Halo
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Bringing home a barrage of Xbox 360 trailers
Major Nelson has once again updated his blog with a convenient list of X06 additions to the Xbox Live marketplace. If you're in any way enamored with glitzy trailers, pre-rendered footage or relentless teasing, you'd best switch on your console and start downloading some of these clips: Call of Duty 3 Banjo Kazooie Marvel Ultimate Online Viva Pinata Assassin's Creed Splinter Cell: Double Agent Blue Dragon Lost Odyssey Bioshock FIFA 07 Rainbow Six Vegas Halo Wars If you're a more traditional gamer and actually enjoy interactive forms of entertainment, you'll be pleased to learn that several of our readers have spied F.E.A.R. and Sonic the Hedgehog demos scurrying about in the marketplace. Be sure to let us know what you think of them, but not before viewing the embedded video (after the break) and answering one simple question: What the hell is going on with that nose?
Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh to make new Halo game, original IP
Microsoft has confirmed that the Academy Award-winning duo Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh (Lord of the Rings, King Kong) are set to create two "new interactive series" for Xbox 360 and XBLA. The first is a "collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the Halo universe.""It's not Halo 3," said Scott Henson, Director of the Game Development Group at Microsoft. "It's a brand new game based in the Halo IP. In a phone conversation with Joystiq, Henson disclosed that writing credits will be given to Jackson and Walsh. As for how the full-fledged game will fit within the continuity of the Halo universe among three installments, a real-time strategy game, and a film, Henson was tight-lipped. "It's going to remain a mystery," he said.The second title will be an entirely new intellectual property -- "completely from scratch," Henson clarified -- created with the intention of "bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment." The game will be made in conjunction with Wingnut Interactive, a new studio created via a collaboration with Jackson/Walsh and Microsoft Games Studio."Fran is a really big gamer and really excited about telling stories through games," said Henson. "We haven't talked about any details and we will when we're ready." If the focus is mass appeal, then Jackson/Walsh -- who managed to make Hobbits cool -- are the best people to have at the helm.
MS announces Halo Wars, a new RTS [update 1]
A real-time strategy game based in the Halo universe has been announced. The project, entitled Halo Wars, will be designed by Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires) "exclusively for Xbox 360" (read: no PC). This announcement comes weeks after Bungie issued a cease-and-desist to the Halogen project, a C&C: Generals mod based in the Halo universe. It was at this time that 1UP's Luke Smith predicted an official Halo RTS in collaboration with Ensemble Studios. Somebody buy this man a drink, because he nailed it. After bringing Scott Henson, Director of the Game Development Group at Microsoft, up to speed on the Halogen incident, he assured us Halo Wars "has absolutely nothing to do with that" (whether he meant the mod's shut down or the game's inception is vague). The original Halo: Combat Evolved, in earlier stages of development, was a real-time strategy game in the vein of Myth, another Bungie RTS. You can read all about it in the pages of Bungie's lore. While we're very intrigued by the thought of a Halo strategy title, we're a bit concerned about how it will play on an Xbox 360 controller. Must ... use ... mouse ... [Update 1: The Halo Wars official website has also just gone live, with a pretty (yet entirely pre-rendered) trailer. The FAQ explains that Halo Wars takes place before the events of Halo 1 and its controls have been built "from the ground up" to work with the Xbox 360 controller. We have also embedded the trailer below, via Game Videos.]
X06: Press conference liveblogging [update 28]
We're here live at Microsoft's premiere European promotional event, scheduled to start at 7 PM Barcelona time (1 PM Eastern, 10 AM Pacific). Continue reading and keep refreshing for all the announcements and updates straight from Microsoft.
Bungie podcast, hear the waaambulance live [update 1]
Bungie has posted their very first official podcast. While it's kind of short on Halo 3 tidbits, the show should be interesting to any Halo fans out there. For example, the podcast reveals that the composer of the Halo series, Marty O'Donnell, used to make his living writing jingles. You might know his work for either Mr. Clean or Flintstones vitamins (which the podcast's theme song is based on, incidentally). The podcast also let's us hear some of the placeholder dialogue from Halo 3 and some never before heard sound effects, though it's not as interesting as you might think. In the end, though, the best part of the show is the live reading of Bungie's now infamous Waaaaambulance. For those who don't know, the wambulance is Bungie reading letters from some of the dirty cheaters that have been banned from Live and are now begging to get their accounts back. Good stuff. We look forward to future episodes. Follow the read link to download the show.Update: Corrected spelling mistake. Cuz I'm a moron.
Pro gamer salaries on the rise
Want to make big bucks as a professional gamer? Living overseas is probably your best bet for now. But Wired News reports that television deals and increased interest from U.S. sponsors mean salaries for America's top gamers could hit the stratosphere before long. This is in stark contrast to a similar Wired article from three years ago which detailed how even the best of the best pro gamers were barely getting by.Today, more than a dozen U.S. gamers make upwards of $70K per year, according to the article, and a few have taken home six-figure purses in big tournaments. That's nothing compared to the costs for sponsors such as NVidia, though, who shell out money "likely in the eight-figure range" to sponsor the likes of Team3[D].Nice work if you can get it, but remember that the top pros often practice for upwards of 40 hours a week to keep their skills honed. So unless you're planning on quiting your day job, you aren't likely to be the next Jonathan Wendel anytime soon.
Jackson talks about Halo film
Over at Ain't It Cool News, there's a lengthy interview with Peter Jackson, covering the director, script and visual effects for the upcoming Halo movie. Jackson's enthusiasm shines through, and it's clear he's aiming at something better than your average "video game movie": It is original and new and has not been seen before on the screen. It's not Ridley Scott, it's not James Cameron, it's not what we've seen before, but it's something new and fresh and it's cool.The interviewer suggests the concept of an "adult" Halo movie; fortunately, there's an older interview with director Neill Blomkamp to take your mind off the thought.[Thanks, WebPimp]
Halo 3 has revised controls, panic abounds
It's a rough time for Halo fanboys. Every week Frankie gives us an update with almost zero information. It is our job as fanboys then to take this information and blow it way out of proportion. So what is it this week? Bungie is changing the controls! Egad, it can't be true. What's more, Bungie is toying with the idea of adding plenty of new setups ranging from hardcore to grandma friendly. The end result of all this is that we'll have a setup that makes more sense on our 360 controllers -- especially now that the black and white buttons don't exist. Basically, all we know now is that the bumpers will receive more logical actions than turning on the flashlight and teamspeak. The only other tidbit of news this week: the AI is coming along nicely. As an example, the AI of a warthog gunner has been changed significantly. In the words of Frankie: "In previous Halo games, the gunners were smart and would pick off targets in a logical fashion, but this time around, and it could be my imagination, the gunners are more precise and easier to influence. You can target individual bad guys by steering the Hog and even 'convince' your gunner to pick a more relevant target and have him stop trying to blast a lone grunt hiding behind a rock when a bigger menace approaches." Hey, as long as we can still stick a sniper with infinite ammo in the passenger seat, we're cool. Other than that, it's all quiet on the Halo front -- unless you'd like to read what Peter Jackson has to say.
Peter Jackson talks Halo with AICN
There's an interesting Halo movie interview with Peter Jackson on the love it or hate it movie site, Ain't It Cool News. The interview focuses both on Peter's choice of Neill Blomkamp as the director and the importance of the script. Speaking on Blomkamp's nomination, Jackson admits that hiring a "new" director wasn't the plan, but that Blomkamp was simply the best choice."It's not deliberate and certainly for HALO it wasn't deliberate. I don't think even for a show like HALO, which is a big budget production, I don't think there's any problem whatsoever with a so-called first time director directing it. At the end of the day, Neill (Blomkamp) is not a first time director. He's a first time feature film director, but he understands film and grammar as good as anybody. He's done some wonderful short films and commercials. His visual eye is fantastic and his storytelling is great. The fact that it's a feature film just means that he gets to shoot for longer than he did in the short film. There really isn't anything else that's different."Speaking of his personal involvement with the script (along with Lord of the Rings alumni Fran Walsh and Filippa Boyens), Jackson had some very encouraging words."The movie, as far as I'm concerned, as far as my involvement is concerned, is not going to go in front of the cameras until we have a really great script."God, let's hope so. The interview is full of good stuff, and anyone interested in Halo should definitely check it out.[Thanks, Doug Kriz]
Inside the mind of a cheater
Have you ever played Battlefield or Halo online, only to be faced with dirty, filthy, joy killing cheaters? What was your first reaction? Whatever it was, we're pretty sure it wasn't "hey, would you like to do an interview?" That's exactly what Richard (nice name) from Aeropause did. The interview is a fascinating look into the thought processes of a cheater. Here's one of our favorite selections. When asked what game makers should do to curb cheating, the schmuck responds:"Give Up! There is no way to stop us. Everyone wants to cheat and we will always find a way to do it. Anyone reading this is simply jealous of the fact that I have enough nuts to cheat and play the game the way I want to."Wow. In denial much? Cheating because you enjoy making people miserable at least has some semblance of sense to it, but actually believing people are jealous of the act? That's practically mental instability. Still, his response to one question makes it all better:"Do you have a girlfriend? Schmuck5000: What kind of freaking question is that for this kind of interview? How does me having a girlfriend relate to cheating? (AP: We will take that as a NO!)"Ah, the fetid reek of Loserville. Makes us all warm inside. Hit the read link for more insight, if you dare.
MS shuts down Halogen mod ... why now?
The story so far: for three years, a group of eight modders came together to create Halogen, a C&C: Generals mod based on Halo. The mod gained popularity, and just recently Microsoft and Bungie decided to shut the mod down -- a decision that is very much in their right, as explained by this forum post. However, as the mod would neither be detrimental to the Halo image (it was very well made, as the images show) nor profitable for the team, why is Microsoft serving a cease-and-desist now?1UP's Luke Smith puts on his tinfoil hat and speculates that Bungie might be returning to the real-time strategy genre. If memory recalls, Bungie's first post-Marathon title was the 3D strategy title Myth: The Fallen Lords. And Halo was originally going to be a strategy game, as revealed on the Halo 2 Limited Edition DVD. Smith connects a few key Bungie members to Texas-based Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires) and concludes that they might be working together.It's all massive speculation, although more Halo titles seem very likely. As an RTS, though? We'll hold our breath, hoping Bungie can break us from our real-time cynicism; in the meantime, mourn the passing of Halogen with a trailer for the mod, embedded after the break.
2010: A Halo 3 Pre-Order Odyssey
A certain big box store is taking pre-orders for Halo 3 with a listed release date of December 30, 2010. The whole idea of pre-ordering video games, which hardly ever sell out, is pretty stupid to begin with, but this stretches a tired ploy to the limit -- no matter how low the rate of return on your junior savings account. Not that anybody puts stock in retailer release dates, but let's hope Bungie works a little faster than than the slow minds at Best Buy. [Thanks WickedOwl]
What'll Bungie do after Halo?
Xbox boardroom biographer and industry observer Dean Takahashi wonders what's next for Bungie. They're currently holed up in their fancy new headquarters working (tirelessly we imagine) on the third installment of Microsoft's Xbox-selling secret weapon, Halo 3. But what else are they working on in their Dr. Pepper and Dorito encrusted fortress? Takahashi's inside sources tell him they're working on not one, but maybe two other projects. Just like Xbox's J Allard disappeared suddenly from the limelight, only to turn up working on another not-so-secret project, Bungie's general manager, Pete Parsons, is mysteriously no longer their general manager. Takahashi intimates that Parsons is now leading a secret second team at Bungie while other Bungie all-stars, like "Jason Jones, the project lead on the Halo games, and Chris Butcher, the top programmer," are working on yet another project "beyond the Halo universe."If Halo 3 is to be the final installment of a Halo trilogy, is Microsoft going to sit back and let their most lucrative franchise go out in style or continue to milk it for all it's worth? With a Halo movie in the works, what about the inevitable tie-in game? After all, a Bungie with business sense would make Halo 4 and 5 and ... we'd also take LEGO Halo. Seriously.[Via Xboxic]
Fallen soldier remembered for Halo ownage
U.S. Army Pfc. Nicholas Madaras was killed last week in Baqubah, Iraq when a roadside bomb detonated while he stood outside his Humvee. Madaras was only 19.In a series of remembrances published by The Advocate, Pfc. William Tyrrell reflected on Madaras' Halo skills: "I used to always love to play Halo, the video game, with him because he was the best and he always beat me. And I would tell him that one day I would beat him and he would just laugh and say, 'OK.'"Madaras was looking forward to pursuing a career in the medical field after his tour of duty, which was scheduled to end October 21. A public memorial service at Our Lady of Fatima in Wilton, CT is being planned for the coming days.
Eric Nylund talks Ghosts of Onyx
In Friday's weekly update at Bungie, there's a nice interview with Eric Nylund, author of the good Halo novels, The Fall of Reach and First Strike, as well as the upcoming Halo novel, Ghosts of Onyx. He chats about the Halo story bible, how he became involved with the Halo franchise in the first place, and he discusses the differences between writing a novel and writing a game. This is the man who's writing Gears of War, lest you missed that info. It's worth a read for those that like to learn about what goes into making video games. You can also check out Franky geeking out over some schweet ground textures. He also asks an important question: what's that weird non-Spartan armor on the lower right hand side of the cover? Any guesses?
360 rumor round-up
OrangeLoungeRadio compiled a bunch of gossip from a "recent sales meeting" that supposedly included some higher-ups. Here's the 360 related stuff: Winning 11 Pro Evolution 2007 not an XBOX 360 exclusive. The reason there is no PS3 is because they haven't gotten the final dev kits yet. My rep says it will probably be released on the PS3 as late as May. Activision says the next Guitar Hero after 2 will be on the XBOX 360. No charge for online aspect of Phantasy Star Universe on XBOX 360. There will be a monthly fee for PS2 and PC users. No Full Auto 2 for the XBOX 360 at all. The first one did not sell well so they will not be making a sequel for the XBOX 360. XBOX 360 - NO PRICE DROPS, NO BUNDLES. Infact he mentioned that the Canada office works a bit independent of the US office and that they didn't know Canada was doing a bundle. Much hate mail was exchanged. Gears Of War comes out November 7th. Not street dated. Emergence Day is November 12th. That is when the big advertising push happens, not the release of the game. Halo 3 set to come out March or April of 2007. Not Fall 2007. The $79.99 vision camera bundle will replace the 12 month Live bundle that is available now. Test Drive: Unlimited will be getting new download packs each month. This is planned so far until June of next year. The 1st two packs will be Lexus cars. No word if these will be free (but he said Lexus paid 250K for the cars to be in the game). The packs will range from FREE - $7.99 (or the Microsoft point equivalent of that) Keep in mind these are all rumors. Halo 3 in March would be a kickass way to spend Spring Break -- and even more significant given the PS3's launch issues. Anything else get you excited (Besides the blessed abortion of Full Auto 2)?
First look at Halo Movie Warthog?
Tipster Doug explains the provenace of a video that might be the first glimpse of a Halo movie Warthog (Feel free to blink -- it's not an action shot):My friend in Wellington was on a guided tour, while driving past a WETA owned backlot she spotted a giant car being put through its paces.She recognised the front of the car and its size as the warthog from the Halo video games. She took one sneaky picture when it parked and emailed me it immediately knowing my interest in halo.I excitedly posted it on the Bungie.net forums and within an hour it had been removed, and in my inbox was a message from a moderator telling me I would be blacklisted for posting any kind of leaked pictures. Which leads me to believe its authenticity.Banned by Bungie or not, it looks kinda factory for a Warthog. Take it for what it's worth.
Mac Halo now with Universal Binary
Inside Mac Games has announced that a Universal Binary edition of Bungie's Halo: Combat Evolved is now available. Intel Mac owners looking for a native performance boost over the original Halo release can download the upgrade for $5. If you're new to the whole Master Chief experience, the complete shrink-wrapped game is $30.See also: Mac Quake 4 now shipping Mac UT2004 Universal Binary released
Bungie: Halo 3 "feels" more like Halo
In Bungie's latest weekly update of the Halo 3 development process, we learn that the Halo 3 single player will feel very much like the original Halo. Bungie's Frankie had this to say of the campaign mode: I have been playing through Campaign mode purely for kicks. Exploring, in fact. There's lots of the feel of the original Halo, where you'll find yourself in a huge (dangerous) and intrinsically fascinating environment and just want to go tool around and check things out. At this stage in development, the encounters are very carefully placed. Sometimes that means you're in frantic firefights (on a significantly bigger scale than in Halo 2, although all I will confirm numerically is at least one more Grunt.) but there's also time for exploratory reflection and the, "Oooh, maybe I can climb up there and check that thing out," sort of play. If that sounds like a Grand Theft Auto style in the Halo universe to you, then Frankie dismisses that claim very quickly: Don't get me wrong. It's not GTA -- it's still Halo, but there's a bigger feeling scope to some of these levels that has me reminiscing about the original game. And yet, conversely, I'm super excited about the new stuff. Seems like this thing is getting very fleshed out. We wonder how long until Bungie gives us a taste via a demo on Xbox Live. Wouldn't Nov. 17 just be the perfect date for that?
Halo Graphic Novel video review
Here's a well done video review of the widely praised Halo Graphic Novel from GameTrailers. I still think Bungie should put the whole thing on Marketplace.[Via GameBreak]
