Halopedia:Bungie Weekly Update 07-29-05



This is the Bungie Weekly Update of July 29, 2005, written by Frank O'Connor.

Bungie Update
Things have cooled down a lot since the banhammer was dropped, so we're getting back into the smooth rhythm of happier times. One day, we'll even start making this the Weekly Update about a new game...Then you can get mad again and start demanding screenshots...

Gamegamegame asks,

Is Bungie going to be making any more maps for Halo 2?

I think it's safe to say that Bungie is now concentrating solely on creating its next game. We will of course continue to manage and update the playlists and address any other concerns going forward. But as for new maps? Don't count on it.

Lots of folks ask,

Are you really banning people, and is it working?

Yes we are and it seems to be working well. Folks are standbying, which is annoying, but it's already a lot better. Modders still pop up from time to time, but they're banned very quickly. As we've said before, no matter what we do, some jackass loser shut-mommy's boy will come up with some way to ruin your fun.

Bando asks,

''Frankie, why all the coyness re: Halo 3? We all know the "project" you and the rest of the crew at Bungie are all working on is called Halo 3 and it is going to be released the same day the PS3 is released. Come on, fess up! :)''

Har. Well, for one thing, we haven't announced what our next project is going to be. And for another, you really think Ken Kutaragi is going to call up and say, "Hey, Frankie, here's a heads up - the PS3 will be available on September 14th, 200X. So now you have a schedule to work to." Because, like, he probably won't do that.

Dominant332 asks,

''Yo guys I haven't played on Xbox live 4 about a month or 2 and I'm looking forward to getting all the maps I but I heard that there resetting da friend list. And I'm sick of retyping it hope you reply Frankie.''

Nobody resets the friends list. It has never been reset. Are you talking about stats? We're not resetting those either. We're purging them of cheaters.

Crippen asks,

Who would win - you, Sketch and Shishka, 'nades only, on Lockout?

Well, note that I am Buninja07 for the purposes of this game:

The Game Stats

Not pretty, but pretty much what you'd expect. Sketch was the only one who broke down and fired his stupid needler, but that actually was an accident, so it didn't count.

Rocky asks,

I was wondering if there is a way to play Halo online without putting the firewall down.

I recently had to quit my online play because my dad said I could no longer do it after I finally asked him about it.

Is there any update or peice of software that will be able to protect me when I play Halo online?

Please help me.

Well it depends on how you're setup. You shouldn't have to take the firewall down. Tell your dad that the Xbox is a dead end for hackers - they can't use it to get at your PC for example. If he knows a lot about networking, he can make an exception for your Live account, and if he doesn't know a lot, he can check out Xbox.com for lots of advice on how to make your Xbox play nice with routers and firewalls.

Banco asks,

''Just a quick question about the leader board for team slayer, number 1 has a rank of 50 (Gamertag: Ix AK47 xI ) he has pages of arranged games that have been started and then stopped (within 5 seconds) on various maps. Is this some form of glitch in the ranking system because looking at is previous games that aren't of this nature he doesn't seem that hot at Halo 2.''

He's a cheat. We're slowly but surely getting rid of these guys from the Leaderboards, but there's no point shaming them into quitting. They're like those kids in school who just like attention so they sit in puddles or pee in their pants. Don't worry about it. Use your level to have fun, it's not a competition.

Provos Rule asks,

''Ok so this sounds like bull but ppl in my clan consistently tell me that the host of a game does more damage. the host can kill with one battle rifle shot etc. I keep informing them that that could not be but it would help if you called them stupid for me.''

Well I'm not going to call them stupid, but they're wrong. There is no extra damage from host. The host can sometimes have an advantage with connection speed and stability, but in most game types it offers little benefit.

Wiserdwarf asks,

''Well i sure hope this is where i send questions, anyway Using a device such as "Action Replay" is considered modding correct? My brother says it's not because half of the guys on his friends list use said device. He plans on purchasing one in the near future, he wont listen to me and I'd hate to see his account banned, (because he would most likely yell at me and accuse me of a number of things refusing to believe what he did was actually modding) as well as my X-Box being hacked/modded/whatever. My account is on the same X-Box so i know that if I sign in I'll get banned as well. So question is, is "Action Replay" considered modding? Will my brother be banned if he uses it to make Warthogs fly as he says? And will "glitching" get you banned?''

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful whatever segment of the day is appropriate.

If he uses Action Replay to modify Halo 2 content and then play on Xbox Live, then yes, he'll get banned. If he uses his Action Replay to get say, a legendary game save with no alterations, he won't get banned. Making Warthogs fly? Yes, banned if he does it on Xbox Live. Sorry.

FlatfootedNinja asks,

Is this the HI Ben you were talking about?

FlatfootedNinja's alleged "Hi Ben" secret submission.

I found it on one of the Tanks

If this is it:

Thanks to Highimpacthalo.org we met your challenge

Nope, but to be fair, it does sort of look like it. Here's a clue, in limerick form:

There once was a level quite airy

With some leaps that were dreadfully hairy

To get to Hi Ben

Takes a Gondola then

A leap with the touch of a fairy

MJBHockey9 asks,

''I modded for a while then when the auto update was about to come out I took them off then I got suspended for a day. After that i got banned without doing anything else wrong. Is that fair?''

I'm afraid it is fair. You knew you weren't supposed to mod. You spent a significant amount of time ruining the game for other players. We gave you plenty of warning and obviously you didn't remove all the content from your Xbox.

Hockeyweasel asks,

''In a BTB Team Slayer, one fellow got 38 kills, mostly with the covenant sniper, with a hit % close to 55% and 35 head shots. I realize that the skill of some players is uncanny, but I was suspicious that he could snipe so well, so consistently, from clear across the map, seemingly never running out of ammo even when we controlled the respawn spot (but maybe he rushed it whenever he ran out). I reported him for cheating, but what's your advice when it's nothing so blatantly obvious? Is it so likely that you will detect it that we don't need to inform on allegedly dishonest players or are those the sort of things that we ought to be asking you to check out? If they are cleared of cheating is their slate clean or does it leave a flag on their "permanent record"?''

The example you quoted is a perfect example of why you shouldn't report folks for cheating unless you're certain. We get a lot of reports about cheaters that are basically just skilled players owning people. Unless you see something weird, or they admit it, assume they're good. If they are getting 100% accuracy and firing Warthogs at you, then go report. If they just kind of own you with the noob combo, they're probably not cheating.

Mungo asks,

Is it true Sketch has a beef with Shatner?

No. Shatner and Sketch are back on speaking terms after the Romulan incident. See?



And finally, I was going to do Mister Chief mackin' on Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas (who I am best friends with now, btw) but I found this work of genius over on HBO. I present to you, Dancin' Mister Chief.

HBO's Amazing Collection of Mister Chief Movies