New Game Modes for Halo Reach

1up.com has some more details and new game modes that we've heard teased so far.

Headhunter: Basically an Assault type game where the object is to capture an object and deliver it somewhere else. Specifically, you are trying to pick up skulls and score them in deposit zones that move around the map. Actually, very similar to Powerball from the American Gladiators TV show. The twist here is that you can carry more than one skull (maybe up to 10), but if you are killed before you score, you drop them all, allowing anybody else to pick them up. Also, you have shiny waypoint marker on your head indicating how many skulls you are carrying.

Stockpile: Described as Territories meets CTF. Scoring happens at regular time intervals, and the game counts how many flags you have within your territory at each interval, regardless of which team is actually holding the flag. So you must bring neutral flags back into your territory, and hold them there until the scoring time interval ends.

Generator Defense: A round-based 3v3 game type that pits Spartans (defenders) against Elites (attackers). There are 3 generators to defend, 3 random power-weapon drops fall from the sky at the beginning of each round, and generators can be locked down (invulnerable) for 30 seconds at a time. This actually sounds like a pretty hard game type because there are only 3 defenders available to defend 3 objectives. Only played on a purpose-built map though, so maybe the generators are in difficult locations.

Invasion: This is a large scale 6v6 game type that is described as epic and should be a clan favorite, given our predilections. Not many details have been released, but it does appear to be round-based and multi-stage, with heavy weapons being air dropped in for the later stages.

GT wont' be on tonight

For those that get this on RSS and e-mail, I won't be able to make H2 night tonight at 10pm. A 6am meeting got scheduled after I wrote the post. I did verify during the day today, however, that the downloads are all available and that matchmaking is working correctly. Today is the last day you'll ever be able to play Halo 2 on Xbox Live, so get it while it's good! I sucked pretty hard, so wouldn't have helped you guys anyway.

Halo 2 tonight. 10pm PT.

(For those of you who are interested, this is a rally point. GT will not be on.)

In last week's Bungie update, they announced that they would be giving away some Halo Reach prizes for people on the last day Halo 2 will be available. I'll be on-line tonight at 10pm or earlier to log a few games to qualify. Join me!

Two important things:

• There are two title updates and several map packs that you will likely have to re-download to play in matchmaking. So far, I am the only one in the clan that I know of who was been able to do it successfully. If you want to play, I strongly recommend that you log in at least an hour ahead of time to try to get your downloads.
• Halo 2 is an Xbox 1 title, so it doesn't support any of the new Xbox Live NXE features. Specifically, XBL parties will not work, so it will be hard for me to help you if you're stuck. Also, chat and messaging (though supported within Halo 2) is not interoperable with the XBL NXE interface. That means if you are in the new XBL dashboard and send me a message, I will not be able to view it in Halo 2, and vice versa.
  

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

Be there, bitches.

Reach Tidbits

IGN and Bungie have some new tidbits on Reach this week.

• Headhunter is indeed a gametype (OD) and not some kind of skull activated effect. Don't know what the game is though.
• Spartans vs Elites is featured on the Generator Defense gametype, an asymmetrical objective game that sounds kind of like Assault.
• The MP Beta will feature four maps: Sword Base, Powerhouse, Overlook and Boneyard.
• Jetpacks are (sadly) for n00bz. Though cool, they are apparently slow, loud, and not maneuverable. Additionally, you're basically sitting duck for Needlers or Needle Rifles.
• Fall damage even applies to mancannons. wtf?!
• Boneyard is big enough to, and will support vehicles in the MP beta.
• "Bloom" is the reticle expanding effect that I noted from the trailer but forget to mention in the last Reach update. This isn't a headshot notifier or anything, it's to illustrate the decrease in accuracy after each shot so that you can't just spam rounds.

Most interesting of note in the Bungie update is that they will be giving out prizes for everyone who plays Halo 2 on the last day, April 14. They mention "visual flair" for Halo Reach as well as some other undetailed prizes. Remember that there are TON of annoying updates and the process is super wonky. Be prepared to try a few times.

Halo 3 tonight. 10pm PT.

We'll be on-line trying out some matchmaking and shaking off the rust tonight. Join up!

Transition Plan

Starting this weekend, I will start hosting off-night clan sessions in Halo 3 matchmaking. If it wasn't obvious already, I am getting us ready for the launch of Halo Reach. I am, generally speaking, available all nights (other than Tue/Wed) after 9:30pm PT. To accommodate those in other time zones, I am happy to pre-schedule earlier nights as well. Leave a comment or reply on e-mail if you have requests for days/times.

Also, since people keep asking me, the way you get invited into the Halo Reach multiplayer beta is via the Halo 3 ODST game disc. I've posted about this before, but there are a number of outlets where you can get it for cheap now. GameFly was offering used copies for $20. Other outlets are offering it at varying prices: Amazon $49.99 new w/ free shipping, Gamestop $44.99 used, Amazon $35.78 used w/ free shipping, eBay ~$30 w/ shipping included.

Expect us to fully convert to Halo Reach when it launches this fall. You should also expect that all clan nights while the Halo Reach multiplayer beta is active will involve the Reach beta. ODST was unfortunately a dud with limited 4-player Xbox Live play. Halo Reach brings back the full 16 player multiplayer experience with a TON of new changes to the Halo universe. With the new active roster, clan nights will (in theory) run smoother than they ever have in the past. w00t!

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

I'll need to drop around 9:45pm, but that should still be plenty of time.

More on Reach

Bungie's latest update answered many of the questions raised by their MP trailer I blogged about a while back as well as clarifying many other things. Highlights:

• Elites and Spartans will have very different models and characteristics. At first blush, Elites appear to pwn face.
• Loadouts (0:14) explained: Ability to choose armor and weapon configs at round start and with every respawn.
• Active Camo (0:29): Degrades with movement and jams radar, so others will be aware it's in operation.
• Armor Lock (0:22): Makes you temporarily invincible, even to splatters, which explains how the one guy blew up the Ghost in the trailer instead of getting splattered.
• Evade (0:11): These are the dive rolls that may only be available to Elites.
• Jet Packs (0:14): New details released including the implication of fall damage and needing to reserve jet pack fuel to soften the landing. Also susceptible to EMP damage. Note that the green gun can generate the normal EMP, but that the new grenade launcher can also generate EMP! (maybe this is seen at 0:28 - in-air rocket kill)
  
• Sprint: Run faster but can't shoot

New weapons:

• Plasma Repeater: Looks like dual wielding has been removed, so this is similar to two Plasma Rifles. It will not conk out when it overheats, will just slow down. Analogous to UNSC Assault Rifle.
  
• Plasma Launcher (0:47): Sends up to four plasma bombs, and appears more similar to the UNSC Rocket Launcher than the Brute Shot. Rounds have slight target tracking ability.
• Focus Rifle (1:16): This is that crazy rail gun looking thing. Basically merges a beam rifle with the sentinel beam.
• Grenade Launcher (0:45, 1:04): Bungie puts quotes around this as the "Pro Pipe" but that may be an ironic reference to this as a "n00b cannon." Interestingly, you can hold the trigger after you fire a round and it won't detonate until you release the trigger. As mentioned above, these grenades also have an EMP blast, so you can use this pop jet packs out of the air.

Vehicles:

• Warthog: Probably the biggest (and saddest) news for our clan. The Warthog chaingun can now overheat. Suck.
• Scorpion (0:07): Gunner is now secondary and exposed.
  

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

With luck, maybe we'll have more than the same six people that have showed up for the last three weeks. In other news, looks like Cock of Dooty's MW2 patch that dropped today is hella broken. xbox.com/support is #2 in the world on the Google most searched list as of this writing.

ODST for $20

Gamefly is offering used copies of ODST for just $20. This would be an inexpensive way to get into the Halo Reach beta.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

nom nom nom

Halo Reach matchmaking details

Bungie and Shacknews have just released a bunch of new details about the matchmaking system that is coming with Halo Reach later this year. While much of it won't be relevant for the large majority of you that never host parties or run the matchmaking setup, I would like everyone to check out the Bungie update and scroll down to "Invite Me, Plz" where they describe the new Active Roster feature. Basically what this will allow is for you to join clan night at whatever time you like, queue up for the party (even if we're in a game) and automatically join the next time we hit a lobby. I don't need to send you an invite, you don't have to send me a private note, no separate Xbox Live party required. This solves a huge annoyance for clan nights, so hopefully the beta test in May irons it out so it goes smoothly. I will be debugging our party connection issues over the next couple of months as well to figure out what's wrong with that.

Speaking of Reach, questions from some latecomers remind me that it's not entirely obvious. Invitation to the Halo Reach beta test launching on May 3 is EXCLUSIVELY via the Halo 3: ODST game disc. No ODST, no Reach beta for you. The game is $49.99 new at Amazon with free shipping. Can probably be found used locally for $44.99 at Gamestop or as cheap as $35.78 used including shipping on Amazon. Prices on eBay are hovering around $30 including shipping. As I've mentioned before, you should expect the clan to be playing both the Halo Reach beta as well as Halo Reach when it drops in the fall. The group consensus is also leaning towards Halo games during the interim between the two.

Firefight Night

Got a free evening? Been having trouble sleeping? Firefight rounds tonight starting at 9:30pm. I will break out of games to pick up stragglers up until 10pm.

L4D2 Updates

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Valve has announced some updates coming out for Left 4 Dead 2:

• "The Passing" DLC - Includes new campaign and versus maps as well as some other bells and whistles.
• Versus infected bots - To help balance shorthanded versus teams
• Disabled Finale auto-spawning - Because it sucks

I will not be recommending the DLC for clan purchase unless there is strong demand for it. That said, there will likely be a lull in games between the Halo Reach beta in May and when Halo Reach officially launches later this year. I am taking nominations now for what the clan should play in the interim. Here are some thoughts:

• Left 4 Dead 1 and/or 2 - We can always keep playing zombies. If we play for a few months, it may then be worth it to get the DLC.
• Halo 3 and/or ODST - I will assume that the Halo Reach beta will expire like the H3 beta did, but we can stay in the swing of all things Halo until the fall if people would like.
• Rainbow Six Vegas 2 - Even though R6V1 was fun and popular, we missed this game because it had a conflicting release date. It's an old game at this point and would be really cheap for everyone to pick up at their local Gamestop.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - This is a very popular game on-line and we could consider joining it late, but I suspect it might not be very fun for n00bz.
• NHL 10 - This would be a break from our standard FPS fare, but I recently picked it up. It's not all that revolutionary in gameplay (compared to NHL 94) or graphics (compared to Madden 10) but it does support 6v6 on-line multiplayer which is quite the novelty. If there is demand for a sports game, I would consider it.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

Back to our regularly scheduled brain programming.

ODST Firefight Nights

Sorry for being dark last week and missing the clan night post. Had a guest in from out of town and was afk all day. In other news, the Halo 2 downloads have been consistently problematic for folks, so I'm just going to skip it. Starting this week for 3 weeks or so, I will coordinate ODST Firefight nights for those who are interested. If you want to log some 4 player action, leave a comment here or reply on e-mail with what days/times you'd like to game. I'll send out a first lobby of 9:30pm or later on any day but our regular Tuesday clan night.

Halo Reach MP Trailer Details

I've watched the trailer in more detail and here some things I've noticed:

• 0:07 - Scorpion gunner fully exposed like Wraith gunner
• 0:09 - Uppercut finishing move, suspect this is just built into the melee function (mentioned on bnet) like the assassination animation shown later
• 0:10 - Glow shields (mentioned on bnet)...shields glow with an outline and then "explode" when gone showing when to get a headshot easily
• 0:11 - Dive roll...this looks brand new, some kind of Gears of War mechanism maybe
• 0:14 - "Loadouts" This is the first appearance of the ZOMG jetpack. Calling it "loadouts" implies you can choose this at spawn, interesting. More subtly, the Spartan running through the foreground also has active camo.
• 0:17 - "First Strike" is a new medal. Appears has an orange upside-down pentagon with a skull in it. Announcer also displays kills "with grenades" now.
• 0:20 - A new HUD element above the radar shows what must be the jetpack "fuel" remaining.
• 0:22 - What appears to be a ghost splatter is actually not. The ghost explodes afterwards. The HUD special equipment shows a lock, maybe that has something to do with it?
• 0:25 - "Pull" and "Headshot" medals. Pull medal implies kill for somebody in the air based on this kill and how the medal looks like a jetpack.
• 0:25 - Green and yellow multi-colored armor.
• 0:27 - First look at what is presumably the DMR (BR replacement). Looks seksi.
• 0:28 - Rocket kill in the air. This is almost impossible with today's non-tracking dumb rockets. If we presume there's a reason that they've chosen to show this, maybe rockets track flying people now?
• 0:29 - Active camo armor being shown with HUD element.
• 0:30 - Sniper targeting reticle turns red and then suddenly gets huge when bullet strikes. Unclear if this is to indicate headshot available, or because reticle expands to cover shield explosion.
• 0:32 - Assassination animation. This one appears to be with a knife, though it's pretty homoerotic in the showers there.
• 0:34 - Two more assassinations here, these climbing up on top like a jockey.
• 0:41 - "Invasion" Assuming this is a new game type where one team storms a base or something.
• 0:45 - Some kind of new gun that has a targeting reticle similar to the gauss cannon.
• 0:46 - Sniping in more detail, again with the expanding reticle. This time much more strongly suggests headshot indicator.
• 0:47 - New weapon, looks like a Fuel Rod cannon, but has "energy" instead of rounds. Appears to be 6-7 points per shot, so in total maybe 15 shots. Appears to have a track locking feature. 3 shot warthog pwn.
  
• 0:51 - Dive roll shown in more detail this time
• 0:51 - "Headhunter" Maybe some kind of skull that can be enabled? A bunch of flaming skulls explode out of the dead guy. Could be a human equivalent of Grunt Birthday Party.
• 0:53 - Again showing the changing reticle size, this time on a DMR. Headshot results in flaming skulls.
• 0:57 - "Active roster" - Have no idea what this means
• 1:04 - Gauss cannon thing appears again, with the reload animation showing a shell being put into the chamber. Also notice the lightning bolt HUD element for special equipment. Maybe sprint upgrade?
• 1:06 - "Spartans vs Elites" - Have to assume this is a new self-explanatory game mode. So far have only seen Elites being able to dive roll.
• 1:09 - Equipment HUD element looks like a targeting reticle, dunno what it is. Rocket destroys "generator" implying some new gametype.
• 1:14 - "The Arena" - Dunno what this is, maybe a map?
• 1:16 - What I previously described as the "rail gun" appears to be new Covenant beam rifle maybe? The beam trail is significantly more pronounced everywhere it appears, and actually tracks the target being hit here for 3 or 4 steps.
• 1:17 - New "Revenge!" medal. Red skull on upside down triangle.

All in all, the game looks generally gorgeous. Very excited. Two months left.

ZOMG

Bungie just dropped a trailer for the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta coming out in exactly two months. Jaw drop here please:



This kind of looks like Halo, but NOT. Punching in the gut, what looks like a rail gun, jockey-like humping assassinations, JETPACKS, I'm going to need to watch it over and over and over again. Consider me aroused.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

Our usual programming for tonight. We had a full house last week with 8 players, so as a reminder remember that first come first served applies for clan night. If there are more than 8 playing, the latest players will have to wait. Generally speaking, this doesn't last very long, so you should stay on. When possible, I will try to spin off players so that there are multiple groups playing, but it's not always possible.