Chronique:BWU 07/01/2011

Posted by urk sometime in the afternoon of 01/07, PST

Fast and furious this afternoon, the Pentathlon is just wrapping up (see above) and I've had enough Root Beer to make this keyboard a bit dangerous. Forgive my brevity – I know it's been a while (we hope you had a great holiday season), but it's better for both of us if we ease back into this relationship. Baby steps.

As a token of my appreciation (actually, the online team's), Service Record player models are now being updated. We have millions to get through, so there is some delay as the system works its wonderful magic, but we did prioritize the process to server Bungie.net users and the most active players first. If you're still not seeing results, it's because you haven't been playing enough.

The team estimates it'll be "about" two weeks before every last player is updated. After that, when you change your armor in game, you can expect to see the new look reflected in your Service Record within approximately 24-48 hours. No promises.

Share the Love

This week also marked the inaugural introduction of the "Community" Playlists, the first of which focuses on a selection of offerings you lovingly binned into the Slayer category. The good news is that nearly all of the maps included are being universally praised. The bad news is that the playlist itself isn't long for this world. It ends on January 18th (but don't worry, it'll be back in a different, but still totally beloved form).

It should be noted that these aren't necessarily the winning Forgetacular submissions, either. Rather, these are just the first salvo of community content in what should be an ongoing addition of short term playlists aimed at providing variety through an infusion of maps taken from the submissions at large.

So, relax. If you have better stuff in your File Share, hopefully you chose to submit it so we can evaluate it (and so your peers can rush to the forums to tell you that your efforts are relatable to human excrement and refuse).

For those seeking a totally different experience, sit tight. As we continue to shovel through submissions in other categories, we'll prep playlists for some of those offerings and deploy them as quickly as we can.

Matchmaking Updates

Aside from the community playlists, we also deployed Arena FFA, made some general tweaks and adjustments to other aspects of our online game, and prepped the next round of Firefight changes, which will be deployed as soon as smoke testing clears.

Here's the roughed in scheduled from resident playlist masseuse, Jeremiah:

Jan. 11th - Firefight Arcade=

1 team of 4 takes on the crazy Firefight experience. Teams have unlimited lives as they play for 15 minutes.

• Fistfight: (Based on Rocketfight with weapon pickup enabled, Hammers and Sword starting weapons, added 200% Damage and Melee modifier, 2 each grenade count, Player Movement 120%, enable Grunt B-day, IWHBYD and Cowbell skulls, disabled dropship, 2X Overshields, Skirmisher Bonus Round, Loadout 5 is Hologram, 5 Second Respawn, added Heretics into Waves)
• Nadefight: (Based on Rocketfight with weapon pickup enabled, Grenade Launcher and Concussion Rifle starting weapons, added 150% Damage and Melee modifier, 4 each grenade count, enable Grunt B-Day, IWHBYD and Cowbell skulls, disabled dropship, 2X Overshields, Skirmisher Bonus Round, Added Evade for Armor Lock, and Hologram for Dropshield, 5 second respawn, add Heretics)
• Rocketfight (weapon pickup enabled, add: 150% Damage and Melee Modifier, 2 each grenade count, enable Grunt B-day, IWHBYD and Cowbell skulls, disable dropships, 2X Overshields, Grunt Bonus Round, Swapped out Armor Lock for Evade, Swapped out Drop Shield for Hologram, 5 second respawn, add Heretics)
• Sniperfight (weapon pickup enabled, add: 150% Damage and Melee Modifier, 2 each grenade count, enable Grunt B-day, IWHBYD and Cowbell skulls, disable dropships, 2X Overshields, Grunt Bonus Round, Added Sprint back in and Hologram, 5 second respawn, add Heretics)
• FRGFight (based on updated Rocketfight with Fuel Rod and Needler starts)
• Plasmafight (based on updated Rocketfight with Plasma Launcher and Needle Rifle starts, and 4x Plasma grenades)

Jan. 18th - Grifball (probably)

Jan 25th - Firefight Limited

Classic Firefight, ala ODST, but for one set only. All of these playlists will be available for a limited time only and any of the details above are subject to change.

Community Slayer ends on 1/18.

And that's all you're going to get out of me this week. Hopefully, you enjoyed the Pentathlon coverage and imagery as much as I enjoyed eating the Pentathlon snack foods and watching the Newbies crush the competition. See you next week.

Oh, and…

Blame Stosh

Stosh wanted you to have this.

[Élément indisponible]

And this: YRMDR-GYJYH-K4C9J-QM729-QMJTZ