If you like to support a local comic shop in Huntsville, I recommend Haven Comics on Slaughter Rd just off University. I know the owner and he’s reserved a few posters in case some of THX wants them.
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T-shirt contest – voting phase
Last week, we mentioned a contest being run by _Wheels03; today, he announces that all the submitted slogans have been submitted, and asks you to vote. Go pick your favorite t-shirt slogan!(Louis Wu 22:13:25 UTC)
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Fully Charged?
Today’s One One Se7en looks at the new Flamethrower – and, in fact, makes you wish you had one for our good buddy Stuntmutt.(Louis Wu 22:07:40 UTC)
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Halo 2-D trailer
Sam sent us a trailer for Halo 2-D, a new project he’s undertaking. He needs help getting renders for the full product; if you watch the trailer (which looks pretty intriguing), and want to help, send him some email. The trailer can be downloaded in WMP9 format (3.5 mb) or QuickTime format (3.7 mb).(Louis Wu 22:05:32 UTC)
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High Speed Shenanigans
Wow, lots of content at High Speed Halo – a new single-segment full run of Halo CE has been submitted, coop mode, normal – it beats 4 individual level records. (Total gametime – less than 98 minutes.) Also, the last unfilled slot in the every level, every difficulties table has been filled! Thanks, Ducain, who pointed out this news post.(Louis Wu 21:57:57 UTC)
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HWH FF Contest Results
black asgard let us know that the fan fiction contest at Halo Wars Heaven (we mentioned it in June) has announced results. Congrats to the winners!(Louis Wu 21:44:34 UTC)
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Halo pays him in spades every day (just not in cash)
Gamasutra has an interview with Alex Seropian today – Halo comes up a number of times. Thanks, Roger Wilco.(Louis Wu 21:42:19 UTC)
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Another look at violence and video games
Very thought-provoking story at BBC News today – are we ignoring interesting side effects of video games because we’re afraid of giving ammunition to the Jack Thompsons of the world? Thanks, Walshicus.(Louis Wu 21:39:58 UTC)
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Parting Ways
Sean Mortensen sent along ‘Parting Ways‘, a new martial piece he’s composed (mp3, 3.5 mb). He’s also included the score, in PDF format (271k). (Louis Wu 20:39:15 UTC)
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Prometheus Unbound
Bungie has put up an official article about the upcoming flamethrower and firebomb for Halo 3 – the information is the same as what IGN put up last week, but it’s a real-live Bungie link now! Thanks, Andrew Galbraith.(Louis Wu 19:54:56 UTC)
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Halo Universe: Use Fire
If all else fails… The long wait is over, Halo 3 welcomes the Flamethrower and a fourth grenade into the fold.
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Bungie – Saving Microsoft’s Bacon
At the New York Times, there’s an article about the Xbox 360’s quality woes… and a theory about why people don’t give up on a product that fails so often. “There’s nothing in the house that breaks down as much,” says one of the consumers quoated in the article. What makes someone satisfied with a product with such a poor perceived quality record? Why, Halo 3, of course. Go read.(Louis Wu 18:23:11 UTC)
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$155 Million or Bust
Variety’s got a story about the hopes Microsoft has for Halo 3 – will it become the single biggest entertainment event in history? matttheskwirl14 was the first to us with the news.(Louis Wu 18:17:31 UTC)
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Halo 3 Albania – Webisode 2
Dave Bergland wrote to let us know that Webisode 2 of his Halo 3 Albania Project is now posted; you can watch it in QuickTime format on the website, or in streaming format at YouTube. This one tries to clarify what’s going to happen in the next couple of months. (Dave needs your help, too.) Go watch.(Louis Wu 18:12:20 UTC)
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Send in stuff for this week’s show: Habenero Halo
So recently there’s been a couple new things revealed about Halo 3. We’d love to hear what you think about these things for the next podcast:
1. The flamethrower from Halo PC will be a 3rd person weapon in Halo 3. It will be able to take out vehicles and generally wreak havok. Anybody wanna explain how it worked in Halo PC and what kind of element they think it will bring to H3 gameplay?
2. Firebombs are the 4th grenade type in Halo 3. These will allow you to do similar flaming liquid damage to vehicles, but they also let you make a damage wall to cover your retreat from a flag capture at a base. Anyone thinking of any specific scenarios where this could come in useful, like on maps we’ve played already?
3. No clan support! This is a MAJOR blow to Halo communities everywhere. Apparently there will be some kind of team system on bungie.net to try to fill the gaping hole that’s left without having a separate team list that was clans. How do you think the lack of clans will change the game? Do you think the web system will make up for it?
4. Promo stuff. I bet you can’t wait to get your hands on the Halo 3 Pontiac G6! Or maybe the Mountain Dew Halo 3 “game fuel” with even MORE caffeine and sugar?! What do you think of these cross promotions? Do you think people will buy a pontiac because it’s related to Halo, or Halo because they just bought that pontiac??
Deadline is TUESDAY night at about 6pm EST, so get your comment in quick! Just click submit news & tips on the right side of the page and send in your two cents with your gamertag so we can give you credit.
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The Wide Load Grows
Gamasutra has a five page interview with Alex “The Man” Seropian at Wideload; not too much new or substantive there, but he does confirm that Hail to the Chimp uses the Unreal engine, and that the studio has grown to 20 or so full-time and that sum is divided into two teams. One team is working on Chimp, the other is working on an XBLA game, which from the website seems to be codenamed “Hot Sauce and the Rainbow Space Car”, which, we are assured, is not a metaphor for anything. Then again, we’re also assured that Crackers the Chimp’s resemblance to President Bush is “entirely coincidental” so perhaps we’d best not place too much faith in some of these assertions.
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Syndrome De La Page Blanche
In French, the phrase “syndrome de la page blanche”, or white page syndrome, is intended as an expression of writer’s block; the inability to begin a project faced with an empty page.
Myself, I always viewed it as an expression of the usefulness of limitations, boundaries, and direction: one of the reasons why so many works are derivatives and combinations is because it is easier to start with what you know and then change it than trying to tilt at the windmill of creating something truly unique. When faced with a boundary or limitation, you are teased into approaching it and testing its strength. If one was truly free to do or say truly anything without limit, it seems likely one would find nothing to say.
It is this thought that runs through my head while playing Freeverse’s Xbox Live Arcade conversion of Marathon: Durandal. One is given to wonder if there is any value in such an object beyond nostalgia; a chance for those who played the game a decade ago to relive that experience. For some, a chance to recapture youth, or a chance to remember good times.
However, it is a good deal more than that; and comparing it to other games in the genre that make better use of the modern hardware in today’s console provides an object lesson on the usefulness of limitations and boundaries.
For the complete text, click “read more” from the front page.
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Bioshock Demo Available on XBL
It’s about 15 minutes old and weighs a hefty 1.35 GB, and you can get your copy for free on XBL. The Bioshock television trailer is also available from gametrailers. The SD version is below and the HD version is available for download here. Additionally, Major Nelson interviews Ken Levine of Irrational Games about Bioshock and the demo in his latest podcast. What a pleasant Sunday evening surprise.
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Tragic story gets worst.
A few weeks ago I posted a story of a guy who’s gamertag was Coreyfear. His house was burned down and he was left with no clothes or furniture. Well, I am sad to announce that he lost his wife. His wife was shot by her ex-boyfriend in Staten Island. The article is on the Daily News and NY Post.
This is a tragic turn of events for Eugene. I really feel that the Xbox community should do something to help him and his family in some form of way. I would like to collect some money and buy a reef for the funeral. I spoke to him twice since his house burned down and he was so shocked at the amount of love he and his family was getting throughout the community.
Let me know if any of you can help.
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Master Chief…..FLAME-ON!
IGN has Halo 3 news. New weapon (sorta) and 4th grenade type.
- The Flamethrower from Halo:CE PC
- The Flame Grenade
The flamethrower is handled like a turret so you will be controlling from 3rd person.
“The flamethrower does things that just weren’t possible in Halo 2. This is, more or less, a living flame. “If you shoot a pillar, the liquid in the flamethrower will adhere to it and burn there,” O’Connor explained. “Likewise with the floor and with bad guys. It will cause continual damage to a vehicle. When the flames start to cool down and evaporate, it stops causing damage. If you’re lucky enough to keep it on a Warthog, then you will in fact take it down with a flamethrower.”
Personally, I think the grenade is pretty rad it will mix things up. The flamethrower kinda meh, but I will have to use it first. I never really liked the movie “Aliens” which I think inspired a lot of flamethrower love.
