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Halo: Evolutions story collection available now

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 25th 2009 at 2:20PM }

Microsoft and Tor Books have issued a friendly reminder that the Halo: Evolutions story collection has officially hit the shelves. The collection includes tales from the Halo universe penned by series authors Eric Nylund and Thomas Buckell, as well as others by 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor, Bungie's Robt McLees, sci-fi author Karen Traviss and others. The book retails for $14.99, but it can be had for much less if you know where to look.

For those who have picked it up already, any good?

PSA: Second Halo Legends episode free, available today only

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 21st 2009 at 11:30AM }

If you enjoyed the Cowboy Bebop-meets-Master Chief action presented in the first episode of Halo Legends (seriously, that main character looked just like Spike Spiegel!), then you may want to check out the second episode of the Spartan-themed anime premiering today on Halo Waypoint. For 24 hours starting at 12:00AM PST (about eight hours ago), Xbox Live Silver and Gold members will be able to access "The Duel" through the "all-things-Halo" hub.

Microsoft also notes that this will be the last week for Xbox Live Silver members to explore Waypoint, and in turn, enjoy the weekly free episodes of Halo Legends. If you're wondering what time the show will be available for you and you don't live in North America, a full list of showtimes is available on Xbox.com.

Microsoft lists more jobs for Project Natal, 343 Industries; hiring Shadow Complex, Gears of War franchises lead

by David Hinkle { Nov 19th 2009 at 5:20PM }

With Shadow Complex setting very specific week-one sales records on XBLA, Epic and Chair would be kind of nuts to not consider a sequel. One job listing out of a recent crop on Microsoft's employment boards seems to out that likely scenario, implying that Shadow Complex is a bona fide franchise for Microsoft Game Studios and Epic. Said listing specifically calls for a Lead Producer to "lead the publishing side of games made by Epic: Gears of War and Shadow Complex."

Additionally, Microsoft appears to be looking for more able bodies to join its growing pool of Project Natal and 343 Industries employees. Existing job listings call for everything from designers to engineers to even a few artists. Sadly, the company isn't looking for MJOLNIR armor models yet, but just in case, Microsoft, you know how to reach us.

[Via Develop]

Reminder: Watch the first episode of Halo Legends today [update: it's gone]

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 7th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Update: The episode is no longer available.

This is just a quick public service announcement to remind all the Halo fans out there today that the first episode of Halo Legends is available on Halo Waypoint today. Entitled "The Babysitter," it tells the story of a squad of ODST soldiers on a mission to assassinate a Covenant Prophet. The only catch is that a Spartan has been assigned to lead the squad. ODSTs and Spartans don't necessarily get along, so things get a little complicated.

The episode is only available today, so be sure to grab it quick. And remember, something related to Halo Legends will be airing on Waypoint every week, so keep an eye out for future installments.

Interview: 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 6th 2009 at 6:00PM }

Now that Halo Waypoint has launched and the Halo Legends anime project will soon begin airing on Xbox consoles everywhere, we got the chance to discuss the current state of Halo with 343 Industries creative director, Frank O'Connor. After the break, you'll find discussion on Waypoint, Legends, Halo 3: ODST sales and whereabouts of Ryan Payton. We also talk about the whether or not there's just too much Halo out there, whether we'll see any Halo games for kids and we even squeeze in a question about Pimps at Sea.

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Microsoft details Halo Legends preview schedule

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 5th 2009 at 7:45PM }

We knew that the first installment of the Halo Legends anime project was debuting November 7 on Halo Waypoint, but now Microsoft has revealed the dates for most of the remaining episodes. Beyond Waypoint simply airing each episode, Halo fans will also be treated to "making of" features for each episode. All told, you can expect something related to Legends every week from now until January 9, 2010 (and likely beyond, as there are still some episodes unrevealed). Grab your calendar and a nice permanent marker, then check out the schedule after the break.

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343 Industries worries 'constantly' about Halo oversaturation

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 5th 2009 at 7:00PM }

Speaking to Joystiq, Microsoft's Frank O'Connor, creative director of 343 Industries, said that he worries "constantly" about the possibility of the market being oversaturated with Halo. When asked about the amount of Halo products out there (namely ODST, upcoming books, more comics, Halo Legends and the recently released encyclopedia), O'Connor said, "I worry about that constantly."

Regarding the various Halo products, O'Connor said, "All of that stuff has existed in the past, and it exists because of one simple reason, which is demand. We wouldn't make it if we weren't continually being asked for it." He added, "We obviously turn down almost infinitely more stuff than we actually produce, but when we produce it there's a good reason and a good plan and a strong demand."

As an example, O'Connor noted Halo Wars Risk, saying that the two games "had a natural connection" and that board game manufacturers actually received requests for a Halo strategy game. Still, he said that 343 has also had requests for things that "don't make any sense." Even if there is a demand, said O'Connor, "If it doesn't actually make sense and it's completely crazy, we won't do it."

Keep an eye out for the full interview later this week.

Rumor: First screens, details for Halo Reach leaked

by Xav de Matos { Nov 5th 2009 at 6:48PM }

MLG forum user (and MS Paint fanatic) ToM MoReLLo claims to have played Halo: Reach, and was somehow able to nab multiple blurry screenshots of the game as evidence. Now, when we say blurry we mean blurry. In fact, the classic images of Bigfoot were of higher quality than some of these screens. Perhaps our natural skepticism is taking over, but we're taking these images with a rather large grain of salt.

As for details, the forum post claims Reach will feature squad-based combat and perks, similar to that of Modern Warfare. Squad-based mechanics certainly make sense, considering former Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter creative director Christian Allen joined Bungie in 2007. But again, grain of salt.

Halo: Reach -- Bungie's final title in the Halo universe -- is expected to ship in 2010. Microsoft has yet to reply to our request for a comment on the images.

[Via Shacknews & NeoGAF]

Halo Legends Blu-ray dated Feb. 9, 2010; perfect fanboy storm approaches

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 5th 2009 at 2:27PM }

A year ago, the following sentence would have been absolutely, totally, and in all other ways inconceivable: The Blu-ray edition of the Halo Legends anime project is scheduled for release on February 9, 2010. The impossible union of Halo and Blu-ray will not only arrive on the same day as the DVD release, but it will also contain an exclusive overview of the series through the events of Halo 3. As Blu-ray.com risibly puts it, "Soon you'll be able to play Halo on your PS3."

Now, we'd like to think that this generation of consoles is far enough along that this news won't ruffle any fanboy feathers. Then again, we'd also like to think that HD DVD, in all its awesomeness, is poised for a comeback. Just remember, Halo fans, Blu-ray discs are not your enemy. Cliffhangers are.

First Halo Waypoint programming revealed

by JC Fletcher { Nov 3rd 2009 at 9:20AM }

Even if you're not in the Halo Waypoint preview, you can get an early look at what's going to be available when it launches for real on Thursday, November 5, thanks to a weekly schedule we received from 343 Industries. By Thursday's launch, you'll already be able to watch a "Spotlight on Louis Wu" and a "Halo in Five Minutes" presentation, as well as page through some Firefight screens from the community.

Other content up this week: "Welcome to Waypoint," which serves as an introduction and overview to the service, some Firefight strategy from Prima, and, on Saturday, a full episode of Halo Legends called "The Babysitter." See the full schedule after the break.

Gallery: Halo Waypoint

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Halo Waypoint live with Dashboard preview program, includes Avatar Awards

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 30th 2009 at 5:15PM }

It's not quite Wonka's chocolate factory, but the Xbox 360 Dashboard update preview participants are getting a taste of some delectable bonuses regardless. Earlier today, those lucky folks were granted their promised early access to the Halo Waypoint beta. Lo and behold, 11 Avatar Awards arrived alongside the addition (five for each gender's Avatar, one for both), unlocking based on various Achievements from Halo 3: ODST, ranging from Recon helmets to ODST t-shirts. Microsoft has provided little in the way of details on the addition, so feel free to let us know if you see anything particularly strange or interesting.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Halo: Evolutions book cover, authors revealed

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 27th 2009 at 3:45PM }

It's been a while since the Halo: Evolutions story collection was announced. Now, just a month away from its November 24 launch, Tor Books has revealed both the book's cover art and all of the authors who will contribute to the compilation. Contributing to the book will be John Goff, Frank O'Connor and Kevin Grace of 343 Industries, as well as authors B.K Evenson, Jeff Vandermeer, Tessa Kum and Fred Van Lente. As previously announced, Eric Nylund, Tobias Buckell and Karen Traviss will also be penning stories for the book.

Tor editor Eric Raab promises the collection will appeal to "every kind of Halo fan from straight up action with the Master Chief to glimpse [sic] into the Elite mindset post Halo 3" and will also delve into characters like Cortana, the Gravemind and Admiral Cole. One thing's for sure: If you like teabagging and reading, this book is for you.

Click the book cover to the right to check out a Spartan-sized version.

Halo Waypoint detailed, captured on video

by Christopher Grant { Oct 19th 2009 at 1:55PM }

This way to the Waypoint gallery

With the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update preview kicking off today, Microsoft dropped some more details on Halo Waypoint, the Dashboard playpen for the Master Chief enthusiasts among you. The preview video – found after the break – walks you through some of the destination's functionality, notably the "career system" which will track "in-game accomplishments across multiple Halo games." Unsurprisingly, that career will be limited to the Xbox 360-released Halo games: Halo 3, Halo Wars, Halo 3: ODST, and "all Game Add-on content for those titles." Oh, you beat Halo 2 in under 30 minutes? We'll just have to take your word for it.

Halo Waypoint is being developed collaboratively by Microsoft's internal Halo studio, 343 Industries, and Certain Affinity, the Austin-based developer (with some former Bungie staffers) behind Age of Booty. Waypoint will be available November 5 for both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members; however, come November 26 those Silver members will have to pony up for Live if they want to keep their Waypoint access. That's a solid three weeks to determine if the exclusive Waypoint offerings – like the Nov. 7. preview of the "Halo Legends" anime anthology – are worth it. We imagine it will be for the hardcore Halo fan ... but we'd assume they've already got a Gold account.

Gallery: Halo Waypoint

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Halo 3: ODST gets ready to party

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 16th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Microsoft has dropped the details surrounding the official Halo 3: ODST launch party. The event will be held on September 21 at the Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, and will be attended by Bungie's own Joe Staten as well as 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor. A Firefight mode tournament will be held, with prizes given to the winners. Prizes will also be awarded to those with the best Halo-themed costume (good luck winning against these guys).

Select fans will also get a chance to try out the campaign (a whole day early!), and several panels with Bungie and 343 Industries will be held as well. Finally, fans can expect previews of Halo Waypoint and the upcoming anime project, Halo Legends. The event will run from 6–11 PM, Pacific Time.

Crack the ODST code, win some wallpaper

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 10th 2009 at 10:15PM }

Not literal wallpaper, of course. That would be boring. No, the latest bit of Halo 3: ODST marketing will reward you with digital wallpaper, assuming you can figure out its devilish puzzles (or look up the solution on the internet). Microsoft has released a little interactive video series on its ODST splash page, in which Sgt. Buck -- the leader of the ODST squad in the game -- interviews potential candidates for a mission.

Within each interview, there is a section that has been "redacted" and requires an access code for clearance. It's up to Halo fans to uncover just what those codes are. For those that want to discover them on their own, we won't spoil the fun for you. Here's a hint though: Watch the live action ODST trailer again. The rest of the codes can be found within the ODST site itself.

For those that don't care about all that and just want some wallpaper, you can find the codes -- expertly hidden -- after the break.

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