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Toys R Us offers action figure and $20 gift card with ODST purchase
If our late-night review of Halo 3: ODST filled you with an unbridled desire to purchase the noir-filled shooter, Toys R Us will have quite the deal on the game's launch day. Those willing to travel to the giraffe-approved retailer this Tuesday are eligible to receive an ODST action figure and a $20 gift card with their purchase of the title. We suggest spending the complimentary Geoffrey Bucks on another action figure to keep your lil' trooper company as you spend the next few weeks exploring New Mombasa. Make sure you don't purchase any Master Chief action figures, though. There's no reason to give the poor guy an inferiority complex. %Gallery-72961%
Review: Halo 3: ODST
Enter "The Green Box." The question we've all been asking ourselves: Is Halo 3: ODST worth $60? If you want the answer, this is your review: In hindsight, announcing what was then "Halo 3: Recon" as a "value-oriented" expansion appears to have been a crucial first misstep for Microsoft and Bungie along the road to marketing what is now Halo 3: ODST. In time, the so-called expansion grew to include a complete campaign with 4-player support; Firefight, a separate co-op multiplayer mode; a comprehensive version of Halo 3 multiplayer; and access to the Halo: Reach beta when it becomes available at an unspecified date next year. ODST was ultimately set at the standard, full-game price of $60. That's when folks got skeptical. So how's your money being spent? $30 + $10 + $10 + The Remainder = Halo 3: ODST %Gallery-73454%
Drop in for ODST midnight launch events
Ah, what's a Halo game release without midnight launch events? Unsurprisingly, both Best Buy and GameStop will be hosting midnight launches for Halo 3: ODST. While Best Buy will simply be selling the game at midnight, Monday, September 21, GameStop has some festivities planned. According to Team Xbox, activities planned include RC Warthog and "pedal-powered go-cart" races, Halo trivia contests as well as a Halo cosplay contest. Before you don your favorite Cortana costume, you should call your local GameStop to see when and if festivities begin (most stores will begin at 9:00pm local time). Joystiq has also been told that "some" Game Crazy locations will hold midnight launch events. You'll have to contact you're local store to find out. For a list of all participating Best Buy stores, click right here. For participating GameStops, download this PDF. Or, if you don't feel like waiting in line for three hours, you could always try Wal-Mart. Source -- Best Buy - Halo 3: ODST Midnight Store Opening Locations! Source -- GameStop - Halo 3: OSDT Midnight Openings (PDF)
Halo Legends footage, Waypoint previewed on GTTV tonight
Halo.Bungie.Org has revealed that tonight's episode of Spike TV's Gametrailers TV will host previews of several upcoming Halo projects. The show, which airs tonight at (check your local listings), will feature a preview of Halo 3: ODST. While that's not terribly exciting, given how close it is to release, the show will also be hosting footage from the first episode of the Halo Legends anime project. In addition, GTTV will be previewing Microsoft's upcoming Halo destination, Halo Waypoint.If you love all things Halo, be sure to tune in. Alternately, you could always wait until the footage lands on the internet sometime tomorrow. Sleep, or Halo? We know, it's a tough question.
Bungie.net updated with ODST stats, 'Road to Recon'
For those about to drop, we figured we'd let you know that Bungie.net has been updated to include stats from the upcoming Halo 3: ODST. Of course, there aren't many stats to speak of just yet, as the game is still a few days away from release. Still, it's nice to know that everything has been implemented. In addition to the stat tracking we've all come to know and love, a new "Road to Recon" feature has been added as well. This new feature keeps track of the achievements that players have to earn in order to unlock the extremely coveted Recon armor variant. Previously, the armor was available only to those who caught Bungie's notice, usually through some form of community notoriety (or Frankie Photoshopperie). It's important to remember that just because you can now haz Recon without resorting to such shenanigans, Bungie isn't making it easy. The achievement tracker should help you keep track of the ridiculously difficult Vidmaster Challenges. Like this one: "Finish any level solo on Legendary, on LIVE, with no shots fired or grenades thrown." Yeah, good luck.
Listen to Halo 3: ODST's OST on AOL Radio
Next week's release of Halo 3: ODST extends the New Mombasa conflict, which first started in Halo 2. Aside from doing your homework on Firefight mode and the campaign, you may also want to prepare your ears for the audio assault they're about to undertake by listening to the Halo 3: ODSTOST. AOL Radio has the goods on its Video Game Scores station, though you'll have to put up with non-ODST tracks between the good stuff. We just wish Sgt. Johnson was deejaying the station, but beggars can't be choosers, can they?
Crackdown 2 Zune HD (and other styles) available at Zune Store
Microsoft's John Noonan, who is currently working on Crackdown 2 and is co-host of Microsoft Game Studios' Platform Biased podcast, got folks in a tizzy when he tweeted about the Crackdown 2 Zune HD. We got in touch with Noonan, who let us know that this laser-etched model -- along with many others sporting Xbox-exclusive brands -- are available as part of the Zune Original Program at the Zune Store. The "Xbox Series" features Halo ODST, Gears of War 2 and Forza 3, along with a few others. There doesn't appear to be an extra charge for the advertising fan appreciation, so the only thing you'll pay for is the Zune -- which, we're told is like an iPod.
Halo 3: ODST gets ready to party
Microsoft has dropped the details surrounding the official Halo 3: ODST launch party. The event will be held on September 21 at the Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, and will be attended by Bungie's own Joe Staten as well as 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor. A Firefight mode tournament will be held, with prizes given to the winners. Prizes will also be awarded to those with the best Halo-themed costume (good luck winning against these guys). Select fans will also get a chance to try out the campaign (a whole day early!), and several panels with Bungie and 343 Industries will be held as well. Finally, fans can expect previews of Halo Waypoint and the upcoming anime project, Halo Legends. The event will run from 6–11 PM, Pacific Time.
Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST and Halo: Reach beta bundled with Halo machine
While entirely devoid of ill-fitting iconic helmets, one of Microsoft's new Xbox 360 Elite bundles -- designated for European markets, judging by the rating information on the box -- offers everything you need to stride 'n' strafe into the Halo universe. It's no "Super Elite," but the 120GB package offers a fair amount of elites to shoot at in the included Halo 3, its upcoming expansion, Halo 3: ODST, and (consequently) the beta for next year's Halo game, Reach. As usual, Microsoft has thrown in a one-month Xbox Live Gold membership, which is just long enough for you to realize that you can never ever beat the internet at Halo. Prices are sure to vary from region to region (fun fact: it goes for roughly $580 in South Africa), so have a look on your shelves at the start of October, which is when retailers expect the bundle to drop in.
Hands-on: Halo 3: ODST Firefight mode
If Halo 3: ODST's campaign is "Combat Distilled," then its co-op multiplayer mode, Firefight, is the product of the same process, further refined. Firefight is combat distilled, then filtered; then distilled again and again. While the story mode can already be played cooperatively with up to four players (with or without scoring enabled), Firefight re-purposes eight of the sets from the campaign missions into closed, gladiatorial arenas where the odds are heavily stacked in the Covenants' favor. It's not a complicated formula. We've seen Gears of War 2 similarly extract itself into Horde Mode, as well as a number of other recent shooters spinning off their core gameplay elements into various arcade-like challenges. In all, Firefight contains ten maps (two are featured twice as night and day versions with slightly varied ingredients), and three of the ten are unlocked through campaign progression; though anyone can play on a locked map, so long as the match host has unlocked it. Likewise, except for the Rookie, character skins are unlocked through campaign play. (Sgt. Johnson will be a bonus skin for ODST pre-orderers.) Firefight lives on the campaign disc (separate from "vanilla" Halo 3 multiplayer; contained on a second disc), and players are bound to the limitations of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper: non-rechargeable health, no dual-wielding, and so on. You're no Spartan. %Gallery-72910%
Inafune: Capcom, Bungie collaboration for future title 'interesting' idea
Bungie.net reports that Mega Man creator and Capcom R&D head, Keiji Inafune, stopped by the developer's office in the wake of PAX. Apart from getting his hands on Halo 3: ODST ahead of its launch, he told the site, "I wanted to come down to Bungie in order to see just how well our philosophies on game design matched up. If things clicked, I know it would be interesting to collaborate together on a title in the future." Inafune also said he was "curious about how they made their games in hopes of being up to add some of the flavor into Capcom games." Oh em gee Mega Man FPS confirmed! Master Chief, Arbiter and Cortana in Bungie vs. Capcom! All jokes (or are they?) aside, it's pretty smart for a Japanese dev that's seeking partnerships with Western developers to scope out one of the more popular teams.Plus: Mas-ter Chief. Me-ga Man. Think about it.
Third ODST ViDoc takes a peek at development
Bungie has released the third in the Halo 3: ODST ViDoc series, entitled "Terra Incognita." With the help of Bungie staffers like Curtis Creamer, Joseph Staten and Marty O'Donnell, the video takes a look at the development of ODST, which was completed in just one year. The team spends a good deal of time -- the video is over 8 minutes long -- discussing the hub of New Mombasa, the open-world area where players will spend their time as "the Rookie." The video also goes over some of the additions to the game, as well as the subtractions. Incidentally, if you miss dual-wielding, blame design director Paul Bertone. Apparently he "doesn't like it." Give it a watch, and be sure to check out Joystiq's latest hands-on impressions of the ODST campaign and new screens below: %Gallery-72961%
Halo will incorporate Natal 'when it makes sense'
Speaking to VideoGamer.com, Halo 3: ODST producer Alex Cutting said that the Halo series will only incorporate Microsoft's motion-sensing Natal "when it makes sense." Cutting noted, "We're going to make the games we want to play," adding that the company "will definitely investigate it," though he didn't elaborate on any plans Bungie might have. Regarding the feasibility of Natal control for first-person shooter, Cutting says that many doubted console FPS play before the advent of dual analog sticks. In other words, there's room to see controls evolve again. Cutting concluded that he wouldn't "bet against" Natal, saying, "There is a lot that can be done with it." Joystiq readers will recall that Bungie boss Harold Ryon stated earlier this year that he "absolutely" thought Natal could work in Halo: Reach. Given Reach's likely proximity to the Natal launch, and Halo's massive following, we don't think it's reaching too far to assume it will incorporate the device in some way.
Hands-on: Halo 3: ODST Campaign
Wait. What? You mean ... My thought was suspended as I, the Rookie, was deployed in a one-man pod from a warship in orbit over New Mombasa. Here we go: I'm now an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. While "shock" troops denote the shocking of an enemy force, I was the one shocked. Halo 3: ODST immediately chucks its Rookie into unknown territory. You mean, the tutorial level is not a corridor crawler through a spaceship? After a rough insertion, I awoke six hours later, dangling precariously above New Mombasa's streets. This is the night-cast world we'd seen at E3. Bungie calls this map "the hub," the open-world environment through which the player accesses campaign missions (portrayed as flashbacks). "Film noir" is another term we've heard, and it's a reference to atmospheric elements, like New Mombasa's glowing-red dim, smoky streets and its jazzy background cuts; rather than a classic plot outline that goes something like: handsome good guy led astray by beautiful femme fatale. There is, though, a mystery to unravel.
Crack the ODST code, win some wallpaper
Not literal wallpaper, of course. That would be boring. No, the latest bit of Halo 3: ODST marketing will reward you with digital wallpaper, assuming you can figure out its devilish puzzles (or look up the solution on the internet). Microsoft has released a little interactive video series on its ODST splash page, in which Sgt. Buck -- the leader of the ODST squad in the game -- interviews potential candidates for a mission. Within each interview, there is a section that has been "redacted" and requires an access code for clearance. It's up to Halo fans to uncover just what those codes are. For those that want to discover them on their own, we won't spoil the fun for you. Here's a hint though: Watch the live action ODST trailer again. The rest of the codes can be found within the ODST site itself. For those that don't care about all that and just want some wallpaper, you can find the codes -- expertly hidden -- after the break.
Make your way to Halo Waypoint on November 5
Wait, another Halo game? Nah -- if you've read our earlier report on it, you'll know that Halo Waypoint is actually a new section of Xbox Live dedicated entirely to Doritos Dash of Destruction the Halo universe. It was supposed to be coming this fall and, hey, it is ... on November 5, as this here official tweet confirms.What awaits you at the Waypoint? The better question would be "what doesn't await you there?" Microsoft has promised that we can expect all manner of exclusive Halo content, including videos, trailers and podcasts, plus "a career system and player rankings tied to both in-game and out-of-game accomplishments related to Halo." It will also host updated looks at the forthcoming Halo Legends anime compilation. No Waypoint! Yes Waypoint.[Thanks, EchoX860!]
Extended ODST live action short even more awesome
You might recall that the Joystiq staff went a little cuckoo-bananas over the recently released Halo 3: ODST live action short. We also informed the masses that an extended version of the trailer would soon be available. Now, that time has come and the original 90 second short has been extended to a full 2:30, cramming in a full 60 seconds of additional awesome. If you'd like to watch this bad boy on your fancy HDTV, you can queue it up for your 360 right here. Now, watch. You'll be glad you did.
Xbox contest searching for Canada's biggest Halo fan
Over the next week, Xbox Canada is searching for the biggest Halo fan across the Great White North. In order to enter the contest, fans must submit an image proving their Halo devotion to Xbox Canada's official Facebook fan page. The ultimate Canadian Halo fan will score a trip for two to the Halo 3: ODST launch party being held later this month in Toronto, Ontario.Now, to clarify any confusion -- the contest isn't looking for the "paunchiest" Halo fan, but someone who can prove (via image) that they outshine all other Canadians as the most dedicated UNSC fanboy across the nation. If the winner also happens to be "portly," it's just one of those win-win situations. [Image via Jason S on Flickr]
Bungie, film noir and the creation of ODST
During a panel held at PAX 2009, Bungie's CJ Cowan, Joe Staten, Lars Bakken, Michael Wu, Curtis Creamer, Marty O'Donnell and Brian Jarrard explained the creative process behind Halo 3: ODST. The panelists spent a good deal of the session discussing one of the major influences of the game: film noir. Film noir influenced nearly every aspect of the game, from the artwork and gameplay to the music and story. Halo 3: ODST borrows elements from the genre, such as dark lighting and moody music. Also in the tradition of film noir, players will be tasked with solving a mystery -- what happened to the rest of the ODST team? In addition to the film noir talk, we got to take a look at some concept art from the game, including an Elephant adapted as a waste collection vehicle (renamed the Oliphaunt) and the Covenant Engineer, which will be making its first official appearance in a Halo FPS game. We also got to see the early, hideous model of Nathan Fillion's character, Buck, which you can see above. Apparently, Fillion's agent actually cleared it to be included in the game. Thankfully, Bungie did not. Bungie also dropped the news of the Fourth Wall Studios meta-game within Halo 3: ODST at the panel, which you can read more about right here. And, finally, there was Connor. Check out images from the event in the gallery below. %Gallery-72195%
Coming soon: The Halo 3: ODSTOST
During the Halo 3: ODST panel at PAX, Bungie revealed -- much to everyone's surprise -- that there were plans to release an official soundtrack alongside the release of ODST. According to Marty O'Donnell, over three hours of music were recorded for the game, so there should be plenty to listen to. O'Donnell also discussed the film noir influences in the soundtrack, as evidenced by the moody saxophone riffs heard in the first ViDoc released earlier this year. Sold as a two disc set from Sumthing Digital, the soundtrack is available for pre-order on Amazon and should release alongside Halo 3: ODST on September 22.
