[eighteesix / Killya]

I wasn't very impressed with the Halo 3 beta, especially if you compare it to my reaction to Call of Duty 4.

Overall, I'd say the only way to compare the BF series and CoD series is that they're both first person shooters and they have their standard similarities, but the comparison ends there. CoD4 is a much more advanced game in terms of potential for long term playability and value, not to mention the competitive nature of the game and it's support for clans, etc. I'd also have to disagree with you and say that the rookies who start months down the road will be at a severe disadvantage and may not always feel useful in the beginning. The progression of a person's account allows them to use many advanced equipment in the game on top of their increased skills, so I think it's not necessarily one of those games that just anyone will be able to pick up and play. Although the singleplayer will obviously be neutral in that sense.

Also, I know a lot of people who have been planning on signing up for this beta well before the beta registration began. Gamestop has been advertising CoD4 for months--the game was announced some time ago, and many people were hoping for this, similar to Halo. But Halo is... Halo--it was the first hit on the xbox. If Halo 3 is someone's first halo game, I think that's where people could choose CoD4 over Halo. But what i meant was that people who've been playing halo forever and who are looking forward to halo3 will play it whether they love it or think it's just ok. Halo has an insanely loyal fanbase.

CoD4 just amazes me for so many different reasons. I think infinity ward has done a great job so far and the beta will help them in the final development of the title. While I think the beta was partly a publicity stunt, what beta isnt? I think the beta will help the final stages of development of the game without question, based on player's feedback for final balancing issues, glitches, and MOST importantly server loads--the main problem many other xbox live games are having. Many shadowrun players were upset when it first came out because there were some connectivity issue due to lack of beta for the game.

I just finished playing another few hours and I can easily say that I am very interested in co/leading a division, probably competitive, for CoD4. This is a great xbox game that will be very popular at the gaming events, right behind halo3. Although TBH im not sure how the PC aspect of the game will play into the xbox aspect--can both play together on the same servers like other xbox games? I'm not sure what the word on that is yet.

**edit: I don't feel as though I'm being honest enough... Halo3 is basically the same thing as Halo1 and 2 with a few graphical improvements and a few gameplay enhancements. I wasn't that impressed.