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

[FUTURE NEWS]

I think Co-op online will be, and this portion of the thread will be a bad dream. In other old news, Snickers the Game also from Bungie is belter.

True 3D graphics, thanks to a new engine

New save system to reduce frustration

New single-player mode: Survival

Enhanced visuals, including walls, guns, aliens, and special effects

Widescreen 720p support for a better experience

60 fps gameplay

8-player co-op over Live, this time more reliable

New control scheme, similar to that of Halo

Achievements, Live awareness, and leaderboards

Downloadable content support

[Lothar Hex]

PALGN reporting online co-op is out

However, they're just stating whats in the EGM article, so it's still all up in the air.

[geldra]

i think the problem with halo though is that if one player fucks off into the distance somewhere and triggers a battle, that could be between the elites, brutes & flood, then comes back to the original player, by the time they both get back there everything will have finished.

it could waste a load of set pieces for one of the players and i doubt they'll want that to happen.

That can't be the issue as they wouldn't have split screen co-op or link up if that were the case. Right?

[Guest]

PALGN reporting online co-op is out

However, they're just stating whats in the EGM article, so it's still all up in the air.

this was already discussed after the EGM scans yesterday. bungie haven't yet said it's definitely out, just that they haven't got it working yet. even so, they'll be looking to introduce via dlc at some point in the future.

EDIT: sneaky bastard, changing your post like that!

[Talvalin]

i think the problem with halo though is that if one player fucks off into the distance somewhere and triggers a battle, that could be between the elites, brutes & flood, then comes back to the original player, by the time they both get back there everything will have finished.

it could waste a load of set pieces for one of the players and i doubt they'll want that to happen.

IIRC, in Halo there was usually a checkpoint before a big battle and if one player triggered it, the other player would be magically moved to the same area.

[Guest]

for geldra and tal, i understand what you're both saying and i fully agree but i'm just trying to look for some answers.

although, i'm a bit confused as to how they can make it work offline but not online.

[K]

for geldra and tal, i understand what you're both saying and i fully agree but i'm just trying to look for some answers.

although, i'm a bit confused as to how they can make it work offline but not online.

Well, keeping everything in sync over the internet (what with varying connection speeds) is presumably loads harder than keeping it in sync over a system link (where there's no lag or anything).

[Talk Show Host]

I am sorry if this has been asked before, but wasn't Halo 3 built with co-op in mind? Why does it look like they are trying to add it as an afterthought? This is ridiculous.

[Kryptonian]

No it wasn't, no it doesn't, no it isn't.

I can totally see why you think having another character for the 2nd player to control looks like an afterthought, rather that a clone of the Master Chief like in Halo CE & Halo 2 though.

[Philly]

i'd much rather be a second MC tho, i love the MC's armour. I dislike the arbiter, to look at and as a character.

If this hasn't got online co-op, it'll be the most disappointing news for me this year. I loved gears co-op and this would have beaten it.

'tis a shame.

The game will still be 10/10, and i'm rediculously excited for it, if the lack of onlinecoop turns out to be true, it's just that one spelk in the game for me.

It's like an amazing piece of artwork that you love, with a small rip in it. Still love it.... but that rip.

[Holburn]

I'm off to firebomb Bungie HQ if live co-op doesn't make it.

That's right Bungie, slave away for several years and millions of man-hours on the multiplayer, creating the ideal playground for idiot foul-mouthed teens to trash talk each other.

Come up against a problem in live co-op, and chuck your toys out the pram and complain it's too difficult. And anyway, shouldn't this problem have come to light more than two months before relase date? Just proves that everything except the multiplayer is just a tacked on afterthought ("Shit lads, we release this soon, has anyone started work on the singleplayer stuff yet.")

Halo was a wonderful single player and co-op experience with an absorbing and immersive storyline. Halo 2 started the multplayer focus that Halo 3 seems to be continuing.

[dan_tm]

Halo 2 started the multplayer focus that Halo 3 seems to be continuing.

I'd like to know how you figured that out seeing as virtually nothing has been shown from the campaign.

Also, creating Halo 2's multiplayer when coming from Halo 1 would have been a massive job, Halo 3 looks like being just an incremental step up with extra weapons, maps, better game balance, graphics and sound - the core gameplay is exactly the same. They should have had loads more time to devote to the campaign this time around.

[MalevolentPanda]

I'm off to firebomb Bungie HQ if live co-op doesn't make it.

That's right Bungie, slave away for several years and millions of man-hours on the multiplayer, creating the ideal playground for idiot foul-mouthed teens to trash talk each other.

Come up against a problem in live co-op, and chuck your toys out the pram and complain it's too difficult. And anyway, shouldn't this problem have come to light more than two months before relase date? Just proves that everything except the multiplayer is just a tacked on afterthought ("Shit lads, we release this soon, has anyone started work on the singleplayer stuff yet.")

Halo was a wonderful single player and co-op experience with an absorbing and immersive storyline. Halo 2 started the multplayer focus that Halo 3 seems to be continuing.

And yet in 2 it was the multiplayer that was left obviously unfinished for release.

I agree that it would be a big shame if online coop isn't present and correct, though. They've had plenty of time to plan for it and get it working this time.

[Philly]

They should have had loads more time to devote to the campaign this time around.

This is why i figured they'd had a focus on single and co-op campaign play (including online).

The reason i genuinely jumped to this conclusion was because a bunch of other 360 developers have co-op (gears, rainbow 6, crackdown) so i asumed that one of microsofts prime developers could do it in their sleep, and had been since early development.

Sign me up for the firebombing. (by this you mean pointlessly complaining on a forum that no-one in bungie reads)

[Lothar Hex]

this was already discussed after the EGM scans yesterday. bungie haven't yet said it's definitely out, just that they haven't got it working yet. even so, they'll be looking to introduce via dlc at some point in the future.

EDIT: sneaky bastard, changing your post like that!

Edit, what edit?

[Philly]

Aye, I saw the edit as well, seaky bugger.

[Snowman]

The reason i genuinely jumped to this conclusion was because a bunch of other 360 developers have co-op (gears, rainbow 6, crackdown) so i asumed that one of microsofts prime developers could do it in their sleep, and had been since early development.

Getting online coop working in a satisfactory manner can't be easy though, even for Bungie. As several people have pointed out, there will be much more going on in Halo 3 compared with any of the games you mention there. If cars, weapons, bodies etc. were to completely disappear as soon as you walk out of sight as they do in Crackdown, that would be pretty lame IMO. Gears doesn't really allow the players to stray too far from each other. And I'm not sure Vegas can be held up as an example of online coop that functioned properly in any way, shape or form.

Come up against a problem in live co-op, and chuck your toys out the pram and complain it's too difficult. And anyway, shouldn't this problem have come to light more than two months before relase date? Just proves that everything except the multiplayer is just a tacked on afterthought ("Shit lads, we release this soon, has anyone started work on the singleplayer stuff yet.")

I'm sorry, why is that exactly? This is the first official conformation that Bungie are even trying to get it working. It's not like they promised it from the start. And why should they inform the world that they're having difficulties with online coop more than two months before the game ships, when they've still got ample time left to try and fix it?

[Holburn]

Sign me up for the firebombing. (by this you mean pointlessly complaining on a forum that no-one in bungie reads)

Nah, I mean actually go there wearing balaclavas with, erm, firebombs and stuff... I'm all for proportionate response to problems!

I really hope they do give us a stonking single player campaign - I'm willing them on. And I appreciate that it's best for them to keep the single player under wraps - nothing worse than blowing all your best surprises in a slew of hastily released demo videos. However, they do seem content to let the game sell on the strength of its multiplayer. Surely in these marketing obsessed times you promote your game with its strongest elements? Are they afraid to show single player to us or are they really just holding out so it's all a much nicer surprise for us when we get it?

[Philly]

I'm going with the Nice Surprise theory. The single player is looking very very nice, but i don't want to see any more of it. Mr. T J Bungie, if you read this, please don't release any more hasty or otherwise demos or screens or vids.

I want to be surprised.

[Holburn]

Getting online coop working in a satisfactory manner can't be easy though, even for Bungie. As several people have pointed out, there will be much more going on in Halo 3 compared with any of the games you mention there. If cars, weapons, bodies etc. were to completely disappear as soon as you walk out of sight as they do in Crackdown, that would be pretty lame IMO. Gears doesn't really allow the players to stray too far from each other. And I'm not sure Vegas can be held up as an example of online coop that functioned properly in any way, shape or form.

I'm sorry, why is that exactly? This is the first official conformation that Bungie are even trying to get it working. It's not like they promised it from the start. And why should they inform the world that they're having difficulties with online coop more than two months before the game ships, when they've still got ample time left to try and fix it?

I think Vegas co-op worked very well thank you. I've spent many a happy hour on this.

I'm not a games developer but two months to implement a feature that has been very popular on other titles just seems a bit last-minute. Let's not forget, this is the 360's AAA title, Microsoft's Mario, an absolutely massive release. Oh, and I thought live co-op had been a confirmed feature of Halo 3 for a while, perhaps that was just rumour and speculation.

[Mr Do 71]

I'm going with the Nice Surprise theory. The single player is looking very very nice, but i don't want to see any more of it. Mr. T J Bungie, if you read this, please don't release any more hasty or otherwise demos or screens or vids.

I want to be surprised.

Definitely.

[Snowman]

I think Vegas co-op worked very well thank you. I've spent many a happy hour on this.

Really? I'm genuinely surprised. Maybe I just had some seriously bad luck with Vegas because in literally every coop mission I played, some rediculous bug would wreak havoc. From my experience, it's the most horribly broken game I've ever played.

[Poop who?]

I think Vegas co-op worked very well thank you. I've spent many a happy hour on this.

I'm not a games developer but two months to implement a feature that has been very popular on other titles just seems a bit last-minute. Let's not forget, this is the 360's AAA title, Microsoft's Mario, an absolutely massive release. Oh, and I thought live co-op had been a confirmed feature of Halo 3 for a while, perhaps that was just rumour and speculation.

Where do you get the two months from? How do you know that they haven't been trying to implement this for months?

If the battles are a big as they say, then i can see it being a total nightmare to sync everything up between two 360's across the Atlantic, with a whole bunch of enemies on screen/triggered e.t.c. down some crappy internet connection

It can be bad enough playing big team at times with a bad connection. They realise its a massive attraction, but they aren't going to let it into the game if it takes away from the 'experience' because they haven't managed to beat all the bugs out of it

[Mr. Gerbik]

Teh amazing power of teh next-gen: Halo online co-op is still too difficult.

[Stroker Ace]

Really? I'm genuinely surprised. Maybe I just had some seriously bad luck with Vegas because in literally every coop mission I played, some rediculous bug would wreak havoc. From my experience, it's the most horribly broken game I've ever played.

100% incorrect. RSV is dynamite online.

There is absolutely no excuse for Halo 3 not having online co-op - it's a make or break deal. Co-operative online play should be integral to any modern shooter. Halo popularised the co-op FPS, for Christ's sakes - they should be pushing back the boundaries on this.

[MalevolentPanda]

Really? I'm genuinely surprised. Maybe I just had some seriously bad luck with Vegas because in literally every coop mission I played, some rediculous bug would wreak havoc. From my experience, it's the most horribly broken game I've ever played.

Generally fine when I've played it. Although we did get a occasionally recurring bug the other day where one person would spawn as if they were lying on the floor and very drunk. But then it's Ubisoft, isn't it? You expect a few bugs.

[Philly]

Is getting 4 player co-op and keeping track of 4 hyoomans and a few baddies just as difficult as 2 hyoomans and lots of baddies?

I appreciate it's probably difficult, but if they can't do it, they're going to look like plums (by me, some pleb on a forum)

[Snowman]

100% incorrect. RSV is dynamite online.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying it's a bad game, just that it's been broken every time I've played it. I'd assumed, wrongly it seems, that everyone else had had a similar experience. And this was with regards to campaign coop BTW. Multiplayer was fine(-ish).

[Harsin]

I've got to admit I'm getting a lot of deja-vu with the run up to the release of Halo 2 and it's got me a bit antsy regarding the single-player.

[Holburn]

Halo popularised the co-op FPS, for Christ's sakes - they should be pushing back the boundaries on this.

Agreed.

What's the Warthog for if not for you to drive and your mate to shoot stuff (or vice versa, I'm shit at driving)?*

* Rhetorical question