My one and only post on this forum.
I have played every version of Halo since it's inception.....
I have played every version of just about every significant 1st person shooter ever made for any platform......EVER.
At times I've hosted game servers and been extremely active in the gaming community......
No one cheers more than me when a game developer creates true game magic....... something truly new under the sun, or a sweet story line that sucks you in and holds you while you're fighting for your virtual life, a rewarding experience for mastering truly difficult maneuvers, bad guys, or taking the time and effort to play and win at high difficulty levels, or kicking butt in multiplayer, either lone wolf or with a few buds.....
Having said all that, I've been truly disappointed with 343's stewardship of the Halo franchise to date. I realize game companies have to make money in order to continue, like any other business, but 343's reimagining of the Halo universe is so blatantly commercialized and devoid of anything approaching its former glory, this old gamer personally finds it offensive. Production quality may be spectacular, but that in and of itself does not make a good game great. I did not plop down $60 for a game I played thru a single player campaign in 4 or 5 hours and walked away from in complete disgust, never to be played again. Sadly, I will not be buying or playing any more 343 produced games, as I feel they've lost sight of the balance required to produce games of significance, which the Halo genre simply demands. 343 should be ashamed of what they've done to Halo.
Sorry Master Chief, you deserved better than this shabby treatment........ end transmission.