My Halo News.com

The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft

  • It’ll Cost You

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    halo@bungie.org
    in
    Mister Froggy let us know Friday afternoon about Halo, Articulated 22 – I’d written up a news post then, making some sort of wry comment about the packaging announcement earlier that day. Somehow, it never actually got posted. Froggy rectified my mistake this morning – but I’d like to apologize for the delay. Go read!(Louis Wu 14:55:24 UTC)

  • UMV

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    halo@bungie.org
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    UEG Gen Flugins and UEG LT Smash put together a montage inspired by HMV Hell – lots of little music clips, setting popular songs to Halo action. Some of them are very funny. (There are many of them – the video is almost 9 minutes long.) I was pessimistic when I started to watch it – it’s been done before, and my experience with out-of-the-blue vids like this is that most could use work – but I enjoyed this quite a bit by the time it was over. Clever twists, interesting mix of songs, a sense of humor… worth watching. 91 mb in WMP9 format, 102 mb in QuickTime format.(Louis Wu 13:33:21 UTC)

  • Where there are weapons…

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    halo@bungie.org
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    A couple of months ago, Omega found a pretty cool piece of driftwood – it looked a lot like a Brute Shot. He was pessimistic about filling out his Brute armory, however… until yesterday. I’m not sure I’d want to swim in the streams where he lives…(Louis Wu 13:18:00 UTC)

  • The Pillar of Autumn – in X-Plane

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Wow, cool. Mid7night took Infinityloop’s 3D model of the Pillar of Autumn, and put it into X-Plane! Pics and vids available in his forum post.(Louis Wu 18:38:25 UTC)

  • Podtacular 105

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Podtacular Episode 105 compares Graw 2 to Halo – thanks, Kiaffex.(Louis Wu 18:31:59 UTC)

  • The Top 25 Xbox Games of All Time

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    halo@bungie.org
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    IGN posted a list of ‘The Top 25 Xbox Games of All Time‘ (well, or the last 5.5 years, I guess) – Halo and Halo 2 took first and second, respectively. Nice! Thanks, Morpheus.(Louis Wu 18:30:34 UTC)

  • Matchmaking, New Halo 2 Maps, and You

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Wow, this is a little worrying… FyreWulff pointed out a thread on Bungie.net discussing the new Halo 2 maps coming out soon – Jeremiah mentioned that these maps would likely be incorporated in a significant number of playlists – and (at least at this point in the developments) those playlists would no longer be available to people playing on the original Xbox. Jeremiah makes it clear that 1) they (Bungie) are doing what they can to make the maps available to everyone, not just 360 owners, but that 2) statistics show that the majority of Halo 2 players on Xbox Live are using 360s, so limiting the new maps (which they’ll have to purchase) to just a playlist or two would be unfair. (Of course, effectively blocking Xbox owners from Halo 2 Matchmaking seems a little unfair as well – and I’m not just saying that as someone who plays XBL on an original Xbox.) In Jeremiah’s words, “Please don’t enter panic mode just yet, we’re trying to make this work for everyone as much as possible.” They’re doing what they can, and when we know more about this, we’ll post it.(Louis Wu 11:59:50 UTC)

  • Where Credit is Due

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Red vs Blue Episode 92 was released for sponsors last night (thanks, hezekiah) – Sheila gets a new home, Simmons gets a drug habit, and Griff gets overlooked – again. Donut has some of the funniest lines of the episode. If you’re not a sponsor, this will be available early next week from their front page. If you ARE a sponsor, go watch now.(Louis Wu 11:49:30 UTC)

  • Seattle Halo 2 Tourney

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    halo@bungie.org
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    The Art Institute of Seattle is hosting a Halo 2 tournament on March 24 – register at any Puget Sound Game Crazy store, with a suggested $3 donation at the door (proceeds to go to the Starlight/Starbright Children’s Foundation). QuickTactical is trying to find out if it’s team-based or FFA – we’ll update this post if/when he hears.(Louis Wu 11:47:13 UTC)

  • Drums in the Deep

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Bootstrap Boon (and some other HBO Helljumpers) created a new video – it’s actually a recreation of a scene from Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings, and he’s done a wonderful job of mapping the original audio to Halo footage. 5:44 long, 52 and a half mb in either WMP9 format or QuickTime format. A lot of work went into this one! There’s even a movie poster to go with it…(Louis Wu 11:20:00 UTC)

  • Episode 105: GRAW 2 King of the Hill show

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    foomojive

    Download | Shownotes

    It’s the King of the Hill show where we compare a hot new game to Halo. Does GRAW 2 stack up to the best? We have some great guests to help answer that question: GLewis is back, and he started sweating so bad he had to towel off when he heard there was going to be a girl on the show: Oopy from TheAdultGamer.com. (We kid, we kid) Also we have DC Crash from DCcombat.com, a sweet matchmaking and tournament site. Thanks to StickyGerbils, artist of halo heads, for the amazing pod art. Show is 1:11 long, so make a wish!

  • Oh em gee – no debug stuff

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    halo@bungie.org
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    The Bungie Weekly Update is up – droolworthy gameplay description, VERY good news about the Legendary/Limited confusion (see an earlier post), AI and vehicle tidbits, a reminder to archive your Group data because the new website launches next week, and a Crate Gun… wonga. Go read. (Of course, it’s always available in the Weekly Update Archive, as well…) Frankie, as is almost always the case, was Frist. (Bill Frist.) Sketch was second, and third (and read this, too).(Louis Wu 00:24:59 UTC)

  • Bungie Weekly Update

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    Bungie.net’s Recent News
    This week we talk about AI and graphics in the Campaign, and talk about the thing on everyone’s minds today – the announcement and revelation of the Halo Legendary Edition. Lots of froth and panic inside. Enjoy!

  • Halo 3 SKUs Announced. $129 for Helmet Edition.

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    mintz

    So, the final packaging for Halo 3 has been officially announced. Here’s what Louis Wu says about it:

    Official Halo 3 Packaging Announcement
    TeamXbox has the official Microsoft press release for Halo 3’s commercial packaging – and some pretty big changes can be found in it. There are still three editions – Standard, Limited, Legendary – but price and contents for the Legendary and Limited Editions are quite different from the older information we got at the end of last year. (The Standard edition is the same – ERP of $59.99, box contains only the game.) The Limited Edition is still $69.99 ERP, comes in a metal box, and contains the game, along with the Making Of Halo 3 DVD that was promised earlier – but now it also contains a book:

    […] a special “Halo” fiction and art book. A must-have for “Halo” collectors and a source of invaluable and exclusive information, the piece is an elaborate and compelling guide to the species and factions that inhabit the worlds of the “Halo” universe, with never-before-seen art and story elements that expand and illustrate the depth and breadth of the “Halo” fiction.

    The Legendary Edition is now listed with an Estimated Retail Price of $129.99 (up from the anticipated $99.99) – it still contains the helmet case, the game, and the Making-Of DVD, but instead of two discs containing cutscenes and fan creations, there is now ONE extra disc (containing both), along with ‘an illuminating collection of original “Halo 3” storyboard art from artist Lee Wilson, depicting key moments and pivotal scenes from the epic cinematic production of “Halo.” ‘ Interesting changes; I’m not thrilled with the Legendary price bump, and I’m REALLY not thrilled that the Legendary Edition is not a superset of the editions below it (for that rabid Halo fan who needs EVERYTHING Bungie releases, Halo 3 is going to cost $200 – because the Limited Edition contains a book not present in the Legendary pack)… but it’s still early days, things might change again.

    I agree with his disappointment; why doesn’t the Legendary edition come with the book?!

    ‹ Do you want in the Shadowrun beta? Seventeen Lame Xbox 360 Achievements ›

  • Viva King

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Paul Maestri let us know that Halo Heads 54 was live – my goodness, a new villain! And a dastardly one at that. I KNEW there was something squirrelly about that guy..(Louis Wu 20:51:29 UTC)

  • Dearth Of A Salesman.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Continuing in our commercial vein, today’s One One Se7en looks at another Halo product, and its relationship to Microsoft’s bottom line…(Louis Wu 17:20:45 UTC)

  • Official Halo 3 Packaging Announcement

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    by

    halo@bungie.org
    in
    TeamXbox has the official Microsoft press release for Halo 3’s commercial packaging – and some pretty big changes can be found in it. There are still three editions – Standard, Limited, Legendary – but price and contents for the Legendary and Limited Editions are quite different from the older information we got at the end of last year. (The Standard edition is the same – ERP of $59.99, box contains only the game.) The Limited Edition is still $69.99 ERP, comes in a metal box, and contains the game, along with the Making Of Halo 3 DVD that was promised earlier – but now it also contains a book:

    […] a special “Halo” fiction and art book. A must-have for “Halo” collectors and a source of invaluable and exclusive information, the piece is an elaborate and compelling guide to the species and factions that inhabit the worlds of the “Halo” universe, with never-before-seen art and story elements that expand and illustrate the depth and breadth of the “Halo” fiction.

    The Legendary Edition is now listed with an Estimated Retail Price of $129.99 (up from the anticipated $99.99) – it still contains the helmet case, the game, and the Making-Of DVD, but instead of two discs containing cutscenes and fan creations, there is now ONE extra disc (containing both), along with ‘an illuminating collection of original “Halo 3” storyboard art from artist Lee Wilson, depicting key moments and pivotal scenes from the epic cinematic production of “Halo.” ‘ Interesting changes; I’m not thrilled with the Legendary price bump, and I’m REALLY not thrilled that the Legendary Edition is not a superset of the editions below it (for that rabid Halo fan who needs EVERYTHING Bungie releases, Halo 3 is going to cost $200 – because the Limited Edition contains a book not present in the Legendary pack)… but it’s still early days, things might change again. Thanks again to xIIEnderIIx for the heads-up.(Louis Wu 17:09:46 UTC)

  • Sound Arguments – Episode 8

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    halo@bungie.org
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    MLGPro has put up a new podcast in their Sound Arguments series – Jason and Trunkers take a look at the top team rosters (most changed dramatically at the end of last season), and speculate about what it might all mean for the season. 12:09 long, 11.13 mb. Thanks, 3Suns.(Louis Wu 16:45:38 UTC)

  • Halo 3 Packaging Finalized

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Legend, from HaloBase.de, was the first to mention that the Halo 3 boxes have been finalized, and press shots are circulating today. You can see a summary of them in this article at HaloBase, and you can see all 6 shots, in high-res glory, on this page. Update: Looks like TeamXbox has ’em up, too (thanks, xIIEnderIIx). (Louis Wu 14:18:22 UTC)

  • Final Boss Give Amateurs a Taste

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Final Boss, one of the best teams on the Halo pro circuit, participated in a tournament in Austin, and then gave local fans (who hadn’t been playing in the tournament) a chance to see what it’s like to play a top pro team. Results were predictable… but their opponents had a good time nonetheless. Nice! Go read about it in the Cleburne Times-Review.(Louis Wu 13:12:28 UTC)