The question now, which I've seen asked before and which I'm not sure I've seen answered that well, is where DestinyDB gets its information, and this information in particular.

They pulled the game data through the companion app during the Beta. Some have argued that "Bungie wouldn't enable the entire game on the server side during a Beta", but based on what they've discovered I'm inclined to believe that they in fact did not lock everything down on their side.

It's very much information retrieved via haxx0rs

http://destinynews.net/trials-osiris/

OK, actually, I tried to figure out the sourcing here, and... it says near the beginning:

The Trials of Osiris will only take place on The Burning Shrine, and The Burning Shrine will only be available when playing the Trials of Osiris (as mentioned here).

That goes to a pretty good interview which covers a lot of the same stuff as another recent interview, and it mentions "The Burning Shrine" and that it's a multiplayer map, but what that article says is mentioned isn't mentioned there, nothing about the exclusivity of the map or the "Trials of Osiris"-- so where did they get this information?

Whoop, reading comprehension failure on my part, the whole paragraph says:

The Trials of Osiris will only take place on The Burning Shrine, and The Burning Shrine will only be available when playing the Trials of Osiris (as mentioned here). As we can see from the description of the Osiris Coin, we’ll be able to go to Mercury for the Trials of Osiris and earn rewards for continued victories. It’s assumed that the Osiris Faction promotes this Crucible mode.

That has all the links the same as the article, and that's an important factor.
The operative part here besides what I pointed out before is the description of the Osiris Coin from DestinyDB, that the site helpfully pops up when you hover on the link, which is:

An invitation to prove yourself on Mercury as one of the Crucible's elite. Each win builds to greater rewards and grants another try.

That combined with the statement from Bungie that there's only one map on Mercury and it's a multiplayer map pretty much fills everything in. The description for Trials of Osiris gives the last piece, the "three strikes and you're out" part:

Only the worthy may face the Trials of Osiris, for only the worthy are strong enough to endure what is to come. A string of victories will earn great rewards - but lose three times and you're out.

The line about the Osiris Coin is nice, because it implies you get three tries initially but you get an extra chance to play each time you win.

The question now, which I've seen asked before and which I'm not sure I've seen answered that well, is where DestinyDB gets its information, and this information in particular.

Which doesnt make your point any less valid of course. Or more. Or anything. Im just being a smartass.

Sounds good, IMHO.

Keeps the place highly skilled.

Sucks that it is the only chance we'll get too see that map, though.

I agree with you. This sounds awesome to me, and I am intrigued by the map exclusivity. I would imagine that eventually the map will make it's way into other modes.

From what I read on this, a lot of this is speculation on behalf of Destiny News.

How did you come by those quarters?

Frankly, my time is more valuable than my money.

so micro-transactions might help? ;-)

NO.

1. When you pay for the hardware and software, the expectation is then that you do not pay to play. Pay to play is precisely so that you DON'T have to buy the machine.

2. If Trials of Osiris were accessible via a micro transaction, you would be paying for a chance at a reward. In the arcade, you pay to merely play the game; no reward is nessesary.

How did you come by those quarters?

Frankly, my time is more valuable than my money.

so micro-transactions might help? ;-)

Anyway, I'm just winding you up. Though you do buy your money with your time IRL; somebody paid for those quarters.

I'm guessing that there will be very little grind for great players, or for players with specific skill sets. Speed runners, trickers, platformers, FPS-masters - they'll have motes falling into their laps. Who knows, Cody might be that arcade ace that people paid so they could see levels they wouldn't otherwise get to.

I was that ace for My Hero and Mat Mania, but 1987 was a long time ago. ;-)

Eh, will have to see how this plays out. On one hand, exclusivity, challenge, esteem, and honor. On the other, bitterness, grind, pettiness, and frustration. How bad the briefing for some poor soul that goes 8-19 and costs Superstar McGee their 3rd loss?

Maybe they're trying to create a place for all the uber-competatives to gather?

I understand your M.O. is to instantly assess the bounds of the system and judge it by breaking it down via your very unique logic. But you still haven't played it. Who knows, you might even have fun with it.

Here's how I predict my Destiny experience will be.

1. Play through the story missions and have ten tons of fun.
2. Hit level 20, and become bored and frustrated with the late game and the investment system.
3. After dealing with that, do the raid and have ten tons of fun.

Not quite. I come to the arcade with a pocket full of quarters. You don't have to waste your time to get more. You spend money at an arcade. You spend time with investment systems. Frankly, my time is more valuable than my money

With that in mind, I wonder how you'd feel if this came to pass?

Blizzard's hearthstone arena mode is kindof like that, spend a certain amount of ingame currency that takes days to get for a chance at good loot - provided you dont fail three times.

One other (potentially) important thing regarding Hearthstone's arena mode: it costs either 150 gold (the in-game currency) or: $1.99 USD, €1.79 EUR or £1.49 GBP (also 4.50 BRL if there are any Brazilians here). This means that whilst you have the choice to grind for gold, you also have the alternative of paying for entry.

Now, whilst there are similarities with Hearthstone, it's worth remembering that Hearthstone is fundamentally a collectible card game, so it's expected that players will either be grinding or paying for cards. What I'm wondering is whether by this analogy we might see Bungie selling motes of light for real money as an in-game purchase; if they're not used directly to gain items (but rather, indirectly, as rewards from activities for which they are currency to participate) then it's possible they might be willing to go down that route.

It would be a pretty controversial choice though, so I'm not too surprised that they've kept it quiet; I can well imagine a lot of PvP fans being very pissed off about this…

It doesn't occur to you that games will be more intense knowing something is at stake? That people will have earned their way in one way or another and the likelihood of Randos without mics and idiots charging around blindly is significantly diminished?

I imagine the mood will be a bit like the Iron Banner matches, only moreso. Seeing Strength of the Wolf pop up during a match is pretty invigorating, imagine matches where that is only the barest requirement for success.

You complain and complain about not liking this mechanic or that one, railing against the grind, and then when an opportunity is presented where pitting your skill against another player's (instead of finding high level creeps to fight) is likely to grant you rare rewards, you still aren't happy?

We've had the discussion about rare weapons predictably dropping in certain scenarios becoming mile markers in the late game. This would seem to address some of that concern by (assuming the article is correct) allowing the player the choice of redeeming whatever currency is earned in victories. And one mote per three matches is a fair enough guarantee that you won't be instantly ground into paste and will actually be given a fair shake at the rarer loot.

I understand your M.O. is to instantly assess the bounds of the system and judge it by breaking it down via your very unique logic. But you still haven't played it. Who knows, you might even have fun with it.

At the very least, I'd say this guarantees a pretty non-standard experience in the late game, as I'm fairly confident that to get the very best gear one will have to be a well-rounded player. I'm willing to bet the most successful loadouts we'll see will be cobbled together from gear across all game modes.

I'm not sure you can really ask a developer to demand more of their players than that.

~m

Frankly, my time is more valuable than my money.

so micro-transactions might help? ;-)

Anyway, I'm just winding you up. Though you do buy your money with your time IRL; somebody paid for those quarters.

I thought that was your definition of the best gaming experience - the pure form - it forced game designers to make enjoyable games. (Ring any bells?)

It's almost as if they listened to you.

Be careful what you ask for...

Lol.

Not quite. I come to the arcade with a pocket full of quarters. You don't have to waste your time to get more. You spend money at an arcade. You spend time with investment systems. Frankly, my time is more valuable than my money.

Arcade games are built around the exact opposite principle. Instead of stringing things out, they concentrate things.

It's almost as if they listened to you.

Be careful what you ask for...

Probably more of an issue for us here in Australia and NZ than for those of you in the States or Europe.