Bungie-Studios
Latest
What are the odds? Halo driftwood
We have a few theories about the above images. Theory one: the Halo universe really exists, and the events in the games occurred eons in the past. A Brute Shot somehow managed to escape decay by being embedded in a tree and thus encased in petrified wood. Theory two (slightly more plausible than theory one): the uppermost image is a piece of driftwood miraculously worn down to the near exact shape of a Brute Shot. Perhaps the most amazing thing of all, this particular piece of driftwood just happened to be found by someone who recognized what it looked like. We ask you, what are the odds?Anyone else care to share some 360 related found art with us?[Via HBO]
Halo 3 video and screens galore! [update 5]
Update 5: At Bungie's request, we have pulled the previously posted content. In its place is the handsome portrait of the Master Chief you see above. Keep on truckin' Bungie, we only pry because we love.
Bungie profiles Halo 3's Mongoose ATV
Bungie has drawn up a geeked-out dossier of Halo's M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle, commonly referred to as the "Mongoose." Included in the report are various battle strategies, which suggest the Mongoose will play a key role in taking control of certain maps' neutral points as players use the lightweight vehicles to race to strategically placed turrets and sniper positions. The M274 will also be an important asset in Capture the Flag multiplayer matches. Anyone eager for a test drive during the upcoming Halo 3 beta?
Halo 3 Mongoose details aplenty, new pics
Bungie has posted an article detailing the new Mongoose ATV set to make its debut in Halo 3. The article reads more like an army field report, which is kind of interesting (especially if you're a Halo-verse geek). Long story short, the Mongoose is fast and should feel right at home to fans of the Warthog. The article also mentions a few strategies that utilize a Mongoose. As you would expect, the fast (but unarmed) Mongoose is best for securing objectives (flags, bombs, etc.). For example, each base in Valhalla has two Mongooses (Mongeese?). Get your team on both Mongooses (two driving, and two riding "brokeback") and hightail it to the enemy base. Grab the flag and meet your Mongoose at the rendezvous point (this could be behind the base or at the Mancannon landing zone). Voila, captured flag. Hit the "read" link to check out the article and see some new images of the Mongoose. [Thanks, un1qu3 n3wy0rk}
Halo 3 documentary broken down into itty, bitty pieces
89 of 'em to be exact. That's really making the Et tu, Brute? documentary last a little while longer, and moves things up to a whole new level of fanaticism. It also proves that Halo fans are hardcore, and are probably going through Bungie's trash bins on a nightly basis. Let us know if you find anything good, but if you find Frankie's chewed gum ... spare us the dental records. Check out all of the photo-remnants from the chop-job on YouNEWB.com, and try to find new tidbits about the upcoming Halo 3. At the very least, you've got all new desktops for your computer, and at the worst, you've wasted 15 minutes of your life. Blame us or love us, it's your call. [Thanks, Billy Bob]
Halo 2 for Windows Vista: frag friends on PC and 360 (but not together) [update 1]
With Bill Gates' CES keynote winding down, we're left to sort through the gaming news that flooded out from Microsoft. While there was no mention of a new Xbox 360 console, or Gears of War for PC, there was a lot of hubbub about Games for Windows. Microsoft showed off UNO playing cross-platform on a PC using the Xbox Live service, allowing Xbox 360 users to get some game on with PC users. However, where Microsoft had been saying that Halo 2 wouldn't work with Live Anywhere, we now know that's wrong still true. The same press release touting the ultra-hot UNO news also goes on to say, "Microsoft also showed off Shadowrun (Microsoft Game Studios) and Halo 2 for Windows Vista (Microsoft Game Studios), the first of many titles that will enable gamers on Windows Vista to connect with their friends on Xbox 360 through the Live network." See update below - apparently you'll be able to interact in some way with Xbox Live users, but not via gameplay. Bing! Official confirmation that you'll be able to reach out across networks, systems, and enemy lines to bring the Halo 2 experience to a cubicle near you. Can't leave the office early to make a match? No sweat, fire up the PC and join your buds on Xbox Live. We not sure how nice the two systems will play together, but it's a promising announcement. Update: MS rep - "Bungie's FAQ is correct; there is no cross-platform gameplay between Vista and Xbox 360." So, you can just think about what almost was.
Bungie's Weekly Update gives us warm fuzzies
Another week has come to an end and another Bungie Weekly Update has been posted. Inside this week's update Frankie let's us know how Halo 3 is coming along and other nuggets of info. Currently, the team is tinkering with the "dead cam" that shows up when you die. They're pondering the idea of giving more options to the user so they won't be so bored in the long "dead wait". Also, that mysterious "X" button we have yet to learn about may eventually be moved, switching controls in-game will be much easier, and Halo 2 matchmaking updates will be scarce in the future. And if you're still confused about how the "Rule of Three" beta entry works or how the Crackdown invitation will be implemented, just make the jump. And if that doesn't sell you, Bungie is hiring a full-time Halo 3 tester ... but you have to be an adult ... have testing experience ... and live in the Seattle area.
Play Halo 2, get invited to Halo 3 beta
Having failed miserably at obtaining entry into this Spring's Halo 3 beta program, you'll no doubt be pleased to learn of yet another opportunity to partake in first-person shooting and having your sexuality questioned by obnoxious brats. In fact, there are 13,333 such opportunities -- all you need to do is endure three hours of Halo 2 online. It's easy. Play Halo 2 online for three hours between Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, 12:01 a.m. EST and Feb. 3, 2007, 11:59 p.m. EST. If you survive, rush to the official Halo 3 website and be part of the first 13,333 gamers to register in the "Rule of Three" program. If, however, you end up being number 13,334 ... well, you'll have to buy Crackdown. As previously reported, copies of Crackdown will contain invites to the Halo 3 beta program. Releasing on February 20, the game disc will act as a key to download the required data from Xbox Live Marketplace. Microsoft promises to release further information regarding the program for each region, though NTSC importers stuck in exotic countries may wish to consider the Crackdown route in the meantime. [Full press release after the break.]
Announcing two new gateways to Halo 3 beta
digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Two_new_ways_into_the_Halo_3_beta_announced'; Microsoft today announced two new ways for gamers to gain access to the Halo 3 beta. The first wave of the beta registration took place in December, and these two additional ways seem to be the only remaining methods for hopeful players to register. The first -- which we've already reported -- is to buy a specially marked copy of Crackdown. Revealed in the press release is the fact that the Crackdown disc itself will act as your key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace. Crackdown is scheduled to hit the US February 20, Asian territories February 22, and Europe February 23.The second new method is called rule " Rule of Three." In order to qualify, Xbox 360 owners must participate in at least three hours of Halo 2 multiplayer sessions over Xbox Live between February 1 and February 3. Once this is accomplished, players must then register at Halo3.com. The "Rule of Three" program is open only to US residents age 17 and older. The first 13,333 players to register will be accepted into the beta.Please note that 360 owners must have a hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription to apply for either of these methods.
Halo 3 tested in Iraq by our soldiers [update 1]
Over at the Gamespot's forums pictures and a brief video have surfaced of the Halo 3 beta being played by soliders in Iraq. There are a few offscreen pictures posted and a short video showing what looks to be either the Halo 3 loading screen or the title screen. Bungie and Microsoft set up a huge gaming station to showcase Halo 3 multiplayer for the soldiers ... how friggin' cool is that? If any soldier living overseas is reading this, please send us a tip if you know about this sneak peak at Halo 3 and/or your reactions if you got some hands on time. More pictures and video after the break ... salute! Update 1: Another video was found, updated video links after the break. [Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
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]
Halo 3: deconstructing 'Et Tu Brute'
"If you're not a helpless Halo nerd, turn back NOW!" So begins this nearly half-hour-long analysis of the 7-minute Halo 3 ViDoc released on Xbox Live Marketplace and across the internet last week. Secrets exposed? Spoilers unraveled? Not quite. Just loads and loads of speculation. It's sorta like watching a DVD with the director's commentary on -- minus the director.
Buy Crackdown, get Halo 3 beta invite
In the most recent issue of Gamepro magazine is an ad for Microsoft's Crackdown ... but in the lower right corner is a dirty little secret. The fine print clearly states that with purchase of Crackdown you'll receive a key code to get into the (wait for it) Halo 3 beta this Spring! Microsoft's marketing team must have thought, "what would be the best way to sell this damn game? Wait, I got it! We'll use our top franchise to spur game sales in a co-branded venture ... genius!". Though, we're still betting the bank on being randomly selected for the beta from Halo3.com. But if you have Crackdown on pre-order or were going to purchase it anyway, it looks like you'll be beta testing Halo 3 next year (crosses fingers hoping this isn't a photoshopped Gamepro ad). [Via Joystiq]
Brute video reveals Covenant shotgun?
Ah, if there's anything better than milking Halo 3 content for all it's worth, we have not seen it. A savvy forum goer at High Impact Halo took some still shots of the new Brute video and has revealed what looks like a Covenant shotgun. The gun model itself looks like it's still a placeholder, but the image above shows definite traits of a shotgun-like weapon. Obviously, the blue lasers are going in several directions, all emanating from the same point. This could merely be a visual effect, but it looks as if some of the beams are impacting the Brute closest to the foreground (follow the "read" link for high res images). Given the Brutes tendency towards weapons with more, ahem, brute force, it wouldn't be surprising to see them have some sort of shotty.Will it make it into the final game? We'll just have to wait and see.[Thanks, Sam Meyer]
Bungie talks up the Brute video
Now that the latest Halo 3 "ViDoc" has been released and allowed to simmer for a few hours, Bungie has responded to some of the most common questions and concerns associated with it. Chief among these questions is of course the graphics. Already announced as being placeholder graphics, many still found the video to be lacking -- in some cases barely above Halo 2's visual quality. In response, Bungie says that essentially nothing in the video represents the actual look of Halo 3, save for a few very brief snippets. Furthermore, all footage in the video is several months old, as that is when they started creating the documentary.
Halo 3 Brute video: thoughts, impressions
Okay, the Halo 3 Brute documentary is now available on Marketplace. Doubtless, many of you have watched it already, while other poor souls are forced to go to work (if you are stuck at work, check out some off screen images here). You know what time it is? That's right, time to over-analyze!
Confirmed: Halo 3 documentary hitting XBLM at 2AM
Bungie just posted a confirmation note that the new, as they call it, ViDoc will go live on the XBLM at 2 AM PST Wednesday morning. Frankie mentions that this is solely a documentary looking into the world of the Brutes and their role in Halo 3 and does not represent finished graphics or game models. He did make note that the documentary will be 7 minutes long and only be available on the XBLM in English, but will spread to new formats soon. SD and HD versions will be available so get ready ... more Halo 3 content is coming in a matter of hours. Gimme' a wort wort wort! [Thanks, Ben]
Halo 3 case mod is ... erm ... backwards
The above picture is reason enough to leave case modding to the professionals. Klyde over at xbox-scene's forums proudly posted his first 360 case mod and was looking for a little feedback. The cutout of the Halo 3 logo was done quite well, craftsmanship is on par, but there is one tiny problem. The logo was cut out backwards, making this mod look ... craptacular. Oh well Klyde, this was your first case mod so we know your future mods can only get better (as we're looking forward to them). [Via Digg]
New Halo 3 campaign video next week
Okay, so we got a big nasty rumor about playable Brutes and a new Halo 3 video yesterday. Those that stuck with the story know that Bungie's own Frankie later debunked the idea of playable Brutes. Luckily, part of the rumor is true, as Frankie has announced that we will be seeing a new video next week. He reveals almost nothing about the video, except that it will deal with the campaign mode of Halo 3. We've only had one snippet of the campaign mode so far, and that is the image above, so we're damned excited to see something new. Naturally we have our dreams (more Spartans?) but we'll try not to get our hopes too high. Let us conclude by making one Christmas wish: oh please let it have actual gameplay.
Bungie dev departs to deploy new studio, Certain Affinity [update 1]
Halo 3 multiplayer lead Max Hoberman has left Redmond-based Bungie Studios to form his own studio, Certain Affinity in Austin, Texas. In a swan song interview with former employers Bungie, Hoberman confirms that he will still remain close to the Bungie staff. Hoberman notes that since this decision has been in the works for some time, his multiplayer vision and planning will continue to haunt the team finishing up Halo 3, now in its alpha stage of development. Certain Affinity is currently a staff of nine experienced developers, averaging 12 years of industry experience apiece, and are currently seeking an Art Director for team player number 10. Their first project will be finishing up Halo 2 multiplayer maps. Certain Affinity is "simultaneously building a game of our own" that we guess will be made using the Halo engine, once the team is acclimated to it. What's amazing is that, from what we can tell, Hoberman's experience in the games industry revolves entirely around Halo. Despite this, Hoberman is able to assemble an experienced team with accredited backgrounds and track records for his studio. Never underestimate the power of a key franchise. Previous high-profile Bungie employee to set out on their own include co-founder Alex Seropian, whose studio Wideload Games adapted the Halo engine to make Stubbs the Zombie in "Rebel Without a Pulse," and lead producer Hamilton Chu, whose studio Giant Bite has yet to announce a project.[Update 1: As many commentors have pointed out, Bungie moved from Chicago to Redmond. Sorry about the confusion!]
