, all the weapon spawn points etc, not to mention the fact that everyone else I play has probably been playing Halo 2 for years whereas the last time I played it was May 2005. I need to be matched against people who have just started the game. Matchmaking is putting me up against people who are level 10. So I'm in the classic run/die/respawn cycle that made me eventually quit Halo 2, and the beta's only been out 4 days. I haven't the time nor the inclination to practise.

It looks nice and it plays well and all the new features are well-implemented and fun to use. But I've worked that out over a series of 15-second lives.

However much data Bungie collect from this, I can't imagine that they're going to work out the fact that matchmaking simply isn't fun for someone who doesn't play very much. It's so frustrating that I probably won't play it for more than a couple of hours over the entire length of the beta.

I think that this is just a problem which afflicts all online games to a certain extent. It will be better witht he final release when you'll be able to play custom games and there will be lots of new, unexpearience people to play with but to a certain extent it's always going to be hard for new people to join without really getting into it.

But, tbh, you just need to put more time into. It doesn't take too long on any map to learn the ins and outs and in September once you'll be able to have casual games just do what I did way back in Halo 2 and start a game on your own and just explore the maps at your leisure. That will make it a lot easier. But right now the beta may not be for you since most likely you've got the hardcore Halo fans playing and they are likely to either be better than you or just be willing to sink more time in it than you.

[Jumble Jumble]

But, tbh, you just need to put more time into. It doesn't take too long on any map to learn the ins and outs and in September once you'll be able to have casual games just do what I did way back in Halo 2 and start a game on your own and just explore the maps at your leisure. That will make it a lot easier.

Yeah, but even when the full game is out, I won't have the time nor desire to do this. I want the matchmaking system to see that I am dying three times as many times as I kill someone, and that that 5 rank is the cause of this. I shouldn't have gone up a rank at all yet. I should be on 1. Then maybe I'd be dying and killing equally.

[Straps]

The problem with matchmaking in the Beta (from your point of view, at least) is that in the short period we've got, and the seemingly low numbers of players (far less than at Halo 2's peak, I think), the ranking system doesn't really mean squat. That's not to say the better players aren't going to get to the higher ranks, but you're going to get a massive cluster of similarly ranked players, all with varying ability, and given that the parameters for finding a game seem to be wider than they should be, it's hard to match similar players together right now. In the full game, it'll be the same for a while - hell, maybe even a little longer - but after a while the ranks'll smoothen out and you'll get better games. When I was first playing Halo 2 (a month after it came out) I was almost perfectly matched all the time, barring a few blips.

[dctmark]

This is my issue with it. I love the way it feels (and I thought Halo was poo) and get quite excited about playing it but the reality is I just die over and over again, which is in no way fun.

Thirded - have now made valiant attempts to play (partying with the housemate) but it's just a miserable experience, probably moreso because as you say it "feels" good (and looks lovely). But I've not even had the opportunity to learn where things are or grasp the lie of the land because we're spending 90% of the time just looking at our corpses. I wish they'd even had a mode that allowed you to run around on your own on a map so that if you're as monumentally, staggeringly, noble-prize-for-suck awful as I am you'd at least have a small opportunity to work out some tactics to try. I suppose that'd defeat the point though. Oh well.

[Mike1812]

See, I have some games where I cant seem to move an inch without being killed, but others I manager to rack up 9 or 10 kills. It all depends on the map for me. I do crap on High Ground, good on snowbound and hardly ever get the other one. I enjoy it even when I'm being slaughtered

When I get the dual spikers I usually do pretty well, I think it's a case of finding a decent weapon that you're good with and knowing where to find it on the maps.

[MalevolentPanda]

Reading some of these opinions from people who are finding it so unapproachable, I'm wondering if MS's decision to position the Beta as a kind of demo is doing them more harm than good.

[max renn]

See, I have some games where I cant seem to move an inch without being killed, but others I manager to rack up 9 or 10 kills. It all depends on the map for me. I do crap on Valhalla, good on snowbound and hardly ever get the other one. I enjoy it even when I'm being slaughtered

When I get the dual spikers I usually do pretty well, I think it's a case of finding a decent weapon that you're good with and knowing where to find it on the maps.

This is what I was saying to my mate though,HALO is all about the posession of the best weapons and the acquisition of them is everything.

You spawn with the worst weapon of them all every time you die,so you frantically search for better weapon at the cost of everything else.

If your lucky you'll pick one up-just before you die again.

Would it work if you could modify the weapons balance just like in RESISTANCE?

[Preacher]

Reading some of these opinions from people who are finding it so unapproachable, I'm wondering if MS's decision to position the Beta as a kind of demo is doing them more harm than good.

As vague as they've been, they've never called it a demo - and anyone expecting it to be one without any input from the Halo elite was a tad foolish to think so. It is, after all, why they called it a beta.

[Asura]

If anyone will be on at 12 noon GMT?

[Meers]

One thing I don't understand is; how are they going to fix all the bugs/glitches/design errors in time before the (allegedly) September launch?

[Don Rosco]

The problem with matchmaking in the Beta (from your point of view, at least) is that in the short period we've got, and the seemingly low numbers of players (far less than at Halo 2's peak, I think), the ranking system doesn't really mean squat.

This is absolutely the case. To be honest, if it wasn't for the nubes friendly attitude to hopeless players, I would hardly have played Halo 2 at all. For me, it was all about playing with some people as crap as me, and some better people to learn from. When the full game is out, I don't doubt there'll be rllmuk n00bs gatherings, which will be tons of fun for those who don't spend every spare hour on the game.

[MalevolentPanda]

As vague as they've been, they've never called it a demo - and anyone expecting it to be one without any input from the Halo elite was a tad foolish to think so. It is, after all, why they called it a beta.

I don't know what you mean by 'input from the Halo elite', but I do think it's been presented as a demo, whatever they called it. People are approaching it like a demo and forming their opinions of it in the same way they would of a demo. And it was obvious that they would. So it is a demo in all but name.

One thing I don't understand is; how are they going to fix all the bugs/glitches/design errors in time before the (allegedly) September launch?

Well they're not. Don't you remember Halo 2 at launch?

[Petrousgyre]

Exhibit A

It's actually the first game we've met up with any forum members. It didn't happen that often on Halo 2 either (once that I can remember when we played Meerman) What are the chances?

Sweet mother of god, I just checked out your stats too - that's unnatural. Here I am thinking I'm doing OK with a K/D ratio of around 1.3 - you fuckers are sitting at 2.8. Also 8000 odd games of H2? That's just wrong.

I assume you always play as a team - that's got to help your stats, I guess. I don't remember Krypt being supernaturally good back when we played RTCW and the original R6, but then maybe I've just been left behind, trailing in the wake of your collective awesomeness.

[Preacher]

I don't know what you mean by 'input from the Halo elite', but I do think it's been presented as a demo, whatever they called it. People are approaching it like a demo and forming their opinions of it in the same way they would of a demo. And it was obvious that they would. So it is a demo in all but name.

The crux of the problem here is that people who are shit at this game can't get any better. I'm saying that if they expected to when the beta's success relied upon the Halo faithful's input and participation, they were rather foolish to do so. Having said that, I can't imagine anybody's so shit at this game that they didn't get at least some enjoyment out of it in the early going, when matchmaking was doing it's job.

[BeeJay]

The Halo 3 beta has very much been presented as a demo in all but name and there are quite a few people who are moaning because they are new to Halo and getting their ass wooped. I'm not sure that the beta will stop these people buying the full game.

Everybody who joined the Halo live scene late had to struggle hard to catch up and die many, many times. My K/D on Halo 2 was something like 0.79 and that was considering that most matches I have played in the last year I have been at least +5 up. I was probably nearer .5 for the first year or so.

The n00bs type communities play a really important role in games like halo, counterstrike and battlefield.

[Meers]

Well they're not. Don't you remember Halo 2 at launch?

Oh god, please not like that. I'd rather they delay the launch and finish it properly instead patching it all the bloody time.

[Talvalin]

One thing I don't understand is; how are they going to fix all the bugs/glitches/design errors in time before the (allegedly) September launch?

What bugs/glitches/design errors have you noticed so far?

[BeeJay]

The crux of the problem here is that people who are shit at this game can't get any better. I'm saying that if they expected to when the beta's success relied upon the Halo faithful's input and participation, they were rather foolish to do so. Having said that, I can't imagine anybody's so shit at this game that they didn't get at least some enjoyment out of it in the early going, when matchmaking was doing it's job.

It's always been harder to get from 1-10 than from 10-15/20 though. On average you are always going to get someone who should be 30-40, 2 who should be 20-30 around those first levels. Most people on my friends list are 25+ Halo 2 players. Most of those are sub 5 on Halo 3 beta at the moment as we don't play ranked matches. Everytime we do, we are playing at a level far below our norm.

[Rowan Morrison]

This is absolutely the case. To be honest, if it wasn't for the nubes friendly attitude to hopeless players, I would hardly have played Halo 2 at all. For me, it was all about playing with some people as crap as me, and some better people to learn from. When the full game is out, I don't doubt there'll be rllmuk n00bs gatherings, which will be tons of fun for those who don't spend every spare hour on the game.

I haven't even touched the H3 beta yet thanks to a combination of being away, the new Crackdown content and then having to dedicate my bandwidth to torrents, but I'm definitely looking forward to a rllmuk nubes renaissance when the full game comes out. Every now and again I see the likes of bilco playing H2, but then I think I'm going to have to get the disc, load up Halo 2, connect up to Live in the old style, and by then he'll either have a full party or be playing something else. Plus, you know, it's only bilco and what has he ever done for me? Then I get angry and have to switch everything off (everything, not just the console - fridge, alarm clock, lights, the whole fucking lot goes off).

Despite these issues I look forward to being in a big lobby with bilco and Panda and your man Don here, and Rev and Zok and Jon and all the rest, preparing for another hopeless bout of slapstick combat. And 4-player nubes co-op, that doesn't bear thinking about.

[moosegrinder]

Wooo! 0.5922! Welcome to Sucktitude, population ME!

[Uzi]

This is what I was saying to my mate though,HALO is all about the posession of the best weapons and the acquisition of them is everything.

You spawn with the worst weapon of them all every time you die,so you frantically search for better weapon at the cost of everything else.

If your lucky you'll pick one up-just before you die again.

Would it work if you could modify the weapons balance just like in RESISTANCE?

Wrong.

Maybe in Halo 2.

But in Halo 3 you being with the AR, which coupled with grenades and beatdowns has got me most of my kills.

People dont rush for the laser or rocket launcher, because theres just too much danger around as no one is running around with piddly SMG's.

[MalevolentPanda]

The crux of the problem here is that people who are shit at this game can't get any better. I'm saying that if they expected to when the beta's success relied upon the Halo faithful's input and participation, they were rather foolish to do so. Having said that, I can't imagine anybody's so shit at this game that they didn't get at least some enjoyment out of it in the early going, when matchmaking was doing it's job.

I don't think it's a case of people being foolish, I just don't think they've thought it through to the extent that you imply. I think people are thinking they'll give it a go, and expecting it to be broadly representative of the experience that Halo 3 online will provide. I don't think that's unreasonable. It might be wrong, and it might be clear why it's wrong to someone with lots of experience and understanding about how Halo, matchmaking, stats and the Halo community works, but the average person is just going to play it a bit and, apparently, die constantly. Some of those people are likely to be put off by that, I would think.

Oh god, please not like that. I'd rather they delay the launch and finish it properly instead patching it all the bloody time.

It's completely inevitable.

[Cosmic_Guru]

Wrong.

People dont rush for the laser or rocket launcher, because theres just too much danger around as no one is running around with piddly SMG's.

They certainly go for the rocket launcher in my experience, if not the laser. Once I was amazed to kill the holder of the rocket launcher but of course in stopping to pick it up , get it aimed etc I was either sniped or meleed from the rear.

I agree with the various comments above - it just isn't fun if you die too frequently and you never seem to improve. I also find that if I follow 2 guys who are intent on killing each other and come up against the victor I always come out worst so I have to improve the proximity kill somehow. Get quite a lot of assists where I assume I damaged people but did not finish them off.

Hopefully we can set up a rllmuk Halo 3 Noobs group when the full game comes out and explore the maps and have a more competitive and enjoyable experience.

[Meers]

What bugs/glitches/design errors have you noticed so far?

I've shot a guy in the face with a shotgun and he was sent off flying into the sky. He couldn't respawn either, but was still able to talk. Funny as hell, but a nasty bug nonetheless.