Reaching Perfection

Halo 4 Forge Challenge #1

2012-10-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

[Disclaimer: The structure of this forge challenge is unorthodox and highly experimental and requires a bit more work than your typical contest/challenge. This system may or may not work out, but if it does it will serve as a basis for the structure of future forge challenges. The system is also subject to tweaks at any time during the course of the challenge and will be tweaked upon completion for future challenges.]

Update [10/08/2012]: Changed rules of setting up your forum username from "with your username as your Gamertag" to "with a username that is representative of your gamertag (similar enough to be recognized)"

Why hello folks... GodlyPerfection here and I want to present to you the very first major forge challenge for Halo 4. I am a part of the Community Cartographers, a group of individuals who work directly with the 343 Industries Matchmaking Systems Team to bring the best community maps from various corners of the community and push them towards the chance of matchmaking integration. This challenge's purpose is to put your level design skills to the test and to not only give you a reason to create top notch quality maps, but to also assist you in making those creations the best that they can be.

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My Community Development Philosophy

2012-07-21T08:27:00.001-07:00

I've said this dozens of times already on various sites in reply to various people... I have a strong belief that community should shape the projects that are built for them. Basically anything that is built with the consumer in mind should take as much feedback as possible from the community and negotiations should be made to find a common ground between what the community wants and what the aspirations and original ideas are for the product. As a map designer in Halo 3 and Reach, I've learned the importance of the consumer and how much of what they say can really make your product fit both your dreams and their wants.
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Introducing Covet

2012-07-11T14:41:00.001-07:00

Join the Covet Mailing List to get updates and to join in on weekly prototype testing.

So all my life I've wanted to play a game that took the concept of Thief: The Dark Project (a stealth game about stealing artifacts and other such loot from various people) and apply it towards a multiplayer game. Last year around September/October I finally discovered a set of mechanics that can work together to create the experience that I wanted to create. I've been hashing out the design details for almost a year now and about a month ago I started on a prototype for it. Today (my 24th birthday) I introduce my new game concept (prototype in progress) to the world. Read on for a basic jist of the game.
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The Moment

2012-06-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

What makes you want to play a game again and again? What drives you to replay a few favourite maps? I would say that a game is defined by only a few moments, repeated again and again. These are the unique, enjoyable moments of pure, unbridled enjoyment. Awesome moments. It is these few moments that players enjoy; they are the moments that players return for. In both level and game design, then, these moments should be crafted exquisitely in order to maximise player enjoyment and replays. After all, you don’t want a player to only play your game or map once!
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Mindful Cartography - Introduction

2012-06-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Sup guys... GP here and I've started a new video series centered around level design. This new video series is called Mindful Cartography [MC] and it is created with the intention of discussing level design concepts to help forgers get their maps in matchmaking in Halo: Reach as well as preparing you for forging in Halo 4. In addition I've timed this to help the forgers that are participating in the Community Cartographers Objective Forge Contest.

A Theory of Flow Pt. 3 - Choke Points

2012-04-05T19:35:00.001-07:00

In the beginning, The Forge created Forge World. Now Forge World was filled with players, forgers and designers, and The Forge watched over them all. And The Forge said, "Let there be flow," and there was flow and The Forge saw that it was good and he separated high-flow from choke points. But some players were enticed by the fruit of the knowledge of camping, and warped The Forge's good intention for choke points into camping spots. Now others before me have undertaken to draw up an account of The Forge's intentions for choke points, and I simply relate this universal vision for choke points.
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A Theory of Flow Pt. 2

2012-02-29T11:20:00.001-08:00

We have explored the nature of flow on a foundational level -- or at least, we have explored one way to consider the concept of flow. I hardly suggest that my description is absolute or that I am infallible! But I submit that my ideas may be of some small use to the aspiring forger or designer, if only as terminology to describe the rich world of level design accessible by our imagination. And so today I shall expand on flow, and make some links to a previous idea of mine, Points of Interest, as well as digressing into human psychology, the nature of level design and more.

A Theory of Flow Pt. 1

2012-01-16T18:23:00.002-08:00

Well, it's been a while since I, noklu, have had the time to type out a post for this 'ere site. But here I am, revealed at last! This post is the first summary of a thread in our Game Design Discussion forum -- I'd love for more people to come in there and contribute. In fact, I'd like to come back and develop this concept further so I would love some feedback in the relevant thread, or at the bottom of this post. Also, I think I must shamelessly plug our race competition which has another few weeks of life yet.
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Racing towards Matchmaking - Extension

2012-01-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

So I've got my laptop back. It is working much smoother than before (used to overheat all the time). I still have to get everything re-setup... grab my chrome extensions, fix up my desktop, hunt down all my usual software, transfer my backup files, etc. etc. So I'll be back to a normal routine shortly. For now, let's talk about this design challenge.
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Computer in maintenance

2011-12-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

Sup peepz... I know I haven't posted much at all, but I just wanted to give you a heads up that I had to turn my computer into Best Buy for maintenance so I won't be around as much as I used to. This is mainly for those who visit the forums. So don't expect me on as much. I'm using my wife's laptop when I need to so I will still do the stuff that I really have to do like the race test week. Sorry for the inconvenience and I hope to be on the xbox more as a result. So if you want to chill just hit me up. Peace bros... ;)

Design Challenge - Racing towards Matchmaking

2011-12-07T11:44:00.001-08:00

Alright so I haven't posted a Forge lesson in a couple of weeks. You can blame Dark Souls again... I'm back into it and it looks like it will be a regular occurrence so I'm going to have to re-work how I handle my time. Anyways, for those that don't know we held a very small in-house Design Challenge where designers were told to build a map compatible with the standard Infection Gametypes in matchmaking and to build them as if they were going to get in matchmaking. The only catch was you couldn't build it on Forgeworld or Tempest. This new challenge instructs you to build a Race map, but don't worry... this time you can build on Forgeworld or Tempest. ;)
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Lesson 51: Audience

2011-11-22T02:14:00.000-08:00

Alright so there wasn't one last week and this week's was a wee bit late. :P So sue me. ;) Anyways, we can all blame Skyrim and CEA for the lack of forge lesson last week. Some damn great games. I'm working on remaking Affinity on High Noon between my treasure hunting fun on Skyrim. Here is the next forge lesson which can be quite important... are you building for MLG players, general matchmaking, infection lovers, or your friends? Off for now and enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend if I don't post again before then folks. ;) And don't forget to subscribe via email, RSS feed, twitter, facebook, or youtube through the sidebar on the right.
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Lesson 50: Navigation

2011-11-07T18:12:00.000-08:00

Another week another lesson. Things are starting to pick back up a little bit. I'm back into programming our card game Aggro and I've been getting a little more active in the community. I've also starting playing Halo again. I'm testing a new gametype that some of the more competitive players may enjoy. It takes tons of team tactics and planning as well as DMR skill. You guys might enjoy it. I'll be testing it all week for the most part so let me know if you are interested in helping test it. For now I'm off to go PvP some more in Dark Souls. Enjoy the lesson and don't forget to subscribe via email, RSS feed, twitter, facebook, or youtube through the sidebar on the right. Oh and btw our son Lucas, born on Bungie Day '11, is 4 months today. :)
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Lesson 49: Exposure

2011-10-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Like I promised the Forge Lessons are back. ;) Sure I'm still working on reviving the rest of the front page content, but this kind of thing takes time. :P lol... So btw we have forums. Did you know that? If not then stop by and join us and introduce yourself. We are a friendly bunch. I promise. Anyways, I'm getting back into this whole internet ordeal and slowly transitioning off of Dark Souls. It is back to work for me. I hope you enjoy today's forge lesson. See you guys later. And don't forget to subscribe via email, RSS feed, twitter, facebook, or youtube through the sidebar on the right.
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Rebirth of RP

2011-10-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

It has been a while... Dark Souls has taken my soul away. Good news is, I woke up today with this strange craving to get back into the swing of how things used to be. Not just with updating Aggro, but with bringing back the level design stuff. So let's get started shall we?
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Delayed Aggro Update Coming Soon!

2011-09-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

So I haven't posted in like 4 weeks, I know... I'm sorry. :P This last update has actually been much tougher than the networking update cuz it was a huge overhaul of everything that existed as well as many graphics enhancements. So hopefully you forgive me and hang tight because this new build is currently in internal testing. If you want to get in on internal testing see: Be an internal tester for Aggro! . Let's move on to what is coming in the next public release.
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Aggro Online Multiplayer now available!

2011-08-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

WOOT!!! It is finally here. Been quite tough to implement it, but it is finally workable and playable. Before we dive into specifics I want to let you guys know that I will be allowing comments in all the aggro posts again. So if you have a comment then post it folks. Also the front page gets kind of barren when I'm not posting stuff about Aggro so we want you to help add some content to the front page. We have started a forum run by our very own Noklu where you can suggest game design topics and participate in other discussions to be hosted on the front page. Who knows, you could also get a position as an author on RP. ;) Let's move on to today's Aggro update shall we?

Download the latest version

Incoming Aggro Online Multiplayer

2011-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Woah it has been a while since I wrote one of these. I've been kept busy with this upcoming update to Aggro. If you want to see more content on the front page, or want to write stuff for the front page so it stays active then voice your opinions on Noklu's Community Involvement in the Front Page post in the forums. I don't want this front page to become too inactive... lol. But don't stress about it, soon 343i will start up the community cartographers then you will start seeing more content on this front page. On to this awesome new addition to Aggro.

[As with other Aggro posts, comments are disabled; put all your feedback, comments, questions, and what not in the Aggro Forums]

Small Aggro Update; Possible Online Multiplayer

2011-08-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

This week has been long and stressful. Grrr... well I'm back with another small update for the Aggro prototype. I little later than I thought, but it is here nonetheless. And from the title you can see that I am have also been busy doing a lot of research on networking. Here's your video like I plan on doing for every update and inside contains more detailed info.

Download Latest Build of Aggro

Halo Community Charity Marathon

2011-08-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hey folks... I'm finding a little bit of time for now. Been quite busy for the past week, but I didn't want to miss the chance to give you guys the heads up on the Halo Community Charity Marathon. I'm just going to copy and paste XForgery's announcement because that's how little time I have... lol. Don't even have time to give you a heads up on the next Aggro update... which if I find some time to finish it will be at the beginning of this next week... maybe Monday. Adios for now folks:

Halo Community Charity Marathon

From Threatened to Aggro

2011-08-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

So I'm finally back folks. Took me long enough eh? I promised this update like a week ago. Well having house guests over makes it a ton difficult to get things done. :P But no problem... because here is the new version like I promised. Watch the video to see it first hand. Dive into the post to see the specific details on how to set everything up and exactly what has changed.

Download Aggro Prototype 08.02.2011

Active Playlist Fileset Project

2011-07-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there! Whether you, dear reader, be a regular subscriber or a first time visitor, allow me to assure you that this post is of utmost importance. Not only does it aid you in designing and testing your fabulous Forge creations but it also grants you a free bunny! (*Disclaimer: Bunnies not included) You may have heard of External Memory - AKA EXEM - who has been working hard on the Active Playlist Fileset Project, and he takes the helm today, talking about and explaining his work.

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Upcoming changes to Threatened

2011-07-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Hello RP readers, I'm back to give you guys an update on the status of Threatened. I'm hoping to have a new version ready hopefully by midweek, but there is no guarantee because we have house guests over. I wanted to cover some of the stuff going on in the Threatened forums in case you haven't been paying attention and covering some of the stuff I'm working on for the new version. Comments for this post will be disabled, post all feedback for Threatened in the forums. Follow any of the links in the article to go to that particular discussion thread.

Threatened Forum

Threatened Prototype: Now Available!

2011-07-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

It seems like only a couple weeks ago I talked to you guys about this card game that I was working on designing. Wait... that was a couple weeks ago. Well even with the birth of our newborn, Lucas, I found time to finish up a prototype for basic playtesting and to serve as groundwork. From here I will constantly be coding and re-coding to improve this prototype until I get to a stage where I feel comfortable calling it an alpha. What's this mean? It means that once a week or more I will be releasing a new version of Threatened with updated and added features like menus, animations, sound effects, new cards, party customization, etc. Interested in keeping up with it? Dive in and find out more by reading on as well as watching this video demonstration that I threw together:

Download Threatened Prototype

Disclaimer: I do not own ANY of the artwork in the prototype at all. This art is all temporary for now.

Zombies. I Like Them.

2011-07-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

'Sup? It's me, Dave, the tech admin for Reaching Perfection. You may have noticed my unceremonious, to-the-point, srs-bsns debut a few articles ago when I unveiled the new layout that's in the works. But I'm here to talk about something different now: Infection. I'm a huge Infection fan. I've spent a lot of time trying to learn as much as I can about how the gameplay works and I figured, why not share my thoughts on the gametype?