SITH Z- Halo 4 Forge

[SITH Zs 11]

Since xQuickScopex is planning to do War Games, Spartan Ops, and Campain, I thought I would do the Forge Review.

Halo 4:

Forge

Since Halo 3, it has become a tradition to have Forging as part of the Halo gaming experience. Halo: Reach's Forge was a large advancement from the original. Halo 4 is no exception.

When I first started my forging experience, I checked through the pallet and searched through them each. The weapons, each sound was modified, the looks were updated, and the Forerunner weapons just added the third party of weapons to keep things fresh. Exploring through Armor abilities, I thought the added array made things more balanced.

Vehicles, the one thing you though they couldn't mess up, well they did in my case. Now, what can be so bad that you just don't like the vehicles. Well I like them, just not as much. The new and improved sound are cool even though the Warthog sounds like a R/C car sometimes. It was the fact that they took out UNSC aircraft. Along with that, they made the banshee a LOT weaker. If it was a choice between a Mantis vs. UNSC aircraft and stronger Banshee, I would pick the UNSC and banshee. But anyway the vehicles are good just not the best.

Going through the Common pallet, there was a wide array of monitors, terminals, vehicles spawns, automatic turrets, and so forth. This was nice for Machinimators, who had always improvised, so they could have official true looking computers. In Scenery, they had added some of the original crates and such from Halo 3, along with more returning pieces from Reach. In Structure, I found the original forging pieces from Halo: Reach with a UNSC layer over them to make the pieces authentic. I also noticed on some maps that there were pieces made for that map. I thought this was a excellent idea and hope it stays that way with the map packs (can anyone say December 2012).

User tools for forge were also a step forward. You can now delete things by pallet or all at once. Magnets help connecting pieces together. You can also lock pieces so you can not delete or move them by accident. They did however slowdown the Monitors movement on the map, so take a vehicle instead (just not the banshee). They also can't zoom in so if you need to check something, you need to get close up to see it.

In conclusion, the Halo 4 Forge wasn't the greatest but is was an Excellent (band term). The forge will still be one of the best. And if your a machinima director, you will want to use Halo 4. Just remember, games will change Forge will remain!

[Badfur 13]

Halo 4:

Forge

Since Halo 3, it has become a tradition to have Forging as a part of the Halo gaming experience. Halo: Reach's Forge was a large advancement from the original., Halo 4 is no exception.

When I first started my forging experience, I checked through the pallet and searched through them each. [Explain what you mean by "pallet". Also, "searched through them each" makes no sense. I don't know what you are trying to say with this.] The weapons, each sound was modified, the looks were updated, and the Forerunner weapons just added the third party of weapons to keep things fresh. [if you are going to list things, do so in a manner that makes sense. "The weapons," What about them? "each sound was modified" What had its sound modified? You don't say what "each" is referring to. If you mean the weapons, then say so, don't list things. "The looks were updated" First, "the looks" is useless. If you are going to write an article, use adjectives. Describe something, be articulate. Saying "the looks" is useless. Next, what was changed? Are you still talking about the weapons? You have a list here, but aren't listing things. "and the Forerunner weapons just added the third party of weapons to keep things fresh." Besides being wordy, and using more words than necessary to get your point across, you wrote a terrible sentence. That sentence is one of the worst sentences (in terms of structure) that I have seen in a while. Don't worry, though, we are here to help. Rephrase the entire thing. If you need help phrasing it (you aren't sure how to write it), then ask, and we can help.] Exploring through Armor abilities, I thought the added array made things more balanced. [unless you explain things, they won't make sense. First, Armor Abilities. Would you like to explain to the boys and girls that have no idea what an armor ability is? The term is new, right? I don't recall them being called "armor abilities" in reach (though, I didn't play much reach). Second, "I thought the added array made things more balanced." Things? What things? Also, what array? Do you know what an array is? Does your audience? Balanced how?]

Vehicles, the one thing you thought they couldn't mess up, well they did in my case. Now, what can be so bad that you just don't like the vehicles. Well I like them, just not as much. The new and improved sound are cool even though the Warthog sounds like a R/C car sometimes. It was the fact that they took out UNSC aircraft. Along with that, they made the banshee a LOT weaker. If it was a choice between a Mantis vs. UNSC aircraft and stronger Banshee, I would pick the UNSC and banshee. But anyway the vehicles are good just not the best. [i have an issue with this paragraph. The method in which you write makes what you are trying to say a bit hard to understand. (Taking a page from twahl's book...) Say out loud each of your sentences. Consider how they sound. Do they make sense when you say it out loud? If I write "I that read wrong." In your mind, you might read it as "I read that wrong."

When you take the time to read it out loud carefully, you understand what it actually said. Read each sentence out loud, and take a pause after each sentence to consider how it sounds.]

Going through the Common pallet, there was a wide array of monitors, terminals, vehicles spawns, automatic turrets, and so forth. This was nice for Machinimators, who had always improvised, so they could have official true looking computers. In Scenery, they had added some of the original crates and such [and what? Saying "and such" is like writing etc. Do it after you've already listed 2 or more things. For example, one might say, "I went to the store." That is fine, but saying "I went to the store, etc." That does not make as much sense. ] from Halo 3, along with more returning pieces from Reach. In Structure, I found the original forging pieces from Halo: Reach with a UNSC layer over them to make the pieces authentic. I also noticed on some maps that there were pieces made for that map. I thought this was a excellent idea and hope it stays that way with the map packs (can anyone say December 2012).

User tools for forge were are also a step forward. You can now delete things by pallet or all at once. Magnets help connecting pieces together. You can also lock pieces so you can not delete or move them by accident. They did however slowdown the Monitors movement on the map, so take a vehicle instead (just not the banshee). They You also can't zoom in so if you need to check something, you need to get close up to see it.

In conclusion, the Halo 4 Forge wasn't the greatest but is was an Excellent (band term). The forge will still be one of the best. And if your a machinima director, you will want to use Halo 4. Just remember, games will change Forge will remain!

[italicised areas are sentences that I have problems with. Rewrite them, rephrase them, or change them in some way to sound better than they do currently. In order to be a better writer, you need practice. Review what I have said, consider my comments, and change things appropriately. DO NOT IGNORE EDITS! The reason we edit things is so that they sound better and more professional. This, in turn, will help you be a better writer. DO NOT ignore what the editors (myself and twahl) have to say.]

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

Good job, Badfur!

[KSI twahl 7 2]

Sith, edits please.

[SITH Zs 11]

Halo 4 Forge

An article by

SITH Z

“Halo 4†is the newest Halo game in the franchise, created by, Microsoft owned, gaming company, 343 Industries. This game has been highly anticipated and criticized since it's announcement at the 2011 E3 event in Los Angeles, California. The game-type I am here to cover has been in every Halo game since “Halo 3,†Forge.

Becoming a tradition, today's gamers use Forge to create environments on already made maps. It is a help for map makers, machinima directors, and the creative minds, allowing them to create an idea and representing it on to the map. It is probably on of the best ideas to Halo since flyable vehicles.

To start off, I will be going in sequence of what I feel should be first, second, and third. Let's start off with the custom setting you can give your player model and Monitor (a Forerunner A.I. that you control to create objects on the map). Like in “Halo 3†and “Halo: Reach,†you can set certain abilities like being invisible, having over-shields, and having way-points over every player's head. For the player model (your Spartan IV avatar), you can do the same along with having him appear as if he is a Flood (a creature who feeds on sentient life), has over-shields, and looks like he has a speed boost (when you receive one, a green fog surrounds you). You can also have unlimited ammo, unlimited armor abilities (sprint, jet-pack, hard-light shield, etc.), and much more. Now onto the contrary of this. I tried having some of these settings on during my forge experience and for some reason, only a few were truly activated during this whole time. But it is still good to have these in, to make the forging experience more 'appealing'.

Next onto the maps, well I don't have much to say about them. I like the look and architecture of them. But one of the two maps made for forging isn't the best size. It is more of a closed space in which you can't really add a lot to. My favorite map is the second of the two, Impact. It is one huge asteroid with a small UNSC base on it with a smaller asteroid, used for mining, close by. It has the full forge pallet along with the custom tool bar containing the elements exclusively to that map.

After talking about pallets, guess I better explain what they are. The pallet is the main forge hub where all the forging pieces are sorted in categories which I like to call tool bars. At the beginning, we have the three tool bars of weapons, UNSC (Human) Weapons, Covenant (alien) Weapons, and Forerunner (dead ancient race of dead alien protectors) weapons. Covenant and Forerunner weapons are based off of UNSC weapons to keep it balanced. The only two I can think of that aren't is the Covenant Gravity Hammer and Energy Sword. All the weapons have taken major overhauls though. Since a few weapon weren't in the Halo: Reach engine, weapons like the Battle Rifle, Covenant Carbine, Rail gun, Halo 3 style Assault Rifle, and a few others had to be redesigned onto the engine. Halo: Reach weapons, like the DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) and Covenant Concussion Rifle, were changed a bit by making them smoother and adding different lighting effects to them (the concussion rifle now has green lights flowing through it). Along with those changes, 343 industries re-recorded the weapon audio to keep it new and exciting, or Bungie said you can't touch the original. Either way, the new gun sounds do add something new to the table that “Halo†has needed for a while now. They also have armor abilities such as the ones stated earlier.

Now we have spawning, objectives, and whatever else there is, I don't use them much anyway. But something new is Player-Trait Zones, in which (once set up) can allow players to jump really high, make them move really slow, turn into a Flood, change color, and whatever else you can think of. Again, I don't use them much, but I would like to see something creative come out of them.

We now reach the Common section, which holds the fun, machinima objects directors have been waiting for. It has may objects like monitors, terminals, some sort of A.I. stand, industrial lights, and much more. This tool bar is mostly for scenery, but could probably be used for some other purpose.

The place I rant the most at, vehicles. Now when I first received Halo 4, I though, “Maybe they just hid the UNSC flying vehicles from us?†As we all now by now, I was wrong (somewhat okay with the the exception of the campaign mission were we can pilot the ships). Halo 4's vehicle selection is 'dumb-ed' down to almost “Halo: Combat Evolveâ€'s vehicle choice, Warthog (with all 3 variations, luckily), Mongoose, Scorpion, Mantis, Ghost, Banshee, and Wraith. Yes, they did keep the rocket, Gauss, and machine gun warthogs, and added the Mantis, but that doesn't explain the changes they did to them. The Guass' reload speed has been cut down remarkably, the Scorpion's shots don't go as strait as they used to for long distance shots and reload slower, and the banshee can't maneuver to save it's life, literally. Otherwise I do like the vehicles, just not as much as I should.

Last two tool bars, Scenery and Structure. Scenery, basically the same from Halo: Reach with the huge crates from Halo 3. It also includes barricades, traffic cones, wood pallets, sandbags, and etc. Structure, only on the two main forging maps, there is custom pieces for that map, like for Impact that has tunnel corridors and a hologram table of the map. They also building blocks that are used to make bases, buildings, and such. Then there's bridges and platforms which are self-explanatory. Then buildings that can be used to construct the main structure of a building. Decoration is next that includes antennas, bases of a satellite, cover, and etc. It also has other sub-tool bars that I won't go into detail over.

The last thing we have to go over is the forge option menu in-game. This includes the ability to delete by pallet or just delete all, to lock objects so you don't accidentally delete or move pieces, the coordinates, which you can use to get a more precise movement of the pieces, and magnets that can connect pieces together so they are on perfectly.

Now, I know this review doesn't go over everything, but it does get the essentials of Forge and you need to explore them yourself if you have the game. And if you don't, go rent it, see if you like it, and make a decision over this and you own opinions. As always this is SITH Z, happy forging.

[SITH Zs 11]

I will probably have to write a summary because I don't think anyone will actually want to read the WHOLE article if this is all about Forge.

[KSI twahl 7 2]

Depends. Honestly reading a long article with intrinsic detail is just what people want. If it is anything away from the forge and how it runs, the aspect or any details, that's when length becomes a problem. Stick to the forge, comparing it only to past halo forges and you should have a nice article.

Also stay away from "Well, I think its cool."

Sorry, but no one cares how much you like something. You're the person author. If you didn't like it, you would not have written it.

I personally didn't read it yet; but if Badfur decides he needs a second opinion or something, then I will.

Length = good

your opinion = bad

stick to the topic = best

[Badfur 13]

“Halo 4†is the newest Halo game in the franchise, created by, Microsoft owned, gaming company, 343 Industries. This game has been highly anticipated and criticized since it's announcement at the 2011 E3 event in Los Angeles, California. The game-type I am here to cover has been in every Halo game since “Halo 3,†Forge. [Obviously it's about Forge. It's in the title.]

Becoming a tradition, Today's gamers use Forge to create environments on already made maps. It is a help for map makers, machinima directors, and the creative minds, allowing them to create an idea and representing it on to the map. It is probably one of the best ideas to Halo since flyable vehicles. [You're talking about the forge. Explaining what it is, is one thing. There is no need for input such as this. As I mentioned on skype, and twahl in the previous comment. Opinions in the article should'nt be present. Speaking from experience = good. Providing an opinion that is irrelevant to the article = bad. Fluff is bad.]

To start off, I will be going in sequence of what I feel should be first, second, and third. Let's start off with the custom setting [Rephrase this.] you can give your player model and Monitor (a Forerunner A.I. that you control to create objects on the map). Like in “Halo 3†and “Halo: Reach,†you can set certain abilities like being invisible, having over-shields, and having way-points over every player's head. For the player model (your Spartan IV avatar), you can do the same along with having him appear as if he is a Flood (a creature who feeds on sentient life), has over-shields, and looks like he has a speed boost (when you receive one, a green fog surrounds you). You can also have unlimited ammo, unlimited armor abilities (sprint, jet-pack, hard-light shield, etc.), and much more. Now onto the contrary of this. I tried having some of these settings on during my forge experience and for some reason, only a few were truly activated during this whole time. But it is still good to have these in, to make the forging experience more 'appealing'. [Please don't start a sentence with 'But'.]

Next onto the maps, well I don't have much to say about them. I like the look and architecture of them. But one of the two maps made for forging isn't the best size.[Rephrase that. Also, you should name what both of the maps are, if you are going to be talking about them. Do you sit down to watch a movie you have never seen (starting in the middle) and suddenly know what people are talking about when they reference events in the earlier half of the movie?] It is more of a closed space in which you can't really add a lot to. My favorite map is the second of the two, Impact. It is one huge asteroid with a small UNSC base on it with a smaller asteroid, used for mining, close by. It has the full forge pallet along with the custom tool bar containing the elements exclusively to that map.

After talking about pallets, guess I better explain what they are. The pallet is the main forge hub where all the forging pieces are sorted in categories which I like to call tool bars. At the beginning, we have the three tool bars of weapons, UNSC (Human) Weapons, Covenant (alien) Weapons, and Forerunner (dead ancient race of dead alien protectors) weapons. Covenant and Forerunner weapons are based off of UNSC weapons to keep it balanced. [Are you sure it is for balance?]The only two I can think of that aren't [Assuming you mean aren't in reference to being based off of UNSC weapons. Here, however, it sounds like you are saying the gravity hammer and energy sword aren't balanced. This isn't an article about mechanics and balance. You should rephrase it. Also, both weapons serve as a close range alternative to the UNSC shotgun, in my opinion.] is the Covenant Gravity Hammer and Energy Sword. All the weapons have taken [i wasn't aware weapons had arms and could take something. I believe 'undergone' is a better term for what you mean.]major overhauls though. Since a few weapon weren't in the Halo: Reach engine, weapons like the Battle Rifle, Covenant Carbine, Rail gun, Halo 3 style Assault Rifle, and a few others had to be redesigned onto the engine. [Do you even know what you are talking about here? I assume you are referring to the engine in which the game is run on. I suggest doing some research.] Halo: Reach weapons, like the DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) and Covenant Concussion Rifle, were changed a bit by making them smoother and adding different lighting effects to them (the concussion rifle now has green lights flowing through it). Along with ['Along with' is a bad opening to a sentence in my opinion. Though it is viable. I personally feel that 'In addition to' would sound better.]those changes, 343 industries re-recorded the weapon audio to keep it new and exciting, or Bungie said you can't touch the original. Either way, the new gun sounds do add something new to the table that “Halo†has needed for a while now. [Rephrase.] They also have armor abilities such as the ones stated earlier.

Now we have spawning, objectives, and whatever else there is, I don't use them much anyway. But something new is Player-Trait Zones, in which (once set up) can allow players to jump really high, make them move really slow, turn into a Flood, change color, and whatever else you can think of. Again, I don't use them much, but I would like to see something creative come out of them.

We now reach the Common section, which holds the fun, machinima objects directors have been waiting for. It has may objects like monitors, terminals, some sort of A.I. stand, industrial lights, and much more. This tool bar is mostly for scenery, but could probably be used for some other purpose.

The place I rant the most at, vehicles. Now when I first received Halo 4, I though, “Maybe they just hid the UNSC flying vehicles from us?†As we all now by now, I was wrong (somewhat okay with the the exception of the campaign mission were we can pilot the ships). Halo 4's vehicle selection is 'dumb-ed' down to almost “Halo: Combat Evolveâ€'s vehicle choice, Warthog (with all 3 variations, luckily), Mongoose, Scorpion, Mantis, Ghost, Banshee, and Wraith. Yes, they did keep the rocket, Gauss, and machine gun warthogs, and added the Mantis, but that doesn't explain the changes they did to them. The Guass' reload speed has been cut down remarkably, the Scorpion's shots don't go as strait as they used to for long distance shots and reload slower, and the banshee can't maneuver to save it's life, literally. Otherwise I do like the vehicles, just not as much as I should.

Last two tool bars, Scenery and Structure. Scenery, basically the same from Halo: Reach with the huge crates from Halo 3. It also includes barricades, traffic cones, wood pallets, sandbags, and etc. Structure, only on the two main forging maps, there is custom pieces for that map, like for Impact that has tunnel corridors and a hologram table of the map. They also building blocks that are used to make bases, buildings, and such. Then there's bridges and platforms which are self-explanatory. Then buildings that can be used to construct the main structure of a building. Decoration is next that includes antennas, bases of a satellite, cover, and etc. It also has other sub-tool bars that I won't go into detail over.

The last thing we have to go over is the forge option menu in-game. This includes the ability to delete by pallet or just delete all, to lock objects so you don't accidentally delete or move pieces, the coordinates, which you can use to get a more precise movement of the pieces, and magnets that can connect pieces together so they are on perfectly.

Now, I know this review doesn't go over everything, but it does get the essentials of Forge and you need to explore them yourself if you have the game. And if you don't, go rent it, see if you like it, and make a decision over this and you own opinions. As always this is SITH Z, happy forging.

[seriously, the last 4 paragraphs have quite a few flaws in terms of phrasing, but it is getting late, and I need some sleep. Perhaps twahl will have a chance to go through this.. ]

[Badfur 13]

Actually, Sith, can you just rewrite/rephrase the last 4 paragraphs? Talk from experience, that's good and encouraged. But, opinion, not so much. See previous messages in skype, if you need assistance, or just ask.

[Badfur 13]

Sith. What's going on? Where is the revised version of this?

[SITH Zs 11]

I don't have my computer at the moment. I'll get it done by tonight. Sorry about that.

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

...how about now?

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

New directions:

Read my post. You're mid-way in the process, as you can tell. Things have changed, I explained the new process as simple as I could. You should know where to pick up in this new process.

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

Have you quit?

[SITH Zs 11]

No, but I did post my updated work a few weeks ago in the News Team Skype group. No one has gotten around to talking to me about it and seeing what I need to update.

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

Oh.................. I'm going to get Badfur to find it.........

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

Seeing as twahl says that it was Badfur's editing job to be done, and Badfur is questioning why you did not post it in the news room, I am requesting one of the following:

 

Either:

You can start a new article.

or

Would you please post your updated version (copy and paste) in here?

I'm sorry for any inconvienience. If this ever happens again, you should instant message us, if that doesn't get anywhere, personal message us (so it's actually logged on the mothership's website) or even post in your thread what's going on.

[SITH Zs 11]

I think I'll just start a new article, I'll just wait till something hits my interest. I also did state why I didn't post it in the News Room as quoted here:

 

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

"Hey guys, my computer won't open my Word Document. I'm not completely done but I just need the last 4 paragraphs. Can someone just read over this and give me there opinions. Also, the highlighted sections are what I completed."

[Sungazer's Wife 6]

Oh.... I'm really sorry....