Monty Python writes:

The long awaited 100th and final episode of Rooster Teeth's wonderful Halo machinima series, Red vs Blue (RvB): The Blood Gulch Chronicles, is finally available for the viewing pleasure of everyone (sponsor or otherwise).

(Don't worry, I haven't put any spoilers in this.  I wouldn't do that to you guys)

You may view it by clicking here and clicking the link in the post.

There are also three new items in the store available only to sponsors. They are the Season 5 DVD pre-order, an RvB t-shirt, and the RT Comics create your own calendar.

Enjoy!
~Monty

Halo.Bungie.Org's Zune giveaway has found four winners. Now their entries are up for your perusal.


HBO's Louis Wu admits that the Zune Contest was "not without its headaches," the contest was definitely a success. And now, at its conclusion four talented users have won themselves one of those fancy Halo 3 Zune music players. The contest was divided into four different groups: Best Original Song; Parody; Montage; and Machinima.

Additionally, Wu and the HBO judges created a special award for a video that was overlooked by the voting public and awarded it a special Judges prize -- the winner received a Halo 3 Legendary Edition prototype helmet. For all of the winners and their respective files click over to HBO's Contest Results page.

Louis Wu writes:

Voting on machinima entries is now open in the HBO Halo 3 Zune Giveaway - head over and pick your favorite!


The Halo 3 Zune Giveaway kicked off in May, and 8 days ago, public voting began. Three out of four categories have already been decided - you've got until Monday morning at 5 am PDT to pick your favorite entry in the final class - Halo machinima. On Monday afternoon, the four winners (one in each category of Original Song, Montage, Parody song, and Machinima) will be announced - each will win a limited edition Halo 3 Zune, courtesy of Bungie! Make sure your voice is heard - download all seven finalists, and cast your vote for the one that moves you the most!

Excellent maker-of-fun McFarlane Toys, will be creating a line of figures based on Halo 3.


McFarlane Toys and Bungie have formed a superfriends-quality team up to make a line of toys based on characters, events and general mayhem being caused by Halo 3. The figure lineup, due out in Spring 2008 is described by the folks over at McFarlane thusly:



"The proposed action figure lineup is as follows:

• MASTER CHIEF -- The protagonist of the Halo series stands at 5 inches tall, and has more than 18 points of articulation. Equipped with his trademark assault rifle, Master Chief's mission is to protect Earth against the Covenant, an alien empire threatening the world in the 26th century. Biological and cybernetic enhancements and rigorous military training have resulted in Master Chief's unquestioned status as the finest soldier mankind has ever produced.
  
• BRUTE CHIEFTAIN -- The highest rank in the Brute hierarchy is the Chieftain, whose articulated figure is the tallest of the series at 6 inches. Belonging to the Covenant, the Brute Chieftain carries the gravity hammer, a close-range weapon with the ability to alter gravity at a local level and crush his enemies and surroundings.
  
• CORTANA -- Developed by the United Nations Space Command (UNSC), Cortana is a smart A.I. with the ability to project herself as a holographic image and be transferred between computer systems, including the cybernetic armor of Master Chief. This figure's base features an LED light that illuminates her 4.5 inch-tall figure.
  
• JACKAL SNIPER -- To the benefit of the Covenant, Jackal Snipers have incredibly sharp reflexes and deadly aim. Standing at 5 inches, the Jackal Sniper is equipped with its signature beam rifle, which has the ability for long range shooting and a high degree of damage.
  
• GRUNT 2-Pack -- At 3.5 inches tall, the Grunt is a menace to the human race, and represents the vast majority of the Covenant infantry. The Grunts are the lowest tier of the Covenant hierarchy, and move in packs. They are expected to unquestioningly obey the commands of their Brute commanders. Outfitted with weapons including the Plasma Pistol and Needler, the Grunts may not seem much more than cannon fodder, but in groups, they can be deadly.

• WARTHOG -- As the most widely recognized vehicle of the UNSC, the Warthog is a ground vehicle capable of carrying up to three soldiers. Known as the best all-around vehicle for its power, adaptability and toughness, the Warthog measures 3 inches in length and is built of die-cast metal and plastic.
  
• GHOST -- The Ghost is a single-seat vehicle used by the Covenant. Mounted with twin plasma cannons, the Ghost is a rapid-attack vehicle designed for speed and maneuverability. The Ghost is 3 inches long and made with die-cast metal and plastic.
  
• BRUTE CHOPPER -- The Brute Chopper makes its debut in Halo 3. A single-wheeled vehicle, the Brute Chopper will prove invaluable to the Covenant's campaign against humanity. With a length of 3 inches, the Brute Chopper will be made of die-cast metal and plastic."

The next phase of voting for the halo.bungie.org Halo 3 Zune giveaway contest is now underway. Head over there now to vote for best Halo montage video!

This is phase 2 of the voting to determine who will win a limited edition Halo 3 Zune!  Four devices are being given away based on best original song (voting concluded yesterday), best montage video (starts today), best song parody and best machinima video (both voting next week). Head over to HBO and cast your vote!

The Halo 3 Zune contest being held by our friends at HBO has entered the public judging phase after a few weeks of submissions. The first wave is for  the best original song and you can cast your vote now by going HERE.

A few weeks ago we announced that our friends at Halo fansite Halo.Bungie.Org were kicking off a contest to give away 4 brand new Halo 3 limited edition Zune devices. After a few weeks and hundreds of file submissions, the contest has now moved into the judging phase.

Head over there now to listen to the top 7 Original Song submissions and pick the one you think is the best of the bunch. In the coming days, the top entries for song parody, montage video and machinima video will also be avaialble for community voting.

Thanks to everyone who participated and good luck!

Frankie writes:

And like Verbal Kint's limp, with a poof, the Halo 3 Public Beta is gone. Now you have to wait until September 25th to play Halo 3 again. Start counting down.


Yes, they were right. It is "so hard to say goodbye to yesterday." And sometimes yesterday says goodbye to you. Such was the case late last night/early this morning when the giant switch powering the Containment Unit of Fun that was the beta was surrounded by top men and had its switch yanked into the "Off" position.

Barely applicable Ghostbusters references and Boyz II Men lyrics notwithstanding, we wanted to say "Thanks." Thanks for participating in the Public Beta process and ultimately helping us make tweaks, changes and improvements to a product we're excited to bring you later this Fall. While we don't really have an answer for how to cure your withdrawals, we hear patience is a saint.


If you'd like to delete the voluminous file from your 360, and you were playing via Crackdown, you can do the following:

 

• Go to the System Blade in the Dashboard
• Select Memory
• Select your HDD
• Select "Games"
• Scroll to "Crackdown"
• Select the Beta and then Delete.

• Go to the System Blade in the Dashboard
• Go to Memory
• Go to Demos
• Scroll down and highlight Halo 3 Beta
• Select delete.

Bam.

lukems writes:

Rising above the rank and file is SmokedYeti, an internal beta veteran who recently became the first "General" in Halo 3.

While my rank hovers somewhere near Gunnery Sergeant (and likely always will), other  players have played an obscene number of games, tallied an absurd numbers of kills and achieved ranks that I will only see via stalking other player profiles on the website. One of those ranks I will never see is General but SmokedYeti has – he was the first player in the Public Beta with the rank.

It took longer to catch up with SmokedYeti via email than it took for him to be the first player to reach the rank of “General,” from the time we talked to him, he added two more stars to his General’s insignia. Turns out his rank ascension wasn’t all by chance, he had a plan.

Q: Eight hundred and three games played and you’re the first general in the Halo 3 Public Beta, maybe the most appropriate first question is “how?”
A: When I first started playing the game, I planned to maximize my levels in the match making.  Once I hit a level 50 in rumble pit and team slayer, I beginning working on my RP by playing many rumble pit training matches. 

Q: Do you play competitively or just for fun?
A: 100 percent competitively

Editor’s translation: “I like to melt faces.”

Q: With 20,195 kills in 1161 games you’re picking up 19 kills per game. What are you doing that other players aren’t?
A: Knowing the enemies weapon selection may help you turn the battle.   In general I just play smart.  By playing a large number of matches, it has helped me with overall knowledge of each weapon, layout and advantages in each of the maps as well as quick response times.

Q: What tips do you have for the newbz?
A: Some people think I am newbz.  I would say practice is the start.

Editor’s translation: “I am not telling you my secretz, learn2play.”

Q: What’s been your favorite medal you’ve picked up along the road to General?
A: I can’t think of one medal that really is my favorite. 

Q: What’s your favorite map from the Public Beta? Why?
A: My favorite map is Snowbound.  It’s a fair map – it doesn’t matter what side you spawn on.

Q: If you could change one thing about the Halo 3 Public Beta, what would it be?
A: I don’t know how I would change this but on High Ground, it seems that people that spawn on the beach have such a huge advantage. Having the sniper, rockets, shotgun and bubble shield with invis makes it so they have the weapon advantage right from the start. 

(What about the two Brute Shots, removable turret, two Carbines, Spartan Laser and Power Drainer inside of High Ground’s base? – Ed.)

Q: What’s your favorite part of the Halo 3 Public Beta?
A: A wide variety of players that play very competitively.

New vehicles, new weapons and new maps all heading toward newstands, wrapped up in the latest copy of U.S. enthusiast publication Gamepro.

Over at Gamepro, they are teasing their 16-page cover story on Halo 3. Their coverage is multiplayer-focused and reveals some new weapons, new vehicles and some maps that weren't in the Halo 3 Public beta. Additionally, Gamepro reveals something brand new to the Halo universe: Armor permutations and customization. Armor permutations and customization are a series of cosmetic changes to your Spartan that gives players another way to distinguish themselves from the pack in Halo 3's multiplayer.

Gamepro is unveiling the cover of the issue online, check it out.

Halo 1 PC is still going strong, according to a stat from Gamespy. Details inside...

Have you ever wondered if there's more of a purpose to the yellow sticker with the 25-digit product key than to sell keyboards by wearing out your old one? Actually, there is -- through a complicated, flowcharted process that ranks somewhere between alchemy and string theory in terms of the number of people who have mastered it, the process that prints those yellow stickers also generates a "hash" -- a scrambled summary -- of each, and a list of hashes gets sent to me (actually, I have to pick it up on CD from a Microsoft building) whenever a batch of stickers gets printed. This list of hashes then gets sent to Gamespy, which provides the online service for Halo PC. They make sure that only people with real copies of the game get to play, and only one person per key at a time. Aside from deterring piracy, this helps our legitimate players by allowing you to ban players from your servers, knowing that they have to pay for another copy to get back in.

What does this have to do with stats? Well, I just logged in to the key-admin site over at Gamespy to deal with a new batch of yellow stickers that was just printed, and found that they keep a tally of how many unqiue (and legit) product keys of Halo PC have played online in the last 30 days. Ready?

132,102!

This is pretty impressive for a game nearing its 4th birthday. Incidentally, this includes regular and Custom Edition users, since the CD key is the same across both versions (but it only counts each user once regardless).