You may have heard this one before: Xbox 360 gamepad users get an unfair advantage in Halo 2 for the PC, thanks to auto-aim. Jeff Gerstmann told us all about it when he was still at GameSpot, but I’ve never seen it for myself since I don’t use Windows Vista—the only operating system that can supposedly run Halo 2.

I’ve stumbled on a YouTube video of auto-aim in action. People on the video’s page argue that Xbox users need auto-aim since their gamepad isn’t as good as a mouse. What I don’t understand is that why is there a bother to put the feature on a PC game in the first place.

I also agree with Jeff on another point: I think there’s a significant advantage if one uses a 360 controller and proceeds to use a shotgun in multiplayer. Gerstmann even tried increasing the controller’s sensitivity and discovered that he did more damage when using a gamepad compared to the keyboard/mouse combo. Sadly, if you’re using mouse, there’s no way to tell if an opponent is armed with a gamepad.

Talk about unbalanced.

I guess this means we’re stuck playing Halo games on the Xbox even if there are PC versions available. At least we get equal footing in the Xbox. However, if we choose console versions of multiplatform shooters, we’re stuck with a bad control scheme.

Post from: EveryJoe

Proof of auto-aim in Halo 2 for the PC

Talk about cashing in. We’ve heard of Halo toys, a spin-off game, novels, a motion picture, and even inhalers. Now, Genius Products and B1 Games are introducing a Halo board game. They call it the Halo Interactive Strategy Game. Do you hear that? It’s the collective groan of gamers everywhere.

Hitting retail stores this September, the board game is said to have the same premise and characters as the video game. It also comes with a “modular” board that can be “re-configured,” though the press release doesn’t say how. I think this modular bit refers to the possibility of future add-ons of new adventures, vehicles, characters and weapons.

In the game, players will control character pieces for two different levels of play: Heroic for faster, more casual playing, and Legendary for a more strategic style. The board game is targeted at kids aged 10+. There’s more! The package also provides the original Halo soundtrack and “exclusive” DVD content.

I got a better idea. Why don’t we just play the Halo games in the Xbox, Xbox 360, or PC? There’s no need to dole out additional cash just to play a board game while listening to the soundtrack in the background (which sounds losery, by the way). And those kids aged 10+? They get to play Halo anyways.

Oh right, your 360 is in the repair shop.

Post from: EveryJoe

Crap-Detector: New Halo cash-in is a board game

To download the maps, just press start in Halo 3 and select “Marketplace.” While two maps are remakes (Blackout from Halo 2 and Avalanche from Combat Evolved), they look as fantastic as they could be thanks to “next-gen” visuals.

Question is: do you want the map pack so bad that you’d pay for it? You can just wait until it’s released free several months later. However, people are probably waiting and stoked for the next DLC by that time, and may eventually forget about these maps.

Post from: EveryJoe

Trailer for Halo 3 Legendary map pack is out

Interestingly, Halo 2 for the original Xbox is still the most played game in Xbox Live after almost four years.

So what’s the most-played 360 game in Xbox Live? As of January 14, Call of Duty 4 is the top banana.

There’s more: Gears of War has been ousted by Guitar Hero III. Is it possible that the Master Chief fans have decided to switch to modern combat? Has Forge lost its magic?

It can’t truly be that drastic. This may be just a fluke and Halo 3 might jump to top spot this week. Or, this could be a sign of things to come.

Read

Post from: EveryJoe

Halo 3 is ousted as Xbox Live’s most played 360 game

1. Hour of Victory
2. You Are Empty
3. Soldier of Fortune: Payback
4. BlackSite: Area 51
5. Medal of Honor: Vanguard
6. Alpha Prime
7. War Rock
8. Halo 2 (PC version)
9. Call of Duty: Roads to Victory
10. Brothers in Arms DS

Understandably your list would be different, so I’d like to hear see what you absolutely hated in 2007.

Post from: EveryJoe

Top 10 worst shooters of 2007

Warning: the video is NSFW.

If you’re wondering why you don’t understand the hell is going on, then I suggest you watch part one:

and two:

Still don’t get it? It’s a parody of the rabid Halo fans that you encounter in Xbox Live. Very apt, I must say.

Post from: EveryJoe

Master Chief sucks at Halo 3

1. The Forge map editor lets you concoct weird maps and upload them.
2. Über-customization in multiplayer that’s even better than the one in Halo 2.
3. New toys like the bubble shield and gravity hammer.
4. “Halo Nights.”
5. Halo 3 isn’t a launch title, but it sold really well.
6. The ending didn’t suck.
7. Co-op mode lets you play in Xbox Live.
8. Unlockable skulls give the game even more replay value in single player.
9. You can save videos and screenshots of your exploits and share them online.
10. Halo 3 is purdy. Purdier than the two previous ones, at least.

Post from: EveryJoe

Top 10 signs that Bungie may be on to something in Halo 3

Fricking awesome.

Thanks to Patrick, the Ironic Gamer for sharing with us the video.

Post from: EveryJoe

Master Chief scares the socks off South Koreans

Video: Playing Halo 2 (Xbox 360) with a Wiimote

Before you start rushing to put the stuff together, consider some of the hard-to-get stuff you need:

• A working Xbox 360. Good luck on that one.
• An XFPS PS2 to 360 adapter;
• A microcontroller “with custom firmware” that emulates a PS2 controller;
• and a PC with custom Wiimote driver.

If you want to know more about the nerdcore details, you can visit this page. Is all the effort worth it? According to the brains behind this setup, yes. If you can pull this stunt off just like OBsIV, do share it with us.

Post from: EveryJoe

Play Halo 2 on the 360 with the Wiimote

1. Halo: Combat Evolved is a resource hog for the PC, even if it was released two years after the Xbox original.
2. Spartans look ridiculous when climbing ladders in multiplayer.
3. The corridors look nauseatingly similar.
4. Halo 3’s visuals don’t give justice to the Xbox 360’s power.
5. Foul-mouthed 12-year-olds with microphones in XBL.
6. The original Halo was hot was because there’s no other FPS to play when it came out.
7. Halo 2 came to the PC two years late and required Windows Vista. Again, requirements are high despite the aging graphics.
8. Cliffhanger ending in Halo 2.
9. Halo 2 for the PC has auto-aim for gamepad users in multiplayer. You do more damage when you use this instead of the keyboard and mouse. There’s no way to disable the auto-aim, or detect players using gamepads.
10. Halo’s story is Marathon in steroids. FYI, Marathon is a Bungie shooter released for the Mac.

Post from: EveryJoe

Top Ten reasons why I hate Halo