G4 TV - TheFeed - Halo 3

Weekly Holiday Xbox LIVE Marketplace Sale Kicks off With 'Halo 3' Legendary Maps

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 11:05:00 -0800

Throughout the month of December, Microsoft will unleash a weekly deal on content from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. First up is the Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack, which will sell for 400 MS Points (down from 600).

The sale runs for one week only.

It does require Xbox LIVE Gold, but would you really be buying additional multiplayer maps for Halo 3 if you didn't have access to the multiplayer? I don't think so.

Tune in next week for another deal from Microsoft.

Did you already buy the map pack? Plan on picking it up now? I kind of feel like everyone that was going to buy the pack has already done so...

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'Halo 3: Recon' Now Known As 'Halo 3: ODST'

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:51:00 -0800

Without much warning, Bungie has renamed Halo 3: Recon. It is now known as Halo 3: ODST. The reason?

"This new title is a more straightforward account of the experience that awaits and the role you will assume as you explore the streets of New Mombasa... 'ODST' (literally pronounced 'Oh-Dee-Ess-Tee' and not 'ohdst') is the acronym for 'Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.' This special forces branch of the UNSC military force is called into action for highly specialized, small scale operations.

If you're worried about the status of the previously promised Recon armor, which will be unlockable in the game... "don't worry, you can still has Recon. (the armor that is, it's still tied to the Vidmaster achievements and will be accessible via the final retail release next Fall)."

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7-Eleven To Continue Selling Games

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:01:00 -0800

The king of convenience stores, 7-Eleven, recently experimented with selling high-profile games in its stores. In addition to getting a Slurpee and a Big Bite, consumers could also pick up World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Gears of War 2, and others. The experiment has been a success, as 7-Eleven is now claiming that it wasn't an experiment at all, but rather the start of a new initiative. GameSpot quotes company category manager for gaming and electronics Michael Jester as saying:

"This is not just a holiday promotion for us,but a brand-new product line-up that will be available year-round. We may not be a total entertainment destination...yet, but we're hoping to expand our selection beyond the high-dollar, hot-selling games to include options for all budgets, like value-priced video games as well as DVD movies."

This is great news for the gaming business. A huge chain of stores like 7-Eleven gives publishers access to millions and millions of customers. While retail shops like GameStop, Wal-Mart, and Target aren't exactly quaking in their boots, there is cause for concern. The reach of the chain can't be denied.

What do you guys think? Could you see yourself making an impulse gaming purchase along with your Big Gulp? Or are Slurpees and Madden akin to oil and water?

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Bungie Explains Longer Load Times On 'Halo 3' Hard Drive Installs

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:08:00 -0800

One of my favorite features of the New Xbox Experience is the ability to install games on the Xbox 360 hard drive. It greatly cuts down on the ridiculous noise the console produces and improves load times...in most cases. One of the exceptions is Halo 3. As Brian reported earlier, installing Halo 3 on the Xbox 360 hard drive actually increases load times. Bungie's Mat Noguchi gives a lengthy technical explanation of why this is the case. He sums it up by saying:

"So in conclusion, please be aware that installing Halo 3 to your HDD will actually result in longer load times and thus a less optimal experience than if you run the game from the disc drive. This happens due to the way Halo 3 already uses a HDD to cache data and once you do an install, you are copying between two different areas of the same drive as you are loading a map."

That's cool that Bungie took the time to explain why installing Halo 3 on your hard drive isn't necessarily a good thing. It would be even cooler if the company released an update that allowed the game to take full advantage of hard drive installs. Keep your fingers crossed!

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'Halo 3: Recon' Story And Voice Talent Details

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:01:00 -0800

Some more Halo 3: Recon details have slipped online from the upcoming issue of Game Informer and it looks like Bungie is trying something new with their gameplay formula. The player will assume the role of a silent member of an ODST drop squad sent into New Mombasa during the Halo 2 storyline.

At some point, the player will be separated from his squad members and have to search for them in an open world. The player will discover clues "such as a sniper rifle hanging from a street light," which will trigger a "Lost-style flashback” in which the player takes control of the missing squad mate.

During these flashbacks, the gameplay will be the classic Halo gameplay we know and love, but will unfold in 30-minute episodes. This ties into the shorter planned length for the game as a whole.

Bungie also talks about the differences between an ODST soldier and Master Chief and how it will affect gameplay. "You don't feel like a chump. You feel like a very Capable ODST marine, but it's a different feeling," said Bungie's Joseph Staten.

Nathan Fillion (Firefly), who voiced one of the background ODST soldiers in Halo 3 will be returning as the voice of one of the game's characters.

Sounds like CSI: Halo to us. Will Bungie be able to pull off this new gameplay direction? What do you think?

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'Emsemble: Halo Wars' Will Never Go To PC

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:21:00 -0800

Ensemble's Graeme Devine insists emphatically that Halo Wars is not going to be released on PC.

"Zero. Never. I'm going to go on the record and say never ever! Microsoft may go and announce it, but I'll say never."

OK, we heard it from the horse's mouth. "Halo Wars is a console game, and it was designed to work on a console. So let's keep it on a console." he added.

But then again, we've heard this before, too. If there's money to be made with a PC version, we could see Microsoft ordering up a PC port pretty quickly."

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Bungie: 'Halo 3: Recon' Is 3-5 Hours Long, Not Viewed As $60 Game

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:24:00 -0800

In the latest issue of Game Informer, you'll be able to read all about Halo 3: Recon, the upcoming expansion pack from Bungie that will follow an ODST drop soldier in a prequel to Halo 3.

Some gems of information from the magazine have leaked to the internet and we've got some juicy new details straight from Bungie.

The game will be "a three to five-hour expansion pack" that they do not view as being priced at $60. Furthermore, players will be able to finally get a set of Recon armor by completing Vidmaster Challenge achievements included in the new game.

Halo 3: Recon is set to be released in late 2009 and will be published by Microsoft Game Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360.

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'Halo Wars' Campaign Presentation

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:21:00 -0700

At Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios were nice enough to invite us to a fancy hotel suite (with terrible acoustics) to check out a campaign mission for their upcoming Xbox 360 real-time strategy game, Halo Wars.

We apologize for the poor sound and background noise of journalists furiously typing on their laptops, but we think the video is worth watching anyway.

Graeme Devine, the lead writer on the project, discusses the mission, gameplay mechanics, and more. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments section.

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'Halo 3: Recon' Reloads In 2009

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:07:00 -0700

Update: Microsoft has confirmed that Halo 3: Recon will be a full retail DVD release and it will not require the previous Halo 3 title to play. No official word yet on whether the title will be offered as a DLC as well.

Shooting straight from Microsoft's Keynote at the Tokyo Game Show, Bungie finally reveals details after months of teasers regarding the new Halo 3 campaign. Titled as Recon, the upcoming addition will be a prequel to the events of Halo 3 where players will unload on some Covenant fiends as a UNSC recon soldier.

This brand new hero set on a "new campaign" is expected to arrive in Fall 2009. Make sure to check back for more updates from this year's Tokyo Game Show.

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Beattie Explains Plot In 'Halo' Spec Script

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Stuart Beattie, more recently known as the man who penned Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, loves Halo so much that in his free time he wrote a script adapted from the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach. This much we knew already. Recently, Beattie mentioned that he is in talks with Microsoft about getting his movie made, and went to further detail the plot of his script. Short version; it's about a boy named "John". Long version; hit the Read More link.

It sets up a world 500 years in the future and we have colonies, there's the UNSC, there's the secret Spartan training program. And you see this six-year-old kid kidnapped in the middle of the night... The character doesn't start off as Master Chief. He starts off as John, who's the kid that's kidnapped and told he's going to be a soldier. Anyone can connect with a kid kidnapped from his own home. You're along for that journey. The Covenant comes along halfway through that movie. That gives you half the movie to really get to know everyone and care about everyone. And then when the Covenant come along, it's the first time John sees a grunt or a jackal or an elite. The audience is trying to figure out everything at the same time as the characters are. What are these aliens? Why are they killing us? What did we do? And realizing it's all about this Halo ring. And then ending the movie where the first game begins.

So it's a prequel, eh Beattie? We've been burned by those before, but considering the epic drama of the Space Marines, the Covenant, the Flood, and the Halo rings has never been on the silver screen before, it might be a good place to start the story. It sounds like a great concept, but so much was lost when the Halo movie was scrapped by the studios who refused to raise the budget to meet the artistic vision of Peter Jackson, his writing/producing/life partner Fran Walsh, and visionary director Neil Blomkamp. Can this new script kick the dust off and get production rolling again? We will just have to wait and see.

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'Halo 3' Assembly Map Preview

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:43:00 -0700

Bungie gives the latest details on the new "Assembly" map for their massive FPS hit, Halo 3.

Players will unload their Battle Rifles and such in this new battleground, set inside a Scarab Covenant factory. Bungie said that the level may inherit some design factors from Halo 2's midship level, but it sets a tone of its own.

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The game celebrates its first anniversary of release today and Bungie just gave us something for the celebrations.

New 'Halo 3' Teaser Video

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:06:00 -0700

Bungie asks that you please remain calm while they tease you with the latest in Halo 3 mania supposedly coming sometime in January for the Xbox 360.

Halo 3 Teaser

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New 'Halo 3' Campaign In January 2009?

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:52:00 -0700

Update: Here's the video, enjoy!

With today marking Halo 3's first year anniversary, Bungie may have finally pulled the curtain on their long kept secret. Moving forward from images, Bungie has launched yet-another "teaser" video (we'll be posting it soon), ending with the following:

"Halo 3....Prepare to drop!"

As pointed out by Shack News, the Xbox Marketplace stated, ""High action and deep mystery await players in this new Halo 3 campaign experience..Prepare to drop!", regarding Bungie's latest teaser. The screenhot above from the video indicates that the new campaign may arrive on January 6, 2009. Again, we await any official word from either Microsoft or Bungie regarding this matter.

Halo Energy Sword Replica On Sale

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:45:00 -0700

That sweet baby above is a replica energy sword from the Halo series of video games. It is 27 in. long, with 19.25 in. blades, 7 in. handle. and it Includes black wall plaque. It's also got that titanium rainbow effect reserved for the most awesomest fake weaponry. According to the sword's seller, it is "Accurate in design and size, extremely unique, and well built. Easily one of the most unique and awesome swords in our collection." Hear that? Awesome!

It will cost $49.99, which is pretty cheap, but please take into account the damage to your social life, and the chance of jail-time if you decide to try the thing out in real life.

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'Halo 3' Update Live, New Levels Coming?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:14:00 -0700

As promised, Bungie has kicked up the Halo 3 experience once again with the new Title Update 2 launch today. The patch brings in an improved playlist ranking system and challenging new achievements for players to obtain. But, Bungie also posted this in addition:

There is...Another

You may have already heard about more or perhaps you have even seen more Halo 3 achievements than [the already posted achievements]. We’re not ready to comment on any other achievements right now – all will become clear in due time. Stay tuned.

Could Bungie be implementing new levels as well for us to "Finish the Fight" further? Wait, before you bring out more "teasers" Bungie, care to "finish" explaining the one above first?

Bungie.Net Teaser Returns

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:55:00 -0700

Following up on their epic failure of a surprise during this past E3, the folks at Bungie launched yet another teaser site on their official page. Aside from the disoriented image, the following messages were also posted:

[COMM.DUTY.OFFICER]: [UNINTELLIGIBLE > PROFANITY (?)]
[COMM.DUTY.OFFICER]: “We're sending a team, alright?”
[COMM.DUTY.OFFICER]: “Until they arrive, all additional comm needs to route through me.”
[COMM.DUTY.OFFICER]: “Repeat and acknowledge.”

And with that, we're back to speculations again: Does this have anything to do with the rumored next-gen Halo in the works? Is this the project that former Metal Gear Solid 4 producer, Ryan Payton, is supposed to be working on? Does this just refer to the upcoming Halo 3 Title 2 Update patch? We'll find out soon enough...

New 'Halo 3' Update September 23

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:53:00 -0700

As confirmed by Bungie, the spanking-new "Title 2" update for the FPS smash hit, Halo 3, will arrive this September 23. A revised career stat page via Bungie.Net, playlist ranking and some fresh new achievements will be included. Here are some of the new achievements:

Double Double (25 points) – On a Legendary map, get two Double Kills during any ranked or social match.
Poor Yorick (25 points) – On a Legendary map, get 3 Oddball melee kills during any ranked or social match.
Came…From…Behind (50 points) – On a Legendary map, get 3 assassinations during any ranked or social match.

Also, some achievements from the update won't be unlocked until the title's first anniversary hits this September 25. Halo 3, published by Microsoft, is exclusively for the Xbox 360.

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Large Hadron Collider Named "Halo"

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:54:00 -0700

You know that Large Hadron Collider that will answer some fundamental questions about the nature of our existence (or destroy us all) when it fires particles together in October? The Royal Society of Chemistry in London held a contest to change its name recently, apparently after too many accidental misspellings of "Hadron".

They asked ordinary citizens to suggest names, and the most popular, by far, was...are you ready..."HALO".

According to the Royal Society: "Halo conjures visions of radiant beauty, power and wisdom. The circle of light reflects the collider's form; it is a crowning achievement of science and engineering. It also gives more than a nod to the experiment's importance to religious debate."

And Master Chief.

Hit the jump for some of the more than 2,500 rejected names.

Ovid's Phaeton
The Magic Roundabout
The Genesis Engine
E42 - E for Energy, 42, from The Hitchhikers Guide
Adam Smasher
Hawkinator after Stephen Hawking
Puff The Magic Hadron
Bosonator
BOB - Biggest Of Bangs
Mr Twirly Beams
The One Ring
Stargate

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Microsoft Working On Next-Gen 'Halo'?

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:44:00 -0700

Bungie's got some new Halo plans marked on their calendars, but a job ad posting by Microsoft suggests that the company's "new Halo Studio team" is looking for a "highly talented program manager to work with an engineering team to help define the next generation of gaming software technology." Here's an excerpt from their job post:

"Microsoft’s new Halo Studio team is looking for a technical and highly talented program manager to work with an engineering team to help define the next generation of gaming software technology. As part of a next generation team, you’ll be instrumental in helping to lead the development of the engine that will power future experiences for the next generation of gaming platforms. .....You will also work to ensure we are building collaborative efforts with expertise available across the company, including the Xbox platform team and Microsoft Research."

Hmm, "power future experiences" for the next-gen--could they be referring to the Xbox 720? If Microsoft plans a Halo 4 on their next-gen platform launch, then that would give then a distinct advantage from their competitors...in, let's say...2012? What do you think?

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Bungie Confirms New 'Halo 3' Achievements

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 09:38:00 -0700

As the title nears its first anniversary of release, Bungie has confirmed that new achievements will be coming soon via the "Title Update 2" for their epic FPS title, Halo 3. Here are some them posted from Bungie.Net:

Double Double (25 points) – On a Legendary map, get two Double Kills during any ranked or social match.
Poor Yorick (25 points) – On a Legendary map, get 3 Oddball melee kills during any ranked or social match.
Came…From…Behind (50 points) – On a Legendary map, get 3 assassinations during any ranked or social match.
Look Both Ways (50 points) – On a Legendary map, get a Splatter Spree during any ranked or social match.
Defend This (50 points) – On a Legendary map, get a flag melee kill during any ranked or social match.
Road Rage (25 points) – On a Legendary map, get 5 Warthog chaingun kills during any ranked or social match.

The Title 2 Update will also bring changes to Playlist Rankings and a new type of ban the developers are "super excited for". So for all you Live cheaters out there, beware of this banhammer as it "will soon drip wet with the blood of jerks and the innards of sinners." Halo 3, published by Microsoft, was originally released on September 2007 exclusively for the Xbox 360.

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