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Alright, so I have to be honest with you. I wasn’t too stoked about Halo: Waypoint, because I’m really not that big a fan of the franchise. Sure, the little I know of the mythos is pretty cool and I am decent with old school sticky grenade tagging, but I definitely don’t count myself one of the diehards. This is probably why I opted to sleep before scoping out the new Halo Waypoint channel that just went live for the Preview folks.

I woke after a small portion of sweet sleep that followed hours of SMG hunting in Borderlands, hygiened up, pet the dog and the girlfriend, started the last load of laundry, and plopped down in front of the Xbox. Still eager to patch Borderlands before anything else (Lilith needs love!), I bit the bullet and downloaded the Waypoint channel.

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Some Halo news of impart to you Spartan wannabes out there. Xbox.com’s Halo Waypoint is getting really shiny as of late. At the front page you can find a synopsis mentioning the various elements that will be at your fingertips this November. News, trailers, screenshots, and video are to be expected. What’s unique, however, is what is touted on the site as a “career system tied to in-game accomplishments across multiple Halo games.” A brief video about the career system and more can be seen here.

Roving goblin reporter Iggypu is back again (too soon?) with another batch of goings-on in the world of XBox 360. Stop by our forums to let us know which games you’re waiting for out of the upcoming hits such as Dragon Age, Borderlands, and so on. By the way, it’s getting close to JollyBuccaneer’s free Fallout 3 Premium Theme Giveaway…

“AvatArcade”
Resulting from a recent survey administered by Microsoft, rumors have been circulating that Xbox 360 might see a Playstation Home-like arcade in its future. Proposed names include AvatArcade, Classics, Classics LIVE, Game Gallery, Game Preserve, Game Room, RetroCade, RetroGame, Tower of Game(s), and Tower of ROM. Atari and Intellivision titles have appearances in this retro-themed arcade, and it is currently uncertain whether this service will come at a fee. Source

Dragon Age Receiving DLC at Launch
On November 3rd, BioWare’s Dragon Age will take flight. What you might not know is that it won’t be alone. The Warden’s Keep add-on will be released on day one, for a comparably affordable 560 MS Points ($7). Grabbing this content will unlock a dungeon delve as well as six new abilities, new items, and a trading post of sorts. But wait! There’s more! The Stone Prisoner, at a price of 1200 MS Points (or free as a packaged accompaniment to new copies of the game) will add a stone golem character to your starting party. Another bonus for those who buy new copies will be the Blood Armor, which will also be wearable in Mass Effect 2. Talk about making a statement, eh? Source

Forza 3 Promotes Sale of New Copies
Hand-in-hand as far as the new-copy matter goes is Forza 3, set for an October 27th launch. While this game already has a wealth of 400+ cars and 100+ tracks, new packages will also have inserts in the form of 16-digit content codes that will unlock two new tracks and 10 exclusive cars.

Halo to Infinity (or 2015) and Beyond
343 Industries’ Frank O’Connor spilled the beans on a plan to string along Halo canon for the next six years or so. What does this mean, you ask? Well… :inhales:
Next month Tor Books’ Halo: Evolutions will be published. In the upcoming year, Greg Bear’s Halo Trilogy, set in the Forerunner segment of canon, will hit shelves. This set details an ancient civilization behind the artifacts pop up in Halo mythos. On the comics front, Marvel Comics’ Halo: Helljumper is midway through its five-issue span; a new series entitled Halo: Blood Line is due on December 23rd. The Halo Waypoint channel debuts on Xbox Live in 2010, featuring video, audio, podcasts, and screenshots. Halo Legends, a set of seven anime shorts, will grace the video category. And for games, Halo’s prequel Reach is set for next year. Whew!

Left 4 Dead 2 “Scavenge” Mode
Hungry for more zombie news? In a recent article on L4D2’s multiplayer the Scavenge mode was revealed. In this format the survivor team must gather up to 16 gas containers to fuel a generator (and their score), while Team Infected tries to stop Team Mouthbreather from gathering these gas canisters in time. Each retrieved container extends the initial 2 minute timer by 20 seconds, akin to passing checkpoints in many popular racing games. As time runs out or the objective is completed, the teams swap. The best team in two out of three rounds wins.

Trailer for New Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny Due in November
Watching a video of the upcoming Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny here rekindled old memories of liquor-induced sparring in the back yard, striking each other with wooden swords in order to neutralize limbs or finish off our opponents. What…don’t tell me I’m the only one?

Odd Microsoft Open House Statistics
Finally, a little trivia from the recent Open House held by Microsoft. Apparently there have been 150,000,000+ Avatar clothing changes…this means that an average XBL user changes his or her Avatar’s clothes seven times. Hm. I’m pretty sure if it were up to Jolly, he’d wear a pirate hat and nothing else. Good thing there are rules against that! Have you been playing 1 vs. 100? You’re one of the many. Apparently 200,000+ games of 1 vs. 100 are played each weekend. I know I’d contributed a few points to that total back when beta first started. Finally, XBL has 20,000,000+ users. Considering all the usual and upcoming perks you get for going Gold, I’d imagine we’ll see the Silvers slimming out a bit.

Introduction

Prepare to drop! Halo 3:ODST is a title that has a lot of people guessing. Is it worth my $60? What is new? What is the same? While Halo is not a title to need an introduction the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers bring a whole different aspect to the game. No longer are we the super human spartan Sierra 117. We are Hell Jumpers and Halo 3:ODST is our story!

Gameplay

Bungie has once again delivered a rock solid game to its consumers. So far they have hit a gold mine with the award winning game franchise Halo and ODST is no different. But that seems to be the problem. ODST really did not do much different. Some would ask the question ‘Is this really a bad thing?’ and the answer from many would be no. The story missions are very well done with awesome music, cut scenes and casting. They manage to deliver a great feel but sadly there is nothing new here mechanic wise. Instead of shields you have stamina and the health bar makes a return as well. You are unable to do several things that the Spartans can do which was expected but what was hoped for was something to take its place. Perhaps a little bit of focus on stealth instead of just making it more of the same.

Halo 3 ODST really does not introduce any new gameplay but you can still enhance it with the use of any of the Halo 3 skulls that you might have found.

Presentation

Bungie always does an outstanding job with the way they present their story. The use of sound and cinematography to convey an emotion has always been a strong point for them and once again they deliver with ODST. With composition done by Martin O’Donnell the mood is set as soon as you exit your drop pod.

The voice acting is well done with hidden comedy all over the place. The inclusion of stars such as Nathan Fillion who were willing to include their likeness in this game lends more character depth than would be expected. Well, except for the fact that the character you play, the rookie, is unfortunately the silent type.

Extras

Multiplayer! It is what Halo has been about since it changed the genre back 2001. Not to disappoint but Firefight does not introduce anything in the way of conventional multiplayer. Though it does come packaged with a disk that includes Halo 3’s multiplayer along with all of the map packs released to date plus 3 new maps that are only available on this disk. What is new in ODST is a co-operative multiplayer mode called fire fight. This is how it works.

You and up to 3 of your friends, I say friends because there is no match making for fire fight mode, start in one of two spawn rooms with the silenced SMG and new pistol. There is spare ammunition for those guns here along with health packs to help you preserve your precious lives; your team has 7 to share at the start of the game. You fight off waves of enemies from the campaign that get progressively tougher via the skulls from Halo 3. Progress is tracked via Waves, Rounds and Sets. There are 6 waves in a round and at the end of each round there is a weapon drop. The weapon drop replenishes all the ammo and weapon spawns on the ground. At the end of each round, the skulls that are active change out to make it progressively harder on you and your friends as well as to provide you with bonus lives. An additonal way to earn bonus lives is in the bonus round which occurs at the end of each Set. In the bonus round all skulls are active, respawning is disabled and the team tries to get a certain score to earn the bonus lives.

Rants and Raves

Rant

The length of the campaign leaves much to be desired. As a pair of moderately skilled first person shooter gamers we were able to finish the co-op campaign on legendary difficulty in roughly six hours. With only eight missions this falls short of what we have come to expect from Bungie.

The lack of a match making system for fire fight makes it hard to get a game if you do not have any friends that have ODST. That said it is a bit of a mixed point because having some random player in the game could really mess over your attempt by either killing you and your team or just quitting, because quitting ends the fire fight for all players.

If any one of the four players in fire fight mode leaves the game for any reason the game ends for everyone. If they get disconnected, have a power flicker or just plain quit the match is terminated. I’m not sure if this is for balance purposes or what but it is extremely frustrating.

Raves

The storytelling, use of music and all around cinematography for the campaign is fantastic. This aspect of the game lives up to the standards that Bungie has set for itself.

Fire fight is a very addictive game mode. It is so much fun that we have found ourselves attempting to perform our day jobs with very little sleep since 9/22.

Conclusion

Halo 3 ODST is a solid game in the end. Excellent presentation combined with tried and true gameplay can cause players to waste away hours of their life with their friends slaying the Covenant masses. If you are a fan of the franchise then this game is for you. Unfortunately it is unlikely to win over any new fans. That did not seem to be Bungie’s goal, however, as they stated ‘Halo 3 ODST is our gift to the fans.’

Score: 7.5

*Readers, this is the first time we are trying out a method where two reviewers play the game and review it together. Please let us know what you think about it here.

Microsoft/Bungie have released a new premium theme for the Xbox 360, and it’s free to Gold members of Xbox Live THIS WEEK ONLY. 

Click HERE to add the theme to your Live download queue.

Game on!

New competitive multiplayer maps for “Halo 3: ODST” revealed

Lock and load! When “Halo 3: ODST” drops this Sept. 22, it will deliver a completely new campaign, a new cooperative multiplayer experience called Firefight, the complete “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a standalone disc, and new competitive multiplayer maps for “Halo 3” you won’t find anywhere else. Microsoft and Bungie today revealed the remaining three multiplayer maps which are sure to get fans around the world excited. 

The three new “Halo 3: ODST” maps are Heretic, Citadel and Longshore:

Heretic returns players to familiar ground as the “Halo 2” arena Midship makes its long-rumored debut in “Halo 3.” The stark interior of the Pious Inquisitor might appear austere on first glance, but Heretic’s symmetrical spaces require players to execute complex strategies in order to outplay their opponents. 

Citadel may be a long abandoned Forerunner stronghold, but its small, symmetrical confines are far from secure. Two opposing bases offer little safety for players looking for solace. Instead, Citadel forces small squads to stay in constant communication, keep their heads on a swivel, and be prepared to adjust combat tactics in close quarters.

Longshore lacks the commercial ships that once made it a lucrative port for Old Mombasa, but it still bustles with activity. Designed for large scale combat and well suited for smaller affairs, Longshore’s multitude of industrial buildings, elevated walks, and open inlets conspire to create a complex battleground tailored for multiple combat scenarios.

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the “Halo” saga that lets people experience events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant’s invasion of New Mombasa.

In addition to a brand new campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces a new cooperative multiplayer mode called Firefight which allows “Halo” fans to experience co-operative gaming in a whole new way: they will be fighting as members of an ODST squad against waves of increasingly challenging enemies across a variety of battlefields. This experience is made even more intense with the integration of “Halo 3’s” “skulls,” which progressively activate as time goes on to alter the gameplay and up the challenge. Players will battle through wave after wave in search of high scores, Achievements and bragging rights.   

“Halo 3: ODST” also includes a second standalone disc with three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps, all original “Halo 3” maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps. 

Purchasing “Halo 3: ODST” will ensure “Halo” fans get access to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta when the beta goes live in the future. Announced at E3 2009, “Halo: Reach” is the prequel to the blockbuster “Halo” trilogy and is scheduled for release in fall of 2010. 

“Halo 3: ODST” is available for pre-order in both a standard package and a “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack” which includes the game and an exclusive, laser etched Wireless Controller. If you pre-order “Halo 3: ODST” at participating retailers, you will receive a token to unlock grizzled UNSC hero Sgt. Johnson as a playable character in Firefight. The “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack” is available for pre-order in the US exclusively at GameStop, and is available worldwide at other participating retailers. “Halo 3: ODST” will have a suggested retail price of $59.99 USD and the Collector’s Pack will have a suggested retail price of $99.99 USD. “Halo 3: ODST” is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and PEGI 16+.   Read more from Bungie.

Game on!

In an interview that appeared in yesterday’s Seattle Times newspaper (yes, a few newspapers still exist!), Bungie revealed that their upcoming title Halo: Reach might use the Natal interface first introduced at this year’s E3 convention.

From the article: 
“Bungie also received an early look at the “Project Natal” motion-sensing controller Microsoft is developing for the Xbox. Studio President Harold Ryan said he’s enthusiastic about the device and it could be used in “Reach,” another version of “Halo” expected in the fall of 2010. “I absolutely think ‘Reach’ could be enabled with it,” he said.”

You can read the full interview, which also discusses Halo 3: ODST and Bungie’s new studios HERE.

Game on!

Can’t wait to get you hands on the latest Halo game?  Well check out these achievements to tame your hunger.

Potential spoilers in the video.  Watch it here.  Discuss here.

Game on!

Are you ready for Firefight?

Pre-order “Halo 3: ODST” now and receive Sgt. Johnson as a playable Firefight character

Listen up rookies! “Halo 3: ODST” drops on September 22, but will you and your team have what it takes to survive the Covenant onslaught in the new cooperative multiplayer mode, Firefight? Firefight will put you to the test as you and your friends assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies. It’s where new “Halo” heroes will be born, and an opportunity to step into the boots of a legend. If you pre-order “Halo 3: ODST” at participating retailers, you will receive a token to unlock grizzled UNSC hero Sgt. Johnson as a playable character in Firefight.

Fan favorite and “Halo” series stalwart Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson is a tough-as-nails career Marine who has been in more life or death battles than you’ve had hot meals. He’s survived more infectious Flood outbreaks, greased more Covenant bad guys, and earned more medals than any other twenty soldiers. And now you get to walk a mile in his shoes.

New campaign

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the “Halo” saga that lets people experience events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant’s invasion of New Mombasa.

New cooperative multiplayer experience

In addition to a brand new campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces a new cooperative multiplayer mode called Firefight which allows “Halo” fans to experience co-operative gaming in a whole new way: they will be fighting as members of an ODST squad against waves of increasingly challenging enemies across a variety of battlefields. This experience is made even more intense with the integration of “Halo 3’s” “skulls,” which progressively activate as time goes on to alter the gameplay and up the challenge. Players will battle through wave after wave in search of high scores, Achievements and bragging rights.

The complete “Halo 3” competitive multiplayer collection

“Halo 3: ODST” also includes a second standalone disc with three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps, all original “Halo 3” maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps.

Ensure your place in the “Halo: Reach” beta

Purchasing “Halo 3: ODST” will ensure “Halo” fans get access to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta when the beta goes live in the future. Announced at E3 2009, “Halo: Reach” is the prequel to the blockbuster “Halo” trilogy and is scheduled for release in fall of 2010.

“Halo 3: ODST” is available for pre-order in both a standard package and a “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack” which includes the game and an exclusive, laser etched Wireless Controller. The “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack” is available for pre-order in the US exclusively at GameStop, and is available worldwide at other participating retailers. “Halo 3: ODST” will have a suggested retail price of $59.99 USD and the Collector’s Pack will have a suggested retail price of $99.99 USD. “Halo 3: ODST” is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and PEGI 16+.

Game on!

As you know, the NXE now allows us to install Xbox 360 titles to our hard drive.  This is done to make the 360 quieter (no constantly spinning drive) and to improve load times (things load faster from a HDD than from a DVD). 

Well, Bungie came out with info just yesterday, advising 360 users to not install Halo 3 to the HDD.  Unlike with other titles, installing Halo 3 on you 360 can actually decrease performance & increase load times. 

The reasons for this are somewhat complicated, but here’s an excerpt from bungie.net:

 ”When Halo 3 runs, if a HDD is present, we copy maps from the DVD to the utility partition (on the HDD). Think of it as an on demand install of Halo 3 to some scratch space on the HDD. Halo 3 doesn’t actually know where it’s running from, so it always assumes it’s running from a DVD. This is an unfortunate consequence of new features (namely, install to HDD) being added to the Xbox 360 after Halo 3 shipped. And as a result, it means that even if Halo 3 is already installed to the HDD, it will still copy maps to the utility partition.”

For the complete explanation, you can look HERE. 

We’re forced to wonder now if any other games might suffer from this same issue.  Hopefully MS will do a bit of research on this issue and let us all know. 

Game on!