Halo 3 - 2 player co-op heads offline... maby.

[Gambit]

Wednesday 18-Jul-2007 3:10 PM "We're not dumb. We know that people want it," says Bungie.

While a two-player co-op mode has been confirmed for Halo 3 (player two assumes the role of the Arbiter) it looks like it'll be available in LAN or split-screen only as Bungie struggles to get the mode running over Xbox Live.

In the latest issues of EGM, it's reported that online co-op isn't happening, yet. "We're not dumb," says Bungie's Frank O'Connor. "We know that people want it and we're trying to make it happen. I think the biggest problem for us for online co-op is that we have a situation where you can be in a Warthog with five troops, almost a mile away from the other player. That's a significant challenge. And there's lots of design things you could do to prevent that from happening, but they would make it not feel like Halo anymore. If we can make it happen in a way that works well, we will - and if it works badly, we won't."

Bungie didn't rule out that online co-op could become a possibility via downloadable content post release. Looks like those rumours of four-player Live co-op have gone forever.

The same issue of EGM also revealed tons of new info on vehicles, equipment and weapons previously kept under wraps. New gear includes the Flare (a flashbang) a dual wieldable Brute shotgun dubbed the Mauler, a Gravity Hammer (send vehicles flying, apparently) and a Regenerator (opposite of the power drainer). New Vehicles to look out for include the Prowler, Hornet and Elephant, described as a Jawa Sandcrawler. A remake of multiplayer map Lockout was also revealed called Guardian.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=168397

This game is still going to be bloody awesome!

[Miktar]

And yet, Gears of War had online co-op... I think Bungie is using some fancy talk to draw attention away from the truth - it's hard, yes, and they don't feel like doing it unless they think it's going to really be worth it.

What they're saying is, "we don't think it's that important right now, but we know some guys want it, and we might implement it later".

[Gambit]

And yet, Gears of War had online co-op... I think Bungie is using some fancy talk to draw attention away from the truth - it's hard, yes, and they don't feel like doing it unless they think it's going to really be worth it.

What they're saying is, "we don't think it's that important right now, but we know some guys want it, and we might implement it later".

I was thinking the same thing but then I thought about what they said "I think the biggest problem for us for online co-op is that we have a situation where you can be in a Warthog with five troops, almost a mile away from the other player." it maid sense becuase as far as I know Gears does not have that problem in terms of map size.

[Miktar]

True - but I've never been that impressed with giant maps, I find them very unfocused and often rather hollow, but that's just because nobody's done it *right* yet. Then again, I don't see their cited problem as that much of an issue, there are always clever tricks to keep players together, such as doors that require both to stand on a pad before they'll open, and then doors close behind them, etc.

[Gambit]

Were you able to try the demo of Halo3 online?

[Miktar]

I played the Halo 3 beta quite extensively, yes. I was very happy with what I saw, especially in how polished the online matchmaking is and the team configurations. The weapons felt solid, and the 'floaty jump' thing is less pronounced, compared to Halo 2.

[Gambit]

Sounds great. A bit off topic, I am buying myself a 360 next week any tips when signing up to live, with regards to what region to join and other possible pit falls?

[Miktar]

Some people sign up with US, some with UK, there are equal parts argument for either. Pitfalls include: when the SA region comes in (which MS have promised), you won't be able to migrate your account, and if you choose to move to the official SA Live servers, you will lose your gamerscore possibly, as that was the precedent in New Zealand when it happened there).