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Bungie explains 'series of stumbles' in ODST marketing
From the initial talk of a lower price to a renaming, Bungie's ever-changing plans for Halo 3: ODST left a lot of people confused as to what the final product would be. "I'm no PR expert, but it's pretty obvious the game had a series of stumbles; from the naming, to the initial E3 2008 countdown reveal failure, and finally pricing ... it would definitely be nice to have a do-over for the game introduction," senior designer Lars Bakken told G4TV in a recent interview. "The big takeaway for us is just to never comment on matters that are outside of our control," added community manager Brian Jarrard. The subject of ODST becoming an "expansion pack," however, was never an arguable point to executive producer Curtis Creamer. "Though ODST was built from the Halo 3 engine, there were enough changes made to the engine that we could not have released it as an expansion in the way that you might equate with a PC game expansion pack ... the ODST executable is not compatible with Halo 3." The crew of Bungie devs also reconfirmed that "there are currently no plans for any ODST DLC," with all of the studio's resources tied up with Halo: Reach. Hopefully, our thirst for more Firefight maps will be quenched by the inclusion of the mode in future Halo games -- a prospect to which the developers responded, "Only time will tell." Do it for us, Bungie! Please? %Gallery-72961%
Microsoft explains 'Halo 3: ODST' name change
Microsoft has explained that its decision to rename the upcoming Halo 3 storyline expansion was made to "accurately reflect" the gameplay "experience" of the Fall 2009 release. So, if you're the kind of user who thought Halo 3: Recon -- the game's original name -- was based around being some kind of perverted Covenant voyeur, Halo 3: ODST leaves nothing to the imagination. Microsoft Game Studios product manager Ryan Crosby told GamePlayer that the change helps showcase the new stars of the action, the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. Not familiar with the elite unit? The ODSTs are to John McClane as Master Chief is to Superman ... and if you still don't get it, read a book or something. Correction: Ryan Crosby is an employee of Microsoft Game Studios, not Bungie. [Via Gamepro]
Yippie-Kye-Aye! New Halo 3: ODST wallpapers to dress your desktop
Bungie.net has updated the Halo 3: ODST page with a pair of fresh wallpapers. Game Informer subscribers might remember these two pieces of concept art from a recent issue of the magazine. Looking to dress up your desktop with some Halo flavor? Check them out. Halo 3: ODST follows a lone soldier, crash-landed in New Mombasa. While Master Chief can be considered Superman, this ODST soldier is more comparable to John McClane. One guy with some sweet firepower versus insurmountable odds. Hopefully, he'll complain about as much as McClane did.
Bungie's post-holiday treat, Halo 3: ODST concept art
Holiday be damned, Bungie has continued with its regular Weekly Update. This week the studio released 22 concept images for the upcoming Halo 3 story expansion, Halo 3: ODST. Multiple shots include city landscapes, character art and an up close shot of the new silenced SMG. It's a small update but a nice little holiday treat for people who are down with Halo.%Gallery-40167%
Don't call it Recon, call it Halo 3: ODST
Coming as somewhat of a surprise, team Bungie just made the announcement that Halo 3: Recon will be no more. Well, not the game itself, just the game's name which is now being called Halo 3: ODST. Reason for the name change wasn't given (other than the fact that 3 and ODST have a nice flow), but we're sure the whole ODST name change makes the game's campaign a little more clear for those who like things more straightforward. Bungie also made it clear that the game's release, content and Recon armor giving will not be affected by the name change. Welcome Halo 3: ODST, say goodbye to Recon and long live Bungie.[Thanks, to everyone that sent this in]
Halo 3: Recon is now Halo 3: ODST
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Halo_3_Recon_is_now_Halo_3_ODST'; Just as we were starting to get excited for next year's Halo 3: Recon, we have to delete that name in our mind space and replace it with the far less sexy Halo 3: ODST. Word of the name change came from Bungie this morning, saying the "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."We're gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you're probably still going to want to play it.%Gallery-34046%
Explore New Mombasa in H3: Recon, it's open world
As you may have heard, the latest issue of Game Informer is just chock-full of new info about Halo 3: Recon. CVG has been kind enough to spill some of the beans -- gotta save some beans for the mag, after all -- the biggest of which is the fact that Recon will be an open world game. The story has players taking control of a rookie Orbital Drop Shock Trooper who's looking for his four other squad members in the city of New Mombasa, which you may remember from Halo 2. Using a new PDA, players can set waypoints to find the last known locations of each squad member. Upon arriving, players will discover clues that will trigger a playable flashback in which they take on the role of the missing squad member and find out what happened to him. The flashback levels will play more like a "traditional, linear" Halo level and "unravel the mystery of what went on in New Mombasa."Of course, ODST are not Spartans, so players will have to make do without superhuman speed, jumping, and coordination (i.e no dual wielding). ODSTs also lose the benefit of a motion tracker. Oh, and no handy regenerating shields either, though health will still regenerate. As you might expect, this will make encounters with enemies like Brutes a little more intimidating, especially considering they will now all be much taller and faster than you.Finally, one of the squad members will be played by Nathan Fillion. That is sweet.[Via Joystiq]
GI: Halo 3 Recon is open-world
And the details just keep coming from Game Informer's Halo 3 Recon article. First, we learned the game is going to clock in around three to five hours. Now, from someone who apparently read the article even more closely, we hear that the action will be open-world, a big change from the highly linear Halos (Haloes?) past.We don't mean to argue semantics, but seriously guys? A three- to five-hour open-world game? We have an open world that would take us three to five hours to explore. It's called our house.%Gallery-34046%
Game Informer: Halo 3 Recon '3 to 5' hours, earn Recon armor
Eager for more info on Bungie's Halo 3 expansion, Halo 3 Recon? The scoop addicts at Game Informer are sporting it as their December cover story which, far from being spartan, is chock full o' details on the unusual offering. As we saw in Tokyo, the boys at Bungie are downplaying the game's length, insisting it's not "a $60 game" and is more like "a three to five-hour expansion pack."Perhaps most interesting – especially for the scrupulous amongst you – is the ability to earn Halo 3's ultra-rare "Recon Armor," previously reserved for Bungie staffers and their community-based BFFs. Now, instead of hacking someone's account to get the armor, you can instead complete the gauntlet of 0-point "Vidmaster Challenge" achievements included in the September title update; once you've purchased Halo 3 Recon, that armor will ostensibly be unlocked in Halo 3 multiplayer. Worth the not-$60 pricetag? For some of the Bungie hopeful, undoubtedly.%Gallery-34046%[Via The Escapist]
Microsoft promises a few surprises in 2009
After confirming plans to stick with its current Xbox 360 pricing, Microsoft UK head Stephen McGill has informed Videogamer that there's a "lot of great stuff" headed to the Xbox 360 in 2009. Secret, surprising stuff."I know a lot of the games coming out from us and our third parties. Most of them, in fact, have not been announced because everyone's very focused on what's out for Christmas" says McGill, admitting that "there's lots of great stuff coming in 2009 that people know about. Lots more, I'm sure that they don't know about." Hmm, lots more we don't know about huh?True, we're all focused on the jam packed Holiday 2008 game lineup, but we've been keen to remember that 2009 will bring Halo Wars, Halo 3: Recon and even Resident Evil 5. But even more surprises in 2009? Unimaginable! We'll be accepting of these Xbox surprises, but we're not sure our bank account will be as understanding.[Via Game Stooge]
Bungie update unveils "Lost" E3 podcast
This week's actual Bungie update is light on details but includes twice the podcast punch. As well as releasing a new episode of its popular podcast, Bungie has finally released the "Lost" E3 episode from its cage. After E3 plans to reveal an unnamed title were cancelled by Microsoft, which was later announced as Halo 3: Recon, Bungie has decided the time is right to let fans hear what they thought of what was supposed to be a newly announced title. Head over to the Bungie Weekly Update to download the shows directly and take a look at some Halloween inspired Halo 3 screenshots.[Living Dead image via Bungie.net]
Halo 3: Recon team done with Halo after Recon
In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Bungie's Brian Jarrard made it known that once Halo 3: Recon is complete, the team creating it is moving on to new projects that are not related to Halo. Jarrard stated that there are some map packs on the way, including the Halo 3 Mythic map pack as well as maps associated with Halo 3: Recon, but that the team will move on once the project is complete. According to Jarrard, part of the Recon team will move on to new projects, while others will be moved onto projects already in the works. Of course, we don't know what any of those secret projects are, so we can't rule Halo out entirely, though Jarrard's words seem to imply that they aren't related to Halo. We'll just have to wait and see. The full interview also includes tidbits on Bungie's community building philosophy, the studio's independence, and how the company feels about the NXE. Hit the source link to check it out. [Via Joystiq]
Bungie's Halo team moving to other projects after Recon
Let this be a reminder: Bungie is no longer Microsoft's plaything. In an interview with GameIndustry.biz, Community Director Brian Jarrard indicated that once Halo 3 Recon is out the door late next year, the team working on it will move into territory unknown. "But I think when this project wraps up in a couple of months that will be the time when that team moves on to something else, and part of that team will move on to something else and part of them will probably be absorbed into one of the other projects that are already on the way," he said. Granted, there's a lot of time between now and the Fall 2009 Halo 3 Recon release, so Bungie will be knee-deep in Halo for another year, at least. Provided none of Bungie's other teams tackle the space-loop saga, Microsoft has already assembled a new dream team to keep Halo alive.[Update: Reworded some of the article to eliminate confusion between Bungie as a whole and the specifically mentioned Halo 3 Recon team.]%Gallery-34046%
Bungie free to develop on other platforms
Talking with GamesIndustry.biz while at the Tokyo Game Show, Bungie's Brian Jarrard revealed that alongside the development of Halo 3: Recon they're working on a new IP, which Microsoft has no restrictions on pertaining to which platforms it'll appear on. "No, we're not [tied into a specific platform for new IP]," said Jarrard explaining that "in theory we do have every means to go out and find the right ecosystem, the right partners, to align with. So who knows what the future will bring us." Though, Jarrard did praise the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live as a social platform for their past projects including the entire Halo franchise.That said, we'll wager our entire IRA (which isn't worth much these days) that Bungie's new IP will make its way onto an Xbox platform. It's a no-brainer.
Joystiq interview: Bungie's Jarrard talks Halo 3: Recon, new weapons, details
Recently, Bungie Studios community director Brian Jarrard - better known to Halo fans as "Sketch" - took some time to clear up a few lingering questions about Halo 3: Recon and Halo 3's upcoming Mythic Map Pack as well as some general Bungie topics. From our informal chat, we learn that Halo 3: Recon will stay relatively true to Halo 3's formula, meaning that we won't be seeing any game engine improvements or added features. But Jarrard did confirm that (at minimum) one new weapon will make an appearance in Recon and a new soundtrack will debut. We also touch on the topic of Recon's Forge, learning what it is not and discuss why Bungie chose to not make it as feature-rich as a map editor like, say, what Far Cry 2 has to offer. There's Vidmaster achievement and Mythic Map Pack talk as well and the conversation somehow leads to the topic of global domination and pie. %Gallery-34046%
Bungie talks Recon, Forge, achievements and confirms new weapon
Recently, we asked you -our loyal X3F readers - to submit questions for our interview with Bungie's own Brian "Sketch" Jarrard. And boy did you come through! After sifting through hundreds then choosing a few questions, we digitally sat down with Jarrard to clarify questions about Halo 3: Recon, discuss the Mythic Map Pack and chat about other Bungie related topics. Let's just say we learned a lot! In the interview, Jarrard confirmed that Halo 3: Recon will feature at least one new weapon and a brand new soundtrack, also confirming that the blue / red Covenant outline featured in the Recon trailer is "true to the spirit of the actual game." We also discuss what Recon's Forge won't be and why Bungie chose not to go the route that Far Cry 2 did. As if that wasn't enough exclusive info, we discuss Recon matchmaking, Vidmaster achievements, the Mythic Map Pack maps and even pie. We even snuck in some Humpday Challenge smack talk. Make the jump to read the complete interview.
We need your Halo or Bungie questions
Tomorrow (Tuesday), we will be digitally sitting down with team Bungie to chit-chat about Halo 3: Recon, upcoming Halo 3 DLC and any other topics that come to mind. But we need your help. We formally request that you send us your burning Halo / Bungie related question that only team Bungie can answer. Post your hard hitting (or soft hitting) questions in the comments below, then we'll sift through them prior to Tuesday's interview and hopefully find a few goodies to ask. Bonus points to persons who generate questions that haven't already been answered (ahem) and don't receive a "not comment" response. Now get to it, comment us your Bungie questions ASAP!
First Halo 3: Recon details emerge
Joystiq got a chance to sit down with Bungie's Brian Jarrard to discuss some of the details behind the upcoming Halo 3 experience, Recon. Many questions have been lobbed at the title since it was first officially revealed, and here, without further ado, are some of the answers (politely cribbed directly from Joystiq): "It will be a standalone disc sold in stores in boxes next Fall. It's also going to include some multiplayer maps." "It is a first-person shooter still ... It's not a squad-based shooter." "As an ODST, compared to playing as in invulnerable Spartan, you are going to have to sort of pick and choose your encounters a little bit differently." "It is going to very much feel like Halo. Full feature parity." A few other details. Recon (as most have theorized) takes place directly after the Prophet of Regret jumped into slipspace during Halo 2, causing the destruction of New Mombasa. Players take the role of a single ODST -- not a full squad. Also, it would appear that -- as implied by the trailer above -- the Superintendent (the little green circle dude) will serve as Recon's "Cortana." When asked about this, Jarrard replied, "I think your observations seem pretty spot on. It certainly seems like there's a guiding hand of some sort there." %Gallery-34045%
TGS 08: Bungie details Halo 3: Recon
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/TGS_08_Bungie_details_Halo_3_Recon'; After several months of unplanned silence ("This was the project we originally were intending to announce at E3," they say), Bungie finally revealed Halo 3: Recon at TGS. We had an opportunity to talk with Luke Smith and Brian Jerrard during a group meeting in Tokyo this morning and Jerrard briefly addressed some of the more obvious questions we were bound to have: "It will be a standalone disc sold in stores in boxes next Fall. It's also going to include some multiplayer maps." "It is a first-person shooter still ... It's not a squad-based shooter." "As an ODST, compared to playing as in invulnerable Spartan, you are going to have to sort of pick and choose your encounters a little bit differently." "It is going to very much feel like Halo. Full feature parity." That out of the way, Jerrard explained that Recon isn't the only thing Bungie's been up to since jumping off the Microsoft Express this time last year: "This is one of a few projects that we're currently working on. This is the first time at Bungie we've actually had multiple things happening at once and not just, every three years, doing the massive game release." In order to develop Recon, Bungie used a "small agile team" made up of a "bunch of elders" who started the Halo: Combat Evolved franchise some seven years ago (that doesn't sound like ex-GRAWer Christian Allen to us). Who better than to deliver a "bit of a departure" from the last three titles? %Gallery-34046%
TGS 08: John Schappert on NXE, Halo 3: Recon, and Xbox in Japan
Following his TGS keynote, Microsoft's John Schappert crammed himself into a stuffy hotel room with about a dozen representatives from various gaming outlets, including yours truly. Tasked with peppering Schappert with questions, we asked about the sales figures he cited in the keynote (were those worldwide figures?), the decision to delay the Halo 3: Recon announcement from E3 to TGS (do the Japanese even play Halo?), the spring / fall update schedule, and Microsoft's plans to delist XBLA content (don't hold your breath). Instead of reading our condensed version, we've embedded the audio below for your listening pleasure. [MP3 download]
