102 replies to this topic

[Kirbutashi]

You should protest by not playing the beta.

[Indy aka Rex]

You should protest by not playing the beta.

Considering I may not get the chance when they DO unlock the servers thanks to all the downloads? I don't think I will at this point.

[minus_273]

Again: That's IRRELEVANT. Once they started gifting beta codes en masse, it ceased to be a closed beta, whether it's a thousand or a million - making people who PAID MONEY wait for something that has been available for over a week renders the whole thing moot and it's still bullshit. You can try to justify it as claiming it's a "beta test" but that still doesn't change the fact that they're keeping it from people who paid money just so they could participate.

They already set the precedent by advertising and selling it, it's no longer about testing a product and putting it out to a public who DIDN'T pay to participate is not justifiable by any means.

you paid for access to the open beta not the closed one.

[levitynyc]

I kinda agree with Indy. I bought, not rented (im sure many others as well) and never sold ODST because I wanted Beta access and MS went out and gave tons of Beta codes to people who never got ODST, and as a final crotch kick, gave it to them early. Thats kinda messed up.

[minus_273]

I kinda agree with Indy. I bought, not rented (im sure many others as well) and never sold ODST because I wanted Beta access and MS went out and gave tons of Beta codes to people who never got ODST, and as a final crotch kick, gave it to them early. Thats kinda messed up.

i have it too for the same reason, but having developed software i totally understand why they would want to ramp it up slowly.

[probune]

I think it's totally lame as well. If I knew they were doing codes I would have never held on to ODST at all and would have actually tried to get a code.

[Kirbutashi]

Why wasn't this conversation taking place before the public release?

[Indy aka Rex]

Why wasn't this conversation taking place before the public release?

It was, just not here.

[Kirbutashi]

Pft. There is nowhere else but here.

[Kholdstare]

You should all get angry at Microsoft for the whole Expert Zone exploit. If it wasn't for that there wouldn't be nearly as many codes in the wild.

[minus_273]

whats the expert zone exploit?

also servers have crashed

[ex0du5]

wahwahwah I payed $60 for a shitty beta wahwahwah

If Halo ODST is so bad you can't be bothered to hold on to it, why do you care about Reach?

[Kholdstare]

whats the expert zone exploit?

also servers have crashed

People would sign up on this site for retailers and put in false information acting like a EB or Gamestop employee. After putting your fake information in you could take a survey on ODST (one used to help unaware employees sell the game) and get a Reach beta code. You could do this over and over again with multiple live ID's and get a crapload of beta codes. This is how most of the people got into the beta (and how I think everyone here did).


If it wasn't for this exploit the only people who would've won codes were contest winners or those people who hit f5 for codes on twitter.

[minus_273]

ODST was a fun campaign.

Also, Jetpacks, bitches!! there is really something about the aerial combat that i love.

[Kirbutashi]

I would have liked to have gotten more games in without having to wrestle servers. Hopefully it's better tonight; playing in a group of friends as we attempted to do would be optimal.

[Indy aka Rex]

wahwahwah the max framerate of this beta is only 49 wahwahwah

If the framerate is so bad I can't be bothered to enjoy it, why do I complain so much about it on the internet?

Fix'd.

[Kirbutashi]

So, assuming the servers aren't shit anymore (and no one wants to play MH), anyone up for getting together in a party tonight?

[PlayerOneCJ]

I'd be up for that, after LOST.

[probune]

I'll be on. I think I might watch Lost tomorrow

[Compeau]

I'll be playing some this evening, before Lost. Possibly after Lost, as well.

[levitynyc]

I really enjoyed what I played last night. Everything just felt tighter, faster, and the shooting was far more satisfying. The audio and visuals were also improved more than I anticipated. I really like being able to sprint. I like that it takes less bullets to kill people and that they nerfed the beat down.

One thing I don't understand is why they changed the default control scheme. I just switched it to "Recon" mode which is almost identical to Halo 3 / ODST.

[Kirbutashi]

Yea, that was strange, but I've already gotten kind of used to how its set up now. I really enjoy what the armor abilities add to the game. I just have to get more accustomed to properly using the armor lock to where it doesn't spell certain doom.

I need to figure out how to configure the game so that I only hear friends. Not being able to disable proximity chat is annoying considering the rabble I've already had the misfortune to partake upon. The social settings don't really seem to be taking into effect quite yet, but I'd rather just fill a room with friends anyway.

[Kholdstare]

You can go into the audio settings and make the game mute everyone who is not in your party or on your team. That's what I do when I'm not interested in playing the competitive stuff.


I should be on tonight. Maybe not at 10, but definitely at 11.

[minus_273]

I really enjoyed what I played last night. Everything just felt tighter, faster, and the shooting was far more satisfying. The audio and visuals were also improved more than I anticipated. I really like being able to sprint. I like that it takes less bullets to kill people and that they nerfed the beat down.

One thing I don't understand is why they changed the default control scheme. I just switched it to "Recon" mode which is almost identical to Halo 3 / ODST.

the control scheme really bothered me too. i kept hitting b to melee and wold switch grenades..

[Indy aka Rex]

I'm a Reach convert. I cannot stand B-melee any more, RB all the way. With that said though: FUCK BUMPER JUMPERS. Jumping should always be done with the face buttons (unless you're Mirror's Edge).

[Kholdstare]

I find it stupid that companies don't just give you control to map the buttons however you want.

[Compeau]

Two observations:

1. The needler tears armor lock up. As soon as someone comes out of armor lock, hold down RT, and get an easy kill.
2. Having armor lock and a shotgun is a deadly combo. Twice on Sword Base I had guys running up on me with swords, so I switched to the shotty, turned on armor lock, let him get within shotty range, and while he was standing there licking his chops expecting an easy sword kill, I turn off armor lock, take two steps forward, and pop him in the chest before he can get a sword lock-on.

[levitynyc]

I love that they added more power to the grenades and the explosives in general. Shit just gets so chaotic and crazy. Love it. Kings of the Hill games are complete chaos. If I want tactical, I'll play Socom.

[Kirbutashi]

Lovin' playing with friends. It'll be nice on Friday when I don't need to get off early to get ready for work in the morning.

[Kholdstare]

It also means you could be winning a fight and get blown up because the person you're fighting throws a grenade as soon as he dies. I can't count the amount of times I was in a fight with someone who knew I was going to kill them, only for them to throw a 100% random grenade as they die.

[levitynyc]

Why is that a bad thing? You have a grenade too right? I always chuck my grenades when I know im going to die. Its better than MW2 when the grenades disappear.

[PlayerOneCJ]

Why is that a bad thing? You have a grenade too right? I always chuck my grenades when I know im going to die. Its better than MW2 when the grenades disappear.

I do that too actually. Because I generally suck at FPSes it's usually good for a kill or two during a match. It's a nice last-ditch effort. Especially with sticky grenades. If I happen to kill you with one, well, you should've seen me throw it and had time to get out of the way.

[Kholdstare]

On a closed ranged map like Swordbase that just isn't possible unless you just happen to be right next to a corner. The only viable way to counter the grenade spam is by using Armour Lock.


It's a vicious cycle.

[probune]

I played a bit yesterday and ended up really liking it. Team Swat is really fun - the DMR feels really good.

[levitynyc]

Liar. You don't play games anymore. You signed onto Live at roughly 2AM eastern and within 11 seconds you were watching Angel Season 4.

[DistantStorm]

i've been enjoying the beta so far; i love the slightly more "mature" level of detail that has gone into all the new weapons, making them feel and sound a lot more substantial than their predecessors.

the plasma repeater for example. in previous games i'd never touch a standard plasma rifle unless i had to; they just didn't look or sound dangerous. in Reach i have no problem going for a repeater; i've no idea what damage level it's balanced to compared to the old gun, but it sure feels a lot cooler to use.

the one game of Covy slayer i got to play was super fun; the increased speed and evade ability of the Elites makes for very frantic and chaotic combat.

Powerhouse is a great map, but i'm less of a fan of Swordbase. overall, i really hope they roll out the other maps and gametypes soon. i dig Stockpile; it encourages much more dynamic, back and forth kind of play than regular CTF.

Headhunter is an exercise in frustration- more than once i've been laden with five or more skulls mere INCHES from the collection point, only to be fragged at the last millesecond, or have the whole thing move out from under me. not a lot, but enough.

i also love the title screen; beautiful handpainted artwork with an elegant and simple design. i hope they leave it like that for the final game.

the AR could use a little more tuning; i've lost track the number of times i've been unloading a clip on someone, hitting them before they've even started firing, and if they've got a DMR or a needle rifle or whatever, i'm dead.
i know it's just the default weapon, but you shouldn't feel like you need to abandon it the second you respawn.

all in all, Reach does look like it's shaping up to be the best Halo game since Combat Evolved. i can't wait to jump into the co-op multiplayer features. while Halo is pretty much the only game i do competitive MP, my threshold for Live douchebags is not what it once was. the social settings they've added are nice, but if only Bungie had the power to upgrade and evolve the Halo community apace with their game releases.

[Kirbutashi]

Yea, the AR pretty much works to the point of alerting someone that you are shooting them, giving them time to turn around, and then they can line up a nice little headshot with their pistol. That was pretty much Kholdstare's MO last night for a few of my demises, and its entirely demoralizing to see a hail of gunfire amount to as much as blowing bubbles. It isn't that they aren't dying, just that they can seem to carry on as if nothing is happening.

[Compeau]

And it doesn't help that the pistol is nowhere near Halo 1 level. Don't let the 2X zoom fool you. I got fed up with the AR at one point last night, and tried going with the pistol at spawn. Didn't work out.

[Kirbutashi]

Its still a home-wrecker in the right hands. Got destroyed in a game of SWAT with the opposing team sporting mainly the pistol.

[Ginormousj]

I'm looking forward to seeing how all of these different load-outs work in the co-op campaign. It seems like a lot of these abilities could compliment each other well (like having a team of Spartan super heroes.)

Though I'm liking all of the additions thus far, I miss the bubble shield. I know that the game would likely be too crazy if it had drop items AND load-outs, but I liked the standoffs that that particular item introduced. Has Bungie said whether they're nixing it or not?