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(official box art)

(trailer)

Last night at the Tokyo Game Show Bungie announced their next title: Halo 3: Recon. The game is a standalone expansion for Halo 3, based in the fictional Halo universe. In the game, the players will take on the role of a UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) during the events leading up to Halo 3.

From the Halo 3: Recon page on XBOX.com…

This new chapter in the Halo universe includes the following:

All-new campaign content: The Halo 3: Recon campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in Halo 3. Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter greatly resembles that of previous Halo experiences, Halo 3: Recon will require you to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.

Prepare to drop: Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these “Hell Jumpers” more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.

Expanded multiplayer collection:No Halo experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content, and Halo 3: Recon gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and expanded Forge options, Xbox LIVE® Gold members will find more multiplayer content than ever before with Halo 3: Recon.

Ever-growing community options: Enjoy all the great Halo 3 technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring, and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities.

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This game could have a slightly different gameplay style. Christian Allen, creative director of video game company Red Storm Entertainment, makers of the Ghost Recon series, was hired by Bungie as a lead designer some time back. Halo 3: Recon could be a tactical shooter in the flavor of some of the Ghost Recon games. I wonder if it is or is not coincidence that “Recon” is the subtitle to this game. I also wonder if this game is the source of Bungie/Ubisoft rumors. (Microsoft Game Studios is the publisher of this game).

The launch date is slated as Fall 2009 with more details to come.

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Update: From the THX Shoutbox, Hubcap makes a good point about ODSTs not having shields. A character having no shields is right in line with the more tactical shooter games like those from Tom Clancy.

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Mintz believes the “Superintendent” is an AI that controls New Mobassa.

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The official project page at Bungie.net is here: http://www.bungie.net/Projects/whvidldshbyjsdo/default.aspx

“whvidldshbyjsdo” is a code for Bungie fans to figure out. Bungie will announce once it has been solved. They do this with most all of their games and other kinds of media releases. Other acronyms from Bungie Sightings.

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Update:

Bungie to Kotaku: “Halo 3: Recon is not a tactical squad based shooter” and “We’re not viewing this as a full game.” However 1000 achievement points are possible.

Bungie to Games Industry dot biz:
“We actually have a Mythic map pack coming out early next year. We don’t have firm details or a date yet, but we do have one more map pack coming out, and then we do have some maps associated with the actual Recon retail release” and “Halo 3 Recon would be a ‘final statement’ from Bungie as far as the Halo trilogy was concerned”

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Update2:

“As an ODST, compared to playing as in invulnerable Spartan, you are going to have to sort of pick and choose your encounters a little bit differently.”

Download | Shownotes

After two days of delays and whatnot coming up in my schedule, I present the latest episode. This week we had Jaba as our guest host and GLewis finally made his appearance. This week, we cover community custom maps and gametypes. Enjoy.

The final campaign show is just around the corner, and we’re looking for the best of the last two campaign levels: Cortana and Halo. Picking up where we left off, send it your tips and grizzly stories of battling with the numerous amounts of flood you battle in the fight to save mankind. Send your stuff to , or use the big green button.