LEGO Halo: Master Chief
Posted by urk at
2/3/2009 9:40 AM PST
Now in High Definition.
SmeagolStudios has re-released this precious ten month old video to give you the shiny High Definition quality you demand. It might appear to be a promo for a longer work, but it turns out it's content complete. The description claims this is the end for their version of Lego Chief.
Tag and Release - Grunt
Posted by urk at
2/2/2009 11:03 AM PST
I see bad guy!
This week's Tag and Release focuses its lens on the Halo Trilogy's quirky but lovable scamp, the Grunt. Officially, they're Unggoy, the Covenant's methane-sucking cannon fodder, but the onomatopoeic "grunt" suits these huffing, puffing, plasma pistol toting hunchbacks just fine. When you're feeling down, there's no better remedy than making Grunts fly. Check out some screenshots below to see the Unggoy in action.
Were it so Easy
Seriously?
Fly Me to the Moon
A little less serious this week, but that's okay. If these aren't the screenshots you're looking for, there are plenty more to be had via the
All Tags tool. Can you see the slow wave of our hand? Good. We were hoping our mind control was taking hold. Now, how's about you head off and make us a sandwich? Double time.
Halo 3 Fails: Episode Eight
Posted by urk at
2/2/2009 9:13 AM PST
Let's get it started in here.
I have a feeling these folks aren't going to run out of material for years. So much fail.
"The eighth episode of Halo 3 Fails. If you want to submit a clip, check our channel for instruction."
Reclaimer 144 - Program: Dreamstate
Posted by urk at
2/2/2009 8:09 AM PST
New targets acquired...
The latest episode of Reclaimer is programmed and ready to download. Things are being rerouted and protocols are being enacted with deadly results. Click below to begin transfer.
Reclaimer 144 - Program: Dreamstate
Reclaimer 143 - Revelation
Posted by urk at
1/30/2009 9:04 AM PST
I thought you knew.
The newest episode of Reclaimer is online. A long-standing question is answered. The answer, of course, leads to more questions. Check it out below.
Reclaimer 143 - Revelation
Social Living Dead Double EXP
Posted by Shishka at
1/29/2009 11:00 AM PST
Braaaaaains...
Social Living Dead is this weekend's Double EXP weekend! Now you can get that burning hatred for the undead out of your system. Or, you can enjoy some delicious, delicious brains. If that's your thing. I'm not here to judge.*
Social Living Dead is available from 11am PDT on Thursday, Jan 29th until Monday 2am, February 2nd. All downloadable content required. Have fun!
*I'm totally judging you right now. Can you feel it?
Project Sonic - Halo 3
Posted by urk at
1/28/2009 9:46 AM PST
Reclaimer 142 - Dead Technology
Posted by urk at
1/28/2009 9:18 AM PST
A different kind of information.
Episode 142 of Reclaimer is online and ready for your eyes. Reclaimer is getting closer to accessing Mercyhoard, but it looks like he'll have to take the long way around and follow in a familiar foe's footsteps.
Reclaimer 142 - Dead Technology
Screenshot Spotlight: Predator5791
Posted by urk at
1/27/2009 9:13 AM PST
"Point and Shoot" gets reloaded.
Looks like Alec isn't content sharing his own screenshot expertise with us. He's gone ahead and rounded up another "photog" to provide us with new ways to make pretty pictures. Check out the step-by-step and brief interview below.
"After the success of Point and Shoot, I was asked by a member of the community to do a once weekly screenshot spotlight, showcasing one famous screenshot artist at a time. Well, here it is, the first of many "Screenshot Spotlights." I'll be starting this out with perhaps the most famous screenshot artist of all, Predator5791."
Here's how he makes his magic happen:
Step One: Platforming
Make a platform for the weapons to be placed on. Bridges work best. Make sure the bridges themselves are floating in the air. To do so hold the object in the air in the position you wish it to be then press start, save game then end game. Once you start up the game the object should be floating. Note that this does not work with weapons as they will fall once the game starts.
Step Two: Weapon Loadout
Once you are done setting the platform on which you plan to place weapons on, place any weapons you wish in any form or design.
Step Three: Save Your Work
Once you are done drawing your design on the floating bridge(s), save the game. Do Not delete the base yet. Save the game first. Once the game is saved you can go back and delete the bridges and the weapons are floating!
If you start new round or touch/shoot the weapons they will fall.
Stay away from the weapons. Even after you delete the platform do not save game. You may go back and take as many screenshots as you wish, but each time you will have to delete the bridges in the beginning of the game. That is how it works. That means this technique can only be done in Forge.
If you wish to make the weapons appear to be floating vertical follow these steps:
Step 1: Place the object in which you wish to use as the platform at a 45° angle. Make sure it is no more than that or the weapons will slide.
Step 2: Place the weapons on the platform in any design you feel like.
Step 3: Save the game, then delete the platform and your weapons are floating at a slight angle. To make the illusion that the weapons are vertical take the screenshot from a 50-60° angle. Make the spartan or elite stand close to the camera. This gives the illusion that the spartan/elite is in correct proportion to your weapon drawing.
About the Author:
What inspired you to start taking screenshots?
When I first heard that you would be able to take screenshots in Halo 3, I never imagined it to be anything like it is today. I expected nothing more than captured snapshots of gameplay. I remember being bored one day and seeing a screenshot that had a picture drawn on the ground with weapons. I thought it was a neat idea and I gave it a shot myself. After awhile I decided to step it up and thus invented the technique in which to make weapons float. The rest is history. I love making screenshots and I love seeing people's reactions.
Are you still actively taking screenshots?
To be honest, no. I have not lost my passion for screenshots, I just simply don't have the time anymore. Right now I am just sitting back and seeing what the community can do.
Out of all of your screenshots, what is your favorite?
My proudest screenshot is without a doubt "Gargoyle", but my personal favorite is "Alien". It may not have that certain appeal or essence of "Gargoyle", but "Alien" was a lot more challenging to make and I love the Alien movies.
Want to make any shout-outs?
Hi MOM!!!
Seriously though, I would like to give a shout to my good friends Mmack, Gmack, Snizzlephish, Duardo, Immortal, Foman, Obi, Achilles and everyone else who helped pose in my screenshots!
Tag and Release - Chief
Posted by urk at
1/26/2009 11:05 AM PST
Reclaimer 141 - The Archive
Posted by urk at
1/26/2009 8:49 AM PST
The Great and Powerful Protector.
Episode 141 of Reclaimer is online and ready for your early week perusal. What's a Mercyhoard? Don't look down.
Reclaimer 141 - The Archive
'Annihilation' - A Machinima Short
Posted by urk at
1/25/2009 11:00 AM PST
"We will never back down."
Spartacus280 put together this short, narrative machinima for your viewing pleasure. Some sweet post effects and an interesting premise, but those looking for a fully realized plot or deep introspective commentary need not apply. Embed and link below.
YouTube - Halo 3 Short Machinima - "Annihilation"
Reflection - HD Montage
Posted by urk at
1/23/2009 10:13 AM PST
Eight minutes and dozens of jump cuts.
Snipes, sticks, and even a touch of Assault Rifle. You should know what you're getting when you jump in to a Halo 3 montage by now. Hit the embed or link below. Best viewed in pristine High Definition.
YouTube - Reflection, A Halo 3 Montage
Reclaimer 140 - Caretaker and Containment
Posted by urk at
1/23/2009 9:02 AM PST
Things floating around in the black.
Episode 140 of Reclaimer is up and ready for your eyes. Reclaimer gets a few of his questions answered. And, as always, those answers lead only to more questions.
Reclaimer 140 - Caretaker and Containment
Green and Mean
Posted by urk at
1/22/2009 2:30 PM PST
A Plasma Pistol Montage.
We missed this little green gem when Hawty McBloggy posted it a couple of days ago. In this short montage, conor2020 proves that plenty of weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side. Hit the link to watch in high quality.
3 Ball now available!
Posted by Shishka at
1/22/2009 11:01 AM PST
If only you had three hands, right?
Starting 11am PDT, 3 Ball makes its belated appearance as a Double EXP weekend for Halo 3! For those of you new to this gem of a playlist, Oddball games based on the presence of -you guessed it- three oddballs make up the entirety of the playlist. The catch? There are four teams. That means someone's going to get left behind if they don't act fast.
3 Ball is available from January 22nd until 2am Monday, January 26th. Heroic and Legendary map packs are required.
Ascendant Justice - 'Unworlding'
Posted by urk at
1/21/2009 9:09 AM PST
"This is the way the world ends."
Ascendant Justice scribe Vociferous has put his digital pen to work once again. This time out, he examines the narrative surrounding the "Great Journey" from several distinct perspectives. If you are a fan of Halo fiction, activate the link below.
Ascendant Justice - "Unworlding"
Reclaimer 139 - Mercyhoard
Posted by urk at
1/21/2009 8:56 AM PST
"I don't believe I caught your name."
Episode 139 of Reclaimer has been published. First contact with the machine "Mercyhoard" has been made. Be afraid.
Reclaimer - Episode 139
January Matchmaking Update is (Finally) Up
Posted by Shishka at
1/20/2009 7:44 PM PST
After a long wait, January finally is finally here.
Hooray! Testing is finally done and over with, and if you haven't already noticed, the January Matchmaking Update has been applied.
If you missed the Weekly Update where we described the changes for you, here they are again:
General Changes
Playlist Clean Up, Mythic Prep
In preparation for the new maps coming later this year, some of the less popular map variants are going to be removed over time. Some of these removals are not listed below, but will be reflected in the Matchmaking Playlist page here on Bungie.net. This will be an ongoing process with maps and their variants being systematically removed as warranted.
Push to Talk Restriction Increased
Since Halo 3’s release, if a player were to join a Matchmaking playlist with a team size larger than four, he or she would have to push a button on the DPad to communicate directly to their team. After the January update, the PTT restriction is being increased to 6 players per team, meaning that players will not need to use the D-pad to communicate on any Matchmaking playlist but Social Big Team.
What does this mean for players? Well, for starters, it means communicating to teammates in 5v5 or 6v6 playlists will be trivial. However, this could mean an increase in bandwidth necessary for these larger format playlists, which means the potential for “laggy” games is increased. The best way to avoid lag in these games is to ensure that you are not constantly broadcasting to your teammates, and that your teammates are not constantly broadcasting to you. If you often play with strangers, be prepared to mute and report players that abuse their microphone. To mute a player quickly during a game, hold the back button to bring up the scoreboard and select their name with the left stick. Then press X. Muted! To report players, select their name in the post game carnage report and view their gamercard, then use the Report Player options listed therein.
DLC Category
In an effort to make the Matchmaking playlists easier to navigate and bring the populations together, the DLC category is being retired, and the playlists it contained are either being moved into Social or integrated into existing playlists.
Ranked Hopper Updates
- Lone Wolves – No Changes
- Team Slayer – No Changes
- Team Objective
- KOTH, Oddball, 1 and 2 Bomb assault set to skip after veto, and weighting on these gametypes will be reduced to refocus the hopper primarily on 1 Flag, 2 Flag, and Neutral Assault.
- A couple community map variants for Foundry are being added to the CTF rotation.
- Team Doubles – No Changes
- Squad Battle – No Changes
Social Hopper Updates
Rumble Pit
- DLC FFA and Rumble Pit will be merged. Rumble Pit will now require All DLC, and include gametypes such as Infection.
Social Slayer
- Population increased back to 5v5
- Isolation, Foundry removed.
Social Objective
- Slightly reduce weighting on Land Grab, and increase weighting on multi flag to even distribution of these two gametypes out.
- Reduce weighting of VIP. Set to skip after veto.
- Territories variants set to skip after veto.
- ADDED Social Team DLC
- 5v5 Slayer and Objective strictly on DLC maps. Heroic and Legendary map packs required.
- The most popular slayer and objective variants, strictly on DLC maps.
Multi Team
- Reduce weighting of VIP, KOTH, and Oddball.
- Some maps being removed from rotation.
ADDED Social Big Team
- DLC Big Team will be moved and renamed. Weighting between DLC and non-DLC maps will be equalized. The hopper will continue to require DLC 1 and 2.
DLC Hopper Updates
REMOVED DLC FFA
- DLC FFA and Rumble Pit will be merged. DLC FFA as a separate hopper is retired.
MIGRATED DLC Big Team
- Being moved to Social and being renamed “Social Big Team.” Non-DLC maps are getting a weighting increase such that they are equal to DLC maps. Still requires DLC 1 and 2.
Hardcore Hopper Updates
Team SWAT – No Changes
Team Snipers
- Reduced weighting on Standoff.
MLG – No Changes
Double EXP Weekends (listed in order of appearance)
Grifball – Winter League (1/8-1/12)
3 Ball (1/22 -1/26)
Living Dead (Unranked) (1/29 – 2/2)
Seven on the Seventh
Avalanche 7v7
Size Matters - Pillar of Autumn
Posted by urk at
1/20/2009 9:11 AM PST
Comin' in hot.
HBO just posted a link to an exhaustive technical analysis of the Pillar of Autumn. Chances are, if you're not as big of a fan as SoundEffect is (we're not liking your odds here), then this is going to blow your mind. Hit the link below to learn everything you ever wanted to know and more about the Pillar of Autumn.
UNSC Halcyon-class Cruiser (SCS Pillar of Autumn)
Article by Stephen Loftus [SoundEffect]
Reclaimer 138 - The Machine
Posted by urk at
1/19/2009 9:56 AM PST
Another question.
Reclaimer 138 is online and ready to read. The Reclaimer is still being led by the nose. Find out where he ends up by clicking on the link below.
Reclaimer 138 - The Machine
Halo 3 Webcomics - Tips & Tricks
Posted by urk at
1/16/2009 10:50 AM PST
Wham! Bam! Pow!
Seems TTL Demag0gue isn't content with having his own sweet Halo 3 Webcomic. He wants you to get in on the action. If you were thinking about firing up your own sweet series, but just don't know where to begin, hit the links below and bookmark the site.
From the man himself, by way of HBO:
"Halo 3 Webcomics is beginning a feature series called Tips & Tricks for webcomics publishers. Once or twice a week, the site will be updated with new articles on how to make a better webcomic. There are currently two articles in the series with more on the way:
HowTo: Making Good Text Balloons
Comic Style Fonts: Blambot
Feel free to check them out!"