Halo: Reach Noble Map Pack coming Nov. 30
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True story: Just yesterday we were saying, "Huh, not as many people seem to be talking about Halo: Reach lately." Then, this morning we wake up to find that Bungie will be stoking the flames on November 30 with the downloadable Noble Map Pack. Get out of our heads, creeps!
Ten bucks gets you access to three new environments. The first is Tempest (pictured), an abandoned shoreline facility featuring two symmetrical bases for 8 – 16 player fights. Anchor 9, an orbital dry-dock controlled by the UNSC, is a more intimate 2-8 player affair. Finally, there's Breakpoint, a series of frozen, modular archaeological labs for 8-16 players fracases. Oh, and there are 250 more Achievement points to be had, which we know is all you really care about. Monster.
If that's still not enough new Halo, Bungie's challenging fans to make some of their own with the "Forgetacular Map Design Contest," the full details of which are right here. We'd love to participate, but we'll be too busy making foil hats to protect our precious thought waves.
Ten bucks gets you access to three new environments. The first is Tempest (pictured), an abandoned shoreline facility featuring two symmetrical bases for 8 – 16 player fights. Anchor 9, an orbital dry-dock controlled by the UNSC, is a more intimate 2-8 player affair. Finally, there's Breakpoint, a series of frozen, modular archaeological labs for 8-16 players fracases. Oh, and there are 250 more Achievement points to be had, which we know is all you really care about. Monster.
If that's still not enough new Halo, Bungie's challenging fans to make some of their own with the "Forgetacular Map Design Contest," the full details of which are right here. We'd love to participate, but we'll be too busy making foil hats to protect our precious thought waves.
Reader Comments (88)
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:15AM killploki said
im all for new maps, but it would have been nice if they just included a few more from the start. it seems early to have a map pack coming out already as well. im sure there are people who dont even own the game yet who are probably getting it for the holidays who now wont own the 'complete' game only 3 months after its release.
i would have hoped for at least the first map pack to be free as a thankyou to all the fans who have made the series a success, but hopefully there are some good forge made maps that make it into the playlists at some point.
i would have hoped for at least the first map pack to be free as a thankyou to all the fans who have made the series a success, but hopefully there are some good forge made maps that make it into the playlists at some point.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:34AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said
@killploki
A multiplayer map pack in no way at all makes a game 'incomplete'.
And 3 months is still 3 months. That's a long period of time.
Reply
A multiplayer map pack in no way at all makes a game 'incomplete'.
And 3 months is still 3 months. That's a long period of time.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:44AM killploki said
@killploki
by 'complete' i am talking about how the new maps are intergrated into playlists. i dont remember if it was halo2 or 3, but it got to the point where the multiplayer became very limited to what you could play without having all of the map packs. the game had completely changed from what it was out of the box, meaning if you were a late adopter you were missing out on the full experience.
but i guess that is the way the industry is going with downloads these days and everyone is doing it. i would rather have a map pack available on disc i could pick up at retail as well instead of the points card option that always leaves you with that remainder of points not enough to use on anything....
Reply
by 'complete' i am talking about how the new maps are intergrated into playlists. i dont remember if it was halo2 or 3, but it got to the point where the multiplayer became very limited to what you could play without having all of the map packs. the game had completely changed from what it was out of the box, meaning if you were a late adopter you were missing out on the full experience.
but i guess that is the way the industry is going with downloads these days and everyone is doing it. i would rather have a map pack available on disc i could pick up at retail as well instead of the points card option that always leaves you with that remainder of points not enough to use on anything....
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:18AM Lerkero said
People still pay for maps so Bungie and Microsoft are well within reason to sell them at that price (if the MW2 $15 map packs are any indication).
It makes it even harder for me to complain about $15 XBLA games when people easily throw $10 out for some maps.
It makes it even harder for me to complain about $15 XBLA games when people easily throw $10 out for some maps.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:49AM GamingColt said
@Lerkero
Xbla games are a whole 'nother beast. They don't bring the hardcore fps shooters any more replayability, they just give you platformers or other pickup and play type stuff.
Reply
Xbla games are a whole 'nother beast. They don't bring the hardcore fps shooters any more replayability, they just give you platformers or other pickup and play type stuff.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:24AM logicbus said
More maps is a good thing. Some will be stinkers but some will be stars -- just like the maps that shipped on the disc. More maps means more good maps means fewer bad maps in matchmaking.
And regarding the "wait til they're free" sentiment -- the sooner Bungie puts out new maps, the sooner they can stop charging for them.
And regarding the "wait til they're free" sentiment -- the sooner Bungie puts out new maps, the sooner they can stop charging for them.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:30AM Vcize said
Kind of disappointing that 2 of the 3 are designed as BTB/Invasion maps. We need more 4v4 maps.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:31AM ditchell said
The promise of unlimited forge maps, and the best of those making it into matchmaking got me very excited about the game. Since launch there's be no word on any of that- but of course they are selling me more maps. Don't get me wrong, these look great... but I was hoping that Bungie would recognize what I thought was their greatest strength against COD.
If they were smart, they'd have a select few Forge maps rotate in every month. And playlists specifically designed for this. BETA MAP Team Slayer, et al.
Why NOT do this? Sure sometimes a map may be exposed as broken in some way. Take it out of the queue and move on.
If they were smart, they'd have a select few Forge maps rotate in every month. And playlists specifically designed for this. BETA MAP Team Slayer, et al.
Why NOT do this? Sure sometimes a map may be exposed as broken in some way. Take it out of the queue and move on.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:36AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said
@ditchell
Did you even read all of the post? Or did you just read the headline and put on your complaint hat.
Once you go back and read the rest of it you will see the bit which says bungie are holding a competing to find the best forge maps.
Reply
Did you even read all of the post? Or did you just read the headline and put on your complaint hat.
Once you go back and read the rest of it you will see the bit which says bungie are holding a competing to find the best forge maps.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 10:37AM novusvir said
I want more FireFight Maps!
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:14AM AnAngryPlatapus said
@novusvir I would pay if the forge map it came with allowed us to forge a firefight map other than that forget about it.
Reply
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:00AM DWells55 said
The game shipped with only nine maps (all single player conversions) and a Forge playground, plus a handful of Forge maps which I don't consider real maps, and they want ten bucks for three maps so soon after release? I can't help but feel like they held back and now we get to pay for it. Also, only one of these maps is small enough for 4v4 games (8 - 16 almost always means the map is only good for 6v6 or 8v8). Kind of a disappointment.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:40AM DWells55 said
@TiLoBrown
Because it's something anyone can make and doesn't take nearly the time, effort, or polish that real maps take. No texture, lighting, modeling/BSP work, etc. To top it off, they tend to have framerate lag issues, especially the Sanctuary remake.
Reply
Because it's something anyone can make and doesn't take nearly the time, effort, or polish that real maps take. No texture, lighting, modeling/BSP work, etc. To top it off, they tend to have framerate lag issues, especially the Sanctuary remake.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 6:09PM maveric101 said
@DWells55
first, those 9 weren't "single player conversions." they were maps that were created specifically for multiplayer, and then inserted into the campaign. also, i've had no lag issues on sanctuary...
Reply
first, those 9 weren't "single player conversions." they were maps that were created specifically for multiplayer, and then inserted into the campaign. also, i've had no lag issues on sanctuary...
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 6:39PM DWells55 said
@TiLoBrown
My point is that the Forge World maps offer nothing that the community couldn't have done and would've done. It's pretty obvious they take a lot less work, as well. Like I said, no custom lighting, no texture work, no new models for the BSP or map objects, etc. The maps don't have location names and they're all pretty ugly thanks to the repetitive grey Forge items being used for everything.
@maveric101
That's what Bungie claims, but the maps certainly don't feel like they were designed for MP. Sword Base and Board Walk simply don't play well and I could dissect the other maps if I had to. As for Sanctuary, stand at one snipe and look down plasma through ring two to the other snipe. The framerate will drop. If you scope in with a sniper or there's stuff happening, it'll drop to the single digits. It's well-documented and part of the reason MLG is using a different remake instead of the one Bungie shipped.
Reply
My point is that the Forge World maps offer nothing that the community couldn't have done and would've done. It's pretty obvious they take a lot less work, as well. Like I said, no custom lighting, no texture work, no new models for the BSP or map objects, etc. The maps don't have location names and they're all pretty ugly thanks to the repetitive grey Forge items being used for everything.
@maveric101
That's what Bungie claims, but the maps certainly don't feel like they were designed for MP. Sword Base and Board Walk simply don't play well and I could dissect the other maps if I had to. As for Sanctuary, stand at one snipe and look down plasma through ring two to the other snipe. The framerate will drop. If you scope in with a sniper or there's stuff happening, it'll drop to the single digits. It's well-documented and part of the reason MLG is using a different remake instead of the one Bungie shipped.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:05AM LTLemonLicker said
Everyone knows they are adding forged maps for free eventually right? Matchmaking and everything. 10 dollars is not bad for maps. Beats $5 for skins on Playstations Sports Champions...
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:13AM xReece said
Terminal and Headlong, Bungie... Terminal and Headlong...
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 12:48PM 343 Guilty Fart said
I would REALLY love to see a remake of Terminal
Reply
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:27AM ll features ll said
@DWells55 Do you guys ever shut up about the cost of shit?
Joystiq views are so stingey!
Joystiq views are so stingey!
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 11:53AM einhanderkiller said
Yay, fragmented community again.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 12:03PM Kyle4 said
Finally, new maps! Not sure if I'll be playing Reach as much by November 30'th though, I'm already growing tired of it seeing as how they only included 9 maps for competitive matchmaking. It would've been nice if they threw in some free Forge world maps earlier to tide fans over.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 12:27PM Doctor Otis said
I look forward to playlists being held hostage if I don't pay for extra maps, like they did with Halo 3 :/
:'(
:'(
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 12:42PM Favocado said
At ten bucks, I'm not gonna buy these on day one. I'll wait for a better deal.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 12:43PM wunwunx said
The one that is 6/11 is from Halo 2. It was a DLC and was pretty good.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 12:50PM 343 Guilty Fart said
Shoot, it was initially rumored that Tempest would be a remake of Relic, but it doesn't appear so.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 1:03PM Trueboricua said
Trade in while its still hot
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 2:02PM xbashingx said
I BLAME ACTIVISION FOR STARTING THIS OVERPRICED TREND
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 2:23PM Dralthi said
I'm not loving Reach as much as I did Halo 3, so I'm going to wait on these. Sorry, Bungie.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 2:24PM Fuzunga said
So, where exactly does Tempest take place? Doesn't look like Reach to me. Also, I'm down for a new snowy map. Those are always my favorites!
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 2:49PM Ghost Toon said
No new Forge World? The Blue green and silver world that is forge world is getting kind of old. How about a desert version Bungie?
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 6:43PM Steven4 said
Any small DLC that isn't free is too much money. But Halo is a special case.
Posted: Oct 14th 2010 8:36PM colonel juju said
I can save $10 by just not eating breakfast for 3 days. Or buying cheaper lunches... Seriously, $10 is worth it for the amount of hours I will spend on these maps.
Posted: Oct 16th 2010 2:01AM Playace said
ughghuh *crosses legs*
They should have included the firstm inevitable map pack free with legendary or something.
Maybe they KNEW i'd buy it anyway... hmm...
They should have included the firstm inevitable map pack free with legendary or something.
Maybe they KNEW i'd buy it anyway... hmm...
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