My Halo News.com

The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft

  • Don’t forget to recharge the batteries

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Today’s installment of Another Halo Comic Strip looks at some of the less… military aspects of the Mark VI Spartan Armor.(Louis Wu 14:41:04 UTC)

  • Forge Hub Video Tutorial: Immovable Objects

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    halo@bungie.org
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    TheShadyGnome, from Flem Productions, stopped by to announce the next Forge Hub Video Tutorial – this one covers Immovable Objects.(Louis Wu 14:18:05 UTC)

  • In a world where people never die…

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    halo@bungie.org
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    aklay47 and some friends put together a Master Chief costume… and filmed it in action. There are parts of this that are… really weird. Check it out!(Louis Wu 14:12:25 UTC)

  • T-T-T-Tied!

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Tied the Leader is back (thanks, XerxdeeJ) – go read an ode to ranked play (“you only learn how to play the game better if you are losing”), and a very nice desktop picture, complete with notes on how it was created.(Louis Wu 14:04:50 UTC)

  • H3 Th3 Most

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Yesterday, BuckHijo pointed out (on our forum) H3 Th3 Most, a website devoted to pointing out which players have gotten the most ______ in Halo 3; drop in your gamertag, and increase the info pool. (This uses the Halo API developed TheIronChef and Sticky Keys.) It wasn’t working all that well yesterday, so I didn’t front-page it then… but they seem to have gotten the biggest problems ironed out. Go see!(Louis Wu 13:53:49 UTC)

  • Avoiding the mismatches

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    halo@bungie.org
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    bit-tech.net has posted an article about ‘The Art of Repetition’ – how to make a storyline more immersive, and how Halo 3 did with this. (The basic argument – that it’s hard to reconcile the idea of a supersoldier with your average beginning player, as he gets lost, shoots the wrong thing, and basically doesn’t act like a supersoldier – is an interesting one.) Go read!(Louis Wu 13:50:43 UTC)

  • Halo 3 Pro Circuit Ladder Update

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    halo@bungie.org
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    The MLG Canada website has posted a summary of what’s going on in the Halo 3 Pro Circuit Ladder – if you’re trying to catch up on your favorite pro team, check this out.(Louis Wu 13:46:57 UTC)

  • Sitting in the corner, vomiting on oneself

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Bungie’s posted their newest podcast over at Bungie.net (and on iTunes) – 45 minutes, 51 mb. They’re talking to Christian Allen, Bungie’s new Lead Designer, about where he came from (Ubisoft/Red Storm/US Military) and what he brings to the table (apparently, the ability to die a lot in Halo 3). This was recorded before last week’s Pentathlon, so there’s some talk about what might be coming in that event, as well. Go listen!(Louis Wu 13:45:02 UTC)

  • Get your Halo 3 Music Fix

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Over at Rampancy.net, there are a bunch of new pieces of sheet music available for download – swing by and grab Impend for strings and keyboard, One Final Effort for piano, Black Tower for keyboard, and Never Forget (partially incomplete).(Louis Wu 13:40:01 UTC)

  • Gender Differences in Game Appreciation

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    halo@bungie.org
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    ScienceDaily has posted an article about some research that shows that video games, especially games that let you acquire territory, are more rewarding for men than for women, as judged by activation in the brain’s mesocorticolimbic center (normally associated with reward and addiction). It was a small study at Stanford, but they’re planning a larger followup.(Louis Wu 13:36:43 UTC)

  • Neurons – Episode 2 Trailer

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    halo@bungie.org
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    BlitzSnake let us know that Neurons 2, a sequel to a Halo 1 machinima he created last year, is still on the way – you can watch a trailer at HaloTube.(Louis Wu 13:32:17 UTC)

  • Looking towards the next Halo sequel

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Mr. Titan has written an editorial over at Planet Halo entitled ‘Should Bungie Make a Halo 4?‘ He basically decides “sure, if they innovate this time around.” Go read his reasoning. (While almost anything is possible, the likelihood, in my opinion, that Bungie will make a Halo 4 is up there with the likelihood that Frank O’Connor will find his Mister Chief artwork hung in the Guggenheim in the next 3 months. And to be clear, neither ‘Halo Wars’ nor the upcoming Jackson/Bungie collaboration (‘Chronicles’?) will be a Halo 4 – they’ll simply be games set in the Halo universe.)(Louis Wu 13:29:35 UTC)

  • Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

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    shorap

    Opening

    Naughty Dog’s PS3 debut, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is an Indiana Jones inspired, action-adventure game played out through a mixture of Gears of War’s cover dependant shooting gameplay and the Tomb Raider series platforming elements. The player guides protagonist Nathan Drake (think Ash from the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness movies) as he climbs and swings through the world and solves puzzles while at the same time utilizing cover to take out enemies. This mishmash of gameplay comes together harmoniously and is joined by a cast of believable and interesting characters set in a story that, while not unique or inspired, is told extremely well.

    Platform

    PlayStation 3

    Publisher

    SCEA

    Visuals Score

    10

    Visuals

    Hands down Uncharted is the best looking game on the PS3. With realistic water effects, subtle lighting that pierces through trees and underground openings, and unsurpassed facial and body animation this game has to be seen in motion to be truly appreciated.

    Leaves sway in the wind and foliage shakes and bends when a character moves through it. Characters clothes look wet after emerging from rivers, pools, and ponds. Scrapes and bruises accumulated throughout the game look real and add a layer of fragility to the characters.

    Every single aesthetic in this game is beautiful but doesn’t hinder gameplay as the framerate never dips below 30 frames per second. Even with all this eye candy and performance, Uncharted only has one, initial load screen to sit through as the different cutscenes and chapters stream flawlessly off the disc.

    Product Link

    Sound Score

    8

    Sound

    Tribal instruments accompany classical ones and blend well together. The music works hand in hand with the visuals, giving gamers a sense of awe and wonder while playing though it does take backseat to the graphics and gameplay.

    Voice over on the other hand is brilliantly pulled off and matches the high watermark set by the visuals. Voices fit the game’s various characters well and are executed with surgical precision as each and every single line is delivered with perfect timing and is chock full of just the right amount of emotion.

    Gameplay Score

    9

    Gameplay & Controls

    If Tomb Raider and Gears of War ever had a baby then Uncharted would be the result. It uses GoW’s cover system, over the shoulder aiming, and blind fire mechanics while also making them easier to use as actions for taking cover and hurdling over objects are assigned to separate buttons instead of GoW’s multi-tasking single button. This means that you will never perform an unintended action. Furthermore, Uncharted would make Daddy Gears proud for including a simple but effective melee combat system.

    On mother’s side of the gene pool Uncharted features environmental careening that’d make a monkey blush. Nate climbs, swings, and shimmies through obstacles fluidly and at a breakneck speed that helps keep the platforming sections from becoming stale.

    The only small chink is that sometimes can be hard to determine what objects can be interacted with. In particular, usable ledges inside structures tend to blend in a bit too well with non-interactive environments visually and can lead to a few deaths since the player may not know for certain what can be interacted with as the only way to find out would be to through trial and error . These situations don’t occur that often though and abundantly scattered checkpoints keep this from being more than mere annoyance.

    Longevity Score

    7

    Longevity & Drawbacks

    While a rigidly linear game Uncharted does have extra incentives for replay aside from just being fun to play. Naughty Dog included its own achievement-inspired checklist to the game by giving players points for beating it on different difficulties, killing a number of enemies with different weapons, finding ancient artifacts, etc.

    Improving one’s gamerscore opens up unlockables such as behind the scenes footage, different outfits for characters, different player skins, weapons, and cheats such as one shot kills. While the more significant unlockables require a high gamerscore, Uncharted’s achievements never seem unfair or impossible and can be all accumulated after a few playthroughs. Add these with a game that’s 10 or so hours long and no one should feel shortchanged with it.

    Overall Score

    8.8

    Amazon link

    Closing

    Uncharted isn’t an eight hundred pound gorilla, system seller; it’s not innovative and the story won’t win it any praise but what it excels in is execution in all aspects. Gameplay, the way the story is presented, the visuals, voice acting, everything is polished and well executed.

    In an age where developers strive to set their game(s) apart from the pack by focusing too much on innovation for innovation’s sake (i.e. gimmicks), Naughty Dog’s Uncharted sets itself apart from the pack with its near perfect execution of current game design. A must own for any PS3 owner.

  • Caption Contest

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    Brothers in Christ’s Recent News
    [IMG]http://www.dailywaste.com/images/slowdown.jpg[/IMG]

  • Bungie Podcast: 2/4/08 Show is Live

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    Bungie.net’s Recent News
    Chit chat with Christian Allen on the latest episode of the Bungie Podcast.

  • Video tutorial: Call of Duty 4 training course in 13.1 seconds

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    rapture


  • RT: Scavenger Hunt? Free stuff? Grrr…

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    Rooster Teeth News
    Hey everybody, it’s Jack again. If you missed the first installment of “Forced Enjoyment” check it out, then return here. I come back to you a beaten, broken and abused man…but I did it. After eight hours or so of tearing my hair out, I earned…

  • It’s Society’s Crime, Not Ours.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    I dunno about you, but lately Stuntmutt’s One One Se7en comics have been scaring me.(Louis Wu 20:13:08 UTC)

  • Join the Cause: Fight Back for Podtacular

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    foomojive

    I agree 100% with everything CapnKrunk says about some of the recent tomfoolery in the community. He pointed out some activity that needs to stop. If you’re like me, we’re not interested in these silly teenage politics, but we are interested in making Podtacular a fun and friendly place where people can make friends and play Halo. Consider this a last stand to make Podtacular what it should be. If you’re a part of the solution, if you’re with us, help me raise the banner and fight back with everything we’ve got… the right way. This is OUR community! Read on to see what weapons you have in your arsenal.

    Podtacular: The Next Generation

    Are you relatively new here? Or maybe you’ve been around podtacular and you’d like a fresh start? I’d like to personally welcome you to the new podtacular, starting right now. You and I are here to make podtacular a fun place to be or we wouldn’t be here. If you’re willing to rally to the cause and let out a fierce battlecry, you my friend are podtacular. You and I can make this a community that is friendly, welcoming, active, fun, and won’t stand for any bullcrap. We can make this the kind of place you want to tell your friends about, the kind of place you’re proud to be a part of. How do we do it?

    Kill ‘Em With Kindness

    This is our fight. Here are your weapons. It starts by getting together with others that are part of the solution. Find friends at podtacular that are cool and put them on your friends list. Join Halo 3 parties and build friendships and teams. Talk on the forums, exchange emails, IM addresses, even skype usernames and phone numbers if you want. We need to fight together as a unit if we’re going to make this happen.

    Once we’ve made this community, we need to be welcoming to others. Look for the new people that post there and invite them to join in. Send them friend requests and invites, get them involved in conversations on the forums and such. That’s how the movement grows, by showing people that we can be welcoming and friendly. If you want to, join or start projects or groups together, but that’s just icing on the cake. The important thing is to focus on the basics by building strong friendships and welcoming new people.

    No Bullcrap Policy

    It’s time to step it up and keep the bullcrap out of the community. Warriors, we have to be careful here. We are not the bullcrap police. Don’t go walking around looking for it, that’s like standing by and shouting out where the enemies are when you are needed in the battle. Your fight is listed above, building friendships and welcoming others to the cause. But if you step in some crap along the way, let us know and we’ll get it picked up quickly. Let us know if you see a post on the forums or elsewhere in the community that’s part of the problem. Which brings me to a warning to the bulls with diarrhea.

    Last Chance

    If you’ve been talking crap, you better take some verbal pepto bismol right quick. For those of you that are not happy here for some reason or another and just love to tell everyone about what you hate about me or podtacular or Dialpex or whatever, feel free to either start being part of the solution or get the f*** out. If you think you can ignore us and we’ll ignore you like it’s been in the past, think again. This is the new podtacular, and when you do these things, you threaten our spirit of friendship. If you take a dump on our community one more time, we will kick your whiny ass right out the door without a second thought. I don’t care how long you’ve been here or what you’ve done in the past to help out or your level of leadership or how many friends you have here, this ends NOW or we will end it for you. No exceptions. My patience is at an end.

    The Line Has Been Drawn

    So it comes down to this. I draw a line in the sand. You’re either part of the solution, united in this final desperate battle, or you’re off to go somewhere else. Which do you choose? Post a comment if you’d like to join the cause for a friendly and strong community. And start it off right, send friend requests to your brothers in arms that are with us. Even if it’s just a few of us that want to take a stand for our community, we do it together.

    United we stand. Divided we fall. Fight back.

  • PoA Floorplan – in Excel

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    halo@bungie.org
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    This was submitted a LOONNG time ago – but for some reason, I never got around to posting it. Last June, OdieTurbo sent along an Excel file which shows off the floorplan of the Pillar of Autumn, created in conjunction with some fan fiction. I don’t think I’d have ever considered Excel as a creation tool for something like this… but it’s a great job! The Excel file is quite small (67K), but if you don’t have Excel, and would like to see what was done here, I’ve taken a screenshot of the first floor sheet (shrunk a bit to fit on most screens).(Louis Wu 18:13:48 UTC)