I’m here because of Halo 2.
Well, technically, Halo: Combat Evolved if you want to go back far enough, and that’s because of our editor Anthony (or further back to my parents meeting in archery class). But all of this — this website, my online presence, hundreds upon hundreds of dollars in gaming paraphernalia — is because of Halo 2’s multiplayer. Though it started with local LANs, what caused the game that kept my attention more than any other had or, likely, ever will, to have such a hold on me was its lobby system.
Say what you will, but this was THE way to play online
The lobby was, frankly, revolutionary. You could connect with a group of friends and play a variety of games as long as you’d like with a cohesive experience. To this day, games either have a Halo 2-esque lobby or they have a poor online component. It’s just a damn fact. Microsoft even instituted the party system into its core UI, just so when games drop the ball you can still have a decent time of things.
Say what you will about Halo in any incarnation, but for a long while it was the first person shooter. It redefined the genre, proving that it was possible to have a decent FPS game on a console and also providing the game that launched a thousand lookalikes. The thing is, games that had a lobby system and two weapons and so on weren’t necessarily bad. Halo (the franchise; not just the first game) included some mechanics that were, plain and simple, amazing. Other games weren’t derivative for using them any more than a chef would be for… you know what, I tried, but I’m gonna have to go for beer here and reference the barrel aging trend, and the hop bombs before them. Sorry, but I write what I know.
The point is that a game not including Halo-style multiplayer just because they didn’t want to copy Bungie would be silly. But then, no one can stay on top forever. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released shortly after Halo 3, and even among my very Halo-centric friend circle it took center stage. There was nothing wrong with Halo 3, but it was just… more Halo. Modern Warfare had classes! And perks! Your level was more than something assholes tried to lower so that they could smack around noobs. Suddenly every gamer was copying Infinity Ward’s baby instead of Bungie’s bundle of joy. Showing that the sun had finally set on the British empire, Halo: Reach is going to include something very close to a perks system.
teh futurez
So now everything is class based, and generally with perks. How much longer can Call of Duty — or Modern Warfare, whatever — stay on top? Well, with the still-breaking news of the departure of the two founders of the company, paired with the fact that there have been two Modern Warfares, I’d say that the shark has a pretty good ramp before it.
What’s next, then? You should know by now that I’m just an observer here — keen or insipid, depending on your opinion — and don’t actually know what I’m talking about. I’m not an insider, just a dude what plays video games. First Person Shooters have their classes and perks, and have stolen Horde mode from the 3rd person Gears of War, but someday soon — not today, not tomorrow, and probably not in the next year or even two — a new star will rise.
And until then, honestly, I’m just going to keep playing MW2.
It’s funny that in a game where the main character has titanium bones and a software human-level intelligent (pseudo-)girlfriend chose to not allow players to store all game weapons in their trench-coat vortex. And it worked really well.
$15 for 5 maps, 2 old… rumors of a subsciption fee for any upcoming Call of Duty multiplayer modes… yeah, Halo will still be kicking for years. Even if Gearbox or whoever ends up taking the series over once Bungie is done.
Well, I think that Halo is popular enough that they can put out a few horrible ones before copies stop selling. Most people don’t give a crap if Bungie makes it, or if Gearbox does, or if the people who make the Wiiware games with Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy. Actually, I’d buy that. My point is that people need to be burned repeatedly before giving up on a franchise. It just may not be the trendmaker anymore.