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Happy (belated) 10th birthday, Halo
Hey, Halo! Wow, is it ever good to see you! Listen, we're sorry we missed your birthday yesterday, we were really busy with the Babypirates and that dinosaur-headed robot. We just wanted to say you're 10 years old now, and you're growing up in to a fine young man. ... Anyway, listen to us ramble. The point is ... we think you're old enough to have this: It's your grandfather's pocket knife.Now don't tell your mom about it and don't go poking your eye out, she would just skin us alive. ... What's that? No, smart alec, we don't know how a knife would puncture the nearly 1,000 pounds of MJOLNIR armor that you're constantly required to wear. Now go get washed up for supper, we're having fettuccine.[Thanks, Jacob]
ODST's Halo 3 maps revealed
click to open detailed screenshot terrain With all the talk of fancy open-ended environments, playable flashbacks and new cooperative modes, we'd almost forgotten about ODST's offering of new Halo 3 maps! When it launches later this year, Bungie's latest entry in the epic space hoop saga will include a Halo 3 multiplayer disc, which will contain three new maps (in addition to all the ones you've come to love and die repeatedly in).Be sure to take a look at "Heretic" (the return of Halo 2's "Midship" arena), "Citadel" and "Longshore" in the gallery below. We've found that staring intently at them while bobbing back in forth in our seats provides a good, albeit imperfect, approximation of actual gameplay. We're just missing the cybernetic crotch thrusting toward us in regular intervals.%Gallery-67527%
Rumor: Halo 3: ODST Achievements leaked
(click to Scorpion-size) In what will assuredly not be the last leak of the summer from Halo 3: ODST as we lead up to its fall release, the entire achievement list has allegedly hit YouTube via Game-Tuts. While the list doesn't reveal any shocking surprises, it does tell us quite a bit about where the game's campaign mode will take us. According to the list, "Vidmaster" achievements will be making an appearance in the game, as well as all the de rigeur cheevos for regular ol' campaign objectives. Also unsurprisingly, campaign scoring and co-op achievements appear to be making a return in ODST. We'd love to tell you more about the rumored achievement list but, alas, we may start walking into spoiler territory if we do -- and you wouldn't want that, right? You'll just have to head after the break for the whole thing, spoilers in-tow (you've been warned!). We've contacted Bungie regarding the validity of this list and have yet to hear back as of publishing.%Gallery-64703%
Pre-order ODST, unlock Sgt. Avery Johnson
So here's the news: Pre-ordering Halo 3: ODST at participating retailers will net you a token to unlock Sergeant Johnson as a playable character in the new Firefight mode. We greet this news with mixed feelings. On one hand, A.J. Johnson is undeniably a badass. His in-game model is even chomping his trademark cigar. On the other hand, we're not sure if picking Johnson amounts to cheating.As Halo players well know, the man is invincible. The guy was jumped by the Flood and survived. Hell, we've seen him take a beam rifle to the head without even flinching. Here's hoping his mortality is restored for ODST. Otherwise it just wouldn't be fair. Check out some screens of Sgt. Johnson in the gallery below, and find a list of participating retailers after the break.%Gallery-66279%
Bungie: Don't expect to see Master Chief in ODST
Given that Halo 3: ODST takes place directly after the Prophet of Regret bugs out of New Mombasa, it's not too surprising to learn that Master Chief won't be appearing in the game. See, everyone knows that the UNSC In Amber Clad -- carrying Master Chief -- jumped into the same slipspace rupture used by Regret. Duh.Still, if you were sternly hoping that John 117 might make some kind of cameo, those hopes have now been officially quashed by Bungie's Brian Jarrard. Speaking to Multiplayer, Jarrard stated the totally obvious, "Master Chief, at the time this game takes place, is actually off on other parts of the galaxy." Jarrard elaborated, "In this game, it's all about you playing the role of an ODST," adding, "The way the timelines work in this game, Master Chief is off doing something else."So there you have it, the only place to find Master Chief while playing ODST is where he can always be found: Our hearts.
Halo 3: ODST wireless controller is Gamestop exclusive
We've just confirmed that in the U.S., the Halo 3:ODST Collector's Pack featuring the custom wireless Xbox 360 controller will be a Gamestop exclusive, although it will be available in other regions at participating retailers. The pack, which will set you back $99, is already available for pre-order on Gamestop's site, and includes access to the Halo: Reach beta.Anyone who pre-orders Halo:ODST, not just Gamestop shoppers, will get the Sgt. Johnson token as well as the Halo: Reach invitation, although you'll be shelling out an extra $40 for the custom controller if you decide to upgrade ... which actually isn't bad considering that they still retail for $49.99. How hardcore of a Halo fan are you? This pack might be your breaking point.%Gallery-34046%
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 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.
