My Halo News.com

The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft

  • Machinima Makers – Read This

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Okay, so I’ve got good news and bad news for you, if you make Halo machinima, and you want to know how to put your weapon down. The good news is, we’ve got that info for you, thanks to madmax. The bad news? It only works locally or in system link – it will NOT work over Live. Sorry. So: here’s the trick (and it really is a trick, you need a lot of fingers): hold down both bumpers, both sticks, A and DPad-Down for 3 seconds. (Three fingers per hand should do it.) To bring the gun back up, just pull a trigger. And oh, yeah – this works in both Multiplayer… AND Campaign. (Louis Wu 19:41:03 UTC)

  • Halo 3 Premiere in Sweden

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Thanks to Joakim Ericson, who let us know about a film on YouTube that shows the Halo 3 kickoff event in Sweden.(Louis Wu 19:30:31 UTC)

  • One Final Push is All that Remains

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Heh – this one’s bizarre. A company has made a custom Halo 3 inhaler, for folks with asthma, and put it up for sale on eBay – 50% of the final price will go to the American Lung Association of Washington. Thanks, JC!(Louis Wu 19:19:16 UTC)

  • They did it again.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Edge Magazine doesn’t call a lot of games ‘perfect’. The first Halo was one – and before today, there were four others. Halo 3 just became the sixth game in the magazine’s history to earn that coveted score. In other words… one third of all games to ever receive an Edge rating of ’10’ came from Bungie, in their Halo series. Not bad!(Louis Wu 18:43:13 UTC)

  • Guide: how to unlock customizable armor in Halo 3

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    rapture

    Thanks to Thumb who stepped up to the plate in our comments section and hit a homerun with some information that has been sending a lot of Google users to our site (over 20,000 yesterday searching for Halo 3 armor). Details on unlocking the different armors that are available in Halo 3’s multiplayer mode are below.

    [ed – Also note that Bungie has special "Bungie only" armor with flaming head pieces. This indicates that it’s possible to have other armor than the armor listed below. I feel that it’s possible that we’ll see armor for sale on the XBOX Live Marketplace in the future. Why not?]

    Update (Sept 28): We are getting reports that people are running a problem unlocking a couple pieces of armor using our guide. I don’t like to think that Bungie screwed up on their achievements, but I can say that I haven’t unlocked the 5th meta-game achievement just yet even though I have gotten enough points three times on Legendary (and this was while playing through with others as we unlock other meta-game achievements). Thumb says that he had to perform that act that leads to the unlocking of the "Used Car Salesman" three times before he actually got the achievement. I also know people that have had a hard time getting the "Headshot Honcho" achievement, although I think that one is left up to user-error or a poor description of the achievement. Anyone got any feedback?

    Got any info to add to the guide? Then get busy in the comment section.

    Where’s the Hayabusa skull? We need help finding it.

    Body Pieces

    Spartan

    EVA……………..Complete Tsavo Highway on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
    EOD……………..Complete Tsavo Highway on Legendary
    Scout……………Unlock "Too Close to the Sun" Achievement (Destroy an enemy banshee with the Sp’laser or missile pod in a ranked playlist or campaign)

    Elite

    Flight……………Complete Tsavo Highway on Heroic or Legendary
    Ascetic…………Unlock "Up Close and Personal" Achievement (Kill 5 enemies via melee or assassination in a ranked FFA playlist)
    Commando….Unlock "Triple Kill" Achievement (Get one triple kill)

    Shoulder Pieces

    Spartan

    EVA……………..Complete The Ark on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
    EOD…………….Complete The Ark on Legendary
    Security……….Earn 750 Gamerscore Points
    Scout……………Try getting the "Mongoose Mowdown" achievement. Then try "We’re in for some Chop" Achievement. People are having a hard time getting this armor unlocked. We now believe you need to get the "Mongoose Mayhem" achievement. Please report back with your findings.

    Elite

    Flight……………Complete The Ark on Heroic or Legendary
    Ascetic…………Unlock "Overkill" Achievement (Get one overkill)
    Commando….Unlock "Killing Frenzy" Achievement (Get one killing frenzy)

    Head Pieces

    Spartan

    EVA……………..Complete Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
    EOD……………..Complete Campaign on Legendary
    Security………..Earn 1,000 Gamerscore Points
    Scout…………….Unlock "Used Car Salesman" Achievement (Destroy an enemy vehicle containing 3 enemies in Campaign or ranked playlists)
    Mark V………….Unlock "UNSC Spartan" Achievement (Reach Sergeant ranking online)
    ODST……………Unlock "Spartan Graduate" Achievement (Earn 5 EXP or complete 10 ranked matches)
    Rogue………….Unlock "Spartan Officer" Achievement (Advance to the Spartan Officer ranks online)

    Hayabusa………..Collect all Gold and White skulls

    Elite

    Flight……………Complete Campaign on Heroic or Legendary
    Ascetic………….Unlock "Steppin’ Razor" Achievement (Get one triple kill with an energy sword in ranked FFA)
    Commando….Unlock "Overkill" Achievement (Get one overkill)

  • Guide: how to unlock customizable armor in Halo 3

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    rapture

    Thanks to "v My Thumb v" who stepped up to the plate in our comments section and hit a homerun with some information that has been sending a lot of Google users to our site. We’ve been getting a lot of Google search users hitting the site looking for details on unlocking the different armors that are available in Halo 3’s multiplayer mode. Here’s your list.

    Also note that Bungie has special "Bungie only" armor. This indicates that it’s possible to have other armor than the armor listed below. I feel that it’s highly likely that we’ll see armor for sale on the XBOX Live Marketplace in the future.

    Body Pieces

    Spartan

    EVA……………..Complete Tsavo Highway on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
    EOD……………..Complete Tsavo Highway on Legendary
    Scout……………Unlock "Too Close to the Sun" Achievement (Destroy an enemy banshee with the Sp’laser or missile pod in a ranked playlist or campaign)

    Elite

    Flight……………Complete Tsavo Highway on Heroic or Legendary
    Ascetic…………Unlock "Up Close and Personal" Achievement (Kill 5 enemies via melee or assassination in a ranked FFA playlist)
    Commando….Unlock "Triple Kill" Achievement (Get one triple kill)

    Shoulder Pieces

    Spartan

    EVA……………..Complete The Ark on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
    EOD…………….Complete The Ark on Legendary
    Security……….Earn 750 Gamerscore Points
    Scout……………Unlock "We’re in for some Chop" Achievement (Destroy an enemy vehicle with a piece of equipment in a ranked playlist or campaign)

    Elite

    Flight……………Complete The Ark on Heroic or Legendary
    Ascetic…………Unlock "Overkill" Achievement (Get one overkill)
    Commando….Unlock "Killing Frenzy" Achievement (Get one killing frenzy)

    Head Pieces

    Spartan

    EVA……………..Complete Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary
    EOD……………..Complete Campaign on Legendary
    Security………..Earn 1,000 Gamerscore Points
    Scout…………….Unlock "Used Car Salesman" Achievement (Destroy an enemy vehicle containing 3 enemies in Campaign or ranked playlists)
    Mark V………….Unlock "UNSC Spartan" Achievement (Reach Sergeant ranking online)
    ODST……………Unlock "Spartan Graduate" Achievement (Earn 5 EXP or complete 10 ranked matches)
    Rogue………….Unlock "Spartan Officer" Achievement (Advance to the Spartan Officer ranks online)

    Elite

    Flight……………Complete Campaign on Heroic or Legendary
    Ascetic………….Unlock "Steppin’ Razor" Achievement (Get one triple kill with an energy sword in ranked FFA)
    Commando….Unlock "Overkill" Achievement (Get one overkill)

  • RT: Congrats Bungie!

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    Rooster Teeth News
    I just read on Gamespot that Halo 3’s opening day total was a staggering $170 million dollars, making it the largest entertainment launch in history. GG guys. GG. Also, today’s totally awesome sponsor comic is right here.

  • Last news round-up of the day

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    halo@bungie.org
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    From here on, I’m caught up – news will be posted as it comes! w00t!

    • Heh – the New Zealand Herald has a story about how dangerous videogames can be, and warns parents to keep an eye on their children in the wake of Halo 3’s release.

    • Cinema Blend says Halo is the perfect dance of bullets and dead bodies, and gives it a 5/5 rating.

    • Whoa – these are really cute.

    • I know I said we were going to call the launch events ‘covered’ and move on – but the London Gala was pretty extravagant, and Feenix took some great pics and delivered some nice commentary.

    • Kotaku’s pretty amazed that there’s at least one store in Japan that has sold out of Halo 3 (thanks, Red_Breast), even though the advertising campaign there is… a little weak.

    • bs angel found this great song on YouTube – MollieJane misses her boyfriend.

    CAUGHT UP! I’M CAUGHT UP! (For a minute or two, at least…)(Louis Wu 16:55:13 UTC)

  • 3 for 3, Round 3

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    halo@bungie.org
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    JawReich and DisciplineN2k team up to remind you that the Halo 3 for 3 Sweepstakes Round 3 starts today. (Might not actually be live yet; I’m having trouble getting a confirmation.)(Louis Wu 16:20:43 UTC)

  • Hey-Low the Halfling Rogue

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    halo@bungie.org
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    McKeeganWRX noticed that Goblins has a new Tempts Fate comic with a character that looks awfully familiar… (Louis Wu 16:16:16 UTC)

  • I was sleeping, dude.

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    halo@bungie.org
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    If you’ve got friends like Warbow, today’s Calvin and Halo might remind you why they need a smack in the head occasionally.(Louis Wu 15:51:56 UTC)

  • Prima Guide Preview

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Black Six pointed out a preview for the Halo 3 Official Strategy Guide, over at Xbox.com. It’s a 10 mb, 9 page PDF download, and it makes it pretty clear that this guide is GORGEOUS. Go look!(Louis Wu 15:50:32 UTC)

  • Stealing from the Neighbors

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    halo@bungie.org
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    I visited Rampancy.net last night, and found a bunch of interesting articles I’d missed:

    Just remember: Rampancy.net has been there since the very beginning of Halo fandom (they were the Core before they were R.net, and it’s not completely clear whether they, or we, were the first site on the scene) – if they’re not on your Halo rounds list, they should be.(Louis Wu 15:41:27 UTC)

  • News Catchup

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    halo@bungie.org
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    News dump, yet again (I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to the day when coverage can go back to commentary on every item):

    • The Seattle Post-Intelligencer thought Halo 3 was good, but not great; there were plot holes. Three stars out of four.

    • 3of9 found a very cool UNSC logo shirt at MyTeeSpot

    • Gamespot created a graphical comparison between the three games; it’s a little unfair because they did a far better job getting screenshots for Halo 3 than for the other two, but the general idea is sound (thanks, Marcus-626)

    • Scott Hanselman reviewed the game for his blog, and declared it ‘balanced’

    • Britain’s Telegraph reviews Halo 3, and says that “Halo 3 crosses into the “essential” category effortlessly”.

    • TheStreet.com warns that enthusiastic launch events do NOT say anything useful long-term for investors; they’re taking a ‘wait and see’ approach.

    • Apparently, the US Air Force took advantage of the launch to try to do some recruiting in a small town in New Hampshire

    • Yahoo Games has posted a Halo 3: First Tips article

    • The New York Times posted a ‘ho hum’ article; I must include this quote:
      For all its grand panoramas and its galaxywide narrative, Halo 3’s plot feels like a bit of a throwaway, a rather short adventure with a predictable story and dialogue that is sometimes as hokey as something from an old John Wayne war movie.
      The author felt that Halo 3 was simply Halo 2 with better graphics.

    • Binary Bonsai thought the story was a little obscure, but that the game was really fun anyway

    More news coming soon – this was just a way to TRY and clear out the bulk of the backlog.(Louis Wu 14:46:17 UTC)

  • Halo 2 With New Graphics

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    narcogen

    It’s one thing to always see the glass half full, or to always look for the flaw in an otherwise brilliant diamond.

    There’s also such a thing as being a spoiler; having no other purpose than to be contrary, “alternative”, or to actively dislike that which others like for the sake of disagreement itself.

    You can be the judge of which category Charles Herold at the New York Times falls into with his review of Halo 3:

    It is difficult to say that one likes, but does not love, a Halo game. Halo fans are so worshipful of the series that anything short of drooling admiration is seen as something akin to blasphemy. One is expected to love Halo games the way one is expected to love Harry Potter, “American Idol,” Tom Hanks, the Beatles and chocolate (some of which I love, some of which I don’t).

    Yet, while Halo 3 is a slickly produced, exciting, well-made shooter, I wouldn’t class it as one of those creations that rival the importance of bendable straws or casual Fridays. And saying that could well result in a few angry letters.

    It doesn’t really matter what reviewers say, though. Halo 3 is not just a game: it is a phenomenon fueled by obsessed fans, slick advertising and excessive press coverage (of which I find myself a part).

    Perhaps there is the real core of Herold’s criticism of Halo 3: it renders the opinion of reviewers irrelevant. For shame!

  • Halo 3 Launch FAQ

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Bungie’s got a Halo 3 Launch FAQ posted; the answers to some of the most common questions they’re seeing can be found in there. Worth a look, even if you’re not having trouble – you might learn something!(Louis Wu 04:19:00 UTC)

  • Singapore Launch Rundown

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    halo@bungie.org
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    We got mail from a couple of people about some recent Halo 3 events in Singapore; Spu7n1k sent along info from his blog (17 September | 19 September | 22 September), showing the progress on his launch party costume – winner of best costume got a Legendary Edition, which isn’t even sold in Singapore; I don’t know if he won), as well as links to videos of the Believer 3 and Believer 4 events (these were filmed by Duelist). Finally, he sent along pics of the schwag from these events (a Halo 3 cap from 3, and a wristband from 4). Qdepartment went to the launch, and sent along a whole bunch of pics – the best of the bunch were a shot of a Master Chief statue at the event, and a pic of the nice bag all the schwag came in. Nice deal for those guys!(Louis Wu 04:13:39 UTC)

  • Download A Blank Slate

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    narcogen

    Want to mess around with Forge maps without having to delete all the default items? Download these modified maps by Chevmeister, with all the default items carefully removed.

  • Halo 3 Sells $170M In 24 Hours

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    narcogen

    According to Microsoft, the Halo franchise’s latest installment has shattered one-day entertainment sales records again; Halo 3 did $170 million USD in its first day of sales in the US.

  • Watch the World Light Up with Halo 3

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    halo@bungie.org
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    Sunburned Goose, from 2old2play.com, sent along this animated gif showing the Online World Map (visible with real-time data on Bungie’s Online page) over the course of 24 hours, from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. For a slightly different view of the same sort of data, Tieno, over at the Neogaf forum, put up a similar image from the night of the launch (thanks, GhaleonEB).(Louis Wu 03:42:32 UTC)