Halo 2 Multiplayer: Fun but Painful
November 10, 2004 7:00 PM
Halo 2 has some amazingly cool features.
- In Campaign mode, there are never any "loading" screens besides a brief one when you first start the game. New levels and cinematics just fluidly happen without any pause. It's magical.
- On XBOX Live, choose if you want a team game or every-man-for-himself and Halo 2 will find people for you to play against.
- Halo 2 matches with with people at or around your skill level. 1 is the lowest, 50 is the best.
- Up to four people can play on one XBOX, even on XBOX Live.
Halo 2 has some amazingly uncool features.
- Right now there are 68,831 people playing Halo 2 on XBOX Live. Despite that (or because of that?), it takes 2 to 5 minutes to find people and start a multiplayer game. After finishing one round, which usually last about 5 minutes, you're back to the selection screen and have to wait another 2 to 5 minutes for the next game. You cannot continue on the same "server" with the same people. I've read that this was done to make sure you play against a variety of people so your stats will be more accurate, but I'd much prefer to spend more time playing, less time waiting, and make friends with people I'm playing against rather than have a new bunch of strangers every five minutes.
- For ranked games (which is what everybody seems to be playing), you cannot choose any details besides team game or not. You love King of the Hill but hate Slayer? Too bad. You have a favorite map? Too bad. You want to join a game in progress that your friend is playing? Too bad. You want to increase or decrease the number of players? Too bad. While you can create custom games, there's no way to search for them, so the people that play on your custom server are going to find it randomly.
- Everybody starts at Skill Level 1, even the Best of the Best. That means for somebody who doesn't play very much like me, I'm getting my ass kicked by all the really good players who are new to XBOX Live. There really should be an option for experienced players to "skip kindergarten" and start right at level 10.
- If you're buddies don't have XBOX Live accounts, or if they do have accounts but they don't have a copy of their account on your XBOX (which requires a XBOX memory card to do the copy), then you can't join ranked games. This is good for keeping track of the stats, but sucks when friends come over and you just want to play a game. I'm also having the same problem bringing my "Party" into a ranked game.
Ranked games are nice because they effect your level (so that you are playing against people at your skill level) and because all of your stats are tracked online. For example:
- My overall stats
- Every game I've played
- Stats for one of my better games
- Screenshots of every kill in that game (cool, but is there a purpose?)
Some helpful info:
- XBOX Live Matchmaking Playlist details and explanations.
- Find an XBOX Live player to see his or her stats.
- Stats and ranking overview.
- Halo 2 FAQ relating to XBOX Live.
- Explanation of the medals you can earn (but there's no running count so I don't know what the point is.)
Comments
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Posted November 11, 2004 8:39 AM
re #4:
So anyone that doesn't have an XBOX is going to have a difficult time dropping by DABU castle for a qucik game on XBOX Live - that sucks, for me in particular. You would think that XBOX Live is one of the selling points - so it would be faitly easy to include someone new and get them involved.Clicked on the screenshot - which is also the the link to see your every kill. Btw, I can think of a purpose. Remember the KOTH game w/ rockets wher bodies where everywhere? I would have loved to have been able to review the kills. But anyway...
"You must be signed into Passport to use the game viewer."That's cool, I've got a passport account - where do I login? Is this a Mac thing? ;)http://www.DylanGreene.com
Posted November 11, 2004 12:07 PM
There's no sign-in on that page because it's from a pop-up window. Yeah, dumb design. Go to http://www.bungie.net/Stats/PlayerStats.aspx?player=dylan and sign in there. I think the link is on the top right.
Bigger question is *why* must people sign in at all? The site is read-only... To prevent people from writting programs that use the data to show paterns, replays, etc?
Posted November 14, 2004 5:04 AM
I don't have an XBox, but currently I'm over at a friends house, having a Halo party...I know, I know - pathetic, but still...it's how we get our rocks off - lol - none of us have XBox Live, otherwise, I'd see if I could set up a game. your stats aren't too shabby, considering how many skilled players there must be online; I say, keep up the good work and blow some shit up!
Posted November 14, 2004 4:54 PM
Xbox connect will take that problem away..modify the maps and play with the same people over and over..and its free.
Posted November 15, 2004 10:13 PM
So, is there any way to specify exactly what kind of game you want to play? Like Swords on Ascension? Or does the Optimatch thing choose what ever it wants totally randomly? And is there a way to make a game that anyone can join? Not just Clan members or Friends? Ya know what I'm talkin about?
Posted December 4, 2004 3:11 PM
i am the greatest halo 2 player
Posted December 4, 2004 9:41 PM
i just bought xbox live for halo 2
i`ve loved halo for so long and im the best at it at it...so watch out xbox live im gunna flog you all mo fukerzPosted December 5, 2004 11:55 PM
Just trying to find some information on medals, cause some we still have not figured out. Dropping by to say hi as well, Dylan, add me to your friends list, could play around in TSkirmish some times. Oh and on being the greatest halo 2 player, ass klown, does your stats reflect that, or just your mouth?
Posted December 6, 2004 2:49 PM
dylan youre horrible dude. i would wreck you
Get on live tonight or whenever, im nomercyappliedPosted December 7, 2004 4:44 AM
I felt the same way about many of the cons, and still grumble from time to time myself. However, the ranking system is there for a good reason, and I appreciate it. you can still do the training (unranked) types of missions, you can create parties with guests and choose swords, rockets, juggers ect, and pick your maps.
As for playing with different people, I actually like that. If you get stuck with a group that you don't like, kill them and never see them again (mostly). If you see someone playing with style, or just kicked your arse hard, you can check your recent players list (click y) and send them a friend request or such. I'm already building a good friend base, and I've only been playing a short time.
Anyway, enjoyed reading your stuff, see you in my scope sometime.....
Posted December 7, 2004 12:48 PM
IT IS THE COOLEST F%$# GAME IN THE WORLD AND IM GLAD I AM ABLE TO HAVE IT
http://www.xanga.com/jayelleseven
Posted December 10, 2004 4:30 AM
Man there are some crazy Halo 2 players out therre. Play too much!! I wish I could play that much, haha. Some stats are crazy, mine suck, haha
Posted December 14, 2004 5:15 PM
The biggest mistake of Bungie: Not allowing people to pick their game.
I suck really bad at Halo in general, but I am particulary terrible at certain types of games and maps. For example, Rumble Rockets games or Beaver Creek map. I am also not very fond of "King" types of games. So unless I have enough "Friends" to agree to join a custom game (very hard to do) all I have been able to do is play all these game types I do not really like.
I am still convinced that what Bungie did is great, but still they should have left the option open for people to pick exactly which type of game they wanted to play, even if it is not a ranked game, and have it open for the public to pick it up in some sort of Lobby. Custom games with mass spams are not working as expected. I added tons of friends to my xbox live list just to find out that most people are just picking optimatches with whoever, no many invites (which is barely logical, you would like to invite only your real friends to a game).
Posted December 17, 2004 10:40 AM
if any 1 can post sites that have cool halo tips tricks and/or secrets pleez do so
Posted December 17, 2004 5:22 PM
your stats are good, i was just playin xbox live with my friend the other day and he got a beserker (20 kills in a row) it was nuts, i hate the lag when it happens but waiting before the game is awful.
Posted December 18, 2004 11:31 AM
dude the other day i swear to god i was playin against you and i was laying a fuckin smackdown on your ass! And I'm a FUCKIN NOOB!!
Posted December 28, 2004 3:12 PM
Yo, i'll Play anyone of you guyz out there in head to head or rumble pit.. All i ask is for you not to waste my time... My game tag is "LEE BRUCE11" Ill take any one of you .. I just ask that you don't waste my time becuse i have more important Matches to WIN,,,
http://www.xanga.com/jayelleseven
Posted December 29, 2004 4:28 AM
actually ur stats suck, haha, and I thought mine were bad. Come on man, I know I aint good, I'll vs yah sometime
Posted December 29, 2004 4:29 AM
and I aint talkin bout YOU BRUCE, yah, ud beat my ass, haha
Posted January 4, 2005 2:16 PM
Yall should stop calling each other noobs cause yall are a bunch of nerds who have no life and no girlfreinds
Posted February 3, 2005 10:41 PM
HEY, ANY ONE OF U DUDES WANNA PLAY SOME TEAM SLAYER? IF SO MY POSTED NAME IS MY GAMERTAG. IM LEVEL 16 AT SLAYER SO DONT JOIN UNLESS UR 15 OR UP CUS I DONT WANT YA. HEY BRUCE U SEEM TO ACT LIKE UR PRETTY GOOD SO IF ITS TRUE GET UR ASS ONLINE AND WE CAN TEAR EM' UP. PEACE.
Posted February 3, 2005 10:43 PM
YO DYLAN, IF U NEED SOME HELP LEVELING UP IN ANY CATEGORY JUST ASK AND ILL TAG ALONG. UR STATS LOOK LIKE THEY COULD U SOME POLISHING, I MEAN DAMN!
Posted February 8, 2005 7:20 AM
can u play at least 3 players on the same xbox on live?
Posted February 8, 2005 5:42 PM
I'LL OWN ALL OF YOU PUPS.
http://www.DylanGreene.com
Posted February 8, 2005 11:02 PM
> can u play at least 3 players on the same xbox on live?
Yes - up to 4 per xbox.
Posted February 16, 2005 11:28 AM
ll i would own all ur asses on Halo 2 , come to my yard (coagulation) and i would just pwn u all!!!!
Posted February 16, 2005 11:29 AM
btw my gamertaggggg is Fezz24
Posted February 22, 2005 10:10 PM
which do u like better? The human sniper, or the covenent sniper?
Posted March 11, 2005 9:04 AM
the human sniper is better i think but one of my good friends in real life could own any of you scrums.... my gamertag is gochyanose his is
comrade blackPosted March 11, 2005 9:05 AM
the human sniper is better i think but one of my good friends in real life could own any of you scrubs.... my gamertag is gochyanose his is
comrade blackPosted March 11, 2005 9:05 AM
srry didnt mean to do that
http://www.gamespot.com
Posted March 19, 2005 2:25 PM
how do get your rank up and how do i figure out how many exp. points i gain give me ex. and stuff.
Posted May 5, 2005 3:06 PM
My friend sloshysnake, maertz,suehs, and kitchel would own all of you guys. maertz and kitchel won the two on two tourny here in wisconsin. thats their gamertag so if you want to step up go for it. you'll all get wasted
Posted May 17, 2005 6:09 PM
i will play ALL you 1vs50 and i will bet i will win check out my stats by june 25th il be lvl 25 GUAREENTED look me up gamertag is xX NAME Xx
Posted May 18, 2005 10:25 PM
what do yall think is the best combo in the game? I enjoy ownage with the magnum/smg
http://mustardmadnass.5u.com
Posted July 3, 2005 7:56 AM
you are all stupid and probibly suck big ones at is game so you should go slit you rist
Posted September 22, 2005 7:50 PM
I'll Own all of you Fag's one on one Im'a 37 in double Team 36 in team slayer I'm a Legend in this game biocth's ha ha Sit down i Own all of you NOOBIE's
Posted December 13, 2006 5:38 PM
JSSmoke i owned you 78 - 3 rememeber?
http://www.hugechoiceof.com/
Posted May 7, 2007 8:25 AM
ok
http://www.pornspaces.com/assfuck/
Posted September 16, 2007 3:34 PM
http://www.pornspaces.com/assfuck/