Halopedia:Bungie Weekly Update 05-27-05



This is the Bungie Weekly Update of May 27, 2005, written by Frank O'Connor.

Bungie Update
It's Friday, it's 80 degrees outside, not a cloud in the sky. You think I wanna be here? Dang no. I wanna be sittin' in a boat sippin' suds and yelling Scottish obscenities at passing yachts. but no, here I am. Answering questions.

Curtis asks,

Hey Frankzorz, has the Multiplayer Maptacular map Pack shipped to retail manufacturing yet?

Yes, as a matter of fact it has! Huzzah. It'll be on store shelves (or available for download) on July 5th.

Ajenteks asks,

''How's everyone in the office doing? Are you guys still drunk from success and slacking off or have you gotten back to business as usual, or as usual as it gets over there?''

We're all busy on our next project. The only ongoing Halo 2 stuff is matchmaking playlists and the odd thing that needs to be done for the final five maps. The only drunk slacker, is the Webmaster.

Littlebigman asks,

''I've asked another Bungie employee about this, but I have a question about Racism. I also PMed this to you, I just want a definitive answer... Im just wondering, will anything more be done to the racists on XBL? Its getting worse. Even in non ranked games there is horrible amounts of racism. Also, is it possible for you guys to add a racism category to the Feedback option? And maybe even a betraying or "griefing"? Will there be any changes to Halo 2 at all on the 360? And if there will be, it will probably be minor, but will there be?''

Racists are banned frequently by Xbox Live, and the best way to combat them is by leaving feedback. Obviously that system takes time and effort, but constant racism and other forms of abuse will eventually show on a player's record, as long as the offended continue to use the feedback system. I'm continually shocked by the amount of garbage I hear in games. 90% of games I pay are fine, with the odd curse word, or the use of the expression "noob" but I do get irate when I hear the kind of mindless crap that comes out of (mostly) kids' mouths. Mute 'em.

As far as Halo 2 on the 360, I have no idea. I'd be daft if I said I didn't think it would be one of the compatible games, but I have no idea if it will be changed for use on the 360. It's a true emulator from what I understand, so hopefully everything will look at least as good as it does now, and things like loading times and downloadable content will be questions for the future.

Ragnarok asks,

''I love Zanzibar. Most people don't saying it's too one-sided. I love it because of its interactivity. I was hoping for more of that in the new maps - I think the train in Terminal is cool as a mug. So will any of the five remaining maps have interactive moments like the bridge or the fortress gate?''

Terminal is the best example. It even has barriers that open and close at the parking structure, although they're not much of an obstacle. Relic has a VERY important switch that unlocks a teleport (and lights up a Forerunner structure). The moving crates in Elongation play a HUGE role, even in Slayer games and there are one or two other elements that you might like too.

HaloCHAT asks,

''You've posted before the total Xbox Live Halo 2 statistics... any chance we could have an update on those?''

Maybe next week. Roger, who knows this stuff, is ina hot tub somewhere.

KP asks,

''There were once rumblings about taking your icon on b.net and turning it into hats, t-shirts, and stuff of the like. I thought it was a neat idea, but did it go the way of the grunt plushy?''

No word yet, but still a distinct possibility.

Saint asks,

If I get dropped from a game because of a connection "hiccup" or the like, can the game distinguish the difference between being "disconnected" and quitting?

''I've been dropped from several games and it gave them to me as losses and affected my rank when it wasn't my fault, it was just an unforeseeable connection issue. I think I've fixed the problem and it hasn't happened in awhile, but I'd still like to know and I think it could help some people with the same question.''

Probably not. The exception is if everyone is booted, or as a result the game returns statistics that are unreliable. You can probably imagine how many folks would abuse the system if we didn't treat dropped connections like quits. It shouldn't happen often enough to affect your stats, otherwise you should seriously consider a new ISP.

Dry Ice asks,

When are you guys moving to your new building?

Late summer, methinks. August or September with luck. They've just finished gutting the building, and have started putting in wires, plumbing, removing the headstones, but not moving the bodies, that kind of thing.

A dude asks,

''Are you going to take options from players for the next updates. Cause it would be cool if some of them are from people who want some specific gametypes. Also, I think it would be fun if you add some crazy gametypes like slayer with camo and snipers or something like that. Thanks.''

We do take feedback on game types from the community, although not from individual requests. You'll certainly see things you've been asking for in later updates. There's some things we'd like to have included, but can't because of the way the game works - Zombies for example. If the ability to force team changes and colors had been built into Halo 2, we'd probably have included that.

Hikaru-119 asks,

''How angry would Bungie be if a fan made a live action Halo movie and posted it around the net? Assuming of course that fan made zero money off of it and that the storyline did not interfere with the main plot of the Halo story. Also would any of you be interested in seeing it finished? Any comments, flames, and jokes are welcome.''

Although we seethe with ill-concealed venom 24-7 for no reason at all, we wouldn't be any angrier because of a fan made movie, as long as you didn't sell it, profit from it, use it to disparage us or give Master Chief boobs.

A wild-eyed fan asks,

''I'm very concerned about some of Bungie's other game franchises that seem to be getting ignored due to the success of Halo 2. I realize that while making money is nice, Bungie should attend to it's most diehard of fans and finish what it has started before starting work on Halo 3. First, Pimps At Sea. The game's website was never (apparently) transferred to the new Bungie.net. The old link doesn't work any longer and this isn't a good sign for those of us who have been stealing lunch money for years so we can afford this amazing game.''

''Second, Quest for the Ruby Emerald. According to the credits of Quest for the Crown, QftRE would be released in 2005. Well, 2005 is already half over and the Quest fan community hasn't heard a peep from Bungie. All we can say is that we hope Bungie hasn't forgotten us, that the delay is worth it, and that Orson Scott Card is doing the story again this time!''

Thanks.

Orson Scott Card couldn't do the QftRE story because if his intriguing work on Advent Rising. But good news. Have you ever heard of a little author I like to call Jackie Collins? Excelsior!! Pimps at Sea is still in pre-production.

Dan asks,

''Do you know if you can transfer game saves from the current Xbox to the Xbox 360? I'm not sure if this is something you can't discuss. When the new maps come out is it going to be like it was before; a week waiting period on the Matchmaking playlists to insure that a lot of people get the maps?.''

Dunno if you can transfer saves to 360. I hope so. There will be a waiting period before we introduce new playlists to support the maps.

Stan asks,

What is the average internal temperature of a hippopotamus?

Why was a movie like House Of Wax ever allowed to be made?

Whatever happened to Kirk Cameron?

That's about all I've got for now.

The Hippo's body temperature actually differs significantly from other mammals and is more similar to that of cetaceans (whales, etc), hovering at around 96 degrees F. Interestingly, it's been theorized that Whales are evolved from a Hippo or pig-like animal. They even have little residual hooves.

House of Wax was the most fiscally efficient method of keeping Paris Hilton distracted for six months, and had the added benefit of not giving her puppies to kill.

Kirk Cameron, child star of hits like TV's Growing Pains, and blockbuster, "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes," is currently headlining in those Jesus vs. Satan "Left Behind" movies. The third one, about World War III, is coming out soon. The movie will be released this summer, barring any unforeseen Rapture.

Marcel asks,

''Do you know or can you tell us if you know any more books are in progress? I really enjoyed the first three, and would love to see some more, pretty please.''

Nothing right now, but not out of the question. Eric Nylund's awesome storywork (new word, suck it up) can be seen in the forthcoming Gears of War game on X360.

Eclipse asks,

''Is it possible at all to include race as a gametype? Because some could work really well with it.''

Nope. Race is gone baby. Sorry.

Boxer asks,

''Are we ever going to get the option to "Download Current Gametype"? I know that I've played several gametypes where I would have liked to have made it myself but I didn't know all the little ins and outs. PWEAZE!!!''

Not in this game, but swapping game types is a great idea. I don't know if 360 will be able to support game save swapping.

Traize asks,

Have you created any new sports involving Bullet Trains, possibly including Hogs or other forms of vehicular transportation that you'd like to share, so that we may all enjoy gems, such as being catapulted into a solid wall?

Yes.

Spartan 662 asks,

''So I know this is asked a lot, but will there be more content downloads in the future ? Or will the maps be it?''

It's entirely possible this will be it. We do have to move on to our new project.

Angry man asks,

''So what the hell do I have to do to get an assist anyway? Cause I sure cant figure it out.''

Damage an enemy and then get your kill stolen by some jerk at the last second. It's a booby prize.

Rankle asks,

''Is it possible that the magnum damage might be increased slightly, for while it was too powerful before it is now useless. Compare it to the SMG/Plasma rifle for example. I should at least be able to kill someone without reloading when using a single magnum.''

Use it with the SMG. And pump, don't squeeze. That's good advice for life, period..

Fella asks,

Did you play Halo 1?

Yes. Lots.

A cut and paste error victim asks,

Just like I asked on the B.net forums, this has nothing to do with your next game, have you received an Xbox 360 Dev Kit yet?

What would you say (legally speaking) to having one of your weapons from Halo 2 (namely, the battle rifle) used as a replacement model and skin for a weapons from Counter-Strike Source (replacing the FAMAS)?

There's an Alpha kit sitting right behind me with an early version of the 360 interface. A dolphin is swimming on it at a literally unbelievable frame rate. As far as your Counterstrike mod, don't use our code and don't sell it. If it's for your personal use, you can do it.

Epyon asks,

''Are there ever going to be additional emblem downloads? Maybe bundled with the Map Pack?''

No.

OscarGordon asks,

Two things, I guess:

''Any chance at all of Bungie making a new Marathon for the Xbox? -and-''

What's on vol.2 of the Halo 2 Soundtrack?

Thanks...

Marathon on Xbox? Not very likely given the timeframes we're working with here. Not impossible, but it lives next door to impossible. It borrowed impossible's mower, actually. And the Halo 2 soundtrack features tracks that didn't fit on Halo 2 vol. 1, with some cool extras.

Suckbex asks,

''Will the changes made to the playlist a few days after the last 5 maps come out be the last of its kind? Or, do you plan on continually updating, refining, and mixing up the playlist from here on out?''

We will continue to adjust playlists. We may even do some crazy stuff in the future.

And finally, somebody asked what Mister Chief would look like in a Spanish soap opera.

Senor Chief es me corazon.