Bungie Map Mojo

Bungie has always been pretty good at listening to its Halo fans. I truly believe that. So why then, hasn't Bungie listened to the roars, rants, and screams for some Halo 2 maps to be remade for Halo 3?

Well one thing you need to understand about artists and engineers first and foremost is that their inspiration isn't unlimited. There's no office muse or some Inspirational Psychologist to talk to when you've run out of ideas for creating a new map. A talented map designer had to come up with the idea for a multiplayer map that has a delicate balance of open-plain long-range battles and close-up tunnel-brawls. Then an artist had to say to himself one day "Hey this map could look like an alien defensive installation for a snowbound canyon." Viola: Snowbound.

Then a map has to get playtested of course. A brand new map certainly has the potential for a lot of unforeseen uses. The makers of Snowbound probably didn't want to see 4 people camping inside a base with a 2 point lead on Team Slayer (because they hold the shotgun).Who cares if Snowbound is not going to leave a big imprint in my mind when I look back on Halo? The map is still alright by comparison, and it plays nicely about half the time, so nice try whoever was involved with that map.

My point being here is that remakes don't require as much inspiration or playtesting. So if the Bungie team is still getting a steady stream of map mojo and they have the time to work out all the kinks of brand new maps, I say more power to 'em. Keep on trucking with these fresh (and sometimes I think experimental) maps, because eventually Bungie will run out of new ideas or they'll want to save some for their next project. Or they'll run out of resources to test new maps because they need those testers for a new project. When Bungie reaches that point, that's when they're sure to start rolling out the Halo 2 remade maps. We could try and save some time by screaming so loud they bleed from the ears, but let's just not do that.


Maps that have already been made before obviously require little in the way of imagination. Just look at Last Resort, its geometry is almost inch for inch the same. The one big difference being Camp Froman's new basement. It's got to be one of the best asymmetrical maps in all of Halo. So just keep reminding them how good their previous work is, and when the time is right, they'll come around.

Love Your Game Long Time

It's almost Valentine's Day so surely by now somebody has thrown some words of advice your way about how to make that special day especially special for that special someone. (Side Note: The word "special" is mega-lame but every jewelry advertisement uses it.) Instead I decided to throw some more useful advice your way.

A proper gaming session has a lot in common with a good lovemaking session actually. Sometimes the mood and the desire strikes at a random moment and nothing is going to stop you until you're having some fun. Here's se7en ways to improve your game:

1. Set the mood.
Dim the lights and light some scented candles if that's what helps you see the details of your television better. Music can help you focus, but if it starts coming through your mic and upsetting your playmates then it's too loud. A good test is to turn on the music, say something, and then check to see if your microphone symbol stays flashing when you stop talking. That means it must be picking up your music.

2. Approach the situation with tenderness.
It's okay to be a little depressed because playtime is a good pick-me-up, but leave anger at the door. If you're already on edge, then insults from your opponents are going to become effective in distracting you. Be kind to your toys as well, they are most effective when not smashed against the floor.

3. Clean Up
Clean up, everybody everywhere. If your roommate/girlfriend/friend walks in and sees you in your PJs at 3:00 PM playing video games, they're sure to start giving you grief. However, if they see that you're nicely shaved and don't smell of Cool Aid they might be more tempted to sit next to you and pick up a controller.

4. Drain and Refill your Body
Go to the bathroom before you start, especially to take care of the things that would require more than a couple minutes of break time. If you and your buddies are on a role in Team Slayer you don't want to have to break things up. You've also got to refill your body to stay energized and focused. I know energy drinks and Pop Tarts might sound like a good idea, but they lack substance and sustainability (they make you crash) . Personally I go with a glass of water and a sandwich (salami, cheese, and lettuce please and thank you) but if you want to meet half way try Gatoraid and Cheeze-Its (No I'm not sponsored but if any representatives happen to read this: I don't hate money).

5. Plan Ahead
Sometimes the anticipation is as intense as the real thing. Find some like-minded gamers on the web and arrange a time to meet up and play together. Networking online is the latest and greatest purpose of the internet. Use it!

6. Crack a Joke
It takes less effort than you think. The easiest joke to make has got to be the game-related pun. Humor isn't just the best aphrodisiac, it's also a pretty good adhesive for any team. Jokes and funny stories are especially helpful when playing with new people for the first time. If these are the people you intend to game with, then a similar sense of humor is a must.

7. Take a Break
If you can't get into "The Zone" then just take a break. Maybe you've got some laundry to do, but if can get into a better mood and then come back to the joysticks you'll be a better gamer and a better teammate for it.

A few weeks ago in mid-January a landmark for the future of gaming was met. ESPN entered into an agreement with MLG so they could start televising and supplementing pro gaming with similar attention to pro football and baseball. The first question you might be asking is "What are people going to think of gaming?" or "What is that going to look like on TV?"
I've got a better question though. Not only is it a question I can answer, but it's a little more relevant: "How can I benefit from this?". Sports are showered with money every year, and this is just the boost that video games in general need in order to start getting out of the red and into the black. "How can I get in on a piece of that ESPN pie?"

Note to self: An "ESPN pie" would sell great around Superbowl Sunday.

Well let's look at the sort of things ESPN is going to need to get this whole pro gaming thing fired up. They've already got permission to put these digital matches on air, and with the replay features of Halo 3 they'll have no problem creating action shots with good camera angles. What ESPN is going to need most is real people. Not just announcers, but people who know Halo nation and people who can fill the hours of television when fans want to watch something related to MLG. It's unbelievable how much time people spend watching other people talk about football, even when there's no game on. I'm not just talking about the pre-game and the post-game chatter that lasts for hours. I'm talking about how at any given time of day I can turn on the television and watch somebody talk about football (given I purchase the right channels).

Surely MLG will not be escalated to such a position with a quickness, but ESPN is going to need a group of people to sit around and talk about the latest gaming news on the pro circuit and otherwise. It's what these people do. And ESPN is going to want people recognized by the Halo Nation that are charismatic and appealing enough to be accepted by the population in general. It's with this reasoning that I could see Kevin and Olivia or perhaps Gus (kidding of course) giving us some commentary during the latest highlight reel of MLG matches.

My advice to fellow capitalist minds out there who want a piece of the sports cash cow is this: get famous. I know it seems hard, but believe me when I say it's not going to get any easier than it is right now. When that cash cow explodes and money starts raining down from the hands of eager advertisers and into the industry of gaming, well everyone is going to want to be there to collect on that.

Note to self: A "cash cow" would make for a really fun piñata.