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Halo: Reach infographic spills stats for first three months
The Grunt genocide continues, a fact highlighted in Bungie's latest and very thorough infographic for Halo: Reach. 11 billion grunts have met their demise at the hands of a Spartan, representing a full third of all Covenant kills across all gametypes. Between September 14 and December 10, players have logged "just over 1.3 billion games," taking up a collective 24,000 years of actual human time and earning 900 trillion credits. A stunning 1,500 people have managed to hang on to enough of those creds to nab the "Pestilence" armor effect, while only 1,000 have earned "Inclement Weather." More unbelievable? 320,000 people have won the "Unf-believable" medal, earned by completing 40 kills without dying. We totally would've gotten that one too, had that kamikaze Grunt not popped around the corner at the last minute. Never again! The infographic can be seen in full just below the break.
Bungie update images add 250 Gamerscore, 10 'Cheevos to Halo: Reach
This week's Bungie.net news update brought with it more than just info about Halo: Reach's Xbox Live stats -- it also featured a couple of screens showing an extra 10 Achievements and 250 Gamerscore for the just released title. In a segment explaining how to install the game to the 360's hard drive, two screens can be clearly seen with the adjusted Gamerscore and 'Cheevo count (1250 up from 1000 Gamerscore and 59 up from 49 Achievements). Bungie doesn't directly address the changes in its update, instead hinting at "some new stuff" being added in a "potential second October update." Unfortunately, this hint is dropped right after talk of the regular housekeeping performed on Halo multiplayer, so it's unclear what's being hinted at directly. Halo 3 was eventually lavished with an astonishing 1750 Gamerscore when all was said and done, so the idea of an extra 250 doesn't seem like much of a reach if you ask us. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Bungie talks H3 video renderer and fileshare update
This week's Bungie Weekly Update is an informative doosie, full of information regarding Halo 3 matchmaking changes, double EXP weekends, fileshare changes and a Bungie PRO video renderer. Wait, wah? Video renderer? Oh yes, children, a video renderer. Team Bungie just announced that in the not too distant future, Bungie PRO subscribers (who pay 750 MS points a year) will have the ability to take their Halo 3 film clips and render them into WMV through Bungie.net. Wowza! Specifics including resolution, how it functions and its rollout haven't been announced yet, but keep your eyes peeled.The other big news is next week's launch of an all new Bungie.net fileshare system that'll make tracking files easier, grouping content slicker and showing off your work much simpler. The implementation of tags, content grouping and Bungie cards is super sexy and are all changes we welcome with open arms. Make the jump to get learned and get prepared for next Bungie's Tokyo Game Show reveal next week. KEEP IT CLEAN!
Bungie clears up Halo 3 rumors, reveals matchmaking updates
The latest Bungie Weekly Update is an informative "doosy", chock full of matchmaking playlist updates, a title update release date, PAX 2008 plans and some rumor squashing. So, let's dive in.First on the list of Bungie news, some rumor squashing. According to team Bungie, the Halo 3 acceptance videos that fans across the internets have picked apart and analyzed have been picked apart and analyzed way too much. Bluntly put, Bungie informs us that "there will be no insertion of Campaign objects, enemies or friendlies via the Forge as folks have speculated" and that there will be no "new feature that implements Campaign objects into multiplayer." Bungie then gives everyone some life advice, telling us all to "calm yourselves down, pump the brakes, and take a breath." Consider us calmed, breathed and our brakes pumped.Other than some rumor busting, there's a list of September Halo 3 matchmaking updates (the removal and addition of various playlists) and confirmation that, come September 16th, the second Halo 3 title update will be released. Finally, for PAX attendees, Bungie plans on doing a few autograph signings, a few Recon competitions and selling a limited number of PAX-exclusive Bungie t-shirts. Phew! We're out of breath, make the jump to get your weekly (double) dose of Bungie news ...
June bugs bring us a Halo 3 matchmaking update
Halo 3 matchmaking news (which was painstakingly mined from Friday's Bungie Weekly Update) has arrived, informing us that next month Bungie will be switching up and tweaking Halo 3's matchmaking playlists. Among the changes that are set to go live on June 1st are a new Head to Head playlist and random updates to nearly every other playlist that's available, with special emphasis on making the underperforming Ranked Big Team Battle more inviting. Make the jump to read the complete June Halo 3 matchmaking update breakdown and get learnified.
Photoshop Frankie, then you can haz Recon
If you're looking for new Halo 3 information, then this week's Bungie Weekly Update isn't for you because Frankie is still missing in action and isn't doing his job. Though, if you're looking for a new way to earn Recon armor AND a way to mock Frankie publicly, then this week's Bungie Weekly Update IS for you.Bungie is holding a contest where they're challenging expert (and not so expert) Photoshoppers to take some old Frankie photos (ones where he actually has hair) and mess with him. The three categories for entry include Best Use of Frank's Image via an Existing Internet Meme, Best Utilization of Frank's Image in a Motivational Poster and Best Use of Frank's Image Inspired by a Major Motion Picture and the winner from each category will walk away with Recon. Fire up Photoshop, there's Recon to earn ...
Bungie Pro free with H3 Legendary DLC purchase
Last night's Bungie Weekly Update brought great news for future Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack purchasers (whose fileshare is getting bloated) with the announcement of a bonus offer.For a limited time (how limited, we aren't sure) anyone who purchases Halo 3's Legendary Map Pack DLC will receive a four month subscription to Bungie Pro for FREE! Already have Bungie Pro? Then you'll get an additional four months tacked onto your subscription. Easy as cake! Now be sure to thank Bungie for the added bonus come Tuesday. We'll start the appreciation chain ... "thank you Bungie!"We shall also mention that the Bungie Weekly Update covers changes to Halo 3's matchmaking playlist for the month of May including the removal of Team Control and addition of SWAT. Make the jump to read about all the playlist deets.
Halo 3 Legendary DLC details incoming and some snowy pics too
Sound the alarm and wake up your neighbors, because this week's Bungie Weekly Update confirms that next Tuesday, March 18th Bungie will reveal almost all there is all to know about the Legendary Map Pack. Details including the unveiling a new mystery map that'll join the already announced Ghost Town, other random informative bits as well as a specific release date for the new DLC. And to get us pumped for Tuesday's big reveal, Bungie posted four new images (all viewable in the gallery below) of a few vehicles we'll be seeing in the soon to be announced map and, wouldn't you know, they all have a wintry white paint job. Winterized vehicles including traditional rides like the Warthog and Mongoose as well as a snowy Scorpion and a re-balanced Hornet minus those damn, overpowered tracking missiles. So, using this knowledge and our expert analytical skills, we can pretty much confirm that one of the two yet to be announced Legendary maps will be full of snow and will be HUGE. Oh how we can't wait until Tuesday ... joy, joy, joy!%Gallery-16630%
Bungie answers 'your' Halo 3 questions
If you're looking for more Legendary Map Pack media in this week's Bungie Weekly Update then be prepared for disappointment, because there isn't any. But this week you do get a lot of answers to a lot of your questions, although we do use the word "your" very liberally. We say this because we can't be sure if your (as in you) questions are being answered or if your (as in the Halo 3 community as a whole) questions get answered. Confused yet? Good. In answering some of "your" Halo 3 questions, Bungie mentions the possibility of adding Team Swat, adding more competitive playlists and the real reason why our pretty fire bomb and Flare / Radar Jammer equipment are not used in matchmaking. You'll also be smacked in the face with a long and in-depth history of the Bumper Jumper control scheme as well. Though, if that sounds like a yawn fest to you, just skip the first half of this week's update.
Halo 3: A little more Ghost Town, but top down
This past Thursday, Bungie surprised everyone by revealing some information and a few pictures of Ghost Town, one of three multiplayer maps to be included in this Spring's Legendary Map Pack DLC. But that wasn't enough of a tease, so Bungie (being the givers they are) decided to release a top down view image of Ghost Town in this week's Bungie Weekly Update. How caring of them. You can view the super neat top down pic in our ever expanding Legendary Map Pack gallery which we embedded below. As a bonus, Bungie even marked where all the default weapons are located and labeled where each of the three previously released screenshots were taken. Nice! And is it just us, or is anyone else semi-excited to get a glimpse of these heavily marketed "God rays"? Bring on the pretty light!Also, if you participated in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre last week, be sure to make the jump to see if you made it onto Bungie's list of prizing winning pwners. If you're one of the lucky few, you can officially has Recon.%Gallery-16630%
Bungie talks new H3 maps and plays with toys
Over on Bungie.net this week, Bungie talks about the three upcoming downloadable content Halo 3 maps officially becoming "content complete", which means they are pretty much done and just need a bunch of testing. The three maps, codenamed "Cottonball", "Purple Reign" and "OK Corral", all vary in size from small to the the ginormous and should give plenty of variety when the DLC hits this Spring. And for the record, Purple Reign's "one way glass" sound wicked cool and OK Corral's twisted wreckage, broken buildings and overall destruction makes our inner fanboy smile uncontrollably. Make the jump to get all the descriptive deets on these three upcoming gems in the rough.Finally, the Bungie Weekly Update gives us pictorial evidence of what happens when Halo movie props from WETA and team Bungie mix ... childish, random behavior. You owe it to yourself to look over the pictures of team Bungie playing with life size replicas of Carbines, Spike Grenades and Gravity Hammers. They even got a game of Grifball going using their newly found toys. Anyhoo, harmony and a good gut chuckle is but a click away.
Bungie's Halo 3 Q&A: Life, new maps and armor
Last night's newly posted Bungie Weekly Update features talk of mis-communication and the new McFarlane figures, but most importantly they answered a bunch of Halo 3 community questions. How nice of them.In their "FAQ ATTACK!", team Bungie took on the community's hardest hitting questions including the gems "Which is Bungie's favorite – Badgers or Raccoons?" and "Why won't you guys accept my Friend Requests?!" Not only are those answered, but the auto-update is discussed, Standoff Easter Eggs get clarification, matchmaking hopper changes are pondered and we get confirmation there there will be water in the upcoming Halo 3 maps. We're not worthy! Get your second January dose of Bungie Weekly Update goodness after the jump, before you get a case of the shakes and black out.
Bungie lays out matchmaking map changes
We asked for it and in typical Bungie fashion, they delivered. As part of this week's Bungie Weekly Update, Frankie conveniently outlined all the changes that have been made to Halo 3's matchmaking including the different weapon changes in each map. Go ahead, analyze all the changes after the break and be sure to take note that Bungie doesn't like the Mauler or non-Bubble Shield Equipment. You see, the Mauler has been either removed, replaced or reduced in each map and has an increased spawn time while the Flare and Radar Jammer have been removed entirely. We ask why all the Mauler hate Bungie? Are you admitting weapon balance defeat and giving up on the love it or hate it "can opener"? For shame! For shame!
Bungie: Heroic Map Pack pricing isn't left up to us
The announcement and impending release of Halo 3's Heroic Map Pack hasn't been met with overwhelming praise, specifically due to the content's pricing. 800 Microsoft points for three (yes, three) multiplayer maps is a bit spendy and translates to a higher cost per map than the once uber expensive Hidden Fronts maps offered by Gears. But Bungie wants you to know that they feel your pain and that they do not have any input to how much Halo 3 DLC costs.Speaking in this week's Bungie Weekly Update, Frankie talks about all kinds of Halo 3 updates going on and mentions the DLC pricing saying that the it is "not something we decide unfortunately – but in the long term, like those Halo 2 maps they'll eventually be free of charge". Which is true, the fact that the maps will eventually become free content. But the fact is that diehard Halo fanboys want the content now and 800 points is, well ... 800 points. Maybe we have to accept that Microsoft Game Studios loves their spendy DLC and sometimes we just have live with it and not buy a latte this week. But lattes are so good ...
Bungie teases about Halo 3 news coming Monday
This week's Bungie Weekly Update talks mostly about Halo 3's upcoming multiplayer map DLC, but nestled in at the end, the almighty Lukester dangles a tempting piece of Halo 3 news in our collective faces. What a tease.Concluding the update, Luke mentions that since Turkey Day is next week there will be no podcast or Weekly Update posted. But, as a replacement for no updates, he hints at goodness that'll be announced early next week saying that "on Monday (November 19) folks are definitely going to want to check back in here at Bungie.net and keep faces pressed to their monitors like children breathing on school bus windows in November, because there will be news. Oh yes, there will be news."So, what could the exciting news be? We're thinking that since the Weekly Update focused on the upcoming Halo 3 map DLC it'll either be the announcement of the official map names, screenshots from them or just general details for when the new content will hit the Marketplace. We'll keep our faces pressed up against our monitors come Monday, we just don't want to be let down. You hear that Bungie ... don't let us down.
Halo 3 bugs, DLC and matchmaking updates
Who doesn't love a Bungie Weekly Update that's both informative and newsworthy? We know we do and this week Bungie talks about all kinds of Halo 3 goodness including some matchmaking changes.A new Halo 3 matchmaking "hopper" update will be rolling out sometime in the next few days with changes a plenty. The most notable being Lone Wolves getting a swords gametype, oddball frequency being reduced and games increasing to six players. Also, Team Slayer will be getting Guardian and Valhalla maps, Social Doubles has been removed and a new eight player max social Rocket Race has been added (X3F Live memories ...)Other than matchmaking changes, Bungie says they're looking into the Halo 3 melee problems, screenshot uploads being slow and armor permutation unlock bugs, all of which are hella' annoying. Bungie also officially revealed the new Bungie.net Heatmaps feature and says they consider it to be in the "beta" stage and will tweak it accordingly. Finally, we've been promised more concrete and less code-namage Halo 3 DLC details in the weeks ahead, so keep your ears perked up for that. Bungie has spoken, get your Weekly Update fix after the jump.
Halo 3 beta's Friends & Family program explained
This week's Bungie Weekly Update brings a variety of news. Most importantly, Frankie details how the Halo 3 beta Friends and Family program will work. If you don't know, the Friends and Family program is a small number of people who will get to play the Halo 3 beta earlier than the general public. It's kinds of a thank you to those who are loyal Halo community members. Anyway, Frankie said that they have already selected the lucky few and all who qualified will be notified on May 11th via a PM on Bungie.net. Yup, those of you who are lucky enough to be part of the Friends and Family program will get your Halo 3 beta download code on the 11th exclusively through Bungie.net's PM system. So, be prepared, watch your PM inbox, and don't take it to heart if you aren't selected. We still love you. Again, there is just too much Halo 3 news in this week's Bungie Weekly Update for us to recap, so make the jump already. Frankie doesn't write a mini-novel every week for his health, it's for you!
Halo 3 details and rumors shot down
Holy informative Bungie Weekly Update Batman. This week, Frankie brings new Halo 3 details and talks the big boy talk, so let's jump right in. Some big news is that the Halo 3 beta will support a (widescreen enhanced) two player split screen option. So, you'll be able to share the Halo 3 beta love with your friends. Speaking of the beta, Bungie unveiled the default control scheme for the game with a pretty graphic that maps out each button's function. It looks like the RB will take most of the X button's old functions and that silly d-pad will activate voice chat. Also, Frankie shot down a few Halo 3 rumors that hit the intertubes this week. First, May 11th is only important for those lucky enough to be considered "press" as they'll be playing the beta a few days before the rest of us so they can get their stories written ... that's it. Secondly, Halo 3 is not going to be native 1080p at 60fps as speculated earlier, it's just not practical. And finally, the image above is the second wave of Halo 3's marketing materials considered the "emotional" phase. Can't you feel it all, Cortana's eyes, the despair, the hope ... it pulls at your heart strings. You know what to do, make the jump for all the Weekly Update details to make sure you're the cool kid who has this week's Halo 3 dish.
More Halo 3 beta talk and Halo 2 news
The latest Bungie Weekly Update brings us a few more details about the Halo 3 beta and talks about the changes going on over in Halo 2 land. First, let's jump into the beta news. Frankie further clarifies his clarification about the new X button "Equipment" function. The X button will pick up and drop equipment items like the bubble shield and tripmine (others items may be in the works), but not "throw" them. So, they'll be items on a map that have to be picked up like any other weapon and once dropped ... they'll activate. Also, the bubble shield will allow people to pass through it, but stop bullets and grenades in their tracks. It's also interesting to note that the bubble shield will be "breakable" and stationary in the beta, not rolling once dropped. For those of you who are overly excited about Halo 3's recording function, it'll be available in the beta, but in a stripped down version only. And before we forget, there is plenty of Halo 2 news to be read about various problems, the new matchmaking structure, and information on the new maps. Again, we can't recap every jewel from the Weekly Update, so it's your fanboy duty to make the jump and read it all. Quickly, jump!
Bungie hints at big announcement this week
This week's Bungie Weekly Update brings us talk of Halo 2, Halo 3, and a hint at some significant news coming this week. On the Halo 2 front, Bungie announced that they will be rolling back all the ranks for all gametypes in preparation for the new maps. They'll also be releasing an update that'll allow their patented Banhammer to further bring the pain, which could make for some rocky matchmaking the first week or so. Be prepared, you were warned. But that's Halo 2, we want Halo 3 news and we want it now! And Frankie didn't disappoint as he discusses the evolution of the fusion core, ambient sounds, and announces that another Halo 3 vid doc will be coming down the pipeline in the near future. Most exciting is Frankie's hint about this week's news saying that there will be "Big changes coming. Big changes and big news. Next week is going to be significant". Big changes and big news eh? We can only speculate to what will be gracing our ears and eyes this week (Halo 3 beta news anyone?), we're eager with anticipation. Enjoy the update and enjoy the sun, make the jump and have some fun.
