IRC and its Importance to Halo2

Internet Relay Chat, also known as IRC has been helping gamers communicate for years. Mostly all of the top competitive PC games have depended on IRC for communication within their communities, and that is one of the main reasons why they are so successful. But with a console game on the rise of online competitive gaming, not many are familiar with IRC or are willing to give it a chance. Of course, with CAL making IRC mandatory, you will have no problem finding some teams to practice with, but many top tier teams still do not use this program. For example; 8 out of the 10 teams that placed in top ten at the MLG: DC event do not use IRC regularly. The only to use IRC were StK and Check-Six, who placed first and second.

There are many ways IRC can be helpful to the Halo2 community. On the gamesurge network, in the #halo.invite channel are hundreds of halo2 players. You can find people wanting to play custom games, if that’s what you’re into. They also have a few other interests. Here are a few examples:

Looking to find a team? IRC is the place to look. Looking to create a team? IRC is the answer. Log onto IRC and you will find tons of gamers looking for the same thing you are. Team members come and go, and on IRC, finding a new member can be easy.

Having a hard time finding good competition in matchmaking? There are always teams looking from scrimmages in #halo.invite. You will find teams new to the game and some of the top tier teams in Halo2 all looking to play a few custom games for practice. Both MLG and CAL format scrimmages can be found there.

If you are in CAL, than you already have an IRC channel. Now all you have to do is find the team you are playing. If you look at the CAL webpage under the info of the other team, you will find their IRC channel. This is the best way to get in contact with teams for your matches. Take advantage of it. If you can’t find them in their channel, ask around, some teams break up and never report it to CAL. If you find that they are no longer a team, make it your own personal duty to notify CAL.

If you do not know your team personally, than IRC is a great program to keep in contact with all your team members. From here, you can have meetings, schedule practices, and set up scrimmages.

As you can see, IRC will help the Halo2 community in many ways. There are about 170 people that play Halo2 and use IRC, and there are thousands of people who do not use IRC who play Halo2. But that can all change. Get out there and spread the word, let your friends in matchmaking, at school, and at local lans know about IRC.

Here are a few websites to help you out with IRC:

www.gamesurge.net
www.mIRC.com

And don’t forget to idle #halo.invite.