Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Red vs. Blue season 10 premieres tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/red-vs-blue-season-10-premieres-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/red-vs-blue-season-10-premieres-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/red-vs-blue-season-10-premieres-tomorrow/#comments
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We can barely believe we just wrote that headline. When we watched the first few episodes of Red vs. Blue in 2003, we thought they were pretty hilarious, but that the show would fade like so many other online parodies do. And now we're writing about the show's tenth season. Thanks for making us feel old and wrong, Rooster Teeth.

Season 10 of Red vs. Blue kicks off tomorrow, May 28, and features the vocal talents of Elijah Wood as an AI program called Sigma. This season will complete the Project Freelancer story line, as shown in the above, mature-language-filled trailer.

JoystiqRed vs. Blue season 10 premieres tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HaloHalo-Combat-EvolvedpcRed-vs-Bluerooster-teethseason-10Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 heading 'Forward Unto Dawn' with new live-action web series [update: teaser image]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/halo-4-heading-forward-unto-dawn-with-new-live-action-web-seri/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/halo-4-heading-forward-unto-dawn-with-new-live-action-web-seri/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/halo-4-heading-forward-unto-dawn-with-new-live-action-web-seri/#comments ImageIt wouldn't be a Halo launch without a tremendous media campaign, and Halo 4 looks to be no different. The weeks leading up to the Master Chief's return this November will be filled with a new web series entitled "Forward Unto Dawn," according to Variety. Representing Microsoft's "largest investment" in live-action ever, the series will be shown on Machinima and Halo Waypoint.

Details around the series still lie dormant - perhaps buried in a Forerunner facility - with Microsoft aiming to shed more light on the project at the San Diego Comic-Con this July. Using our own pervasive powers of prognostication, we're going to predict that Spartans figure into the series somehow.

Update: Microsoft has passed along an image to promote the series and, sure enough, it looks like the Chief will be making an appearance. Check out the full image in the gallery below.

Gallery: Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn announcement

JoystiqHalo 4 heading 'Forward Unto Dawn' with new live-action web series [update: teaser image] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industrieshalohalo-4live-actionmarketingmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosxboxMon, 30 Apr 2012 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Book: Halo film failed because Microsoft doesn't 'get' Hollywood]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/book-halo-film-failed-because-microsoft-doesnt-get-hollywood/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/book-halo-film-failed-because-microsoft-doesnt-get-hollywood/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/book-halo-film-failed-because-microsoft-doesnt-get-hollywood/#comments ImageMicrosoft didn't mess up when it hired a fleet of actors in Spartan armor to deliver the Halo script to potential movie studios, and the deal didn't stall when each production house had a fixed amount of time to read and bid on the screenplay. In the end Microsoft wanted too much, and it didn't know how to ask for it - it only knew how to demand. The industry differences between Microsoft and the film's two production studios, Fox and Universal, eventually led to the project's implosion, Jamie Russell explains in his book, Generation Xbox: How Video Games Invaded Hollywood.

Microsoft's terms included $10 million against 15 percent of the box office gross, a budget of at least $75 million and fast-tracked production, as well as creative approval over the director, regular flights from Seattle to L.A. to review post-production footage and 60 first-class plane tickets for Microsoft personnel and guests to attend the premiere, all at the expense of whichever studio picked up the script. Not even Harry Potter was getting this level of concessions, Larry Shapiro of Hollywood talent agency CAA says.

Continue reading Book: Halo film failed because Microsoft doesn't 'get' Hollywood

JoystiqBook: Halo film failed because Microsoft doesn't 'get' Hollywood originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookfilmHaloHalo-3Hollywoodjamie-russelmicrosoftxboxThu, 19 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Halo Infinity' domains registered by Microsoft brand manager]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/halo-infinity-domains-registered-by-microsoft-brand-manager/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/halo-infinity-domains-registered-by-microsoft-brand-manager/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/halo-infinity-domains-registered-by-microsoft-brand-manager/#comments ImageIt appears Microsoft has registered a handful of domains containing the phrase "Halo Infinity" and "Halo Infinity Multiplayer," leading us to believe that Microsoft is planning to reveal a new line of anti-aging skin-care products in the near future.

The names are registered through domain manager MarkMonitor, who handles a few of Microsoft's other franchises, including Microsoft.com, Fusible reports. MarkMonitor grabbed most "dot" iterations of "Halo Infinity Multiplayer," including .net and .org, but Haloinfinity.com is already in use as a Japanese site to help people cope with baldness, Google Translate reveals. MarkMonitor also registered spartanops.org and morethanjustamap.com this week, Fusible finds.

"Infinity" is a map exclusive to the PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved. So far Microsoft hasn't made any announcements about the potential map or its SPF 72 moisturizing cream.

Joystiq'Halo Infinity' domains registered by Microsoft brand manager originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>domainHaloHalo-Combat-EvolvedMarkMonitormicrosoftpcregistrationxboxWed, 04 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo stats blown out by Bungie as studio moves on]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/halo-stats-blown-out-by-bungie-as-studio-moves-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/halo-stats-blown-out-by-bungie-as-studio-moves-on/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/halo-stats-blown-out-by-bungie-as-studio-moves-on/#comments Bungie is out of the Halo stat-tracking biz, but says "so long and thanks for all the fish" with one last nuke of information. Since 2004, over 20.8 billion Halo matchmaking games have been played, with Halo 3 supplying a majority at 11.5 billion, at around 221 million games averaged monthly.

The studio gathered all the data up in a mega infographic, covering stats of the great battles between humanity and The Covenant, and Red vs. Blue. At the end of Bungie's oversight of the online war, the body count exceeded 136 billion, with over 43 billion assists.

Having moved on from Halo, Bungie is currently in a 10-year contract with Activision to produce ... something.

JoystiqHalo stats blown out by Bungie as studio moves on originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BungieHaloHalo-2Halo-3Halo-3-ODSTHalo-ReachmicrosoftxboxMon, 02 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 'Warhouse' multiplayer map concept art and info deployed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/halo-4-warhouse-multiplayer-map-concept-art-and-info-deployed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/halo-4-warhouse-multiplayer-map-concept-art-and-info-deployed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/halo-4-warhouse-multiplayer-map-concept-art-and-info-deployed/#comments Warhouse is a massive mining ship, one of the multiplayer maps available in Halo 4 when it ships later this year. On the outside, there is a beautiful space vista to distract you while a Spartan sneaks up behind you and bashes your billion-dollar helmet in with his Battle Rifle. Inside, there is a giant half-built mech to distract you while -- well, while the same thing happens.

Warhouse is a working title for this map, 343 says in the latest Halo Bulletin update. It's a smaller, symmetrical map designed for Slayer gametypes. "We wanted this playspace to be similar competition-wise to older symmetrical maps in previous Halos, so we sought influence from those, and also from the industrial close-quarters combat in more recent games," the 343 blog post reads.

There are a series of small pathways connecting various areas of Warhouse, allowing for what 343 hopes are many surprising encounters. You know, like that time that Spartan sneaked up behind you and -- well, you get the idea.

Gallery: Halo 4 (Warhouse concept art)

JoystiqHalo 4 'Warhouse' multiplayer map concept art and info deployed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industriesconcept-arthalohalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-studioswarhousexboxFri, 30 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Halo: The Fallen' fan film is gorgeous, gory, grunty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/halo-the-fallen-fan-film-is-gorgeous-gory-grunty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/halo-the-fallen-fan-film-is-gorgeous-gory-grunty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/halo-the-fallen-fan-film-is-gorgeous-gory-grunty/#comments

Here's a stark look into the wartorn lives of a group of marines and ODSTs during the events of the first Halo title, as lovingly recreated by a group of fans. The prologue reel for Halo: The Fallen, viewable above, has a wizened veteran relive the first battle with the Covenant on Reach, complete with professional-quality CGI Elites, Grunts, plasma rifles and bullets.

The Halo: The Fallen prologue film is not-for-profit and was made with $200 to showcase the creators' talents, the YouTube description reads. If we could pay people in our own humble respect, these guys would be millionaires.

Update: This post originally credited the Halo: Helljumper folks as having created the above piece of video, which is inaccurate. It also referred to "Elites" as "Arbiters," which, frankly, we find inexcusable. Those responsible in the Department of Halo Alien Class References have been summarily sacked.

Joystiq'Halo: The Fallen' fan film is gorgeous, gory, grunty originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fanmadefilmHalohalo-helljumperHalo-The-FallenmicrosoftxboxSun, 11 Mar 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[There is no Halo 4 beta or Halo4beta site]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/there-is-no-halo-4-beta-or-halo4beta-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/there-is-no-halo-4-beta-or-halo4beta-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/there-is-no-halo-4-beta-or-halo4beta-site/#comments There are no plans for Halo 4 to receive a public beta, 343 Industries announced in a Q&A with franchise development director Frank O' Connor. He answered a slew of fan questions about Halo 4, revealing that it would be possible to play Grifball, that there would not be a color-blind mode (though considerations for that audience have been made in art decisions), and a few other tidbits. Check out the full factsheet here.

In related Halo 4 news, Microsoft recently won a legal battle against the bogus website Halo4beta.net, but as there won't be a Halo 4 beta we don't expect it to be put back into official use any time soon. Microsoft has also filed a complaint against Halo4beta.biz.

JoystiqThere is no Halo 4 beta or Halo4beta site originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-IndustriesbetafrankieHalohalo-4legalmicrosoftxboxSun, 11 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[10-year anniversary Xbox 360 bundle found on Amazon France]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/10-year-anniversary-xbox-360-bundle-found-on-amazon-france/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/10-year-anniversary-xbox-360-bundle-found-on-amazon-france/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/10-year-anniversary-xbox-360-bundle-found-on-amazon-france/#comments "But wait," you might be thinking. "The original Xbox launched on November 15, 2001. The tenth anniversary was last year, why come out with a 10-year anniversary bundle now? What's the deal? Oh my God, can you hear this? Quit listening to my thoughts! Get out of my head!!"

Whoa, chill dude! The American launch was in 2001, but the console's European debut didn't happen until three months later in 2002, hence the 10-year anniversary bundle showing up on Amazon France in 2012. The €280.00 ($375.50) package comes with a 250-gb Xbox 360, two wireless controllers, a boxed copy of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, digital versions of Halo: Reach, Gears of War 2 and Fable 3, as well as a 3-month Xbox Live Gold membership card.

The bundle is set to ship on March 9, and while we appreciate the sentiment and everything, we can't help but feel like a 360 reproduction of this might have been a more touching tribute. Make it happen, Microsoft. We'll give you money.

Joystiq10-year anniversary Xbox 360 bundle found on Amazon France originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-anniversaryamazon-franceanniversarybundlefable-3fable-iiiGears-of-war-2gow2halohalo-combat-evolved-anniversaryhalo-reachmicrosoftxboxFri, 24 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GANG announces nominations for 10th annual awards in game audio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/gang-announces-nominations-for-10th-annual-awards-in-game-audio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/gang-announces-nominations-for-10th-annual-awards-in-game-audio/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/gang-announces-nominations-for-10th-annual-awards-in-game-audio/#comments The Game Audio Network Guild (which translates to the convenient acronym of GANG) has announced its nominees for the 10th annual GANG Awards to be held at GDC, honoring the best music and audio in interactive entertainment over the last year. You can see all of the nominees in the press release after the break. As you might imagine, Battlefield 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Portal 2 are all nominated, all of which boasted very excellent and memorable aural experiences.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, however, leads the pack in nominations, with nine total, including Audio, Music, and Sound Design of the Year. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary also got a nod for Best Soundtrack Album, despite the fact that most of the music is as old as the awards ceremony itself. And while most of the choices are obviously worthy, there's one more worth mentioning: Bastion was only nominated for one category, for Best Audio in a Casual/Indie/Social Game. Shame that it's relegated to just that category -- <a aiotitle="Build that Wall" "="" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8cELTdtw6U" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8cELTdtw6U">"Build that Wall"</a> is one of the best listens our ears have had all year, video game-related or otherwise.

Continue reading GANG announces nominations for 10th annual awards in game audio

JoystiqGANG announces nominations for 10th annual awards in game audio originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsbattlefield-3game-audio-network-guildganggang-awardsgdcgdc-2012halomicrosoftplaystationps3uncharted-3xboxThu, 09 Feb 2012 06:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Bungie president, Alex Seropian, leaves Disney Interactive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/former-bungie-president-alex-seropian-leaves-disney-interactiv/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/former-bungie-president-alex-seropian-leaves-disney-interactiv/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/former-bungie-president-alex-seropian-leaves-disney-interactiv/#comments Alex Seropian -- who helped found developer Bungie in the 1990s -- has left Disney Interactive, where he was head of game development. After helping create the Halo franchise at Bungie, Seropian started his own studio, Wideload Games, which was then acquired by Disney when it hired Seropian in 2009 as a creative-development lead.

Disney has confirmed Seropian's departure and said he will be replaced by former Blizzard vice president Bill Roper, Game Informer reports. In 2003 Roper left Blizzard and founded Flagship Studios, which busted in 2008, and he was picked up by Cryptic Studios. In 2011, Roper left Cryptic to join Disney Interactive as vice president of the Marvel Franchise, which recently announced Marvel: Avengers Alliance coming to Facebook in Q1 this year.

JoystiqFormer Bungie president, Alex Seropian, leaves Disney Interactive originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alex-Seropianbill-roperBlizzardBungiedisneyDisney-InteractiveHalomicrosoftmobilenintendopcplaystationps3WideloadwiixboxTue, 07 Feb 2012 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Bungie handing over Halo community services to 343 in March]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/bungie-handing-over-halo-community-services-to-343-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/bungie-handing-over-halo-community-services-to-343-in-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/bungie-handing-over-halo-community-services-to-343-in-march/#comments OopsAs of March 31, 2012, Bungie will no longer host any Halo services on Bungie.net. Current Halo data will be transferred to 343 and, at that time, "all live Halo data will be managed by 343 Industries, and Bungie will no longer be able to update game stats and player service records, to host new user generated content, or to operate the Bungie Pro service." Using a peculiar bit of language, Bungie notes that "any replacement functionality" will be hosted by Halo Waypoint on halo.xbox.com.

Notice that Bungie doesn't mention whether or not such functionality will be replaced, though it seems unlikely that Microsoft would allow Halo's community features to disappear. They are, after all, a hallmark of the franchise. Because really, what's the point of playing Halo if you can't show off how awesome you are (or, as the image above illustrates, how funny it looks as your Spartan's limp corpse sails through the air).

JoystiqBungie handing over Halo community services to 343 in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halohalo-3halo-3-odstHalo-Reachmicrosoftxboxxbox-liveWed, 01 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Eye of the Storm is anything but calm]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/halo-eye-of-the-storm-is-anything-but-calm/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/halo-eye-of-the-storm-is-anything-but-calm/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/halo-eye-of-the-storm-is-anything-but-calm/#comments
You know, the younger crowd has more ways than ever to pay homage to their favorite games. Back in our day, the only "machinima" we could produce were crude sketches of Chrono and the Battletoads in our Trapper Keeper. Now kids can produce short films about their favorite game using their favorite game!

And that's pretty much what Halo: Eye of the Storm is. Created under Microsoft's Game Content Usage Rules in Halo 3, this 22 minute epic re-imagines the events of The Storm, the game's fifth campaign mission. In his submission email to Joystiq, creator Philip Kang told us it took over two years to create Eye of the Storm. He had to play through the same mission over 100 times trying to get the AI to do specific things necessary for each shot. Actors, right?

In the end, it was all worth it: Kang's created a video masterpiece, now featured on a website our friend's uncle once called "a website."

JoystiqHalo: Eye of the Storm is anything but calm originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>haloHalo-3halo-eye-of-the-stormmachinimamicrosoftphilip-kangxboxFri, 30 Dec 2011 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[McFarlane's sixth Halo: Reach action figure series drops in February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/mcfarlanes-sixth-halo-reach-action-figure-series-drops-in-febr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/mcfarlanes-sixth-halo-reach-action-figure-series-drops-in-febr/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/mcfarlanes-sixth-halo-reach-action-figure-series-drops-in-febr/#comments Another platoon of Halo: Reach action figures from McFarlane Toys is set to be deployed to a toy store near you. Microsoft has revealed the Series 6 figurines, which include new individual Carded Figures and Deluxe Boxed Sets, will be available in February 2012.

New individual figures include Noble Team members Kat and Jun, an Elite Zealot, Brute Major and the Team Objectives set seen above. Finally, Kat can live forever in both our hearts and our toy display case!

JoystiqMcFarlane's sixth Halo: Reach action figure series drops in February originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figureaction-figureshaloHalo-Reachhalo-reach-series-6mcfarlane-toysmicrosofttodd-mcfarlanetoysxboxThu, 29 Dec 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo Helljumper is a fanmade series that looks like a Hollywood hit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/halo-helljumper-is-a-fanmade-series-that-looks-like-a-hollywood/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/halo-helljumper-is-a-fanmade-series-that-looks-like-a-hollywood/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/halo-helljumper-is-a-fanmade-series-that-looks-like-a-hollywood/#comments

A group of dedicated Halo fans have put some serious time, sweat, tears (we assume) and talent (we can see) into a coming webseries, Halo Helljumper, based on the short story "Dirt" by Tobias S. Buckell. The film series will tell the tale of one ODST battling the Covenant before the fall of Reach. The first episode is set to premiere in January. Check out the trailer above and get some more information about the cast and props right here.

JoystiqHalo Helljumper is a fanmade series that looks like a Hollywood hit originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Halohalo-helljumperHalo-ReachHelljumpermicrosoftxboxSun, 20 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary gets double disc soundtrack release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-gets-double-disc-soundtrack-rel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-gets-double-disc-soundtrack-rel/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-gets-double-disc-soundtrack-rel/#comments What if $40 just isn't enough to show your love to your favorite FPS? You're in luck then: Sumthing Else Music Works is release the Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary soundtrack, which features re-orchestrated Halo tunes, as a two-disc album.

The package is $14.9 and gets you two CDs of music, originally created by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori and remade for 2011. There's also a limited edition green vinyl record for $24.99, which has fewer tracks but gets you an MP3 album of the music to download as well. If you really want to show you're the "Lord of the Rings," maybe buy both?

Continue reading Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary gets double disc soundtrack release

JoystiqHalo: Combat Evolved Anniversary gets double disc soundtrack release originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halohalo-combat-evolved-anniversarymicrosoftsoundtrackxboxSun, 13 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Microsoft launching 'Halo Living Monument' for Combat Evolved Anniversary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/rumor-microsoft-launching-halo-living-monument-for-combat-evo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/rumor-microsoft-launching-halo-living-monument-for-combat-evo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/rumor-microsoft-launching-halo-living-monument-for-combat-evo/#comments Remember when Halo: Reach launched -- all the way way back in 2010 -- and Microsoft asked us to visit a special website and contribute to a "living monument?" You may better recall the marketing that went along with it, but it would seem Microsoft is prepping a similar campaign for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

Fusible claims to have stumbled upon Halo Living Monument, a site Microsoft seemingly set up and registered only weeks ago, and took the above screen cap. And, sure enough, a month ago, Fusible caught the registration. A quick who.is search shows the domain in question is registered to Microsoft.

With Combat Evolved Anniversary only a few weeks out, we anticipate we'll be seeing the site launch soon. Like, now. Now? How about now?

JoystiqRumor: Microsoft launching 'Halo Living Monument' for Combat Evolved Anniversary originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industrieshalohalo-combat-evolved-anniversaryhalo-living-monumentmicrosoftxboxWed, 02 Nov 2011 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo Anniversary promo trailer not for the uninitiated]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/halo-anniversary-promo-trailer-not-for-the-uninitiated/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/halo-anniversary-promo-trailer-not-for-the-uninitiated/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/halo-anniversary-promo-trailer-not-for-the-uninitiated/#comments
If you have, in some Mr. Magoo like fashion, managed to stumble around the last ten years without playing the original Halo, this launch trailer for Halo Anniversary will spoil just about every major plot point. Everyone else: Enjoy.

JoystiqHalo Anniversary promo trailer not for the uninitiated originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halohalo-combat-evolved-anniversarykinectmicrosoftxboxMon, 31 Oct 2011 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA['Grenade!': Take a look at Halo Anniversary's Kinect functionality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/grenade-take-a-look-at-halo-anniversarys-kinect-functionali/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/grenade-take-a-look-at-halo-anniversarys-kinect-functionali/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/grenade-take-a-look-at-halo-anniversarys-kinect-functionali/#comments
As promised, we've got a quick and dirty video of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's Kinect functionality, straight from the Halo/343 Industries panel at New York Comic Con. Are you prepared to shout "Grenade!" and have Master Chief straight throw a grenade, all willy nilly? We sure hope so!

Joystiq'Grenade!': Take a look at Halo Anniversary's Kinect functionality originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industrieshalohalo-combat-evolvedhalo-combat-evolved-anniversarykinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosnyccnycc-2011xboxSat, 15 Oct 2011 22:34:00 EST<![CDATA[When we were your age, we didn't have Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary achievements]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/when-we-were-your-age-we-didnt-have-halo-combat-evolved-anniv/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/when-we-were-your-age-we-didnt-have-halo-combat-evolved-anniv/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/when-we-were-your-age-we-didnt-have-halo-combat-evolved-anniv/#comments It's hard to imagine a Halo game without achievements, but in the long passed, black-and-white prohibition-era yesteryear of 2001, that's just how things were. No 'chievos to grind, no Gamerscore to bolster, and only the earliest, fledgling proto-trolls were hurling racial slurs over Xbox Live.

A lot has changed since then, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary knows that kids these days couldn't handle a Halo experience devoid of achievements, so jump past the break for a complete list of points you never had the opportunity to earn in the first place.

Continue reading When we were your age, we didn't have Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary achievements

JoystiqWhen we were your age, we didn't have Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary achievements originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343343-Industriesachivementshalohalo-combat-evolved-anniversarykinectmicrosoftxboxSat, 15 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Dreamworks Halo movie mentioned in press release [update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/rumor-dreamworks-halo-movie-mentioned-in-press-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/rumor-dreamworks-halo-movie-mentioned-in-press-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/rumor-dreamworks-halo-movie-mentioned-in-press-release/#comments So this is ... weird.

Halo.fr received a press release for the French version of the novel Halo: Cryptum, and it mentions a forthcoming Halo movie in development with Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks.

Now, we've gotten better than a greedy mortician at ignoring signs of life from the oft-revived and killed-off Halo movie, and would have been more than happy to dismiss this as a misinformed publicist or hopeful copy editor. But it's a little harder in this case. The blurb mirrors a report from Vuture that Dreamworks was considering adapting the books, avoiding some of the legal cruft gathered around the video game-to-movie adaptation. Ready for the weird part? We ran the story on the Vulture piece exactly one year ago today.

Spooky, right? We suspect the interference of ghosts, but we've contacted the novel's US publisher and Microsoft in the hopes of finding our for sure.

[Update: We heard back from Tor, which publishes Halo books stateside. It doesn't work with French publisher Milady directly, but was unaware of any movie version of Halo in the works. That's not a denial per se, but if it was happening, you can bet Tor would have heard about it.

Update 2: And now, a post from 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor on NeoGAF, which reads "This is ow you say? Ah yes. Ze nonsense." Yeah, we're calling it: Time of death: 12:05 p.m. EST]

JoystiqRumor: Dreamworks Halo movie mentioned in press release [update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreamworkshalohalo-cryptummicrosoftmoviessteven-spielbergThu, 06 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Halo 4's Warthog can be seen but not driven in Forza 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/why-halo-4s-warthog-can-be-seen-but-not-driven-in-forza-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/why-halo-4s-warthog-can-be-seen-but-not-driven-in-forza-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/why-halo-4s-warthog-can-be-seen-but-not-driven-in-forza-4/#comments Looks like a puma It's nifty that Forza Motorsport 4 will allow players to examine the Halo 4 Warthog in "Auto Vista" mode, but we doubt we're alone in wondering why you can't actually drive it. According to developer Turn 10's Dan Greenwalt, implementing the UNSC's iconic ground transport is much more complex than it sounds.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Greenwalt explained that the technology used in the Warthog simply doesn't exist in any of Forza's other cars - notably its "crab walking" four wheel steering - meaning Turn 10 would have to build it from scratch. It's not that the Turn 10 team is incapable, Greenwalt noted that they have the specs, but it would be "a big investment" in order to support a single vehicle.

The final straw, apparently, is that there's no way to simulate the Warthog's tires. All of Forza's tire physics are based on real-world tires, meaning that each tire in the game should react to road conditions in a (very) realistic way. Said Greenwalt, "they didn't give us tires from nanotube technology from 2525."

JoystiqWhy Halo 4's Warthog can be seen but not driven in Forza 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-4forza-motorsport-4halohalo-4kinectkinect-forzamicrosoftturn-10xboxFri, 23 Sep 2011 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo Anniversary inspires new set of Minimates toys]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/halo-anniversary-inspires-new-set-of-minimates-toys/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/halo-anniversary-inspires-new-set-of-minimates-toys/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/halo-anniversary-inspires-new-set-of-minimates-toys/#comments In honor of Halo Anniversary, Master Chief and friends are being remastered again, this time as a new series of Minimates toys. The new "Series 4" includes Cortana, Master Chief, Jacob Keys, and the Prophet of Truth. The Master Chief toy even comes with an even mini-er Cortana!

JoystiqHalo Anniversary inspires new set of Minimates toys originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriesart-asylumhalohalo-combat-evolved-anniversarymicrosoftminimatestoysxboxWed, 21 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The making of a McFarlane Halo figure makes us feel old]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/the-making-of-a-mcfarlane-halo-figure-makes-us-feel-old/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/the-making-of-a-mcfarlane-halo-figure-makes-us-feel-old/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/the-making-of-a-mcfarlane-halo-figure-makes-us-feel-old/#comments
Video games are great and all, but most of us at Joystiq HQ still harbor a penchant for action figures, born from youthful days and being forced to play outside now and again. As we've matured, however, so has the toy industry, and action figures these days are way more awesome than the stuff we had growing up.

Kids these days don't know how good they have it, either. The above video, for instance, showcases the state-of-the-art rapid prototyping technologies used by McFarlane Toys to create their hyper-detailed Halo figures. Back in our day, action figures took months to prototype, and we were happy about it!

And another thing! Back in our day, the words "3D" and "printer" would never share space in the same sentence, let alone be used in conjunction with one another to describe an actual thing. Get off our lawn!

JoystiqThe making of a McFarlane Halo figure makes us feel old originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figuresfiguresHalohalo-festhalo-fest-2011master-chiefMcFarlanemcfarlane-toysmicrosoftxboxSun, 04 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson examines the Warthog in Forza 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/top-gears-jeremy-clarkson-examines-the-warthog-in-forza-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/top-gears-jeremy-clarkson-examines-the-warthog-in-forza-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/top-gears-jeremy-clarkson-examines-the-warthog-in-forza-4/#comments
As the irreverent host of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson is used to hanging out with a near-mythical character that's obscured behind a shiny helmet. Commenting on Master Chief's fictional ride is just another day on the job, really.

JoystiqTop Gear's Jeremy Clarkson examines the Warthog in Forza 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-4forza-motorsport-4halohalo-4jeremy-clarksonkinect-forzamicrosofttop-gearwarthogxboxThu, 01 Sep 2011 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary preview: Like falling off a log]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/halo-combat-evolved-anniversary-preview/#comments I haven't been particularly skillful at any of the Halo games that succeeded Halo -- a direct result of the fact that the original game possesses a language that the rest of the series eschewed. Perhaps it was a language of simplicity; after all, true success only demanded proficiency with one weapon, the pistol, which could take enemies down in a handful of well-placed headshots. Forget armor abilities, dual wielding and deployable items: There was only gun, and the manner in which you used gun.

While playing Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary earlier this week -- in its single-player, multiplayer and multi-dimensional varieties -- I was struck by how quickly that language came sailing back to me. I probably didn't realize it until that moment, but in the ten years that have passed since the original launch of Halo, I've really come to miss Halo.

Gallery: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary preview: Like falling off a log

JoystiqHalo Combat Evolved Anniversary preview: Like falling off a log originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industrieshalohalo-combat-evolved-anniversaryhalo-festmicrosoftpax-prime-2011xboxSat, 27 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Reach title update coming in September, Armor Lock getting nerfed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/halo-reach-title-update-coming-in-september-armor-lock-getting/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/halo-reach-title-update-coming-in-september-armor-lock-getting/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/halo-reach-title-update-coming-in-september-armor-lock-getting/#comments At last night's Halo Fest event, we learned about a rather beefy title update to Halo: Reach that's set to launch sometime next month. The patch implements a number of significant (and, therefore, controversial) changes to the multiplayer title, with the biggest being the nerfing of the Armor Lock ability. Instead of making you an invulnerable juggernaut, Armor Lock now only prevents most of the damage done to you whilst locked, and no longer detaches stuck plasma grenades.

Other changes include: the addition of "Shield Bleed-through," whereby damage done to players with a fraction of their shield remaining can now be carried over to their remaining health; an option to remove reticle bloom; the removal of a player's ability to deflect an oncoming sword lunge by meleeing (unless they too are using a sword); and the wholesale buffing of the pistol, bringing it closer to parity with its Halo: Combat Evolved predecessor.

JoystiqHalo: Reach title update coming in September, Armor Lock getting nerfed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industriesbungiehalohalo-festhalo-fest-2011Halo-Reachhalofest-2011microsoftpatchupdatexboxFri, 26 Aug 2011 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Examine Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's 'Auto Vista' mode]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/halo-warthog-in-forza-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/halo-warthog-in-forza-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/halo-warthog-in-forza-4/#comments Ever wanted to know the deep lore behind and automotive specs inside Halo's most abundant form of military transportation? You can and you will, provided you pick up Turn 10's upcoming racer, Forza Motorsport 4. At last night's Halo Fest event, the studio announced that the new, Halo 4 model of the ubiquitous Warthog would be featured as an easter egg in the game's spectatorial "Auto Vista" mode.

This means that you'll be able to sail around the new iteration of the car (using either a controller or Kinect-based gestures), manipulating its every feature and learning more about its backstory thanks to some 343-penned narration. The best part? Those voiceovers are performed by Jen Taylor, the actor behind Halo's luminous guide, Cortana.

The worst part? The Warthog's only viewable in Auto Vista mode, and won't be driveable in actual races. We suppose that would be unfair, because, you know, chaingun.

JoystiqExamine Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's 'Auto Vista' mode originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industrieseaster-eggforza-4forza-motorsport-4halohalo-4halo-combat-evolved-anniversaryhalofest-2011kinect-forzamicrosoftturn-10xboxFri, 26 Aug 2011 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[A whole fleet of LEGO Halo vehicles, ready for deployment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/a-whole-fleet-of-lego-halo-vehicles-ready-for-deployment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/a-whole-fleet-of-lego-halo-vehicles-ready-for-deployment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/a-whole-fleet-of-lego-halo-vehicles-ready-for-deployment/#comments Benny Brickster's Halo vehicles made out of LEGO LEGO Halo is, unfortunately, still an April Fool's joke. But if Bungie or Microsoft ever do want to put it together, maybe Benny Brickster can help. He's modeled a number of different Halo vehicles, from the Covenant's Ghost all the way up to the gigantic Pelican, in the excellent and versatile LEGO medium.

The Pelican is quite a feat in itself, sitting over 26 inches long, with wings so heavy they need their own stands. The back door even opens and closes. Next up, Brickster plans to expand the Covenant forces, building a Wraith, a Phantom, and possibly even a seven-foot long full-scale Assault Carrier. We won't lie: Building something like that would make him a real master, chief.

JoystiqA whole fleet of LEGO Halo vehicles, ready for deployment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbenny-bricksterfanHaloHalo-Combat-EvolvedlegolegosmicrosoftxboxWed, 10 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bungie vidoc drops hints, possible art from new project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/bungie-vidoc-drops-hints-possible-art-from-new-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/bungie-vidoc-drops-hints-possible-art-from-new-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/bungie-vidoc-drops-hints-possible-art-from-new-project/#comments "We wanna build a universe where any crazy shit can happen."

That's one of the few vague/tantalizing statements Bungie staffers make in the latest vidoc from the company: "O Brave New World." Though mainly a rumination on Halo, the nearly hour-long feature makes some passing nods at the "new thing." Including:

1. It's referred to at one point as "Tiger", a codename that's been kicked around for months.
2. A couple of brief scenes are shown while Tiger is being discussed. There's also a scene where two actors have movement and facial animations captured. They're possibly lifted from the new project, but that's pure speculation on our part.
3. The video closes with a picture of this logo which was previously attached to Bungie and the name "Destiny," which may or may not be the working title of an MMOFPS.
4. Bungie co-founder Jason Jones says "One of the reasons that Tiger is so intriguing to people in the studio is it's reaching players in a way we haven't before."

OK, so that's all we know. We'll now leave the speculation to you. Oh, and watch the video itself, of course. The Tiger stuff starts around 53:00, but the whole thing makes for a heck of a compelling story.

Gallery: Tiger/Destiny

JoystiqBungie vidoc drops hints, possible art from new project originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiedestinyhalomacmicrosoftpctigervidocxboxThu, 04 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/watch-major-league-gamings-anaheim-championship-sunday-live-ri/#comments
Strap on your beer-hats and huge foam fingers, e-sports fans, because Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday is under way, and you can catch all the fragging, pylon-constructing action right here on Joystiq. Championship matches for Starcraft 2, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops will take place all day long on 4 different streams, so make sure you've got enough overpriced concession-stand munchies to last you a while.

Head on through for the day's full schedule, and be sure to let us know how you feel about competitive gaming coverage on Joystiq, either in the comments or in the poll. This sort of post is a new jam for us, and if you like it, we'll do more!

Continue reading Watch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq

JoystiqWatch Major League Gaming's Anaheim Championship Sunday live, right here on Joystiq originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anaheimcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-black-opschampionship-sundaycompetitive-gaminghalohalo-reachlive-streamlive-streamingmajor-league-gamingmicrosoftMLGpcplaystationpro-gamingps3starcraft-2Starcraft-2-Wings-of-LibertyxboxSun, 31 Jul 2011 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Selling custom Halo armor to the Pawn Stars is out of this guy's Reach]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/selling-custom-halo-armor-to-the-pawn-stars-is-out-of-this-guys/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/selling-custom-halo-armor-to-the-pawn-stars-is-out-of-this-guys/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/selling-custom-halo-armor-to-the-pawn-stars-is-out-of-this-guys/#comments

The importance of nerdom in public society has increased exponentially in the past decade, with the video game industry now producing over $25 billion in annual revenue alone. Ask any random group of cosplayers at San Diego Comic-Con what the above completely customized, electronic Halo MJOLNIR Assault Armor suit is worth, and they'd probably guess in the thousands. According to the experts at History Channel's Pawn Stars, they'd be wrong.

This Halo fan is hoping to score a humble $2,000 for his spectacular suit, but the Pawn Stars won't go a cent over $200, crushing his dreams and possibly losing him a girlfriend. We salute you, Halo Hero, for testing the waters in popular society for nerds everywhere. We'll be sure to keep our fetishes in convention halls and caves -- for now.

JoystiqSelling custom Halo armor to the Pawn Stars is out of this guy's Reach originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplaycultureHaloHalo-Reachhistory-channelmicrosoftnerdompawn-starsxboxFri, 29 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo Anniversary footage shows off Silent Cartographer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/halo-anniversary-footage-shows-off-silent-cartographer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/halo-anniversary-footage-shows-off-silent-cartographer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/halo-anniversary-footage-shows-off-silent-cartographer/#comments
As a special Comic-Con treat, Microsoft has unveiled more than four minutes of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary footage. Narrated by 343's Dan Ayoub, the video shows off the beloved "Silent Cartographer" level, which we saw earlier this year at E3.

There's a lot to see, most notably the game's ability to switch between the original and remastered graphics on the fly. Oh and, lest we forget, the mighty pistol is in there too.

JoystiqHalo Anniversary footage shows off Silent Cartographer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-Industriesbungiehalohalo-combat-evolved-anniversarymicrosoftsdcc-2011xboxFri, 22 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Primordium is next Forerunner Saga novel, available January 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/halo-primoridum-is-next-forerunner-saga-novel-available-januar/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/halo-primoridum-is-next-forerunner-saga-novel-available-januar/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/halo-primoridum-is-next-forerunner-saga-novel-available-januar/#comments Halo: Primordium, the second novel in the Halo Forerunner Saga, will be available in book and audio editions on January 3, 2012. Award-winning science fiction author Greg Bear returns to the writer's chair and continues the story he began in Cryptum.

Bear will also be present at the San Diego Comic-Con this weekend in the back-to-back Halo panels, "Writing in Videogames: In-Game, Novels, Comics, and Other Franchise-Building Offshoots" (Room 32AB), and "Halo Universe" (Room 6BCF), at 10AM and 11:30AM, respectively. At 2PM, he'll be doing signings at booth #2707 with Frank O'Connor, Karen Traviss and Kevin Grace, so bring your cat helmets.

Continue reading Halo: Primordium is next Forerunner Saga novel, available January 2012

JoystiqHalo: Primordium is next Forerunner Saga novel, available January 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Comic-Con-2011Greg-BearHaloHalo-PrimordiummicrosoftxboxTue, 19 Jul 2011 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Half-Minute Halo: An Interview with Jaime Griesemer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/half-minute-halo-an-interview-with-jaime-griesemer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/half-minute-halo-an-interview-with-jaime-griesemer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/half-minute-halo-an-interview-with-jaime-griesemer/#comments "In Halo 1, there was maybe 30 seconds of fun that happened over and over and over and over again. And so, if you can get 30 seconds of fun, you can pretty much stretch that out to be an entire game."

Or maybe even five games. The succinct secret to Halo's success, that half minute of fun, has long been a mantra repeated by developer Bungie, repurposed by game critics, and presumably whispered by Master Chief himself before he tosses a plasma grenade into a gathering of grunts. It's inoffensive, catchy and it sounds about right. Doesn't it?

"Yeah, it's probably the most famous thing I ever said," says game designer Jaime Griesemer. "For some reason it really resonated with the community and got quoted and repeated to the point where I would hear it from people that didn't realize where it had come from in the first place! Especially with journalists." Like many of you, Griesemer has heard the phrase on podcasts (yes, including The Joystiq Podcast) and read it in several articles, such as Clive Thompson's examination of Halo 3 playtesting in Wired. "Some of the guys at Bungie were calling me 'Mr. Thirty Seconds' for a while ... heh."

If only we had paid attention to Mr. Thirty Seconds for about, oh, 30 seconds longer.

Continue reading Half-Minute Halo: An Interview with Jaime Griesemer

JoystiqHalf-Minute Halo: An Interview with Jaime Griesemer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiehalohalo-2halo-3halo-3-odsthalo-combat-evolvedhalo-combat-evolved-anniversaryhalo-reachjaime-griesemermicrosoftsucker-punchsucker-punch-productionsxboxThu, 14 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spencer: Halo without Master Chief just isn't as 'centered' on what players want]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/spencer-halo-without-master-chief-just-isnt-as-centered-on-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/spencer-halo-without-master-chief-just-isnt-as-centered-on-w/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/spencer-halo-without-master-chief-just-isnt-as-centered-on-w/#comments We're not 100 percent sure what Microsoft Game Studios head Phil Spencer is trying to say in this quote from E3, but as far as we can tell, he's just happy that Halo 4 is returning the player to Master Chief's head. He says he wants to make sure that the new game "lives up to what I think gamers fell in love with," and for him, that means being the Chief again.

Spencer says Halo Reach "made more sense to you if you were a Halo fan. If you were new to Xbox 360, 360 is where you started playing on Xbox, you understood what Halo 3 was. ODST and Reach, maybe you weren't as centered." So, newcomers want -- and expect -- to play as the Chief, whereas fans of the franchise were fine with something new.

At any rate, Spencer's just trying to make it clear that Master Chief is coming back, in both the anniversary remake of Combat Evolved, and Halo 4 next year. Why couldn't you just say that, Phil?

JoystiqSpencer: Halo without Master Chief just isn't as 'centered' on what players want originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>halohalo-4halo-odsthalo-reachmicrosoftpcphil-spencerxboxMon, 11 Jul 2011 22:10:00 EST<![CDATA[You'll never geth how this Mass Effect action figure was made]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/youll-never-geth-how-this-mass-effect-action-figure-was-made/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/youll-never-geth-how-this-mass-effect-action-figure-was-made/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/youll-never-geth-how-this-mass-effect-action-figure-was-made/#comments
Go on, take a guess at the starting point for this custom made figure. If we tell you that the link came from Halo.Bungie.Org, does that help? If you guessed a Covenant Elite, you're right! The core body of this Mass Effect inspired geth consists of two different Convenant Elite figures from McFarlane's Halo line.

If you then went on to guess that the modder also used shot gun parts from a Gears of War accessory, that the pulse rifle was made from spare Halo parts, and that the hoses on his back came from a Mr. Freeze action figure, well then we'd say you know a little too much about your various action figures there, Kreskin.

JoystiqYou'll never geth how this Mass Effect action figure was made originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figurescustom-madegethhalomass-effectmicrosoftmodmodderspcxboxThu, 07 Jul 2011 03:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo: Glasslands novel arrives this October]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/halo-glasslands-novel-arrives-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/halo-glasslands-novel-arrives-this-october/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/halo-glasslands-novel-arrives-this-october/#commentsAnnounced last year, the sequel to the Halo novel Ghosts of Onyx has been given both a name and a release date. Halo: Glasslands, penned by Star Wars and Gears of War novelist Karen Traviss, will hit bookshelves later this year on October 25. Glasslands marks the first in a new trilogy -- separate from the Forerunner trilogy by Greg Bear -- and will "explore the Halo Universe in the wake of the final events of Halo 3."

In addition to the release date, publisher Tor Books has also revealed the cover for Glasslands. You might have noticed that the image is dripping with subtext. It's clear there's something going on between this Spartan and Elite, but what is it? What are they thinking? We've taken a few liberties and created our own version of the cover to fill in some of the missing pieces. Find high resolution versions of both images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Halo: Glasslands cover

Continue reading Halo: Glasslands novel arrives this October

JoystiqHalo: Glasslands novel arrives this October originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookshalohalo-glasslandskaren-travissmicrosoftnoveltor-booksxboxThu, 30 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bungie gives out blue flaming helmets in Halo: Reach]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/bungie-gives-out-blue-flaming-helmets-in-halo-reach/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/bungie-gives-out-blue-flaming-helmets-in-halo-reach/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/bungie-gives-out-blue-flaming-helmets-in-halo-reach/#comments You know, when we think about heads on fire, we don't think about Bungie's illustrious flaming helmets in Halo. It's because we could never have one; we're not Bungie employees. Now we all can enjoy the loss of tactical advantage that only comes from having a head on fire!

Bungie's giving the flaming helmets in Halo: Reach (plus a special name plate) to anyone who registers on Bungie.net or through the recently released iOS app -- you have until "the close of Bungie Day" on July 7 to get yours. Oh, and if you're wondering about Bungie Aerospace, keep wondering: Bungie's still not talking.

Hit the jump for a PSA video produced by Bungie if you're looking for some more animated coverage.

Continue reading Bungie gives out blue flaming helmets in Halo: Reach

JoystiqBungie gives out blue flaming helmets in Halo: Reach originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20th-anniversaryanniversarybungiebungie-daybungie-studioshaloHalo-ReachmicrosoftxboxThu, 23 Jun 2011 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Halo 4 finishes the fight (again) in 2012 [Update: teaser trailer!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/halo-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/halo-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/halo-4/#comments At Microsoft's E3 2011 keynote today at the Galen Center, Halo 4 was officially announced -- surprise! Master Chief and Cortana are back (kicking off a new trilogy, apparently), the brief teaser trailer showed. 343 Industries is at the reigns with a Holiday 2012 launch date proposed.

Update: Hit the jump for the teaser!

Continue reading Halo 4 finishes the fight (again) in 2012 [Update: teaser trailer!]

JoystiqHalo 4 finishes the fight (again) in 2012 [Update: teaser trailer!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>343-industriese3-2011halohalo-4microsoftmicrosoft-game-studiosrelease-datexboxMon, 06 Jun 2011 13:57:00 EST