Certain Affinity

Halo 4: Castle Map Pack Review, Eurogamer

Obi1mccarthy — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:28:02 +0000

The Halo 4 approach to multiplayer add-ons has been low-key compared to the bombast of its more earthbound shooter peers. Call of Duty and Battlefield have offered up themed packages, zombies, co-operative bonuses and whatever else might entice players into picking up that all-important season pass.

With Halo 4, DLC studio Certain Affinity and main game developer 343 Studios have simply delivered maps, three at a time. It almost seems quaint, but it’s an approach that has paid dividends. After a clunky start with the Crimson map pack, the game has benefited from maps that are classic in design but modern in pace, accommodating Halo’s increasingly lengthy list of game modes and livening up the playlists with solid craftsmanship and some beautiful locations. That’s a trend that continues in this, the last of the three DLC packs, and another victory of both substance and style.

Click here to read the entire Eurogamer review.

Interview: Halo 4 Castle Map Pack, God is a Geek

Obi1mccarthy — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:15:26 +0000

On April 8th the Castle Map Pack will be released for Halo 4. The pack is being developed by Certain Affinity, and we sat down with producer Tom Potter and Senior Environmental Artist Ryan Mansfield to talk about the process of making Halo multiplayer maps, the challenges in balancing them and their all-time favorite Halo maps.

Click here to read the entire interview on GodisaGeek.com.

Halo jazz: How 343 Industries and Certain Affinity Collaborated to Create the Majestic Map Pack, Polygon

Obi1mccarthy — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:16:26 +0000

Next Monday, Feb. 25, Halo 4 players will be able to purchase the Majestic Map Pack. It will bring three new maps, a new game type and two new playlists to the game’s multiplayer arena.

Click here to read the entire Polygon article.

Forge Game Type Labels

Obi1mccarthy — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:10:32 +0000

NOTE: Intended object is listed in parentheses–-these labels can be used on a multitude of objects and will sometimes carry over their effects.

Free-for-All Enabled Modes

TEAM_SPAWN (Spawning – Respawn Zone)
Spawn zone which is only used with Teams set to Enabled in game type settings.
FFA_SPAWN (Spawning – Respawn Zone)
Spawn zone which is only used with Teams set to Enabled in game type settings.

Capture the Flag, (YouTube Tutorial)

CTF_FLAG_RETURN (Objectives – Flag Stand)
Defines the capture zone for CTF using the shape settings, and spawns a flag for the controlling team.
CTF_RES_ZONE (Spawning – Respawn Zone)
Flags an area of spawns for a specific team, creating base spawns. Only active when the flag is home.
CTF_RES_ZONE_AWAY (Spawning – Respawn Zone)
Flags an area of spawns for a specific team, only active when the flag is away.

Dominion, (YouTube Tutorial)

DOM_BASE (Dominion – Base Terminal)
Defines the object used to capture a base in Dominion. The capture radius is based on the shape settings.
DOM_BASE_ZONE (Spawning – Hill Marker)
Volume that defines where a player needs to be to earn medals for defending or attacking a base.
DOM_RES_ZONE (Spawning – Respawn Zone)
Flags an area of spawns for a specific base, only active once a base is captured.
DOM_UPGRADE
Flags an item to spawn when a base fortifies. Note that Spawn Time over-rides this setting, Change “Place at Start” to False when using this label.
DOM_VPAD (Dominion – Vehicle Pads)
Enables a vehicle pad which activates when a base is fortified.
DOM_TURRET (Dominion – Base Turret)
Enables a base turret which only activates when a base is fortified.
DOM_SHIELD (Dominion – Base Shields)
Enables a base shield which only activates when a base is fortified.
DOM_FORTIFY (Dominion – Barricades)
Enables a barricade which only activates when a base is fortified.
DOM_DECOR (Dominion – Base Stripes, Decorative objects)
Activates the Base Stripe object, making it extend and display hologram stripes when a base is fortified.
DOM_BIGSCREEN (Dominion – Base Status Monitors – Monitor, 4 Foot)
Activates a base monitor to display relevant information about the linked base after it’s fortified.
DOM_SCREEN (Dominion – Base Monitor OR Dominion – Turret Status Monitors)
Activates a base monitor to display relevant information about the turrets/base after it’s fortified.
DOMINION
Object will only spawn in Dominion.
NO_DOM
Object will spawn in every gametype EXCEPT Dominion.

Extraction, (YouTube Tutorial)

EXT_DECAL (Objectives – Extraction Decal)
Links extraction decals to a site using Spawn Sequence.
EXT_SITE (Objectives – Hill Marker)
Defines the Extraction Zone using the shape settings. Objects labeled EXT_Site will not be visible until site is active.
EXT_TARGET (Objectives – Extraction Targets)
Defines which objects will “extract” when a base detonates. Mainly used to make the Extraction crates disappear – won’t make structure objects disappear. Objects labeled EXT_Target will not be visible until site is active.
EXTRACTION
Object will only spawn in Extraction.
EXT_DELETE
Object will spawn in every gametype except Extraction.

Flood

FLD_SPAWN (Spawning – Initial Spawn, Respawn Point, or Respawn Zone)
Spawn points will only be used for Flood.
FLOOD
Object will only spawn in Flood.
FLD_DELETE
Object will spawn in every gametype except Flood.

Grifball

GRIF_GOAL (Objectives – Capture Plate)
Defines the goal area where the Grifball can be scored.
GRIF_SPAWN (Objectives – Capture Plate)
Spawns the Grifball here.

King of the Hill, (YouTube Tutorial)

KOTH_HILL (Objectives – Hill Marker)
Defines a hill zone for KOTH using the shape settings.
KOTH
Object will only spawn in King of the Hill.

Oddball, (YouTube Tutorial)

ODDBALL_BALL (Objectives – Capture Plate)
Spawns the Oddball here.

ODDBALL
Object will only spawn in Oddball.

ODDBALL_DEL
Object will spawn in every gametype except Oddball.

Regicide

REGICIDE
Object will only spawn in Regicide.

Slayer

SLAYER
Object will only spawn in Slayer.

“How Halo 4 is Seeking to Win Multiplayer Wars”

Obi1mccarthy — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:23:19 +0000

Multiplayer combat gaming is dominated by titles that enfold players in quasi-realistic modern war-zones. The action and the perks and the zombies-on-the-moon modes may be pure fantasy, but the settings are rooted in the real world of multi-terrain combat boots and SA-58 clips.

Click here to read the entire IGN article.

“The Indie Behind Halo 4 and Black Ops”

Obi1mccarthy — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:52:27 +0000

GameIndustry.Biz writes, “It’s easy to look at the development of Halo 4 as the story of an upstart studio doing its best to emulate the success of original franchise developer Bungie. However, the upstart studio in question isn’t necessarily 343 Industries.”

Click here for the entire GameIndustry.Biz article.

Forge On

Obi1mccarthy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:58:58 +0000

The additions to Forge in Halo 4 make it more powerful than ever before. Sometimes with greater power comes greater complexity and since we love Spidey, we also know that with great power comes great responsibility. That is why we have created a series of Forge Tutorials to ensure that you can wield all of its power. Forge on.

Halo 4 Midnight Sale

Gamblor — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:34:14 +0000

You better be there to get an autographed copy of Halo 4 and a chance to win exclusive giveaways from 343 Industries, Rooster Teeth, and Certain Affinity at the Microsoft Store in the Domain.

Doors open at 10pm–be there or regret it for the rest of your life.

http://www.facebook.com/events/168797196594496/

For direction visit http://binged.it/Sz1Frp
Microsoft Store Domain
3309 Esperanza Xing
Austin, TX
78758

Halo 4 Forge Mode Details

Obi1mccarthy — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 22:43:02 +0000

Create beautiful maps almost by accident in Halo 4′s overhauled Forge mode. Click here to see Certain Affinity’s own Lori Zawada walk us through the improvements to Forge.

Max Hoberman Podcast Interview

Obi1mccarthy — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:48:28 +0000

Babysoft Murderhands (not a typo, that is the site’s name) interviews Certain Affinity President and Creative Director, Max Hoberman, at QuakeCon 2012.

Click here to listen to Max talk about the future of shooters, mobile gaming, and the drop-dead sexiness of quality control.