Halo 2 unlockable content?

[Jeff W]

Wasn't sure if this should have gone into On-line or Off-line, I guess it doesn't matter as both are mentioned.

 

"You may be tempted to spend November 9th hosting a Halo 2 System Link party or fragging it up on Xbox Live, but don't ignore the campaign mode for long. Complete it on any difficulty level, and your multiplayer experience will be permanently enriched. We'll leave the rest of that riddle for you to solve..."

 

Supposedly from OXM's Halo 2 review, take it for what it is at this point, a rumor.

[Robot Monkey]

That's neat. Personally, I'd like a ton of unlockables done Ghost Recon-style. Maybe you unlock a shoulder patch that indicates you completed the single player?

 

I know I heard that you can unlock the Warthog in Halo 2 ().

[JoeyN]

terrific. Another thing i wont have in the multiplayer

 

capt

[Jeff W]

Personally I don't like unlockable content, I paid my $55, I don't want to HAVE to unlock anything to enjoy the game to it's fullest. Besides, people will just download finished game saves on legendary off of action replay anyway.

[bickle]

A free reward for beating the game? Man, that's awful.

[Jeff W]

Not sure what kind of living you make but $55 is nowhere near free for me, just my opinion but all the content thats on that disc, I paid for, why shouldn't it all be available from the start?

[JFo]

bug;

 

That's one way of looking at it. Another is to say that they're giving you some sort of incentive to play the single player campaign. I realize that many people will spend most of their time playing online, but if the campaign is as good as it should be, I don't see why it would be considered a chore to go through it at least once.

 

And that's just my opinion.

[Romier S]

That's one way of looking at it. Another is to say that they're giving you some sort of incentive to play the single player campaign. I realize that many people will spend most of their time playing online, but if the campaign is as good as it should be, I don't see why it would be considered a chore to go through it at least once.

 

Agreed and well put Jeff.

[Robot Monkey]

I think I understand your point, Bug, but rewarding players for accomplishing things in videogames is nothing new, particularly for Live games.

 

Many racing games on Live reward players with new cars, paint schemes and even tracks. The original Ghost Recon rewarded players with new weapons, maps and cheats. The Chronicles of Riddick allowed players to unlock concept art. Further, even the original Halo rewarded Legendary players with a different cut scene at the end of the game.

 

Do these examples bother you as well?

 

As long as the game itself is complete -- that is, it doesn't lack something critical to the gameplay experience that must be unlocked -- I don't have a problem with unlockables. For all we know, the Halo 2 reward is nothing more than a special skin or shoulder patch (and for all we know it's nothing more than a false rumor).

 

-j

[Covak]

I've always thought unlockables for multiplayer are just plain bad. The negatives always seem to greatly outweigh the positives.

 

But hopefully the Halo 2 reward isn't the gameplay-altering kind.

[Orpheus]

Originally posted by Robot Monkey@Oct 23 2004, 04:16 PM

Many racing games on Live reward players with new cars, paint schemes and even tracks. The original Ghost Recon rewarded players with new weapons, maps and cheats. The Chronicles of Riddick allowed players to unlock concept art. Further, even the original Halo rewarded Legendary players with a different cut scene at the end of the game.

 

Do these examples bother you as well?

Yes, especially in the case of Ghost Recon with the extra weapons and in racing games with unlockable vehicles. These are things that give the person who has completed the offline portion of the game a greater advantage when online. There were somevery nice weapons to be had if you unlocked them in GR, and I find it's almost impossible to be competitive in most racing games when you have the one or two cars that the game automatically allows you versus someone who has unlocked all the uber cars for any given class. I also think that unlockable maps really suck as well, at least as far as online play goes. I have no problems with these things offline, but don't penalize me online for the state of my offline progress.

 

Things like skins and paint jobs, I have no problems with, it's cosmetic and doesn't affect gameplay.

 

I think your examples of Halo and Chronicles of Riddick are not applicable here, as these are things that do not affect gameplay in any way. After all, this was the point of the original post:

Complete it on any difficulty level, and your multiplayer experience will be permanently enriched.

[Romier S]

These are things that give the person who has completed the offline portion of the game a greater advantage when online. There were somevery nice weapons to be had if you unlocked them in GR, and I find it's almost impossible to be competitive in most racing games when you have the one or two cars that the game automatically allows you versus someone who has unlocked all the uber cars for any given class.

 

Well, that then begs the question how would you know how to use those "uber" cars effectively if you did not work through the offline portion? Especially in the case of something like Project Gotham Racing 2. You could have the Enzo right from the minute you log into the online game but that doesn't mean you'll understand the nuances of the game enough to race it properly. I just don't think it's always as black and white as saying "I paid for the game so I should be able to see it all right from start."

 

Ghost Recon is an entirely different story though as I do somewhat agree with you that it unbalances the online gameplay a tad too much for the games own good.

[Orpheus]

Originally posted by FutureVoid@Oct 23 2004, 06:02 PM

You could have the Enzo right from the minute you log into the online game but that doesn't mean you'll understand the nuances of the game enough to race it properly.

If I can't drive it that's my problem, at least I have the option to suck with it.

[JoeyN]

For people who play the entire single player game its not a problem. Except for two games(KOTR and some shooter i did with brian) I havent done a entire game in years.

 

capt

[adamsappel]

Originally posted by FutureVoid+Oct 23 2004, 06:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (FutureVoid @ Oct 23 2004, 06:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Well, that then begs the question how would you know how to use those "uber" cars effectively if you did not work through the offline portion? Especially in the case of something like Project Gotham Racing 2. You could have the Enzo right from the minute you log into the online game but that doesn't mean you'll understand the nuances of the game enough to race it properly. [/b]

Nuances? Please. How about every driving game should force you to start with a Model-T? Would I spin out around every corner the first few races I drove the Enzo? Probably, but I think in about an hour or so I would have the hang of it, as opposed to the twenty it would take to unlock it. Let me, the consumer, decide if I'm "uber" enough to drive your fancy rides.

 

I think we might have the beginnings of some real fractious Halo 2 games, what with keyboard & mouse fears, preferred hosts, clans, possible unlockable weapons or armor, etc.

 

<!--QuoteBegin-FutureVoid@Oct 23 2004, 06:02 PM

Ghost Recon is an entirely different story though as I do somewhat agree with you that it unbalances the online gameplay a tad too much for the games own good.

How is that an entirely different story? Me having some super-gun as opposed to you driving a faster car?

[JoeyN]

Clans arent a problem. People make it out to be a problem , when its not. The key/mouse and the unlockables could

 

capt

[Romier S]

How about every driving game should force you to start with a Model-T?

 

How about we not blow an as of yet unrevealed unlockable out of proportion since we have almost ZERO information as to what is going to be unlocked (for all anyone knows it can be a badge of the Master Chiefs ass).

 

As far as your Model-T analogy, don't they already do that? Isn't that what you are bitching about? I think most of the racing games available on the market these days start you out with the bare minimum and force you to unlock the goods via a single player mode as it is. I'd say your somewhat sarcastic scenario is already a reality so there is little sense in getting your 13in TV having panties in a ruffle about it. If your implication is that all racing games are alike and lack any form of nuanced gameplay, I would have to respectfully disagree with you.

 

Let me, the consumer, decide if I'm "uber" enough to drive your fancy rides.

 

I would imagine that the developers working on these games would say they put alot of time into the single player content and don't want to give you that option. You are going to have to experience it by hook or by crook. Having said that, I totally understand the viewpoints several folks have mentioned here. They do not agree with that line of thinking but I can also understand where the developers are coming from. You put work into something you want people to see and experience it. It's selfish but I can understand it.

[Sam P]

I'm also in the camp that doesn't like "game enriching" unlockables for multiplayer. If devs insist on making things like faster cars or better guns unlockables, then allow the player to unlock them via multiplayer alone (i.e. Multiplayer Kudos on PGR2). Let the player decide whether he/she wants to play the singleplayer, instead of potentially making it a chore to unlock crucial multiplayer items. Multiplayer/ Singleplayer can be fully separated, i.e. Pandora Tomorrow.

 

The point is that the player should have the choice of playing one or the other, or both, without having any one part compromised because of the lack of interest/time spent in the other.

 

EDIT: Just saw Romier's post.

 

It's selfish but I can understand it.

 

Yes, indeed, it really serves no purpose (certainly, not to the end of making a better game), other than for the satisfaction of the devs to have everyone play through their work.

[ant1]

I fully agree that a live game has to have nothing essential locked, and if they must make you "earn" this super/car/gun/map... that it can be done by playing online.

There are certain games that I have absolutely no interest in playing single player. And I just do not have the time to give to "earn" my ride, if I have a couple of spare hours for gaming I would much rather play on live, I shouldn't be punished because someone else has less commitments.

 

And take this with a grain of salt, but someone with a leaked version of halo went fishing in it's contents and found a map that is not found in single or multiplayer.

[Romier S]

And take this with a grain of salt, but someone with a leaked version of halo went fishing in it's contents and found a map that is not found in single or multiplayer.

 

 

Out of curiosity is Bloodgulch on the list of included multiplayer maps? If it's not I can see that being the unlockable that will "change your online Halo 2 life".

 

If I can't drive it that's my problem, at least I have the option to suck with it.

 

Yeah, I completely understand that Travis. Just offering an opposing viewpoint as to a possible positive to having to play through the single player game.

 

Also wanted to touch on one of Allens points:

 

How is that an entirely different story? Me having some super-gun as opposed to you driving a faster car?

 

Thinking about it a bit more I placed too much of a distinguishment between the racing and shooter genre in my head in terms of competitive online play. You are right though Allen, there is very little difference. What I said about the single player content however stands, I do feel there are advantages to actually playing through it and in the case of some games is well worth it both for the pre-online training and the fun.

[adamsappel]

Originally posted by FutureVoid@Oct 23 2004, 07:11 PM

How about every driving game should force you to start with a Model-T?

How about we not blow an as of yet unrevealed unlockable out of proportion since we have almost ZERO information as to what is going to be unlocked (for all anyone knows it can be a badge of the Master Chiefs ass).

 

As far as your Model-T analogy, don't they already do that? Isn't that what you are bitching about? I think most of the racing games available on the market these days start you out with the bare minimum and force you to unlock the goods via a single player mode as it is. I'd say your somewhat sarcastic scenario is already a reality so there is little sense in getting your 13in TV having panties in a ruffle about it.

You brought up driving games as an analogy, and used that tired "you couldn't handle the fastest car if you had it from the start" reasoning. If learning the oh-so-subtle nuances of videogame racing is so important, I asked why they didn't start you with the real basics, a little 7 mph rambler in any color you like, so long as it's black. Somewhat sarcastic? Maybe. Hardly personal. WHAT THE FUCK do you call "getting your 13in TV having panties in a ruffle about it"? I would hope that the owner of a forum might have a little more decorum than to insult one of his members because of a thin-skinned belief he's been slighted. Adding a winkie doesn't ameliorate it, either.

[Romier S]

Somewhat sarcastic? Maybe. Hardly personal.

 

Nor did I take it as such.

 

WHAT THE FUCK do you call "getting your 13in TV having panties in a ruffle about it"? I would hope that the owner of a forum might have a little more decorum than to insult one of his members because of a thin-skinned belief he's been slighted. Adding a winkie doesn't ameliorate it, either.

 

Allen....IT WAS A JOKE! For the love of god if you couldn't see that I don't know how much more plainly I could make it. I apologize if you feel I in some way slighted you.

[adamsappel]

Originally posted by FutureVoid@Oct 23 2004, 07:11 PM

If your implication is that all racing games are alike and lack any form of nuanced gameplay, I would have to respectfully disagree with you.

Yeah, that's obviously exactly what I meant. Thanks for the respectful disagreement.

[Romier S]

WHAT THE FUCK do you call "getting your 13in TV having panties in a ruffle about it"? I would hope that the owner of a forum might have a little more decorum than to insult one of his members because of a thin-skinned belief he's been slighted. Adding a winkie doesn't ameliorate it, either.

 

For the record I would think that a long standing member of this forum, who has been here from the beginning, would know the demeanor of the owner in question and would know that I do my damndest to be respectful and helpful to everyone here. You of course know that I have joked with you on several occasions about your television and my thinking was that you would immediately pick up on that as being nothing more than a joke. You could have simply asked me my intentions Allen, instead of automatically assuming I'm in some way insulting you. A personal PM or a post in this thread would have sufficed.

[adamsappel]

Mock my tv all you want, it's my panties that were insulted.

 

If the secret content really is the Blood Gulch map, I wonder if players who hadn't unlocked it can join those games?