I'm really worried about the state of vehicles in halo and how much people will use things like the warthog. The warthog was in no way overpowered before, and would easily succumb to things like the laser. The laser was an unnecessary addition to the Halo universe. I think it ruins the fun of vehicles. If you get one guy who goes for the laser too much in multiplayer, no one can get in vehicles for fear of just exploding instantly. I thought the whole fun of vehicles was that they're overpowered compared to normal weapons, and you have to at least vaguely have some skill to take them down- and the plus side of this for the vehicle is that you can dodge a rocket because there's some finite time that you can see it coming- but in a large multiplayer match you usually cant even see people charging the laser out in the open because the red beams don't show up. In heavy gametypes, the scorpion and gauss hog were the only vehicles even worth attempting to use, because with 3-5 lasers on the map there's no way any of the other vehicles could take down someone threatening them immediately. In this game it seems like you should be making vehicles MORE powerful if anything, so as to restore their strength. I think all the new uses of EMP are cool, but am worried it will only encourage more people to skip out on the vehicles, especially if you have lasers on the map. In Reach, since it seems that there are many more possibilities to shoot down or destroy vehicles with new weapons, the Laser seems incredibly overpowered and like it will ruin the balance in a way. If you're going to let someone with the invincibility shield stop a splatter (while destroying the vehicle), or let someone with a grenade launcher plant a remotely detonated explosive (that ALSO has an EMP), or give someone a plasma launcher, then wouldn't the laser be that much more over the top? The laser will be strengthening foot soldiers' fights against vehicles and doing it in a way that the vehicles can't even respond to. I have a lot of trust in Bungie, and know they know how to make fantastic games, but this seems to be something that they didn't quite get a grasp of in terms of balance in Halo 3, at least like they did in Halo 2. The fact that they never changed Heavy gametypes to have less lasers always made those games about the laser and never about vehicle battles, which was the whole premise I thought a heavy gametype was going to go after (put 4 extra rocket launchers on the map if you have to, but not 4 extra lasers!). I hope you can consider my input when you balance the final vehicle and weapon layouts, because I believe with a little tweaking to the Halo 3 system games could be a lot more fun with vehicles, WITHOUT having them be too overpowered. [Edited on 04.03.2010 9:35 AM PDT]

Will Elites be freely useable in social playlists?

nice

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Spartan_008 Nice![/quote]Best and most informative update in awhile.

Only thing im worreid that everyone might try to get the rocket launcher, fuel rod cannon, or another one hit kill weapons. To me that isnt fair should be that you dont start out with those weapons. one moment your heading off to battle and next one you see a whole platoon worth of soldiers or elites carrying rockets launchers and so on. I would like to see a bit of limit to this type of thing happens in alot of shooters not just halo.

Looks cools. It seems Bungie is going for a more "Tactical" game for lack of a better term. I am a little iffy on some of the changes, but knowing Bungie, it will work out.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Skypers Bull-blam!- ! Load outs suck if we can choose what weapons we spawn with ... What the hell are you doing Bungie ? You have to build a Halo game, not a Modern Warfare one ... So disapointed ...[/quote] Why don't you try it before being disappointed? You only get to choose certain "non power" weapons from the start so it should still be fairly even - not exactly even - but at least players get the option instead of whining and quitting. Yes, loadouts are used in other games but I believe Bungie will make it work with the Halo feel. And just because its similar to other popular games it doesn't mean that its the same so don't get too upset. At the end of the day, every game series goes through changes to spice up the game play and to appeal to the majority of players. If you're not in that majority, don't play it. [i]Simples.[/i]

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] PsychoTEX I just wanna know why the mongoose isn't being included in the Beta.[/quote]

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] ODST Shadow Sweet mcarther the elites gown through groth spurt apparently.[/quote] *dusts off his login details* I believe the model displayed is that of a Spartan-III. They are much shorter on average than Spartan-IIs. In addition, the Elites of Halo 3 suffered from really bad posture. Think about how they would look if they stood up straight. They'd be a head taller than the Spartan-II's, too. And whoever said that they hope Elites will be available in all playlists wasn't reading close enough. It was stated that they would be useable only in certain situations. IE, the Spartan vs Elite gametype. Edit: Lol, "Absent Member" [Edited on 04.03.2010 7:05 AM PDT]

That had to be one of the best updates I've ever seen. Nice work Urk and Bungie. p.s. Chess!

"What's going to happen with weapon-specific gametypes like infection and grifball?" If i'm right, Load-outs will only propose something like "Hammer/sprint" , and nothing else. They insist on the fact that load-outs will be limited on some (many ?) gametypes, as if they do not exist in fact (for example, i think some gametypes could propose only 1 load-out which would be "Assault Rifle/magnum & Sprint" and nothing else), but i'm still thinking that delete equipement on the battlefield is dangerous from a strategic point of vue ; gameplay could tend to be poorer. But, again, we've just have to wait and see ; we fear a big mistake from Bungie, but those guys are smart, we know that. This "evolution/mistake" seems too big, they certainly have thought a lot and prepared many things beside of that Load-Outs. " The great thing about Halo for me was starting a match with no prior thought other than my visual look and being completely equal from the beginning. I'm praying that this isn't as bad as its sounding." I'll come with you to pray any God ! [Edited on 04.03.2010 6:23 AM PDT]

Im stil waiting to see what the ODST look like in this game along with some of the other UNSC forces. Army troopers seem to be nice so far, from what i heard almost no difference between them and the marines outfit exept for the leggings. ^^ Im glad bungie is letting us see more of the UNSC forces other thanmarines and the navy.

Bull-blam!- ! Load outs suck if we can choose what weapons we spawn with ... What the hell are you doing Bungie ? You have to build a Halo game, not a Modern Warfare one ... So disapointed ... [Edited on 04.03.2010 5:15 AM PDT]

Loadouts and Armor Abilities: Are you -blam!- with us, bungie? What's going to happen with weapon-specific gametypes like infection and grifball? The Armor Abilities are incredibly stupid! How can you think of an idea that is SO astonishingly feeble, SO outrageously inept, SO horridly realised, that it enflames the senses with disgust and a lack of hope. Your making Reach not only overly complex, but also making into a clone of all the other FPSs out there. honestly, if I were to come up to your office, i would make you push back the release date and turn this monstrosity into a game. [Edited on 04.03.2010 4:35 AM PDT]

Can't freaking wait!

In fact, i'd prefer chess game than load outs :D Actually, i loved the fact that every player starts with exactly same advantages, and that weapons on map and equipements could be seen as "objectives" in team slayer or objectives team modes. In CTF, you needed to take a bubbleshield to cover your partner who is taking the flag, and defenders needed to find mauler or any hand-to-hand weapon to stop you. I'm open to every new thing, but, about what we can see here, new things are gonna kill teamplay ; my opinion isn't absolute, but i've got it. Now, I just hope that Load Outs will be displayable in custom game, and that we'll still find some equipements on the battlefield. But wait and see !

This time line is screwed. Well, MC evidently got screwed per his navy. A Spartan III didn't have all this -blam!- at this time line, they were more like the new ghosts comin' this 4th quarter, but with fat legs and more metal coverings. This needs to be renamed per a different time line. (recon, odst, easy-bake, ghosts of reach,...) [u]short Q[/u]: If Jorge (the Spartan II) was "born" on Reach, where-the-hell did he get that accent? [u]Note[/u]: Sprint type ability is need for the Operator loadout, not the Marksman. There should be some mix and matchin'.

Loadouts? Sprinting? Direct grenade damage? Grenade launcher? I'm finding it difficult not to judge before the beta. Get -blam!-. I've been a Halo fan from the start, and loadouts just don't make sense to me. I loved Halo because it was different and simple, now other game's mechanics are just being incorporated not only making it similar to every other game out there but complicating it. The great thing about Halo for me was starting a match with no prior thought other than my visual look and being completely equal from the beginning. I'm praying that this isn't as bad as its sounding. Flame away, fanboys. I used to be one until this.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] MLGs 4 SHOT Bungie is killing the halo saga with the new -blam!- in reach. I love this game and still play, but with the way the new game is looking(a.k.a. call of duty) im losing intrest. They have to keep it more like halo 2 and 3. the load outs and and no rankings is extremely dissapointing, and Ghey. -blam!- BUNGIE for ruining the best game out there.[/quote]Cry more, please. Change is good. Bungie have stated all along that Reach will be different to any other Halo games, but that it will be referencing the core elements of Halo: Combat Evolved. Think about it: no more moaning that you've got a good map, but Assault Rifle spawns. No more thinking "God, I can't get any kills with this starting weapon, so I'm screwed". It's going to work. Try playing it before you comment on how bad it is. Of course, you could say to me to play it before saying how good it is, but just from looking at it, and knowing that Bungie knows best, it [i]will[/i] be good. If you really don't like how it's sounding, don't buy it. Miss out, and we won't miss you.

I love making custom maps. I have made them for as long as they have been makable and I have always found that the one thing that kills a map for any player, MW or not, is not being able to get a weapon that fits their play style right off the bat. Bungie found a way to fix that small problem and still keep Halo's spirit intact via the weapons still on the map. If someone honestly thinks that that is stupid, they are either a troll or just plain incompetent.

Loadouts with different weapons don't belong in a Halo game. Bungie needs to stop catering to MW fans and stick to what Halo's always done in the past. This is the beginning of the end. [Edited on 04.03.2010 2:31 AM PDT]

Wonderful update! Some interesting design choices being made, can't wait to see how they play out!

drools- looks awesome

holy crap, awesome update plasma repeater/pro pipe very interesting lack of needle rifle makes me sad and go stosh, classic and armor abilities plus loadouts finally explained! they all seem perfect and multidimensional and stuff, i like [Edited on 04.03.2010 12:57 AM PDT]

[quote] Let's skip the foreplay and get right down to the updatin'. [/quote] Do that more often <3 'nd, awesome update, Reach is getting more feasible through the weeks :)