Watch the new Halo 3 ad: "Museum"
by Justin McElroy 
{ Sep 12th 2007 at 11:30AM }
We'll be curious to see whether or not the ad elicts a reaction from the mainstream media and offended veterans groups. We can imagine them having a field day with an ad designed to stir up emotion from a fictional war while we're, you know, actually at war. That said, if it does stir an emotional reaction, we guess the scene (which draws on several war films) has done its job.
[Thanks, Will]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Shinamano @ Sep 12th 2007 11:35AM
This is a great ad.
Josh @ Sep 14th 2007 3:19AM
After I wiped my solitary tear, I cranked up the volume, loaded Starcraft 2 Trailer, and engaged full-screen.
PimpYo @ Sep 12th 2007 1:44PM
lame
as
hell
FoxHoundADAM @ Sep 12th 2007 11:41AM
Awesome!!! I love when they don't just do the ussual death metal and stuff blowing up ads.
Best ad since the "Mad World" Gears of War commercial.
Heck best video game ad I've ever seen, and I don't even like Halo that much.
Christopher Grant @ Sep 12th 2007 11:42AM
Hey Justin, how about a spoiler alert?! Now we know that humanity wins, "finishes the fight," and there was an overturned Warthog somewhere. No reason to play this game anymore.
Donald @ Sep 12th 2007 12:38PM
Chris, I hope you realize now it is your sworn duty to hurl him off the oil platform at the next podcast recording.
morganfell @ Sep 12th 2007 2:16PM
Not only that but it confirms suspicions about exactly HOW the game ends. As in specifically what happens. All the clues were there and in GoO and now we now about the MCs action and where he goes.
aloysius241 @ Sep 12th 2007 11:44AM
Wow...i seriously can't wait to play this game. I know it's Halo 3 and that it probably doesn't need to be advertised; but they need to air the hell out of this commercial or any commercial really.
absolutely inspiring.
hotnutz @ Sep 13th 2007 10:48PM
inspiring? wow, wish I had people like you working for me. My job would be much easier if all I had to do was show a commercial and it would inspire you.... to do what I don't know yet but your enthusiasm is contagious.
bearattack79 @ Sep 12th 2007 11:46AM
Well this game is gonna rock, but my 2nd 360 just rroded on me you.....son of a bitch!!!!!!
Donald @ Sep 12th 2007 12:51PM
I'm pouring out a .40 for it right now.
blooh @ Sep 12th 2007 11:45AM
hahaha
john @ Sep 12th 2007 11:57AM
simply amazing
thebigL @ Sep 12th 2007 12:03PM
This is sick, especialy for anyone that has read the books. I think this kind of advertising will make people realize that Halo is more than just Multiplayer Madness and that it actually has story behind it.
SJ @ Sep 12th 2007 11:59AM
Excellent.
Buckshot @ Sep 12th 2007 12:00PM
That was freaking great, I just took the 25th off from work.
DcUtdHooligan @ Sep 12th 2007 12:04PM
Great ad. I dont find this ad to be offensive to war vets. Reminds me of the interview of WWII vets before every episode of Band of Brothers.
Edog Lost @ Sep 12th 2007 12:05PM
I think the 9/14 commercial is going to be the one that Stan Winston studios has been working on
Sean @ Sep 12th 2007 12:09PM
That was outstanding.
Karen @ Sep 18th 2007 9:57AM
That's impressive.
vinny @ Sep 12th 2007 12:11PM
is game is going to break all kinds of sales records
Chris @ Sep 12th 2007 12:14PM
Wow that was great! I played HAlo 1 and 2 all the way through about a month ago for the first time just to get caught up and I don't consider myself a huge HALO fan, but that was by far the most intelligent commercial I have ever seen for a video game.
Shmil @ Sep 12th 2007 12:13PM
Wonderful ad
Word of the street. @ Sep 12th 2007 12:21PM
A perfect description of the video.
DiddlyKong @ Sep 12th 2007 12:18PM
Nice ad. Might get a couple casuals into the game.
Darayz @ Sep 12th 2007 12:18PM
This needs to be playing on TV ASAP
J8675309 @ Sep 12th 2007 12:19PM
Nice Idea
Poor Acting.
Word of the street. @ Sep 12th 2007 12:20PM
I have to say it was good but when he mentioned Master Chief I couldn't help to laugh, Now that I watched a second time it's great but I'm still more biased towards "Mad world" and Bioshock "Beyond the Sea" ads.
I still liked more than Halo 3 TV ad of 2006 but I still like more Halo 3 E3 2007 video
This in my top 15 best ads list.
NATO_Duke @ Sep 12th 2007 12:33PM
Mad World was a top ad for sure. Brilliant really.
This ad is nice, but it seems to be missing some heart - it lacks something.
Ska Oreo @ Sep 12th 2007 12:41PM
I liked this ad, but I agree. The GOW Mad World trailer was fucking awesome.
Word of the street. @ Sep 12th 2007 12:42PM
IMO what is missing is the music; a sad piano roll in the end just when he stares at the battleground scale model. That would’ve been epic.
My top 3 ads are
Mad world-3rd place
Segata Sanshiro-2nd place
And in First place...
Atari Jaguar Doom Ad-I’m serious, is the best ad ever.
Biff Superman @ Sep 12th 2007 12:26PM
that was cheesey lame as hell.
All it needed was a line like,
"When those puple bastard slaughtered everyone I loved and cared about, Masterchief flipped over my warthog and we drove off into the sunset in a blaze of pink needles"
yeah that would have made me give a shit
elmersglue @ Sep 12th 2007 12:29PM
Let me start off by saying i'm a huge Halo fan....
Now with that out of the way, I have to say that was the lamest thing i've ever seen! I find it extremely nerdy/embarrassing when they take video game related content and turn them into low budget real life performances. Like the Halo shorts with real life battles replicating the halo universe. It's just so nerdy and as soon as he said "master chief" in the commercial, i was like "man this is lame". Bash me all you want, i cant be the only person who thought that was lame.
Word of the street. @ Sep 12th 2007 12:36PM
I was about to say the same because, It was funny when he mentioned master chief, I mean it was so cheesy but really now that if you watch it a second time its pretty good. Is not like the 2007 E3 video but for the style of the Halo 3 TV ad in the 2006 which is focused on showing Master chief like a bad ass Hero.
IMO is a great ad and it deserves a place between the first 25/15 best ads but is not the best but it was good, especially since XB360 ads are normally awesome, they have this Sega like epicness all over them.I like it more than the Halo 3 live action ads.
Kyrra @ Sep 12th 2007 12:38PM
Maybe you are more embarrassed to see video games penetrating mainstream more? It feels like MS is trying to use some of the techniques that are used in Korea and Japan when it comes to video games ans commercials. Their cultures are much more open for these types of commercials, something I would love to see here in the states.
Video games are finally starting to make some good headway into the culture of the US, and I don't think we should shun attempts by gaming companies to try new things with marketing of video games in this country.
Leobebes @ Sep 12th 2007 12:48PM
So that means you found the Transformer's movie and the Lord of the Rings Movie cheesy as well? Just because one form of artistic narrative is translated into another form of artistic narrative doesn't make it automatically "nerdy".
Just let go of your preconceived prejudices, and accept the fact that we are seeing video games turn into a mainstream form of storytelling. Let yourself free my friend, it will be good for everyone.
elmersglue @ Sep 12th 2007 1:26PM
I never saw Transformers, and LOTR i think is slightly different in that it was a book that i never read. And even so, i specifically said "low budget real life performances". There's a distinct look and feel to movies as opposed to this commercial and the Halo shorts (i'm sure most of you know what im talking about). If this commercial had that trailer like feel to it, straight up from a movie, it might be better. But I'll admit, i watched it again, and it wasnt nearly as bad as the first time.
I still stand by my thoughts though, I honestly see this commercial being appealing to non gamers watching tv and then seeing this ad. They don't know the characters and story, so they'd be like "hmm, that was interesting". But for gamers and those familiar to halo, this is kinda lame.
VampireHunter Z @ Sep 12th 2007 6:03PM
I think you are tasteless.
Obie @ Sep 12th 2007 12:29PM
Beautiful, excellent ad.
hvnlysoldr (NDF - Wind Ring) @ Sep 12th 2007 12:31PM
Needs more swift boats. That was in bad taste.
bean @ Sep 12th 2007 1:45PM
holy shit that was a good ad...on par with the GoW mad world...could have used a bit of subtle war drumming in the background.
Lucky @ Sep 12th 2007 12:33PM
MASTER CHIEF DIES!?!?!??!?!
....
Of old age?
Yuccadude @ Sep 12th 2007 12:38PM
I'm not crying, I just have something in both of my eyes...
Irwin @ Sep 12th 2007 7:47PM
same man same *wipe* help me out man WOW gimme a hand get this shit out!@#$
Yuccadude @ Sep 13th 2007 1:56AM
I was making a reference to Superbad, the best movie of the summer, near the end where Seth is getting drunk by the car...But yeah, MC isn't gonna die, he'll just move to the Warthog pasture in the sky
exit stencil @ Sep 12th 2007 12:42PM
pop yo' collar old-timer.
horrible, cheesy ad.
gok @ Sep 12th 2007 12:46PM
It's a damn shame its quite diffucult to get grasp of Halos story. I've played both games multiple time (haven't read novels tho) and all I have gathered is that MC ran into some aliens in Halo 1 and now they are attacking earth. I have no idea whym I have no idea if they have something to do with forerunners and I certainly have no idea what that squid monster @ end of halo2 was.
Ska Oreo @ Sep 12th 2007 12:52PM
to truly appreciate the Halo universe, you really need to read the novels.
doomcloud @ Sep 12th 2007 12:49PM
decent concept, execution was pretty shotty, bad handlheld camera work in the beginning and the branding was pretty anticlimactic. still think master chief is the dumbest fucking name.
Yuccadude @ Sep 12th 2007 12:54PM
Master Chief isn't his name, it's his rank. John is his name, and he is a Master Chief Petty officer in the UNSC. We never learn his last name, so people either call him John or Spartan 117.