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Transmissions – and Contest Results
Bah. I hate it when I write up newsposts, but manage to close windows before they’re actually POSTED. This morning, TTL Demag0gue posted Reclaimer 98, with lots and lots of new info – and the blog post includes the winner of his Reclaimer Comic Contest, as well. Swing by and catch up – and check out the winning comic! (Thanks to Demag0gue for noticing the newspost that never was.)(Louis Wu 20:45:43 UTC)
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Weekly Update – Promote SIP
This Weekly Update comes with a challenge and a promise! Read on for more information about what’s coming….
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Clan Tournement
news update, minor tornys 1v1 for clan battle no.1 then another torny for clan no.2 and so forth.
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Audio Square-Off: PS3 vs. Xbox360
Gamasutra has an article comparing audio features of next-gen consoles – and Halo 3 is the test game for the 360. There’s a short interview with Marty O’Donnell that will make almost no sense to people who don’t use the software bundle ‘Waves’ – but will probably be wonderful for those who DO use it.(Louis Wu 18:48:33 UTC)
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Snipers are Wussies
Bryan Simon seems to have an issue with snipers – go listen to his latest song (#9 out of 10), ‘Snipers are Wussies’, on YouTube, or grab the mp3 version (3.5 mb) from our files server. There’s a thread over on Bungie.net if you’d like to comment (or start one on our own forum!).(Louis Wu 18:00:14 UTC)
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Retrospective Interview – Hardy LeBel on Halo Multiplayer
Gamasutra has interviewed Hardy LeBel, Multiplayer Lead Designer on the first Halo, about the history of Halo’s multiplayer code, and how it almost didn’t make it into the final build. He talks a lot about building gameplay that appeals to a broad spectrum of gamers – I think it’s safe to say, in hindsight, that he (and the small team he worked with) succeeded. Thanks to hnc for the heads-up.(Louis Wu 17:40:08 UTC)
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Get H3r.
Halo 3: Recon has brought another long-retired artist out of hiding – there’s a new One One Se7en today. I think Stuntmutt nailed it…(Louis Wu 17:21:31 UTC)
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TPT does H3R
Over at Geekscape Games, the Teabag Prevention Team takes a look at the Recon trailer, and tries to figure out what it means for gamers – give it a read. Thanks, jake108.(Louis Wu 17:16:40 UTC)
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Don’t let her go, Luke.
Luke Neill pointed us to a blog post written by his wife Sarah – it’s entitled ‘Why Every Wife Should Buy Her Man an Xbox360’, and I think a lot of married gamers would be happy if their spouse saw things this way. It’s actually solid reasoning for ANY non-Halo-playing spouse – male or female.(Louis Wu 13:43:46 UTC)
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Friday Caption Fun, Round 21
Hawty McBloggy is back with another round of Friday Caption Fun – great submissios for last week’s pic, and yet more Spartan pr0n for this week’s pic. Go tell her what you think!(Louis Wu 13:41:53 UTC)
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Friday’s Fan Fiction
Only five pieces this week in the Fan Fiction section – and two of them are poems! Go read.(Louis Wu 13:37:54 UTC)
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PreGame Lobby Episode 7
TG HellJumper stopped in yesterday to announce that PreGame Lobby Episode 7 was posted yesterday. Melander and his crew are up to something… go watch!(Louis Wu 13:13:23 UTC)
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Tokyo Interview Roundup
Here are some of the articles covering Luke Smith/Brian Jarrard interviews in Tokyo:- Guardian.co.uk has a 9 and a half minute video interview with the pair – lots of tidbits, including “Mythic Map Pack is coming early next year” and “Recon is a labor of love for our fans” (and that Luke is just in Tokyo for the girls)
- IGN talked to both reps, and came away with quotes like “Recon is less of a galactic romp than Halo 3” and “When Halo 3: Recon launches, it will come bundled with two map packs that will be released as DLC beforehand. One is titled the Mythic Map Pack (coming early 2009) and another is still unnamed.” They also learned that there will be no downloadable version of Recon – box only.
- Bungie told Kotaku that “Halo 3: Recon is not a tactical squad based shooter.” It will come with its own new achievements totalling 1000 points. Bungie say “We’re not viewing this as a full game.”
- Gamesindustry.biz got more info about maps: “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.” They also got Brian to agree that “Halo 3 Recon would be a ‘final statement’ from Bungie as far as the Halo trilogy was concerned”. (Thanks, Eastbeast314.)
- Eurogamer discovered that Recon has only been in full production for a couple of months, that Bungie isn’t willing to divulge all the details they have about ODSTs, and that there “might be a surprise later that we’ll talk about, that might benefit people who have Halo 3, but it’s not a requirement.” Brian said that “The word ‘stealth’ terrifies us.”
I’m sure there’ll be more interviews popping up throughout the day – depending on when they show up, we’ll either update this post, or start a new one. Update: 1UP.com‘s preview is the first to ask about Recon armor, and whether it’ll be available to buyers of the game. Update 2: Zeouterlimits let us know that Giant Bomb has some questions and answers as well. Not a lot new, but the comments about Recon armor might give some of you pause. Update 3: Joystiq has an audio version of a group interview Brian gave (probably the same one that many other sites used for their coverage).(Louis Wu 11:39:16 UTC)
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Newsletter Part 1
Clan Meeting Friday & Saturday nite 9:00pm EST, Squad leaders get with me sometime Friday to discuss internal matters….
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More ways to get on the show
Ever wonder where we get all those cool screenshots for the podart? They come from community members just like you. Have a cool screenshot? Send it to us at or post it in the screenshots thread for a chance to be used as future podart.
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Halo 3 Recon
So as most of you probably noticed on the front page Bungie’s next project is titled Halo 3 Recon. More here
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Halo 3: Recon announced. Prequel to Halo 3. Play as ODSTs. Stand alone game with co-op campaign and multiplayer maps. Fall ’09.
(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”—
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.”
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The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft
