BR to have MORE feedback.
BR to have MORE feedback.
http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/03/15/The-Halo-Bulletin-31412.aspx
The Halo 4 Battle Rifle
Approximately one week ago, we released a slew of Halo 4–related information, much of which we provided clarification about in last week’s Bulletin. One thing that didn’t need clarifying, however, was the return of the Battle Rifle. After sitting out for a few games and letting its brethren shine, the Battle Rifle is officially coming back in Halo 4, in all of its three-round-burst glory.
As someone who invested a decent chunk of time in both Halo 2 and Halo 3, I’m excited to welcome the BR back into the fold. Whether I was wandering around aimlessly with a fully charged Plasma Pistol or playing SWAT on Lockout, camping lower BR tower and spawn-killing everybody in my direct line of sight (yes, I was one of those people), the Battle Rifle was my trusty sidekick for nearly six years, delivering three bullets per trigger pull to either my opponent’s head or the area adjacent to their head. Some people would say the latter more than the former. And those people would be right.
Whether you are welcoming back an old friend, or introducing yourself to a new one, take a second to fully absorb the BR’s appearance, because this will be your rifle. There may be others like it, but this one will be yours.
The BR85HB Service Rifle is a gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle optimized for three-round-burst firing, and proven to be extraordinarily effective against dissipative energy shielding on both exotic and domestic armor types. Performance-wise, the Battle Rifle is hitscan (meaning the effect is immediate), it features a scope attachment (x2), and it has recoil in its current tuning (rising slightly when fired but in a suppressible way). It doesn’t have bloom, the rhythm feels good when firing it, and it can be used for longer-range engagement.
For the uninitiated, the Battle Rifle is most known for its three-round burst. In previous games, this three-round burst was known, but not felt or heard. In Halo 4, it’s known, felt, and heard.
The first time I picked up a Battle Rifle in Halo 4, I was excited, but not overly so. I knew it was there and I was happy it was there, but I was more curious than anything else. Upon picking it up from a fallen foe, I started searching for someone to test it out on. After finding one such person, I began to unleash my fury upon them, and after the first pull of the trigger, my ears were greeted with three distinct and powerful pops, my controller began rumbling, and I suddenly felt like the most powerful and badass Spartan to ever walk the earth.
Then, I died. The experience of wielding the Battle Rifle was so satisfying, though, that upon spawning, my only goal was to get it back. I did just that, a few different times, and what I learned from that first experience was my excitement caused me to flail, but exercising control and focusing on precision were ultimately rewarded.
The major driving force behind the design of the Halo 4 Battle Rifle was a decision to base it on real-world weaponry and then add sci-fi elements. Since the BR already existed, we didn’t want to deviate too far from its last iteration. So we updated it, while putting our own creative spin on it. The overall silhouette is similar to the existing BR, with a few artistic changes.
Old-school UNSC weapons were grounded in modern day to give the sense that Spartans are underpowered. We wanted to retain that while pushing the sci-fi elements. You can see that in the scope, the LCD display, the ammo count, and other stylistic details on the gun.
In regard to the scope in particular, traditionally, Halo has had one type of each weapon per game. Taking into consideration Halo 4’s sandbox, we went with the square scope to differentiate it from other guns and rifles that have bulky scopes on them.
Another way we’re conveying the power of the Battle Rifle is through audio. This weapon is truly a force to be reckoned with, and it’s important that viciousness is incorporated both in how it feels and in how it sounds.
The three-round burst is one of the most important aspects of this gun, and that is represented through a slightly ascending pitch scale and a strong accent on the final shot. The base sounds are from FN SCAR and M16-A rifles, and then other elements were added to help fill out the frequency spectrum. A caulking gun, a belt-sander being turned off (pitched down half an octave), and a short snippet from a 2-inch mortar explosion all contribute to what will eventually be going directly into your earholes.
If you play with Nerf guns as much as we do (there may or may not be a few scattered around the studio), you’ll enjoy knowing that rather fun noise is one of the components that make up the BR's reload. Accompanying it are a metal C-stand, an old rusty scooter, and real weapon mechanics from WWI-era to modern day firearms.
Since the Battle Rifle is one of the most popular Halo weapons, we’ve repeatedly asked ourselves, “What do we keep the same, and what do we change?” We want the Battle Rifle to be an iconic status weapon. When players get it, we want them to feel empowered, especially by the way it operates.
We’re hoping that we nailed it. You can let us know Holiday 2012. :)
I believe visual, aural and tactile feedback are very important in video games. I always felt the BR was a pew pew sounding gun. I know that wasn't always the case because some youtube vids had the BR sounding like a cannon. Unfortunately that was not so on my surround sound system of the day. Surround sound can suck the life out sounds if they and the audio track don't quite mesh.
So here is to audio and rumble kick enhancements.
I never thought it was pew pew. Maybe it's because I have a good surround system and/or Astros. Always sounded loud to me.
Here's to hitscan.
Another week, another basically useless Bulletin...
Pew pew pew to Boom boom boom is something.
Yeah, I was hoping for a bit more too.
pretty sure they said that on the 3/5 video. I remember hearing it would have more kickback.
wait, recoil?
[img]http://clean.alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/png/sweet-jesus.png[/img]
Never going to happen. That would split the community.
initially in H2 the BR was burst and then single shot when zoomed in.
The BR always had recoil in H2 and H3. I just hope the didn't amp it up to much to compensate for no bloom.
Frankie said:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=36087311&postcount=5105
i turn off rumble, have since H1.
I recommend you try out the Halo 4 effects, just to know what it's all about before turning them back off.
I think I should just, as a blanket policy, start responses to all of your Halo posts like this:
http://alltheragefaces.com/img/faces/jpg/annoyed-mother-of-god.jpg
Y U NO EMBED?
Include a description, I don't understand their meaning or context half the time.
Cheat sheet: http://alltheragefaces.com/
same. it distracts me.
I turned my rumble off when Halo 2 came out
i turned rumble off as soon as i realized you could do it. i have a hard enough time aiming. i don't need any more disadvantages.
This.