February Season Matchmaking Updates

This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint:

The services and multiplayer teams here at 343 Industries have been hard at work at improving and fine tuning the Halo 5 matchmaking experience. One improvement we’re making affects how ranking impacts matchmaking search times for certain players. Over time, it’s possible for players to get skill values that make it difficult for them to find matches. This was an issue that lead some players to create alternate accounts or party up with people of much lower rank to find matches. We’ve implemented changes in our algorithm to get players at all skill levels even faster matches. This should improve matchmaking times and increase the number of people eligible to match for players at all skill levels as well as players in international regions.

ONYX AND CHAMPIONS

Based on feedback from the community, we are making some tweaks to the Onyx and Champion CSR. Players noticed that it was possible to place into Champion (at least temporarily) simply by being the first 200 people in Onyx to complete their placement matches in a season. We are doing two things to increase the competitiveness for Champions. First, the new minimum CSR to earn a Champion rank will be 1800 rather than 1500. Additionally, we’ve placed a cap on the highest CSR you can earn after your placement matches at 1700. These changes will make Champions a more elite group and reward players that prove they’re amongst the top in the world.

Both of these changes rolled out just today (Monday February 1) with the start of the new season), through service side updates, and do not require the download of a content update.

We’ve also been working on additional improvements for players in regions around the globe, and will have more details and updates to share in the very near future. We’ll be monitoring telemetry and feedback closely, so be sure to leave us your feedback here on Waypoint’s forums and @Halo on Twitter.

See you in matchmaking!

Source Link

Neca Master Chief Motorcycle Helmet Review

This review comes to us via HaloFanForLife friend, Mario or rather Marioucche.

Give it a watch. He compares this with the Halo 3 Legendary Helmet and the Master Chief costume helmet from last year.

Mario, I hear ya man. I’m too short to wear something like this, but you bet I’d own it if I could afford it. Hmmm, instead of just using it as a display piece, why not wear it while playing Halo? LOL. In any event, it looks great!!!

Community Forge Map Showcase: Throwback

This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint:

BY 343 INDUSTRIES

In this Community Forge Map Showcase, we’re highlighting some sweet, sweet throwback creations from previous Halo titles. We also know that many of you have expressed excitement over a Community Throwback playlist, but to hold you over, we’ve selected a few incredible creations below for you to check out. Special thanks to HugoCornellier for keeping his thread so well updated with the finest remakes around.  Continue reading

Canon Fodder: Brute Force

This is a reblog from Halo Waypoint:

BY GRIMBROTHER ONE
ISSUE 60

Welcome back aboard the lore train, ladies and gentlemen. Last week, we dropped a pretty heavy bombardment of juicy fiction-focused topics. As you’ll quickly notice, this week will be a much lighter and stealthier affair – though hopefully no less enjoyable. The studio is hard at work on a myriad of fronts, stoking the fires of forges both known and unknown – some far flung in the future, and some far closer than you think. This week we thought we’d offer a peculiar peek into the backstory of the Jiralhanae – well, one in particular. Though many of you have no doubt encountered him many times, you’ve never known his name. Until today that is. Let’s go ahead and dive in, shall we?

DEEP LINKS

cfcethegus-855c7e5514434544866345e9aa6f402dNear the end of the Halo 3 level “The Ark,” players come across a Brute Chieftain surrounded by minions. He knows who you are, and he’s picking a fight. Some players however, might not realize how unique this particular encounter is. The typical fare is “get in there, clear out the ads, take out the boss.” It’s in some ways ingrained in our gaming muscle-memory. This fight is a bit different, however. This one’s a bit more personal. The Chieftain isn’t out to simply end you, he’s out to do it alone. 1v1 me, bro. Keen-eared players can even hear the Prophet of Truth telling him as much. As players come down the final ramp towards the encounter, you can hear the Chieftain calling you out. When the duel begins, if you don’t attack his surrounding pack, they won’t attack you either. It’s just you and the Chieftain… until you come out on top. Once victorious, his mourning and maniacal minions will try their best to even the score. Were it so easy… Continue reading

Canon Fodder: Armory Amore

This is reblog from Halo Waypoint: 

BY GRIMBROTHER ONEISSUE 59

canonfodder-1-22-16-7b2cf4f8c5df415cb23492ff951b0703Greetings and salutations, fiction-friends! As many of you remember, we helped open the barrage of Infinity’s Armory info last week with a look at two new Mjolnir permutations, ATLAS and ACHILLES – the latter of which many of you showed particular interest in, prompting us to treat you to an even closer look than is perhaps typically standard. With that in mind, we’ve got a particularly meaty Fodder Feast for you today. From new information on upcoming maps to (very) deep dives on new weapons and armor. Let’s get started shall we? Continue reading

Canon Fodder: Greek Squad

Okay…yes, I’m a bit late with this. With all the issues I was having with WordPress this month, I have a bit of catching up to do…

Now on with issue 58!

This is a reblog form Halo Waypoint:

BY GRIMBROTHER ONE
ISSUE 58

canonfodder-1-15-16-a0d4b0c715ef46c8b152cdb8a1b9b8ae

Welcome back fiction faction. Since last we spoke, some pretty cool stuff has been brewing. Some of which we’ll be talking about soon, and others… well, you’ll just have to hold tight a bit longer. For yours truly, the week started out in glorious fashion – watching my favorite collegiate combatants hang a sixteenth badge of honor on their heroic helmets.

Today we’ll be taking a lore-laden look at much more future-forward headgear as we preview some of the fiction behind a couple of the newest Mjolnir variants to hit the Wargames fold via the fast-approaching Infinity’s Armory content update for Halo 5: Guardians. Continue reading

The Pit remake in Halo 5 (It’s AWESOME!)

Gah…I can’t find who made this! (If any of you know, PLEASE forward me the info so I can give proper credit…

Halo Forge fans have long been pumping out some great maps. With Halo 5’s Forge, you can do a lot more than ever before. Below you will see many screenshots of a fantastic remake of The Pit. I personally hope this makes it into playlist rotation at some point. Other than specific texturing, I don’t think 343 could do much better…

The Pit Remake H5G Blue Snipe Continue reading

Something for the lady Halo fans, a Master Chief Clutch

Ladies (and maybe some gentlemen) check out this pretty cool Halo Master Chief Clutch!

Halo MC Clutch Closed Halo MC Clutch openThis will cost you $33 (not including shipping from FUN.com. It may be available elsewhere, but this is where I saw it first.

If any of you get this, please shoot me some pics and send them to slashalofanforlife.com and I’ll feature them on the sight, so fellow fans can see this ‘In Real Life’ as opposed to just on an ad page on the net.

(If this were wallet size for a guy, I’d think about getting it. I’m not into purses though, LOL)