halo 2 online

.aa - week three.

Halo 2 has been played online several million times. The audio component to this online sensation is vital to its success, and has been observed as such by many ‘game award’ ceremonies. As shown in this video, Halo 2 multiplayer is intensely fast paced, where players must use absolutely all information feed to them from the game to their own advantage.

Halo 2 assets.xls (excel doc) | Halo 2 assets.jpg (image)

One aspect of the audio that I do not mention in this asset list is the player-to-player communication provided by the Xbox Live headset (pictured). This type of communication is widespread now in almost all online console gaming and all online PC gaming. Everyone who uses plays online games is affected by this development in multiplayer gaming. It makes for a much more personalised gaming experience, and I see it very much as a new avenue of globalisation. We have all heard of online dating, well this development in game audio has made the online game environment just as suitable place to find new love as the pub. And yes, that’s a little unnerving.


.sources.
Haines, Christian 7.08.07, "Process & Planning," EMU, Adelaide University.