John-117

Hey guys, Sorry about not doing a weekly update last night but that's what happens when your computer get fried by a plasma grenade. Anyway, LETS GET STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!! Halo 4 Lead Creative Director has Left the Building! In an interview with Kotaku, Halo 4 Creative Director, Ryan Payton reveals the reason why he left the project. Ryan Payton isn’t just leaving the project, but he’s also leaving 343 Industries as well. 343 Industries will be developing three new games for the Halo franchise spawning an all-new trilogy. The main reason Payton left the project because he was “losing passion for the project”. He felt Halo 4 was going in another direction that he did’t envision from the beginning and felt it was time to explore something new. “I had a great run at Microsoft. I don’t regret one day of it. But after a few years, there came a point where I wasn’t creatively excited about the project anymore”, said Payton. “The Halo I wanted to build was fundamentally different and I don’t think I had built enough credibility to see such a crazy endeavour through.” “For somebody who loves this industry as much as I do and know how lucky I’ve been, I never thought I’d get to a point where I was so drained. That was when I knew I had to do something else. I think time is the most valuable thing we have and I’ve decided that I’m not going to waste one more day working on something that doesn’t speak to my values,” Payton concluded. Despite Ryan Payton leaving the project, a new Creative Director has now been appointed. Halo 4 is still scheduled to be released Q4 2012. VN:F [1.9.10_1130]please wait... The Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Guide is ready for launch! A few days ago I saw something that caught my eye, I saw the Halo CEA Strategy Guide preorder info on Gamestop.com. All the info that was given was that it is being made by Brady Games and will cost $19.99 GAMEFest secures UK playable debuts of Halo CEA and other AAA Titles Microsoft will be bringing their big guns of 2011 to GAMEFest in playable form for the first time in the UK including Gears of War 3, Forza 4 and Halo Anniversary. They will also be bringing a handful of new kInect titles to give a flavour of their hands-free Christmas line-up. Gamers will be able to get down with Dance Central 2, try out marionette gunslinging in Gunstringer and try out some new sports in Kinect Sports 2. Tickets for the event are now sold out for the Saturday, but Friday the 16th and Sunday the 18th of September still have plenty of space free. They are available to GAME Reward card holders for 10 GBP per day. This Halo Helmet Looks Good Enough for the Movie They’ll Never Make The way it's looking there'll never be a Halo movie. Ah well! So long as regular humans keep making killer props like this, we're free to imagine our own. Which is always for the best, because then, they never end up sucking. This helmet was submitted to MAKE magazine by creator Tsabo Tsaboc over the weekend, and it's stunning. If you don't recognise it, it's Carter's helmet, with Carter being your squad's leader in Halo: Reach. The helmet goes nice with some of his other stuff, including a complete ODST suit of armour and various individual Halo helmets (like Noble Six's), all of which you can see in more detail at the link below. Jeremy Clarkson Talks About…a Halo Warthog If you've ever wanted to hear the Top Gear star drawl "light plasma cannons", you should watch this clip of Jeremy Clarkson giving the rundown on the Warthog that'll feature in Halo 4. It comes across as a bizarre piece of marketing, until you remember the Warthog will be in the upcoming Forza 4 (albeit not in a drivable state), a game that will have Top Gear branding and content all over it. Forza 4 is out in October on Xbox 360. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzUNdXPGOf4&feature=player_embedded#t=0s

This week I am doing something special, I am going to do a full fledge recap of Halofest…LETS DO THIS!!! Panels: Halo Anniversary Panel Fraggin, Forge, and Flowers Whats next for Waypoint Halo Universe Anniversary Campaign Disscusion Halo Universe Fiction Halo: Building a Universe of Toys and Collectibles Bungie: Hatching the Cosmic Halo Egg Halo 4 Panel Xbox 10 Years of Halo Red vs Blue Table Read The other videos: http://www.ign.com/v...litplayer-vidoc 343 Talks Halo 4 http://www.ign.com/v...yer-walkthrough Halo CEA Terminal #1 Halo CEA Terminal #2 Halo CEA Multiplayer: Installation 04 Flythrough Ridgeline Flythrough Solitary Flythrough Penance Flythrough Battle Canyon Flythrough The articles of Halofest! Why You Should Care About Halo: Reach's Title Update This September, 343 Industries will release a title update for Halo Reach that will prep your 360's for Combat Evolved-flavored gameplay. If you've wondered how exactly 343 Industries plans to recreate the multiplayer gameplay you know and love from Halo: Combat Evolved in Halo CE: Anniversary, this is your answer. To explain, we asked 343 Industries' Content Producer David Ellis to give us the inside scoop as to why a typically innocuous thing like a title update could become such a gamechanger or Halo fans. "It's a free downloadable update for Halo: Reach to allow the MP to work seamlessly with the Halo CE: Anniversary MP as well as adding some additional options for adjusting gameplay variables in multiplayer," Ellis explained. Translation: this update will essentially use high-tech ninjary to fool Halo: Reach into playing like Halo: Combat Evolved. The update won't enable content immediately; you'll have to wait until specific multiplayer hoppers go live sometime in October for that. But here's how it will all work when they do. Weapon Changes The insanely overpowered gameplay of the Halo: Combat Evolved Magnum pistol will crash the Halo: Reach party with the Title Update. Now, it won't feature the OG Magnum itself exactly; instead the wizardy of the TU will allow for the configuring of the reticle bloom on the Reach pistol (and other semi-automatic weapons, like the DMR), enabling high-precision firing with increased accuracy in rapid succession, making for a lethal three-shot kill from anywhere on a map. It's strongly reminiscent of the way Combat Evolved felt. Ellis puts it this way: "Bloom is a gameplay mechanic in Reach which encourages players to space their shots to keep accuracy high. For example, the rate of fire for the Reach magnum isn't set. You can fire the gun as fast as you can pull the trigger. However, there is a lag in the time it takes your firing reticule to shrink down between shots. Fire quick, your shots are less accurate; fire slower and your shots will be more accurate." The TU allows changes to how much your reticle "blooms", or expands, when firing 'head shot' weapons. If you set it to zero, there is zero bloom. If you set it to .85, it's 85%. *All* headshot weapons on the map are affected by this setting. Settings will vary for different beta hoppers. Swords will get a tweak as well; specifically the ability to block a sword attack with a melee from any weapon other than another sword will be disabled. Melee Damage and Armor Ability Changes In Halo: Reach, players can basically sprint at you and melee twice for an insta-kill. Not so with the TU; melee beatdowns will require 3 full blows as damage will bleed through your shield into your health, similar to Halo 3. And good news for anyone who hates people who camp Armor Lock: Sticky grenades will no longer be nullified if you use Armor Lock after being stuck. Also, damage received while in armor lock is transferred to remaining Armor Ability energy, and how much the damage depletes your armor lock energy (and how quickly) is configurable. Active Camo will get a dialing back, reducing the bonus time the player gets in Camo while standing still and reducing the overall length the player can be in Active Camo. The update will enable Campaign and Firefight matchmaking for players using an Xbox 360 4GB console without a HDD, which previously required a HDD. "We'll be launching the TU sometime in September with the beta hoppers coming online in early October. One of these reasons we're doing this is to allow the rabid Halo community to provide feedback on the changes we're implementing in this TU. So in essence, the community themselves will help to shape their Halo multiplayer experience going forward." Halo's Warthog Makes its Debut... in Forza 4. What could be cooler than seeing the new Halo 4 Warthog in your favorite racing game? How about racing in it? Well, too bad, but it's still very pretty looking. The Warthog will be featured as part of Forza Motorsports 4's Autovista mode, which allows players to walk around and interact with vehicles. You can't race in it (could you imagine trying to handle Forza's tracks in a giant dune buggy?), but you will be able to interact on some level. Oh, and you're going to have to unlock it, so we hope you're good at Forza. Check out the screens of the new improved Warthog. 343 Guilty Spark Campaign Impressions It's a strange lens at times. Going from the mysterious and oh-so-2001 fog-plagued view of 343 Guilty Spark of Halo CE to a ominous and alien swamp courtesy of Saber Interactive is... jarring, to say the least. It's distracting wandering around a level you thought you knew to see everything that's been done. Everything looks more alive than it did before, which changes the general vibe of the level in distinct ways. The haunted swamp feel has been pushed aside by a foreboding green and yellow light emanating from the trees. You'll lose track of that when the shooting starts though. In that respect, everything is as it was. Halo CE is filled with moments involving a valley, trees, and a dozen or more Grunts and Jackals. These kinds of encounters dwindled in later games, and playing them again, I realize how much they've been missed. There's a great sense of pacing to timing shots from the Halo CE pistol to maximize efficiency, alternating between close grouped head shots on Grunts and well aimed arm shots on shield-bearing Jackals to leave them vulnerable. No other Halo game has gotten that same pistol-powered rhythm down as well. The one-two-three of effective pistol usage is empowering and distinctive and... I really missed Halo: Combat Evolved. It's good to have it back again. There are some wrinkles in the experience right now though. First, hardcore Halo fans will want to foreswear the wireless controller in lieu of a wired one. The finer points of Halo combat were tuned around the wireless-lag-free response of the original Xbox controller, and things might feel a little more floaty than you recall otherwise. Then there's the 3D. This being 2011 and all, a major title can't seem to hit our greedy little hands without some implementation of 3D, and Saber Interactive and 343i have implemented it pretty well. Aside from the world's longest gun barrel, there's a great sense of depth, and a lot of adjustment options. Plus, it supports passive 3D for compatible televisions, so you can spring for lots of cheap, theater style glasses for everyone you want to suffer through watching you play Halo in 3D. CEA gets 3-D Support Halo: CE Anniversary is getting a lot of upgrades in the visual department, but if you're at Halo Fest this weekend there's a pretty major one you can see for yourself: stereoscopic 3D. Microsoft announced that the revamped Halo: Anniversary will feature a 3D system built specifically for the game. The 3D is being demoed during Halo Fest at PAX this weekend. Changes Coming to Waypoint At its "What's Next for Waypoint" panel at this year's Halo Fest, the 343i team announced a number of changes and additions to Halo Waypoint due later this year. Waypoint will receive a visual overhaul for the release of anniversary this November. The Xbox 360 portal will get a new look, with a consolidated look at stats and top level information regarding your Halo experience. Players will also be granted the ability to issue create and issue custom challenges to their friends. The web version of Waypoint will be altered to reflect the console changes to the platform, with an initial full stats view of your personalized Spartan in Halo: Reach. The deep-view information players have come to expect from Bungie.net for Halo: Reach will also transfer over to the new Waypoint site, as well as the Windows 7 Waypoint App. ALL SKULLS ON At 343i's "Halo Anniversary Campaign" panel at this year's Halo Fest, the developer confirmed the return of "skulls" in the remake launching later this year. Previous Halo titles have allowed users to find hidden skulls that could be activated in order to trigger additional effects within the game, such as more resilient enemies or no regenerating health. In addition to the previously leaked Grunt Funeral skull available for pre-orders at specific retailers, the panel disclosed two of the currently unknown total number of easter eggs. Malfunction, when activated, disables a random HUD element after each respawn, while Boom doubles explosion radiuses. 343 also informed fans that skulls will not be available or functional in the so-called "Classic" mode. Skulls will also not be visible to collect outside of the remastered mode. Also it was confirmed that they are going to use the Halo 3 format. You will have to find the skulls secretly located throughout the campaign. Halo 4-6 Now has a Name for the Trilogy! While the ten year birthday of Halo: Combat Evolved and the upcoming Halo CE Anniversary release are clearly the focus of the first Halo Fest at this year's Penny Arcade Expo, the continuing adventures of the Master Chief aren't far from anyone's mind. At 343i's Halo 4 panel on Saturday morning, Josh Holmes discussed the impending Halo trilogy and revealed the name of the upcoming three-game series: the Reclaimer Trilogy. Astute Halo fans will recall that Guilty Spark, the AI presence from the original Halo installation in Combat Evolved (and namesake of 343i), often referred to the Master Chief as the Reclaimer throughout their interactions. Guilty Spark also plays a prominent role in Halo CE Anniversary's new addition to the original game, the Terminals. Halo 4 beta rumors have been deceased. At was announced today that there will be NO beta for Halo 4 shipping out with Halo Anniversary, They did go on to say that when they have a beta, they will make sure the full public has access.

So as all of you know, we had the Halo 4 Panel so far today, I hear that some people are unhappy and are saying we didn't get anything to go with. THEY ARE WRONG, I was able to take LOADS of photos and concept art and many other things. Lets get started! Halo 4 and CEA Info! Halo 4 Concept Art Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDfnBw--hbA&feature=player_detailpage#t=2s Halo 4 Audio Field Recording http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUB7BeRoa-w&feature=player_detailpage#t=8s Halo 4 Concept Art! View attachment: 293512_253555478011188_100000702128380_840517_3679584_n.jpg View attachment: 294668_253555908011145_100000702128380_840521_3884242_n.jpg\ View attachment: 307678_253556638011072_100000702128380_840528_6574431_n.jpg View attachment: 310129_253557144677688_100000702128380_840532_5350378_n.jpg View attachment: 311250_253555718011164_100000702128380_840520_7496613_n.jpg View attachment: 311948_253554374677965_100000702128380_840507_5992364_n.jpg View attachment: 312953_253554791344590_100000702128380_840511_6604975_n.jpg View attachment: 313757_253555164677886_100000702128380_840514_130671_n.jpg View attachment: 313757_253555164677886_100000702128380_840514_130671_n.jpg View attachment: 314705_253556914677711_100000702128380_840531_743225_n.jpg View attachment: 318449_253556748011061_100000702128380_840529_163029_n.jpg Halo 4-6 Now has a Name for the Trilogy! While the ten year birthday of Halo: Combat Evolved and the upcoming Halo CE Anniversary release are clearly the focus of the first Halo Fest at this year's Penny Arcade Expo, the continuing adventures of the Master Chief aren't far from anyone's mind. At 343i's Halo 4 panel on Saturday morning, Josh Holmes discussed the impending Halo trilogy and revealed the name of the upcoming three-game series: the Reclaimer Trilogy. Astute Halo fans will recall that Guilty Spark, the AI presence from the original Halo installation in Combat Evolved (and namesake of 343i), often referred to the Master Chief as the Reclaimer throughout their interactions. Guilty Spark also plays a prominent role in Halo CE Anniversary's new addition to the original game, the Terminals. Halo 4 beta rumors have been deceased. At was announced today that there will be NO beta for Halo 4 shipping out with Halo Anniversary, They did go on to say that when they have a beta, they will make sure the full public has access. Calling all detectives, CEA has skulls! It was announced yesterday that CEA will feature skulls, here is the official press release. At 343i's "Halo Anniversary Campaign" panel at this year's Halo Fest, the developer confirmed the return of "skulls" in the remake launching later this year. Previous Halo titles have allowed users to find hidden skulls that could be activated in order to trigger additional effects within the game, such as more resilient enemies or no regenerating health. In addition to the previously leaked Grunt Funeral skull available for pre-orders at specific retailers, the panel disclosed two of the currently unknown total number of easter eggs. Malfunction, when activated, disables a random HUD element after each respawn, while Boom doubles explosion radiuses. 343 also informed fans that skulls will not be available or functional in the so-called "Classic" mode. Skulls will also not be visible to collect outside of the remastered mode. [via IGN] Also it was confirmed that they are going to use the Halo 3 format. You will have to find the skulls secretly located throughout the campaign. Panels from yesterday Anniversary Campaign Disscusion Halo Universe Fiction Halo: Building a Universe of Toys and Collectibles Bungie: Hatching the Cosmic Halo Egg

Hey Guys, who is ready for a recap of Day 2, I know I am! Here we go: The panels from yesterday! http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/08/26/halo-fest-halo-anniversary http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/08/26/halo-fest-halo-community-fragging-forge-and-flowers Whats next for Waypoint Halo Universe ALL SKULLS ON At 343i's "Halo Anniversary Campaign" panel at this year's Halo Fest, the developer confirmed the return of "skulls" in the remake launching later this year. Previous Halo titles have allowed users to find hidden skulls that could be activated in order to trigger additional effects within the game, such as more resilient enemies or no regenerating health. In addition to the previously leaked Grunt Funeral skull available for pre-orders at specific retailers, the panel disclosed two of the currently unknown total number of easter eggs. Malfunction, when activated, disables a random HUD element after each respawn, while Boom doubles explosion radiuses. 343 also informed fans that skulls will not be available or functional in the so-called "Classic" mode. Skulls will also not be visible to collect outside of the remastered mode. BE SURE TO CHECK BACK TOMORROW WHEN I WILL BE COVERING THE PANELS INCLUDING HALO 4!