This fixed-reticule system, a hallmark of arcade-style game play, allows the user to fire weapons from the hip without aiming.

Huh????? Without aiming? :) care to play a 1v1 match with me in any arcade style game (Quake, UT, Halo)? I pride myself on having a decent aim. I would argue that the COD style of gunplay mechanics requires less aiming skill. There is more spread and randomness. Also, the instant you start getting a bullet hitting you the reticule jumps all over the screen.

He meant without having to use an "aim" button to look down the sights. He wasn't suggesting that you don't have to point the reticule at the correct place. Sheesh.

This fixed-reticule system, a hallmark of arcade-style game play, allows the user to fire weapons from the hip without aiming.

Huh????? Without aiming? :) care to play a 1v1 match with me in any arcade style game (Quake, UT, Halo)? I pride myself on having a decent aim. I would argue that the COD style of gunplay mechanics requires less aiming skill. There is more spread and randomness. Also, the instant you start getting a bullet hitting you the reticule jumps all over the screen.

The fixed-reticule system also appears to be making a comeback as it appears briefly in the ViDoc.

I need to watch the video again. I sure hope a fixed-reticule system is back. I want my shots to go exactly where I am aiming and intending them to be shot at.

In a general global way, how does this change things from say, Halo play? Is there a consensus? I think the really good Halo players would say they love the ability to run and jump and dodge while still being able to shoot somewhat effectively.

Well, you just about hit the nail on the head. I don't really care for iron sights because typically, to make them worth using, developers make hip aiming very inaccurate. Then they restrict movement while aiming down the sights.

To be clear, I love uberfoop's comment, not run or gun itself.

Speaking of which, have you played Borderlands 2? I'm trying to decide between it and BioShock Infinite...

I got Borderlands 2 four days ago (birthday present!), so I can't give an honest opinion on it (I love Bordelands 1 though) as a whole. It's definitely fun, though, and a blast to play with friends.

But unless you plan to do a lot of co-op, Bioshock Infinite definitely looks like it'll be the superior game to get...

It doesn't necessarily change things entirely, as Borderlands gameplay, while having ADS (on guns that allow it, anyway), does not really impede your ability to run and gun.

Speaking of which, have you played Borderlands 2? I'm trying to decide between it and BioShock Infinite...

What made the Halo series at its best most fun was the variety in enemy AI and weapons wielded, combined with your own varied weapons and the landscape of a given encounter. These things together made for a very large number of viable strategies, of which any number could be enormous fun.

I'm hoping that by using iron sights in Destiny, Bungie is simply expanding the toolbox further — and this may well be necessary to support class-based play. Imagine that the Hunter class specialises in the use of scoped weapons, and other classes simply can't use them — it would therefore be necessary to somehow balance out such a class, say reducing their mobility whilst shooting, in order for them not to be as powerful on the move as the more general-purpose Titan class. I could be miles off-target with that speculation, but that's just one way they might incorporate iron sights without restricting the overall toolbox available to players.

In a general global way, how does this change things from say, Halo play? Is there a consensus? I think the really good Halo players would say they love the ability to run and jump and dodge while still being able to shoot somewhat effectively.

It doesn't necessarily change things entirely, as Borderlands gameplay, while having ADS (on guns that allow it, anyway), does not really impede your ability to run and gun. Other games (like CoD) restrict your player speed greatly when aiming (though there are perks and attachments that nullify this, which can actually negatively affect your enjoyment of the style)...

I agree. I prefer a Halo-style shooter. I don't hate ADS, but it's not what I love, if that makes sense.

I love ADS, but think that for competitive, skill-based combat like that found in Halo, where a single encounter can last longer than five seconds due to shields and health, ADS tends to NOT be enjoyable, since you have to reduce your movement speed for so long in a single encounter. See Crysis 3 for an example of why ADS in this style is not fun.

Is that something incompatible with iron sights? In games that use iron sights, is shooting "from the hip" relatively ineffective?

For the most part, it's much less accurate, with a large spread that grows exponentially. Aiming down the sites almost completely eliminates the spread, at the cost of making yourself a better target. In games like CoD, where being exposed for a second can guarantee your death, this provides a very good system of checks and balances.

Borderlands differs from this in that a weapon is good whether you're aiming down the sights or not. The difference is precision and range rather than general effectiveness.

it's more about the differences between zoomed and unzoomed weapon behavior than about the appearance of looking down sights.

Stabbim nailed it...

But I struggle to understand why more realism would be inherently more fun (outside of driving games). Just a matter of personal taste, I suppose.

I guess the more in-the-boots you feel with your character, the more visceral the game feels, making your successes more satisfying... I dunno.

A lot of the Destiny footage is very reminiscent of Borderlands, which I really hope it's like.

In a general global way, how does this change things from say, Halo play? Is there a consensus? I think the really good Halo players would say they love the ability to run and jump and dodge while still being able to shoot somewhat effectively.

I agree. I prefer a Halo-style shooter. I don't hate ADS, but it's not what I love, if that makes sense.

Is that something incompatible with iron sights? In games that use iron sights, is shooting "from the hip" relatively ineffective?

Yes, hip-firing typically is much less accurate in those games. As far as being incompatible, I suppose you could make a game with ADS, and then have the hip-firing be just as accurate as when the player's zoomed in. But if you examine it, all that really is is Halo-style aiming, except you have a picture of a close-up gun on the screen instead of a scope HUD. As I alluded to here, it's more about the differences between zoomed and unzoomed weapon behavior than about the appearance of looking down sights.

I have no real experience, just wondering why you love it?

*shrug*

I guess some consider it more realistic (and they're right). But I struggle to understand why more realism would be inherently more fun (outside of driving games). Just a matter of personal taste, I suppose.

*Yes, I'm aware you can burst fire. That's not really relevant to the ADS distinction though.

My apologies.

Let's get back on topic, please.

Is that something incompatible with iron sights? In games that use iron sights, is shooting "from the hip" relatively ineffective?

I have no real experience, just wondering why you love it?

Maybe that's the new infection gametype.

Now that's something I could... wait for it... get behind!

huehuehue :}