343i's March MM update....BTB Heavies!!

[EgonSpenglerPHD]

If you have not read this from 343i here it is: http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines...tin-30112.aspx

For those who do not want to gravitate from HC here is the DL:

The month of March is known for its lion-like entrance. In the land of Halo, that ferocity translates into new game types, updated maps, and FIRE. These tweaks and optimizations are all part of our continued efforts to provide you with the best possible online experience. Read on for the specifics of next month’s matchmaking playlist update, which is slated to go live on March 6. And if you just heard something echoing in the distance, it was the Matchmaking Systems Team. They wanted you to hear them roar.


• Grifball updated.

Those of you who enjoy getting hammered on a regular basis will now have four new maps to play on. Malice N Envy (paired with Blargball), Temple Prime (paired with Grifball Dash), Inspiration (also paired with Grifball Dash), and Hyperbaric (paired with Hand Egg Grifball) are all being added to the hammer-heavy rotation.

The team of fans behind this playlist didn’t feel like that was enough for March, though, so they also added a new game type. It’s called Hand Egg, and here is what Mike from GrifballHub had to say about it.

Hand Egg is a variation of Grifball where you start with a golf club and sword instead of hammer and sword. In the middle of the court, you'll find the golf ball. The golf ball's significance in the game is that the bomb spawns on it. As soon as you drop the bomb, it goes to wherever the golf ball is. So not only can you bash the golf ball around and get splatters with it, but it can also be used as way to pass the bomb to a teammate. If you see the golf ball in your opponent's spawn and a teammate is nearby, you should drop the bomb so they can grab it and run in the for the score. As you can imagine that means it becomes very important to keep track of where the golf ball is at all times.

Speaking of balls hitting you in the face… actually, never mind. That one is entirely too easy.


• Infection updated.

We modified this playlist with the latest versions of the following fan-created maps: Spooky Base, Powerless, Deadwalk, Bedlam, Uncongealed, and Parasitic. Thank you to the players who have continued to perfect their already incredible creations. We’ll make sure we save some brains for you.


• Evade removed from Spartan loadouts.

With the exception of Grifball, Evade has been removed from Spartan loadouts. Elites can continue to bob, weave, and juke to their hearts’ content, however. Wort wort wort.


• Anniversary Squad retired.

Fret not! See Super Slayer added.


• Squad Slayer retired.

Fret not! See above. And below.


Halo: Reach Screenshot


• Super Slayer added.

After analyzing the Team Slayer voting data that took place the first two weeks of February, we were able to draw several instructive conclusions. Most importantly we learned that:

A significant portion of Halo: Reach players enjoy the Title Update settings.

A significant portion of Halo: Reach players enjoy the original Halo: Reach settings.

A significant portion of Halo: Reach players simply enjoy playing Halo: Reach.

To make sure all three groups have a Team Slayer option that fits their preferred way of playing the game, we are adding a new playlist called Super Slayer. Super Slayer is a replica of Team Slayer with the Title Update changes included. Team Slayer will still be available with its original settings intact, and Super Slayer will peacefully coexist with it, happily fulfilling your Slayer-related Title Update needs.

Thank you for all the feedback that allowed us to make this decision. We heart you. More than you know.


• Bleedthrough functionality removed from TU game types.

Speaking of feedback, there has been some spirited (and sometimes not spirited, ahem) discussion on the forums regarding the bleedthrough changes we implemented with the Title Update. One of the best things about the Title Update is that we added virtual knobs to various features, including bleedthrough, allowing us to adjust their settings as necessary.

Our goal is to provide you with an amazing matchmaking experience, so with that in mind, we have listened to your feedback and removed the bleedthrough functionality from Title Update game types.


Halo: Reach Screenshot


• Team Hotshot updated.

Players at the highest level heat (3/3) will now catch fire. It won’t look exactly like the above screenshot because that was taken in my dreams. It will look vaguely similar, though.


• Team Objective team size updated to 5v5.

Wham, bam, thank you, Alaskam! Semi-related, his nickname is actually Alaskan, but that didn’t rhyme.


• BTB Heavies added to Big Team Battle.

Heavies, for the uninitiated amongst us, is a game type perfect for those who love vehicular action. Not only are there more Warthogs, Scorpions, Banshees, Falcons, Revenants, and Ghosts than you could ever ask for, but there are also a higher-than-average amount of power and anti-vehicle weapons, just waiting to cause mass destruction.

We have also taken some steps to give foot soldiers a better experience; slight changes to geometry provide more cover, speed has been upped to 110% (which is not a huge difference but it’s enough to make you slightly more resistant to the impending chaos going on around you), and many standard Infantry kills are rewarded with a bonus point.

This game type has a score limit of 200 with bonus points awarded for headshots, beat downs, assassinations, splatters, and sticks.


We hope you love March’s matchmaking playlist update. And if you don’t, we have no doubt you’ll let us know in the forums. And, for the record, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

So what do you guys think?

[Danni Cherie]

I think heavies is a good idea for the bigger maps. Destruction derby in Halo, anyone?

[HC PillarofFire™]

I may start playing more reach again, when I am not playing ME3.

[Mforce]

No evade...







But BTB heavies?

[VESPIN3]

Wait are you saying nomore evade in btb cause if so you should of taken out armor lock it is a pointless loadout but why evade!

I think removing evade was the stupist thing you could have done! No means for insult but why did bungie have to leave?

BTB Heavies sounds good though, but still me and many of my friends agree reach was better how it was, the title update wasn't the best but I rolled into it but 343i is going to far leave the loadouts alone I think if not at least remove armor lock!

[The Shocky™]

the good ole days r back!!!
Long live heavies!!!

[PROBEE]

Thanks for the info. I will have to it for myself. Evade better not be gone in BTB!!!

[Tree Man]

No evade!?!?!?!!?!?!?



But heavies is back!?!?!

[The Shocky™]

what this really says

The month of March is known for its lion-like entrance. In the land of Halo, that ferocity translates into new game types, updated maps, and FIRE. These tweaks and optimizations are all part of our continued efforts to provide you with the best possible online experience. Read on for the specifics of next month’s matchmaking playlist update, which is slated to go live on March 6. And if you just heard something echoing in the distance, it was the Matchmaking Systems Team. They wanted you to hear them roar.


• Grifball messed up even more now


• Infection is still not worth playing


• Evade removed from Spartan loadouts even thought we still left armor lock.


• Anniversary Squad and Squad Slayer replaced by Super Slayer


After analyzing the Team Slayer voting data that took place the first two weeks of February, we were able to draw several instructive conclusions. Most importantly we learned that we still dont know how to create an api for the fans.


• Bleedthrough functionality removed from TU game types.


• Team Hotshot updated in a way that has no bearing


• Team Objective team size updated to 5v5.


• BTB Heavies added to Big Team Battle at least we got one right

Heavies, for the uninitiated amongst us, is a game type perfect for those who love vehicular action. Not only are there more Warthogs, Scorpions, Banshees, Falcons, Revenants, and Ghosts than you could ever ask for, but there are also a higher-than-average amount of power and anti-vehicle weapons, just waiting to cause mass destruction.

We have also taken some steps to give foot soldiers a better experience; slight changes to geometry provide more cover, speed has been upped to 110% (which is not a huge difference but it’s enough to make you slightly more resistant to the impending chaos going on around you), and many standard Infantry kills are rewarded with a bonus point.

This game type has a score limit of 200 with bonus points awarded for headshots, beat downs, assassinations, splatters, and sticks.


We hope you love March’s matchmaking playlist update. And if you don’t, we have no doubt you’ll let us know in the forums. And, for the record, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

[Jedi]

Lol. How is Grifball messed up even more? They just added some more maps to play and they added Hand Egg.

[The Shocky™]

im a purist.

[TadpoleAB1608]

heavies sounds awesome!!! can't wait to play that one with a group of HC peeps.

[smooftastic]

mmmmmm Heavies.

[VESPIN3]

Thanks for the info. I will have to it for myself. Evade better not be gone in BTB!!!

I would be so upset!

[c6a6g6e]

BTB Heavys!

Hell! Yeah!


I'm going to be playing some reach soon.