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What Master Chief needs to learn from his competition if he hopes to survive

Halo isn't perfect.

Oh, there's no denying the series' greatness. Its brilliance, even. Halo and Halo 2 have done more to revolutionize and shape the way we play console shooters than any other game. Where do you think Gears of War learned the strategic economy of the two gun inventory? Where did GRAW and Call of Duty discover the simplicity of regenerating health? Above all, where did the entire genre realize the importance of online multiplayer? The answer is always... Halo.

As the years pass and the competition improve, however, the king of shooters has remained relatively unchanged. In 2007, the Halo 3 beta plays and looks fundamentally the same as the original Halo's multiplayer did back in 2001. While the franchise tweaks a gun here and adds a vehicle there, its challengers are the ones raising the bar with new ideas and deeper gameplay. The imitators have become the innovators and Master Chief risks getting left behind.

After years of being the teacher, Halo must become the student. Steal, crib and copy from the other guys. Take what's best from this and combine it with the best of that. Borrow some inspiration. And what better place to go than those who borrowed it from you in the first place?

On with the study guide...

Charlie Barratt
Charlie Barratt
I enjoy sunshine, the company of kittens and turning frowns upside down. I am also a fan of sarcasm. Let's be friends!