Hey guys, Ion here with yet another Site Update to keep you on your toes. From here on out things hold much more promise as for the first time in ancient memory I actually have a realistic amount of time to prepare this article for your enjoyment! Anyway, after inheriting this dual task of Saturday Night Fight (the best fight that never happens on a Saturday!) and the article that you are currently perusing, I decided that I would do a better job at both than anyone ever has. So take that chrstphrbrnn! Take that buddhacrane! Neither of you can compare to my pro dual wielding! My antics notwithstanding, this will be a very serious update. It will be super large and full of twists and turns, all of which could hide the dangers ahead. Double rainbow all the way across the promotions!
Speaking of...
Are you ready for a rainbow themed earthquake?
This ones a real slammer. For starters, we had two of our lovely Journalists resign. chrstphrbrnn and buddhacrane have both decided that they need some good rest and relaxation, and they both adopted their old Architect robes in turn. In their place, we had Transhuman Plus and SargeantSarcasm, both dragged out of the depths of the PPC in the name of slave labor writing! Furthermore, we had some guy that nobody has ever heard of called NlBBLES promoted to Moderator. Which is mind blowing, considering nobody knows him and nobody ev- wait who was I talking about again?
Oh thats right, I was talking about the other new Moderator. MickRaider is his name, go congratulate him on his promotion and pray that he doesn't become another BT. Speaking of two letter acronyms for sexy, LD got promoted to the prestigious rank of Guardian after taking a much needed hiatus for some personal time off. Rather than congratulating him, just go tease Stevo.
Did you think we are done? You thought wrong! Next in the earth shaking insanity that was these past two weeks; we also have a few new Loyal members. You should all take the time to go welcome MattKestrel to the ranks of Forge Hub's finest.
Who else could possibly be promoted? Well, we have the first three Artisans of course! xSoGx Grim, Shad0w Viper, and PulseKiller all made it during the past two weeks, each having achieved two features since the advent of Halo: Reach. Are you wondering which ones first? Well, Shad0w Viper was the first member of Forge Hub to achieve two features, but until his recent resignation he was an Administrator. A rank which takes precedence over most else, in the grand order of things. During this time, xSoGx Grim also already had his second feature (his first being the very first Halo: Reach map featured) and didn't receive the rank of Artisan until the requirements were reduced. In terms of owning the rank, he takes the cake.
Add to the Chaos...
Speaking of wasting an hour of my time writing down a list of who all got promoted, I have some wonderful news for those of you aspiring writers with a little bit of free time Friday nights. Social writers, if you will (because there really is such a thing!) Lets start by going way back to when the Loyal change was first mentioned; there were three main paths to get loyal, correct? However, only two of them where ever revealed. Until a couple weeks ago that is! Thats right folks, Whats A Scope decided that now would be the perfect time to bring the Customs Lobby Loyal, also known as the TGIF Loyal, back on the table. And unlike everyone else, he made a good plan for it too. How do achieve such a brilliant purple rank, you might ask? Its quite simple really. All you have to do is sell me your soul, then help me find a use for the hundreds of souls that I will become the proud owner of tonight. Just kidding!
The proper way to achieve the new rank of TGIF Loyal is by hosting four consecutive TGIF parties, then submitting feedback about it. Said feedback should usually consist of a few paragraphs describing your hosting experience, several images or a video showcasing the shenanigans that undoubtedly occurred, and at least three links to custom maps that you played during the time. Those of you who have already hosted several previous TGIF parties have no fear; as long as they were consecutive you may count them towards the rank. For instance, had you hosted the three prior to the next TGIF, you would get loyal (assuming you sent your feedback and experience, properly, to Whats A Scope.) Pinohkio, we got your back!
Would you a chance at this new loyal rank? Just pop that little guy Scope a message filling out the following information, and you get that shot.
[HOST'S PARTY NAME]
Host's Gamertag: [HOST'S GAMERTAG]
Start Time: [0:00pm EST]
End Time: [0:00pm EST]
Rules: [PARTY RULES]
Schedule:
[PARTY SCHEDULE]
Mandatory Bulletin
Now for the rest of the Update! Moving on to the always-exciting Review Hub we have some new stuff. For instance, the newly promoted guild leader MickRaider wanted me to let you all know that the Review Hub isn't the evil, chauvinist clan of fun-spoilers that chrstphrbrnnn made them out to be. I'm not saying that I completely agree, I'm just relaying the information!
To be fair, they are doing great work over there. To keep things exciting we have a special review that was chosen to be the best, and featured in the spotlight. Hopefully its something that you guys will see in the future as a wonderful perk of going above and beyond in any of the three parts of the TRC guild. Speaking of, if you want to join (or simply ask for your map to be reviewed in hope of improving it and becoming the best there ever was,) just go head on down to the Review Hub. If you don't want to spend the time it takes to join the ranks of some of the most respected map raters around, you can always lend a helping hand by joining their bi-weekly testing marathons, scheduled the Wednesday before a Site Update. It is a wonderful way to make friends and help out the community.
If you have been waiting all night to see which Review was chosen as the best for this cycle, your wait is up. Congratulations guy!
Envy was built for free-for-all action. Gametypes such as slayer, crazy king, and headhunter bring out the best qualities of Envy. Unfortunately, none of the team oriented games play nearly as well, which reduces the enjoyment of Envy. The map’s simple but aesthetically pleasing design encourages competitive play while not taking itself too seriously. As a whole, Envy is great for a quick game of a slayer.
Due to the size of the Envy, parties of four to eight are preferred with six people being the best number for free-for-all games. The relatively small amount of players supported by the map improves its overall enjoyment. The limited play space discourages feelings of being cramped and encourages map movement. This movement is usually focused upward going to the top floor.
Envy is comprised of three main floors. The bottom floor with the decorative pool. The middle floor is mostly built from tunnel pieces with a platform cutting the diagonal of the level, and ramps providing quick access to floor above. The top floor contains a bridge, spanning the diagonal of the space.
Each level has at least two transition points and as a result movement is generally smoother on the top level. The bottom floor has two mancannons that send players to the middle floor and two teleporters in the corners that send players to the top floor. The middle floor has two ramps leading to the top floor and a dropdown by the mancannons allowing players to fall to the bottom floor. The only way down from the top floor is by the ramps at the corners or holes by the bridge. This simple transition system makes movement easy and is reminiscent of early Bungie Maps like Warlock.
Unfortunately, team based gametypes do not fair so well on Envy. The spawn system causes team play to be a little cramped, this results in players spawning and immediately being shot at or to seeing someone from the other team. Just remember, free-for-all play is enjoyable, team play is not on this map.
New and old players on Envy will have no problem finding weapons and understanding the layout of the map. The main power weapons of Envy are an energy sword located in the middle of the pool on the bottom floor, much like Bungie’s Ivory Tower or Reflection. Also a grenade launcher on the middle floor, located under a decorative piece. An overshield rests in the middle of the bridge on the top floor and is the main driving force of initial movement within the map.
Combat games usually revolve around the concept of who can control the high ground and Envy is no exception to that fundamental concept. The top floor proved to be the focus of combat and any battles around the rest of the map were usually in transition spots to get to the top floor, such as the ramps or near the teleporters on the bottom floor.
Due to the design and gameplay philosophy of the map, free-for-all play is highly encouraged and thus the individual players playing the map determine balance. During team games, if a team controls the sword, grenade launcher, and top floor they will generally control the entire game. Further reason for players to avoid doing anything team related on this map.
The balance is fine tuned for free-for-all games but falls apart for team games due to how easy it is to control the top floor and power weapons. Simple transitions between floors and easy to remember weapon placement make Envy well balanced for the newcomer or seasoned players of the map.
Envy is a completely enclosed space so escape is impossible. There are no places on the map where a kill barrier is needed because every floor is contained and set to certain heights. There are no ledges anywhere on the map for players to get an unfair height advantage using a jetpack. The map also has no framerate problems and any lag encountered would just be related to network conditions and not a result of the map.
Replayability is another matter entirely. Few maps are built for a free-for-all audience, so in that perspective this map is always a good choice to load up for a quick game if players are in the mood for some free-for-all. Multiple games can be played on it and it would not get old. Team games on the other hand, become boring fast and few players would want to replay the map if it would be loaded up for competitive team play.
This map is technically flawless, but practically it is boring for anything other than free-for-all games. This is not a problem for players looking for some quick fun or practice with free-for-all. This scenario is what the map was designed for and in this respect it succeeds in being a map that will endure in player's hard drives.
Aesthetics in Envy are subtle but help cement the overall theme. The theme of Envy is the phrase, “green with envy”, which is followed all throughout the design of the map.
The bottom floor has many objects tinted green to give an ambient glowing green effect over the water of the pool. The middle floor has the tunnel pieces tinted green, as well as the middle platform and decorative piece. The top floor has a green light, situated high in the ceiling, filtering green light down on the floors below it. The green highlights of the map give each piece a focus and help keep every piece consistent and easy on the eyes.
Certain pieces are used in subtle ways to avoid potentially ugly areas of the map. Struts are used in the corners of some of the floors to give an angled corner instead of a sharp, ninety-degree, corner. Tunnel brace pieces are used in the ramp transitions to fill space and give a pleasing Forerunner architecture design to the map. It makes the player believe they are in an ancient Forerunner building.
The clear aesthetic highlight of Envy is the pool on the bottom floor. The pool is one of the earliest completely enclosed pools made solely for aesthetic value. It is in the shape of an octagon with small antenna pieces used at each corner of the pool. The energy sword spawns in the middle of the pool on top of a circular platform composed on many phased together forge pieces. Players that look closely would notice a little Z-fighting on the small platform that could easily be corrected.
Envy is a map with few but precise aesthetics. The clear aesthetic highlight is the pool on the bottom floor but smaller aesthetics are equally important in giving Envy its character. The green coloration of the forge pieces fills the map with green tinted light. Struts and tunnel braces give the map a Forerunner structure theme.
Few forged competitive maps have a clear audience in mind. They are constructed to satisfy as many audiences as possible. Envy was built to satisfy free-for-all players and was one of the earliest maps to do so. The enclosed pool on the bottom floor is not only the key aesthetic to the whole map, but also an innovative idea that few maps had at that point.
Forerunner structure themed maps are not original and no piece on the map was used in unexpected or unusual ways. Mancannons, teleporters, and overshields are used in common ways and although they help define the map, they do not separate this map from many others like it.
The design plan and as the overall green theme for the map sets Envy apart from other maps. The common use of forge pieces, while evident, is not a major factor in what makes Envy such original concept.
Rating Multipliers
Enjoyment: 7 x 3.0 = 21 out of 30
Balance: 7 x 3.0 = 21 out of 30
Durability: 8 x 1.5 = 12 out of 15
Aesthetic : 8 x 1.5 = 12 out of 15
Originality: 7 x 1.0 = 7 out of 10
Final Score
Understanding the Review Hub's Ratings
Envy : 7.3/10 - PacMonster1 (seen above)
Velodrome : 5.8/10 - MickRaider
Burn : 6.0 - cart0graph
Artificial : 6.3 - Organite
Worshipers of TG
The Tester's Guild is a legion of followers of a cult of satanists who are just itching to assist you! All they want is to summon demonic spirits while giving you pro-tips to improve your creations before submitting them to the world, a completely legitimate calling if I do say so myself. I think everyone who has a passing interest in either of those, or simply gaining access to the Hub Pub, should consider heading over to the TRC guild and checking out the TG corner. Should you join, you get the prestige of being one of them, and only need to commit to testing, writing feedback, and weekly sacrifice. Furthermore, there are special opportunities for those with special talents that are looking to avoid sacrifice; the TG Leaders are currently asking for anyone with video editing/capturing capabilities or free time to help set up the Tester's Guild video. If I have piqued your interest, check out their Youtube channel!
Forge Hub Favorites; the new Nobel Peace Prize
You know how recently we introduced Staff Picks, right? That wonderful little way for us to promote some great community maps without going so far as to frontpage them is now undergoing a serious makeover. Previously the only perk to being a Guardian (you can’t help but feel sorry for those guys; they have the ugliest color on the site and just enough power to know that they don’t have any at all,) it is now transmuting into the Community Picks. What are community picks? Well, for starters they stay stickied for two weeks instead of one. Secondly, the winners of a Forge Hub Favorites community vote get the prize.
So it’s just like staff picks, except it lasts two weeks and it’s not picked by staff and it isn’t really it’s own thing, seeing as it now became merely the wonderful prize of Forge Hub Favorites, and it has much less awesome because I didn’t pick it. Because, as you all know, being graced with my post in the map forums is infinitely more prestigious than even the Nobel Peace Prize. Gosh, I would kill for a Nobel Peace Prize…
Anyway, this was merely another way to promote the awesome joy that is Forge Hub Favorites for all of you. The best maps of the community, by the community, for the community, and picked by the community! Curious as to exactly how awesome they are, or do you want to throw your own opinion into the hat? Go check out those spectacular five nominees and cast your vote on who you believe should be the winner right here.
Concave, a recent FHF winner.
2v2 Throwdown of WIN
The 2v2 Throwdown judging is going simply stellar. I realize that some buffoon may have attempted to convince you that we were nearly done, but I can promise you that he could not have possibly foreseen us getting sidetracked by the College Basketball Tournament. By the way, now that you have me on basketball... Oh that’s right, none of you care. You all would rather have tons of juicy information on a much more forum-relevant topic. For starters, the judging is all but done. Expect results stupefyingly quick, and should none arise in the near future you know who to blame! Bloo Jay because he has absolutely nothing to do with the results! But he makes a wonderful scapegoat, so let at him if the tournament doesn’t turn out how you want. In fact, if you have any issues at all, you can simply him!
Speaking of , there is a second half of this tournament; a bigger and better finish, a true high stakes test of skill and intelligence. The 2v2 tournament that has its one grand and awesome prize, a few delicious treats to be shared among the winners. I found myself, very recently, the proud new owner of a set of Astros and have nothing but good things to say about them. They may take a few hours to set up, but I can assure you that every second of that time is worth it.
http://www.astrogaming.com/
Speaking of, our friends at Astro Gaming are planning to make this whole tournament experience worth your while! So enter the tournament and win sweet gear from Astro Gaming. Why don't you go drool over their amazing, high quality audio systems?
QOTSU
"Choose the best from chrs's question, make fun of chris, then ask what everyones favorite soft drink is :)"
That was my original goal when I set out writing this site update. I wanted to go ahead and pick the winner of his incredibly somber, and very thoughtful question and follow it up with something nice and quaint. For starters, chrstphrbrnnn's question about the troubles of japan had only a few answers. The one I found most prominent, touching, and informative at once is included below. Since I believe in embracing the frivolous and the random, unlike that uptight weirdo chris, I would love to know what your favorite soft drink is. Creative answers, as always, have a bonus simply because of creativity. Speaking of, I accomplished my goals!
I'd like to go to Japan and check on my family. Then I'd go to each and every engineer and personally congratulate them. Especially the nuclear ones.
A detailed explanation is here: A link. And for details on the nuclear issue, here.
Goodbye Everybody!
Its all super late, and I'm all super tired. Which is strange, because if you are someone who knows me well you have probably heard about my amazing sleep cycle. I generally run on something between twenty-minutes and two hours of sleep at most, per night. Its a pretty amazing life. But unfortunately, every now and then I totally crash. This is one of those times I am crashing! So I apologize for anything weird I may have said, its been a strange night Forge Hub. Have a good one!
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.
Written byJeJex Yoyo