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We Become Silhouettes
Jamie98s posted a note on our forum about a new music video he’d created, ‘We Become Silhouettes’, about a survivor of a nuclear blast coming to grips with the death around him. Fantastic effects and filming; this is the sort of thing music videos should aspire to. He posted a mythica link to a WMP9 version in his forum post, but we’re offering both a mirror for that (30.4 mb) and a QuickTime version (29.6 mb); this rocks.(Louis Wu 14:58:52 UTC)
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Halo 3 FAQ Updated
With the onslaught of new Halo 3 information in the past few weeks, I’ve begun updated our Halo 3 FAQ. At the same time, I’m changing the way FAQ pages are stored and displayed. Currently, only the Halo 3 FAQ is in this system, but eventually it will be used for all FAQs.
Instead of individual pages with all questions listed sequentially, questions and answers in the new FAQ system will be independent items. This will allow for easier changes and updates, and also allows for users to search and sort FAQ entries according to game and the date of the last update to the item. It also allows comments, files and images to be attached to individual questions if desired.
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Getting Into The Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta
If you couldn’t register on Halo3.com the first time out, and the idea of buying Crackdown miffs you, then relax: there are still other ways to get into the Halo 3 beta to be held next spring.
The Gamerscore Blog lists two new ways that US residents can get in: by buying Crackdown, by playing at least three hours of Halo 2 online on Xbox Live and then registering at Halo3.com (first come, first served, 13,333 spots available).
Bungie.net also has an updated item on how to get into the beta test, which mentions an additional Bungie “friends and family” program that will precede the public beta.
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Furhman can sleep anywhere.
The LANfest that took place here last week has now been written up on Bungie.net – KP got a little hyperbolic, but there are some great pics. I’d said the last time I’d posted about this LAN that I’d summarize the rest of the writeups at a later date – this seems like a fine later date. Blackstar posted a video slideshow of his photos (you can see the individual pics at Rampancy.net), Jillybean summarized her experiences in the Home of the Free, and rets posted a huge video of a 1v1 match against Schooly D. (If you all download this, you will likely crush his server; only grab it if you really want to watch it.) Finally, Mintz posted a writeup over at Hushed Casket. There will likely be one more post down the road – I’ve got a whole lot of photos to go into a bunch of galleries – but don’t hold your breath for that. Once again, thanks to all who came, and apologies to all who should have, but didn’t.(Louis Wu 23:27:45 UTC)
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Deadly Night
Last week, about 25 Bungie fans and even a few Bungie employees showed up for a LAN at Louis Wu’s house in the remote suburbs of Connecticut. The LAN that followed was of the epic nature associated with HBO LANs. Read on for details and many pictures.
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VGL – Behind The Scenes (the beginning)
Over at GameTrailers, you’ll find a trailer, along with the first of three full episodes, of a Behind the Scenes documentary about Video Games Live. This is only peripherally Halo-related, in that Halo is one of the pieces played during the concert, but it’s pretty interesting if you were ever curious about how these guys got started, and why they’re doing what they’re doing. Thanks, DHalo.(Louis Wu 22:40:18 UTC)
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PGL Elites Championship
Jay “Ling Ling” Marrero writes to point out a pair of Halo 2 tourneys sponsored by the PGL at Otronicon v2.0 in Orlando, FL, coming up the weekend of January 13/14. Registration is $15 (with a paid Otronicon entrance), and the first place prize for each event is $1000 (with a bunch of other stuff on the line, as well). Check it out – and if you’re going to Otronicon, jump in!(Louis Wu 14:39:04 UTC)
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Dashboard Themes – try before you buy
JeBr0nie noticed a new website called dashboardthemes.com; it’s the first place I’ve seen that contains screenshots of all the Halo-related 360 Dashboard themes out there. (It contains a lot more than that, of course – but this is a Halo site, after all.) You can see all three Halo 3 themes there, as well as the Red vs Blue theme. It shows you what the themes look like with all the normal text that will appear over the images – really helpful. A nice resource!(Louis Wu 14:24:22 UTC)
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Halo 2 – eclipsed in 8 short weeks?
Several days ago, Major Nelson posted the Top Live Games of 2006 – broken out into 360 games, Arcade games, and Original Xbox games. There’s no combined list, but the way it’s written, quite a number of the people commenting on the post are assuming that MN is saying that Gears of War (the top 360 game) is the top overall game for the year – and most of them are wondering if that’s a mistake. I’ve waited several days for a specific clarification, but although at least one Xbox staffer has chimed into the conversation, there is no refutation of the assumption, and in fact, if one reads the entire set of comments, one is left with the impression that Gears of War did, indeed, pass Halo 2 as the top Live game of 2006. I have trouble believing this, but in the absence of hard data, I can do no more than speculate. If true, it would be a stunning statement about the popularity of Epic’s title; it hit the market just a few weeks before the end of the year. If false… one wonders why Major Nelson, or an Xbox Live staffer, doesn’t simply say so in that thread. (Well, I wonder, anyway.)(Louis Wu 13:31:17 UTC)
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Bungie’s Blue Harvest
IGN has posted a 2-page article discussing why Bungie is so secretive about Halo 3 info. There’s not a lot here that isn’t common sense – but it seems that common sense is a bit less common than one would hope, so if you’re an Insider, go read. (If you’re not an Insider, you can’t see it anyway; summary is “secrecy keeps the game from being ruined for you”.) Thanks to COwOnTheNews for the heads-up.(Louis Wu 12:59:29 UTC)
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After the War
Luke McKay added a fun little sketch to his Red vs Blue Image collection – we’ve added it to his gallery here. Don’t make a girl a promise you can’t keep…(Louis Wu 11:41:51 UTC)
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Podtacular RPG is out of beta
The Podtacular RPG has finally arrived! Go on a quest as a gamer determined to save Podtacular from enemies such as modders, kidnappers, and spammers. Meet up with characters such as Foo Mo Jive, DM7000, JVB, Brent Gamer, and more. Do you have what it takes to save Podtacular? Download links and info in the forums.
UPDATE: Podtacular RPG has been “remastered” by xStrikeZerox and reduced in size greatly. It’s now available here with a new forum topic here. It also has an easy installer now instead of a complicated group of files. In other news, a new Podtacular RPG is on the way: The Adventures of Foo Mo Jive!
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More ways to get into the HALO 3 beta
Microsoft has announced additional ways to get into the HALO 3 beta set to take place on XBOX Live this spring.
1) Play at least 3 hours of HALO 2 on XBOX Live between Feb 1st and 3rd. But, you have to be among the first 13,333 to go to http://halo3.com to register after meeting that requirement. (So, who’s going to play until 3:00AM EST on Feb 1st?)
2) Anyone who purchases “Crackdown”, an upcoming XBOX 360 title, will be guaranteed a spot on the beta program. (Hmm. Tempting. $60 for the HALO 3 beta?)
Remember most of us already registered on HALO3.com in hopes that we would be selected for the beta. There’s always a chance that we’ll get in via that method.
Additionally, we know that some websites have been given beta codes to give away. However, those are currently few and far between.
However, there’s going to be a “pre-beta” period of the HALO 3 beta. It’s Bungie’s “friend and family” program and they might room for thousands users. As Frankie said “we’ll be tapping active members of our community to join us on Xbox Live as a precursor to the official start of the public beta. We’re still working on logistics and details but suffice it to say that we will have the opportunity to grant access to some number (thousands) of Bungie and Halo fans worldwide. This will not be a sweepstakes or a random drawing but will instead focus on active, supportive members of our community and people who are actively playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live and can provide us with the feedback and test cases we require. Stay tuned to Bungie.net in the coming weeks for additional details.”
Here’s guessing that Bungie will be giving away beta passes to HALO fansites like http://halo.bungie.org and perhaps their B.net forums in order to get the die hard fan’s in.
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Halo 3 Beta Update
In light of the recent Microsoft press release, we give you some more details on how to ensure your participation in the upcoming Halo 3 Beta program, and a few more tidbits about how we plan to take care of the Bungie faithful.
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Another way into the H3 beta program
The Jedi Lord pointed out a new press release – it’ll be all over the web soon, I’d guess, but he found it at Gamerscore Blog – which outlines a pair of ways into the Halo 3 beta program. The first – buying Crackdown – we mentioned last week… but the second – playing 3 hours of Halo 2 online between February 1 and February 3, and then being among the first 13,333 to register at Halo3.com – is new. Check out the full press release, and remember, this one’s for US residents 17 or older only. Update: There’s a bunch of info from Frankie posted over at Bungie.net right now; lots of goodies in there to supplement the official press release. Check it out! (Thanks to Dry Ice for the heads-up.)(Louis Wu 18:39:46 UTC)
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Mercenary Trailer
Wandering Tiger has posted a trailer for Mercenary, an upcoming machinima project. Crank your volume to hear it. Available on their site, in both high (6.6 mb) and low (2.3 mb) resolutions, WMP9 for the moment.(Louis Wu 17:59:52 UTC)
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Halo, Articulated 1: Dress for Success
Mister Froggy stopped by to mention that he has started up Halo, Articulated, a comic strip that uses action figures. He used feedback from his first attempt to come up with this final product – see what you think!(Louis Wu 16:14:27 UTC)
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Con Version?
Sometimes, it’s hard to be objective. Ask Stuntmutt – or just read today’s One One Se7en.(Louis Wu 16:09:58 UTC)
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MLGPro Online Tourney Update
MLGPro.com has put up an article detailing the current state of their Online Halo 2 Tournament; Division 1 group play is now over, they’re moving into bracket play. Go check out who to root for! Thanks, 3Suns.(Louis Wu 16:06:54 UTC)
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Not So Silent Night, But Deadly Night
Almost five years to the day after the first HBO LAN Party, Louis Wu held “Deadly Night”. Accounts from attendees Jillybean and retsamolah and Ma1agate are in the HBO forum, along with a a video of the retsamolah vs Schooly-D grudge match.
Mintz put his own writeup at the Hushed Casket, including an especially helpful and informative photograph with attendees names indicated. Blackstar lent us a gallery of photos.
Bungie’s own Frankie and KP were in attendance, and although there was no official Weekly Update last week, Frankie did mention the event on Bungie.net, with promises of photos and a writeup later this week.
UPDATE: KP’s own writeup is up now at Bungie.net.
The latest news about the Halo series of games from Microsoft
