Following my extensive hands-on preview of the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta at Bungie's Seattle area offices last week, I spoke with Lars Bakken, lead multiplayer designer, to discuss how Reach fits into the studio's long term strategy, how community feedback affects design decisions and the future of the Halo franchise.
Joystiq: What did you learn from how you conducted the Halo 3 multiplayer beta? What are you doing differently for the Reach beta?
Lars Bakken: I think one of the things we learned from the Halo 3 beta is that we want to keep this thing focused and that might mean less playlists initially. But that's really to keep the people focused and keep them playing the same thing, so we'll be turning on things and turning off other things as the beta progresses. And that's something we really learned from Halo 3, because we wanted to make sure that we were getting all the relevant information that we needed to get -- all the data -- and make decisions and changes on the final game.
Compared to the clamor and congestion of downtown Seattle, Bungie's Kirkland offices are peaceful and serene. There's little outside distraction and certainly no incessant honking. It's a beautiful day. No one would ever guess that, in two unadorned conference rooms on the third floor, people are blowing each other up. Well, maybe they noticed the Battle Rifle in the lobby.
Bungie invited media to its offices for a Halo: Reach mulitplayer beta preview last week, introducing us to four new game types, Generator Defense, Headhunter, Stockplile and Invasion. I filled six hours with as many frags as my controller could possibly deliver and it simply wasn't enough. Reach's new team-driven game types are addictive and ambitious, focused on objective-based progression and strategic action.
#tropico3
Tropico 3 is a decent enough strategy game. One of the best things about it, honestly, is the game's delightful box art. Box art that sums up the game. Box art that has been changed for Japan. OH NO! More »
#tv
According to sources speaking with Bloomberg, Microsoft is in talks with former News Corp. President Peter Chernin (who's currently got a gig at Fox) over bringing a TV channel to its Xbox 360 console. More »
#sega
Project K is the newest entry in SEGA's Japanese crime franchise known as Yakuza. Unlike previous titles, it will not be a home console game. It is also getting a new protagonist. More »
#clips
That's it. Pack up the fine china, stock up on tinned soup and start digging a bunker, because this great dance we call humanity is done for. First they play Tetris, then they play Madden, then we all die in a nuclear fire. More »
#sports
The Seattle Sounders, the Major League Soccer team of choice for Xbox 360 fans, today released a new shirt, one that brings the team's strip more in line with the colour scheme of the side's sponsoring console. More »
#blizzard
Blizzard, the company behind World of Warcraft and Diablo, does not screw around when it swings the banhammer, booting 320,000 accounts tonight from some of its most popular games tonight. More »
#online
The statistics involved in online gaming - whether that be on PC or console - can be overwhelming when presented as raw numbers. Thank heavens for infographics, then. More »
I don’t know why it has taken so long, but an official soundtrack for Opoona is finally going to see a release. While I’m sure many of you skipped over Opoona, now would be the perfect time to check the title out. I’m sure you can find it for quite a low price, [...]
Los Angeles, CA - April 20, 2010 - SEGA of America is excited to announce the full in-game soundtrack for the upcoming Iron Man 2 video game and release the second behind-the-scenes video. Packed with exclusive Lamb of God footage, this all-new video also features the reveal of the exclusive track created by Lamb of [...]
If there’s an infamous NES game that involves scantily-clad women, it would have to be Bubble Bath Babes. Here’s a little bit of trivia about the game that I bet you didn’t know. Bubble Bath Babes was released in Japan as Soap Panic, and while the gameplay and puzzles were the same, the [...]
#ea
EA released some screenshots of browser-based Lords Of Ultima overnight. We were quite surprised to find Natalie Portman reprising her role from the Star Wars prequels. More »
Auction here
Zelda wrist watch/game
Warioland 4 giant promo box
Playing Swap Cards 1 Vintage Nintendo Sinbad Sailor C10
A collection of Wii software/hardware/accessories
Nintendo frog PEZ dispenser (weird)
Well, this certainly has to be an indicator of good things to come for Capcom. Have Wii owners really come out of hiding to purchase Monster Hunter 3? With Amazon being sold out for the next few days, one would hope so! Thanks to Product084 for the heads up.
#hollywood
Kim Kardashian is famous for several reasons, none of which we fully understand. While she has used her ability to hold things for evil in the past (see above), she is now using it for good. Phew. More »
