Free Radical: Halo 3 is child's play

Critically acclaimed developer Free Radical, creator of TimeSplitters and now the murky future-shooter Haze, believes that next-gen games should push us into new, mature territory, and that devs should be looking "beyond the technology" and instead focus on changing what it means and feels like to play videogames.

Using Bungie's blastacular Halo 3 as an example, Haze scriptwriter Rob Yescombe believes that "while Halo is brilliant, you're a teenager - the next-gen is about becoming more mature," explaining that "in Haze you become an adult".

Speaking to Edge magazine, Yescombe stresses that it should become the responsibility of developers to move towards more mature subject matter, using world events as inspiration. "It's about what's happening in the world today - it's ludicrous, and how can you make something that doesn't reflect that? Well, you could bury your head in the sand and make Halo 3, but the fact of the matter is there are more important things at stake."

[FordGTGuy]

Then your aloud to talk crap about them.

[bootsielon]

...Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Vivaldi, Chopin, and Händel's supporters shpuld shut up now that their discs are outsold every year by Eminem, Brittney Spears, Madonna, Avril Lavigne, and every single other angst filled pop star.

[WilliamRLBaker]

if beh, zart...ect were artist today they would sound just like Eminem...ect

you gotta remmber that beh, zart...ect all time have probly sold more discs then all the other guys combined. becuase they've been around forever, there music is used in every thing, movies, commercials...ect for years and years. they've made more money and sold more discs then eminem and the rest combined.

Free radical is a this century company and so is bungie, yet they are saying halo is childs play, when the time splitters series was rarely if ever serious it was all ways comical...ect and not only that the games we're just plan sucky.

I agree with the first commentor when free radical actually sells alot of games, and gets all the awards halo series has then they can talk, till then they are just a mediocre dev that releases mediocre games.

[PS3 Owns All]

It is kinda true, most of the people that play Halo are kids and teens. It is child's play.

[FirstknighT]

...that was one of the stupidest replies I read in a long time. Some of those composers didn't even have success when they were alive.

Considering Timesplitters did HORRIBLE in sales, I can see why they're stabbing at Halo 3. They're just trying to hype up their own game Haze by attacking the best FPS ever.

*EDIT* Tony...
Rainbow 6 is a great game and is very strategic. But Halo is one of the most strategic games around. There is a reason why MLG (one of the most popular gaming leagues around) hype up Halo in its tournaments because the strategic battles are intense.

The difference between arcade and strategic are simple. Arcade= Newbie/ Straegic= Pro. For example, Resistance is all arcade and zero strategy. The first few times I played Resistance online and I already was racking up the easy kills. Halo on the other hand and the newbie will always get pwned.

[tony]

I believe Halo is overrated. rainbow six is more about strategic gameplay. Halo is arcade. is fun but it gets old.

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

They beat Halo in ratings, did they not???

Hype doesn't make a game. Only a gamer would know that though...not you xbox "gamers" that just entered the market a couple of years ago. FirstKnight...I don't expect you to understand logic...you never have. Eminem is an ohkay rap artist, but just because he sells better than the rest doesn't make him the best. Look who's on the top of the charts RIGHT NOW! Maroon 5...yeah... <that say anything to ya?

What matters is how good a game is...and Timesplitters is obviously better than Halo. Go play TS and say Halo's still better...

Halo = best FPS ever??? You haven't PLAYED any other FPS's if you think this is true. Half-life DESTROYS Halo in every aspect...

I think Haze will be amazing because it's a step forward in the genre. Halo 3 promises gameplay...but I haven't seen it in Halo 1 or 2...so, i don't believe it.

[DixieNormS]

True to your words. I was talking about the first poster.

[DrWan]

Well, i think the videogame space has enough room for both more traiditional approach as well as innovative ideas. No need to bash each other's hard work..i thought developers would know that better.

[Boink]

Maybe this comment from blizzard/WoW devs would be more credible, but the timesplitters devs? LOL.

[techie]

timesplitters is gr8

[Close_Second]

If you were to combine the power of the 360 with the innovation of the Wii then I feel you would have a device capable of delivering a true next-gen experience. The 360 is just a higher spec version of its predecessor able to render and run games in HD. You could almost say the same of the PS3.

[sumfood4u]

That's all I'm saying!

[sajj316]

Take Spiderman 3 for example. Now I'm not saying that Halo, Halo 2, and potentially Halo 3 are great software titles ... but the argument of low sales (compared to Halo) is weak.

Anyway, I'm sure most of you haven't even played TimeSplitter titles because most have 'buried their heads' in Halo and Halo 2.

There are titles that you haven't even heard of that as earned the respect of the development community. Ragdoll Kungfu being one of them (most of you heard about this title through Little Big Planet). Free Radical or at least some of the devs of Free Radical have earned the respect of the dev community. They ARE NOT amateurs writing stupid BLOGS.

[Boink]

high software sales = games people obviously like to play.

insulting other devs=jealousy, pettines, envy.

They have both made great games. The public voiced their opinion on which is better by their purchases.

[sajj316]

"Maybe this comment from blizzard/WoW devs would be more credible, but the timesplitters devs? LOL."

So if the Blizzard guys said it ... it would be OK?

[Jay da 2KBalla]

I think what boink is trying to say is that devs that make games that sell like sh!t dont have any merit at all to talk down the best selling shooter of all time.

[Boink]

I used blizzard as an example due to the level of programming and difficulty that WoW requires as well as the success they have had in sales.

and I didn't say it would be OK, just more credible. Devs still should not be insulting each other, it's just classless.

[Saint Sony]

He should not care what others are doing, he should just shut it and do what he thinks the gamers will need. Obviously he's scared about being able to compete in the current market and with other devs.

[THC PRITCHARD]

Halo 3 is just a nice upgrade to halo 2 Should be called Halo 2.5

[sajj316]

he has a point. Look at what Lucas Arts is doing with Fracture. It'll be interesting to see what they do with Haze. We'll know more about Halo 3 once the beta is out but if it plays the same + new weapons + shiny graphics ... that is disappointing.

I actually think this is good for the industry. Competition between developers is only good for you and me.

[Honeal2g]

Wat ever you wanna call this game it will Sh1t on the any game this timesplitters developer brings to the table. not saying that game sucks(timesplitters) but when they sell 2.4 million games in one day and generate 125million dollars in 24 hours then i will listen to wat they have to say all u haters sayin this is halo2 all over again will see what it really is after it sets a new record and ships like 8 million the the first month

[THC PRITCHARD]

Ur mad man
What looks better Graphics,Nice
Same weapons. wow some new crap weapon many people has dissed

I hope for anything they have better servers and No american advantage
Or host.

[fenderputty]

to me at least, if the gameplay is the same, it has the same weapons and shiny graphics, I'll be happy. I want and expect Halo. It's a game that I and many have come to love.

I understand games like fracture are groudbreaking and new in concept but, Halo is Halo. Leave it at that. It's going to rock and sell extreamly well.

Timesplitters was Meh ...

[PhinneousD]

this statements is idiotic imo. you don't have to produce games like manhunt to be next-gen. i honestly think some 'mature' content games are just mature just for shock value, and that isn't innovation... it's just a schtick. mature content in storyline does have it's place, but stating that it's the only way to achieve next-gen is just dumb.

edit: i agree about a mature storyline, but don't bring bungie into this conversation just to ride off of it's wave. that's what irritates me. a good story is a good story, it doesn't have to be mature in content to be next-gen.

[Cyrus365]

He's not talking about being more "mature" as in more gore, like manahunt. He means more mature as in the story line. It's just a a more mature story that is more attached to the real world, that richer than the kid/teen novels we've been playing not that there is anything wrong with it. But in the sense the real world has alot more grey, than black (bad guys) and white (good guys).

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Fear...fear of an amazing game that is about to dominate the gaming world. All the developers that won`t even have a game as comparable to the beast that is halo series...except wolfenstein that game will always be a good fps.

[THC PRITCHARD]

They have done things in Halo 3 that they Should of done in halo 2.

Tbh Gears will still have a upper hand cause that is new
and a real Real next gen Game

Halo 3 is just a name to me like Sony a Great name

The dev is right It dose sound a bit power rangers ( kiddie )

[The BS Police]

Thats funny becuase as good of a game Gears is, it lacks so much comapred to Halo 1, gametype variety, weapon variety, map variety, a complex storyline, etc.

[MoonDust]

GOW will never reach a Halo status.

[FordGTGuy]

The actual Halo Storyline involves 12 yo Spartans that are sent on suicide missions. Not including snapping necks, shooting heads off, and gigantic explosions. How is that not mature?!

[sandip787]

but i never thought it would get approved lol

[Killer B]

I'd prefer to have the last installment of Halo more of the tried & true than of some new, "mature" game or style. I think that Bungie did the right thing staying close to the environments and gameplay that made Halo so popular since 2001. I don't want to see and play a "Gears of Halo"...I want to see Halo.
Upgraded and refined - Sure, but Halo the way it's meant to be. Save the "mature" frontier for the next IP. Or, don't mess up a good thing... I played, and did not care for Timesplitters, by the way.

[kewlkat007]

after all I Luv COMPETITION. As long as they make a Killer game that can compete, I'm down. criticism can breeds innovation by the one being criticized. That will help BUNGIE on the their NEXT Project..

Now I've never heard of this publisher, and the first thing I hear is this news about HALO suckin.

"Yescombe stresses that it should become the responsibility of developers to move towards more mature subject matter, using world events as inspiration. "It's about what's happening in the world today -"

Then again isn't HALO a SCI-FI franchise? Where are they going with this real-world stuff? Is he talking about HALO should have an "IRAQY WAR" version maybe...

What about that game HAZE". It better be killa.

[iceice123]

Bungie isn't going to milk Halo. However they are going to let other companies milk it for them, halo wars, peter Jackson, Halo toys etc...

[Odion]

1. Haze is going to end up an ok shooter i promise you that, timeshift is something that will be forgotten.

2. lol i love how you base your opinion of Halo 3 on 3 unfished multiplayer maps with features missing.

3. Its not a small upgrade, the grpahics looks so nice IN GAME, don't go by those poor pics, the game has change, it has interactive enviroments now, gadgets that can tip the scale either way, bigger maps, and more of everything that made halo 2 kick ass.

4. Let me ask you this WTF really changed between FF 1-10 or any of the MGS? Hrmmm note I've played most of them, in MGS the controls got better in the second, the game got longer, nicer looking and had some new items. FF almost never changes, the story changes and your special move system changes but thats it. Up until 11 which went MMO and then 12 which actually changed all those games were the same.

What changed between God of War 1 and 2? Oh ya nothing.

Thanks for coming go away now there is a reason Halo is kind and most are saying WTF is Haze.

[sajj316]

I'm not going away. Whatever the game is ... Halo, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy .... I WILL NEVER SAY that its going to be amazing until I get my hands on it. Are there developers I trust? Sure ... as Insomniac is one of them but Rachet will be ok until proven great!

Anyway read what I said before you tell me to 'go away'. What did I say to bash Halo 3? Stating the obvious.

'We'll know more about Halo 3 once the beta is out but if it plays the same + new weapons + shiny graphics ... that is disappointing."

"Now I'm not saying that Halo, Halo 2, and potentially Halo 3 are great software titles ... but the argument of low sales (compared to Halo) is weak."

I'm as 'neutral' as 'NeutralGamer' ... so please shut up before making stupid remarks like that (I'm saying that nicely).

[WilliamRLBaker]

Free radical is the stupid company made up by rare refugee's that created golden eye that stupidly left rare and haven't made a good game since.

Time splitters one and 2 sucked, Future perfect was just retarded, it was filled with stupid mini games, the story was idiotic and it used more auto aim then even halo 2, I've played it on live, and its really amazing that shooting someone in the foot with a sniper rifle gives you a head shot 50% of the time.

P.S:when did free radical become critically acclaimed?

[THAMMER1]

U R 1 of my favorite N4G members but your comment here is just as crazy as the DEV. in this aricle. But I will still give you positive feed back BRO.

[WilliamRLBaker]

So many users either have too many bubbles or too lil, and hardly any posts have teh agree or disagree thing votes...
and if im really ur fav n3g.com poster then track me damit! my profile is all lonely with 0 ignores, and 0 tracks!

[Hydrolex]

Ahahahaha

[MoonDust]

GayStation
GayZone
OMG! Sooooo funny! not.

[power of Green]

People just itching to post some revenge fud.

[grunt360]

Whats this dev on about? Halo has one of the most complex game storylines yet, but I doubt these guys have even read any of the Halo novels. And anyway-isn't games all about having fun? And fun isn't about having serious storylines.

And for like the 100th time-Halo is a game in it's own genre, and not all things need substantional changes just to qualify for an excellent experience and game.

[BenzMoney]

Halo 3 is a behemoth - it's huge. Just look at how much press it has received over the last few weeks alone - look at it sitting at 18000 degrees on the right hand side of N4G's homepage.

Free Radical, and any other developer, that starts talking about Halo 3 (particularly comparing it to their title, or bashing it in any way) is doing it for one reason: publicity. They know that if they can create controversy around their game, and have their name their titles thrown into news articles along with the words "Halo 3" that they are going to get massive exposure. Good or bad, they don't care. "Any press is good press." So why not rag on Halo 3? You're going to get noticed for doing so.

This is a pathetic attempt (and a blatant one at that) to get more exposure for their games. They are desperatly trying to latch onto the "Halo 3 train" to get any exposure that they can. This is nothing more than that and should be treated as such.

[Marriot VP]

it's so nice when somebody else explains it, so I don't have to

[icdedppl]

i think what the dev is saying is that *their* games are maturing. that is through the natural progression of the consoles, they are trying to push the envelope from one generation to the next. they are allowed to have an opinion as well and they believe that halo3 (halo2.5?) is not progressing the game genre as they believe they are with whatever they have up their sleeves.

and sigh, i will be like all the other sheep and buy and enjoy halo3 too, but i don't feel like they are really pushing the genre for fps anymore. not much creativity and cutting edge going on in halo3 imo. not sure why, but halo is starting to seem old and rehashed. i'm craving some new IPs!

[Odion]

World of Warcraft is not priased because its the most deep and complex MMO ever made, its praised because its retardedly fun, and is easy to pic but there is still a ton a depth there for hardcore players to enjoy.

[Lacarious]

someone should inform this dev scrub that the 360 is a gaming system.... NOT a political system. dufus!

[Bill Gates]

Oh God forbid anyone says anything about Halo contrary to what the Toilet360 fanboys think.

Halo Sucks!!!....Get over it.

Towels anyone..hahahhaa

I just can't get enough of that sh!t.

EDIT: @ Boink,
There is, stupid. It's right under my avatar, click it, and while you're down there, eat my sh!t.

[Boink]

there was an option to ignore eveyone with one bubble...

[Odion]

So does your mom Gates, and like most of your trolls she does it rather poorly.

Also Frature is not going to be that great, that vid wasn't mindblowing, he threw a grenade and the ground turned into a mountian, ooo its going to end up a gimick in the game and be used rarely in MP.

[Maldread]

Who has made the very mature TimeSplitters-series ? For me it would be nice if they could actually provide a more serious storyline than in Time Splitters, because even though the games are fun, i always wanted them to go the serious route.

It will be interesting to see how mature Haze will turn out then. Personally i just hope the concentrate on what matters. Making a game fun to play. A better multiplayer would also be cool, although many will probably say i`m not serious for criticizing the multiplayer.

[XerockX]

yeah halo sucks...it was cool...about 5 years ago...gimmie gears 2!!!

[kewlkat007]

the same Comment from you, when GEARS 3 is about to hit..eh

[darx]

How much you want to bet that this guy, Rob Yescombe, has HALO 3 on reserve as we speak? You know he is one of the 4 million who reserved their copy.

[Ps3ShellShock]

i agree that dev should push for new ways to play games. this is NEXT-GEN. call of duty 4 modern warfare - seems to be doing it rite from the trailer they showed with the crazy camera angle etc etc..gears of war has also created some amazing gameplay. and of course killzone2 trailer (if players interact like the trailer models) then that is pushing innovation and draws u into the game even more.

i agree with the devs about halo3 - halo3 is pretty much referred to this saying " if it aint broken then dont fix it" halo3 is playing it save. they are keeping the game 90% the same because they know its worked in the past and adding in some new weapons to spice it up abit - but every1 will agree there is really no huge jump 4ward in terms of gameplay.

[id dot entity]

I want to see before I believe what Free Radical is saying.

[Kuest]

Thank you...

[Shadow Flare]

kinda shouldn't have said anything. A more adult game doesn't make a better game. If anything history proves that games aimed at teenagers sell best: Halo, GTA and the likes

[ITR]

No they target the 18 and above crowd.

[Foxx77]

Amazing a stuido that doesn't sit on Bungie's behind ... Halo is not the single handed best shooter of all time and Halo 3 is far behind anything we consider next gen. No gameplay changes and it looks like a prettier version of Halo 2. What about a brilliant idea where when you see the sniper that's been killing you, take out a rocket launcher and take out that ledge. Amazing.

[Bonsai1214]

unfortunately many people won't see it like that.. they're perfectly content with their rehashed content and prettier graphics

[darx]

Right on bro! Just like the FF's, Metal Gears, Gran Turismos, etc... Same rehshed stuff.

[StateofMind]

Yes, because world events should be portrayed by game developers.

I hate every entertainer who tries to push their agenda while they assume that by doing so they're enlightening the "ignorant masses." Just make a fun game. I'm paying to play a video game not learn your opinion on world events.

I've been looking forward to Haze too, that's disappointing.

[BrainDead]

one word to describe you people defending a piece of software. Sad.

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

no ? Halo 3's gonna sell an infinite amount resulting in massive moneys for Micro$oft. Free Radical, put-up or shut-up!

[Ps3ShellShock]

halo3 will sell but i dont think it will attract people to go rush out and by the system

just like any big titles - they could make a rock and put halo3.5 rock set and im pretty sure people would go crazy for it and buy it.

[HaKeRsCanRotINHEL]

Never underestimate the selling power of the Halo franchise, I'll let you figure out the rest. +_-

[socalr6]

Stop trying to change the world thru gaming. Just give me my FPS's and racing games, thank you!

HALO 3 will be the end all be all of FPS.

P.S. that's me in my avatar. Willow Springs raceway, Rosamond CA

[SDS Overfiend]

True indeed no matter how you cut it. If Halo is a Kiddie/teen game Then i don't wanna grow up. I guess i'll keep reliving my youth. Like somebody want to play a game that makes you feel old. OH PLEASE!!!

Doomsday is Nigh and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

True is Halo 2 could have receive the weapons and tweaks 3 got and people still would scoop this sh1t up. Gears is good but it has no matchmaking and the online coding sucks. Bullet lag,sticking to walls for no reason,gettin stuck to platforms trying to jump off,active reload whores,100 of glitches and did i mention no matchmaking?

Listen fanboys you can Hate on Halo if you want but its tried and true and if Timesplitters was that good it would be in the same breath as Halo but it ain't So fanboys stop crying and jump in. Did i Mention that Forza Motorspoprt is coming out in a few weeks to hold you over for Halo 3? Damn its a great time to own a 360.

Either Get Down or Lay Down!

[Bathyj]

No one was knocking Halo in the article, nor did they even say it was child play.

Total flamebait, thats the last I come to this thread.