That I should blog. So I must blog.
I cleaned the kitchen with Matt today. It was fun. We watched an episode of home improvement while we did that, and then listened to some Justine Timberlake. Oh yes. I then exposed him to Eric Whitacre via "When David Heard." Which is a flipping awesome song. I've posted about it before. He liked it. Of course he did. how could you not?
Then we switched gears into some Maynard Ferguson. While he did his fingernails. There's a good Skillet song...
Today was a peeeerridy good day. Registration for me is on Wednesday and I think I have finalized a schedule that should not be hard at all to make a reality Wednesday at 4:15. Unfortunately (Kinda. I became increasingly disinterested in the idea as time went on and the plans evolved into something less ideal) the class I planned on taking with Aaron and Jake didn't work out. But for me personally I think it's all for the bestest.
On Sunday Rob came up and shook me and Kara's hands. He remembered my name and we hadn't even made eye contact as far as I know since September. I'm quite impressed.
I hate the feeling I get listening to music I played in high school. It makes me absolutely hate where I've let myself go today (completely out of music for the most part). I'm totally changing that next year. I think. I'm listening to Count Bubba's Revenge right now. I used to be able to (kind've) do that. I remember having sectional for that song. Yeah...yeah...no...
I don't know. It's far too late to be doing this. All I can think about is rushing of to bed so I can wake up early.
I'm giving Lodrick a ride to Auburn on Friday on my way down. Hopefully I get home by 8 o'clockish.
There could be trouble for me if this plan for tuition charges cause 'o budget cuts go through. If an undergrad has more than 225 credits, he'll be charged out of state tuition. On my current plan I'll graduate with...230ish. Goodness. I want to do too much. Maybe I need to back down from some of it.
Bed time. Sorry.
Currently listening: Percy Grainger, Eric Whitacre. William Byrde Suite. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.
matt
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Top Halo Multiplayer Maps
It's time for my first real opinionated, review, feature piece...thing. If you didn't guess already, it's going to be a listing of what I think are the best (and worst) multiplayer maps in the history of Bungie's Halo franchise.
The list is divided into five tiers. The first tier will contain a listing of the top five maps in order, followed by a list of honorable mentions in alphabetical order.
Tier I
You freaking love these maps.
#1) Blood Gulch (/Coagulation/Hemorrhage ) Tagline: "The Quick and the Dead"
First appeared in: Halo: CE, remade for Halo 2 and Halo: Reach
At the end of the day, there might be visually or competitively superior maps out there, but when measured by hours of glee, shrieks of pain, cries of joy, and body count, no map will ever come close to equaling Blood Gulch. It was the only map most people can even remember playing in Halo: CE. Nothing has more nearly encapsulated the sublime or the beautiful in my life than 8 v. 8 CTF classic with two indestructible warthogs on the original Gulch. But back in 2002, it didn't matter if I was having a massive LAN party with the projectors at church, or doing a three person split screen free for all on a 27" screen in my best friend's living room. Blood Gulch was the place to be. Warthog wars. Human v Zombies. Red vs Blue. As far as I know, none of these things would exist without this boxed canyon in the middle of nowhere.
#2) Lockout (/Blackout)
Tagline: "Some believe this remote facility was once used to study the Flood. But few clues remain amidst the snow and ice."
First appeared in: Halo 2, remade for Halo 3.
What do an Elbow, a Library, and Snowflakes have in common? Why they can all be found on Lockout of course! FFA or T-slayer, Lockout is golden. It defined the Halo 2 experience, and like Blood Gulch, added many staple Halo experiences to the franchise repertoire. Right behind CTF on Blood Gulch, is FFA swords on Lockout (with four or fewer players), and no map tests a players spacial awareness or combat creativity like Lockout does. You want to keep your brain nice and un-atrophied? Forget Sudoku. Play Lockout. This map is etched onto every veteran Halo player's backhand. The best part is, the better you got at Halo, the better map Lockout became. Learning how to walk the beaten paths is only the beginning. All of the shortcuts, trick jumps, and hiding places could almost justify their own published strategy guide by the time Halo 3 came out. Now if only they could find a place for a warthog...
#3) The Pit.
Tagline: "Software simulations are held in contempt by the veteran instructors who run these facilities."
First appeared in: Halo 3 (and that's it... so far. I'm looking at you Bungie)
If team slayer is at the heart of the Halo multiplayer experience, then The Pit is the pulmonary artery. This was the map that, to me, brought home the importance of teamwork and communication in Halo multiplayer. Generally, if your team is out cooperated, you lose. My first call outs were references to the rocket hall, green box, and training. Team BRing and legit plans of attack (and more often defense) are the gods of The Pit, so get your lone wolf butt in line, because every death counts here. I can see it now...Speedykiller heads for the sniper tower to cut off the left side of the map, while rosewhip, lobster, and cowboy make a mad dash for the rockets, pins drawn from our grenades before you can say slayer, followed shortly thereafter by a metallic clink (and if we're lucky, a manly-yet-morbid grunt). Our first explosive objective acquired, we take up our posts atop the yellow walls and behind a concrete pillar. Your move blue team...
#4) Zanzibar (/Last Resort)
Tagline: "Wind Power Station 7 sits as a mute reminder of the EAP's late 25th century attempt at re-nationalization." (But really..."He's on the sea wall!!!")
First appeared in: Halo 2, remade for Halo 3.
Zanzibar did something rather new and different in Halo 2. The flagship Halo 2 map, it was large, outdoors, and stocked with vehicles and heavy weapons a plenty. A map built for objective play, but unlike Blood Gulch and Sidewinder before it, Zanzibar was asymmetrical. Imagined for a game type where teams would take turns attacking and defending; one team starting at the beach with a variety of vehicles, and the other left to fortify an inland structure, from where they must stop a flag from being stolen, or bomb from being planted. It was a fresh and wonderfully successful "innovation" in the Halo formula. Heat seeking rockets, vehicle boarding, and a more interactive environment were all on display. That timer clicking down from 4 minutes (and actually mattering) really added something. Some of the most intense and gratifying moments in all Halo come from last minute flag stops/captures after a hard fought battle on the outside of that crumbling sea wall.
#5) Ascension (/Pinnacle)
Tagline: "This relay station is part of a network that has kept Delta Halo functioning smoothly for untold centuries."
First appeared in: Halo 2, remade for Halo: Reach
Picking the last of the top five was tough, and Ascension is probably the most personally slanted pick, but it is a heck of a map. If you're thing is split screen play (because you can't afford the internetz), and Lockout was feeling just a little stale, a stroll over to Ascension was in order. I love this map. Maybe more than any map it makes players appreciate the art of finding cover. Almost the entirety of the map is visible from...almost the entirety of the map. At least for me, the battle rifle found it's way to my heart through Ascension. There is less opportunity for creativity in Ascension than Lockout, but players raw skill head to head is tested all the more for it. Two sniper rifles and a banshee make it very difficult to stay in any one place for long unnoticed. It's also a heck of a thing to watch a map of 6 players FFAing, suddenly start focusing their fire on the 1 suddenly-loathed fool who attempts to nab the banshee as it spawns. Killing spree if he makes it in safe, 5 groins to the face if he fails. And when I finally figured out where those rockets were coming from...
My time is precious, so I'm going to wait to give the honorable mentions the honor they deserve, and some others their shame at a later date.
The list is divided into five tiers. The first tier will contain a listing of the top five maps in order, followed by a list of honorable mentions in alphabetical order.
Tier I
You freaking love these maps.
First appeared in: Halo: CE, remade for Halo 2 and Halo: Reach
At the end of the day, there might be visually or competitively superior maps out there, but when measured by hours of glee, shrieks of pain, cries of joy, and body count, no map will ever come close to equaling Blood Gulch. It was the only map most people can even remember playing in Halo: CE. Nothing has more nearly encapsulated the sublime or the beautiful in my life than 8 v. 8 CTF classic with two indestructible warthogs on the original Gulch. But back in 2002, it didn't matter if I was having a massive LAN party with the projectors at church, or doing a three person split screen free for all on a 27" screen in my best friend's living room. Blood Gulch was the place to be. Warthog wars. Human v Zombies. Red vs Blue. As far as I know, none of these things would exist without this boxed canyon in the middle of nowhere.
#2) Lockout (/Blackout)Tagline: "Some believe this remote facility was once used to study the Flood. But few clues remain amidst the snow and ice."
First appeared in: Halo 2, remade for Halo 3.
What do an Elbow, a Library, and Snowflakes have in common? Why they can all be found on Lockout of course! FFA or T-slayer, Lockout is golden. It defined the Halo 2 experience, and like Blood Gulch, added many staple Halo experiences to the franchise repertoire. Right behind CTF on Blood Gulch, is FFA swords on Lockout (with four or fewer players), and no map tests a players spacial awareness or combat creativity like Lockout does. You want to keep your brain nice and un-atrophied? Forget Sudoku. Play Lockout. This map is etched onto every veteran Halo player's backhand. The best part is, the better you got at Halo, the better map Lockout became. Learning how to walk the beaten paths is only the beginning. All of the shortcuts, trick jumps, and hiding places could almost justify their own published strategy guide by the time Halo 3 came out. Now if only they could find a place for a warthog...
Tagline: "Software simulations are held in contempt by the veteran instructors who run these facilities."
First appeared in: Halo 3 (and that's it... so far. I'm looking at you Bungie)
If team slayer is at the heart of the Halo multiplayer experience, then The Pit is the pulmonary artery. This was the map that, to me, brought home the importance of teamwork and communication in Halo multiplayer. Generally, if your team is out cooperated, you lose. My first call outs were references to the rocket hall, green box, and training. Team BRing and legit plans of attack (and more often defense) are the gods of The Pit, so get your lone wolf butt in line, because every death counts here. I can see it now...Speedykiller heads for the sniper tower to cut off the left side of the map, while rosewhip, lobster, and cowboy make a mad dash for the rockets, pins drawn from our grenades before you can say slayer, followed shortly thereafter by a metallic clink (and if we're lucky, a manly-yet-morbid grunt). Our first explosive objective acquired, we take up our posts atop the yellow walls and behind a concrete pillar. Your move blue team...
Tagline: "Wind Power Station 7 sits as a mute reminder of the EAP's late 25th century attempt at re-nationalization." (But really..."He's on the sea wall!!!")
First appeared in: Halo 2, remade for Halo 3.
Zanzibar did something rather new and different in Halo 2. The flagship Halo 2 map, it was large, outdoors, and stocked with vehicles and heavy weapons a plenty. A map built for objective play, but unlike Blood Gulch and Sidewinder before it, Zanzibar was asymmetrical. Imagined for a game type where teams would take turns attacking and defending; one team starting at the beach with a variety of vehicles, and the other left to fortify an inland structure, from where they must stop a flag from being stolen, or bomb from being planted. It was a fresh and wonderfully successful "innovation" in the Halo formula. Heat seeking rockets, vehicle boarding, and a more interactive environment were all on display. That timer clicking down from 4 minutes (and actually mattering) really added something. Some of the most intense and gratifying moments in all Halo come from last minute flag stops/captures after a hard fought battle on the outside of that crumbling sea wall.
Tagline: "This relay station is part of a network that has kept Delta Halo functioning smoothly for untold centuries."
First appeared in: Halo 2, remade for Halo: Reach
Picking the last of the top five was tough, and Ascension is probably the most personally slanted pick, but it is a heck of a map. If you're thing is split screen play (because you can't afford the internetz), and Lockout was feeling just a little stale, a stroll over to Ascension was in order. I love this map. Maybe more than any map it makes players appreciate the art of finding cover. Almost the entirety of the map is visible from...almost the entirety of the map. At least for me, the battle rifle found it's way to my heart through Ascension. There is less opportunity for creativity in Ascension than Lockout, but players raw skill head to head is tested all the more for it. Two sniper rifles and a banshee make it very difficult to stay in any one place for long unnoticed. It's also a heck of a thing to watch a map of 6 players FFAing, suddenly start focusing their fire on the 1 suddenly-loathed fool who attempts to nab the banshee as it spawns. Killing spree if he makes it in safe, 5 groins to the face if he fails. And when I finally figured out where those rockets were coming from...
My time is precious, so I'm going to wait to give the honorable mentions the honor they deserve, and some others their shame at a later date.
Off he goes...
Down the road. Who knows how many he's been down before...
Ok I'm not an old man yet. Yet.
I spent a lot of last night remembering my junior high/early high school years with Jared, Sarai, Jordan, Chase, Jason, Toni, Riki etc. As of now I believe I still consider that the best time of my life. This year could make a push though. Senior year and band was pretty good too...
Jake says I idealize the past. Maybe. I don't know if anything could mar the image of Toni shooting Jordan in the thigh with a paintball gun in the open field after we'd called a ceasefire and everyone was peacefully walking out. Or losing 100 dollars to Jared and Jordan when I failed to win my wager with them over two 1 one 1 matches with them at Halo 3. Fort Warden, Drama club (literally), all that paintball, all that Halo. Building all of those homemade paintball courses in Jared's backyards. Chopping down trees in to feed his families furnace. You're still my best friend Jared. I miss you guys like nothing else. It really stinks having to grow apart from all of those loved ones. One day we'll have wives Jared. Let's move in across the street from one another.
I got out and took a bunch of pictures this morning, trying to get our before everyone was going to class, realizing it wasn't a Saturday. There isn't as much snow on the ground as there was the last couple snowy days. But I had to get out and get some pictures today.
I'm thinking of taking 18 credits next quarter (two 4 credit classes), because it costs the same as 15 credits. Free school. You only get to register for 17 credits in phase 1 though. We'll see if the all of the seats fill up.
Still don't see it Sara?
Just like wikipedia.
Creepin....
Us
Well wasn't that fun? I thought so.
I'm supposed to be thinking about what I'm making a special effort to build an protect in my life for GC. I figure an easier answer is a pure heart for my wife.
I was evangelized by two girls yesterday at the bus station. It's really not a bad idea. There is no non-awkward escape. As for me it was a fun experience. Turns out they live practically next door and go to the girls core right here. The conversation went surprisingly great actually. Probably because it wasn't small talk. But I was as fluid a speaker as I've ever been.
I really need to build relationships with all of these people I am seeing in multiple classes. Really no excuse for being a hermit like I have been (mostly).
I'm considering more and more graduating next Spring. After this year I'll have 142 credits, 38 upper division, and I only need 180 and 60 to graduate. That is scary. I am having a hard time thinking of good, real, reasons to stick around longer than that. If I did that it'd be Political science w/ English minor. I'm troubled with what on earth I would do after that. It is just. Wow. I just got here it seems...and now I'm ready to leave? Crap. It is definitely not right for me to be this worried about it. I'm gonna get back into a textbook here pretty quick.
The Lord provides...
I overheard a couple of guys talking about the future. Career options and what not. (one the bus.) One guy was clearly not interested in carrying on the conversation, but the other was genuinely taking an interest and trying to give out some practical advice about what the first guy could do about the future. Eventually the first guy blew him off with a (Jake just tried to poor ice down my shirt) guy ended the conversation with a "I guess I'll figure it out eventually." I kind wanted to just interject..."No. You won't. You're not going to figure it out." Then that night Sara Knepper was talking about how, people think that they're just going to walk up this nice slow even slope and get to where they're going. When. That's really not the way things work. Eventually you're going to have to get over a steeper obstacle. Do something big. Out of your comfort zone. Make things happen. Not thing they'll happen to you....Pull the tracks together...I dunno. Maybe I'm expecting my road to already be made and me just be walking down it nice and easy. I don't mean to put too much emphasis on me. Or human strength. I dunno. C.S. lewis says something about the easiest way to hell being the nice and even downward slope. Not to imply that salvation is something you lose, or that Heaven is earned. I might be mixing my metaphors a bit here. but. There's something to that, that I don't want to spend time developing just now. Maybe later.
Currently listening: Clint Black: Put Yourself in My Shoes
Ok I'm not an old man yet. Yet.
I spent a lot of last night remembering my junior high/early high school years with Jared, Sarai, Jordan, Chase, Jason, Toni, Riki etc. As of now I believe I still consider that the best time of my life. This year could make a push though. Senior year and band was pretty good too...
Jake says I idealize the past. Maybe. I don't know if anything could mar the image of Toni shooting Jordan in the thigh with a paintball gun in the open field after we'd called a ceasefire and everyone was peacefully walking out. Or losing 100 dollars to Jared and Jordan when I failed to win my wager with them over two 1 one 1 matches with them at Halo 3. Fort Warden, Drama club (literally), all that paintball, all that Halo. Building all of those homemade paintball courses in Jared's backyards. Chopping down trees in to feed his families furnace. You're still my best friend Jared. I miss you guys like nothing else. It really stinks having to grow apart from all of those loved ones. One day we'll have wives Jared. Let's move in across the street from one another.
I got out and took a bunch of pictures this morning, trying to get our before everyone was going to class, realizing it wasn't a Saturday. There isn't as much snow on the ground as there was the last couple snowy days. But I had to get out and get some pictures today.
I'm thinking of taking 18 credits next quarter (two 4 credit classes), because it costs the same as 15 credits. Free school. You only get to register for 17 credits in phase 1 though. We'll see if the all of the seats fill up.
I'm supposed to be thinking about what I'm making a special effort to build an protect in my life for GC. I figure an easier answer is a pure heart for my wife.
I was evangelized by two girls yesterday at the bus station. It's really not a bad idea. There is no non-awkward escape. As for me it was a fun experience. Turns out they live practically next door and go to the girls core right here. The conversation went surprisingly great actually. Probably because it wasn't small talk. But I was as fluid a speaker as I've ever been.
I really need to build relationships with all of these people I am seeing in multiple classes. Really no excuse for being a hermit like I have been (mostly).
I'm considering more and more graduating next Spring. After this year I'll have 142 credits, 38 upper division, and I only need 180 and 60 to graduate. That is scary. I am having a hard time thinking of good, real, reasons to stick around longer than that. If I did that it'd be Political science w/ English minor. I'm troubled with what on earth I would do after that. It is just. Wow. I just got here it seems...and now I'm ready to leave? Crap. It is definitely not right for me to be this worried about it. I'm gonna get back into a textbook here pretty quick.
The Lord provides...
I overheard a couple of guys talking about the future. Career options and what not. (one the bus.) One guy was clearly not interested in carrying on the conversation, but the other was genuinely taking an interest and trying to give out some practical advice about what the first guy could do about the future. Eventually the first guy blew him off with a (Jake just tried to poor ice down my shirt) guy ended the conversation with a "I guess I'll figure it out eventually." I kind wanted to just interject..."No. You won't. You're not going to figure it out." Then that night Sara Knepper was talking about how, people think that they're just going to walk up this nice slow even slope and get to where they're going. When. That's really not the way things work. Eventually you're going to have to get over a steeper obstacle. Do something big. Out of your comfort zone. Make things happen. Not thing they'll happen to you....Pull the tracks together...I dunno. Maybe I'm expecting my road to already be made and me just be walking down it nice and easy. I don't mean to put too much emphasis on me. Or human strength. I dunno. C.S. lewis says something about the easiest way to hell being the nice and even downward slope. Not to imply that salvation is something you lose, or that Heaven is earned. I might be mixing my metaphors a bit here. but. There's something to that, that I don't want to spend time developing just now. Maybe later.
Currently listening: Clint Black: Put Yourself in My Shoes
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