Has Halo 3's Forge mode stolen Sony's user-generated content thunder?

Sony's been promoting User-Generated Content with upcoming releases such as LittleBigPlanet, as well as the much hyped Home – Game 3.0, as Sony's Phil Harrison puts it – a social space where gamers can discuss games, share content and more. It's a canny move for Sony and could be one of the big trump cards that the PSN has over Xbox Live. But despite all this, it looks like Microsoft and Bungie might be the first to really push the concept of UGC with the release of Halo 3.

Making Home work and marketing it for gamers will be difficult for Sony. Will lots of gamers really want the features that Home offers? Likewise, new IP LittleBigPlanet looks promising, but could prove to be a tough sell. Given the undeniable popularity of Halo, have Microsoft and Bungie just stolen Sony's UGC thunder with the integration of editing tool Forge?

[360RULEZ]

HALO 3 WILL DESTROY sony and sony bots

[nasim]

they should rename as HOLY FLOP

http://www.play.com/Games/G...

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb...

www.game.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/...

ALTHOUGH halo 3 has moved to the top spots of these charts the console x360 as you can see is non existent.

FIFA 08(ps3) is right behind HALO 3. That game would move a lot of ps3s next week.

for MS ...nothing remains after HALO 3.
Bioshock (also on PC) moved 0 x360s. mass effect and fable 2 would also sell among the only existing x360 owners.

However FF13 will sell atleast 4--5 m consoles in JAPAN .
same goes to GT5 and MGS 4...those are console sellers.

Ofcourse KZ2 would be coming out next year

:)

x360 is officially finished in both EU and JAPAN. In NA too it is just a matter of time before being completely killed by ps3

:)

[Chris_GTR1]

seriously... comparing fifa 08 to halo 3?? fifa a system seller?? wtf?!

most people dont buy a console to get halo 3 when it comes out. people that were specifically waiting for halo 3 to come out wait till holiday season to buy a 360, not on launch date.
just watch. come this holiday season 360 will sell more than it has ever before.

[Mr PS3]

Another name for a level editor Wow people did'nt go nuts when it came out on tony hawks years ago (mind you thats because they could'nt put big bright Oh so colourful gay items round a big bright fair ground)C'mon xbums how many of you are gonna create a Blue oyster level for you and your gay chums anyway to be honest the forge mode and the replay mode sounds like they are the saviours of halo 3's lasting longevity while nothing new in this game at all it's these two modes that have bumped up the score of the game without them it would have averaged 8 to 8.5 But sorry you xbums but blow smoke up Halo's ass all you want but thats an average game right there not the AAA title you go on about and its damm sure not a nail in the PS3's coffin you dummy's think!!! Thats it now xbums its over Halo's out, its crap and what you got next !! nothin, and with the AAA titles that are due for the PS3 the future is bright(not as bright as that oh so colourful game Teletubbie's on steriods Halo 2.5 in HD)
AGREED

[Real Gambler]

Home is not a game. Sure, you can create your very own furniture using great tools like 3DSMax, but still, it's not a game.

And as far as I know, forge doesn't let you use any other software to create stuff around you. You pretty much use what's given to you.

Last thing, Sony didn't invent user generated content, so Microsoft cannot steal anything from them. Sony simply made it easy to be implemented. That's what Microsoft should try to steal.

[ben hates you]

Nasim said halo hasn't moved any units in uk or Eu, well that would make sense because it doesn't come out until tommorow for them

[QuackPot]

Then that's it.

Don't forget, most Halo 3 buyers will already own an xbox 360.

Don't fool yourself that there are millions who have been waiting nearly two years before buyer an xbox 360 - not with all the good games out already.

Once the hype dies down there's nothing else which will have the same impact as Halo. Bioshock didn't and unlikely Mass Effect or even GeoW2. Again, you would already have you xbox 360 already.

The Ps3 however has LBP....MGS....then....GT.....t hen.....FF....then....Killzone. ...then...etc

PLUS
millions of Ps2 owners waiting for the ps3 to be cheap and games.

[Spaceman Spiff]

As soon as killzone comes out, the exact crap is going to be pulled on it as was with halo 3. The ps3 lovers will say that it's the best game ever and the 360 fans will say that it looks worse than halo 3 (it doesn't matter what it looks like, people are going to say this).
PS3 is going to crash and burn this holiday season just like last year (unless people really really really want R&C... and who wants to drop $500-$600 on R&C...). Halo 3 won't be on store shelves during the holiday season. The PS3 will never be cheaper than the 360.... Sony had the ball, all they had to do was run with it and they choked.

[Kokoro]

can enjoy user content. it all depends how easy you make it for the user. I expect them to do well on both of their fields. With Singstar here in Europe, it's going to have a major push for the ps3. As for Microsoft, they already have the cam, but need more game that allow to use it, and actually put it on the web.

[HeartlesskizZ]

Just like Gamepro said it------LittleBigHalo and no I dont think anybody stole anything

[QuackPot]

Did everyone forget about User created Content for UT3? It's far more UCC than Halo 3(it doesn't allow terrain or building changes).

What a joke it is to compare UCC to LBP. LBP is at the moment the King of UCC. It's going to set the new bench mark.

[Arkham]

Timesplitters level-editor says "HAI!".

[RevN8r]

And what about Far Cry's map creator? Or Gary's Mod? UGC is nothing new.

[popup]

^^Can you co-op design levels with multiple people at the same time with the titles you mention.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

That is a great online games as well as single player... level editor was fun as hell... too bad not many people realized how awesome it was....

[hongthay]

Forge is a welcome addition to Halo, but in my opinion it is not true UGC. You are given funds to purchase things to place on the map. You choose from a specific list of items.

Little Big Planet offers true UGC. You have total control over everything and unlimited creativity. And changes can be permanent and can be shared with friends. That is UGC.

[hazeblaze]

Exactly. Forge is a cool feature. But it's no where near the scale of creativity allowed by actually creating your own level or mod. Still it does add to the replayability of the game.

[no_more_heroes]

does LBP have a story, or is it just something you run around in and create stuff and do whatever pops up in your head? Serious question.

[HowarthsNJ]

Quote from the article:

"For starters, Forge won't let you change the level geometry. This is a good thing. If you're the type of person who enjoys being able to edit their own maps, put in custom textures and whatnot, then chances are, you've already got a PC."

Are they trying to excuse the fact that it's not true UGC?

[Kleptic]

if anything Halo 3 just stole some of Sony's thunder in general...but I agree with you guys, not any of the UGC stuff...

the first game to show off a console with UGC is UT3, which should be out in November...while there is no "tool" to create your own content on the PS3...the PS3 is capable of playing anything made using the PC editor (except for 64 player maps...I think the PS3 is capped at 24 or 32 players because of resource limits)...

it would be nice if UT3 had a tool like the forge to play around with on the PS3...but the real editor allows you to create all the maps and goofy stuff that made past UT and Quake games so much fun...can't wait for another "My girlfriend's bathroom" again...

then again what also would be nice would be UT3 having a video capture feature like Halo 3...playing around with that last night ended up being the highlight in the game imo...

[Meus Renaissance]

Although the Forge sounds like a great tool, Halo 3 won't be played nor hyped because of this feature which is touted more as an "additional feature". LittleBigPlanet will be about creating your own world and interactive features and competing against others based on the level of your creativity.

To my knowledge, the Forge tool doesn't give the user complete control over a map. He still has a template in where he can place objects like a Banshee and a weapon in certain areas and tweaking the game mode settings for more customisation. That's a description I'd use; customisation, instead of "user generated content".

I feel that when LittleBigPlanet is released, it will be touted as a "user content" game because thats what it is. Halo 3 is an FPS. Two entirely different games and different emphasises placed on both.

[HeartlesskizZ]

true, people just want to whack each other with that new Hammer that in fact is very fun and affective

[Moac]

Halo 3 gives so much value, i cant think off any other game that gives as much.

[mighty_douche]

half-life 2
episode 1
episode 2
TF 2
portal.....

nuff said really...

[BloodySinner]

Me either.

[Ashta]

I'm fairly certain that there are plenty of games out there that offer more than Halo 3. In fact, one of the biggest complaints about Halo 2 (and Surprise!) Halo 3 is that it is basically the same game as 6 years ago, and it has done nothing to innovate itself or the genre. Aside from the shiny facelifts it has received its still basically Marathon.

Forge is cool and all but its basically a level editor with share options.

[Violater]

The depth of your thoughts.

[darkequitus]

then so is MGS4, UT3, Halflife, COD4, GT5, PGR4 - the list goes on. Yet they are all games I will be buying

PC/PSWii60 Gamer

Steam/xfire/gamespy/PSN/XBL : darkequitus

Currently playing:

360 - COD 4 Beta
PC - Crysis MP beta
PS3 - HS (slowly to make it last) +Warhawk (when server works)
Wii - Gathering dust + waiting to be sold (theses are not games by the way LOL)

[PStriple703]

all this damn halo hype will be over

[fjtorres]

Next year you'll deal with Halo Wars hype and in 09 Peter Jackson's Halo Chronicles Hype and in 2010... ;-)
Halo is not going away this decade. Get used to it. :-)

[mighty_douche]

lol comparing a 'map editor' to little big planet.... hahaha this is a joke.

[Lord Anubis]

User Generated Content is more than simply adding items.

It's all about User CREATED content. Editing is good but creating is infinitely better.

[PimpHandHappy]

silly post! For one thing LBP is not a shooter and you dont die! You dont compete in a war you compete with your mind...

LBP will blow away Halo Forge in things you can do but then again u wont be able to kill ppl and that alone will push away most Halo fans and fans with closed minds.

Halo did not steal anything from LBP just because the user created content on LBP is aimed at a different goal....

[smeg0rz]

No. And this article is pointless, forge is something new, but its nothing like LittleBigPlanet, Forge seems tacked on and rushed to me, also why does halo3 look like halo2? I was playing it on DM last night and was bored by its slow pace? Has no halo fan ever played UT? lol comedy how much this game is hyped, also im waiting till friday to play campain as my brother gets it then, (Coop) i better be impressed.

[DethWish]

After playing PC shooters like Half Life, UT99, UT2004, and the Quake series, I can't see why everyone thinks Halo is so good.
Sure it's good, but it's got nothing on those games I just mentioned.

Oh and these games offer far better opportunities for user generated content than either Halo or LBP, just that you need more knowledge to use them

[eagle21]

Hell no. I don't want to play "forge". I saw it last night, it is nothing like creating your own levels. You can't change the geometry of the level. If Halo 3 now gets compared to LittleBigPlanet, then Microsoft is officially a joke!

[Meus Renaissance]

Look at the disagrees people are getting for distinguishing LBP from Halo 3. Let me make this clear; Halo 3 is a great game but it is not the Second Coming for Gods sake.

The Forge is a Map Editor, it doesn't allow you to create maps/worlds from scratch like LBP so pardon me, or anyone else, who isn't drugged with Halo in their veins, to recognise fact from stupidity. No doubt the kid who is doing that will disagree with this comment.

It's people like them which give Halo fans a bad name.

[Siesser]

Have to agree; Halo 3 is an awesome game, or so I hear. It was all I heard last night wherever I went (including my IM getting flooded with "OMG"s -_-).

But customization is different than creation. There's a big difference between "what can I put there" and "what do I want to put there".

Anyone remember Timesplitter's level editor?

[mccomber]

but the level of creativity offered by LBP blows away anything we've seen from Halo3. The forge mode may be a big deal for console FPS titles, but when LBP arrives we'll see what user created content on a console is all about.
Halo's Forge is an editor; LBP is a creator.

[THE_JUDGE]

hell no. Thats like trying to compare Sunny D to an orchard of oranges. Its so small that people can't all get the experience that its hardly worth braging about.

[HeartlesskizZ]

Why are people getting offended or mad that It was compare to LBP?

Is not the same, but similar do to the fact that both have great fun huge creativity so stop the flaming and dont take this article as if you were Sony or Microsoft

[Expy]

I wouldn't classify it with the likes of LittleBigPlanet and such, that game is based on user generated content, and that will drive the gameply experience. Forge is more of an addition that provides limited customization to maps and limited editing capabilities. The limitations on the "ugc" in Halo puts it apart from LBP.

[DJ]

Forge lets players move vehicles, weapons, and crates around the pre-built multiplayer maps. LittleBigPlanet on the other hand allows players to create their own levels and physics-based puzzles from scratch. I was actually hoping that Forge would allow for full-on level creation, not just the placement of guns and warthogs. We'll see some cool things from Forge, but nothing on the level of LBP.

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

Like flying huge dildos in Second Life?

While I do not what exactly you can create with forge but if you create weapons.

Imagine a dildo weapon that shoots white bullets LOLOLOL

[rbanke]

hasn't their been level/map editors for years? And if this is different, explain how.

[DeZimatoR]

So basically they are puting Halo 3's Forge mode against LittleBigPlanet...LMFAO!

Sorry, but this is the biggest joke I've read recently...

So a mode where you can move some stuff around but where you are limited by a budget is better then a game where you can create whole levels and you are only limited by your imagination?

Man hype can only go so far before becoming utterly ridiculous...

[zonetrooper5]

Yes PC games have had it for many years now, Doom had it.

[Counter_ACT]

uhm this is nothing new. Tony Hawk for PS1 had a level editor.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

welcome to the player haters ball.

[mithril]

i don't remember where i see that, but i see Unreal3 come with editor on blue-Ray disk on PS3 edition. This editor is a windows editor and you can make map on your PC et copy to PS3 for sharing.

[SL1M DADDY]

Will be included with the PC version only. The PS3 version will not have it but the PS3 version will be able to play UGC created using the PC editor.

[Kleptic]

and its a full editor...not a "customizer" or w/e you want to call it...you can create entire maps with it, with your own textures, your own backgrounds, your own geometry, etc...

plus it has stuff to make all that easier...it has a texture bank, so you don't have to go through the tedious process of custom textures...and "pullers" for taking flat geometry and making mountains, valleys, etc...it will be cool...

but like mentioned, the PS3 doesn't ship with the editor...Rein commented on possibly a watered down linux version for the PS3 if there was demand, but the PS3 doesn't have the resources to run the entire editor with all its features...which means a fair amount of older pcs won't either...kind of sucks...my business laptop won't run UT3 obviously, but am still hoping that it would run the editor...we will see...

[Nth RooCH]

Forge is essentially a decoration tool, where little big planet is a creation tool. At least that's how I see it.

[SL1M DADDY]

That is exactly what it is about. With LBP you can actually create whereas with Forge you can simply place items here and there.

[SL1M DADDY]

That editors these days have no clue as to what UGC actually is. Putting a gun some place to gain an advantage or placing a Warthog on a map in a new location is not UGC. Come on, did any of these people play UT, DOD, or Counter Strike?

[nekon]

It isn't HOME. It's just Halo. XBL isn't free. Plus M$ won't let games play nice with PC (which is ironic).

So nope, not even a question IMO.

[Mr_Kuwabara]

Big deal the Sims games have done this since the beginning of man.

[spammy_nooo]

The Forge, how I understand it, is just basically a drag n' drop item placer. While this is neat, and should allow for some very neat ideas, it is nothing compared to UT3 where a user can create an entire level from scratch.

The thunder coming from my ps3 right now is so loud my ears are about to explode.

[Snukadaman]

with bungie not even hyping it as something innovative...frankly i was more impressed with the game film saving option but after playing forge i like it alot.

[DarkArcani]

It's because it isn't really innovative. You get a selection of items, vehicles, and weapons and you place them in a default map. I have seen videos where people have made a domino effect with explosions and thats cool and all but you can do that in warhawk with some of your buddies if you wanted to.
I'm not trying to knock it. It's a nice bonus to give the game some longevity and variety, but to say it's innovative, like its never been done before, to place items on a map, is a bit bold. Other people have given examples of other games which have done it way before halo.

Now the film save feature, that is sweet. When you add that, forge, and the rest of the things together it is a pretty sweet package.

[Nth RooCH]

@Dark Arcani - The item placement isn't all. There is also an in game, real time edit feature where someone can pick stuff up and move it around. So someone could pick up a tank and drop it on the enemy, or pick up a crate and move it into a position of cover for the ally. And more on top of that. Forge isn't as simple as you think. Watch this video for a bit more info, it shows you a bit more.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[DarkArcani]

Yeah I know I saw the videos before I posted my comment, I research before I post, that's why I said the longevity and variety thing. But you can't upload that cool stuff in level form. You can only upload the level that you created. That's what I am getting at. You can upload the video of your buddy and you playing in that level. That's why I said as a whole (forge and game clips) it's a nice feature.

As I said before, I wasn't trying to knock it, just Forge as user generated content isn't really stealing Sony's "thunder" by comparing it to LBP.
SL1M DADDY & and you said it nicely when comparing the UGC aspect of Forge. I'm not doubting you can do fun thing with it when playing with freinds. But to upload that level to someone else to play is useless because they can do the same thing you did w/out uploading it. As far as creation of 'new levels' it doesn't succeed in doing that.
That's all I was trying to say.

[gEnKiE]

Ummm....inst Forge just a Object Placement Editor? You can only do so much with something like that. Another thing is that I find it funny how M$ wanted nothing to do with user created content and was against it and now all of a sudden their all for it.......

[osirisomeomi]

Comparing LBP's level creation system to Halo 3's object editor is insane. the two are completely different in terms of scope.

Forge allows you to edit the details of a map, like where vehicles will be placed and how many rocket launchers there are in the level.

LittleBigPlanet allows you to make a complete level from scratch using a very complex but intuitive interface.

It's like comparing a toothpick to a tree. Forge 'stealing LBP's thunder' is a stupid thing to say.

[DarkArcani]

Very nicely put.

[slimace]

halo wtf.junk yeah a piece of s**t

[DarkArcani]

Try to be constructive. There is no need for that.

[AcidRhain]

whoops, MS did it first. :-/

[Kuest]

Well, this will probably lessen the "wow- something TOTALLY different" factor that LBP had... BUT, its still important to remember that LBP's level editing options are way, way more extensive than the FORGE. So, LBP might be looked upon as expanding upon the forge options designed in H3. In the end, however, the level of stuff you can do in LBP elevates the game into a customization league of its own. No worries

[jackdoe]

So you can post forge made levels on the internet that allows people to download em? If not, then it doesn't really fit Sony's definition of user based content.

[demolitionX]

that's what MS is all about, STEALING...

[IRONMAN_X57]

dont care timesplitters still pwnz it so whats the problem, itll probaly be PS3 exclusive, ooooowwwwwwwwwwwww timesplitters 4 (no story, word)

[ProjectX]

Retouch a painting is not the same as painting. That comparicion is for kids.

[Jones Miller]

To put it simple: YES

[DarkArcani]

Can you explain how please.

You can read my previous posts to see my opinion on why it hasn't.

[BigPenguin]

Am I just inventing memorys??

Although forge is a cool additon, isent it exactly the same as it was in tribes?

Why is it being touted as something completely new? User added content in FPS's is not new at all, in fact, it is about 5 years old.

[aceitman]

its not a big thing it sold 4 million more than 2 did in the first day o my gosh the nail pop of when they tried to put it in the ps3 s coffin .. its a joke i have it cause my son likes the game and i compared it to 2 its a slight diferrence like they where able to smooth the textures out and shadows but its about a 7.5 out of ten the ones who gave it a 10 or 9 where halo fans themselves and i love to say this it has nothing on killzone 2 ps3 still at its first level of games watch out cause next years (level 2 games) starting november on out is going to start putting the 360 in its name ( circles ) and like someone said its mostly the halo fans that are buying it .ffx111 killzone drakes unfortune little big planet metalgear haze gt prolouge and jake daxter home and all the catching up sony is doing in so little time on updates just remember microsofts pockets are deep and im sure theres been a lot of hand outs to the developers but it wont last long cause everyone will know that in order to stay in bussiness they have to go with the one whos in it for the long run ps 2 for example long run ps3 made for the long run .... i own all systems but sonys is the best y look what it has inside potential to do a hell of alot more the the king ring of death 360 ..... ps3 will rule 2008 .

[Timesplitter14]

No. Just no. Forge is a half-assed map maker. It's not even a map maker, it's a map MODIFIER. Even Farcry beats that, and Little Big Planet destroys it

[riqued]

I don't like commenting on 360 articles, but this one is good...

This sh*t is not even close to what Home, LBP and UT can offer.

How can someone compare Forge to UT's mods?!

[RussianSniper]

So, a map editor, where you can't edit the actual map, is better than a game where you can create, upload, and play with up to 4 friends, and unlimited possibilities as long as you have the imagination to make whatever you want?

[Aramis001]

Forge is not a simple map editor where you can only move turrets and vehicles around, it is far deeper and more complex than that. You can create your own gametypes, objectives, and overall layout of the game in real time while you play with other people. For example (and I have done this myself) you can create a simple game of slayer...but with an added twist that I personally find awesome. It's a type of flying carpet match, where you have 4 teams of 2 people each. One person becomes a monitor (editor) and lifts up a crate/block of some sort, hovering and flying it around. At the same time, the other player on each team grabs a weapon and hops on said crate/block. The results are a 3-D game of cat and mouse, where the object is to knock each player off their respective crates while the monitors (editors) attempt to maneuver their partners around.

Another such match you can create is a sort of home run derby involving the man cannon, the gravity hammer, and a simple frag grenade. If you have halo 3, you'll most likely know what I'm talking about.

To say that the Forge is merely a map editor is a horribly biased statement. While Halo 3 does not rely on UGC like LBP will, and as such will not have the same complexity or amount of options, it does far more than simply moving vehicle spawn points or changing the number of guns on a map. It's far more intuitive and complex than that. It opens up a whole new realm of replayability to the multiplayer experience, and can do it in real time while you frag your friends and drop fusion coils on their heads. LBP complex? Probably not. A simple map editor? Also no. A new and welcome addition to Halo and its multiplayer experience? F*ck yea!

P.S. To whoever asked if you can upload your designed maps online, the answer is yes. Also, you can show videos of games on your map using the saved videos function. Thats f*cking cool, admit it.

[ALMIGHTYPS3]

Sorry!,just get used to the fact the PS3 is here to stay and will be around a LONG time!

Steal sony's thunder??>lmao

[Fux4Bux]

I dunno Forge and the replay system are so extremely limited. I had high hopes but was pretty shocked at how limited it was... there was more advanced level editing in Timeplitters for christs sake. Fun to screw around with for awhile but there's just nothing you could do with it past that. Definitely many hours of entertainment but not to the point where you're really creating anything significant.

Interesting bonus to screw around with but the next big thing? I seriously doubt it.

[The Dark Knight]

hahahahahahahahahahahhahaahhah ahahhahahhahahahhahahahahahahah ahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahah ahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahha hahahahahahhahahahhahahahahahah ha

[BLACKJACK VII]

Just completed first 8 hours of LEGENDARY co-op .... friggin' sweet.

LOVE THIS GAME !!!

[SDS Overfiend]

Timesplitters ain't half the game Halo was and is.

Get the Fuk outta here, Now you just talking to hear yourself. Fuk timesplitters it a mediocre game at best that need a extra boost.

[Bolts]

Forge is not a real map editor. Changing spawns and spawn points is freaking pointless because you're stuck in the same map layout. What Halo 3 need is a map editor that not only let the user change the layout but the lighting, the textures, and objects, in other words a map editor that isn't a halfassed POS.

Hell I've seen better user created content in games like Tony Hawk and that game is a B grade tittle and doesn't compared to the AAA game that Halo 3. The fans deserved better than this.

[IRONMAN_X57]

dont try timesplitters pwns halo. Its multiplayer is actually good and super addictive, halo 3's is mad boring and the same BS i played 3 years ago. dont ever try to rash on timesplitters, you will get owned. And dude the timesplitters map maker is way better, the forge sucks, only moving items is stupid