Good afternoon! Well, for me at least. I know some of my friends live just a few hours behind me, some a few hours more behind me, and some practically a halfday ahead of me! Whatever time it may be at the point in which you are reading this, happy that time of day to you!
I am a bit pressed for time today, so no lengthy, word-fluffed, beyond amazing introductory paragraph this time around. I know, you're heart broken. I am too.
I am too.
Forge Hub: Contest Content
Looks like this will be the longest 1v1 competition ever! I just got word from Shad0w Viper that all of the submitted maps were accepted to be in the final tournament! Wait, no. That's not what the memo said at all. Moreover, this memo doesn't even exist. Unless I lost it on my desk being that he used good ol' snail-mail to deliver it to me. Wait, no. That didn't happen either. Damn it brain, why do you do weird things? Anyway, we don't have an ETA on the results for what maps made the cut and what didn't, but rest assured crazy decision making is going on behind the scenes right now as we speak!
Browsing through the submission thread it appears that a total of seventy maps were submitted and of those a great deal of them appear to be of high quality! Great work community, you never let us down! Good luck to those who submitted their creations!
What's this all about, you ask? Oh nothin', we here at Forge Hub are just busy sending Halo: Reach out with a bang, that's it. While the time for you create your own map to enter into the competition has expired, look for the official signups to compete in the competition soon!
And on another note, have you heard of our new contest? Keep on scrollin'!
Rather than paraphrase my own version, here's a direct quote from our event director himself:
Just because you all are completely caught up in Smackdown forge fever, doesn't mean the monthly contests are going to cease. Rather than give you any breathing room, we are pushing you further to forge more with that competitive mindset you're already in. This month we are putting the focus on one of halo's most beloved gametypes, Capture the Flag. CTF has been the source for some of the most intense gameplay in my halo career, from epic 0-2 comebacks to clutch 3-2 victories, CTF has provided more memorable moments then any other gametype. This is your chance to capture some of that intensity and win yourself a little fame and glory in the process.
Now if classic 2 flag isn't your thing don't worry, we are opening the submissions to include maps for both the 1 Flag and Neutral flag gametypes. You will have the next 4 weeks to build, test, tweak and finalize your submissions. For full details, see below.
For all of the rules and details involved, direct your browser right on to this page here.
343i: Stuff
Last time around I linked to 343 Industries' caption contest regarding a Halo rendition of Penrose's staircase, here below the image are 343's top choices. To my disappointment, I do not see any names of our regular forum goers.
"Due to budget cuts, the Spartan training course has been...reduced." -silentassasinwx
"First concept for the Halo 4 map Wraparound." -Eclipce XT
"You ever wonder why we're here?" -Farkelson
"This cone gave me the wrong directions. Again." -philliesphan64
"Hank and Chuck were both a bit frightened when they discovered the secret to Inception
was the deadly cone the whole time." -Kyler the Ninja
"Turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left, turn left. Recalculating..." -SteelKnightofni
"The Spartans had different ways to deal with the insanity that resulted from the test.
Some shot at traffic cones, while others lit their heads on fire." -awedfrgt
"I think I should get the Deja Vu achievement now." -l RyanW l
"...Wait- Okay, I got it this time...Wait- Okay, I got it this time...Wait- Okay, I go-" -Lumberjack086
Go participate in their current caption contest. I'd better see one of our names representing when they post their picks next time around!Super Credit Jackpot Weekend is currently underway! Snag up a 24,000 credit bonus in the Team Objective playlist this weekend for continually finishing games! Better hurry though, today is the last day!
Have you been following Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn? Yes? No? Regardless, here's a cool interview with Daniel Cudmore, the man behind the armor of Master Chief.
Halo 4 News - Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn - Daniel Cudmore (Master Chief) Interview - YouTube
Community: Pure Awesomeness
[l-col]Forge Hub Favorites 39 is currently in it's nominations phase! If you haven't already, please head on over to the thread linked and place your nominations for your three most favorite maps as of late! Stumble across an old hidden gem? That's perfect! As long as it hasn't made it's way into a Forge Hub Favorites article or previously been featured, go ahead and nominate it![/l-col][r-col]If you haven't already, go view and download last week's Forge Hub Favorites' victors here. In my time covering the Forge Hub Favorites article in the past, this was certainly the closest I have ever seen the voting stage. Great picks last time around, definitely a stockpile of quality maps! Go download them, and then go find some awesome maps that I accidentally overlooked in our map database.[/r-col]Community feedback wanted! If you haven't already, direct your browser over to this page right here and give us your thoughts on our front page content! We're looking for suggestions on what you, the community, wants to see up front. Shock Theta is even offering you a chance of winning a snazzy little warthog avatar code! Today (Sunday) is the last day for suggestions, though. So if you have any ideas, go voice them please!
The Guild:[l-col]The Tester’s Guild: here you’ll find a large number of Hubbers ready to sit down and play your newly beta-phased map hoping to help you define it further. The guys in the Tester’s Guild may have personalized opinions, but each is capable of giving you input both on things they enjoyed and disliked about your map, helping you achieve ultimate perfection before you post your gray-scale battlefield here in our map database. Should you want them to give your map a run through, redirect your browser to this forum here, read the posting guidelines, and set yourself up for success through the men at work behind the scenes in the Tester’s Guild. Enjoy playing Halo? Enjoy giving map creators input? Work for the Guild![/l-col][r-col]Every so often (every other Friday to be exact) a selection of fine individuals from our forums host an evening full of customs. Depending on what those individuals choose to host, whether it be competitive, casual, infection, invasion, mini-game oriented or a mix of them all is up to them, but it's up to you which of these lobbies you join. Sit back, relax, grab your energy drink of choice (mine is water :3), and enjoy a night with cool dudes from all around the world. If you'd like to host your own official lobby for our next TGIF, send a private message to Shock Theta with all the details below filled out. Also note that you'll also be on your way to your fancy new rank of TGIF Host, should you make this a bi-weekly habit, of course.[/r-col]
HOST'S PARTY NAME
*
Host's Gamertag: YOUR GAMERTAG
Start Time: 0:00 PM EST
End Time: 0:00 PM EST
Rules:- PARTY RULESSchedule:- PARTY SCHEDULE
Previous TGIF hosts, please send Shock Theta a TGIF recap! You don't want to lose your pretty blue hue, and I don't want to do a rank changes spot in the next site update. Send your recaps!
Berb: a Blurb about Bioc
Last week I reached out to our very own Berb to discuss BIOC. BIOC is a community driven infection enthusiast lobby. More details below. Noxiw: So, what exactly is BIOC?
Berb: Bloodthirst: Infection Only Customs (or BIOC) is a group based here on ForgeHub that provides a haven for custom gamers, Infection enthusiasts and those forging Infection maps. We host lobbies similar to TGIF biweekly, usually on a Sunday. The lobbies give players a place where they can test their Infection maps, meet other Infection players, and play the best maps from the community. We also have a database here on the forums which stores all of the maps we play in the lobbies in one place.
Noxiw: A safe-haven for infection players? ;) How many active members do you have in BIOC? If you don't have an official headcount an estimate is fine.
Berb: Exactly. Currently the group has around 250 members, but i'd say we have around 20-30 consistent party-goers.
Noxiw That's a good sized number, especially since the player cap in Halo: Reach is 16. If a night of infection customs attracts more players than a lobby can hold do you split off into multiple parties, or is it a first-come first-serve type deal?
Berb: Well that's where our multitude of beautiful hosts come into play. You see, every time BIOC signups come around, there are at least two or more parties and hosts to choose from. Hosts are from all over the Americas and Europe, so for example if Elliot's lobby is full at noon, you can always try and get into Redy's later on. Of course getting to a lobby early will secure you a spot, but players join and leave frequently in post game.
Noxiw: Oh okay, that seems like it should work well then. Now, I am a infection noob, but I do know that there are some sub-genres within the gametype. Do you guys tend to play one type of infection gametype more often than others, or is it a pretty even mixture of the bunch? What is your personal favorite type of infection map?
Berb: During the lobbies there is definitely a nice mixture between the different types of infection. Of course however, the host will generally put on what he likes better, but we all have different tastes. I myself love linear progression, or "journey" maps. They bring a nice objective into the gameplay and really put on movement. Did you know i'm actually currently working on one with Mingo? It's kinda cool.
Noxiw: Rifte Gifle's No Hope series is the only linear progression infection maps I have ever played, it was great fun. I think of the types of infection maps those are my favorite as well. As you said, it's a nice change of pace for an infection map to have an objective.
Is this project between you and Mingo a super-secret project? Do you care to share any details? I vote you share. Sharing is caring, after all.
Berb: It's actually past the super-secret stage and is now in testing. There's a link to it's preview in my sig if you want to take a peek. We've concentrated a lot on making the experience fun as possible for the infected as well as the humans, and how we could bring the emphasis of the game away from just killing zombies and more towards getting to the end. You'll be glad to hear we actually pulled tons of inspiration from Rifte's "The Sewers" map.
BIOC Map Database | Aihab (Preview)
Berb's Sig is so super sexy.
Noxiw: I am glad to hear that indeed! *Peers through Aihab preview thread* That looks quite nice. How much more testing do you think you guys will do before releasing it?
Berb: Still plenty. Though we both agree it plays well, and the feedback has generally been positive, it hasn't yet reached it's full potential.
Noxiw: Well, unfortunately I don't get to play Halo too often, but next time I am on I vote we get some games in on it. ;)
Berb: So is there anything else you want to know about BIOC?
Noxiw: I think I am all set. However, if you have any final words of promotion, feel free to voice them. Thanks for your time, Berb!
Berb: It's been my pleasure.
Make sure to sign up for the next BIOC weekend! If you have an infection map you feel we should play, be sure to mention it in the Database. Also be sure to Like, Favorite, Subscribe and if you really want to help out, click that Facebook share button! Thanks Bros!BIOC Promotional video - YouTube
I can't help but notice that Berb denied my subtle demand of playing their new map next time I am online. Purposeful? Malicious? Who knows. Also, it's worth mentioning that there was a brief moment of confusion on my part: Berb told me that the Facebook part was a joke. Damn you internet, always taking sarcasm and making it suprsrsbsns.
Gray. Gray Everywhere.FM and the BB, while relatively new to our forums, is currently hosting a competition of his very own! What is it? A wall colosseum contest! All of the details can be found right here in this thread. He's even offering Microsoft Points as rewards. Now go, go build the most epically gray wall colosseum masterpiece ever!
Quesadilla of the Site Update
Last time around I asked: "How are you doing this morning/afternoon/evening/night?"
[l-col]To which only one of you were concerned about how I was doing. For that he get's his comment picked. And he gets tacos. Fish Tacos.
Everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
I am doing fine, sir. A bit hungry though.[/l-col][r-col]This time around I inquire:
If you had one hour to be omnipotent, what would you do?
I personally would go base jumping, without any equipment, off of skyscrapers. I would also make sure that I land on repulsion gel for fun. I know secretly I would wish for myself to be bounced into outerspace, or at least really high up into the atmosphere, but unfortunately the principle of momentum conservation is a thing.[/r-col]
If you have any thoughts on this article, or the front page in general, that you would like to share with us then we invite you to post your opinions in the Front Page Feedback thread.