Bungie preps invited players with Halo 3 beta FAQ
by Jared Rea 
{ Feb 16th 2007 at 1:15PM }
They may not be saying just what the "X" button does yet, but Bungie has compiled a list of some of the most asked questions concerning the upcoming Halo 3 beta. Can you blow stuff up with your laser? Totally. Will parties and matchmaking work in the beta? You better believe it. It also includes a bit of rumor debunking as it confirms, once again, that you won't be playing Halo 3 come the release of Crackdown next week.
So exactly when will you be getting your hands on the shiny new Spartan toys? They're still not saying, nor are they talking about the length of the beta beyond "for a limited time only."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon @ Feb 16th 2007 1:43PM
How about that the X button or whatever button they end up mapping it to be the newest and greatest feature they are proud to present which is the "MOVIE MAKER". Come on people this obviously will change the way you play because you now have the option to make your own montages.
C. Grant @ Feb 16th 2007 1:54PM
MONTAGE!
Wil @ Feb 16th 2007 4:20PM
No.. it has been stated that the entire game is saved, not just sections of it. Later on you can go back through and play, pause, rewind the game and view it from any angle. I still think it's a sprint button.
diamondxp @ Feb 16th 2007 5:29PM
were gonna need a montage !
arcsine @ Feb 16th 2007 2:09PM
SHOOP DA WOOP!
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 2:07PM
Shhhrrruuubbberrrry!!! Ohhh... Sorry... NI! Can't wait for the Beta...
JJC @ Feb 16th 2007 2:13PM
this is a good list. answers a lot of questions. cant wait for this...
Joel @ Feb 16th 2007 2:29PM
The FAQ is interesting, but they still don't answer the question I have: Will the beta support multiple players per system? I really want to have some friends over to play the beta when it comes out, and I want to know if that will be possible!
Z @ Feb 16th 2007 2:33PM
Great picture!!
Pew pew!!!
Mike @ Feb 16th 2007 3:27PM
"Pew Pew?" hahaha
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 2:34PM
They might let split screen because that is a factor that usually causes some of the greater stress in most games. Unless there won't be any split screen support...... Shudder to think of such a thing...
Jon @ Feb 16th 2007 2:35PM
Or its an alternate fire button for weapons like 3 shot burst or semi auto for the battle rifle
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 2:43PM
I think they are just messing with us and the x button doesn't do anything... Rate of fire options is essentially a complication... I hope bungie is trying to keep things simple like it has always been which would also rule out it being that super shield... x traditionaly was reload and action. Which means if it does something else those have to be redelegated elsewhere whic would through apart the whole scheme which they already have said they have done... so I just cancelled my own argument... Oh nevermind I'm just going to stop thinking about it until I see it.
David @ Feb 16th 2007 7:37PM
I hope "x" isn't a "take-cover" mode like every other game out there now. Crouching is good enough for me.
X @ Feb 16th 2007 3:58PM
The king is back! ! !
Eat your heart-out $ony.
Bungie will take us to the next levelin FPS :)
Max Boyer @ Feb 16th 2007 3:49PM
the X button will be used to activate items in your inventory
yes, you have an inventory and items you can pick up in Halo 3 (like that shield thingy from the commercial)
Jake @ Feb 16th 2007 3:52PM
Wow, 12 comments without a single "Halo is the most over-rated, mediocre piece of crap in gaming history. There are at least 3 FPS's that are better." comment. Impressive.
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 4:10PM
12... I would like to know your sources because up until the shield "thingy" I wanted to believe you... And wouldn't an inventory destroy the essence of Halo?
Grindstone @ Feb 16th 2007 4:18PM
It is rather odd that no one has made the obligatory "Halo sucks!" comment. Maybe they finally wisened up and skipped over this thread.
Cool.
And regarding the article; cool.
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 4:42PM
I don't think it will have "video" for the normal consumer. They usually always have that in alphas and sometimes inhouse betas for research, like they did in Halo 2. It doesn't normally make it to consumers cept in a butchered almost useless fashion... a la... burnout...
Kasey @ Feb 16th 2007 5:16PM
Joystiq:
1. Add the "Imma" and "mah" in there.
2. Shoop the rainbow mouth lazer over Master C.
3. Repost
4. ?????
5. Profit!
Anonymous loves you.
Dave @ Feb 16th 2007 5:30PM
Bungie has already alluded to the fact that there will be a built-in recording function with Halo 3. So I that is a distinct possibility.
They've also mentioned the capability to independently reload weapons when dual-wielding. I would imagine the reload function would be mapped to each sholder button, leaving the mysterious X button free for sprinting, or video capture, or possibily a teabag option.
OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Feb 16th 2007 5:41PM
The "Pew Pew" makes the whole thing work.
Bra-vo.
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 5:45PM
I do agree that reload will be the bumps. That makes sense. I doubt the button will be for tea bagging...... seeing as thats already handled with crouch. x could be the new team chat button... Seeing as that is now a reload button.
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 5:46PM
Or sprinting...
Intentless @ Feb 16th 2007 5:46PM
But I don't want sprinting in my halo.... or melee combos....
CAL_GORE @ Feb 16th 2007 6:20PM
I heard the X button activates CP.
Max Boyer @ Feb 16th 2007 6:47PM
@15
my brother. he's a writer for a major game mag and he got to play it back in the fall. now, I should note that when he played, the function of the X button was disabled, and Bungie was being coy about it, so they never said what the actual 'secret function' is for the X button. But my brother thinks it's to activate inventory items, which is the best theory I've heard so far (since it's the only one I've heard that would actually enhance gameplay in a significant way). So I'm deferring to his opinion here.
he also said that Bungie showed them exactly 30 seconds of action from the campaign that showed an epic battle. He said that there was so much going on on-screen that you couldn't even take it all in. so of course, the Bungie guys refused to re-run it (they were only there for a story on the multi-player)
@21
You're definitely right about the video recording. I think they want to show as much love for the machinima crowd as possible, not just for the free advertising but also out of genuine artistic appreciation.
You're also right about the shoulder buttons, each one reloads one gun (and I'm assuming they also act as context-sensitive 'action buttons' like the X used to be)