Halo: Reach

Now stop shitting up the ODST thread.

Spartans never die, George.

So is the big reveal here that there are multiple Spartans in a situation that is not a deathmatch?

Hah, ok [moved from ODST thread]
The trailer was pretty slick - though it was a bit low key considering this was "the BIG reveal". But there was all kinds of little story stuff tossed in if you were really looking. Stuff like the robot arm of the female spartan, the new(old?) bulkier BR, the snippet about Pegasi (the place where hundreds of spartan III's died and was covered up by ONI.) Im assuming the silent dude was one of the last surviving Spartan III's.

I was hoping for some sort of gameplay hint, but thats how Bungie always does their first trailers. It reminded me of the beginning of Predator, getting introduced to all of the badasses in a chopper. If youll notice, some of the dialogue parallels the older teaser trailer. (the russian spartan chick talking about combat insertion).

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Originally Posted by Nash

I didn't dig the music in the trailer, though. It feels out of place for a Halo game.

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Give it time it may grow on you. Just when they are taking off it picks up - pretty standard epic Halo fare - if a bit more serious. The teaser trailer has the same serious vibe in the music there too. Afterall, these characters are all going to die in this game if the books mean anything. And you get that sense of dread from the music so far.

Yeller, If you read the Halo novels ... you'd know the answer to that one. ;)

I think the point of the trailer was to confirm that this is going to be a squad/class-based game, like the multiplayer in Resistance 2. One of the guys even talks about the new guy's skills, which I took to mean they were unique to him or his class.

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Originally Posted by Advocate

If you read the Halo novels ... you'd know the answer to that one. ;)

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I'm not illiterate. I know who my parents are.

Well even in the novels they talk about how after years of being separated across the galaxy the Spartans developed individual skills that complemented their specific specialties and size/speed. So I'm guessing that Yoshi is right about the class/skill portion of the game.

Yea those are some good points by Yoshi. Itll be very interesting to see how multiplayer pans out. Hopefully itll have some higher player counts compared to the other Halo games. I guess in mid January theyre going to reveal the gameplay details.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I think the point of the trailer was to confirm that this is going to be a squad/class-based game, like the multiplayer in Resistance 2. One of the guys even talks about the new guy's skills, which I took to mean they were unique to him or his class.

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This makes it kinda interesting to me. I'm willing to give HALO another go.

stop posting in HD tags.

Start using a computer made in this decade.

After just having finished Halo ODST I'm pretty excited for this game.

I typically dislike prequel games and movies but ODST filled in the gap between Halo 2 and 3 nicely while adding a very cool cast of characters into the Halo universe. I think Reach could be cool provided it fleshes out the beginnings of the Spartans and Master Chief well enough. I've never read the book but I'm curious to read it now.

BTW would anyone want a sort of "remaster" of the first Halo with the Halo 3/ODST engine?

I guess I'll give Odie Etsy a rent sooner or later.

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Originally Posted by Will

BTW would anyone want a sort of "remaster" of the first Halo with the Halo 3/ODST engine?

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Yes, please!

A remastered Halo 1 would be cool especially with online co-op and multi. I still think 1 has the best campaign of the series outside of the stupid Library level. (ODST's is close though) Its also a dang shame they never ported Blood Gultch and Battle Creek to Halo 3.

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Originally Posted by Will

I've never read the book but I'm curious to read it now.

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Read it, it's like $10 and a quick read.

so much for bungie doing something else.

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Originally Posted by epmode

Start using a computer made in this decade.

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It actually was made in 2002! woo!

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

so much for bungie doing something else.

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Well according to Bungie they are working on at least 2 projects. One is Reach, suppossedly their "last Bungie-made Halo game" (not buyin it), and the other is a new IP. Microsoft of course owns the Halo brand now and they formed up their own team called 343 Industries -headed up by former bungie dude Frank O'Connor. Theyve been hiring alot of talent lately.

So slower, gayer Team Fortress 2 confirmed?

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Originally Posted by Spike

Yes, please!

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Originally Posted by Destro777

A remastered Halo 1 would be cool especially with online co-op and multi. I still think 1 has the best campaign of the series outside of the stupid Library level. (ODST's is close though) Its also a dang shame they never ported Blood Gultch and Battle Creek to Halo 3.

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Cool, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

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Originally Posted by Chux

Read it, it's like $10 and a quick read.

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I'll definitely hunt it down.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

so much for bungie doing something else.

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Originally Posted by Destro777

Well according to Bungie they are working on at least 2 projects. One is Reach, suppossedly their "last Bungie-made Halo game" (not buyin it), and the other is a new IP. Microsoft of course owns the Halo brand now and they formed up their own team called 343 Industries -headed up by former bungie dude Frank O'Connor. Theyve been hiring alot of talent lately.

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It seems like they can't really get away from it but they probably have a few things in development non-Halo related. Since Microsoft owns the whole Halo brand they can pretty much get another studio to continue the story from where Master Chief ended up in 3 or delve into other Halo related stuff.

Which can either turn out really bad (like Devil May Cry 2) or really good.

Anyone check out the Halo Waypoint updates?

They released a free preview of one of the Halo Origins animated features coming out on DVD soon which was the one that told of the Forerunners and the take over of the Flood before the Forerunners died out.

And you actually get to see how they look, it's really cool. So far I find any and all back story to the Halo games to be fascinating and I can't wait to read the books since most are canon.

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Originally Posted by Will

And you actually get to see how they look...

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They were still in suits and helmets, though, so we still don't really know how they naturally look. All we know is that they're humanoid.

I liked the episode a lot, though.

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Originally Posted by Nash

They were still in suits and helmets, though, so we still don't really know how they naturally look. All we know is that they're humanoid.

I liked the episode a lot, though.

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Well, yeah.

I'm looking forward to the whole thing on DVD, I especially liked The Babysitter short.

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Originally Posted by Will

So far I find any and all back story to the Halo games to be fascinating and I can't wait to read the books since most are canon.

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Yall should check out the Halo encyclopedia they just released. My sis got me that for Christmas and its pretty impressive. Its huge! I was expecting it to be an artbook with tons of pictures and not much text - but its actually both. Its crammed with info. All the way down to detailing tons of planets, famous covenant ships, whats going on around earth (Japan, Antarctica, Pakistan, etc.), and even details all of the ammunition used and shows pictures. Theres a huge timeline in the beginning that goes for like 10 pages. This is one of the first by projects that 343 Industries I mentioned earlier.

I took some pics of the book. I included that front cover one to show how big it is:

The next Game Informer.

Click for full size

Fuck. What is it with these guys? Yea, halo sold billions, lets fuck with the formula, make it something it's not!

I like it when companies change up the formula. I'm not really into Halo but I'm always up for something new.

They want to change the way the controls work, make it work with natal or whatever, fine, go for it. But don't give me this team shooter bullshit. It was bad enough when they made it into a RTS, but at least that was a completely different genre. Halo has always been me fucking up the Covenant, on my own. Killing stupid marines who were hoarding my ammo.

It's about time someone else is complaining about the deliberate abandonment of single player games. Fortunately, I don't give a shit what happens to Halo. In fact, it would make my year if Reach had Twister-like gameplay where four morons had to all use Natal together at the same time.

edit: Don't look now...

You guys understand that Reach is maybe the only place it makes sense to be a team based game? If there is a Spartan "home world" it's Reach. It was about the squad before the first game even launched. Go read Fall of Reach, I hate cash runs as much as the next guy but it makes perfect sense here.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

It's about time someone else is complaining about the deliberate abandonment of single player games. Fortunately, I don't give a shit what happens to Halo. In fact, it would make my year if Reach had Twister-like gameplay where four morons had to all use Natal together at the same time.

edit: Don't look now...

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Go play Bayonetta or Darksiders and get the fuck out of my face, no single player games my ass.

Am I the only one here that didn't like Republic Commando? There was absolutely no need for the squad based aspect for that game. I played it exactly like I did every other fps, except there were three AI idiots tagging along.

Well, RC was garbage so yeah.

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Originally Posted by Chux

Well, RC was garbage so yeah.

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I just get the impression this will be just like that game, except you can do 4 player co-op over live. Big 'ol wait and see for me. ODST was such a fucking disappointment and I haven't been excited for a Halo game since I played part two before it was released with some of the dev team.

That and I don't have a 360 anymore.

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Originally Posted by Chux

Go play Bayonetta or Darksiders and get the fuck out of my face, no single player games my ass.

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I didn't say there were none, but we're headed in that direction. For example, why the fuck does BioShock 2 need multiplayer? Naughty Dog managed to knock out a great single player game with Uncharted 2, despite wasting resources on multiplayer, but it still wasn't worth the risk. I think I even read that the next Tomb Raider will have multiplayer. Indefensible.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I didn't say there were none, but we're headed in that direction. For example, why the fuck does BioShock 2 need multiplayer? Naughty Dog managed to knock out a great single player game with Uncharted 2, despite wasting resources on multiplayer, but it still wasn't worth the risk. I think I even read that the next Tomb Raider will have multiplayer. Indefensible.

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If it's some tacked on horse shit, but doesn't stop the SP from being great, or doesn't keep some part of the story from me (I hear Bioshock 2's mutliplayer is some sort of prequel?), then I don't care because I can choose to ignore it.

I'm assuming what we'll get with reach is ODST + Classes.

EDIT: The ONLY way TR Multi would work for me is if it's a race to get to a certain place or artifact before the other player.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I didn't say there were none, but we're headed in that direction. For example, why the fuck does BioShock 2 need multiplayer? Naughty Dog managed to knock out a great single player game with Uncharted 2, despite wasting resources on multiplayer, but it still wasn't worth the risk. I think I even read that the next Tomb Raider will have multiplayer. Indefensible.

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That's a valid concern and all, but this is a thread about Halo, which has always had a big emphasis on multiplayer.

Maybe try and save your tirades for threads where they're the least bit applicable to the topic at hand?

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Originally Posted by Bacon McShig

That's a valid concern and all, but this is a thread about Halo, which has always had a big emphasis on multiplayer.

Maybe try and save your tirades for threads where they're the least bit applicable to the topic at hand?

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This is not false.

How about find some friends. Co-op is here to stay. The only problem is games seem to be limited to 4 players at the moment. When we got 6-7 people wanting to play, some get left out. Lost Planet 2 and Battlefield BC2 present that problem. It remains to be seen for this game.

Its funny seeing some of yall saying "but I dont want Halo to change" - then turn around and complain "its the same game (Halo3 and ODST)". Which is it? Halo is due for some pure teamwork oriented gameplay - especially in multiplayer. Under the current form - you can own an entire map by yourself if youre good. Teamwork not required.

I thought ODST was ok. Nothing special. I disliked the health meter and the lack of shields, ala Master Chief. And really I don't care about Co-op, it made things interesting in Halo 3, but made parts of the single player campaign pretty fucking retarded difficulty wise because it was clearly intended for co-op. What I'm saying is don't force me to endure 3 AI bots in single player stumbling along, getting me killed. That's all. I know you've been dying for Halo to change because lord knows we can't have enough team capture the flag games, but I prefer my Halo to be something else. Oh and find some friends? How bout find some class. Dick.

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Originally Posted by Error

... but made parts of the single player campaign pretty fucking retarded difficulty wise because it was clearly intended for co-op.

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You could have just said "I suck at video games" to save yourself some time. None of the Halo games are all that difficult, even on Legendary. And I'm not even that good at them.

I guess I've been playing a different Halo than Error, because I played the shit out of the first game, and it was mostly either playing co-op with a buddy or team slayer/CTF when there were enough people.

I can understand not liking the idea of having to babysit a bunch of stupid bots, but if done properly, the team aspect could add a lot to the games replay value.

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Originally Posted by Nash

You could have just said "I suck at video games" to save yourself some time. None of the Halo games are all that difficult, even on Legendary. And I'm not even that good at them.

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OK hero, whatever.

Do you still swim in the kiddie side of the pool, Error?

No Advocate I try to avoid seeing you trying to pick up girls.

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Originally Posted by Error

No Advocate I try to avoid seeing you trying to pick up girls.

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I can't rep you again in the same thread.

I'm not much of a Halo fan, but enjoyed the shit out of playing 3 with 4 player co-op/ I thought 1 and 2 were a chore to play through solo.

Halo 3 co-op is the only way to go. Playing it alone is just a chore. Halo 1 was great alone. Halo 2 sucked no matter what you do. Kind of want ODST for the co-op, but have a feeling it won't last more than one night before it gets tossed.

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Originally Posted by GI & Kotaku

It's easy to think of Halo: Reach and yawn, imagining yet another Halo game using the same old Halo formula and the same old Halo tech. Listen to Bungie detail Halo: Reach, though, and your optimism may come sneaking back. Reach is the cover feature in the latest issue of Game Informer, and the piece inside gives us our first real look at Bungie's next "proper" Halo title.

Probably most interesting, to me at least, was the revelation that Bungie's engine - which by ODST had started showing signs of ageing - has been massively overhauled, with big increases in not only the level of fidelity on display, but in the number of enemies and objects that can be on screen at any one time.
This means much bigger fights than you've ever seen in a Halo game, and these major engagements will form many of the game's key moments.

Another key piece of information is that in many areas the game's been stripped back, to bring it more into line with the original Halo, to which this title is serving as a prequel.

The shield/health system from Halo 1 is back, and both spiked and flame grenades have been removed from the game. Equipment has also been simplified, with a single slot created for power-ups that be swapped in and out like a third weapon.

One final thing that was buried in the article: the facial animation for all the game's characters has been outsourced to Image Metrics, the company behind that amazing "Emily" clip from a few years back. So expect a raised eyebrow or two.

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She's a robot.

Wow....we'll see supposedly more realistic facial expressions to go along with the yawn inducing story. And they're retooling an already old engine? GREAT!

^Hater in the house.
Been waiting on Halo to go with large scale battles ala Battlefield. Hopefully this means higher player counts in multi. Moving the gameplay more towards Halo 1 is a good thing.

That clip is fucking frightening.

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Originally Posted by Destro777

^Hater in the house.
Been waiting on Halo to go with large scale battles ala Battlefield. Hopefully this means higher player counts in multi. Moving the gameplay more towards Halo 1 is a good thing.

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Thats what I thought Halo 2 was going to be. Maybe the Pelican will finally be playable.

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Image Metrics has created facial animation for feature films including Meet Dave (2008), Foodfight! (unreleased) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (2007). In addition to its work with feature films, Image Metrics has created facial animation for a number of popular video games including Devil May Cry 4, Facial Lair, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs - Combined Assault and Fireteam Bravo 2, Bully, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, 24: The Game, Call of Duty 2, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, The Warriors, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, The Getaway: Black Monday, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Grand Theft Auto IV.

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ooh boy that's thrilling

They are a one-stop-dead-eyes-character-making shop!

This game's title is exactly what MS is doing with this franchise. After the shitfest that was Halo 2, the totally "meh" experience that was part three, and the sleep-inducing ODST, this series needs to die already.

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Originally Posted by Melf

This game's title is exactly what MS is doing with this franchise. After the shitfest that was Halo 2, the totally "meh" experience that was part three, and the sleep-inducing ODST, this series needs to die already.

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Did you intentionally leave out the RTS game?

There was an RTS game? /general public

I haven't played it, so I can't judge.

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Originally Posted by Melf

This game's title is exactly what MS is doing with this franchise. After the shitfest that was Halo 2, the totally "meh" experience that was part three, and the sleep-inducing ODST, this series needs to die already.

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So im guessing you dont play online?

Halo 2 was a lot of fun online! After the patch anyway!

Halo 2 was so much fun online. Even before the patch, I loved the glitches.

Halo 3 was cool too, just never had time to enjoy it. ___Gears.___

I'm referring to the single-player campaign and the story. Both have sucked since Halo 2. .

who cares about the story? The multi is where its at.

The campaigns aint great but the Halo story definately does not suck - it has been already talked about a ton in this thread alone. No one cares about the Halo games' single player a week after they come out anyways. If youre not playing Halo for the multi then you shouldnt even bother. Halo3 is a game my crew of friends and I always go back to even 2.5 years after its launch. I still say the series has the best console online multiplayer FPS to date.

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Originally Posted by Destro777

If youre not playing Halo for the multi then you shouldnt even bother. Halo3 is a game my crew of friends and I always go back to even 2.5 years after its launch. I still say the series has the best console online multiplayer FPS to date.

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This man speaks the truth. The team based multiplayer takes more team work, strategy, communication, and skill than any console FPS out there (unless you're playing against complete re-tards). People may complain that it's "slower paced" because of the speed of your character and not enjoy that. But if you're playing on a mid to small sized map against a team of people who know what they are doing, the gameplay is anything but slow paced and can really become a face paced frantic style of game. I haven't played Halo in months, but I know if I jump back into it I'll enjoy it just as much as I did when I stopped playing.

This isn't even counting the sheer amount of variety of game modes and customization that Bungie allows it's users, coupled with what is arguably the best netcode of any online game on XBL.

I for one can't wait for Halo: Reach, the team based stuff has me REALLY pumped. Class based gameplay, with classic Halo gameplay elements, and "massive battles"? Sounds like what I've been wanting since Halo 2 was released!

I'm saving money for a 360 and money to get back to NC to pick up my belongings, which includes Halo 1-3. I loved the multi player in Halo. Like my man Brand said best netcode on any 360 game.

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Originally Posted by Destro777

Yall should check out the Halo encyclopedia they just released. My sis got me that for Christmas and its pretty impressive. Its huge! I was expecting it to be an artbook with tons of pictures and not much text - but its actually both. Its crammed with info. All the way down to detailing tons of planets, famous covenant ships, whats going on around earth (Japan, Antarctica, Pakistan, etc.), and even details all of the ammunition used and shows pictures. Theres a huge timeline in the beginning that goes for like 10 pages. This is one of the first by projects that 343 Industries I mentioned earlier.

I took some pics of the book. I included that front cover one to show how big it is:

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That's pretty cool, is that available in mostly book stores?

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Originally Posted by Error

Fuck. What is it with these guys? Yea, halo sold billions, lets fuck with the formula, make it something it's not!

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I don't mind the change in formula as long as it's well done and it's fun. We'll see how it goes though.

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Originally Posted by Melf

I'm referring to the single-player campaign and the story. Both have sucked since Halo 2. .

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Originally Posted by Advocate

who cares about the story? The multi is where its at.

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I've never even played the online multi if you can believe it. Over time the story for me as become as much of a draw as the game play. It's one of the few games where reading a bunch of other related media or stories adds to the overall experience and feels incredibly immersive.

But I guess I'm weird like that.

Well I have 50 art pics from the game ... and news that you can fly in the game.

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Originally Posted by Bungie.net

When it rains it pours.

Coming off a pretty lengthy dry spell, we’ve finally lifted our frilly little skirt and let you get a good old fashioned peep at the intimate apparel we're pimping. Hot on the heels of the most recent media blast, we’ve deployed tons of high resolution screenshots, concept art pieces, 3D renders straight from the engine, and even a few delectable fictional tidbits to keep you coming back around to our little corner of the gaming universe from time to time.

Of course, with great assets comes great responsibility and since there are now a good number of understandable assumptions and gross misconceptions floating about, we figured we’d take a stab at dispatching a few of them with extreme prejudice.

So, let’s dive right in. Answers courtesy of Sketch, with some added Editor’s Notes by yours truly.
Halo: Reach Mythbusters

http://www.bungie.net/images/News/In...0129/ZOMG1.jpg

Myth: That cross hair in the first person screenshot is way off to the left! It totally means <insert wild gameplay speculation here>!

Truth: Sorry folks, you won’t be perpetually leaning to the left nor will you be navigating multiple cross-hairs for various purposes. Truth be told, it’s just a good ole fashioned bug. Bug #15163 to be exact. Here’s the entry as found in our RAID database:

===== Opened by dg on 11/02/2009 01:33PM =====
SCREENSHOTS: Tiled screenshots using screenshot console command have crosshair in the wrong spot
Description:

Screenshots taken with the screenshot commands (tiled screenshots) all have the crosshair in the wrong place. It's either missing, or aligned too far to the left.

Note: attached screenshots correspond to commands below. chief.jpg is a screenshot using xbox chief.
Repro Steps:

1. Launch Reach
2. Start a campaign game
3. Create screenshot using _screenshot_ command
4. Note crosshair position for each shot

Actual:
Crosshair is off center for all tiled screenshots

Expected:
Crosshair is centered appropriately

Impact:
This prevents the community team from getting good screenshots.

Repro:
100%

Editors Note:

Impact:
This also makes the Internet freak out.

Myth: I read that every weapon in Reach will now be “hit scan.” Hell yeah!
Truth: Here’s the real scoop, straight from Sage Merrill, sandbox Design Lead for Reach:

“Most of the primary human weapons were moved to hit scan while the Covenant weapons remain as various speed projectiles.”

Currently the Magnum, DMR, Assault Rifle and Sniper Rifle are all hit scan, but other weapons such as the Shotgun and Rocket Launcher are, for obvious reasons, not. When the beta hits this spring you’ll be able to get up close and personal and see for yourself.

Editors Note: For more information about Halo: Reach’s sandbox design philosophy and changes, you should check out our most recent podcast featuring none other than Bungie’s aforementioned and majestically bearded sandbox designer, Sage Merrill.

Myth: Reach is being built for Natal! (See that crosshair to the left as proof!)
Truth: Halo: Reach is NOT a Natal title and is being developed expressly with the traditional Xbox 360 controller in mind.

Myth: Reach environments don’t have any decorators and a lot of those textures we saw in screenshots seem like they could use some work!
Truth: The screenshots that recently surfaced were taken from a pre-alpha build that was created last November. A lot of work has happened since then and a lot more work is yet to come. The environment art team is continuing to polish and beautify everything, including adding plenty of decorators. We’ll hopefully be able to share some progress soon.

Myth: The HUD in Reach is yellow!?
Truth: The same pre-alpha build that didn’t feature final textures, geometry or decorators also included one of many earlier iterations of the HUD (which even today is still getting tweaked and refined). As of now it’s no longer yellow and sources say it won’t be returning, either.

Editor’s Note: We did drop in on David Candland, Bungie’s Lead UI designer earlier in the week to ask if HUD customization is something he’s ever considered implementing and the answer is yes. The problem with the multi-colored approach, it turns out, is that it can often blend into the color palette on display in a given environment, rendering it effectively unreadable. Since those color palettes can change dramatically from space to space (and even from room to room), it’s more problematic than just hooking up the technology and hoping for the best.

http://www.bungie.net/images/News/In...ZOMG_Deuce.jpg

Myth: Bungie pixelated some super top secret stuff in one of the screenshots.
Truth: Here’s how it really went down:

Sketch: Dammit, I really like this screenshot and it’s the only passable first person asset we have right now, but it’s got all this extra UI text in it that’s not in campaign.

Urk: Just pixelate it. Everybody will think we’re hiding super top secret stuff.

Sketch: lol

Myth: The Assault Rifle has a 600 round capacity and the Magnum tops out at 50!
Truth: That’s what it shows in the screenshots, fo sho, but you should always take that stuff with a grain of salt. Not only are all of those parameters in flux as the team continues to test and tweak, but when us community dudes get into a build, we’re often turning on all kinds of freaky cheats to make sure we can get the right shots in time to deliver. If that means we want to rip through a sequence without having to scrub for ammo, we might flip some dials of our own.

Myth: Some of the high resolution assets released on Bungie.net feature flipped and mirrored art. Bungie is lazy!
Truth: Astute observers noticed that the weapons on display in our high resolution galleries feature flipped/mirrored art. Seems a few people weren’t too happy with that. Seems even a few went as far as to call our team lazy. Suffice to say, those people are jerks and the texture issue on display was identified long before we published the shots. It’s definitely gonna be fixed for ship.

We figured you wouldn’t want us to hold back the sea of high resolution assets on its account. That’s just how we roll.

http://www.bungie.net/images/News/In...hogOTheSky.jpg
Click for Asset Enhancement

Myth: Sketch called the Falcon, the “Warthog of the Skies.” Does that mean we’re going to get to pilot it in campaign and multiplayer?
Truth: Yup.

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Link

The new spartan concept art looks good, and those environment paintings are awesome.

You guys keep talking about the story, does it bother anyone else that all this shit is gonna be for nothing plot wise? And that you are basically playing as a failures? It's pretty hard to get excited for this when you know your team ends up dead and unsuccessful.

I don't see that as an issue. Most films and games have pretty predictable endings.
Some of my favourite stories end with almost everyone dead.

Plus there was at least a few Spartans that got off Reach after the planet was glassed. Who's to say a few others didn't survive somehow.

Also what I got with this Facebook app sponsored by 343 Industries.

Click for full size


The actual pic is about 3600 x 5467 pixels big.

I'm a huge fan of the Spartan helmet with the skull painted on it. I wasn't a fan of the helmet in Halo 3 multiplayer (preferred the ODST one), but I'll probably pick the skull helmet in Reach multiplayer.

For cowdisease.

This is my av for another messageboard.

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Originally Posted by Advocate

Also what I got with this Facebook app sponsored by 343 Industries.

The actual pic is about 3600 x 5467 pixels big.

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That is the cover to Halo: Helljumper #1.

yes i know.

Multiplayer Beta release is May 3rd. You need to have the Halo: ODST disc for you to be in the game.

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Originally Posted by Joystiq

Bungie's "community guy " Brian Jarrard and Halo: Reach creative director Marcus Lehto are on-hand at X10 to provide a much deeper look into the workings of Reach, what they are calling "the best Halo yet" and "the most ambitious title Bungie has ever produced." The duo talked us through many of the changes being made to the established Halo formula, and new elements they believe make this "the definitive Halo experience."

Lehto talked about the team's desire to "throw new things at the player," building on the hallmark underpinnings of previous Halos, even changing some things to suit the new game's more serious tone, but says Bungie won't "be pushing it." Another key goal with Reach, according to Lehto, is to "reintroduce the Covenant," by both making them look different -- more alien, more savage -- and giving established enemies new behaviors. It was also mentioned that, to keep with the more realistic tone of Reach, players won't be able to understand what the Covenant are saying.

On the tech front, Lehto confirmed that the game engine has "been entirely re-written" in order to facilitate what Bungie wants to do in Reach. Specifically, its goal is to make the world more expansive, put a lot more on-screen and introduce much more detailed character, environment and weapon models. Addressing the former, Bungie showed a test animation of a battle between Noble Squad, eight marines and 30 Covenant -- it was even more impressive looking than it sounds. We got zoomed-in looks at things like rifle scopes, which are detailed down to small writing and screws.

The game is pushing about four million polygons more than Halo 3 overall, we're told, with a completely re-written animation system and A.I. The result, Bungie hopes, will be a much more realistic world to look at and be involved with. From the stills and footage we saw, it's on track to deliver -- the game looks phenomenal. It promises to sound great, too, as every sound effect has been re-recorded.

Lehto told us the revamped game engine and A.I. will allow Reach to adopt a more "sandbox" style within its levels. They're going to be much less linear, he said, and much less scripted. This will, Bungie hopes, give players more freedom to approach combat in their own way. One thing we saw along these lines: Special kills, which cause the camera to pull out to a third-person perspective in order to show off their intricate animations.

We were shown a live demo of one of the maps being included in the upcoming Reach beta. The cliff-top locale certainly was expansive, with a mix of indoor and outdoor areas. This area will evidently serve duel purposes as a campaign setting and multiplayer map. While Jarrard ran through it, we got a good look at the revamped battle rifle and a new Covenant weapon, the Needle Rifle, which allows players to combine ammo for a single, much more explosive shot. It was also revealed that health packs are back, and that equipment you pick up during the single-player campaign (the example shown was an enhanced sprint ability) won't be single-use -- you'll keep it from there on out.

According to Bungie, Halo: Reach is currently in alpha. What it showed today definitely got us excited about the much larger, more detailed world and overall heightened realism. And, we'll say it again, the game looks amazing in motion. Now we just need to get our hands on it. E3, anyone?

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Originally Posted by Joystiq

When asked if Bungie was sticking to the tried-and-true multiplayer formula in the upcoming prequel Halo: Reach, creative director Marcus Lehto told Joystiq the developer would be taking some "pretty big risks" for its final Halo title. "While we'll still have all of the good stuff that players have come to know and love about Halo, we've made that better and given them new features on top of that," Lehto said.

Lehto wouldn't detail the new risky features, but he would confirm players would see the "new multiplayer features" during the Reach multiplayer beta; beginning May 3. Lehto also reiterated that "currently" the multiplayer beta would only be accessible through a Halo 3: ODST disc.

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Suddenly I'm excited about a Halo title. I always thought the series was at its best during large wide-open battles, and it sounds like they're taking that and running with it.

So it looks like I'll rent ODST for a weekend in May.

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It was also revealed that health packs are back

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Fail.

Why wouldn't you want health packs? They brought back the life bar, so it only makes sense.

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Originally Posted by Error

Fail.

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Why wouldn't you want health packs? They brought back the life bar, so it only makes sense.

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You'd think he would WANT the life bar, because ...

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Originally Posted by Error on Halo 3

single player campaign pretty fucking retarded difficulty wise

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its on the marketplace now. Also: if away from your 360?

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/ga...085b?cid=SLink

I like the music.

Looks amazing, I'm convinced. Although certain aspects seem dated, I'd still rather play Halo 3 than any of the other console FPS's, and this seems to be addressing most of the common criticisms.

I am however, wary of prequel plots. I don't think I've ever been satisfied with them in cinema or game storytelling (and rarely in literature). This seems more like a side-story, but still a potential failing point.

You didn't like Yoshi's Island?

No matter which way I tried to kill that baby, I couldn't help reflecting that he would go on to found a universe with no decipherable canon or chronology.

I find that that is the intrinsic nature of the Mario storyline, that man's fate is inescapable, regardless of death. It is a story of reincarnation and the cyclical nature of destiny.

In truth, it is the main example of Games As Art.

Then I want a game where Mario consorts with Goombas and attempts to overthrow the Princess to break the chain.

In a strange reversal of expectation, he could embrace this by villainy by shaving his mustache.

This is foreshadowed by the goal that unlocks the Soda Lake level in Super Mario World. Mario's harsh betray of his loyal dragon, Yoshi, speaks of dark undercurrents in the storyline.

Looking great. The shot with the 10 warthogs and hornets is badass. Plus the video of showing all the marines and covenant fighting convinced me the big battle talk wasnt BS.

Now how bout some multiplayer details. Its all riding on that. The biggest fault this game could potentially have is if it still goes the route of making it a one weapon game like every Halo has been in multiplayer (to a lesser extent the Pistol in 1, but definately the BR in 2-3 was). Go play Halo 2 or 3 in 2010 and all it amounts to is if you can 4 shot the other dude first with a BR. Thats it. I love Halo but we need more balance. If they make another weapon that defeats the purpose of all the others in the game like the BR did big time - fuck this game. You can just tell by what they say in that video that theyre afraid to upset the BR nerds. We'll see...

Shotgun, Sniper Rifle, Assault rifle?

OMG, this looks fantastic! This looks like what Halo 3 should have been.

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Originally Posted by Melf

This game's title is exactly what MS is doing with this franchise. After the shitfest that was Halo 2, the totally "meh" experience that was part three, and the sleep-inducing ODST, this series needs to die already.

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Halo: Reach Around imo.

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Originally Posted by Advocate

You'd think he would WANT the life bar, because ...

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You again?

Sup Error?