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Original Halo: CE to see a full HD (& 3D) remake on Xbox 360?
So far Microsoft's been pretty passive about jumping on 3D gaming, while several games on the Xbox 360 support it (NBA 2K11 after a patch last month, Call of Duty: Black Ops) there's no support in the system menus and not in any of its first party games, but that may be about to change. Our friends at Joystiq have learned that the remake of Halo: Combat Evolved they've been hearing about will ship this holiday season with new art assets ready for 1080p and 3DTVs. The biggest gameplay enhancement mentioned is online co-op, so we'd suggest calling your old college roommate and clearing a weekend or two around November 15th (the ten year anniversary of the release of the original game) just in case.
Halo: Combat Evolved remake coming this holiday
Joystiq has learned that the previously rumored remake of Halo: Combat Evolved will indeed launch this holiday season for Xbox 360 with a full visual overhaul. Sources explain that the re-release is not Bungie's 2001 Xbox game simply running at a higher resolution -- it's being remade with new art assets. While Halo's audio will likely remain unaltered, the controls will allow for more recent Halo configurations. The Halo: Combat Evolved remake is allegedly being developed by New Jersey-based Saber Interactive, the company behind TimeShift and Namco's upcoming Inversion, but we've been unable to confirm the nature of the engine powering it. We understand that it's something other than the Reach engine. The Halo: Combat Evolved update, one of two Halo games currently in development under the watchful eye of 343 Industries, is expected to support 1080p resolution and 3D televisions. Details on multiplayer are supposedly still being worked out, but we understand the remake will likely feature online co-op (the original game supported two-player split-screen co-op). The game is expected to re-evolve on November 15, 2011, ten years after Halo: Combat Evolved launched alongside the Xbox. Our sources didn't know of any plans to similarly upgrade the recently disconnected Halo 2, but it's hard to imagine Microsoft playing favorites with its biggest franchise.
Microsoft has 'nothing to announce at this time' regarding Halo remake rumors
Microsoft has responded to European chatter surrounding a Halo: Combat Evolved high-definition remake by saying, "Right now our focus is on supporting Halo: Reach. We have nothing to announce at this time." Putting that through the Joystiq PR Translation Machine pops out one thing: "42." Clearly, we need to call maintenance. Eurogamer published the quote from Microsoft after Games Master magazine implied that a Halo remake was underway at 343 Industries (the current Halo custodian), using the Reach engine. Allegedly, the HD Halo would drop next November, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the original Xbox shooter.
Halo: Combat Evolved and the battle for boats
During development of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, Bungie actually created a working boat. One map in particular was discussed during today's Bungie panel at PAX 2010 -- an area with several islands where the player would have to navigate from one to the other via watercraft. Bungie showed a video of an early rendering of the craft in use, which very much looked like a futuristic version of a cigarette boat. In the end, it was cut from the game -- not because it didn't handle well, but because "it wasn't fun." Personally, we would've liked to try our hand at aquatic Haloing, but then again we're huge fans of Miami Vice.
Halo Elite costume sets the bar for DIY
Oh, you've made your own assault rifle from Halo? That's cute. Wait, you've made your own Spartan suit? Meh, it's okay, we guess. See, the dudes at Peter Mander FX have ruined us forever, because they've produced about the best homage to Halo one could ever hope for: the ultra-realistic Elite suit you see above. Largely comprised of plastic, TLC and dark magicks, the suit not only looks impressive, but it's animatronic. We can't imagine the blood, sweat and/or tears it took to produce such a lifelike recreation of this Covenant class, but we can get some idea from the video documenting the creation of this behemoth, which you can find past the break. [Image source: Device Magazine]
XBLM Deal of the Week: Halo
The fourth and final of Microsoft's weekly Xbox Live Marketplace holiday deals is none other than the original Halo: Combat Evolved. Major Nelson has announced that the franchise-launching, system-selling FPS will be available for 600 ($7.50) starting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 23 for Xbox Live Gold members. Its usual going price is 1200 ($15). When the history of video games eventually becomes mainstream college curriculum, Halo will the "required playing" equivalent of War and Peace. You can get ahead of the curve – or make sure you're as hip as those young whippersnappers – for one week only. Last week's deal, Bomberman Live, is available until midnight tonight at the half-price sum of 600 ($7.50).
Holiday Deal of the Week: Halo: Combat Evolved
Continuing the ho, ho holiday tradition of discounting a piece of Xbox Live Marketplace content every seven days, Major Nelson just informed us that Halo: Combat Evolved is this week's Holiday Deal of the Week! Starting tomorrow, the Halo: Combat Evolved Xbox Originals title will be 50% off and only cost you 600 Microsoft points. Usually we'd put up a fuss about Xbox Originals, their lack of achievements and overpriced nature, but 600 points for a gaming classic? We just don't have the heart to fuss about that. Enjoy teh dizcounted Haloz.
Fall Update brings downloadable Xbox games December 2
And here we were hoping our favorite console was going to learn how to make julienne fries. Alas, no. Instead, the Fall Dashboard Update for the Xbox 360 brings with it the ability to download original Xbox games. The news comes from Official Xbox Magazine (by way of CVG, whose article has since been pulled), which reports that the update will be available December 2nd. The first round of Xbox titles up for grabs are Halo: Combat Evolved (duh), Fable, Indigo Prophecy, Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex, and Burnout 3. Microsoft apparently plans to make as much of the original Xbox catalogue available as possible (can we get to work on Panzer Dragoon Orta, please?). Games are expected to cost 1200 MS Points ($15 U.S.). Of course, there are still some unanswered questions. How much space will the games take up? Will they be upscaled to HD (we're betting yes)? Will Halo: Combat Evolved fans finally get Live enabled multiplayer? All the games on the list have 360 sequels already out or in the works except Crimson Skies and Indigo Prophecy. Is this a hint that the rumored Crimson Skies sequel is real? Is Indigo Prophecy getting a much deserved sequel? Only time will tell, but at least you shouldn't have to wait too long. [Via Joystiq]
Playing Halo PC with a ... guitar?
Trying to use the Guitar Hero II guitar controller for other applications may be a tad difficult, especially if you try to play a first person shooter with it. But AMarine decided to do just that and setup his guitar to control Master Chief on Halo PC. After mapping the buttons and demoing it in game we're going to say it seems ... awkward. But that's expected. We totally give AMarine props for taking the jump and trying it out, but would love to see someone crazy enough to master the use of the guitar in Halo. That's the challenge guys, get twenty kills in a ranked Halo PC game using the Guitar Hero II guitar as a controller and send us the vid. Anyone up for the challenge? [Via 360style.net]
Halo & Halo 2 soundboard is unfreakin believable
You know those annoying soundboards that litter the internet? Yeah, those ones. We actually found a soundboard that is less than annoying, it's more along the lines of being cool and amazing. Check out the Halo and Halo 2 multiplayer soundboard over at Pufile. They are even conveniently color coded, blue is Halo 2 and red is Halo. Not only can you use the multiplayer sounds for crank calls, but as a bonus you'll feel violent doing it! And can someone back us up on this one, it's called "unfreakin believable" not "unfrickin believable" ... right guys? [Via Digg]
Get your own plasma rifle! [update 1]
Typically, Halo makes gamers think of things like guns, explosions, Marines, or "overrated." For eBay user wansitler, Halo's only meaning is "Arts and Crafts." This guy went to the trouble of precisely replicating a lifesize...um...replica of a Covenant plasma rifle from Halo. Actually, it's made of wood so, you know, it won't shoot searing hot plasma or anything. Still, if you'd like to own this interesting conversation piece/girlfriend repellent, it can be yours for the bargain price of US $175 -- or less if you go in for the whole "auction" thing.Any takers? Maybe these guys will buy it just so they can destroy it.[Via HBO]Update 1: Oops. Looks like someone already snatched up this wondrous piece of woodwork. Congratulations, pyrometheous. Now just convince your better half to let you mount it on the wall.
F$%# (bottle) rocket n00b!
Halo fan FyreWulff has created a replica of the SPNKR rocket launcher to celebrate US independence this year. The launcher -- still a work in progress -- takes on the trademark Halo design, including the "HOLD LIKE THIS" image on the side. Describing his project, FyreWulff said: "...This is not meant to be a 1:1 remake of the Halo rocket launcher. I'm basically "skinning" another (fake!) rocket launcher to look like it, as best as possible." The launcher will be used to fire holiday shells and bottle rockets this 4th of July. Whether you're a Halo fan or not, surely there is no better way to celebrate our country than by blowing up a small part of it. Follow the read link for more pictures. Anybody else have any cool holiday projects? [Via HBO]
Halo: Combat Evolved on XBLM?
The April issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly has yet another Halo rumor to report (p. 67): In last issue's Rumor Mill, I mentioned that Xbox 360 owners will soon be able to buy full Xbox 1 games via Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. And now I've got the juicy scoop on the first game that Bill Gates' crew will make available. Look for Bungie's epic first-person shooter Halo on the Marketplace sometime before this summer. I only hope the developer makes this version's multiplayer mode Xbox Live compatible." Not a bad way to fill up a couple gigs worth of HD space and sort of believable given Sony and Nintendo's plans to release old games online. How many people think this will come to pass? If they can can make Halo available via XBLM, why not Halo 3? [Thanks, Zilazapper]
Halo 1 & 2 to be "upgraded" on Xbox 360
1up has pointed out an interesting quote in the latest Bungie Weekly update. Besides detailing the new Dead or Alive 4 addition, Spartan 458, the update also alludes to "how Halo one and two look on 360, and it's all good news." While no other information was mentioned, it does sound like the Halos might be getting a few technical tweaks in their transition to the next generation Xbox console. Crisper models? Faster frame rates? HDTV support? It'd be interesting to see if the improvements are anything to shout about, but imagine what else companies could do when they bring their Xbox games over to the 360. How about, for example, making Halo 1 Xbox Live-compatible? [via 1up]
