Mysterious Xbox email teases Halo 3 mythology

by Christopher Grant { Jun 14th 2007 at 10:45AM }

Click to enlarge

"Look for the signs, the keepers of the flame"

That's the subject line of the email blasted out early this morning from "Xbox Flash". Checking the web-hosted version, the page is identified as "Forerunner Email". You don't have to be a rocket scientist (or a Halo fanboy) to deduce that we're in the middle of some clever marketing for Microsoft's upcoming FPS, but to what end?

While we're suspicious of this email being related to the just beginning Halo 3 ARG -- after all, an email from xbox@email.xbox.com is not the most subtle way of kicking off an ARG -- we still thought to check in with this thread on the newly created args.bungie.org forums where they've been dissecting the clues. For example, the Forerunner symbol in the image appears to be a new one and ... is that a face on the wall? Boy, we need to get some more sleep ...

Tags: ARGs, Bungie, Halo3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

comtar @ Jun 14th 2007 10:50AM

Okay I got excellent vision, but I am not seeing a face in that "Face on a wall" thing at all.

This is just like being a kid and looking at the stucko on the ceiling and making shapes out of that, it doesn't mean anything. It's just that there are familiar shapes to those who look for them.

2ez @ Jun 14th 2007 11:01AM

Yawn.... oh whats that? Halo? .... yawn.

Yoshi @ Jun 14th 2007 11:03AM

Ugh. Bungie and Microsoft are just rubbing it in our faces that we have to wait until September 25th to play Halo 3 now that the beta is over... they're milking us for all we're worth here

0ldb0y @ Jun 14th 2007 11:10AM

Don't think that "gears" appearing in the first sentence is any coincidence.

jay @ Jun 14th 2007 11:10AM

That is a bit mega naff. As naff as me using the word mega as an out of fashion amplification term.

BIGGEN @ Jun 14th 2007 11:17AM

why do people analyze shit like this so much? like the first halo3 ad. IT'S A GAME, K? just a game. not your life. as much as you want to be a spartan, you aren't, and won't be. K?

C. Grant @ Jun 14th 2007 11:20AM

BIGGEN: ever?

JonnyBoy2U @ Jun 14th 2007 11:27AM

I agree with BIGGEN. It seems like Joystiq is all about making one random "analysis" or another on something. I mean really is there any point this article? Cuz I'm not seeing it.

EMaster @ Jun 14th 2007 11:36AM

O RLY? I tagged this as SPAM in my inbox. lol

dukncuver @ Jun 14th 2007 11:43AM

I think its going to be about halo wars. Wasnt halo originaly an rts? It talks about huge armies and coming full circle......

edog lost @ Jun 14th 2007 11:49AM

I don't know I think it's cool to see this clever marketing campaign. It seems like this was in connection with the AdjutantReflex stuff going on in the Forums. I think it's cool to have this interactive marketing scheme, first the Beta and now this.

http://www.bungie.net/Account/Profile.aspx?memberID=2437447

Jake @ Jun 14th 2007 11:52AM

Biggen, I'm only human. But I'm working on that.

Jacki Boi @ Jun 14th 2007 12:03PM

OMG i sent this in and the picture and they didn't even put my name at the bottom for cred...

im guna cry (say goobye to your no.1 tipper joystiq *walks off*)

Sloar @ Jun 14th 2007 12:29PM

It's not for Halo Wars. If you got the email, you can click on the white portions of the email. Those take you to...are you ready for it...halo3.com!

I can't wait to see who is going to be the first one to legally change their name to "Master Chief" or "Only X number of days left until Halo 3 is released" and they change it each day. Seriously, it's only a matter of time and I could sure use the deep hearty guffaw that will undoubtedly bring. Please, if you do it, post photos of your legal name change.

C. Grant @ Jun 14th 2007 12:36PM

Jacki Boi: we got the tip from about a dozen folks, and nearly everyone on Joystiq got the email themselves. Thanks for the tip regardless!

Jacki Boi @ Jun 14th 2007 12:48PM

That's ok i wasn't serious and i realised that i wouldn't be the only one to send it in.

il send in tips whenever i can :)
cos this is the best gaming site by far!

fludblud @ Jun 14th 2007 12:59PM

begun the hype machine has

BIGGEN @ Jun 14th 2007 1:30PM

@C. Grant
unfortunately, yes, never ever.

@Jake
please choose to be Kratos-esque then, not a lowly spartan. please?

@JonnyBoy2U
thank you

Mike @ Jun 14th 2007 1:35PM

I hate SPAM even when it's about Halo3.. I hope they don't get too crazy with it as we get closer to Sept.

jason @ Jun 14th 2007 1:59PM

LOOK
the email or poem or whatever has a very similar or the same background as one of the campaign screen shots
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/6222/forrunnergd4.png

V-G @ Jun 14th 2007 2:34PM

Biggen...Why do you think they made this??? The whole point is to get the fanboys riled up...That doesn't mean they want to be a Spartan...

BIGGEN @ Jun 14th 2007 4:05PM

@V-G
we're talking about the same halo fanboys, right?

D. Gray @ Jun 18th 2007 3:16PM

It's Todd McFarlane's Spawn - Last week, a video emerged from the beta that revealed a brown shrunken Hellspawn head inside Spartan helmet. Three days later, Microsoft unveiled new McFarlane-designed special edition controllers and a headset. Now, we have the appearance of the masked Spawn's face in the wall.

I have no idea what's going on, but McFarlane is involved.