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eyadams · Jul 12, 2004, 04:04 PM

This is kind of a rant, but I've been thinking about this for a while.

I've been playing Halo since it came out for the Mac, and love both the single player and MP versions. But it seems that the quality of MP servers out on the Internet has gone downhill, especially in the last couple of weeks.

First, I find fewer and fewer servers playing games other than Slayer and Capture The Flag. Which is particularly a bother for me, because I love Race. Then there's the fact that no one seems content to set up servers with default weapons - so many servers are all heavy weapons, all the time. The other day I was in a CTF server that was all Sniper Rifles. Which meant that neither team could actually win the game.

And then there's stupid names. I guess it was only a matter of time before l33t sp33k came to Halo, but I'm getting tired of trying to read someone's name that's been rendered "-+4$$M4$T3R+-" - it's like reading line noise.

And, finally, there's clans. I don't want to join one (I don't play often or frequently enough to make it worthwhile), and I'm tired of 1. being invited to join, and 2. being treated like a moron because I'm not in one.

I know, I could host. And I have a few times. But, frankly, I don't think my machine is powerful enough to host a good game and let me play. And, furthermore, the few times I have hosted very few people came to play. Which could mean that I'm in the boondocks, but I think its because straight, balanced Halo, the kind I like, is dying.

Peter · Jul 12, 2004, 04:07 PM

Just give yourself a tag like [MacNN] to shut everyone up about the clan s

Ryan Becker · Jul 12, 2004, 05:30 PM

You might try using GameRanger, however I think you have to pay for a premium membership to play Halo thru GameRanger.

But, GameRanger is all Mac users, so you usaully don't have as much attitude, and all that "PWNED" talk crap that the kids do these days... sheesh, since when does a typo take over the actual spelling of a word!? Even worse, there are people that say "PWNED" out loud, in speech.... man, kids these days....

Or, try playing a game that doesn't attract that kind of crowd. I have found Call Of Duty to be a much more mature game. And, with over 5,000 servers and counting, I'm sure you could find one you like.

-Ryan

a2daj · Jul 12, 2004, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by Ryan Becker:
You might try using GameRanger, however I think you have to pay for a premium membership to play Halo thru GameRanger.

But, GameRanger is all Mac users, so you usaully don't have as much attitude, and all that "PWNED" talk crap that the kids do these days... sheesh, since when does a typo take over the actual spelling of a word!? Even worse, there are people that say "PWNED" out loud, in speech.... man, kids these days....

Or, try playing a game that doesn't attract that kind of crowd. I have found Call Of Duty to be a much more mature game. And, with over 5,000 servers and counting, I'm sure you could find one you like.

-Ryan

You don't have to pay to play any game on GR. However, Halo isn't supported.

Ryan Becker · Jul 12, 2004, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by a2daj:
You don't have to pay to play any game on GR. However, Halo isn't supported.

Well, I don't seem to be able to find anything on his website, but I am pretty sure Halo is supported for Premium members... or maybe I'm just recalling someone suggesting that idea.... can't remember for sure.

-Ryan

a2daj · Jul 12, 2004, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by Ryan Becker:
Well, I don't seem to be able to find anything on his website, but I am pretty sure Halo is supported for Premium members... or maybe I'm just recalling someone suggesting that idea.... can't remember for sure.

-Ryan

You do not have to pay to play any game on GameRanger. You pay for extra features, not access to specific games. GameRanger currently has absolutely no support for Halo. Halo has no support for GameRanger.

I bugged Scott about it once saying that it'd be great to have Voice chat with Mac Halo and he agreed. I guess nothing came of it.

Horsepoo!!! · Jul 12, 2004, 08:28 PM

Game Ranger is so lame...lame community...lame carbon port...lame support for games developed by smaller devs.

a2daj · Jul 12, 2004, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
Game Ranger is so lame...lame community...lame carbon port...lame support for games developed by smaller devs.

Yet it's still better than LameSpy.

capuchin · Jul 12, 2004, 09:40 PM

I feel your pain.

The thing is, the majority of players prefer CTF or slayer to other game types that typically involve something outside of the standard shooter paradigm - which is why you don't see a lot of Oddball or Race games out there.

The 31337 names are annoying as hell, but it's always fun chatting with these guys and deliberately deciding you don't know what their name is, and calling them something else. Be creative. Be annoying. The worst they can do is tk you a bunch of times and get themselves banned. And that is a fine and noble thing to have happen to a guy with a name like $7e@i7#m@n. I mean - what the hell is that?

I got sick of the clan thing, so my buddy Gabe and I formed the anti-clan clan. We played one time with a guy called MR FONG who, frankly, pwned like I've never seen before. Out of my 33 years on this earth, I've been playing shooters a long time, but this guy was a machine - 75 kills, no deaths, all the flags, and an incredibly good, generous team player to boot. Thus, we are now MR FONG 2 & 3, kick tail in every game we're in, sacrifice ourselves for the good of the team, and refuse to join clans on the ground that they tend to stifle good, friendly game play. So, set up a profile for MR FONG 4, jump online, and rest assured you get to placate the assholes who think you're part of a lame clan without ever having to actually join one. Or not. Your call. Clans tend to be a refuge for the worst excesses of adolescent testosterone. Bah.

Oh, and if you're sick of strange weapon sets, stick to the Bungie servers - they're generally pretty stock.

Arolte · Jul 13, 2004, 09:08 AM

Unless Halo CE is ported over to OS X, I don't think we'll be seeing any new servers anytime soon. The reason is Halo CE has official support for third party maps and mods, which regular Halo doesn't. And since it's PC only right now, you'll find the majority of servers flocking over there while Mac users are left in the dust. The best you can do for now is to get to know a small band of players and create a private server. That way you'll avoid the nuisances of public servers, be it TKers or just jerks in general.

Leonard · Jul 13, 2004, 10:54 AM

What I hate in Halo are the teammates who TK other teammates for a weapon or vehicle. Hell, I had one teammate almost kill me while I was carrying the flag back to base, I assume for the ghost I was riding. I saw four teammates once fight over a tank. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so stupid. Then you get on servers where they actually cheer on the team and act more like team players.

I also stay out of the clans as they really don't interest me. But I haven't seen too many invites to be a clan member.

capuchin · Jul 13, 2004, 01:25 PM

If you get sick of a tk-er, my favorite trick is to shoot at their feet until they kill you. Most servers will auto-ban a player for more than 5 tk's, so with a few minutes work you can dispose of the most troublesome of pests.

Truepop · Jul 13, 2004, 03:55 PM

why is there no co-op Halo?

my friends and love to play marathon co-op and I was really hoping for Halo for Mac to have it.

Arolte · Jul 13, 2004, 04:01 PM

Heh, I have zero tolerance for TKers. If a particular server is just downright lame and full of ineptitude, I just TK 'em back to the point where I get banned. There's really no point in sticking around, so why not make some fun out of it before you leave? It's so worth getting banned over seeing a whiny, prepubescent little l33t d00d yell at you for giving him a taste of his own medicine.

If the server is good and worth staying, I usually do one of two things:

1. Grab the nearest vehicle, drive full speed towards the TKer, and jump off before he gets mowed down. The vehicle takes the blame. The alternative would be to flip a toppled vehicle on top of him or use explosives to get the same effect.

2. As mentioned before, irritate the TKer by shooting them, but not killing them. Eventually they'll get banned for killing you over and over. Unfortunately many TKers have picked up on how the anti-TK system works, so this only works half the time.

Most of the time it's not TKers which annoy me, but rather having a jerk for a host. You know, the kind of people who kick you off a server just for being really good at the game. Or for pointing out the hypocrisy that many l33t clanmates possess. Rather than face their pride being broken, they use the quick escape method by giving you the boot. I guess some people just can't handle the truth.

a2daj · Jul 13, 2004, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by Truepop:
why is there no co-op Halo?

my friends and love to play marathon co-op and I was really hoping for Halo for Mac to have it.

Because it wasn't easy to add network coop as the single player mode wasn't designed with network play in mind. As for split screen coop... would anyone want to play a FPS in split screen while fighting over the mouse and keyboard?

Halo Coop on Xbox was one instance of the game with two viewpoints to the same instance, so that's a lot easier to do. There's no need to sync clients and servers deal with netlag, etc. It's possible gearbox could have solved it eventually, but I doubt it's going to ever happen nowadays with the direction their Halo development went.