Select Category Archive Game Nights Other Halo News Results Series News Site News Special Events Select Monthly Archive September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

In case you were wondering whether you had accidentally set your browser’s zoom function just a little bit too high - well, you haven’t. After a little re-working the site banners, and the RPWS logo have been refined and remade.

The RPWS logo is now clearer and sharper, with more detail than the old incarnation. It’s still the same basic design though, nothing radical going on here

Also there is a bit more height in the banner, showing off a lot more of the really great quality in-game screenshots we have as our banners. If you have a good shot that you think would work well, feel free to post about it in the forums

Regarding the next season, Autumn ‘08, we plan on announcing a start date within the next few weeks. As most of you are probably back in school/college/work or will be by the time the season starts, we’ve pushed back the weekly start time to 5pm Eastern (2pm Pacific, 10pm West Europe). This should suit may more people who would otherwise have to stay away for fear of oversleeping the next morning, or getting yelled at by parents/girl(boy)-friends/significant others.

Stick around, have a chat in the forums! We’re not gone, we’re just preparing

One of the things I personally have been thinking about, is the possibility of having some sort of Halo “Gladiators”. For those of you who have seen either the American or the British versions, you’ll know what I’m talking about

As this is just an idea, there is nothing concrete in the planning, design, rules etc. of how this would work. But, I’m hoping that there could be a round-robin tournament on maybe Saturdays, over several weeks to determine who is the ultimate Gladiator champion

Here’s where you guys come in - well other than being Contenders and/or Gladiators. If you have any ideas or thoughts on events, “sets” and obviously the Eliminator, post them here or somewhere in our forums. Most of the credit will be given More »

Many of you will probably have noticed this video from FlemProductions, highlighting the importance of being able to lower guns in machinima production:

However, this cannot be done over Xbox Live. The group Lower the Guns was created to highlight this fact and to gain support for the cause, and to try and get weapon lowering over Xbox Live enabled.

On September 25th, all Lower the Guns members, and participating Clans and websites will be abstaining from Halo 3 for the day in an attempt to get the point across. And as of today, the Rumble Pit World Series will also not be playing on September 25th. We encourage all players, participants and others to not play Halo 3 on that day.

Instead, play Halo 3 the weekend after - hopefully some of us will be settled into college enough to be able to have a special 1-year Halo 3 anniversary tournament thingy!

PS: The fancy permalinks are now working properly on the forums!
PPS: Oops, forgot the link to the LtG group!

I’m sure you’ve all seen Bungie’s EDGE acceptance speech, and all the things they put in the video, whether they be teasers/spoilers, and whether they’re just playing with us. The Halo community is going ape-crazy about the video and what it could possibly mean for the future of Halo.

As for us at the RPWS, we’re taking all the informaton in the video with a pinch of salt. The end result probably won’t be exactly what we want, or what we’re looking for, or what we think it is. However, in the unlikely scenario that it IS what we think it is, then there is a very strong outlook for the future of the RPWS.

The two things from the video that the community is speculating about that we are specifically looking at are the newer “map editor”, and the AI possibility.

Map Editor

The new editor is probably the biggest thing that can benefit the RPWS. With the opportunity to make true custom maps, the number of “venues” for the series can be drastically improved. Players can give feedback as to what they would like in a map, and brand new arenas, suitable for all gametypes, can be crafted to meet the needs of the series.

We do hope that there will be a new editor, or if not, at least an improvement on the current Forge. While there are some great custom maps out there (for example MLG’s Onslaught and Amplified), not all of them are suitable for our needs, and wide variety of gametypes. Still, there is the possibility out there.

AI

Having AI available, whether it be in Forge or in custom game settings, would enable us to create a new breed of custom gametypes. Whereas up until now, there has been a limited set of gametypes that can be played, having AI additions would enable new possibilites.

Players vs AI in an Infection style game, AI supplementing the players in mercenary style games, or just having additional AI around to kill and be killed by - all these possibilities would be available if AI were enabled. It is very exciting to think that something so small as other opponents on the map that will play the way you want them to can change the game in so many ways.

Both of these things are major improvements to the game that, if true, have probably taken a lot of backend work by the Bungie developers. It needs to be understood that these features may not actually be coming, and that the video was just to tease us into making us think that they were coming. But if they are, then the RPWS has a very bright future ahead. Just as long as people show up

The 2008 Summer season 2 is suspended until further notice. I’m unable to make a good few of the game weekends for the next couple of months, and without another full-time co-ordinator to take the helm and run the gameweeks, I have no choice but to suspend it until I can get someone.

It is likely that the season will not go ahead at all, but instead efforts will be focused on the ‘08 Autumn season, starting October. I should be available for that season, and should have a few others to help out as well. The starting time will also be moved back to 6pm EST, to better accomodate players.

Once again, we apologize for this, but the circumstances make it very hard to hold the season. If people are around, I’m sure that a tournament or two can be held before October.