Real-life 'Grunt Birthday Party' will make you cheer

by Mike Schramm on Jan 4th 2011 5:00AM

It's likely that no skull has provided more joy in a Halo game than "Grunt Birthday Party," the toggle that makes headshots on the Convenant's Grunts explode into confetti while children cheer. An enterprising Halo fan has recreated the charming little bit of flair in real life, building a papier-mâché grunt, loading it up with some confetti and an exploding rifle target, then shooting at the thing with a real-life gun.

As Bungie's official blog says, "Don't try this at home." But we're glad somebody did -- you can see the headshot in slow motion, along with some making-of pictures, after the break.

Via: Bungie.net
Source: YouTube

Tags: Bungie, Halo-3-ODST, Halo-Reach, microsoft, Microsoft-Game-Studios, xbox

Reader Comments (23)

YAY!!

@Rizraz

Bahhh. I wish I'd noticed sooner that joystiq had picked this up.

As someone who was there for filming (they is my brother), and an avid joystiq reader, I thought you guys might appreciate a few more details.

1. Contrary to how the pictures may make it look, this project was not one that took forever- it was also meant to be a great project my brother could work on with his kids. Also, it may not look like an intricate replica... but the point was that it might be damaged in the end. Speed (and cost) was favored over realism.
2. IT WAS COLD! (and quite windy). We filmed Christmas day, and the shots were fired standing up. Not prone. Not crouched. But standing. Also, the target was tannerite filling HALF of a pill-bottle, leaving about a 1 by 2 inch square target to hit... inside the neck of the dummy... where it couldn't be seen. Haters can go home.
3. The cheers were literally just from the crowd (family) watching... but there were several children... which I really think help capture the game's cheer quite nicely. Also, any celebration prior to the actual party was merely in anticipation.

ohhh. Also. Sorry about the low-res hi speed.
http://www.casio.com/products/Cameras/EXILIM_High-Speed/EX-FH25/

We aren't rich or anything.
http://www.gadgetvenue.com/phantom-hd-gold-high-speed-digital-video-camera-03100105/

Am I the only one disappointed by the fact it didn't fall over after said headshot.

I can't decide if I would want that stuffed that with explosives, or candy.

....POP ROCKS! Problem solved.

@The Blank Mage Returns No amount of proofreading is sufficient at 5:30 in the morning.

@The Blank Mage Returns

I don't know that what that you're talking that about, it that was that a perfectly coherent that sentence.

@The Blank Mage Returns

His head would have exploded naturally if you filled it with Pop Rocks and gave him a Coke.

I Knew it! Grunts Were made of Pringles! Anyways, This guy could get the blue flame from Bungie! its a possibility!

Now that's an idea, Grunt pinatas! Smack them in the head then confetti and sweeties fall out with a YAY. Haha.

Am I the only one who said "Yyyyy-aaaaa-yyyyyyy" (slowly) in the slow-mo part?

@Xirifus

I'll play the video again and say it for you.
*click*
"yyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy"

The Yay when the head explodes brings joy to my heart.

Halo 3 was a little over hyped in my household but hearing the music from the announcement trailer brings out a little of that excitement again. Good times.