i just think this is great that the new maps are going to be added to the rotation along with clearing the stats. maybe if they reclear the stats everytime they update the map rotation people won't get such hard-ons about the number next to their name.

and yeah the shot gun looks nice, but it sucks now. i want the shotgun back from halo 1. it actually worked.

When will the NEW maps be added into Team Slayer rotation?

I think it was the one called "Yo Momma Flag" or something like that. I liked it, but it was all rocket launchers I think. Got kind of frustrating after a while, but I still had a good time. I just did one that was neutral flag, first to 3 to win the round, one 10 minute round with map default weapons.

If I understand correctly, they won't be adding them into the standard Team Slayer rotation. Well, they may be adding the free ones, I guess. But they are creating a new play type called "Team Preview" or something like that, that will be set up only for people who got the new maps, or maybe just the pay maps. I can't remember the exact details. Supposedly, it is happening next week. Anyone got better info?

Ahhh yes. Yo Momma Flag. Named because just when the other team is about to score you can kill them and yell, "Yo Momma". LOL. Anyway, it was beam rifles and rockets, neutral flag, 3 minute rounds, 10 second return (to add to the difficulty in scoring). It was actually a little easier to score than I anticipated, especially on Containment.

I forgot about skirmish. I hardly ever play that because of people dropping.

With the new updates, the noob combo (PP/BR) on Collussus and Beaver Creek for Team Slayer will be eliminated and those maps will only have human weapons.

Also, on Headlong for CTF and assault games the Banshee will be eliminated. So no more going up top with the rockets. Gonna have to get a new strategy. Also for assault, no more "sudden death", games will be lengthened by a minute.

Finally played tonight. First time since the update.

Gotta give a big thumbs up to the grenade and melee differences. It truly feels more like the first game now. I noticed right away. Those are my style, so my game seemed a little better than normal.

Didn't have any luck with the Magnum/SMG combo. That is now a useless pair.

Still had all the text popping up on the multiplayer screens. I thought they were doing away with that?

I know, our Headlong Assault Defense strategy is gone! Ah well, I like all the other changes. I'm sure we can come up with something good on that map. I'm sort of mixed about getting rid of sudden death, but I'm so glad there will be no more 20 minute sudden death matches.

I'm all for sudden death on flag matches. If one is smart enough to hide close enough to the flag/enemy base and no one on the other team is smart enough to find you and take you out, I say.. fair game. That involves a bit of skill.

Assault is another story. Hiding with the bomb is a bitch move, glad that sudden death is gone for this mode.

You missed out on the hour+ Headlong match last night. First round, they got the Banshee and managed to move the bomb to the top of the buildings out on the water. Impossible to hit with anything. They managed to move some more people up there, so it was basically 5 of them sitting up on top of the building while one sat with the sniper rifle trained on our rocket respawn and the other ran around annoying the shit out of us. Eventually they tried to come down to switch guys and Strangehate managed to blow that fucker up. They just wanted us to quit.

Of course, we won the next two rounds because we didn't let them get the Banshee again (and, marvel at the concept, we were better players.) They almost all quit after that. But I'm thrilled that both the Banshee and the Sudden Death change are going to be instituted. That game fucking sucked.

is it just me or did anyone else notice that when playing "fight club" now one hit to the face kills you. didn't it take a couple before?

Wow, sounds like fun. I am hoping to be online tonight to get the new update, and play some of the new game types and maps in matchmaking. Hope to see you all there.

Yep, I'm glad they are doing another update and resetting stats....I'm sure everyone will balance themselves out again

Wow, so playing last night in matchmaking pretty much sucked ass. While I was on, we did okay in BTB (2 ties), but we basically got smoked in the Team Preview games we did. I'll be glad when some of these guys who are ALREADY level 14's will climb up and away and stop being matched up with us.

Oh, and I can already tell that starting with BR's on Coagulation is going to get pretty annoying. I'll just let Canis describe some of his experiences from the other night.

Had fun with some customs and did pretty well on a few Team Training games. I'm sure I'll see some of you on tonight!

no shit BR's is annoying. i really don't know what i dislike more. the BR games or people who hop around like frogs during a game. oh wait i know what the worst thing is the screaming 12 year olds.

Now I'm really upset. You played Fight Club and didn't tell me? Anyway I've tried to get on the last two night's and for some reason my DSL/XBox has problems connecting after 8-9. I may try again tonight or tomorrow. The way it sounds I may wait till the dust clears on the new re-setting of the rankiings. That or pray for custom games.

Kenny J. - Buzz Satrhopper

Huh, I love the BRs on Coag...it's the gun I always went for when I wasn't on defense anyway.

Killing people from across the map with it rocks

no way buzz we only play fight club when we know you're not around no really though MARTIN5 is moving this weekend so he'll be on a lot more and hooked up to the Internet. maybe he'll play now. anyway it only takes one or two hits to the face to kill ya!

You'll have to talk to Canis about spawning in the middle of the map and being hit simultaneously by five or six BR's from across the map.

We had some fun last night. The smaller games (Team Skirmish, Slayer, etc.) are still WAY too unbalanced. We were getting our asses kicked left and right. And don't get me started on Team Preview. Played 5 or 6 games on it. NO Turf, NO Sanctuary and ONE game on Warlock. What the hell happened to "heavy emphasis on the new maps"?!

But we did pretty well on BTB. I know we tied once and won a couple. Did we even lose any? Maybe one. Headlong Assault is much different without the banshee. Oh, that one pissed me off too. That ended up a tie, but should have been a win. Canis armed the bomb with like 5 second left in the round. The announcer said his spiel "bomb placed", "bomb armed", whatever it is, then there was an explosion and the round ended. When the next round started, it DIDN'T give us the score. Fuckers.

We had a fun Team Slayer on Containment. The other team decided en masse to run across the open tundra while we stood at the railing of our base and pelted them with BR's. Good times. That was after the game started and I fucking spawned in the other team's base. I'm looking for weapons, run around the corner and into no less than SIX blue guys. Fun.

Still not doing well in Team Preview. Damn do we keep getting matched against some high-ranked motherfuckers.

We had a first (in my experience) last night, though. Doing Team Preview and bitching about the lack of new maps. Me, Draven, Griff, and a random. This is right after TJ left. We go into matchmaking and it comes up Multiflag on Sanctuary. Cool. THEN we notice that we are matched against Bombproof David, Thrall999 , Grave Hero and a random. That is the first time I have ever been matched against clan members (Grave) or people on my friend's list in matchmaking. And we SCHOOLED them. That was my first Team Preview victory. We had to mock them and ask how they liked being beaten by level 1's. Good times.

Big Team Battle still seems to be going much better, although we didn't see any Containment last night. We did win more than lose though, I think.

I've noticed that overall ranks are much higher (basically, everyone on my friend's list went up 5-15 levels), once you break into the teens you don't see as many quitters. I'm not sure how many people use the Feedback, but if someone quits or says profanities I usually feedback them negatively, and if they stick around, they get positive feedback.

My problem is that Big Team Battle is still horrible unless you go in with a group of several people because you rely too much on the group.

Hey i asked before but now when i ask during halo games i hear different...anyway question is. If you buy the map-pack disc for $20 is it one time use only like the live card or is it like an actual game where you and your friends can share it (split the money)?

I THINK you should be able to share it. I believe it will just load the maps on your HD anyways. I though GameFly and Blockbuster will have it for RENT, so that makes it be share-able

Just a bump for this week's release of the expansion disc.

Circuit City is advertising it for $14.99, available Friday. Best Buy is showing it for $19.99, available Thursday.

15 bucks? Damn, I think that is cheaper then what I will get it for using my discount at best buy... damn we suck!