Score Recon and turn your screenshot into a masterpiece.


For the few folks who got eyes on the update early and balked at the terrible wall of text that greeted them, or for those who simply haven't seen the announcement yet, we're going to ask you to check it out before we dig in.  Go on, have yourself a read.  Pay close attention to the bit talking about Haloscreenshots.com.  It's important.

Haloscreenshots.com BWU Announcement

You might want to familiarize yourself with their website too.  Why?  Haloscreenshots.com is sweetening the deal for this weekend's Recon contest, throwing in some prizes for the top three that dare we say, might even be better than slipping into some new armor.  Don't believe us?  You should.  We've had hands on with their wares and we're thoroughly impressed.  When they say their prints are museum gallery quality, they aren't resorting to hyperbole.

The Payoff

In addition to earning a set of Recon Armor, Haloscreenshots.com will be bestowing the top three screenshots selected from the pool of  this week's winners with the following prizes:

1st Place -  Complimentary Framed Canvas, a spot in their website banner, and a position in their Best of the Best gallery.

2nd Place - Complimentary Framed Print.

3rd Place - Complimentary Unframed Print.

(They're also going to take care of all the shipping and handling charges.)


The Details

We're going to open it up this week.  We want to see the best you have to offer.  No theme and no gametype constraints.  Play anything you like from the time of this posting until the end of the month, snap your best screenshot, and upload it into your File Share.  Tag it HSSBOB and we'll take a look.  Sound easy?  Better bring your "best of the best" to the battlefield.  We're going to be looking for art worthy screenshots this time out.

The contest begins *now*. 

Screenshots must be taken from games that were played after the time of this posting and cannot be submitted after midnight, May 31st 2009, PST.

Screenshots may be taken in any gametype.  Customs, Forge, Matchmaking, Campaign...whatever.  Anything goes.

One tagged screenshot per File Share.  Gallery uploads do not count.  You do not need to remove the other content from your File Share.

Screenshot must be tagged HSSBOB.  Capitalization and punctuation is inconsequential.

Cheaters and boosters need not apply.  Number of tags and/or rating will not affect the outcome of the contest, but your screenshot may be removed from contention if you annoy, harass, or otherwise attempt to influence the outcome by abusing these systems.  We'll probably ban you too.  And send you a annoying message to harass you afterward.

Keep all discussion, questions, and screenshot showcasing in the thread attached to this news post.

Other than that, have fun, remember to check out the new screenshot feature provided by Haloscreenshots.com, and may the best screenshots win!

"Read all about what makes this end-of-the-line train car tick."


Jdars with Team Pepto has prepped another Aesthetic Artist for interview.  If you're interested in check out out some words and screenshots from privat3 caboose, who you may know by another name, click the link below to check it out.

Week 8 Aesthetic Artist Interview: Supergrunt19

Nudge, nudge.


Just a gentle reminder, sign ups for the Hope Unto Dawn Tournament series will be opening up tomorrow evening, Saturday, May 30th, for everyone. If you still don't know what Hope Unto Dawn is you really ought to head over to FacilityB5D.com and check it out. It's for a great cause, and you don't even have to participate to donate! For anyone wondering where the funding is going, all donations made through the PayPal Widget go directly into the Child's Play Charity account.

Remember, there are 15 sets of recon up for grabs and a load of other sweet prizes as well! See you there!

Hope Unto Dawn

b12y4n 51m0n writes:

Only a few days left to make beautiful mythic music.

So far there are 102 entries.  Have you submitted yours yet?  Watch the announcement video to see contest details. Check out some of the entries too and find your favorite. If you want to chat about it, discuss it in the B.net thread.

The man formerly known as spartacus280.


RandomSauce roped yet another machinima director into an interview.  Interested?  Good.  You can check it out over at HBO using the link below.  How's that for handy?

Director Dialogues: kootra

Senor Cuban writes:

Another reason you shouldn't veto Snowbound.

If you need some help finding a few good set pieces to stage your screenshots in, a cuban cat has some tips and tricks ready in video form.  Font snobs need not apply, we're pretty sure we've spotted Comic Sans in the wild, but if you just want to learn a couple of insider tips and tricks, you might want to check it out.

"Follow a cuban cat as he explores the depths of Snowbound, revealing secrets screenshot artist use to get the best shots."

YouTube - Colors ep. 2 Snowbound

Honing in.


As quickly as we made mention of Leviathan's new comic series, he's crafted a fourth entry.  If you enjoyed the prelude and the opening trio of episodes, you should definitely tune into this new one.  It seems as the storyline progresses, so does the art style.  Pretty nice.

A Sangheili's War Is Never Over - Part 4

Firestorm183 writes:

Spanish 101.


We don't speak Spanish.  As a result, this video may contain nothing but expletives.  A long, offensive string of nothing but cussing.  That would be so awesome.  It's probably pretty clean though.  If you're into being bilingual, check out the The Spanish Machinima below.

"For my Spanish 1 class at school we either had to perform a skit in front of the class, or make a video about people at a restaurant and in the market.  I decided to make a video, and of course I chose to make a halo 3 machinima.  My class and teacher loved it and had no clue how I made a video with a video game.  Yeah, they're noobs.  I had to put some tee-bagging, so I fit it in there.  I'm not sure how my teacher liked that part.  I ended up getting a 95% on the video."

YouTube - The Spanish Machinima

Vinnie13 writes:

What the hell is a Sikfest anyway?

OMG had another LAN party.  They captured the footage.  You can watch it.  And you should.

"It's a LAN Party of course.  Every three months or so, Sikamikanico hosts one for the members of a group started on Bungie.net, OMG.  The first was held almost three years ago, and back then it was quite a gutsy decision to invite a load of strangers to come round and play games, but nothing can bring people together quite like Halo on LAN.

This video is to commemorate old friends long gone to pastures new, to flags lost and bombs planted, to Mongoose runs thwarted at the last second - but most of all, for the guys over at OMG.

Enjoy!"

Wegame.com - OMG Presents: Sikfest IX

Download file via Filefront.com

BlackOpsSpartan writes:

A parody of a parody?


ChrisOfTheDead took some of the "writing" from last week's update and whipped it up into short little machinima that mirrors some of the sequences from Watchmen.  Dude needs to get better scripts.  He's got the voice down pat though.

YouTube - Bungie Watchmen

JakFireDragon writes:

"Bring on the Summer!"

My Halo Life is back with a new montage full of community clips and a new website designed to show them off and give you a place to submit your own.  If you're interested in participating, they've supplied a pair of links inline.  If you just want to watch, there's a video below.

"Well the Summer months have now begun, for most of us anyway, so as a little present, here's Episode 7 full of the usual kills, skills and well, things that can only happen in Halo 3. Thank you to the 300+ people who submitted for this episode and make sure to submit for Episode 8.

Feel free to sign up at our new site again, and check out our forums


YouTube - My Halo Life: Episode 7

OMG iTz AnTi PRO writes:

Hey, you hungry?


Seems like we've seen this machinima before.  That's okay, it's pretty short.  Check it out if you like naughty language and simulated violence.  Oh, and machinima.

"Arm The Flag would like to address a problem that a lot of machinima directors run into: Originality. We do our business on the Internet, which billions of people around the world contribute to. ATF would like to say that on the Internet there are no original ideas. Someone somewhere has probably done it or something similar. So don't be a hater.  Enjoy good machinima."



YouTube - MicroMachinima Episode 4: Originality

The prize at the end of the road.


Over at HBO, Leviathan explores what could happen to the splintered Covenant elements in a post Halo 3 universe.  Employing an art style that has become increasingly detailed and colorful, there's now a prelude and three episodes online for your to enjoy.  Check them all out at the links below.

A Sangheili's War Is Never Over

Prelude  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3

nano writes:

Love rendered in a single take.


Nano000 used the Render-to-Video beta to craft a Rube Goldberg device paying homage to his favorite developer.  Can you guess where his affinity lies?  Yeah, we're not much on modesty this morning.

Bungie.net - Showing My Luv

M0N0P0LY KiNg writes:

Who know how to disarm it?!

Is it the red wire or the blue wire?  Find out how not to disarm a bomb in this Halo 3 machinima that contains naughty language in loud voices.  And Internet jokes.

"A Halo 3 Machinima about a group of people desperately struggling to disarm the bomb on Last Resort. Red team may have no clue how to disarm the bomb, but they do have the internet and of its glory."

YouTube - How Not to Disarm the Bomb

Rast 07 writes:

Bungie and HBO square(d) off.


Yup, this one's old, but you probably haven't seen it.  Nice game, sweet editing, and a great recap of a pretty intense match up.  Check it out.

"This was arguably one of the best Humpday matches played. The HBO clan took on the flaming-headed Bungie troop on April 9th of last year and turned a game of Avalanche CTF into an epic battle. I created this video to highlight all the crazy and unbelievable things that occurred during this match."

YouTube - Bungie vs. HBO

You saw the video, now get the commentary.


Hawty McBloggy took the time to dissect her role in the first match played on Rooster Teeth's new Sandbox Grifball court.  It's loaded with pretty pictures and plenty of euphemisms.  Double entendre too.  You know the McBloggy deal.

Hawty McBloggy - Are You Ready For Some Grifball?

FliPdEmON219 Jr writes:

"Sorry Chief, but the skull is in another level!"

The second installment of the Halo vs Mortal Kombat series is online.  MC is still searching for the hidden skull in an alternate universe.  There's still adult language and plenty of gore.  Click at your own risk.

"Master Chief is back in the sequel of "Halo vs Mortal Kombat: The Hidden Skull!" Let's just say that most characters will end up not getting what they want in this episode!"

YouTube - Halo vs Mortal Kombat: The Hidden Skull #2

BlackOpsSpartan writes:

Shenanigans. Community style!

ChrisOfTheDead is back with another community fueled montage that takes a look at the lighthearted side of Halo 3.  If you're a fan of the funny stuff that often goes down in matchmaking, you should tune in.  Clocks in at just north of seven minutes.


YouTube - Shenanigans 2 (Community Fun-Tage)

Weezey31 writes:

Abracadabra!


This clips is only seven seconds long, but like any good magician, the performer exits the stage immediately after the illusion takes place.  You gotta leave the audience wanting more.  And yes, we did crib that joke from Seinfeld.



YouTube - Halo 3 Magic

Rav Raider writes:

Going down...

Well, with all this crazy flu business going around, we'd understand if Jim took a few days off.  And though, as the news submitter notes below, he is running a little bit behind, he's still churning out the goods.  Reward his ethic by clicking on the link and getting a read in.

"Reclaimer 190 is out today, if a little late.  Poor Jim, who can blame him? He pulled the "sick" card.  Anyway, here it is."

Reclaimer 190 - Gilgamesh

b12y4n 51m0n writes:

Laying down the smack.


Yeah, we're going to make the triple kill joke here.  In fact, we just did.  Don't like it?  Tough.  Watch the video anyway.

"The newest Grifball map was tested out last night in an epic battle between Grifball enthusiasts and community members.  Team one consisted of:  Bryan Simon, Shishka, PP Moocow PP, and BurnieBurns.  Team two consisted of:  puptastrophe, runNOKYARDrun, bs angel, and Louis Wu.

Let's just say for most of the game it was 3v4 and the results were TOTAL PWNAGE!  You'll have to watch to see the results!"

YouTube - New Grifball Map - Halo Community Test Run

b12y4n 51m0n writes:

Two MLG players recently found theirs!

Double Kill!  Brysi is also brought back his MLG Pro Player stuff, but this one comes with a twist.  Check it out.

"MLG Pro Team VG The New Order recently held a competition to fill two spots on their MLG Pro Halo team.  Two people had the opportunity to go from unknown to pro by being nominated for the Golden Ticket.  Tetra Shot and Tensor were the winners and will play in the top spots during MLG Columbus.  Here's a little tribute to them, to the tune of Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket of course."

YouTube - MLG Golden Ticket