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Hands-on with Halo 3: ODST's new Firefight mode
click to Brute-size Don't call it Horde mode. Well, actually, yeah, go ahead and call it Horde mode. Just know that there are some significant differences between Halo 3: ODST's Firefight mode and the Gears of War 2 sensation. Still, if you enjoy the thrill of a lone group of human partners staving off dozens of bloodthirsty enemies, Firefight should be right up your alley.%Gallery-64703%
Halo 3: ODST controller pics hold clues into New Mombasa mysteries
prepare to drop ,,, into our gallery of controller pics At a press event last night, Bungie's Joseph Staten teased that the Halo 3: ODST controller's cryptic text should provide some clues into the mysteries of New Mombasa (if he did his job correctly, he said). Since our ability to decipher Bungie's clues has always left something to be desired (what's a Master Chief?), we thought we'd take some close-ups and ask The Internet to give it a shot.So, The Internet, tell us: what secrets does this controller hold? We'll scrub through your comments and pluck out the best theories, so grab your magnifying glasses and deerstalker caps and get to work!%Gallery-64818%
Halo 3: ODST demo expands on story, structure, 'splosions
During Microsoft's Pre-E3 press briefing Bungie's Joe Staten took to the stage and dropped gamers into the first gameplay footage of Halo 3: ODST. In the game players will take on the role of a rookie Orbital Drop Shock Trooper weeks before the events in Halo 3. As part of the single-player campaign expansion, Halo 3: ODST features a greater mystery, as 'The Rookie' attempts to uncover the truth about his fellow hell jumpers. The game features new silenced weapons, a visor -- enabling a 'low-light vision mode' used to point out crucial information -- and a handgun original (Halo) gangsters are sure to 'love,' said Staten. Prepare to drop ($59.99 or more) later this year. %Gallery-64703%
Halo 3: ODST's limited edition 360 controller
Sure, Microsoft might be moving past the controller entirely with Project Natal, but that doesn't mean it's not going to try and milk you for all you're worth with limited-edition frippery like the Halo 3: ODST-themed controller that comes with the $99 collector's version of the game. You know you're powerless to resist -- we know we are. Check a couple more shots after the break.
Halo 3: ODST brings four-player co-op with Firefight mode
Those rings in space keep a-spinnin' as Bungie has revealed a new mode for upcoming Halo 3: ODST. Firefight mode will bring more than just the titular battles involving firearms, as it will allow up to four players to play co-operatively over Xbox Live or system link. These four stalwart ODST troopers will be tasked with dispatching wave after wave of attacking Covenant forces (think Horde mode ... with plasma grenades). Firefight mode will also include vehicles and, as an added twist, incorporate skull modifiers as you progress. And if your friends doubt the four Killtaculars in a row you just netted, you'll be able to point them toward the persistent leaderboards before you kick them out of your house and never talk to them again.%Gallery-64703%
Halo 3 ODST priced, collector's pack revealed
So much for "value oriented" pricing for ODST. Halo 3: ODST will release on September 22 for $60. There will also be a "Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack" priced at $100, which will also include a rather attractive special edition controller.The justification for the full price is the additional Firefight (which is like Gears' "Horde" or L4D's "Survival) multiplayer modes, the entire Halo 3 map pack series and the Halo: Reach beta. Looks like ODST is using the Crackdown gambit, having customers pay for the Reach beta and getting that other game for free. We have the full details of what's included on the disc after the break.%Gallery-64702%
Halo 3 ODST drops down September 22
You play as the Rookie in Halo 3: ODST and ... well, you'll put on the recon armor 9/22/09.
Bungie confirms Halo: Reach, beta included with Halo 3: ODST
Glimpsed briefly at Microsoft's E3 press conference: A teaser trailer for Halo: Reach! You're lucky to have us deliver you some incredibly surprising and well-researched facts! Here they come: Bungie and Microsoft are working on a new Halo game, called Halo: Reach. It's out in 2010. Purchasing Halo 3: ODST will net you entry into the Halo: Reach Xbox Live multiplayer beta. You will probably buy it.
Halo 3: ODST cast revealed
Geoff Keighley's Twitter had an interesting tidbit posted recently in the above image. None other than the cast of Bungie's upcoming Halo 3: ODST, little else is known about the group other than their penchant for kicking ass.So, obviously, the next question is which one is Tricia Helfer?[Via Kotaku]
BSG's Tricia Helfer to play 'Dare' in Halo 3: ODST
Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer needs no introduction. Her work as one of the more eye-catching Cylons and time spent as Kane's right-hand gal in Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars means she's got some clout with us gaming folk. And now, she's going to bolster her gaming resume with a pretty big project: Halo 3: ODST.Helfer couldn't divulge anything other than who she would be playing in the game -- a character by the name of Dare -- during the GTTV reveal on Spike last night. And, that's about it. We're serious. This post is over.[Via Geoff Keighley's Twitter]
Battlestations: Pacific launch trailer launches war over the Pacific
Just one day from the release of Battlestations: Pacific, the game's publisher Eidos has released the sea battle-infused launch trailer. We're not sure how much of the trailer is actual gameplay versus the game playing out, but rest assured you can find out for yourself by checking out the demo on Xbox Live and PC. You'll forgive us if we don't express heady excitement for the game as, like Treyarch's Noah Heller, we're just kinda done with World War II titles. That being said, for those of you looking to retell history on the Eastern stage, Battlestations: Pacific may very well be right for you. We'll be over here thinking about Modern Warfare 2 and sneaking around New Mombassa in the future. Can you really blame us?%Gallery-17214%
Holy Halo! 'Here & There' map brings NYC to Spartans everywhere
Just yesterday we were marching through the East Village, thinking to ourselves, "Wouldn't it be great if Manhattan were actually a floating ring planet, with no horizon in sight?" And wouldn't ya know it, someone was way ahead of us. Dubbed the "Here & There" map, Schulze & Webb ltd. has created a horizon-less map of Manhattan (in two views -- uptown and downtown) based on a variety of influences, the least of which being video games. "I don't like the way maps (in-game maps) work in most video games," Schulze says, "I'd love to see a first-person or third-person shooter where the landscape bent up to reveal a limited arc of the landscape in plan over distance." Though we're keen to point out Halo's premise revolving around Mr. Schulze's idea, the map idea he presents is certainly an interesting one. Maybe these two fellas could give Bungie a call and put something together for that Halo 3: ODST we've heard so ... little about lately, eh?[Via Fast Company]
Report: Halo 3: ODST most desired Xbox 360 game
Research group Gameplan Insights recently conducted a study, which highlighted the most anticipated Xbox 360 games. Its parent company, OTX, polled 1,000 gamers across various demographics every week through March and April, and discovered that Halo 3: ODST is the most anticipated game. Bungie's upcoming spin-off managed to narrowly best Modern Warfare 2 (if you can believe it), according to data Gameplan Insights provided to Gamasutra. Rounding out the rest of the top five are Madden NFL 10, Final Fantasy XIII, and Assassin's Creed 2.What's odd about all of this is that Halo 3: ODST is the only Xbox 360 exclusive to feature in the list. The remainder, as you can see, are multiplatform titles. Perhaps Microsoft will rectify that with its upcoming E3 showcase.[Via Gamasutra]
Bungie: No plans for more Halo 3 content beyond ODST
Seemingly in contrast with recent comments made by producer Allen Murray, Bungie has told Eurogamer that it currently has no Halo 3 content planned following the Fall release of Halo 3: Overly Descriptive Subtitle Treatment. "We'll never say never, but currently Bungie has no plans to make new Halo 3 content beyond the release of ODST," came the explanation. The formerly Microsoft-owned studio does, however, intend to keep supporting the popular first-person shooter with matchmaking playlist updates and uninhibited use of the fabled Banhammer.Whether the task of generating Halo 3 content into 2010 will fall away in favor of a new game, or simply be handed over to a different studio, remains up for speculation. Either way, it seems Halo 3 will be watched over by its creators in some form or another until we all finally stop playing -- and that could be even longer than Murray's supposed two-year time frame, right?
Speed painting Halo 3: ODST, like ... really fast!
How long did it take to paint the Mona Lisa? Had Sean "Str8Artist" McCoy been responsible, probably not very long at all. Of course, we much prefer him spending (little) time on things like his rapidly assembled Halo 3: ODST painting. Watch the speed painting video after the break and view Str8Artist's other work on his YouTube channel, including a painted tribute to Gears of War's Carmine. (Rest in peace ... our headless friend.)
Shock! O'Connor hints at more Master Chief
In the wake of releasing Halo Wars, Microsoft's Frank O'Connor has shocked (no one in) the world by saying gamers probably haven't seen the last of Master Chief. Speaking with Game Hunters at USA Today, O'Connor discussed such upcoming releases as Halo 3: ODST, calling it a "detective story" of sorts, as well as the two new comic mini-series announced at the New York Comic Con.Halo: Hell Jumpers, which focuses on the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, and Spartan Black, about a team of Spartan soldiers, are expected sometime this year. Halo: Uprising (pictured above) will see a fourth -- and final -- issue on March 18. As for the continued adventures of Master Chief, O'Connor says he doubts "we have seen the last" of Microsoft's armor-clad hero. What could be next? Halo vs. Barbie: Horse Adventuring Evolved. Believe.
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]
Halo 3: ODST will ship with all 24 of Halo 3's multiplayer maps
If you're a fan of Halo 3, yet haven't quite dipped your toes in the DLC pool yet, then this bit of news concerning the upcoming Halo 3: ODST may excite you. The game will arrive at retail this fall with all of Halo 3's 24 multiplayer maps. This includes The Heroic Map Pack, The Legendary Map Pack, Cold Storage, The Mythic Map Pack (set for release this spring on XBLM and bundled with Halo Wars CE), and three new maps exclusive to the Halo 3: ODST package.
Bungie talks Mythic maps, confirms ODST will be final content offering
Chatting with IGN, Bungie's Lars Bakken and Brian Jarrard talk Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack specifics, including the addition of Sandbox forgable items like red / blue lighting, a new "Kill Ball" as well as crouch height tunnels.Bungie also confirmed that with the release of Halo 3: ODST this Fall, no more multiplayer content (or Halo 3 content for that matter) will be released. "We are viewing the ODST campaign and the included multiplayer maps as the final exclamation point in our ongoing efforts to extend the Halo 3 experience," said Jarrard. "We're really grateful to our fans for standing by Halo 3 for so long and continuing to show us such strong support."We're sure their bloated bank accounts are equally grateful.
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.
