Editorial: Halo 2 And Halo 3 Are Killing Console Multiplayer

Halo isn't killing console multiplayer. It is keeping it on life support. The sooner that developers and network operators look at its model and embrace it, the sooner multiplayer becomes the main event and not just a checklist item.

Also they're not called channels, they are play lists or game types. When you say servers you are speaking about players, so why not use the term players. Console games are hosted by players, that send their signal to the server. that's why if a player leaves or has a bad connection, then either the game drops or a new host is selected. ONLY PC GAMES still use servers to host the games, so obviously Mr. Usher is a PC gamer who is bashing consoles for stealing the playerbase, since there hasnt been a decent PC game released since Diablo 2 and WOW. Luckily Mr. Usher Diablo 3 is coming out soon, so maybe then you might find players to play with.

I think I have to agree with Jack, Alex, and Scott here. Those games get played simply because they are the best.

And, in fact, I'm almost insulted by Mr. Usher's article saying we are being "controlled." I play COD4 and halo 3 because I WANT TO, not because everyone else is doing it. They're fun games, period.

In fact, the title of the article "Halo 2 And Halo 3 Are Killing Console Multiplayer" is straight up bass-ackwards. Online multiplayer gaming is only as prevalent, with all the features like down-loadable content, as it is today BECAUSE of halo 2 and 3. If Halo 2 wasn't released online, I really doubt online console games would have the support they have now. That game, even if you don't like it, DID pretty much usher in the era of console online gaming.

Mr. Usher, I'm sorry games you like are played as much, but that should just be a signal that for the majority of us, those games just aren't worth playing.

Seriously, this is more of that annoying: "give the little guy a chance, fair play, everyone should have a a moment in the sun." Then you give the little guy your chance and it's the shittiest thing you've ever experienced.

When you're not good enough to be on top don't try to play it as some kind of injustice, it's darwinism, it's where you deserve to be.

Let's see if I can some this up in a couple of sentences. Bungie makes an awesome set of games. Some no-name dev makes a at-best-mediocre game. It is then Bungie's and Halo's fault that no one plays the crappy, mediocre game, instead choosing to play the awesomeness that is Halo. Sound, reasoned logic if I've ever seen it...

The reason that "servers" don't offer incentive to play the little know, crappy games is simple. Bandwidth costs money, why waste it on crap that no one is playing.

COD4 tops out the list and there is only about 28,000 people on halo 2 in 24 hrs. Halo 3 is always second and actually GTA 4 is 3rd. Gears is down at number 4. The reason why people play halo, call of duty and GTA is because they are the best multiplayer games around. These other games can't compete because they just aren't as good. Besides since Halo is only on top every few months a more appropriate subject for this article would be how COD 4 is killing console multiplayer.

I love halo & all sorts of videogames

Those other games suck! Until a better game than Halo comes along, why would anyone want to play something shittier. You are just a fagotty ass bitch who constantly gets his ass kicked and vents his frustration by feebly trying to bash halo and convince someone, anyone, to play The Outfit with you.

Hey Dudes and Girls (i know there are girl gamers too)
You all know the Halo Trilory are epic games, but the reason why they are so popular is because of the great deal of flexiblity they have in their pre-game lobbies ASWELL as all the other stuff that makes awesome games. The Coop, Guests, Parties, 4 Player Split, System Link, Local, Xbox Live. Whatever your network set up you can play this awesome game, with all your mates. Here all the other games lag behind, even the better ones such as COD4 and Gears, great games, but as yourself how do you intend to play COD4 on xbox live wit your best bud comes round wen you aint gt split screen, or gears when you cant have a seemless change taking your party from matchmaking to campaign and back again. You cant and these games are Hit games up with Halo. Gone are the days where gaming was an insociable activity, we use xbox live to play with our friends, where we love to share in pwning random people!!!!!
This is why other games suck, who wants an awesome game you can only play alone??? I dont... I get bored of them. Develops out there should listen, Great lobby and multiplayer systems make Great Games!!!

Bungie For The Win!!!!

Cold One3018

I just like how Bungie's game counter is used as evidence to support the argument.

Let's start here. You can't say that this is not a 'Halo bashing' article, then in the same sentence accuse gamers of allowing Halo to control them.

Forgiving that misstep, you seem to make an interesting, but flawed logical leap in assuming that due to a particular game's online popularity all other games suffer a lack of play time. First you fail to take into account the number of individuals that chose to invest, and at $60 a game it is definitely an investment, in the less played games you mention. Wouldn't a smaller pool of owners naturally lead to a smaller consistent group of online competitors?

Of course you might suggest that wouldn't be the case were the Bungie titles not as popular, but to propose gamers would select the other titles you provide in the absence of Halo 3 would be equally ridiculous. Gamers have a penchant for selecting games they find entertaining regardless of reviews and criticism. Were other games actually capable of competing for players time... then they would. Games like Gears of War and Call of Duty provide consistently high player counts because they are solid, entertaining games. The developers of both created engrossing online experiences that entertain their fans, but apparently Bungie, despite Halo's flaws, created a game that is capable of drawing a consistently larger audience.

I think what confounds me most is that you choose to complain about Halo's success, when in fact that success is exactly what drives gaming forward. I am constantly hoping for a game that would replace Halo 3 in my Xbox, but that would require a developer create a game with a higher return on investment then Halo 3.

It is possible the reason these games are so popular is because they are good. People like to play them, which is why they play them. The Halo games are supported by Bungie like no other game and no other dev. If there were better multiplayer games, people would play them. If other games can't match the quality and thought of Halo, then it is their problem.

"The media hype surrounding Halo keeps gamers playing Halo"

This is the central fallacy in your article. People play the games online that are the most fun, either in gameplay or community (or in the case of Halo, both).

You want other games to succeed online? Maybe they should make better games than Halo...

I don't play Halo 3 but recognize it for what it is: one of the best multiplayer games, ever, on a console. I'm more of a Gears of War and Call of Duty 4 kind of guy, and never have trouble finding people to play either.

In fact, I've never had trouble finding anyone to play ANY of the games that I really wanted to play. If they don't suck, people will play them. Blacksite 51? That game blew. No wonder no one played it.

You can say all you want that Halo 2 and 3 are hurting online console gaming. I say Halo 2 pretty much laid the GROUNDWORK.

Haha, console gamers. I have no trouble finding players on other titles on PC.

Video game publishers just have to stop making crappy games

Problem Solved

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! Ilove halo 3.it is the best game i have ever played.i love 2 play it so much that i would buy every copy of it.[but i can't, but i wish i had enough money to get it]. and i have a friend[mostly known as my step bro ] who won't let me play because i said "how can you have mis placed a brand new game, only a person who loses it doesn't care about it" because he lost it a few months later and he finds that as me insulting him?so since we [he] lost it we been playing with our friend who also has halo 3. but now we have a new copy of it.and he still won't let me play so bye.peace :);d;p;l;o;w;E;.