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The best girl gamer shirt ever
Should you happen to be (or know) a girl gamer, we have the perfect Festivus gift for you. Featuring a very important phrase from the Halo series, its sure to delight one and all. Guys, if you see a girl wearing this shirt in your local night club, you grab on to her. Hold on and never let go. Should you desire one of these, they can be had in a variety of sizes for the paltry sum of $17.95. Any 360 fangirls out there want to pick one up?[Via BBP&S. Thanks, Nitin]
NPR visits This Spartan Life
I've you've never seen This Spartan Life before, it's a machinima talk show that takes place entirely in Halo 2. The show's host, Damian Lacedaemion (producer, writer and director Chris Burke), is a Spartan soldier who interviews guests and covers topics from politics to publishing and filmmaking all while inside the game, and usually on the Headlong map, their standing "set."On this weekend's episode of Studio 360, host Kurt Andersen suited up and interviewed Damian in the game for National Public Radio, and This Spartan Life has in turn published video of the segment on their site. What's pretty impressive to learn is that all of the hours of Halo 2 played online cumulatively add up to more then 10,000 years worth of Spartan living, all without any apparent evolution. We can only imagine the smell in Master Chief's armor by now.Listen to Studio 360's show here, and check out the video after the jump. If only the regular news was covered like this, more people might tune in.
GOW claims top spot in UK sales
Gears of War continues on its path to world domination (much to Bungie's chagrin) this week, and has now become the number one selling game in the UK. Furthermore, it has become the fastest selling 360 game in UK history, beating the previous record holder, Pro Evo 6. Even more, Gears of War is the second fastest selling Microsoft game ever (behind Halo 2, natch). Finally, it's the third fastest selling game overall this year, with Pro Evo 6 and FIFA 07 holding the top two spots. With Gears of War a success around the world (so far), can Game of the Year be far behind?
Bungie, they aren't corporate... are they?
This past week's news on Halo 3 and all the upcoming goodies we'll be treated to in the next year makes my inner fanboy squeal with excitement. A new commercial, new Halo 2 maps, and an open beta for Halo 3 multiplayer, that's just nifty. But I can't help but feel a little ... how do I say this ... uneasy about how the Halo franchise is being handled. I'm not referring to Bungie themselves, because they have yet to let us down, but the corporate machine backing Halo. I just don't know, pre-rendered Halo 3 commercial (Bungie doesn't do pre-rendering), new maps for Halo 2 that must be purchased and only on the 360, Halo Wars being licensed off to a different studio ... blah, blah, blah. Maybe I'm just a little paranoid, maybe I'm just a little stressed tonight, but is Microsoft possibly playing the puppet-master card with Bungie just a little too much? I'll revisit this topic some other time I guess ... maybe I can talk to Frankie and he can calm my nerves. Frankie, if you're reading this, please comfort me ... please?
GOW knocks Halo 2 from Live top spot
Today is a momentous day. For the first time since, well, ever, Halo 2 has officially been knocked from the number one slot on Xbox Live. If you keep track of Major Nelson's weekly updates on the most played games on Live, you'll know that Halo 2 consistently trumps all other Live titles, even all the fabulous titles on 360. That's right, one original Xbox title is routinely played more than any 360 title. Until now, that is. Of course, now the question is: how long will it stay there? We'd like to extend our congratulations to Epic and to Microsoft for their success. So, have you made the switch from Halo to Gears?[Via Joystiq. Thanks, Sherveen Mashayekhi]
Halo madness! New H2 maps, H3 public beta!
Okay folks, the big news is here. It turns out that the "BIG" Halo announcement is neither a Halo 3 release date nor the long awaited Marathon Arcade. Is it actually worthy of the capitalized BIG (we all remember the BIG GOW announcement)? Maybe we're overstepping our bounds here, but we're going to say yes. Big yes. It's BIG. It turns out the BIG announcement is actually three announcements rolled into one megannouncement. The first announcement: new maps are coming for Halo 2! These maps will only be available for Xbox 360 owners sometime in the Spring. Frankly, we're excited. We never would have anticipated something that could make us dust off Halo 2, but there it is. We'd also like to point out that it's a brilliant -- if somewhat dastardly -- move on Microsoft's part to release these maps exclusively on 360. Naturally, there are thousands (millions?) of Halo 2 players that are quite happy playing it on their original Xbox. Sure, they'll probably get a 360 when Halo 3 comes out, and Microsoft knows it. So, if you can't sell those people Halo 3 until next winter, just sell them Halo 2 ... again! We should note that Bungie hopes that Microsoft will eventually make this content available for original Xbox owners, but in the meantime it's a great incentive (for Halo 2 addicts) to upgrade to 360 right now. At any rate, we're excited as hell to play us some new maps. Here's hoping they can squeeze out some new graphical effects offered by the 360. Also worth noting, the new maps mean that MS is taking another look at Halo 2's backwards compatibility glitches, so some of those should be ironed out in the future.
How Halo 3 fixes Halo 2 multiplayer
1UP continues their month long barrage of Halo 3 coverage with a breakdown of what Bungie is doing to address the multiplayer concerns from Halo 2. In short, these concerns are: Weapon whoring Duel Wielding and the "noob combo" (plasma pistol and battle rifle) Player designations A big problem in Halo 2 multiplayer is weapon whoring. In other words, once a power weapon -- like the rocket launcher or sniper rifle -- is obtained, it cannot be obtained by anyone else until it is emptied or dropped by the player holding it. In some cases, a team will grab both sniper rifles on a large map and dominate, while the other team is denied any kind of counter measure. Another way to whore a weapon is to grab it and just not use it. As long as it is in your possession, it will not respawn, thus keeping it from everyone else. For instance, the team that grabs both snipers could also pick up the rocket launcher and sword just to make sure your team never has a chance. So, how does Bungie fix this?
The better matchmaking method, Gears or Halo?
With all the excitement surrounding Gears of War this past week, I thought I'd compare its multiplayer with that of my other favorite Xbox game, Halo 2. Of course both games have great multiplayer aspects to them and both are quite fun, but for the sake of this blog post I'm not interested in what the multiplayer is like, I'm looking at how the matchmaking system is implemented. I really want to know how easy is it to get into a game that is ranked, how easy it is to setup a game in which your friends can play, and overall how the multiplayer experience is managed. I pick at my brain for these answers to this multiplayer conundrum ... after the break.
Halo energy sword pwnage!
Do bullies at school push you around? Hate that toaster that always chars your toast? Well my friend, I have something that will cure all of your problems in life, the Halo 2 replica sword. It comes complete with glowing blue lights and bad ass mystique. But you must hurry, this sexy sword will sellout fast as the starting bid is only $230. Buy one (or fifteen) today![Thanks, Darrien]
MLG goes FTW on USA TV [update 1]
[Update: Commenter Ben found a second part of the preview, which interviews pro gamer Walshy and shows some more in game action. Part 2 is now also embedded below Thanks Ben.]Months ago, when Major League Gaming and the USA cable network announced plans to air seven hour-long programs on the MLG national tour, we begged the powers-that-be at the network to "please keep the cheese factor low." It looks like somebody up there was listening, because a new five-minute trailer for the program is low on cheese and high on production values.From the quick-paced jump cuts to the well-placed crowd shots and the respectful interviews with the gamers themselves, most everything in the trailer shows that this is a well thought-out, professional production and not some fly-by-night "Xtreme Gamerz" marketing stunt. The introduction strikes a good balance in being informative without being condescending, making the audience care about the players and the competition without forcing some manufactured personalities down our throats. Our only major concern is the announcers and commentators, some of whom still seem a little uncomfortable on camera, but this will likely improve as the season continues.Despite the slick production, it still remains to be seen whether U.S. gamers will want to watch Halo 2 instead of playing it themselves. We'll find out when MLG on USA premieres at 10 a.m. (EST/PST) on Nov. 11.
Halo 2 wastes lives, 4 billion games played
In all of our pumpkin carving madness, we somehow missed this little benchmark the other day. On October 30th, Halo 2 officially surpassed the 4 billion games played mark. This game hasn't even been out for a full two years yet (eight more days)! Let's do some math, just for fun. That's over 2 billion games a year, 166 million games a month. If the average match lasts 10 minutes, that's 666 million hours wasted. Wait a minute ... 666 million, just in time for Halloween ... is Halo 2 a sign of the Apocalypse? I'm scared. [Via The Xbox Domain]
Behold! The GOW collector's tin
Xboxygen sends us this purty picture of the Gears of War collector's tin. The collector's edition, for those who don't know, contains a hardbound art book and a DVD full of extra features. It's interesting to note that this case is different from the cases we've grown to love for games like Halo 2 and DOOM 3. It looks like a normal plastic case could actually fit inside that tin (and maybe it does?). Yeah, yeah, we know, it's not exactly mind rattling news, but we can't resist even the tiniest Gears of War development. So, do you like the case? Will you fork over 70 bucks to get it?
Gettin' down & dirty with Madden 07
I meant to post this earlier, but I was busy or somthing. This video from Mad TV explores what happens when you combine an evening of sweet sweet lovin' with Madden and maybe a little Halo 2 action. Just this once, we'll forgive Mad TV for getting the Konami code wrong. Even though it burns us like white hot fire. See the video after the break.
Pokemond Diamond and Pearl break sales records?
We knew the launch was crazy, but this is ridiculous: some (unconfirmed) sources over at 4 color rebellion are stating that the entire launch allocation of two million copies of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl have completed sold out ... in less than a day. Furthermore, half a million DS Lites (including the new special edition, shown here) flew off the shelves as well. Next week's sales numbers should be ... interesting, to say the least. We're not sure, but this might be an all-time sales record in Japan, and if one takes into account the proportional population of Japan versus the U.S., Pokemon Diamond and Pearl exceeds even Halo 2's ridiculous first day numbers (2.4 million sold in 24 hours). Take that, Master Chief.
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.
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.
Halo 2 run makes the record books
Halo 2 player, Cody Miller, has reportedly been entered into the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records. His accomplishment? A speed run of Halo 2 with no deaths -- on Legendary difficulty. There is no mention of his actual clear time, but no deaths is impressive all by itself. Anybody with a copy of the Guinness care to send us a scan? It should be on the only page with Master Chief. And anyway, how the hell does anyone make it off of Cairo Station on Legendary without dying once? Cody explains it himself right here (there's even a video here). [Via Joystiq]
Master Chief's armor to be revised for Halo film
Newly anointed Halo director, Neill Blomkamp, has indicated that the iconic armor housing Master Chief will be slightly altered for its appearance in the 2008 film adaptation. Speaking to Ain't It Cool News, a confident Mr. Blomkamp successfully justifies a decision which, in the hands of a typical Hollywood hotshot, could quickly become a nightmarish reimagining of a beloved character into something supposedly more enticing to mainstream sensibilities. "Master Chief is certainly something that I do not want to change too much at all, there are certain things inside the Halo universe that are sacred and he's the main one. Having said that, there is a need to revise certain parts of him, just from a purely technical standpoint, he has to actually be able to move, like a human, and the game design right now does not allow for full motion freedom, which we will have to achieve."The interview sees the director affirming his love for the games, for the universe they depict and for "infected humans and covenant." He fails to provide definitive answers regarding the removal of Master Chief's helmet or the use of Bungie's original soundtracks in the film, but the inclusion or exclusion of either one is likely to fuel fan debate until well after the movie has come and gone. Rejected (and generally horrid) titles for this post: Master stroke: Master Chief armor changing Master Chief suit changing: oh no they didn't Master Chief: borg to be wild Master Chief armor change: Massive damage Master-ious costume change for Chief Master Chief says Halo to new armor Halo movie chief masters armor change Halo armor to be remastered [Thanks for the image, Ross. You'll go to hell for this one.]
Get your own plasma rifle! [update 1]
Typically, Halo makes gamers think of things like guns, explosions, Marines, or "overrated." For eBay user wansitler, Halo's only meaning is "Arts and Crafts." This guy went to the trouble of precisely replicating a lifesize...um...replica of a Covenant plasma rifle from Halo. Actually, it's made of wood so, you know, it won't shoot searing hot plasma or anything. Still, if you'd like to own this interesting conversation piece/girlfriend repellent, it can be yours for the bargain price of US $175 -- or less if you go in for the whole "auction" thing.Any takers? Maybe these guys will buy it just so they can destroy it.[Via HBO]Update 1: Oops. Looks like someone already snatched up this wondrous piece of woodwork. Congratulations, pyrometheous. Now just convince your better half to let you mount it on the wall.
