The following clip is by my good friend MixMaker117. It shows off the maps of the Halo 5 beta very nicely. If you didn’t get to enjoy the beta, didn’t get clips, or just want a fresh look at the maps, take a gander below and grab some screenshots while you’re at it! Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2015
Post Beta review taking a bit longer than expected.
I have so much to write about and am feverishly working on the post-beta review. There will be several parts to it. For now, I’m trying to get the right outline for it and make it all consistent with it’s various parts.
I had hoped to start posting this today, but realize this will take a bit longer. I want to approach this beta review fairly as well as have consistency throughout the individual parts.
Apologies to any who were looking forward to reading it today. I hope you all understand that it’s better not to rush something, just to get it out, than it is to do something right the first time…Hmm, that sounds a bit familiar.
-Sal
More Halo Starscope finds!
Blog reader James Ramsey notified me that there are yet MORE surprises to be found at halostarscope.com.
If you go to the ARK and click on Guilty Spark, you’ll get a prompt to download both phone and desktop Halo 2 Anniversary backgrounds.
I’ve saved you the trouble of looking and am providing those graphics below. Continue reading
Canon Fodder – Just Getting Started
This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint:
By GrimBrother One –
HMCC Updates coming SOON
The following is a reblog from Halo Waypoint. These updates will take place within the next few days:
MATCHMAKING:
- Improved matchmaking search success rates.
- Made an update to reduce instances of “Awaiting Privileges” matchmaking errors.
- Made an update to ensure player counts more reliably match the expected numbers for each playlist.
- Fixed an issue where player would sometimes appear to be searching in an incorrect “FIND GAME” screen.
- Added countdown sound effect to the voting timer.
GENERAL MULTIPLAYER:
- Made several improvements to party joining through the in-game Roster.
- Made an update to ensure that the mute icon is visible while in Matchmaking.
- Fixed an issue in Halo 4 where players could equip the same weapon as their primary and secondary weapons.
GENERAL CAMPAIGNS:
- Made several improvements to stat tracking for Halo: CE, Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo 4.
- Made changes to Halo 3 and Halo 4 scoring to ensure that players are not penalized for destroying empty vehicles.
GENERAL MENU:
- Lowered the music volume level in multiplayer menus.
- Fixed an issue where friend emblems in roster would show up as default when exiting a game session.
- Made updates to UI and menus to improve multiplayer status messaging, such as when a player joins your lobby.
CONTROL LAYOUTS:
- Made an update to the Halo 2 Anniversary “Legacy” Stick Layout.
STABILITY:
- Made stability improvements across multiple titles for campaign and multiplayer.
So….7+ hours wasted on the Halo 5 Beta…
Yesterday I was determined to play as much Halo 5 Beta as possible. I had hopes of hitting SR38 before the beta ended. That hope DIED a miserable death when I tried to play for more than SEVEN hours. In all of that time I was only connected to 17 games… Of those only TWO were complete, the rest had crashed on me.
Now, before any of you say it was my connection, I’ll tell you why it wasn’t.
First, my wife works from home. Because of this, we need to have a VERY good connection. I forget the exact plan with have through Verizon, but it’s NOT a simple household plan, that I can tell you. I believe it’s something like business class. Continue reading
Happy 117 day, Spartans!
From HFFL to YOU, a very Happy 117 Day!
I’ll be spending it playing the Halo 5 Guardians Beta! (Only two days left to do so!!!)
-Sal
Halo: Audio Evolved
Podtacular covered this article in their most recent podcast (as of this writing). I thought it would be a good article to share here on HFFL as well. The article is by John Broomhall of develop-online.net.
John Broomhall talks new-gen Halo with Paul Lipson, senior audio director for 343 Industries/Microsoft Studios Continue reading
Some things that did and did not make the cut in Halo CE.
Blog reader Clem, send the link to this video. Lots of cool early Halo CE development info in here.
-Sal
[UPDATE] After checking twitter earlier, I found out Podtacular had just covered this in their most recent podcast. Not trying to step on toes there folks. Often when blog readers pass on info to me, they do not cite where they found where said info came from.
The Halo Bulletin: Episode 8
In this week’s episode, topics include:
Some highlights are also:
And now…on with the Bulletin video! Continue reading
HMCC Update: Halo 4 and Team Hardcore playlists added
Via HaloWaypoint:
The Halo 4 and Team Hardcore playlists are now available in Matchmaking.
Team Hardcore currently includes Halo 2 Classic game types. Halo 3 tournament-approved game types will be integrated in a future update.
Other fan favorite playlists are also in the works, including Team Snipers, Team Doubles, an objective-only playlist, and more – stay tuned for details regarding when these will become available as featured playlists.
As always, playlists data and feedback will determine which playlists become permanent additions to the playlist lineup.
Helioskrill Armor unlocked!
After grinding out both Halo 2 and Halo CE on Legendary either solo or with a couple of different friends the last couple of days, I finally have the Helioskrill armor!!! Continue reading
Halo 5 Beta Forged map “Orion” available to play!
I meant to post this last night… This is a partial reblog from Halo Waypoint:
You’ll be able to play Slayer on Orion, a new Forge map. Teams will face off on this asymmetrical map, battling from the tops of two defendable towers. Teams must be willing to push out from their bases in order to capture the Sniper Rifle, Hydra MLRS, and Energy Sword that spawn in exposed areas.
We appreciate your feedback thus far through the beta. Please continue to send your feedback and report issues to our Halo 5: Guardians MP Support Section as we work to improve the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer experience.
We’ll see you on the battlefield.
I haven’t yet played on this map, though friends have and like it. You are still also able to play the other forged map, Pegasus, in the Slayer menu of the beta.
HFFL Community Night this Friday 1-16-15!
The Halo 5 Beta will be coming to a close very soon. So I thought it would be nice to get a group together to play the beta on Friday.
If you’ve been playing the beta, you know there are some new features to enjoy. If you haven’t played, then this is the perfect opportunity to get in on the action before the beta is over.
I’m on a personal mission to hit SR38 before the beta is done so that I can unlock all of the armor available via the beta.
We’ll start at 8pm Eastern time and run for at least 3 hours. More if there are enough players and interest.
Since we can only have 4 person parties, we may need to split into two groups. That’s fine by me! I’d love to see a few groups of HFFLers playing the beta together. Hmm, maybe even a chance match-up?
So get ready to don your armor Spartans! We’re going to battle!
-Sal
What would you like to see on/from HFFL this year?
In an effort to be inclusive to all who come to the blog as well as provide an opportunity to bring new articles to the blog, I’m inviting you all to share what you’d like to see HFFL provide, promote, share, write, etc., in 2015.
While I often have daily content, there are times when I skip a day because there isn’t much to report on for Halo.
I’d really like to hear/read/see some of your suggestions as to what you’d like to see come to the blog. So long as it’s directly HALO relevant, that is. While answers like, ‘more of the same’ is fine, I’m looking for NEW ideas. Either new to the blog itself or something you’ve not seen anywhere on any Halo fan site.
Here’s your chance to have direct input to what you see/read on HFFL.
I look forward to reading your suggestions. Either reply below, or feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]
-Sal