Xbox night (5/4)

[Hardcorhobbs]

FYI my buddy Mike (VedroMike) just picked up ODST. So we have another for firefight, the new Halo 3 multiplayer maps, and the Halo: Reach beta.

Not that we have to play that this week. Just wanted to throw that out there. (Though with the Reach beta going live today I would say that's probably going to be the game tomorrow?)

[EvilGenius]

I'll be available but probably only for a few games. Lots of studying to do.

[Jonkga]

I don't have ODST, so I wouldn't be able to do any Reach action. By all means, however, don't let that stop you if you guys want to jump into the beta.

On a related note, I am excited for Reach, but I really want nothing to do with the beta, so I'll certainly be waiting on that one.

I should be around on Tuesday, however, if folks want to do some other xbla gaming.

[erilar]

I was just logging on to post the question about trying the Halo: Reach beta tomorrow.

Yeah, I'm all for it. I don't think Jon has the game yet though, and he's finally on daylight.

[Jonkga]

Yeah, I'm all for it. I don't think Jon has the game yet though, and he's finally on daylight.

See above.

[Jonkga]

And, really, I mean it when I say I wont be bothered if you guys want to do the Reach beta tomorrow - i understand it's the cool new thing. I've just been a bit down on Halo recently, so I'm not all that jazzed for it right now. Don't let that hold you back, however. There will be plenty of other times we can game together.

[erilar]

I'd be very fine with Magic or board games or whatever.

The downside for the Reach beta (for me) is that it's public Matchmaking multiplayer only, so that's not my bag per se. If I want to play a game with random internet strangers, I'm going to play Bad Company 2. It is sooo explodeytastic.

[Hardcorhobbs]

The downside for the Reach beta (for me) is that it's public Matchmaking multiplayer only, so that's not my bag per se. If I want to play a game with random internet strangers, I'm going to play Bad Company 2. It is sooo explodeytastic.

The 1up guys were talking about playing in the beta and they were looking forward to more people on their playlist playing... So maybe we can still play on the same map even if it's filled out with randoms?

[erilar]

The 1up guys were talking about playing in the beta and they were looking forward to more people on their playlist playing... So maybe we can still play on the same map even if it's filled out with randoms?

I think the game will try to keep a party together. Even though I'm not crazy about playing with strangers, I'd still like to try it out (I downloaded it last night - it's not a very big file). We can jump in for a few games tonight. I just want to play stuff with Jon too.

[Jonkga]

The 1up guys were talking about playing in the beta and they were looking forward to more people on their playlist playing... So maybe we can still play on the same map even if it's filled out with randoms?

I think the game will try to keep a party together. Even though I'm not crazy about playing with strangers, I'd still like to try it out (I downloaded it last night - it's not a very big file). We can jump in for a few games tonight. I just want to play stuff with Jon too.

Thanks for that, man.

However, I don't think I can make it on tonight, at least not reliably. Some stuff has come up that I need to take care of, so I'll be running around after work today, and probably won't have a great deal of time to log on tonight.

So, enjoy the beta tonight if you guys want. I'll see you all definitely on Friday, and perhaps on xbox wed or thurs night this week instead.

[erilar]

I'll see you all definitely on Friday, and perhaps on xbox wed or thurs night this week instead.

Well, my new paintball gun is supposed to arrive tomorrow, so probably only after it's too dark to shoot on Wed.

[NukeHavoc]

Not sure if I'll be on tonight or not. I'm fighting off a cold, so I may try to hit the sack early. We'll see how it goes.

Re: the Reach beta -- I haven't downloaded it yet, and I'm guessing the servers will be slammed when we log-on tonight, so I'd rather play something else.

[Jonkga]

I'll see you all definitely on Friday, and perhaps on xbox wed or thurs night this week instead.

Well, my new paintball gun is supposed to arrive tomorrow, so probably only after it's too dark to shoot on Wed.

New gun?!? What did you get?

[erilar]

Re: the Reach beta -- I haven't downloaded it yet, and I'm guessing the servers will be slammed when we log-on tonight, so I'd rather play something else.

Perhaps not. Major Nelson's podcast featured a Reach Beta interview this week. One of the Bungie engineers mentioned that their efficiency improvements include a 40% reduction in bandwidth requirements - pretty impressive.

Not sure what the others' experience with the Beta download were. Mine downloaded while I was watching UFC fights last night, so not sure how long it took.

[Hardcorhobbs]

Perhaps not. Major Nelson's podcast featured a Reach Beta interview this week. One of the Bungie engineers mentioned that their efficiency improvements include a 40% reduction in bandwidth requirements - pretty impressive.

There was some talk on the news sites that there were some match making and server issues, but they didn't seem wide-spread. Bungie was working on it last night so it should be better today.

FYI I also read that the beta is only open until May 19th.