Thank you for that post, well written. I like your Tower defense idea, and the other idea I saw posted in here regarding weekly horde mode planetary defense battles (sorry, lost the original OP on that one). I do think, however, that your initial gut reaction of the story being the problem was more correct than you now give it credit for. I think a lot of the "empty world" problem you describe (while still being a problem, no question there), would be mitigated if there truly was a story that gave a true foundation for what was going on, and a true sense of direction, what was going on, and what was at stake. And those could all be done without letting the full 10 year story arc out of the bag. Taking out some of the internal plot point contradictions in an already excruciatingly short story would help as well. And before I get swamped with replies of "it's an acceptable story", "just wait, it's a 10 year story arc", "this is what an FPS story arc is now in this industry", etc., let me give you this pre-emptive answer: Bungie did this to themselves. VidDocs, and even the game description/box blurb state(d): "A Bold New World - Embark on an epic action adventure with rich cinematic storytelling where you unravel the mysteries of our universe and reclaim what we lost at the fall of our Golden Age." No where does that state " . . . in/over 10 years across multiple games" or "industry leading FPS mechanics with average to non-existent story". It says, in Bungie's (or Bungie approved words): [i] [b]EPIC[/b][/i] and [i][b]RICH[/b][/i]. I don't know how anyone can call what is in the base game either of those things. And as I pointed out, the marketing says that is what is in the box - nothing about a 10 year time frame. [i]What is in the base game.[/i] It would be like Peter Jackson telling everyone he's releasing an [b]Epic[/b] screen version of Lord of the Rings, and then the entire first installment of [i]Fellowship of the Ring[/i] comprised of 15 minutes of screen time: [i]<Opening scene in Bilbo's house>[/i] Gandalf: Bilbo, you need to put your life, and the lives of some of those you care about, in danger to the point of almost certain death, to take this ring away from the Shire to save others. Bilbo: OK, but if I'm going to go through that kind of danger, could you give me a little more reason why? Gandalf: I don't have time to explain why I don't have time to explain. I could tell you compelling reasons, but . . . meh. Bilbo: (against all reason) er, OK, guess I'll go. [i]<Cut to scene at Prancing Pony in Bree - Bilbo has friends with him, we're not sure how they got there>[/i] Bilbo: Hi Strider: Hi, lets go avoid some orcs. Bilbo: OK? [i]<Cut to scene outside Rivendell - full traveling group of fellowship traveling away from Rivendell, we're not sure how they got together>[/i] Gimli: "Glad we figured out that sure-fire solution we're about to do" Legolas: "I know, right?" [i]<End movie>[/i] [i]<Press conference after first screening of the movie, people yelling in anger about the content of the first movie>[/i] Peter Jackson: Shut up and go away, I told you at the start of this there'd be three movies, everything will be in the 2nd two movies. Peter Jackson: For all you self-entitled whiners out there who this isn't "good enough" for, you can look it up on wikipedia, there's a bunch of additional story content there.