Multiplayer: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:A battle on snowbound.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Players in ''[[Halo 3]]'' fight on the map [[Snowbound (Level)|Snowbound]].]]

The term '''"Multiplayer"''' generally refers to the ability of most video games allowing more than one person to play the game at the same time in a non-[[campaign]] setting. Multiplayer can be conducted using [[split-screen]], [[system link]], or [[Xbox Live]]. In the ''[[Halo]]'' games, multiplayer has been regarded as a core element to the game's design and a giant part of the success of the ''Halo'' franchise.

== ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' ==

[[Image:Chiron.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Multiplayer action in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' on [[Chiron TL-34]]: two Blue Team players attack a Red Team player.]]

The multiplayer component of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''<nowiki/>'s Xbox version was limited to split-screen and System Link play (the latter of which required four consoles). Five core [[gametype]]s existed: [[Slayer]], [[Oddball]], [[Capture The Flag]] (CTF), [[King of the Hill]], and [[Race]]. Various stock variants with altered settings existed, and players could create their own.

Though the game did not support online multiplayer, network tunneling programs, such as [http://xbconnect.com/ XBConnect] and XLink Kai, could be used to coerce the game into running online. However, the game tends to freeze and stutter while it works to keep things synchronized; today's internet connection speeds come nowhere close to the 100 megabit connection that the game expects.

The [[Halo PC|PC version]] supports online multiplayer, and can run games with custom gametypes and up to sixteen players. Six additional maps were also added to the game: [[Danger Canyon (Level)|Danger Canyon]], [[Death Island (Level)|Death Island]], [[Gephyrophobia (Level)|Gephyrophobia]], [[Ice Fields (Level)|Ice Fields]], [[Infinity (Level)|Infinity]], and [[Timberland (Level)|Timberland]]. Two additional weapons -- the [[Flamethrower]] and the [[Fuel Rod Gun]] -- became usable in the PC version as well.

Players can host both listen servers and dedicated servers. A server browser, provided by [[GameSpy]], comes with the game, though players can also use a LAN browser to find servers. (Alternatively, the IP address or domain name of a server can be used directly.) Unfortunately, the game lacks any kind of stat tracking, rules, banlists, or cheat detection past what server administrators provide; this complicates competitive organization and the prevention of [[cheating]] and griefing.

[[Halo Custom Edition]], a multiplayer-only expansion, allowed players to run user-created maps. Such maps could be created using the [[Halo Editing Kit]]. Amongst these maps were a number of [[Halo 2]]-based maps, such as [[Zanzibar (Level)|Zanzibar]]<ref>http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=1153</ref> and [[Coagulation (Level)|Coagulation]]<ref>http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=3108</ref>. Recently, there have been [[Halo 3]] ports in progress, such as [[The Pit (Level)|The Pit]]<ref>http://www.modacity.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12501</ref>. In addition, there are a vast number of non-canon maps set in ''Halo'' universe-inspired locations using only ''Halo'' assets, as well as many other maps which can incorporate custom weapons, vehicles, locations, and player models.

== ''Halo 2'' ==

[[Image:1206873175 All action.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Multiplayer action in ''[[Halo 2]]'' on [[Tombstone (Level)|Tombstone]]: An ongoing [[Free-For-All]] battle.]]

''Halo 2''<nowiki/>'s multiplayer functionality was completely redesigned to work with Xbox Live. [[Matchmaking]] allowed players to search for games in a variety of different [[playlists]], such as Team Objective, [[Team Doubles]], and [[Rumble Pit]]. Players could also create and host their own [[Custom Game]]s, and could invite other players to join them. The lobby system was also introduced; each form of multiplayer was given a lobby, so that players in a party could stick together after a match.

Putting [[Microsoft]]'s [http://research.microsoft.com/mlp/apg/Details.aspx Trueskill] system to use, [[Bungie]] employed a ranking system that displayed a level (1-50) based on how well a player played in a particular playlist. [[Ranking]]s were for individual playlists, and players who would continually win games in a certain playlist would rank up in that playlist. Bungie also split their multiplayer component into two major categories; ranked and unranked. While the ranked playlists offered players a chance to display skill, the unranked playlists were more social and relaxed, and allowed guests.

''Halo 2'' introduced the concept of awarding [[medals]] to players for various accomplishments during a match, such as multi-kills and sprees, as well as kills caused by certain weapons or vehicles. Medals are shown on [[Bungie.net]]'s game viewers and in the Postgame Carnage Report.

The Race gametype was removed due to a lack of popularity, and three new gametypes were introduced: [[Juggernaut]], [[Assault]], and [[Territories]].

=== Halo 2 Vista ===

[[Halo 2 Vista]] utilized the ''Games for Windows LIVE'' service, but in a much different way than its Xbox counterpart. Rank-based Matchmaking was done away with, and, like its predecessor, Halo PC, Halo 2 Vista added a server browser and allowed players to join games in progress. Servers ran a map cycle in the form of a playlist, where players would congregate in a lobby until the game starts, play the game, then go back to the lobby to review the Postgame Carnage Report and chat with other players until the next round started. LIVE Gold users could filter out servers not matching their interests, and quickly jump right into a game in progress by selecting a "Quick Match" option.

Halo 2 Vista did not feature [[Tombstone (Level)|Tombstone]] or [[Desolation (Level)|Desolation]], instead offering [[District (Level)|District]] and [[Uplift (Level)|Uplift]], as well as the Halo 2 Map Editor, which allowed players to create custom Halo 2 Vista maps.

On July 27, 2008, the Gold-only limitations were removed, and all LIVE subscribers, regardless of membership level, could use all aspects of Halo 2 Vista multiplayer without restriction.<ref>http://www.developmag.com/news/30211/Games-for-Windows-Live-now-free-to-developers</ref>

[[Image:1206663408_800px-Mongooseelephant-1-.jpg|thumb|[[Capture the Flag]] in [[Sandtrap]].]]

[[Image:58783113-Full.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Two [[Spartan-II]]s clash in close-quarters combat.]]

''[[Halo 3]]'' introduced many new features to its multiplayer experience. The most prominent feature was the ability to play the campaign [[Co-op|cooperatively]] online and via system link with 4 players. Unlike ''Halo 2''<nowiki/>'s local Co-op, where players control "clones" of the same character, each player in ''Halo 3'' is assigned control over [[Master Chief]], [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]], or [[Elites]] [[N'tho 'Sraom]] and [[Usze 'Taham]].

Custom gametypes were given a whole new level of customization. Numerous settings, including a player's weight, were added. Spawn-time specific attributes could also be assigned; these attributes would last for a set number of seconds after a player spawns. This can be helpful for preventing [[Camping#Spawn camping|spawnkilling]]. Two new core gametypes, [[VIP]] and [[Infection]], were added.

[[Matchmaking]] was enhanced with many under-the-hood features to help get better player matches and reduce wait time. Two very useful features were added to the pre-game and post-game lobbies: in the former, players can vote to veto gametype-map combinations that nobody wanted to play; in the latter, players could "Party Up", so that groups of people who enjoyed the last game could stick together. The number of [[Medals|medal]] types increased drastically, including medals for killing sprees with certain weapons, the [[Linktacular Medal]] for getting matched with nothing but [[Bungie.net]] members, and the [[Steaktacular Medal]] for winning a [[Slayer]] game by more than 20 points.

Finally, custom games were enhanced with the addition of [[Forge]], a multiplayer map editor. Forge allowed players to manipulate [[Forge Objects|various objects]] in maps. Altered object configurations can be saved as ''map variants'' and uploaded to a player's [[File Share]]. [[Glitch]]es have been used to create particularly interesting map variants.

The [[Halo 3 Beta|''Halo 3'' public beta]] originally consisted of Matchmaking on a small number of ranked and social playlists, though custom games were eventually broken into using a glitch. The three maps included in the beta were [[Valhalla (Level)|Valhalla]], [[High Ground (Level)|High Ground]], and [[Snowbound (Level)|Snowbound]]. Players were limited to only [[Mark VI(A) MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|Mark VI]] armor permutations, but still could customize colors and emblems.

The [[Energy Sword]] and [[M6G Personal Defense Weapon System|Magnum]] were absent from Matchmaking games (but found later in the gametype editor when custom games were found) in an attempt to surprise the faithful fans on ''Halo 3''<nowiki/>'s release, and the [[Trip Mine]] was much more powerful, able to cling to vehicles with a smaller, yet very lethal blast radius.

The ranking system introduced in ''Halo 2'' was redone in order to balance out Matchmaking even further. The [http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/trueskill/default.aspx Trueskill] system was still present on ranked playlists, but a new "Experience (EXP)" stat was added to player profiles. Whenever a player plays a match without quitting and is in a top position or on a winning team, the player gains 1 EXP. Players who enter a playlist, but disconnect or quit early lose 1 EXP for desertion. Players who end up in a losing position or team do not gain or lose EXP. In theory, this helps with player matching and balance by finding players who have been playing the game as much as you have based on their EXP level.

Auto Update 2, live on August 1, 2008, added another layer of EXP to even further balance out players. EXP is now tracked for each individual playlist, in addition to the player's Trueskill ranks and overall EXP. When in a Matchmaking playlist, players' [http://research.microsoft.com/mlp/apg/Details.aspx Trueskill] ranks (if a ranked playlist) and playlist-specific EXP are shown. When in a custom game, or viewing a player's details or service record, overall EXP is shown.<ref>http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=14994</ref>

[[Image:1224636951_Customarmor.jpg‎|thumb|left|A ''Halo 3'' armor permutation.]]

[[Image:Emblem.ashx.jpg‎|thumb|A ''Halo 3'' emblem.]]

Each ''Halo'' [[first-person shooter]] allows players to create [[Wikipedia:User profile|profiles]], which are used to store information about players. ''Halo'' profiles store both a player's game settings and some customized visual details to distinguish the player. In ''Halo 3'', profiles are bound to gamertags; all gameplay is conducted with a profile, and players without gamertags are granted [[temporary profile]]s for the duration of their session.

The profile creator in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' was very basic. Players had the ability to create a unique name, customize their armor color, and change the game controls and settings. [[Halo PC]]'s settings were more intricate, including various sound and video settings as well as the ability to create custom control schemes (as opposed to picking preset control schemes).

With the addition of online multiplayer through [[Xbox LIVE]], the profile creator in ''[[Halo 2]]'' was redesigned and altered. ''Halo 2'' kept the settings from its predecessor, but gained additional armor colors and the ability for a player to use two colors for their armor. Major additions included the ability to play as a [[Sangheili]] in multiplayer and the addition of [[Multiplayer Emblems|Emblems]]. Emblems were notable for allowing one to identify a teammate at a glance -- a sharp contrast to the unmarked waypoints shown in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.

The updated profile creator in ''[[Halo 3]]'' kept those settings and added more. Players could create a Service Tag consisting of a letter and two numbers; Service Tags are now shown over waypoints instead of Emblems. Additional Emblem designs, colors, and features were added. The large amount of female gamers in ''Halo 2'' prompted Bungie{{fact}} to add a gender option, which changes the player's voice when killed. Most notable, however, was the addition of [[Armor Permutations]], which allow players to change the models used for their helmets, pauldrons, and chestplates.

== ''Halo Wars'' ==

''[Halo Wars]]' allows players to battle in a variety of multiplayer arenas. Players can choose from 3 different commanders from both [[UNSC]] leaders (i.e. [[Captain Cutter]], [[John Forge|Sergeant Forge]], or [[Ellen Anders|Professor Anders]]) and [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] leaders (i.e. Arbiter [[Ripa 'Moramee]], [[Brute Army Commander]], or The [[Prophet of Regret]]). Multiplayer matches are limited to six players and may be organized in evenly-matched teams or in free-for-all matches. Computer-controlled players may be used. ''Halo Wars'' also used a ranking system similar to that of ''Halo 3'', but the rankings were assigned based on players' scores in completed games.

The ''Halo Wars'' Strategic Options DLC pack gives players 3 more skirmish game modes to play for 800 Microsoft Points. The new game types include [[Keepaway Mode|Keepaway]], [[Tug of War]], and Reinforcements. A Map Pack DLC called Historic Battle introduced 4 new maps for the same price.

== ''Halo 3: ODST'' ==

''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' features a new [[Firefight]] mode. In Firefight, up to four players fight against waves of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] forces and try to survive as long as possible with a set amount of lives, while the difficulty progressively increases by changing the currently active [[Halo 3 Skulls#List of Gold Skulls|Skulls]]. Firefight lacks any sort of matchmaking system or game browser; players must join lobbies though the XBox Live guide (recent players with open parties, friends lists, invites), via System Link, or all play locally, on the same XBox console.

''ODST'' also contains the [[Halo 3: Mythic]] disc, which is a multiplayer-only version of ''Halo 3''.

==Trivia==

*Guests in ''Halo 3'' cannot change the service tags used by their temporary profiles. The tags are always "O00".

*The maximum number of players that can play in all versions of ''Halo'' Multiplayer is 16.

*In ''Halo 3'', Bungie offers a "7 on 7 on the 7th" playlist dedicated to getting [[Achievement]]s based on [[DLC]] maps around the [[7]]th of every month.

==Sources==

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