Halo 3: Recon is now Halo 3: ODST

by Justin McElroy { Nov 25th 2008 at 1:15PM }

Just as we were starting to get excited for next year's Halo 3: Recon, we have to delete that name in our mind space and replace it with the far less sexy Halo 3: ODST. Word of the name change came from Bungie this morning, saying the "new title is a more straightforward account of the experience that awaits and the role you will assume as you explore the streets of New Mombasa."

We're gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you're probably still going to want to play it.

Gallery: Halo 3: ODST controller/pack shots

Tags: BreakingNews, bungie, halo-3, halo-3-odst, halo-3-recon

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Menchi @ Nov 25th 2008 1:20PM

So what does ODST mean?

Jsnott @ Nov 25th 2008 1:22PM

Orbital Drop Shock Trooper

Ethan @ Nov 25th 2008 1:24PM

Oh, Don't say that!

BananaBoat @ Nov 25th 2008 1:25PM

That is certainly more....specific than "recon"

Deeznuts420 @ Nov 25th 2008 3:15PM

Obviously, Dudes Shall Troll

Christopher Grant @ Nov 25th 2008 1:26PM

They've gotta save that "Recon" branding for Halo Recon Advanced Warfighter, right?

quasebrasileiro @ Nov 25th 2008 1:48PM

I'd hit that.

Levi @ Nov 25th 2008 3:08PM

Oooh baby I like it RAW!

DiL @ Nov 25th 2008 3:11PM

shimmy shimmy yaw shimmy ya shimmy yay

CyberKnight @ Nov 25th 2008 3:37PM

Awh, you stole my joke. :P

How about Halo 3: Recon Armor is the Real Reason You're Buying This Game

Duke @ Nov 25th 2008 1:28PM

It's more specific, but far less catchy. But hell, we we would be kidding ourselves to think it won't sell like hotcakes no matter the name.

Dirty @ Nov 25th 2008 1:35PM

Kind of like a certain console codenamed Revolution.

Mr Khan @ Nov 25th 2008 1:41PM

I recall them saying Revolution was too intimidating

jxcgunrunna @ Nov 25th 2008 2:01PM

(My) Wii is pretty intimidating too.

Anam @ Nov 25th 2008 2:20PM

The name "revolution" doesn't work in a lot of markets (think China) and Nintendo didn't want to have different names for it in different countries.

As far as Halo: ODST... that's just awful sounding. Not only is it an arbitrary acronym, but it's sounds far too similar to STD.

Cellien @ Nov 25th 2008 3:38PM

Plus, the Wii was hardly a Revolution. However, the control input was/is different.

J @ Nov 25th 2008 1:28PM

I'm still having trouble w/ the term "stand-alone extension".

Sp1der X @ Nov 25th 2008 1:32PM

Think of DOOM 3 Resurrection of Evil for the original XBOX. It was an expansion pack for Doom 3 but you had to buy it separately and it worked without needing Doom 3.

Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 1:35PM

LIKE A SEQUEL!! but not really.

baby sea tuna @ Nov 25th 2008 1:37PM

Don't worry, AC/DC can explain it to you if you're still having a problem.

Ethan @ Nov 25th 2008 1:33PM

I suppose they're replacing the 30 seconds of fun repeated ethos with something slower paced and more tactical.

Erluti @ Nov 25th 2008 1:33PM

I feel like the name change makes it harder to discuss and probably more difficult for the common-folk to know why they want it.

Sp1der X @ Nov 25th 2008 1:44PM

the game's not really meant for "common-folk" it's more like fan service.

Erluti @ Nov 25th 2008 1:57PM

I feel like Halo 3 fans and common-folk overlap. A lot like World of Warcraft fans.
Those games aren't "ours" anymore.

Wiinterfang @ Nov 25th 2008 1:38PM

That reminds me when the Change the name Sonic Wildfire for Sonic and the Secret rings.

Mr Khan @ Nov 25th 2008 1:40PM

That was due to a copyright issue with someone, i believe

#28 @ Nov 25th 2008 7:20PM

Game sucks. Period.

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 25th 2008 1:42PM

Sure change the name, but what about the AA!!! Less HDR lighting, MOAR AA!!!

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 25th 2008 1:49PM

Other than that, still getting it :D

It's fricken Halo!!! Halo series gets a lot of crap for its campaigns as far as backtracking, repetativeness, cliff-hanger ending, etc but I've ALWAYS loved the Halo campaigns. Each and every single one of them. Don't see why Bungie wouldn't deliver anything short of amazing, again!

deaftly @ Nov 25th 2008 3:10PM

Ditto, I LOVE the halo series. Its always cool to hate whats popular. Thats why Hitler was so successful. What?

WiredKnight @ Nov 25th 2008 3:59PM

I really enjoy the campaigns as well, but the third one really does deserve all the criticism for the backtracking. It's a really cheap way to extend the length of the game and reuse assets, and in moderation can be just fine. But they used it excessively in Halo 3. If there was no backtracking in Halo 3, it'd be like two hours long, and you can't say that about the first two.

343 Guilty Fart @ Nov 25th 2008 5:16PM

@wiredknight- What "excessive backtracking" are you thinking of? Besides the level 'Floodgate' I can't think of any other backtracking in the whole game. The original Halo:CE had the excessive backtracking.

knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Nov 26th 2008 10:08PM

The Ark and Cortana both had bits of back tracking too but Cortana was pretty lame in general, and the back tracking on the Ark was one of my favourite bits! "How does 90mm a' Tungstent strike ya?!" "Tank beats ghost....tank beats hunter....tank beats everything!". *.* Either way, in all 3 cases they all had different stuff to do on the way back.

ExMcCloud @ Nov 25th 2008 1:43PM

Yep still gonna buy it so it doesn't matter what the name is...

Mr Khan @ Nov 25th 2008 1:44PM

It's less self-explanatory, but if ODST serves a somewhat different role than traditional recon units, it might work better

Acronyms rarely work unless they form words, or at least something that looks like a word, like SOCOM or GRAW

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 25th 2008 1:59PM

Senor Khan

There is no Wii news to be had here. And while we are at it, can I ask you WHY you feel the need to be in EVERY SINGLE PS360-ONLY related story that Joystiq posts? Mostly just to crap on or offer back handed compliments to PS360 games. It's gonna be ok buddy. Wii is #1

Anam @ Nov 25th 2008 2:26PM

So now writing a comment directly related to the article is considered trolling?

Anyway, I agree with you Khan. If there's not a way to say it where it sounds like a word, then it just feels clumsy.

Hyams @ Nov 25th 2008 2:29PM

I find Khan's comment to be far more level-headed and intelligent than 90% of the stuff people post on here. I don't care if he's not a PS360 fan, I'm glad he offers his opinion.

Alien Lord @ Nov 25th 2008 1:48PM

"We're gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you're probably still going to want to play it."
I'm going to go out on a limb and say your right Joystiq.

aristokrat @ Nov 25th 2008 3:15PM

Are there any limbs left? I want one too!

343 Guilty Fart @ Nov 25th 2008 1:48PM

This seems unneccesary and silly. Recon is easier to remember, catchier, and won't have people scratching their heads when they see 'ODST' written on the box (is that some new operating system I need?).

While we're at it let's change Halo Wars to HaloCraft.

xFenixKnightx @ Nov 25th 2008 1:51PM

Sweet! HaloCraft TEH CONFIRMED!!!

343 Guilty Fart @ Nov 25th 2008 2:15PM

I can finally play as the Zerg, er, I mean Flood!!

WiredKnight @ Nov 25th 2008 4:01PM

Those people aren't going to care. They'll be happy just seeing HALO 3: Blahblahblah

butaneko @ Nov 25th 2008 2:25PM

Oprah's Diet Starts TOMORROW!

Mindkiller @ Nov 25th 2008 2:54PM

Hereafter known as "Halo 3 :STD"....

Lord Negatron @ Nov 25th 2008 2:54PM

*Rumor has it, Bungie recruited the Halo Kid, who makes card board weapons, to design new in game weapons/vehicles.

Carl Winslow of Bungie says: "Leave the kid in a room full of our empty cereal, shoe, and storage boxes and watch the magic happen. At this time, lets just say we have enough new weapons for 3 games."

*Lies* ;)