: The fact that MCC is being ripped apart for a non-functional online is
: evidence of that. Forget the fact that you're getting four campaigns with
: enhanced features and achievements. Forget the fact that two of those
: campaigns are getting cosmetic and audio overhauls. Nope. The online
: multiplayer doesn't work, and that makes this entire collection a massive
: failure. And 343 is crapping their pants, because they thought it would be
: easy to wave off a non-functional online mode, because surely the
: campaigns speak for themselves. After all, the folks who bought an Xbox
: just for Halo are going to gobble it up, right?

While I agree with a lot of your points, you got some rose-tinted glasses going on in this post. Not a bad thing, considering you , I and everyone here are fans, but it's still swaying your opinion of certain things. Mainly, the reasons Bungie and 343 made the game and what was important to them. Bungie was not this perfect vanguard of story, campaign, and non MM gameplay. After Halo 2 redefined online play in their image, Multiplayer was paramount for a huge amount of the population, so much that those stats still float around about how many people didn't play campaign at all. Is that wrong of them to ignore story and the campaign? Not really, they can play how they want to. Bungie had to serve their fanbase, and they were just as much of fans as any campaign, forge, or theater player. It didn't always pan out for them. I learned to love ODST. I learned to love Reach. Each time, my knee jerk reaction was it wasn't the Halo I knew and loved. But, back on task.

The reason the MCC is getting ripped to shreds is the same exact reason Destiny did and continues to. Marketing took the front seat and the game got along for the ride. The scope for both games were bigger than what was offered at launch. Both are still a good deal of game and well crafted love for the player. But both failed to meet what they claimed, or more importantly what they sold us on.

If I told you this George Foreman Grill had a grease trap that would drain the fat from your steaks, and when you got it home, it didn't have the grease trap, you'd be upset as a buyer, right? I mean it was a pretty big reason why you got the damn grill. They aren't the only ones who makes grills, you didn't have to buy theirs.

The main difference is 343 kept on the path after it was clear they weren't going to meet that promise. Bungie backed off, made it a different experience, but a functional one. Still neither hit the target that they promised, and continued to promise in their marketing and advertising. That is why people are taking them to task for it.

: But that can't be it. Surely 343 isn't THAT lazy... But they're not the ones
: in charge, remember?
: Microsoft is losing the console war 5 to 1 against Sony.

Dude, with how messy this holiday season has been across the board, I wouldn't be surprised if Wii U or PC gained a bunch of other two consoles' disillusioned buyers. And to be perfectly honest, there is little difference between PS4 and Xbone for me to care. Halo was kinda the deciding factor. This Q4 has been a disgusting display of project mismanagement and marketing goals defining acceptance criteria.

But...

When everyone counted them out, including myself.

From out of the fog....

SUPAH

SMAAYYYSH

BRUDDERS