GMR's look on Halo2 - 32 players on XBL

[Casper]

Remember how fun saying "Halo's the only good Xbox game" used to be? Well, that's true no longer, and it's gonna be even less true once Halo 2 comes out. Its predecessor basically demolished the standards set by previous console first-person shooters, and came pretty close to usurping the supremacy of many of its PC ilk. And like its developers have proudly stated on numerous occasions, Halo 2 will be all that the original Halo was, plus a side of bacon.

While we'd normally call BS on a statement like that, we've no reason to doubt Bungie. Expect Halo 2 to come strapped with bigger guns (and, as a result, bigger explosions), more variety in enemies, and a host of new tricks at your disposal. You'll be able to do stuff like clobber enemies piloting vehicles and hijack them, cap unruly aliens from behind shadows, and double-fist submachine guns.

The multiplayer mode is kicked into high gear, too—it will be compatible with Xbox Live, so expect an experience well beyond those half-assed tunnel-hacks that you've been using to play online. Bungie promises battles as pitched and insane as the original Halo's most intense single-player levels, but with as many as 16 players on each side.

This time around, players can opt to represent the Covenant forces or humans, which brings some outrageous possibilities into play. One Covenant unit is reportedly able to scale walls, ape-style. Imagine launching rockets while hanging from a cliff and using a cloaking device. If your pants aren't wet after reading this, then you'd better check your pulse.

So exciting it makes: us run out and sign up for the Space Marine Corps—you did know they have those, right?

http://www.gmrmagazine.com/article2/0,4364,1522812,00.asp

[No Fear 23]

if 32 players is tru, i wonder how bungie is gonna pull this off on live. prolly needs a T23412534566 connection to do this.

[E Nomini Patri]

It's not from Bungie so don't believe it quite yet.

I can't wait for the Human vs. Covenant multiplayer though! (along with the other gametypes, CTF on Burial Grounds anyone?)

[JJaX]

Originally posted by No Fear 23
if 32 players is tru, i wonder how bungie is gonna pull this off on live. prolly needs a T23412534566 connection to do this.

Why is that? Most FPS PC games, 32 players is standard. Im sure a T1 host can handle mutiple 32 player game sessions.

Dont use the first halos "online" play as a bench mark. It wasnt optimized to be played over the internet.

As long as the right people host, anything is possible.

We need to route out the people on dial up trying to host 16 player matches. :rolleyes:

[thrAsher]

32 is gonna be niiiiiiice! I can't wait to play multi as a Covenant, man.

"Wort, wort, wort!" :wink:

[Duke]

32 is what i've been waiting for for a long time.

Hopefully they stick w/ it.

[Dark Enemy]

16 vs 16 clan Matchs Would nice. Hopefully they do it

[Chupacabra]

damn..... now im gonna have to find a bigger place to stick my friends and 16 new friends to play wit 32..........they better do it tho..

[ghost 009]

Why were they ripping on them. That pisses me off.

[l Maximus l]

I hope Bungie doesn't ruin Halo 2's multi-player by introducing Covenant players into the mix. Personally, I like how the first Halo is in that all people are equal...the only difference seperating one from another is skill.

I really hope that if they add covenant that all characters will be able to use the same weapons, have the same speed, and so on.

Maybe this is just the Covenant mode battle only....I hope so because Team Slayer, Slayer, or CTF wouldn't be the same unless there were only Master Chiefs running around.

[E Nomini Patri]

Originally posted by Maximus SYN
I hope Bungie doesn't ruin Halo 2's multi-player by introducing Covenant players into the mix. Personally, I like how the first Halo is in that all people are equal...the only difference seperating one from another is skill.

I really hope that if they add covenant that all characters will be able to use the same weapons, have the same speed, and so on.

Maybe this is just the Covenant mode battle only....I hope so because Team Slayer, Slayer, or CTF wouldn't be the same unless there were only Master Chiefs running around.

Max, it's Bungie. If it doesn't work, it won't be in the game. Bungie knows what they're doing so get excited, not worried.

Also, I don't think you understand what the Human vs. Covenant multiplayer is all about. It's a WAR! Think Humans defending a big bunker while Covenant storm in by dropship, or you call in airstrikes to take out a Covenant position.

Jaime Griesemer summed it up by saying it is Halo's campaign with the characters controlled by people.

Bungie will deliver.

[J4320]

Originally posted by Zero Flaw
Bungie will deliver.
That is a wonderful thing to hear!:)

[gamemaster4444]

What online new suff can you do on halo to humans vs alines?
i know ctf and slayer are still in it and i heard the date has been hit backed:p

[E Nomini Patri]

Originally posted by gamemaster4444
What online new suff can you do on halo to humans vs alines?
i know ctf and slayer are still in it and i heard the date has been hit backed:p

The details in multiplayer haven't been confirmed except that a) all the old gametypes are back, and b) there is Human vs. Covenant multiplayer.

The date hasn't been pushed back, this is the first time Bungie has said ANYTHING about the date besides "It will be out in 2004."

[JJaX]

Max, dont fret...

Im sure the covenant vs human thing will be a seperate game mode.

[FatalMatt]

32 players! thats so bad... Cause it would lag like crazy and if the lvls are small then it would be bad..

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by JJaX
Max, dont fret...

Im sure the covenant vs human thing will be a seperate game mode.

That's what I was thinking....probably only on the Covenant Battle mode. I hope so... I definately don't want Halo turning into an Unreal or something.

And, Zero Flaw is right, Bungie will deliver... There's no question...

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by FatalMatt
32 players! thats so bad... Cause it would lag like crazy and if the lvls are small then it would be bad..

It wouldn't lag if it's on a bad ass server. That's the key thing. Most on-line PC games support 32 players, so, this is definately not out of the question.

[JJaX]

Originally posted by FatalMatt
32 players! thats so bad... Cause it would lag like crazy and if the lvls are small then it would be bad..

How do you know?

Did you write the network code for Halo 2 online play?

And dont use Halos "online" play as a benchmark. Thats just link play being used with tunnel software.

[restler318]

the only way i could see if there was no lag in a 32 person game would be dedicated servers......

[Jeff505]

as my first post, i will say im gunna go nuts in the summer. september is sooo far away! argh!

but 16 v 16 will be insane. bungie better have rockin servers.

[themoosearmy]

If Bungie says they will do 32, then I will go with it, but I don't usually like to paly with anymore people than 10 at a time because the Halo 1 levels are just too small for more people than that. But, like I said, Bingie may have (and prolly do) some larger levels on the forecast that we can suspect will be standard clan battlegrounds.

[FatalMatt]

Originally posted by JJaX


How do you know?

Did you write the network code for Halo 2 online play?

And dont use Halos "online" play as a benchmark. Thats just link play being used with tunnel software.

No I didn't and glad I don't. Don't you think 32 players would be kill stealing fests?

[JJaX]

Originally posted by FatalMatt


No I didn't and glad I don't. Don't you think 32 players would be kill stealing fests?

Not if the maps a created to support 32 people...

I play UT with 32 people all the time, CTF for the most part. We dont worry about how many frags we get. We worry about stealing the flag and defending our base :wink:

[Caesar SYN]

I think the 32 player arena will be fine... BUT heres the REAL concern... is bungie and Microsoft gonna stop screwing around for the past year and a month and get this done? This is all fine and dandy... but I want an end project ...

CTF 32 players is no problem.. with 32 it depends on your players and situations...

[E Nomini Patri]

Originally posted by Caesar SYN
I think the 32 player arena will be fine... BUT heres the REAL concern... is bungie and Microsoft gonna stop screwing around for the past year and a month and get this done? This is all fine and dandy... but I want an end project ...

Are you aware that Bungie employees have been pulling 14+ hour workdays since they started work on Halo 2? Some, if not most employees sometimes sleep in the office overnight. That is what I call dedicated to quality.

The more you know...

[ghost 009]

Originally posted by restler318
the only way i could see if there was no lag in a 32 person game would be dedicated servers......

hahahahahhahahahahahahahahhahah...noob. Just kidding But ya it would have to be a dedicated server. And swfm thats crazy but I would do it.

[lotec16]

I don't want huge levels, anyone play halo for pc? Infinity is so friggin' huge I hate it! Even with 16 people it is like playing sidwinder with 3.

[E Nomini Patri]

Originally posted by lotec16
I don't want huge levels, anyone play halo for pc? Infinity is so friggin' huge I hate it! Even with 16 people it is like playing sidwinder with 3.

There will be small levels too (and medium for that matter), Bungie knows how to make games that satisfy different preferences.

[lotec16]

Originally posted by Zero Flaw


There will be small levels too (and medium for that matter), Bungie knows how to make games that satisfy different preferences.


Not to mention gearbox made that level :watchout: :cry:

[themoosearmy]

I think the 32 player arena will be fine... BUT heres the REAL concern... is bungie and Microsoft gonna stop screwing around for the past year and a month and get this done? This is all fine and dandy... but I want an end project ...
i can assure you that Bungie is much more pationate about our (ours here at XBA and their's at bungie) game as any of us are, if not more. They haven't been sitting around twiddling their thumbs since the release of Halo 1. They put a release in Fall 04 cause they are confident it will be done by then.

Bungie is a very jaded group of game designers, they are (In my opinion), currently the best out there. To make a product like Halo, you have to be the best. Thats why most of us still play Halo every weekend (or in my cause, pretty much every night).

[E Nomini Patri]

People think that because the game won't be out until Fall, Bungie has been lazy. It just means they are working their butts off and still have a long ways to go.

[themoosearmy]

People think that because the game won't be out until Fall, Bungie has been lazy. It just means they are working their butts off and still have a long ways to go.

Bump to that!