Halopedia:Bungie Weekly Update 12-10-04

This is the Bungie Weekly Update for December 10, 2004, written by Frank O'Connor.

Bungie Update
Yet again we answer the most pressing questions posed by Halo 2 players during the past week. This week,the big question: Modem exploits. Are we doing anything about it? You betcha.

Tons of folks ask,

What are you going to do about modem and router exploit cheaters?

Cheaters Beware

As some of you are already aware, there are a number of players online (on all types of online games) who use a little-known modem exploit to cheat during games. Players who have experienced the nasty end of this will have seen mysterious things happen to say a flag or bomb while they've been dumped to the blue waiting screen, while Halo 2 attempts to reconnect. Or reappear and find that they've been killed by the person now mysteriously in the lead by five or six kills. Well, these cheaters are in specific violation of a number of terms of use for Xbox Live and they will now be banned for proven offenses.

That means they will lose access to their Xbox Live account in its entirety. We urge players to continue to use the in-game feedback system for players they genuinely believe to be cheating, but the more specific, accurate game data is tracked easily and comprehensively on Xbox Live servers. We know who is cheating. They will be dealt with. The cheaters know they are cheating and there is no way to do this accidentally. They should consider this a warning. Quit doing it or lose your Xbox Live account.

Oh, and I would LOVE to hear a justification for that exploit from one of the cheaters. Seriously, since by the very nature of the act, the Cheat isn't actually winning anything other than a bag of hate.

Steveo22 asks:

how did u guys get into making this site ur not paid are u and is it a pain in the ass to answer all those questions o ya 1 more thing will sidewinder come back

We make this site because we're full time Bungie employees and somebody told us to. We do whatever we're told. They do pay us and even give us donuts. It is not a pain in the ass to answer questions but it can take a long time to get some of the answers. No announcement about Sidewinder or any other maps at this time. We can confirm that we will release new, downloadable maps at some time in the future.

Achilles VI asks:

I am currently looking for a link to a PDF of the Halo 2 Limited Edition Manual, and I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction.

Thanks for your time.

There is no plan at this time to make the Covenant-themed special Collector's Edition available as a downloadable PDF at this time, however, that could change in the future and we'll keep you posted.

Vinnie asks,

How do I get the bungie.net logo behind my gamertag?

Easy. Sign up for Bungie.net, make sure your Gamertag is linked and click on "My Settings" at the top of the Bungie.net page when it appears. You will see a row of tabs at the top of the next page. Click the one labeled, "Web Settings" and near the bottom of the next page you'll see the option, "Show Bungienet User Status in Halo2." Select the button that turns the feature on. Bingo, the bungie.net identifier will show people on Xbox Live that you mean business.

02LPeel asks,

How long did it take to make Halo 2?

Technically, about three years, but there was a lot of conceptual work and thinking done before even the original Halo was released.

Ron Asks,

''Is it possible to change the symbol that's given to you when you start an online account? It also shows up on the shoulder of your armor.''

Yes, they're called emblems and you can customize them in the game interface by editing your appearance in the "edit profiles" section of the interface. This allows you to change to color and design of your emblem, which will appear both in games and by your stats on Bungie.net. If you change it in-game, it will change online too (although it takes a little while to catch up).

Mike asks,

''I have a question. Can I use a live communicator headset to taunt the other team in system link games. I do not have Xbox Live.''

Yes, the communicator is supported in System Link games as well as on Xbox Live. It works in exactly the same way although naturally you will be unable to send recorded voice messages to System Link games.

Robert asks,

''I want to post questions about Halo 2 but I do not know how. My questions are how will clan matches be posted? Will you keep track of all games won and lost by your clan? Will there be specific information like who played in the clan match, who got what kills, scores and who was the mvp? Will head shots be included also for example the sniper head shot is an instant kill on Halo 1, so on Halo 2 will the Human sniper and Covenant sniper have the head shot advantage for those sniper lovers? My friend also wants to know if grenades can explode in mid air after being bounced off a wall or the ground?''

Phew. Here we go. Well, this is a good place to get questions answered. Clan matches are recorded and posted on Bungie.net's Stats Page, you simply search for your Clan or the Clan you're interested in. Very, very specific information is recorded, not only with sniper kills and general frags recorded, but a visual guide to who did what to whom and where. There's an argument about whether Covenant or Humans have the sniper advantage, but personally I find it hard to hit an Elite in the back of the head, but I am a lousy sniper, it has to be said. Grenades will explode if bounced off the ground. They have a very short timer fuse of about a second.

Peej asks,

''I have a question about how leveling works on Live. I'd call myself an average gamer, but I'm a bit 'old' and slow, so I'm usually falling at the bottom of the rankings in post-game stats (typically somewhere between 6 and 8 in your average slayer or team slayer game. Despite the fact that I spend more time looking at my floppy carcass bouncing around the screen than I do actually pulling the trigger, I'm wondering two things: First, why do I keep leveling up? Sure, I get lucky occasionally and come close to the top, but lately I've been taking beatings that just make it plain not fun. Second, why am I usually paired with primarily folks who are of a higher level? Can't I be the guy with slightly more experience for a change? Just curious if there is a method to the madness. I'll still be out there getting my butt kicked regardless of the answer....''

Ha, you may be the first person to complain about leveling up. Basically your accrued experience is leveling you up in concert with the increasing number of total newbies joining. The system notes that you are better than this new influx of ones and twos, and adjusts your level accordingly. You may find yourself in a glut of tough games or a short pattern of easy games - that's simply a statistical pattern - most games should match you with people of your own skill level or close to it. If you start doing really badly, you'll definitely level down over the long run.

Dinh asks,

''I just want to report that recently a lot of people quit the Halo 2 (online) went they starting to lose. Please do something before this habit becomes a reflex, because it will affect the spirit of this game.''

Those people are punished. They are tracked as having finished dead last, so it's good for your statistics and bad for theirs. If you're worried about ranking it is ALWAYS better to finish a game.

Finally, before we head off to a wet, cold weekend, a reader asked me if I could draw Mister Chief in one continuous line. Well I did. And Shishka said it was "legal" to color him after the fact.