I find it interesting than FPSs are usually about graphics. The games that bring around the big improvements in graphics are usually FPS games: Quake, Unreal, Quake III, Doom 3, F.E.A.R., Gears of War, Crysis, etc.

Halo 3 is very obviously not about the graphics. Now, the graphics are very good. I'd like to see Czar's take on it since he's one of the few people I see play Halo 2 regularly. It's night and day. It's a HUGE improvement.

Compared to Gears, etc. OK, not a big improvement. But does Gears MP have Valhalla-sized levels?

I friend and I played about 30 matches last night. I'm thrilled with the game and have only minor complaints. The Spartan Laser is my least favorite weapon. I just hate having to dodge something like that. I love the maps and I hope the ones they have yet to show us are as good as Higher Ground. I am now a bit glad they are "forcing' the game modes and maps. Normally I wouldn't play the various modes but now that I have I will certainly look forward to the full game. I only ever play 85 online games of Halo 2.....we played a ton offline. Considering I have already played over a third as many games in Halo 3 I have a feeling I will be online a ton when Halo 3 comes out.

I have. It's a bit absurd. Right now, it and wielding dual Spikers are my favorite weapons.

Wow, I finally played another game and I enjoyed it. I did pretty good also....came in second for sucking at Halo, I was impressed. I was still learning the controls. Tried riding around on the 4-wheeler in Higher Ground.

I haven't played around with settings, are there other game types other than Rumble Pit in the demo? I've only played 2 games. haha.

Same here. Had the demo since it was released but have only been able to play 1 game of CTF and another game of VIP.

I think you can change the search criteria if you're looking to play the other modes aside from rumble pit. Otherwise, there's oddball, bomb, and territories.

Also, I take it the beta is only limited for up to 8 players in one game?

I think it's sweet that you can disarm the bomb now before it goes off.

So is anyone sending their ideas and thoughts on the Beta or do they have special Beta testers for that?

I've posted some feedback on Bungie's forums. Not too sure how much they are reading though.

Looks like the biggest complaint on their site so far is the 'push-to-talk' d-pad. And I have to agree. Team talk should always be on. Taking your thumb off the analog to talk in the middle of a firefight is asinine. Hopefully it gets removed altogether.

Agreed completely. I hate that "feature".

Since the Beta came online I have used the Player Review feature more times than I can count. I'm not the person who easily gets in a huff and sends feedback but I can't stand some of the people this series attracts. Some many folks are way too amazed by the "skillz" they have and act like complete assholes. I really hope we can get a nice relaxed clan going here when the game comes out. I can't stand the thought of paying for this game and then being too afraid of running into assholes and never playing it online.

I played for around 3 hours Saturday afternoon and I was amazed at how many good games I found. But then I hit a bad one and used the player review feature for the first time. I made the mistake of accepting an invite from a kid in the previous game. The next game was a team bomb game and these 2 kids spent the whole game pissing and moaning about how the other team had to be cheating because there's no way they could be hitting that much with the sniper rifle (which was just "so gay!"). Then they just dropped. After they dropped, the other guy on our team dropped. I stayed in since there was only 3 minutes or so left, but it was hardly a game at that point.

No problems here. Everyone has been friendly. Only one match was there screaming and/or excessive bragging after the match, but a quick tap of 'B' ends that pretty quick.

Like Halo 2, I think it is a time issue. I only play around 10:30 pm - 2 am. All the asshats (at least in Halo 2) seemed to be on earlier.

I really haven't dealt with an assholes either. I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that you have to push a button to talk shit or what, but it's definitely a nice change of pace

There are so many singing loud ass douche bags, I'm glad they have the push to talk feature. I just hate the new sound that screeches in my ear when I press it.

I can't seem to get behind playing this a lot. I keep telling myself it's just a beta, and somehow that deters me from playing more. It's not that I don't like it - I love it. I was a huge Halo 2 online guy, and played forever...and I love this game. I just can't seem to fully embrace it, since it's not the full game. Does that make any sense, or am I nuts?

Yeah you are nuts.

I'm excited to work with my clan and practice some teamwork as well as build a common vocabulary for places on the maps so we can organize better.

I'm with you. I've done about 35 matches so far. 3 maps and not being able to pick your mode gets old. I want to play the new Territories mode more, but in those 35 games it's only popped up maybe 3 times. I know why they don't let you pick, it just doesn't make it suck any less.

Not to mention the last hour I spent losing to people about 4-5 levels above me which isn't really fun.

That's why I'm back in Crackdown already. I set my online status to 'offline' so I don't get any invites while I'm playing other things.

just play a room where people will veto the current settings.


honestly, the territories modes is kinda crap IMO. They change territories like every 10 seconds. Got very annoying

Agree COMPLETELY! It's so frustrating to have to do that! I can see how it would be nice in something like Rumble Pit where the kids run around teabagging everyone and singing but in team play? Come on!

The mode I'm talking about is the offense and defense mode, where each team gets a turn. There are 5 flags and you have x amount of time to take them. Once they are taken they are locked. The defense can't reset them.

Oh, alright


Yea, that one really wasn't too bad. I thought you meant the one that was like GoW annex mode, but worse

I think you are talking about a Crazy King of the Hill game. The hill moves in that game.

yea, I assumed that's what he was talking about (wrong of course)

but yea, I think the hill moves way too much. actually hate that mode more than any other

I just hate that mode because of the freakish wall that surrounds the hill and blocks all light from penetrating so you can't see into the hill nor out of the hill clearly.

well, it might be easier on an HD TV, but mine in 480p definitely makes it near impossible.


honestly though, if this is the kind of shit I bitch about with a beta, I'd say its pretty successful