Zero Punctuation: Halo 3

[Katana314]

Well, there were hints, notably from Steam, and especially with some products announced for the PS3, that episodic content and other addons would become shorter and more expensive. I remember that at some point, it was really getting absurd. I think such signs were spotted slightly more than one year ago, but the balloon vented and things remained reasonnable.

As for Wolfenstein, it's more like there has been issues during the production iirc, notably with the editor I think, so they still decided to release it for free. It wasn't a bad move, as it let the game grow a solid community, which would greatly help for the future product in that franchise, known as Quake Wars.

Valve has already admitted that episodic content was not such a good move (for them), and Episode 3 will be the end of it. (that's not to say Sam and Max Season 1 and 2 don't kick ass though!) That sort of "piece by piece" crap has shown up a lot more on consoles, whereas you need to buy more tracks and more cars for racing games, etc.

Also, as for the "unfinished code" thing with Wolfenstein: They didn't HAVE to release it at all, and it could have ended up like the OLD Team Fortress 2 or Prey, being completely discarded and never released for stuffed-up business reasons. Microsoft's style would have been to package it as some "beta" along with a game called BreakApart. (vague parody of Crackdown...) Let's not forget the entire Q3 code is GPL now; Open Arena certainly isn't helping id's sales.

 

[Alex Karls]

Valve has already admitted that episodic content was not such a good move (for them), and Episode 3 will be the end of it. (that's not to say Sam and Max Season 1 and 2 don't kick ass though!) That sort of "piece by piece" crap has shown up a lot more on consoles, whereas you need to buy more tracks and more cars for racing games, etc.

Just a word of note. They haven't actually said that Episode 3 will be the end of episodic content, nor that episodic was 'not such a good move'. They have said that after Episode 3, they'll have the evidence they need to reevaluate the episodic decision. With three HL titles, plus TF2, plus Portal on the board, they'll have enough examples available to ask the community how they should refocus. I imagine that if everyone comes out gushing praise for the episodic model, that they'll be back doing it right away.

 

[Russ Pitts]

You know what's even more impressive than winning an argument? Being able to accept losing one. The more you post the more you seem like an immature asshole. No offense.

None taken. Banned.

If the only thing you have to add is an insult to someone else, then you should probably keep that to yourself. Basic, kindergarten-level social interaction stuff, people.

/mod.

 

[zari]

In conclusion: One company to control the Xbox. A million to control the PC. Power struggle makes business good.

"DirectX 10"

Just because Microsoft doesn't control the PC hardware doesn't mean they can't -try- to make you buy Vista to play your games (and probably more RAM so you can run Vista -and- all your usual stuff at the same time ;P). And Vista is what, between AU$125 and the price of an Xbox360, depending on the version?

One ring to rule them all ;P

 

[Katana314]

In conclusion: One company to control the Xbox. A million to control the PC. Power struggle makes business good.

"DirectX 10"

Just because Microsoft doesn't control the PC hardware doesn't mean they can't -try- to make you buy Vista to play your games (and probably more RAM so you can run Vista -and- all your usual stuff at the same time ;P). And Vista is what, between AU$125 and the price of an Xbox360, depending on the version?

One ring to rule them all ;P

Yes, because Microsoft still obviously CONTROLS everyone in that regard.
Epic games: Fuck you, GoW is coming to Windows XP. That's that.
Valve: DX10 is a joke. We're not going to alienate our customers, even in RAM requirements.
EA: Yeah, we'll make it a Games For Windows...but only because it passes the requirements for it. Vista-only? WHAT?

Microsoft is trying all right. But failing miserably.

 

[Razzle Bathbone]

You'll all be delighted to know that this discussion is now a featured item at Fandom Wank.

http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/

Even now, people are mocking this discussion as they mock all fandom-related kerfuffles. Yahtzee, my sincere congratulations to you. Please keep riling people up. It's almost as hilarious as your reviews.

Edit (after reading the comments at Fandom Wank): Boy, the ladies over at FW sure do like Yahtzee. Dude, if you're ever looking for a date, I think you're covered.

 

[Easykill]

Will someone PLEASE explain to me why everyone bashing Halo 3 has never played Halo 3 and think they can make a fair argument?

 

[Smylexx [deprecated]]

seller.

Now you can argue all you like about whether console gamers are more stupid or not and I could care less if you swear by the "keyboard and mouse is better" argument because I could care less. I grew up with console games because I had a shitty computer, and getting the Playstation was cheaper than upgrading the computer for the latest and greatest. This is still a fact today, and as long as it is consoles will sell more than PC games. The PC has as few real exclusives coming out that are worth playing as the damn PS3 does.


Or that's at least how I justify writing news and reviews for it. Nonetheless, I'll be leaving for greener pastures eventually.

You WILL remember that it's 'COULDN'T care less' when you review in future, right? Saying you COULD care less about something means... and this might blow you away..... it means that you COULD care less.

 

[Alex Karls]

Will someone PLEASE explain to me why everyone bashing Halo 3 has never played Halo 3 and think they can make a fair argument?

Because Halo 3 is the third in a franchise of games, and has thus far (pretending that we're still pre-launch here) promised to deliver on the same style of gameplay as offered before. Therefore, they have at least a small framework to work from. And while bashing isn't something I'd ever consider good, if someone has a bad opinion from playing the first two games, I find it totally reasonable that they can have a bad opinion about the third game without trying it. It just isn't what I'd call an informed opinion. Just more of an educated guess opinion.

 

[Fif3 [deprecated]]

Hmm, I really hope this wasn't a serious review, but judging on the time you put into this...

Then I think you have to learn how to make a proper review, excluding multiplayer for one, was a huge mistake; halo 3 has over 1 million players logged on as I type, so excluding multiplayer and saying no one cares about it makes you look ignorant. You can't judge a game based on a small part of it,(campaign) you have to judge it based on the whole package; and the mulitplayer is where it's at for halo 3.

I do agree that the campaign blew, and it could have been much longer than it was.

 

[Fif3 [deprecated]]

Will someone PLEASE explain to me why everyone bashing Halo 3 has never played Halo 3 and think they can make a fair argument?

Because Halo 3 is the third in a franchise of games, and has thus far (pretending that we're still pre-launch here) promised to deliver on the same style of gameplay as offered before. Therefore, they have at least a small framework to work from. And while bashing isn't something I'd ever consider good, if someone has a bad opinion from playing the first two games, I find it totally reasonable that they can have a bad opinion about the third game without trying it. It just isn't what I'd call an informed opinion. Just more of an educated guess opinion.

LOL!!!

Just because you've played the first two, doesn't justify bashing on a game you've never played... that just makes you look stupid.

 

[Alex Karls]

LOL!!!

Just because you've played the first two, doesn't justify bashing on a game you've never played... that just makes you look stupid.

What justifies bashing at all? I'd say nothing, so therefore you wouldn't really need any justification to do it. And whether or not you want to look at people like that as stupid is really up to you. I'm not keen to do that.

In the end, and this is unfortunate, sometimes an argument well made can trump an argument made fairly.

 

[Smylexx [deprecated]]

One day you're all going to realise that the greatest game ever made was Paradroid on the C64 and all this Halo business will be nothing more than a distant memory.

 

[DrunkenPirate]

Brilliant review

 

[Vitalix]

One day you're all going to realise that the greatest game ever made was Paradroid on the C64 and all this Halo business will be nothing more than a distant memory.

Is that the one where your goal is to be bot 999? That game was friggin awesome.

 

[Morayman]

2 days since i last looked on here and everyone is still ripping the Crap out of each other. I refer to my old comment, TAKE A CHILL PILL! its not to be taken so seriously!!! any disgruntled halo fanboys who want to take out their frustration at yahtzees commical review, should go and roar down their headsets at other 13 year old halo fanboys on xbox live, and ask yourselves if the game is so good then why waste your time posting enraged comments on here when you could actually be playing the game...

and if you hadnt realised yet, yes i dislike halo fanboys (_ ¬¬)

 

[Fif3 [deprecated]]

For example,Yahtzee never said "no one cares about multiplayer". He said HE didn't care about multiplayer and neither did alot of people. That's it. He didn't say "the majority" or even "most". Just that there are people who don't care about multiplayer and there are alot of them. And even that statement can change based on what you consider "alot".

So it seems as though there is a bit of misinterpretation here... "a lot of people" can mean many things, it can mean most, the majority, over half, ect. I don't think I have ever seen anyone use "a lot" in a situation where they did not mean any of those values. If he did not mean any of those he would have used "some people", correct?

I believe he is very wrong, a lot of people DO care about the multiplayer, if you don't believe me, do a survey of 100 random Halo 3 owners and tell me how many of those don't care about the online play; I think you will come to find you are very wrong in putting such labels on those who bought halo 3.

I didn't come here to argue, I just came here to post my thoughts. If you guys don't agree with them, then that's your problem.

 

[Arbre]

Is all this based upon an unfortunate strawman or so?

Can't some people understand that certain gamers have not been waiting to play Halo 3 for its MP at all?

I get the impression that what certain members here, are saying, can be understood as:

"Oh, geez, playing a FPS in solo is so absurd and lame now. FPS stories suck so much, how can you even buy a FPS game for the solo?"

 

[symphonycometh]

Glad there is a reviewer that doesn't worry about the backlash of fanboys that never played an original shooter.

Halo's average and its about time a reviewer actually saw that...I'm sorry, my mistake:

A reviewer that actually saw that and didn't wimp out at backlash.

 

[symphonycometh]

"I flippin called it."

LOL. That and the Wii. Good review. One of my favorite ones, if not, the best one you did! Keep up the fine work. lol. You should do the same for Killzone 2.

"Lowered my standards."