Clan Pride

Screenshot courtesy of Octurian Pewn.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

Everybody is back.

Revive RROD

From darknorpo:

Found someone on Craigslist that fixed my red rings for 50 bucks. No fix no pay and claims he guarantees it for a year but we'll see. Anyway I'm probably last but know anyone else whose got an old one they want fixed?

Contact him directly for details.

No clan night tonight.

Merry Christmas to all! No official clan night tonight, but some folks will be on ad hoc. Will evaluate demand for clan night on Thursday.

Clan night stats

For your consuming enjoyment.

Click for big to see all stats.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

I'm back.

H4: Specializations Part 3

Now that we've had some time in the field with specializations in the field, I have a much better understanding of what they are, why they matter, and how they're used.  Previous posts here:

• H4: Loadouts (Updated)
• H4: Specializations Part 2
• Halo 4 Armor Classes (Specializations)
• Halo 4 Specializations Update

Leveling: First off, each Specialization has 10 levels (1-10), and you don't get your special armor ability until level 10.  Each Specialization level has a 1:1 correlation to your SR ranking.  So for your first Spec, the levels 1-10 correlate to SR51-60.  e.g., if you chose to pursue Wetwork first, WK1 = SR51 and WK10 = SR60.  The SRx0 levels are free promotions, as soon as you choose your next Spec, you are automatically promoted.  So when you reach SR50 you can pick a spec, but as soon as you pick, you become SR51 without having to play any game.

Armor mods: The armor mods can be either in Tactical Packages or Support Upgrades.  Once you complete a Spec and get the armor mod, you can choose it as a Loadout option at any time.  Because they come in both types (Tactical and Support), you can actually have TWO Spec armor mods active at a time.  The armor mods are as follows:

Specialization	Tactical	Support	Note
Wetwork		Stealth	Allows users to move silently during combat, lowers their visibility profile on certain VISR enhancements (like Promethean Vision), and increases their ability to kill enemies from behind.
Operator	Wheelman		Improves durability of vehicles, as well as decreasing downtime when affected by EMP discharges.
Pioneer	Fast Track		Increases the amount of XP earned per match.
Engineer		Drop Recon	Allows users to know the time and place of ordnance deployments prior to the drops actually occurring
Tracker	Requisition		Allows two different sets of options for equipment rewarded through ordnance drops.
Rogue		Stability	Increases aiming stability while taking incoming fire
Stalker		Nemesis	Allows user to hone-in on the last enemy who killed them
Pathfinder		Gunner	Improves upon elements of heavy weapon specialists, such as increasing the amount of time a mounted weapon takes to overheat during sustained fire or improving the general speed and mobility while carrying a detached turret.

For example, somebody who is always driving the Mantis should complete both the Operator and the Pathfinder Specs.  Operator would improve the durability of the robot and its resistance to EMP, while Pathfinder would improve the overheat performance of the guns and rockets.

In retrospect, since we have all discovered that Spartan Ops matchmaking with Dew DoubleXP is the fastest way to rank up, Pioneer would have been the best Spec to do first (for those that have it available with a pre-order or H4 Limited Edition).  You can choose the Fast Track armor mod instead of Mobility (like I usually have) in your Spartan Ops loadout and get 20% more XP for every game.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

Spartan Ops and Campaign focused.

Flagssassination

These guys have pulled together all the assassination animations.  Liftoff (3:33) and Flagssassination (3:48) are rated as the most humiliating, and are pretty impressive.  I want to play CTF just to try and see that animation.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

War Games focused.  OD will be hosting games.

Also, the new Crimson Map Pack is now available.  Reposted from 343:
 

The Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack is officially available in the wild! And by the wild, I mean the main menu of Halo 4. You can download the Crimson Map Pack for 800 Microsoft Points from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and it's also available at no additional charge for those that purchased the Halo 4 Map Pass or Halo 4 Limited Edition. If the latter applies to you, follow the below steps to download the new maps:

1. Load Halo 4
2. Press Start
3. Select "Xbox LIVE Marketplace"
4. Download "Crimson Map Pack"

If you'd like more information about the Crimson Map Pack, check out the following articles. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you on the new virtual battlefields!

Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack Achievements
Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack Trailer
Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack Screenshot Gallery

H4 pwns CoD

IGN's people's choice shows Halo 4 clearly thumping CoD Black Ops 2.

Full video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFaUh0Kkn5Q

H4 DLC Overview

Several Halo 4 DLC map packs are planned:

• 12/10/12: Crimson - Includes Wreckage, Shatter, Harvest
• 2/25/13: Majestic - Landfall, Monolith, Skyline
• 4/1/13: Castle - Daybreak, Outcast, Perdition

These aren't strictly required for clan play, but both OD and myself have pre-purchased the War Games map pass and will get all 3.  They should be about $10 each, or $25 via the War Games map pass.  Each map pack should come with new achievements, the Crimson ones have already been announced.


Shared by OD.  Descriptions reposted from 343:

Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack Trailer And Details

Nov 29 2012 06:03 PM | adamj004 in 343 Industries News

Halo 4 Crimson Map Pack 343

Watch the Halo 4 Castle map pack trailer also with detailed descriptions.

We get a little look at the new map pack Crimson. The map pack releases on December 10th and it contains 3 new maps. Wreckage, Harvest and Shatter.

Crimson will be followed by the Majestic map pack which will be released February 25th 2013 then Castle map pack on April 1st 2013.

Map descriptions quoted from the bulletin.

Wreckage Description

Wreckage is a manifestation of the chaos of war. A medium-sized, asymmetrical map, this playspace is great for accommodating a wide range of objective-based game modes including King of the Hill and Capture the Flag. It is a ravaged environment of crashed debris, where the surrounding destruction creates complex paths perfect for throwing off your opponents or testing the limits of your Warthog. This devastated landscape provides plenty of cover, and tons of nooks and crannies are at your disposal while fighting for your turn to become King. Wreckage supports up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 in a variety of other modes, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and Oddball.


Harvest Description

Harvest is a canon concept brought to life – the doomed agricultural planet where humans first made contact with the Covenant. A small to mid-size map, Harvest is ideal for Capture the Flag. Here, you’ll need to get creative to effectively use light vehicles which are limited to the exterior pathways and can’t get into the bases, making this fully symmetrical map perfect for infantry firefights and face-to-face skirmishes. Snipers will also feel right at home, as long sightlines are broken up by great cover and hiding spots. Harvest allows 8 - 12 players to face off in Capture the Flag, Infinity Slayer, King of the Hill, SWAT and Slayer Pro.


Shatter Description

Shatter is themed around natural crystalline surfaces and the huge UNSC factories mining them. This large, symmetrical map is a playground for the Warthog and Mantis – its open pathways make getting around easy, whether on foot or in vehicles. Shatter is a great fit for large games of Dominion and Extraction. For some close-quarters face-time, escape the open landscape and duck into a mining facility, or slip through a doorway and hunt unsuspecting Spartans. Shatter enables multiplayer mayhem for up to 16 players in Infinity Slayer and up to 12 in other modes, such as Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Dominion and Extraction.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

Spartan Ops and Campaign focused.

Halo 4 Tips: Top 7 Weapons

Shared by OD, reposted from Primagames.  In summary, be sure to pick these up when you see them:

1. Binary rifle: One shot kill, no headshot required
2. Incineration cannon: Rocket launcher on steroids
3. Rocket launcher: The same one you have always known
4. Sniper rifle: Take it and empty it, if nothing else
5. Scattershot: I haven't figured out how to use this yet, if I'm honest
6. SAW: Very good at suppression
7. Beam rifle: The same one you have always known

Halo 4 Tips: Top 7 Weapons

These seven weapons are the ones you don’t want to pass up if you come across them on the battlefield. Pick these up at all costs, even if just to keep them out of your enemy’s hands. Just remember to do your best to properly pair it with your existing weapons. Don’t end up with two snipers or two shotguns, severing your ability to compete in specific combat scenarios unless you properly weigh the risks.

#1 Binary Rifle
Click to enlarge

This weapon is referred to as “the Boss” by the MLG players. Everyone who loved sniping in the past Halo games is going to love this new one-shot killing machine. There’s never been a weapon like this in any previous Halo game, so you can only imagine how surprised your opponents will be when you’re killing them with this weapon. Prepare for your foes to flee when they spot the three red lasers the gun emits when you’re zoomed in. This weapon is mostly for mid- to long-range fights but can still be deadly at close range if you master the no-scope.

You have only two shots per clip, so make them count. You don’t get zoomed out when you’re struck by an enemy’s shot either, so line up your reticle and fire away! In addition, you receive a total of six bullets: These should be six guaranteed kills. If this weapon appears in an ordnance drop, it is your number-one priority to make sure you or your team retrieves it first. The only counter to this weapon is the Hardlight Shield. You do not want this in your opponent’s hands!

#2 Incineration Cannon
Click to enlarge

Think of this weapon as a Rocket Launcher on steroids! Its splash damage covers a larger area than a normal rocket, making it exceptional for short- or mid-range fights. The weapon is pretty much unstoppable when it comes to taking down all vehicles with one direct shot. This is the optimal piece of killing equipment to have on a vehicle-friendly map.

#3 Rocket Launcher
Click to enlarge

This is another weapon that excels on vehicle-friendly (and smaller) maps, as you’re able to take down and inflict massive damage on vehicles. It also excels at taking down numbers of foes with its splash damage, as long as your foes are clustered near one another. It has an advantage over the Incineration Cannon too: You can fire off two rockets before needing to reload (compared to one with the Cannon); if you shoot a “Puckett” rocket (named after MLG commentator “Chris Puckett,” who’s known for his inability to net kills with the Rocket Launcher) at your enemy on your first attempt, you still have another chance to take down your opponent.

#4 Sniper Rifle
Click to enlarge

This has always been a firm favorite; those playing previous Halo games know sniping is always entertaining! You have four shots in the rifle’s clip, and these can take down an entire team with headshots before you need to reload! By placing yourself behind the rest of your team, you can pick enemies off while your team draws attention away from your position. This weapon is supremely adept at dropping foes and is exceptional at mid- or long-range battles. Even at close range, when you master the no-scope firing, it is lethal.

#5 Scattershot
Click to enlarge

Think of this as the evolution of the UNSC Shotgun. It fires almost twice as quickly and has almost double the range. This is an extremely important weapon to carry on every one of the small enclosed maps or in tight or restrictive areas. You can take down multiple enemies with a single clip. Try sneaking up on your foes brandishing this gun, and they won’t know what hit them! If you need to take control in a close-range battle, bring this out; it is unbelievably powerful in 1v1 close-range fights!
#6 SAW
Click to enlarge

The SAW is an exceptional weapon. It is spectacular in short-range fights and works very well at mid-range as well. Compared to other short- to mid-range weapons, this one has more than the edge, simply because it partners extreme power with fast killing potential. Just aim at your adversary and spray away!

#7 Beam Rifle

Click to enlarge

The Beam Rifle is one of the best sniping weapons available. It may not have the same power as a Binary Rifle, but it certainly stands up to the Sniper Rifle for sheer killing power and accuracy. It retains its accuracy even while fired from the hip, which allows for some amazing snapshots. What makes the Beam Rifle unique is that unlike the other two sniping weapons, it does not need to reload after two, four or even six shots. A fresh Beam Rifle comes with ten shots in the battery, and the only thing that will slow it down is if it overheats. You will not have to break visual contact with a potential victim just to reload, so you can stay scoped in on a target for follow-up shots.

Of course, the potential for overheating a Beam Rifle means that you will have to control your trigger finger and not fire the weapon too rapidly. However, even with this restriction, you can still put more shots on a target faster than the other two sniping weapons.

Want more Halo 4 strategy? Get the full Halo 4 Prima Official eGuide here!

Clan night tonight. 8:30pm PT. Halo 4.

Octurian Pewn will be hosting games.

Halo 4 Specializations Offer Update

As I have mentioned here, all 8 armor specializations are available to those who pre-ordered the game and played by 11/20.  These were unlocked via a code that was emailed out from Xbox Live yesterday.  If you followed the instructions on the cryptic email, it would have unlocked "Specialization Priority Alpha".  More details below.

Reposted from Halo Waypoint.

Halo 4 Specializations Offer Update

by bs angel · 12.01.2012 17:00

 

If you're reading this, you more than likely have a question about the Specializations email that was recently distributed by Xbox LIVE. Before I start addressing some frequently asked questions, please note:

DO NOT PUBLICLY POST YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR ANY OTHER ACCOUNT-RELATED INFORMATION ON OUR FORUMS. AGAIN, DO NOT POST YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR ANY OTHER ACCOUNT-RELATED INFORMATION ON OUR FORUMS.

As a general rule, to protect yourself and your account, you should never post or share any personal information online, and that includes our forums.

Now, back to business. When Halo 4 launched, there was a special offer involving the following.

---

Play Halo 4 Standard Edition while connected to Xbox LIVE by November 20, 2012, and you'll get early access to six Specializations. That's 60 additional levels and new content in Halo Infinity Multiplayer.

---

Codes giving early access to six Specializations were sent yesterday. The email says the following and includes an image of Master Chief and the Halo 4 logo.

---

Here's your free gift from Xbox LIVE

Thanks for being an Xbox LIVE member. You've earned a free gift. Just follow the instructions below, and you can download it immediately.*

Here's how to redeem:

• Click here or on the "Get your free gift" link below.
• Sign in to your Xbox LIVE account using the email address you received this message at (if you are not already signed in).
• Your code is automatically entered on the page so simply click Redeem Code.

Get your free gift -->

---

Here are a few reasons why your inbox may still be empty.

• Emails were sent to both opt-in and opt-out accounts (in regard to your receive marketing emails preference).
• If you did not play Halo prior to November 20 at 11:59 PM EST, you would have not received the email.
• If you are registered with Xbox LIVE in Europe, the Middle East or Africa, you would have not received the email. As noted on the original offer, these regions were not part of the Specializations offer as Specializations were extended as a pre-order offer, not a post-launch offer.

If you don't think you have received this email, here are a few things to consider.

• It may be in your spam folder. Check now!
• The codes were sent to the email address that you used when you signed up for your Gamertag. If you are now using a different email address but did not change it with Xbox LIVE, the code will have been sent to the email address associated with your Gamertag as of November 20.
• The title of the email is "You have a gift from Xbox LIVE". Since Specializations are not directly mentioned, you may have skipped over it.

If you successfully redeemed your code, you will gain early access to six Specializations.

If you received the email but are experiencing issues, here are a few possibilities as to what could be going on:

The Specializations are locked.
Specializations cannot be accessed until you reach SR50. Once you have advanced through the standard fifty levels, you will then get the option to enlist in a Specialization under "Infinity". You can choose the order in which you tackle unlocked Specializations. However once you select one, you must advance through it completely before enlisting in a separate Specialization. Please read this article for more information.

I don't see any new Specializations.
Redownload the content from your download history (from the Xbox Dashboard: Settings-->Account-->Download History). If you have the content properly downloaded, try restarting the game.

The link in my email is not resolving properly.
Please wait an hour or two and try the link again.
Please visit The Official Specializations Email Thread if you have additional questions.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

Spartan Ops and Campaign focused.

Clan night pushed to 9pm.

Sorry for the late notice. Forgot I had a late meeting, need to defer to 9pm.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 4

I'm back. Game on. War Games focus tonight.

H4: Abilities and Tactical Packages

To continue the armor thread:

Now that we're a couple weeks in, we've seen some interesting usages of the new Halo 4 features.  Check out your playing style:

• Close range general infantry - Prefer charging ahead on offense (AR), good communicator: Promethean vision + Grenadier + Explosives.  Promethean vision lets you see everybody, even if they're camo or not moving.  This is great for somebody who's leading the charge and can clue teammates in to where everybody is.  Having extra grenades and splash damage couples well, as it allows you to flush out the campers who are hiding behind corners.  Note that everybody on the map can hear you engage it, and it puts a bright red dot on your face.
• Medium range general infantry - Prefer to always be engaged (BR), good at staying with at least one other partner: Regeneration field + AA efficiency + Ordnance priority.  A team in the "green stuff" is very difficult to take out, especially at range.  2-3 players can easily hang out in the regeneration field and wreck shop as a squad.  This loadout combo allows you to keep dropping the "green stuff" while also calling in advanced weapons.
• Long range sharpshooter - Prefer hanging out on the periphery (DMR, Sniper), quiet player: Active camouflage + Shielding + Awareness.  With active camo and shielding, you can pop in and out of cover, taking potshots and finishing with headshots.  Tap active camo as enemies appear and you engage so that you're hard to see.  As your shields get low, duck into cover and regenerate quickly.  Awareness helps keep you safe while scoped in, and able to see flanking enemies.
• Very close range objective specialist - Prefer charging into the thick (Shotgun, Scattershot, Sword, Hammer) and hitting unsuspecting enemies: Active camouflage + Mobility + Ordnance Priority.  For players who excel at getting behind enemy lines and killing them from dark corners or stealing objectives, this allows them to get there quickly and disappear.  Shotgun and Scattershot are the weapons of choice up close and pair very well with unlimited sprint, but are not available as default loadouts, so Ordanance Priority gets them up earlier.
• Defensive camper - Prefer hanging out at home, good at defending objectives: Autosentry + Resupply + Sensor.  In gametypes like CTF, Oddball, Dominion where a territory or space needs to be defended, this combo allows one player to cover a lot of ground.  Autosentry effectively provides the ability to cover two entrances at once, with a long range sensor to provide advanced warning.  Resupply is useful because the player isn't picking up more weapons on the battlefield, they are largely limited to what dead players bring them.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

I'm out of town unfortunately, but Octurian Pewn will be on and hosting games.  I know that darknorpo and many others are playing all week as well.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

I'm traveling, but Octurian Pewn will be hosting games.  Thursdays are Spartan Ops and Campaign focused.  Lots of Challenges and Achievements to get this week!

H4: Clan Emblem

We need to pick a new clan emblem system.  The numbers 0-9 that we've used since Halo 2 are inexplicably no longer available in Halo 4.  We are temporarily using a Grasshopper until enough of the clan has leveled up to choose a new emblem.  To set your clan emblem:

• Hit 'Start' to enter Spartan Hub
• Move to the Emblem menu
• Choose Drone as emblem foreground
• Choose Cyan is both primary and secondary colors
• Choose no Background (background color doesn't matter)
• Make sure that your Drone has the little tail sticking straight back.  If it doesn't, click 'LS' to toggle.

I'll be watching the clan ranks to see when it makes sense to pick a new emblem, as emblem packs are unlocked for players.  Start thinking about what you would like.  I'm guessing it will be around SR19.

Below reposted from gameranx.com:

Halo 4 Emblem Unlock Chart Guide

A chart for unlocking all the emblems in Halo 4's multiplayer.

by Ian Miles Cheong on 8th Nov, 2012

Halo 4 offers a variety of things to unlock in its multiplayer mode, otherwise known Infinity Multiplayer, which is split between Spartan Ops and War Games. Among the things you can unlock are weapons, aesthetic armor types, skills, and emblems. 
Emblems are little logos that you can use to personalize your Spartan. When you kill someone, they’ll see your player card, which contains your emblem, level, and other pertinent information. As you level up, you’ll gain new emblems to unlock for which you can use to designate who you are in the game. Your enemies may come to fear you as “the guy with the bow-tie cat emblem”. 
To that end, Redditor and Halo fan lol-jk has compiled all of the emblems into a chart so you’ll know precisely when these emblems will be unlocked. Keep in mind that these are only for the foregrounds, and not for the backgrounds. 

You’ll gain these emblems at whatever SR or specialization it says on the chart. The stuff listed in “other” can only be attained through achievements or as pre-order bonuses. 
Halo 4 is currently available for the Xbox 360 as an exclusive to the platform. Microsoft and 343 Industries have no plans to release the game on the PC or any other platform, so you’re going to have to pick up an Xbox 360 if you want to play the game.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 4.

Tuesday nights will be weighted towards Infinity War Games, typically in 4v4 Slayer or 8v8 Slayer, depending on our party size.

We will continue a secondary Thursday night clan night for as long as there is interest.  Will typically be at 9pm PT, and will be weighted towards Spartan Ops, Campaign, achievement and challenge hunting, as long as party size allows.

H4: Ragnarok Tactics

Ragnarok is the only map in Halo 4 that is an obvious remake of fan favorite, Valhalla. The Tactics on this map are very different than on Valhalla however, given Ordnance Drops and weaker vehicles.

 

In Big Team Slayer, both teams start with a Banshee, Chaingun Warthog, Mantis, Ghost and two Mongeese.  There is a laser in the middle that is useful when the game starts, but it's not critical to make a rush for it.  After one week with the game, the vehicles tend to create a lot of havoc on this map, but don't necessarily win the game.  All the vehicles are weak enough now to be taken down with small arms fire, so a team that talks can concentrate fire on an enemy vehicle and kill it quickly with just DMR or BR rounds.  Ordnance Drops also call down lasers and sniper rifles to make short work of vehicles.

DMR rules this map.  It has about the same effective range as the sniper, but holds more rounds, fires faster, and doesn't draw the attention that the sniper gun does.  All players should choose DMR loadouts here, BR disperses too much at the range that battles are fought at on Ragnarok.   Blue players in Woods or Blue Rocks can reach Top Middle easily.  Red players in Red Rocks are Jungle have good sightlines to Top Middle as well.

Really useful Armor Abilities on this map include Regeneration Field, or Active Camouflage.  A fireteam of 2-4 in a Regeneration Field can dominate a region with very little risk of dying.  A sniper with Active Camo is nearly impossible to find given how much other chaos is going on.  Autosentry and Promethean Vision are largely useless.

A good strategy is to use the vehicles to cause chaos with sharp shooters getting DMR kills.

1. Banshee: The Banshee can drop bombs and then zoom off before taking serious damage.  The Banshee can fly circles, dropping bombs on the middle or Turret/Wall area, and then boost back behind the base to recharge shields.  In all vehicles, hit Y to switch guns, and the targeting reticle will generally light up red before you can actually see the targets if you're flying around high enough.  
2. Mantis: The Mantis can hang out near it's home base, using cover to pop in and out.  It is very slow moving, so it requires some protection.  The Mantis can't escape quickly like the Banshee, so you don't want to get caught out in the open taking fire from several directions.
3. Shooters: Have all the team's best shooters equipped with DMRs, hanging around cover.  Shooters should be talking a LOT, calling out enemy targets.  It only takes 5 DMR shots to kill, and a typical team will have 6 players on foot with 2 in vehicles at any given time.  A team that talks can pretty much get instant kills if they can paint the same target.

The higher percentage play is to keep all vehicles and all players on your team's half of the map, never venturing past the middle.  No weapons have range further than half the map.  By keeping the fight on your half of the map, you will always have more guns on target.  For example, both Woods and Blue Rocks can reach Top Middle, meaning Blue Team can hit any target on the Blue side of the map with DMR shooters in those two locations.  Any Red player that dies on the Blue side has a long walk to get back, meaning his team his short handed.  Blue is a quick man cannon or instant spawn at Woods, or a short walk to Blue Rocks.  So soon as people start dying, Blue immediately has the advantage in numbers.  Red is either fully exposed walking over the hill at Top Middle with fire from both sides, or has to walk the cave gauntlets to approach from Wall or Pelican.

H4: Spartan Ops Episode 2

The next episode of Spartan Ops released today.

Weekly challenges available:

• Core Legend: Complete Core in Departure on Legendary difficulty (1500 XP)
• Harvesting Hunters: Kill 10 Hunters (2500 XP)
• Leader of the Pack: Kill 10 crawlers in a single Spartan Ops mission (1250 XP)
• Watchful Avenger: Kill 20 Watchers (1500 XP)
• Knightmare: Kill 30 Knights (1750 XP)

H4: Haven Tactics

Haven is one of the most popular 4v4 Slayer Maps because the layout is straightforward and easy to learn.  Even though it feels roughly symmetric, red base ("Closed Ramp") has proven to have a very distinct tactical advantage in the first week of play.

Most teams thus far are not coordinated enough to hold a position yet, so Blue can take over Red Base ("Closed Ramp") pretty easily by just walking around the outside perimeter ("Blue Street" or "Red Street").  Red Base ("Closed Ramp") is by far the best location to hold as an individual, 2-person fire team or 4-person squad.  If you are Blue and are unable to take Red Base ("Closed Ramp"), the next best options are either side base ("Blue Ramp" or "Red Ramp"), which are pretty defensible as well. From Red Base ("Closed Ramp"), there are clear sightlines to everywhere that matters on the map.  Just as importantly, there are very easy escape routes to get out of enemy fire and recharge shields.

Green arrows: When Red spawns, you can sprint up to the small platform ("Mohawk") and scope in to put fire on any Blues that venture into the upstairs Kill Box ("Top Mid").  It's very easy to back off the platform and into cover as Red, but there's not really anywhere for Blue to go once they're in the Kill Box ("Top Mid").  The small platform is also a good location to cycle around pick up flankers on either left and right upstairs.  The curve geometry of the corridors is such that enemies will show up just on the edge of your radar before they have line of sight, giving you plenty of warning to re-sight and prepare for them.

Yellow arrows: If taking fire or dealing with targets coming from different directions, it's easy to back down the ramp.  You can pop in and out from the ramp cover to take potshots, and the grenade throws from here are easy.  There are good sightlines to both upper and lower corridors once enemies are within mid-radar range.

Orange arrows: If shields are critical from upper level battles, you can very quickly drop down underneath the ramp to be safe from gunfire and grenade splash damage.  Being on the lower ramps gives direct sight lines to put fire on the lower kill box ("Bottom Mid").  Tactically, it is always easier to move/shoot down than it is to go up, so you should spend less time down here, if possible.  Enemies coming up from these ramps are easily disposed of as they have to make two turns while shooting, and are in a tight confined space.

Kill Box: There's two ways around the map, through the Kill Box, or through the perimeter corridors.  The Kill Box is exactly what it sounds like, where you go to be killed.  Both upper and lower center areas are terrible places to be, as they are exposed to fire from literally all sides.  The lower one is especially bad, as there are dozens of places to drop down into it to ambush you.  Avoid the Kill Box center.

Battle Rifle will be the most comfortable all-around weapon for most on this map, given the effective range of engagements.  Those very comfortable with the DMR will find it more effective at targets deep inside the Kill Box, but will want an AR as secondary loadout for close quarters combat around the ramps.  Ordnance drops provide Shotgun, Scattershot, SAW, Sword and Hammer, which are all excellent secondary weapons.

H4: Map Walkthroughts

Reposted from wikia.

Halo 4 Map Walkthroughs with 343i

October 23, 2012 User blog:JAlbor

Hey everyone! 343 Industries recently released a load of developer walkthroughs of upcoming Halo 4 Multplayer Maps. This blog post collects them all in one handy place for your enjoyment!
I have already embedded the released videos on their respective pages, but thought I would make a blog post with them as well since I think they are awesome and don't think you should miss them. You can find them all below for your viewing convenience.

Also, are you most looking forward to? (I'm into Complex.)

Abandon

Adrift

Complex

Exile

Haven

Longbow

Meltdown

Ragnarok

Solace

Vortex

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 4.

Trying out to see if we can sustain two clan nights a week for a while.

H4: Loadouts

To continue from the last post, here are details about Loadouts:


You should customize at least one Loadout so that you have your maximum competitive edge, regardless of what map and game type you go into.

 Primary Weapon

Weapon	Cost	Rank	Notes
DMR	0 SP	SR-1	Single shot DMR like Halo: Reach, ideal for long range. 5 shots to kill, min kill time 1.6 sec.
Assault Rifle	1 SP	SR-2	Fully auto AR, improved for H4 in terms of kill efficiency, ideal for short range
Battle Rifle	1 SP	SR-2	3-shot burst BR like Halo 3, ideal for medium range. 5 shots to kill, min kill time 1.6 sec. May be slightly easier to get headshots than single-shot weapons.
Storm Rifle	2 SP	SR-5	Fully auto AR, replaces Plasma Rifle, ideal for short range. Can not be reloaded.
Covenant Carbine	2 SP	SR-5	Single shot Carbine like in past games, ideal for medium range. 7 shots to kill, min kill time 1.6 sec (fires faster than BR or DMR).
Suppressor	2 SP	SR-22	Fully auto AR, seems to replace Brute Plasma Rifle, ideal for short range. Can be reloaded.
LightRifle	2 SP	SR-22	Single shot rifle, Promethean DMR equivalent, ideal for long range. 4-5 shots to kill, min kill time 1.3-1.8 sec.

Secondary Weapon

Weapon	Cost	Rank	Notes
Magnum	0 SP	SR-1	Single-shot, scoped pistol with long effective range like in Halo 1.
Plasma Pistol	2 SP	SR-8	Can be overcharged for EMP n00b combo, seems to be upgrade for H4 in terms if single shot damage.
Boltshot	2 SP	SR-18	Has both single shot and overcharge capability, unclear yet of overcharge has any special effects like plasma EMP.

Grenades

Grenade	Cost	Rank	Notes
Frag Grenade	0 SP	SR-1	Same frags as always, don't know if they have EMP effect like in Halo: Reach.
Plasma Grenade	2 SP	SR-8	Same stickies as always.
Pulse Grenade	2 SP	SR-18	Promethean grenade that creates a bright orange sphere called an attenuation field. This field is super obvious and pretty easy for infantry to avoid, but it slows vehicles, and drains both shields and health.

Ability

Ability	Cost	Rank	Notes
Promethean Vision	2 SP	SR-1	Gives a "Predator" effect allowing you to see through walls.
Thruster Pack	2 SP	SR-1	Gives a short boost of speed, independent of leg movement. Much shorter burst than Sprint, but unlike Sprint, can be used in the air
Hologram	3 SP	SR-6	Sends out a virtual hologram, like from Halo: Reach
Jet Pack	3 SP	SR-6	Jet pack like from Halo: Reach
Hardlight Shield	3 SP	SR-10	Portable, see-through Riot Shield, but can not shoot while using it. Unlike Armor Lock, is vulnerable at the sides and back, and can be punched through.
Active Camouflage	3 SP	SR-10	Temporary invisibility, does not have as extreme Radar Noise as in Halo: Reach. Like before is affected by shooting and moving quickly.
Autosentry	3 SP	SR-16	Deployable automated turret.
Regeneration Field	3 SP	SR-16	Field affect that heals nearby Spartans

Tactical Package

Package	Cost	Rank	Notes
Mobility	1 SP	SR-7	Unlimited Sprint
Shielding	1 SP	SR-7	Improves shield recharge rate
Resupply	1 SP	SR-14	Allows recovering grenades from dead players
AA Efficiency	1 SP	SR-14	Improves Armor Ability recharge rate
Grenadier	1 SP	SR-24	Increases grenade carrying capacity
Firepower	1 SP	SR-24	Allows configuring Loadouts with a primary weapon in the secondary weapon slot
Fast Track	Pioneer	PR-10	Increases the amount of XP earned per match.
Requisition	Tracker	TK-10	Allows two different sets of options for equipment rewarded through ordnance drops.
Wheelman	Operator	OP-10	Improves durability of vehicles, as well as decreasing downtime when affected by EMP discharges.

Support Upgrade

Ability	Cost	Rank	Notes
Dexterity	1 SP	SR-12	Faster reload and weapon switch time
Ammo	1 SP	SR-12	Spawn with extra clip
Sensor	1 SP	SR-20	Longer range radar
Awareness	1 SP	SR-20	Retain radar when scoped
Explosives	1 SP	SR-26	Increases grenade damage to others, reduces grenade damage to self
Ordnance Priority	1 SP	SR-26	More Ordnance Drops
Drop Recon	Engineer	EN-10	Allows users to know the time and place of ordnance deployments prior to the drops actually occurring
Gunner	Pathfinder	PT-10	Improves upon elements of heavy weapon specialists, such as increasing the amount of time a mounted weapon takes to overheat during sustained fire or improving the general speed and mobility while carrying a detached turret.
Nemesis	Stalker	SK-10	Allows user to hone-in on the last enemy who killed them
Stability	Rogue	RG-10	Increases aiming stability while taking incoming fire
Stealth	Wetwork	WK-10	Allows users to move silently during combat, lowers their visibility profile on certain VISR enhancements (like Promethean Vision), and increases their ability to kill enemies from behind.

H4: XP, SP, SR, Rank, Loadouts - What you need to know

There are some significant changes to the Halo 4 multi-player system, the most obvious one that affects your competitive (dis)advantage are custom loadouts.  If you don't read any further than this first paragraph, take this away: Go into the Spartan Hub (hit Start) and customize your Loadout options to add a Tactical Package and a Support Upgrade.  That said, here's the rest of the nitty gritty that you may care about.

As you play in War Games and Spartan Ops, you'll see that you get points for things and you get "promotions" on a regular cadence.  Currently, everybody in the world has a level that looks like SRxx where xx is a number from 1-50.  You'll also notice that Loadouts are more complicated in Halo 4, with randomized Ordnance Drops that you can individually call down.  What does it all mean?  What do you need to do?  Here is the key terminology:

• Experience Points (XP): Like in every game since Halo 2, you get experience points as you play.  You get different amounts based on game type and your individual performance.  You only gain XP from Infinity Gametypes (War Games, Spartan Ops), *not* from Campaign.  XP is what levels up your Service Rank, or SRxx number.
• Spartan Points (SP): You probably won't even notice that you have these unless you poke around in the Spartan Hub to customize your Spartan.  These are earned as you level up and are spent on Loadout options.  As far as I can tell, Armor and Emblem options are unlocked by levels or accomplishments, but don't cost any SP.
• Spartan Rank (SR): This is a number from 1-50 that represents how many XP you have earned, and roughly replaces the Halo: Reach ranks of Captain, Lieutenant, Inheritor, etc.  Doesn't really have any tie to "skill", is most representative of how much somebody has played Infinity game types.  You must reach SR50 before you can choose a Specialization.
• Skill Rank (?): Starting early next year, players will start seeing a skill rank based on how "good" the are.  This is similar to the per-playlist rankings from Halo 3, or the Battle Proficiency Rating from Halo: Reach.  When it appears, it will be the best indicator of how "good" a player is in a particular playlist.

There's really not much you're going to do with XP and Skill Ranks don't show up until next year.  Nobody is close to SR50, so I'll blog about Specializations later.  What you care about NOW, is SP and Loadouts.

Tips and Requirements

Most Important: You must have at least 8GB of hard drive space to play Halo 4 multiplayer.  The second disc in your package contains all the content for War Games and Spartan Ops, and must be installed to the hard drive.  You will not be able to play clan night tonight until you install disc 2.  Disc 1, as far as I can tell, is optional.  Insert disc 2 and choose the option to Play Halo 4.  When it launches, it will give you the option to install.

Very Important: Make sure you get into the Xbox Live Chat party, so that we can talk you through any connectivity problems you may have, independent of the game chat.

[11/7/12 Update]: Disc 2 apparently only requires 4 GB of space to install, can go on your hard drive or a compatible flash drive.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 4.

Early clan night to celebrate the launch of Halo 4.  Master Chief is back.  w00t!

Clan night preview tonight. Midnight PT. Halo 4 campaign.

Halo 4 launches at midnight TONIGHT!!!!  Reminder that we'll be doing a campaign run at midnight, with War Games starting late morning/mid-day tomorrow.

H4: Specializations Part 2

We've discussed Armor Specializations before, but here's my quick cut:

• Wetworks: If you love assassinations and creeping around. (FragginURdoodz, TimMAY1023)
• Pioneer: If you want to level up as fast as possible. (CoolerSopranos2, UnsavorySamurai)
• Engineer: If you want to help the team coordinate special ordinance drops. (Beer4Porter)
• Tracker: If you love special weapons. (FishBone10, Masher 24)
• Rogue: If you spend a lot of time scoped in (Sniper, DMR, BR). (gtdroptop, Octurian Poon)
• Stalker: If you get fixated on killing one person. (darknorpo, QuelBelle)
• Pathfinder: If you're always in the gunner seat (OmniscientDeath, MEAN MR MONKEY)
• Operator: If you're always driving (BeerMonkeee, Mean Mrs Monkey)

Picking your Specialization is important because you can't change it until you've fully leveled it up.  There are 8 choices in total, with Pioneer and Wetwork being available to all players at launch.  Purchasing the Halo 4 Limited Edition gets you access to all 8 right away.  Those who pre-order and play by November 20, will get all 8 quicker as well, but probably not until 11/20 (about 2 weeks after launch).

Idle Hands...

Some people seriously have WAY too much time on their hands.

Double XP

As previously noted, specially marked Mountain Dew and Doritos products will have codes that unlock double XP in War Games matches.  Be sure to head over to Dew XP so that you're all set to enter codes and get lots of XP!

Halo 4 Interactive Guide

The kind folks at Waypoint have put together a comprehensive interactive guide that details everything about Halo 4.  Covers vehicles, story, enemies, basics, War Games, weapons and armor.  Don't want to feel like a n00b because you're the last one still wearing Recruit Armor?  Read up.

Forward Unto Dawn

Available on YouTube, and on Halo Waypoint, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn is a live-action digital series that takes fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel: the UNSC Infinity. Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn tells a story leading into the events of Halo 4.

I just watched all five episodes and it's definitely worth your time.  They're about 15 minutes each, and surprisingly well produced.  I recommend watching them via Halo Waypoint on your Xbox 360 so that you can experience them in 1080p surround sound.  Short of that, you can watch them online at Waypoint.

After you're done watching that, this will tell you everything you want to know about Kelly-087.

Halo 4 Tips: Improving Your Play

Reposted from primagames.  Some interesting notes about being unable to drop the flag, and calling down ordinance while indoors.

Halo 4 Tips: Improving Your Play11/01/12

No help when you’ve got the flag? Don’t be afraid to defend yourself. Further improve your multiplayer experience in War Games with these additional tactics and tips straight from the Major League Gaming Pros!

1. Jumping:
This is very important when you’re entering fights or disengaging from them. Use rocks, crates, and other scenery to reach higher ground. This can help in all types of objective games to cut off routes, complete shortcuts, or run in a flag faster so you can score.



2. Capturing the Flag:
If you’re holding power weapons and you’re by the enemy flag, then it is better to provide supporting fire, guard the flag, and let a teammate without such a great weapon run with the flag. You can’t drop the flag once you walk over it, so having rockets or a sniper rifle is useless. Instead, it’s simply smarter to slay and chaperone a teammate once they take the flag.



3. Oddball: If you’re in trouble during Oddball matches, and you know you’re about to be taken down while holding the ball, look out for any teammates near your position and throw them the ball. It is much better to keep it out of the other team’s hands.



4. King of the Hill:
It is wise to sometimes simply skip a hill if it will be changing soon and set up for the next one, or you may risk rushing aimlessly to a hill that’s too well defended and dying over and over again.

Try to control a point that’s close to where the next hill moves to, and set up there. Now when the hill moves, you’re in the location already and your opposition is likely to be farther away at the previous hill’s position and also in a weakened state. This allows you to accrue time easily and relatively safely.

When playing properly on a team, there should be only one player in the hill so the remaining teammates can cover the other angles to help keep the hill dweller alive. The only time two teammates should be on a hill is toward the end of a game when you need to keep the hill at all costs for the points. So, if one teammate dies in the hill, there’s a second to keep the time continuous.

5. Rushing: Never try to randomly run flags or rush an objective by charging in without help from your teammates.

6. Ordnance Discretion:

When calling in Ordnance Drops it’s important to remember a few things. First, don’t always call in a drop as soon as you get one. Instead, wait for your current provisions to run dry, especially if they’re doing the trick (which they likely are, as you just got an option for a drop!) Second, call in drops inside enclosed areas. If you do it in the open, the drop will be deployed from above the map and will be loud and noticeable. Instead, head to an interior or a location with an overhang and the ordnance will discretely materialize instead of dropping. And finally, don’t always select a power weapon which is often a player’s first reaction. If you’ve got a sweet weapon, selecting a power-up can sometimes make it even sweeter. There’s nothing quite like using a SAW to cut down a handful of enemies only to be rewarded by an Overshield, allowing you to cut down the same enemies all over again almost immediately after.

Halo Stats

Happy Halloween!

Just a reminder as we ramp up for next week.  Stats have moved from bungie.net to Waypoint.  Be sure to login over there and link your accounts so that your Halo 4 stats are ready to go on day 1.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo Reach.

Exactly 1 week until Halo 4 drops.  It's time to recalibrate your DMR timing.

In related news, OmniscientDeath and I will be picking up H4 at the midnight launch, at the Camden GameStop in San Jose and playing through the campaign.  We have two spots open for the campaign run, post here or touch base with me directly if you want in.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Player's Choice.

First one on gets to pick what we play.  If nobody is on by 9:15pm, I will cancel.

Halo 4 Season Pass Package Arrives at Retail

Reposted from N4G:

11 October, 2012

By ManPac

Following the official revelation of the Halo 4 ‘season pass’ for downloadable content (DLC), known as the War Games Map Pass, Microsoft Studios has today released a retail package designed specifically to promote the upcoming videogame add-ons. Halo 4 is set for release next month, but eager fans can purchase the branded Microsoft Points package from today.

The War Games Map Pass for Halo 4 will give players access to three upcoming multiplayer map packs, with each containing three maps each for a total of nine maps. Also included are three unique in-game items – the Spartan-IV “Scanner” and “Strider” helmets and the “Falcon” in-game emblem. The War Games Map Pass is priced at 2000 Microsoft Points which, according to Microsoft Studios, represents a fifteen percent saving from the cost of purchasing the three map packs individually. No release date have yet been announced for any Halo 4 DLC.

Of course, it should be noted that this product is in fact a 2000 Microsoft Points card with added Halo 4 and War Games Map Pass branding, designed to promote the upcoming release in the same fashion as similar branded Microsoft Points products have been released for Call of Duty videogames in the past. Electronic Theatre will keep you updated with all the latest details on Halo 4 as it approaches release on 6th November 2012.

No Scheduled Clan Night Tonight

We have finished both the H3 and ODST Campaigns.  If you'd like to play, leave a comment or ping me on text.

Special Clan Night Tonight, 9pm PT, H3 ODST Campaign

Continuing where Tuesday left off

Special Clan Night Tonight, 9pm PT, H3 ODST Campaign

Starting with "Prepare to Drop", level 1

Special Clan Night Tonight, 9pm PT, H3 Campaign

Starting with "The Covenant", level 8

Halo 4 Double XP

Submitted by OD, reposted from Gamespot:

Halo 4 double XP unlocked with Dew, Doritos purchases

October 1, 2012 10:56AM PDT

By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Gamers who pick up Game Fuel soft drink and specially marked bags of chips can earn double experience in Microsoft's new shooter.

Halo fans hoping to level up their soldiers more expeditiously in November's Halo 4 can pick up Mountain Dew and Doritos products to earn double experience points, parent company PepsiCo announced today.

Game Fuel is back.

Beginning October 15, players who purchase Mountain Dew's special Game Fuel soft drink (at right) and specially marked Doritos products can begin entering codes through the promotion's website.
More information on the promotion can be found at the official website. Halo 4 launches worldwide on November 6 exclusively for the Xbox 360. It is a direct sequel to 2007's Halo 3, and is the first numbered entry in the series developed at 343 Industries.
[CORRECTION] An earlier version of this story indicated gamers could customize their weapon loadouts through the promotion's website. In fact, players can only customize their arsenals through the Xbox 360 itself. GameSpot regrets the error

Play Until Your Eyes Bleed

Warm up your Xboxes, download updates, and charge your batteries.  We're going to try and knock out a bunch of homework this week.

• Monday, October 15: Halo 3 Campaign - Starting with "The Covenant", level 8
• Tuesday, October 16: Halo 3: ODST Campaign - Starting with "Prepare to Drop", level 1
• Wednesday, October 17: Halo 3 Campaign -Continuing where Monday leaves off
• Thursday, October 18: Halo 3: ODST Campaign -Continuing where Tuesday leaves off

Halo 4 Review (Spoiler Alert)

Submitted by OD, reposted from the Inquirer:

Halo 4 hands-on review

An early peek at the blastastic next installment of the iconic first person shooter series

By Alastair Stevenson

Wed Sep 26 2012, 18:33

 

 

MICROSOFT HAS UNLEASHED the press on its eagerly anticipated first person shooter Halo 4, giving us go at two of the game's levels and full rein with its multiplayer features.
On hand at the scene, The INQUIRER blasted, clawed, drove and punched its way through the levels on show and we have to say that we're impressed.
Playing the game, we instantly felt at home, with an overarching sense of familiarity taking hold of us the moment we heard Master Chief and Cortana speak. Listening to the two characters' conversation and from what we've seen, 343 Studios has done a masterful job of recapturing the characters' tit for tat dialogue.
This sense of familiarity carried on to the game's mission format. Like its predecessors Halo 4's single player campaign is split into a number of missions, which are themselves each split into several checkpoints. In Halo 4 as in Halo 1, Halo 2 and Halo 3, Cortana acts as your guide, updating and instructing you on what action you need to take at any given time.

Starting with the game's opening level, Dawn, we saw Master Chief awaken to find a ship infested with Covenant soldiers. 343 Studios claims the level was intentionally designed to be reminiscent of the original Halo's opening level, and having played, we have to admit that it really did give us a sense of nostalgia, with the dark metal corridors, flashing blue control panels and industrial pipes lining its walls all being unquestionably Halo.
In Dawn, we found ourselves being pushed forward further into the Covenant infested spaceship to find out why humanity hadn't responded to Master Chief's distress call. This saw us traverse through a number of dark corridors and docking bays, fighting past the familiar Grunts and Drones to get to the ship's command centre, all of which felt quite familiar and in keeping with the previous games.
It was only later into the level that we began to see just how much 343 Studios has added to the series. Chief among the gameplay additions are quicktime events. Akin to mini games, quicktime events are gameplay sequences that require you to follow custom onscreen commands within a set time period. In our hands-on demo, midway through Dawn we were tasked to help Master Chief claw his way through an access shaft while dodging debris.

Moving to play the second demo level, Forerunner, it truly dawned on us just how much 343 Studios has added. Set on an alien world full of jagged rock formations and towering futuristic alien architecture, we were flabbergasted at how good Halo 4's graphics are. The game looks simply amazing, featuring high definition textures and flawless animations that we would have thought too demanding for the Xbox and its now ancient processor to deal with.
Forerunner's map was far more open than the claustrophobic corridors of Dawn and housed a number of new weapons and enemies. This level gave us an opening introduction to the Forerunners, a lost race of techno-demigods responsible for creating the galaxy destroying Halo weapons. Here we were confronted with the Knight, Crawler and Watcher Forerunners.

Knights are large creatures made of a mix of steel and hologram that fall into the same class as the Covenant Elite but with the added ability to teleport around the battlefield. Crawlers are a race of dog-like creatures with big canine teeth that swarm across walls and flat surfaces to attack you in packs. Watchers are flying drones that hover around the battlefield healing and shielding their allies.
Playing this second level we found fighting the Forerunner enemies far harder than we expected, with each class behaving differently than any enemy we've ever encountered in a Halo game, thus forcing us to adapt our playing style and fighting tactics while engaging them.
The Forerunner level also adds a number of new weapons to the series. The coolest of these were the Light gun, Boltshot and Suppressor, which equate to variations on the classic Battle Rifle, Shotgun and SMG. The weapons are interesting due to the fact that they have both primary and secondary firing modes. The Light Rifle for example lets you fire three shots from the hip, or one more powerful shot zooming in. The addition of the different firing modes made using the weapons require a lot more thought, forcing us to plan which mode was best suited to the task at hand before entering a firefight.

As well as its single player additions, 343 Studios also tweaked Halo 4's multiplayer mode, updating it to give the player far more control over their Spartan character. Halo 4 features a level system similar to the one seen in Halo Reach, rewarding players with Experience after every multiplayer map, which in turn allows them to unlock new armour variants and upgrades.
However, for Halo 4 343 Studios has vastly increased the number of customisation options, giving players the ability to customise their weapon and item loadouts as well as their Spartan's appearance. Creating a loadout we were able to choose our primary and secondary weapons, grenade type, armour ability, tactical package and support upgrade.
New additions to the series, tactical package and support upgrades are variations that grant specific perks like increased speed or health to your character. Using the fully levelled Spartan used in the demo, were amazed at the number of armour variants and weapons on offer.
Outside of Halo 4's core Dominion, Capture the Flag, Regicide, Infinity Slayer and Flood multiplayer modes, 343 Studios has added a cooperative Spartan Ops mode. The mode is set to be released in weekly instalments, each of which will come bundled with a CG webisode that lays out the mission's backstory. During the demo we got to try out the Land Grab and Sniper Alley Spartan Ops. Both the missions featured run and gun gameplay that was similar to Halo 4's main campaign.
Halo 4 is set for release on 6 November. Having played through the opening sections of Halo 4, we have to say that we're really impressed. From what we've seen 343 Studios has done an excellent job, adding a host of new features to the Halo series while faithfully retaining the character and feel of its predecessors. Here's hoping that we'll be equally impressed with the full game.
Check back with The INQUIRER later for a full review of Halo 4. µ

The Inquirer (http://s.tt/1oqt9)