In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Bungie's Brian Jarrard made it known that once Halo 3: Recon is complete, the team creating it is moving on to new projects that are not related to Halo. Jarrard stated that there are some map packs on the way, including the Halo 3 Mythic map pack as well as maps associated with Halo 3: Recon, but that the team will move on once the project is complete. According to Jarrard, part of the Recon team will move on to new projects, while others will be moved onto projects already in the works.
Of course, we don't know what any of those secret projects are, so we can't rule Halo out entirely, though Jarrard's words seem to imply that they aren't related to Halo. We'll just have to wait and see. The full interview also includes tidbits on Bungie's community building philosophy, the studio's independence, and how the company feels about the NXE. Hit the source link to check it out.
Talking with GamesIndustry.biz while at the Tokyo Game Show, Bungie's Brian Jarrard revealed that alongside the development of Halo 3: Recon they're working on a new IP, which Microsoft has no restrictions on pertaining to which platforms it'll appear on.
"No, we're not [tied into a specific platform for new IP]," said Jarrard explaining that "in theory we do have every means to go out and find the right ecosystem, the right partners, to align with. So who knows what the future will bring us." Though, Jarrard did praise the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live as a social platform for their past projects including the entire Halo franchise.
That said, we'll wager our entire IRA (which isn't worth much these days) that Bungie's new IP will make its way onto an Xbox platform. It's a no-brainer.
After entertainingly wasting a good ten minutes of our weekend, we figured we'd share with you the YouTube video series we've been watching. Behold! It's Halo 3 MythBusters!
DTHclan's Halo 3 Mythbusters - based on a show by the same name - takes a "scientific approach" (saved films) to either prove or debunk common Halo 3 myths. You know, myths like "you can carry three weapons using a glitch in CTF gametypes" or "the bubble shield is in effect before its animation." Each myth is tested and slapped with either a CONFIRMED or DENIED BUSTED tag. If that sounds interesting to you, then you're in luck! They just released a fresh episode (embedded above) and also have a catalog of four other Halo 3 myth-busting episodes. Go ahead and watch. It isn't like you have anything better to do.
Recently, we asked you -our loyal X3F readers - to submit questions for our interview with Bungie's own Brian "Sketch" Jarrard. And boy did you come through! After sifting through hundreds then choosing a few questions, we digitally sat down with Jarrard to clarify questions about Halo 3: Recon, discuss the Mythic Map Pack and chat about other Bungie related topics. Let's just say we learned a lot!
In the interview, Jarrard confirmed that Halo 3: Recon will feature at least one new weapon and a brand new soundtrack, also confirming that the blue / red Covenant outline featured in the Recon trailer is "true to the spirit of the actual game." We also discuss what Recon's Forge won't be and why Bungie chose not to go the route that Far Cry 2 did. As if that wasn't enough exclusive info, we discuss Recon matchmaking, Vidmaster achievements, the Mythic Map Pack maps and even pie. We even snuck in some Humpday Challenge smack talk. Make the jump to read the complete interview.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), we will be digitally sitting down with team Bungie to chit-chat about Halo 3: Recon, upcoming Halo 3 DLC and any other topics that come to mind. But we need your help.
We formally request that you send us your burning Halo / Bungie related question that only team Bungie can answer. Post your hard hitting (or soft hitting) questions in the comments below, then we'll sift through them prior to Tuesday's interview and hopefully find a few goodies to ask. Bonus points to persons who generate questions that haven't already been answered (ahem) and don't receive a "not comment" response. Now get to it, comment us your Bungie questions ASAP!
It's time to fuel up your Mongoose, get an infinite supply of rockets and take to the dirt on a mission for EXP, because it's time for another Halo 3 Double EXP Weekend!
From now through this Sunday, Halo 3 players can partake in twice the EXP earning fun with a new "Rocket Race" matchmaking playlist. The playlist only requires the Heroic map pack, so enjoy the rocketing fun! Oh, and if you don't know what Rocket Races is ... boo to you and get learned.
Joystiq got a chance to sit down with Bungie's Brian Jarrard to discuss some of the details behind the upcoming Halo 3 experience, Recon. Many questions have been lobbed at the title since it was first officially revealed, and here, without further ado, are some of the answers (politely cribbed directly from Joystiq):
"It will be a standalone disc sold in stores in boxes next Fall. It's also going to include some multiplayer maps."
"It is a first-person shooter still ... It's not a squad-based shooter."
"As an ODST, compared to playing as in invulnerable Spartan, you are going to have to sort of pick and choose your encounters a little bit differently."
"It is going to very much feel like Halo. Full feature parity."
A few other details. Recon (as most have theorized) takes place directly after the Prophet of Regret jumped into slipspace during Halo 2, causing the destruction of New Mombasa. Players take the role of a single ODST -- not a full squad. Also, it would appear that -- as implied by the trailer above -- the Superintendent (the little green circle dude) will serve as Recon's "Cortana." When asked about this, Jarrard replied, "I think your observations seem pretty spot on. It certainly seems like there's a guiding hand of some sort there."
A video demonstration of Halo Wars from TGS has hit GameTrailers, and we think it's fairly safe to say that the game is looking pretty good. Then again, we thought as much when we got a chance to play it at E3, so what would you expect? Nevertheless, the video showcases some things that we didn't see at E3, namely a commander unit, the Vulture "Uber Unit," and a new command ability called the Cryo Bomb which freezes enemy units, giving you extra time to destroy them.
Without a doubt though, the most intriguing part of the video happens right at the end of the demonstration, when we get our first glimpse at the Flood. We only get a general idea of how the Flood base is structured and also a brief look at the Infection Forms as well as what look like (former) human Combat Forms.
Now, if we can just get this time machine working, we can play it right now.
Posted Oct 9th 2008 12:45PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News
In last night's Halo 3: Recon announcement excitement, we totally forgot to show off the game's box art, which we're guessing is the official box even though the game comes out next Fall. Maybe Microsoft's team of box art artists are on top of their work and are extremely organized? Maybe. Anyhoo, check out the Halo 3: Recon box art right here or here and in the gallery here.
After finally being confirmed as a standalone expansion for Master Chief's final ride, Halo 3 Recon is the talk of the town walking out of Microsoft's TGS 2008 press conference. Taking on the role as an elite Orbital Drop Shock Trooper for the UNSC, Halo 3 Recon follows a brand new hero in an all new storyline. Taking place between the story of Halo 2 and Halo 3 as Master Chief is away on butt-kicking business, players are in store for what Microsoft is calling "a top-secret mission with a gripping story."
Featuring exclusive multiplayer maps, Forge items and four player co-op as well as saved films, screenshot capability and campaign scoring; Halo 3 Recon is sure to light up Xbox 360's when it releases in Fall 2009.
Microsoft has just confirmed the speculation that the teaser trailer released by Bungie a few weeks ago is in fact a storyline expansion to Halo 3. Taking place prior to the events of the Halo 3 story, Halo 3 Recon (its official title) will put gamers in the shoes of a UNSC marine trooper -- specifically an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper -- and marks the first time since players took on the role as the Arbiter to play through the Halo universe as a character other than the Master Chief.
Halo 3 Recon, the standalone expansion featuring a new hero and new campaign, hits the Xbox 360 exclusively in Fall 2009.
[Update: According to an Xbox.com News Flash, Halo 3 Recon will take place during the events leading to the return of Master Chief to New Mombasa in Halo 3. The game will feature a brand new campaign, four player co-op gameplay and new multiplayer content. Halo 3 Recon will include exclusive new multiplayer maps and Forge options as well as maintain what gamers loved from Halo 3 including Saved Films, screenshots and campaign scoring.]
Frankly, if you don't know what the Cole Protocol is -- a (fictional) military law established by the United Nations Space Command which states that any ship in danger of Covenant capture cannot reveal the location of Earth at any cost, even if that cost is the erasure of all shipboard data along with a ship's self-destruction -- we're not sure why you're still reading this, unless of course you just love Halo and don't bother with the details (shame on you!). Suffice it to say that if you know what the Cole Protocol is, if you do love Halo and, above all, if you love reading, this news is for you: the latest in the Halo series of novels -- titled The Cole Protocol -- will be hitting retail shelves on November 25. The audio version will be made available at the same time, for those of you who would prefer a format you can enjoy while actually playing Halo.
Written by Tobias S. Buckell, the book follows "an unexplored conflict of the Human-Covenant War" involving the Spartan Gray team. We would venture to guess that the novel covers the events that led to the creation of the Cole Protocol. We are excited.
Friendly reminder to all Halo 3 fanboys who are on a mission to unlock all the new achievements, today is the first chance you have to earn Halo 3's "Vidmaster Challenge: 7 on 7" achievement.
To unlock this 0 Gamerscore achievement, you have to enter a matchmaking playlist with exactly 7EXP on the 7th of the month. Seeing that today is October 7th (your next chance will be November 7th), all you have to do is make sure you have 7EXP in any Halo 3 playlist. It's that simple. And for those of you who have earned over 7EXP on all the playlists, Bungie setup a special one day only 7 on the 7th matchmaking playlist called "Icy Treats". Here, you'll start out with 0EXP and play in Cold Storage until you win seven games and earn your 7EXP. Happy unlocking!
This week's Bungie Weekly Update is an informative doosie, full of information regarding Halo 3 matchmaking changes, double EXP weekends, fileshare changes and a Bungie PRO video renderer. Wait, wah? Video renderer? Oh yes, children, a video renderer.
Team Bungie just announced that in the not too distant future, Bungie PRO subscribers (who pay 750 MS points a year) will have the ability to take their Halo 3 film clips and render them into WMV through Bungie.net. Wowza! Specifics including resolution, how it functions and its rollout haven't been announced yet, but keep your eyes peeled.
The other big news is next week's launch of an all new Bungie.net fileshare system that'll make tracking files easier, grouping content slicker and showing off your work much simpler. The implementation of tags, content grouping and Bungie cards is super sexy and are all changes we welcome with open arms. Make the jump to get learned and get prepared for next Bungie's Tokyo Game Show reveal next week. KEEP IT CLEAN!
Posted Oct 2nd 2008 12:00PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News
Here you go kids, it's the cover art for the latest Halo novel "The Cole Protocol" thanks to our Amazon.com friends. You know, the novel that's coming out this November. We're loving the red and orange color pallet the design folks chose and the amber glow off the Spartan helmet is a lovely touch. But we have to admit that we wish Joseph Staten was penning this latest Halo novel. Yes, we have a special spot in our heart for Mr. Staten. But maybe Mr. Buckell will be decent enough. We guess the book's cover art is good times, so that means the contents have to be equally good ... right?
