Leaked Halo 3 Alpha media roundup [update 1]

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 16th 2007 at 3:25PM }

We've compiled (courtesy of Xbox 360 Fanboy) the leaked Halo 3 Alpha media for easy digestion. You won't get much more than a headache out of watching the videos, but the screenshot showing the Alpha download may give some indication as to the size of the forthcoming beta test (start deleting those old demos if you plan to join). Enjoy ...

[Update: We've removed the leaked content at Bungie's request, sending the images and videos back into the perforated dam we call the internet. In lieu of ogling blurry screens and choppy video, stare at this $100 Legendary Edition helmet for a reminder of something else you'll never have.]

Tags: Alpha, Bungie, Halo, Halo3, Multiplayer, XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Fatass of Kickassness @ Jan 16th 2007 3:30PM

This game is going to take over my life when it comes out.

Unless Brawl isn't already in the act of doing so.

Jakobud @ Jan 16th 2007 3:36PM

Wow that game looks like crap. SUPER choppy. Like 10 fps.

Intentless @ Jan 16th 2007 3:36PM

soul sucking goodness... need... beta...

crono141 @ Jan 16th 2007 3:42PM

OMFG HALO!!!

*shits pants.

Seriously folks. It isn't that great a game. I used to say that without being able to back it up, but I've been playing through it on PC. There's way to many rooms that look the same/level design is subpar. I haven't gotten all the way through story mode, but gameplay is mediocre/boring.

Half-life is a better game franchise.

Mat @ Jan 16th 2007 3:47PM

Crono141,

Each to his own.

(I like Halo and HL2 equally for their own distinct merits).

Intentless @ Jan 16th 2007 3:50PM

Don't get me wrong I love Half-life 2 and one... But when it comes to a simple FPS Halo is excellent. I'm not picky and I do appreciate when the scenery changes but a good game is a good game even if it doesn't have all the bells and whistles... Simple works just fine for me.

Rami @ Jan 16th 2007 3:53PM

Uhh....crono141 ...Halo 3 hasn't come out on PC and probably won't for a few years...so there is no way you've been playing it on PC

maybe your thinking of Halo: Combat Evolved.

Anonymous @ Jan 16th 2007 3:58PM

Seriously, who cares? Please stop with that it's only an alpha version. The Halo franchise doesn't even deserve that much attention, final version or not.

Continue on that way Joystiq, you're just losing credibility...

crono141 @ Jan 16th 2007 3:58PM

I just don't understand the hype. When halo 1 was out, I was staunch anti-microsoft and Xbox, like many gamers were. I was also just out of highschool, so I had many a fanboyish tendancy.

I decided to pick it up and play it on PC a few months ago. It was pretty fun for awhile. But then I noticed that every 4th room was the same in major portions of the levels.

I'm not saying Halo isn't fun. I just don't understand people creaming themselves over new screens.

Kimosabae @ Jan 16th 2007 4:06PM

Crono please, just STFU.

WTF do people feel the need to question Halo's (or any other games') fanbase? Where the fuck do you people attain these base and wholly ethnocentric illusions of grandiliquence?

So what if Halo is overrated to you. Clearly there is a VERY large group of individuals (such as myself) that find enough merit within the series to fascinate them.

Why can't people understand and accept this? As a matter of fact, why do you even need to understand it? Anything you can't understand deserves derision? That's fucking selfish and petty. There are plenty of game series (or things in general -- such is LIFE) I can't stand, but I don't go questioning or assaulting peoples' tastes.

I'm sick to my stomach of idiots like you posting this nonsense in EVERY Halo thread. If the game doesn't do shit for you, ROLL YOUR EYES AT THE NEWS AND STAY ON YOUR COURSE. I'm tired of having to wade through all the bullshit petty arguments about Halo's undeserved accolades and adorations; the hackneyed banter seriously degenerates my enjoyment of reading these comments.

THANK YOU.

-SynikaL

grable @ Jan 16th 2007 4:09PM

Thats some wicked framerate right there!!

Silver R. Wolfe @ Jan 16th 2007 4:14PM

OMG! It's high-res Halo! :O

JodyAnthony @ Jan 16th 2007 4:15PM

You can tell this game has something going on for it, be it hype or otherwise. I played the first Halo, didn't like it really, it was just like any other FPS to me. Never played Halo 2 for that reason. But for some reason, even though I'll probably never buy 3, I am pumped whenever new media for it comes out. Its a weird thing. is it just the hype surrounding it? perhaps..but one thing is certain, this game is gonna sell millions.

crono141 @ Jan 16th 2007 4:17PM

I didn't deride anything moron.

Go take your blood pressure medicine and calm down. You seem to have a problem with people who disagree with you.

Jeez, Its not like I'm attacking your mother. I was just expressing my opinion that the game doesn't do much for me, and my puzzlement as to why everybody shits themselves when "halo" is attached to news.

Its a mediocre shooter. I suppose it did alot for console shooters, as far as advancing the medium, but it isn't the end all be all shooter franchise.

Archerboy @ Jan 16th 2007 4:18PM

Posted at 3:42PM on Jan 16th 2007 by crono14

Uh- He has a point for the PC game though...it did kinda get very repitive-not trying to be a whole 'bash the fanboys' but it was pretty crappy. And Kimosabae just flipped out there...

Leshrac @ Jan 16th 2007 4:21PM

Wow, I hope they get the framerate up when it's done... That totally sucked.

In all honesty, though, these videos are a waste of bandwidth... the quality is so bad that it I actually resent that I subjected my home's internet connection to it.

lol. @ Jan 16th 2007 4:22PM

My name is SynikaL. I didn't know how to make chrono feel bad, so I picked up a thesaurus and tried my best. Looks like I failed. Master chief says he's using the studded paddle this time. I will weep a euphoric, manly weep.

Ethnocentric? Are you serious? I'd love to read the justification on that one.

All the bullshit aside, Syn, I do agree with you...although you going off on your own tangent of a rant completely dissolved any credibility you may have had.

Halo, and well, most FPS games for that matter, aren't my thing. But I do realize that Halo and the FPS genre is in high demand. I may not understand why, but who cares why? Why anything?

I do hope that, as the game evolves, that it does stick to its original "Combat Evolved" title and brings some new innovation. And less bugs.

Crazylink @ Jan 16th 2007 4:24PM

Is it werid that the only thing I look forward to about the game is it's new vehicles?

crono141 @ Jan 16th 2007 4:29PM

yeah, when he said "ethnocentric illusions of grandiliquence", I thought the whole post was gonna be a joke.

Nobody talks like this. Or thinks like this, for that matter.

Ted D. Moncrief @ Jan 16th 2007 4:34PM

@ crono141 "Jeez, Its not like I'm attacking your mother. I was just expressing my opinion..."

You weren't just expressing your opinion, you flat out said: "It isn't that great a game." and "Half-life is a better game franchise."

Just expressing your opinion would've been more like: "I think it isn't that great a game." and "I think Half-life is a better game franchise."

When you state your opinion as fact like that, you are directly attacking the game and people will get upset (and with good reason).

SynoDev @ Jan 16th 2007 4:36PM

One thing about Halo that I think most people should be able to agree with, love it or hate it, is that it is a very polished game in terms of balance and multiplayer in general. Every weapon has a distinct purpose, unlike a lot of FPS games- like Unreal Tournament types- where one weapon is just the best in almost every situation. I love FPS games, and I enjoy Unreal, but I don't think it has the same polish that a game like Halo has. In addition, the multiplayer matchmaking system in Halo 2 was groundbreaking, period. It made it so easy to just jump into a game and not worry about playing by the host's rules or being kicked. You knew beforehand what playlist you were getting matched to, plus you could play ranked matches with friends in one lobby. That alone creates an awesome game experience; forget about if a few areas look the same in the campaign.

tcc3 @ Jan 16th 2007 4:38PM

Im snobby and superior because I publicly dislike something that many people enjoy. I also hate your favorite band, athletic team, and other subjective things that in the end dont matter. Hating then publicly only inflates my ego.

crono141 @ Jan 16th 2007 4:41PM

Ted,

When expressing your opinion, you state it as fact, otherwise you look like a pansy who can't make up his mind.

And besides, from my point of view, it is a fact. Thats why its called "personal opinion".

I don't hate the game, I just don't think its god's gift to shooters.

Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 16th 2007 4:44PM

Does anybody know if you have to preorder Halo 3 to get the legendary version of the game (the $100 one), or if you can simply waltz into the store and buy it?

The Intangible Fact @ Jan 16th 2007 4:53PM

"11. Thats some wicked framerate right there!!"

That's because it's on the EXTREMEBOX360.

You see that? That's YOUR future, xbots. That's not the video's fault, THAT'S WHAT THE END PRODUCT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I wouldn't be surprised if they ported this over to the PS3 with added content. They did it with Obvilion, and they will do it with everything else once the Microtitanic sinks along with the play cool playschool Wii

Intentless @ Jan 16th 2007 4:58PM

Personally I was a staunch PS fanboy... Micorsoft sucked in my eyes... Unreal for PC and other PC FPS were the way to go... Started dating this girl she happened to have all three systems at the time... (we are still together 4 years later...) anyway I thought I'd play the Money Box as it was referred to in my circle of friends... something about Halo... well it touched something like FF7 did and Jak and Daxter as well... Some games just speak to different people and some people need it to be all pretty and shiny and others take it not so shiny and like it just as much...

IMHO @ Jan 16th 2007 4:58PM

For Ted,

In my opinion Halo sucks. Bungie sucks too, but that's my opinion. People who play Halo and love it, has never played a real and proper FPS game before. Also my opinion. Yes, in my honest opinion, people who play Halo sucks.

There.

unitqm @ Jan 16th 2007 4:58PM

Someone at Bungie is gonna get fired. Did anyone else notice that the life bar appears at the top of the screen. Also worth mentioning is that the shoty and snipe are still very deadly. It was also cool to see that the map pack is over 1 gig. YEAH! Don't hate participate.

Intentless @ Jan 16th 2007 5:03PM

Just wanna say at this point for those saying that the 360 is choppy this is a pirated video of an alpha build... Alpha builds are bare bones... also in the latest issue of PSM (Playstation Magazine) They themselves admit that COD3 which looks great on the 360 with no lag in framerate except in the most extreme situations has a disgusting frame rate on the PS3 in normal circumstances... So don't use Halo Alpha build to try and say either system is something it is not... Yes I am a whore for Halo but at the same time I own all systems and once I can afford it I do plan on buying a PS3... affording it is a matter of rationalizing that they have something worth spending 600 dollars on... So probably next year...

WamBam @ Jan 16th 2007 5:05PM

Hey, if someone enjoys a game then what more can be said besides stating anything else but an opinion?

I always thought that Halo is a good game, made better because it enjoys almost unrivaled competition in console gaming. It was the first game to get console FPS right and that's why it has enjoyed such a loyal following... there's nothing wrong with that. Halo was fun because it seemed a little more accessable then PC gaming and even though XB Live wasn't around when it came out, it really brought people together in their living rooms as well as on the net. I would argue that Halo opened up a serious console shooter market that is now propogated by games like GOW, Socom, Resistance and the like. Before Halo, consoles didn't really need to have a killer shooter in their repertoire and now, they have to have at least one francise to be taken seriously. So, thank you and keep rockin' Halo!

Of course, this is all just my opinion.

lucas @ Jan 16th 2007 5:05PM

You would think that some would be familiar with the notion of "FREE SPEECH". As god said, post what you would post onto others... or something like that.

At the end of the day this is a FORUM or a sort of comments site. Everyone is entitled to an opinion or a rant.

I am posting, not because I am an avid gamer, but because im getting tired of the human incapacity to look at a perspective other than your own. Chill :)

jayman16 @ Jan 16th 2007 5:06PM

I've got the pics on my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayman16/sets/72157594408571601/

bladev1 @ Jan 16th 2007 5:07PM

From what I have seen there are two groups that hate Halo, 1) PC Gamers- The only reason I can think of is just a lack of understanding. PC gamers have been playing FPS long before Halo came out, and to them if it dosent use a mouse and a keyboard its sub par, in fact most usually think of console gaming as sub par as it will never have the flexibility of PCs or the high end graphics.
2) Sony fanboys- More then likely they never played and havent had the ability to enjoy the fluidness and action of halo, and if they have played it then they hate it for the sake of it being an Xbox game.

Now;Halo is the best CONSOLE franchise ever, PC gamers may not understand it and Sonyfanbots may hate it, but its true. The xbox controller is 1000x more comfortable then the Dual Shock and the game play and game mechanics are so good they are even on par with Key Board and mouse. Its fast, is fluid, its engrossing and has made Multiplayer on consoles no longer a joke but a must have. Halo is the bar for FPS on CONSOLES, and if you cant recognize that, then I feel sorry for your parents.

But I could be wrong, who knows i eat paint chips.

WamBam @ Jan 16th 2007 5:08PM

Just to ad, before Nintendo fanboys whipping me with their Wiimotes... Goldeneye was also an important development in console shooters but I'm not sure it's impact is as big as Halo's has been. Still, love Goldeneye!

Rob @ Jan 16th 2007 5:10PM

@25:
The 360 pwns the PS3 (which, as is a well known fact... sucks.) All three Halo games always have and always will be a thousand times as good on the Xbox / Xbox 360 as they could on ANY other system. The PS3 has good graphics and all -- don't get me wrong, it's a decent system -- but when compared to the 360, it looks bad. 360 has same, if not better, graphics, far more 360 exclusive games, Xbox Live (Playstation Network is a disaster), and much more. Don't expect the game to be ported over to any system other than the 360 and maybe the PC... but even that is not likely.
Good day.

Silver Gecko @ Jan 16th 2007 5:16PM

That stuff clearly should never have been posted anyway. I hope the jerk who leaked it gets banned from the alpha and upcomming beta.

LOL @ Kimosabe @ Jan 16th 2007 5:31PM

Hhahahhahhah seriously man...you aren't fooling anyone. You start and stop with Halo. We get it. You are sad. Everyone, keep your mouth's shut...Kimosabe likes Halo!!!

rapture @ Jan 16th 2007 5:37PM

Look at all the comments from people who are saying that the game doesn't look good. That's the very reason why Bungie doesn't want these images out there. The alpha is a technical demo used to build the final versions of the game. It's like looking 2008 Corvette while it is under construction. It's not a Corvette until it's finished, shiny and fast.

pattyblades @ Jan 16th 2007 5:42PM

@24 preordered collectors today, couldn't get the legendary, all accounted for

Intentless @ Jan 16th 2007 5:58PM

Sorry to hear all the collectors are accounted for... Although I'll need to hug my girl for pre-ordering that when it was announced...

thejakeman @ Jan 16th 2007 6:31PM

I THINK Halo fanboys suck.

I THINK their game sucks.

I THINK it really really sucks.

I THINK it sucks like their mothers do.

just expressing my opinion.

notorious hsg @ Jan 16th 2007 6:47PM

If you didnt own an xbox and get halo CE you dont understand shit! The halo experience needed to be lived to be appreciated..

At the time halo CE came out I had a PS2 and was heavily into GT3 A-Spec... my friends were hyped for the xbox while I was too busy being a PS fanboi... to cut a long story short I was invited to several system link sessions with 4 on 4... I dont know when specifically it was.. whether I finished a game with top kills... or was the driver of the warthog dropping off a team mate to win a mammoth session of blood gulch CTF... but i was gone HOOK LINE AND SINKER!
totally addicted after that..
Some of you will never understand the reason for the devotion by sooo many..
If you never shot someone from across the map with the pistol in Halo CE... you'd never understand.
If you've never played a CTF game of blood gulch for over 3 hrs... you'd never understand.
If you've never driven every vehichle into the base of blood gulch on a CTF game so that even when the other team grabs the flag they cant get out of the base.... you'd never understand.
I could go on a on.. but my enjoyment of the game came from the early days of CE..
Im hoping that Halo 3 will revisit its roots..

Fierce360 @ Jan 16th 2007 10:17PM

@42 agree completely.

Halo is the most inspirational shooter out there. it has toys, clothes, books, and a fucking series of shows made after it. that and many games try to rip it off. im not sure how many games ive heard call themselves halo killers, but you cant beat perfection, and halo is perfect. dont give me this bs about half life 2 being better, half life is a great game, you dont know the character and the story is boring. Gordon doesnt even talk for god's sake!! Master Chief has the sickest voice, able to give an orgasm anyone that hears it, and the story is amazing. and then multiplayer.. well, i dont want to get started because the multiplayer is, in the words of the halo announcer, untouchable.

fli @ Jan 16th 2007 10:24PM

@10... i agree with you to the boner.

Kimosabae @ Jan 16th 2007 10:42PM

Just to support my point regarding how every Halo post on this site degenerates into the nonsense this thread has become, check the post regarding the Mongoose: I made the SAME post in response to "Agent Moo", who jump started the same crap tangent with THE FIRST POST of the blog. I simply amended my more recent copy and paste job within this thread with Crono's name.

EVERY Halo post on this site becomes a flamewar between Halo-haters and Halo apologists within ten posts, usually galvanized by some idiot that has nothing better to do with their time than to opine about something that apparently fails to scintillate them on any level. It's sickening, due to the fact that it completely siphons any possible breath of discussion that may have emanated amongst actual fans of the game. How is that fair to them? The post, for the most part, was made for them.

For whatever reason, this is a Joystiq meme that seems to start and stop with Halo. I have yet to encounter any other FPS blog posts here that suffer this immature affliction.

Don't like Halo? Then why does a whole damn gaming community have to hear about it when a blog site makes a post about Bungies FAN SERVICE (i.e Mongoose post)? Get. A Fucking. LIFE.

"eah, when he said "ethnocentric illusions of grandiliquence", I thought the whole post was gonna be a joke.

Nobody talks like this. Or thinks like this, for that matter."

-Crono

I'm going to take that as a compliment. Don't mistake my billy goat beard for that of the common sheep.

And to the idiot who made the thesaurus comment: Why would you NOT want to use a thesaurus when you want to articulate something in script? Not that I actually needed one for that post in particular, but had I needed one, I wouldn't hesitate to utilize it. Thesaurus' and dictionaries facillitate articulation and vocab expansion. Why would I construct a superficial glass ceiling over my own writing abilities? That's stupid.

-SynikaL

fli @ Jan 16th 2007 10:47PM

now serioulsy guys , you all now halo is the shit , halo lovers you dnt have the make excuses for the game. it sell it self literally... halo haters just play the game just play it once on an xbox, play combat evolved no h2. play it allow your self to be emersed..... i Have one reason how i know halo 3 will rock , let me tell you............................................................................................................. Halo 3 alfa version which is the earliest stage of a game developement looks like halo 2.

Fierce360 @ Jan 16th 2007 11:19PM

haha, i love Kimosabae, he is going to be a philosopher. he is a genius, and he likes halo. lets put 2 and 2 together, play halo and become a genius.

diskoboy @ Jan 16th 2007 11:51PM

Some of us have jobs and actually can afford the legendary edition.

The helmet alone, sells me.

And the people making fun of the framerate - there's a reason why it's in ALPHA phase right now.. Considering they have another 9 months (at the earliest) before the game even possibly goes gold.