The Halo 3 Thread

[Akai XIII]

FINISH THE FIGHT!

Welcome to my Halo 3 thread! This is where you can find lots of videos, screenshots, previews, interviews, news and other bits and pieces regarding Halo 3.
Hope you enjoy!


HALO 3
Developer: Bungie Studios (www.bungie.net)
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: FPS
Platform: Xbox 360 exclusive
Release Date: Europe = 26th of September 2007, US = 25th of September 2007
Players: Single player and co-op campaign (up to 4 players), offline multiplayer via split-screen or system-link, and up to 16 player online multiplayer over Xbox Live

At the end of Halo 2, we see Master Chief heading towards Earth in a Forerunner ship. The Covenant have found where 'The Arc' is, and have attacked Earth. The Arc is the main control place of all the Halo rings in the universe. After Miranda Keyes stops the destruction of the Universe in Halo 2 by removing the index, the Arc is set up for remote detonation of the remainder of Halo rings.
The Covenant want to start their Great Journey, which they believe the Forerunners made, into the great beyond. However, the Halo ring was designed to wipe out all sentient life, making the Flood (a highly virulent and deadly parasitic life form now reawakened) incapable of surviving.
Master Chief must stop the Covenant from activating the Arc, and destroying every single piece of life in the Universe.


REVIEW SCORES
EDGE: 10/10
1UP.com: 10/10
Eurogamer: 10/10
GamePro: 5/5
Gamereactor: 10/10
GameSpy: 5/5
GamesRadar: 10/10
OXM Australia: 10/10
Press Start Online: Gold Award
Pro-G: 10/10
SavingProgress.com: A
Cheat Code Central: 4.9/5
GameTrailers: 9.8/10
Game Informer: 9.75/10
CVG: 9.7/10
TeamXbox: 9.7/10
WorthPlaying 9.6/10
GamerNode: 9.5/10
GameSpot: 9.5/10
IGN: 9.5/10
IGN UK: 9.5/10
Gamerzines.com: 94%
Famitsu Weekly: 10,9,9,9
ActionTrip: 92%
GameDaily: 9/10
PALGN: 9/10
Yahoo! Games: 4.5/5
Gamer 2.0: 8.8/10

Average Score = 96%




FAQS
Multiplayer Beta FAQ
Announcement FAQ


VIDEOS
http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2606
http://www.xboxyde.com/game_798_en.html
http://www.1up.com/do/gameOverview?cId= ... sec=VIDEOS
http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/halo3/media.html
http://uk.media.xbox360.ign.com/media/7 ... ids_1.html


PREVIEWS
1UP's Final Beta Impressions
Beta: First impressions
Beta: Verdict
Halo 3 Beta: A Beginner's Guide
Multiplayer Beta Hands-On Impressions
Beta Preview
Beta: Matchmaking Breakdown
Beta: Sweet Rides
Beta: Map Overview
Beta Hands-on
Beta: The Weapons and Gadgets
Multiplayer Beta First Impressions
Multiplayer Beta Preview
3 Multiplayer Maps In-Depth
First Look Preview


INTERVIEWS
Interview With Brian Jarrard, Community Lead At Bungie
Joystiq interviews Bungie's Frank O'Connor
Halo 3 Matchmaking Q+A
Interview With Frank O'Connor


SCREENSHOTS


http://screenshots.teamxbox.com/gallery/1353/Halo-3/p1/
http://www.xboxyde.com/game_798_en.html
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=76317
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=64805
http://www.1up.com/do/media?cId=3144308&sec=IMAGES
http://uk.media.xbox360.ign.com/media/7 ... mgs_1.html
http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/halo3/images.html


THE STORY SO FAR
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved takes place on a mysterious planet-like construct referred to as 'Halo'. Some days before the story begins, the Covenant, a collection of alien species committed to the destruction of the human race, launch an assault on the home of Human military production, Reach, destroying it. A single starship, the Pillar of Autumn, survives the alien onslaught, carrying one of the last known SPARTAN IIs - the 'Master Chief'. The ship initiates a random jump to Slipspace, hoping to lead the enemy away from Earth. Following coordinates chosen by the on board Al construct named 'Cortana', they jump to an alien built ring which orbits a planet. This ring is called Halo. Halo was built by a mysterious group of people in the distant past called 'The Forerunners'. Although the Protagonist (the Master Chief) does not know it, seven rings were constructed to completely eradicate all life in the galaxy. The rings were built as weapons of last resort to stop a parasitic race called 'The Flood'. Most of the history between the Forerunners and the Flood is unknown, but it appears that the Forerunners were overwhelmed by the Flood, who then proceeded to destroy their own civilization in an attempt to starve the flood, leaving the universe empty and safe for new organisms to evolve. The Covenant discovered the rings and believe that they will lead their civilization on a 'Great Journey'. The 'Sacred Rings' are the most treasured artifacts of the Covenant and they guard the rings savagely. Each 'Halo' requires an Index to activate. The player is to stop the Covenant from activating Halo and prevent the Flood spreading across the universe, while faced with a massive four way war fought over immense and beautiful landscapes.

In more detail: http://rampancy.net/halostory

Halo 2
The game opens with Master Chief and Sergeant Avery Johnson receiving awards aboard Cairo Station, a MAC gun platform orbiting Earth, alongside Miranda Keyes. Miranda is the daughter of Jacob Keyes, who died during the course of Halo: Combat Evolved, and Miranda is accepting a posthumous award for her father's bravery. This ceremony is juxtaposed with the judgement and torture of the former Covenant Elite Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Particular Justice, who is being punished for his incompetence. Both events are in response to the destruction of Halo during the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. The Master Chief and newly promoted Sergeant Major Johnson are awarded medals for their bravery and sacrifice, and the unnamed Covenant admiral is being tortured for his inability to prevent the destruction of Halo. It is also revealed that the Covenant's interest in Halo lies in the belief that the activation of Halo would bring about the 'Great Journey', which would cleanse the universe of lesser lifeforms (including the Flood) while providing salvation for the Covenant.
Soon after the commencement of Master Chief's ceremony, a Covenant fleet jumps out of slipspace near Earth. The Covenant proceeds to send boarding parties towards a battlecluster of stations. These boarding parties are secretly carrying explosives designed to take out the MAC (Magnetic Accelerator Cannon) guns that protect Earth from attack. Master Chief finds and disarms a bomb located on Cairo Station with the help of Cortana, while the flagship of the Covenant fleet speeds past Earth's defenses and heads toward Earth itself. Master Chief and Cortana join the UNSC ship In Amber Clad, which is en route to New Mombasa to deal with the Covenant flagship.
Before reaching New Mombasa, Cortana decodes transmissions revealing that the flagship carries the High Prophet of Regret. The UNSC successfully repels the Covenant invasion force with the help of Master Chief, and the Covenant ship begins preparations for a slipspace jump to an unknown destination. The ship makes the jump, and the city is destroyed in the shockwave. To avoid destruction In Amber Clad follows, and discovers a second Halo installation dubbed 'Delta Halo'. The crew of In Amber Clad learns more about the Covenant's belief regarding the Halos, and Master Chief ultimately slays the High Prophet of Regret while Keyes attempts to secure the Index to prevent the activation of Delta Halo.
The action switches to the condemned Covenant fleet commander assuming the role of the Arbiter. His first mission is to silence a heretic who doubts the Prophets' teachings, in turn starting the Arbiter along a path which ultimately results in Arbiter doubting his own beliefs. Seeds of discord are further sown within the Covenant when the Prophets decide to grant the Brutes the job of protecting the Prophets instead of the traditionally favoured Elites. During his missions, The Arbiter realizes the danger that the rings represent: they are weapons designed "to destroy all sentient life in the galaxy" according to the Oracle, not the religious artefacts the Covenant believes them to be.
The Master Chief and the Arbiter meet upon the release of the Flood from Delta Halo. A mysterious Flood creature called the Gravemind sends the Arbiter and Master Chief in separate directions to prevent The High Prophets from activating Delta Halo. Master Chief finds himself aboard the Covenant Holy City High Charity, a gargantuan space station, and pursues the remaining Prophets. During his mission, he finds himself in the middle of an erupting Covenant civil war between the Brutes and the Elites. After capturing In Amber Clad, the Flood, led by Gravemind, arrive at the city and begin to consume and infect the populace. The only remaining High Prophet, Truth, escapes on a Forerunner vessel hidden in the core of High Charity. The Master Chief stows away on board while Cortana stays behind in order to detonate the In Amber Clad's engine reactors to destroy Delta Halo and High Charity if Tartarus activates the ring.
The game concludes with the Arbiter's mission to stop the firing of Halo. Together, they pursue and kill Tartarus and his Brutes in Delta Halo's control room. Tartarus, however, has already succeeded in inserting the Index, making Delta Halo fully operational. After the Arbiter kills Tartarus, Miranda Keyes manages to pull the Index out of Delta Halo's control panel, thus halting the firing sequence as the Oracle mentioned. Despite this success, Delta Halo's deactivation sends a signal out to the other remaining Halos, sending them all into a standby mode so they can be remotely activated from 'the Ark'. Meanwhile, the Forerunner ship that Master Chief has stowed away on approaches Earth. One of Earth's remaining orbital forces contacts him and asks what he is doing aboard the Forerunner ship. He replies, "Sir, finishing this fight," ending the game with an abrupt cliffhanger and setting the tone for Halo 3. After the game credits finish rolling, a scene appears in which Cortana and Gravemind are conversing. This is meant as a further teaser for Halo 3.

In more detail: http://rampancy.net/halo2story

- 1UP.com has a great article looking at some of the key features in the Halo 1+2 storyline, read it here: http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3162602
- All the cutscenes from Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 can be viewed here: http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/cutscenes/
- Both Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 are backwards compatible on the Xbox 360.


CAMPAIGN META-GAME
Halo 3 features a "campaign meta-game" in which a player is awarded a numerical score based on their performance while completing a level in the campaign. Points mostly come from defeating enemies, with extra points being awarded for stylish moves such as performing headshots, or progressing through a level quickly. Finding and activating Skulls, a continuation of Halo 2's gameplay-altering easter eggs, allows a player to obtain even higher scores in the meta-game. As it records individual performance for each player, the meta-game also introduces a competitive aspect to co-op play. If the player dies, or kills a co-op teammate however, they will lose points.
Gamerscore is awarded for successfully getting over a certain score in each level, and medals are awarded for specific accomplishments. Campaign play also unlocks more armour permutations for use in multiplayer.


SKULLS
Skulls are hidden in Campaign levels, and when found can be toggled on to change various aspects of the game. Examples include "Iron", which forces all players to restart from the last checkpoint if only one dies. Another is "Catch" which causes enemies to throw copious volumes of grenades.
Any combination of Skulls can be activated from the Campaign Lobby.


4 PLAYER CO-OPERATIVE PLAY

Halo 3 features up to four player co-operative gameplay over Xbox Live or System Link and two player co-operative split-screen. Although previous games also supported split-screen co-op, system link and XBL variants of this game mode is a first for the series. Players playing split-screen can also join other players over system link and Xbox live for a total of up to four players.
For plot reasons, instead of having each player be an identical Spartan like in previous Halo games, the first player will play as Master Chief, the second player the Arbiter and the other two players newly created Elites; N’tho ‘Sraom and Usze ‘Taham each with their own backstories. Each player has identical abilities although the starting weapon will be different depending on whether the player is Master Chief or an Elite. Master Chief will have the Battle Rifle, while the Elites will be equipped with Carbines depending on which mission they are on.


EQUIPMENT
A new class of usable items in Halo 3. These items have various effects and functions, ranging from defensive effects (Bubble Shield and Regenerator), or objects which blind or confuse the enemy (Flare and Radar Jammer), to ones which can actually harm and kill (Power Drainer and Tripmine). Most of these are named by their function.
They are not designed to give one player a significant advantage, as they affect both sides equally, but as items which change the dynamic of a fight momentarily. The Bubble Shield, for example, produces a protective dome but, a person inside cannot fire out, just as a person outside cannot fire in. This creates a stalemate situation until the Bubble Shield fails, or players move through the shield onto one side of it. Equally, once the Portable Gravity Lift is dropped it can be used by both sides to gain greater height into the air, often to get over specific obstacles.


SUPPORT WEAPONS

Halo 3 introduces a new-to-the-series class called "support weapons". These are a group of exceptionally large, powerful and cumbersome two-handed weapons that, when carried, change the view to a third-person perspective and cause the player to move more slowly. The four weapons available in this class are the Machine Gun Turret, Missile Pod, Flamethrower and Plasma Turret.


MULTIPLAYER
Up to four people can participate in multiplayer match on a single Xbox 360 in Halo 3 via a split screen layout. Up to sixteen may participate in a single match over a LAN or Xbox Live. A combination of some or all of these methods may be combined for a match with up to sixteen players.
Like most multiplayer Xbox 360 titles, Halo 3 will use a customized version of TrueSkill ranking system for its online matchmaking facilities. Halo 3's matchmaking system will be based on two different ranks, skill and experience (Rating Points or RP). Skill will simply be the TrueSkill rank of the player in a given playlist, and experience (RP) is a linear measure of experience (1 point for each win in the online playlists). Overlaid by a Military rank; so, a player with a designation of a "General" will have played for a longer time than someone who is a "Recruit". This is in order to make the system more fair and to reflect the effect of experience on players' profiles. The RP system also has a mechanism built in to dissuade players from excessive quitting from matches, which became a problem for some players in Halo 2. When players quit from a match before it has finished, they will lose 2 RP. So players that regularly quit games, leaving their teammates stranded, may eventually end up having negative RP.
The UI (User Interface) has been redesigned from Halo 2, making it easier to generate a custom game in Halo 3 multiplayer, which can now be saved and shared online with the File Sharing features. Players will now be able to advertise their custom games via Xbox Live Public; making it easier to find a multiplayer match to a player's taste without having to link up with friends.
Some new features that can be found in Halo 3 multiplayer:
- Man Cannons: Man Cannons toss a player (or anything for that matter, including vehicles and grenades for example) through the air to another part of the map. The user is unprotected while in mid-air, but can still attack other players.
- Shield Doors: Shield Doors are Covenant made "doors" that are able to allow people and machines through while keeping plasma and gunfire out. They are similar in design to energy shields that the Jackals wear, and can also be found in the Halo 3 campaign.
- Unranked Rankings: Even from playing unranked games, you have a rank. Not a numerical one, but you have a little badge next to your name based on your experience.
- A-hole Button: A quick and easy way to mute irritating players in the game.


PLAYER TRAITS
In addition to being able to modify multiplayer gametype settings in the way we're already familiar with when setting up multiplayer games, new "Player Traits" allow players to set specific altered abilities to all players and different (if they wish) abilities to the leaders of a game, expanding the amount of gametype customization available even further.
You can set - under Shields and Health - all of these things; damage resistance, shield multiplier, recharge rate, vampirism, head shot damage. Then you can set their Damage Modifiers; what they start with as their primary and secondary weapons, how many grenades, whether they have regenerating grenades, infinite ammo. Then Movement, so that includes player gravity, speed, whether they can get into a vehicle or not, motion tracker - whether it's on, how big or how small the range is, and then the Appearance, so if have active cammo on, force team colours etc.


FORGE

Forge is a collaborative map editing and gameplay mode, a tool that enables players to insert game objects into existing maps. Bungie has stated that this should be considered more a gametype than a tool. Almost all weapons, vehicles, and interactive objects (various crates and barriers) can be spawned, moved and placed into maps with Forge.
In games where Forge is enabled, players can switch to the editing mode at any time. While in this mode, a player appears to other players as a "Forerunner Monitor" and is still vulnerable to being attacked and killed. Objects can be spawned into the game in real-time and parameters such as ammo counts (for weapons) and respawn rates can be altered for each object. The number of objects that can exist in a map at any one time is limited, however, as each object created takes up a set amount of points from the particular map's limit.
As well as changing alterations to spawn weapons to assist a player in real-time, altered maps can be saved and then recalled in a normal multiplayer game mode. These altered maps can also be transferred to other players using the File Sharing features. Modifications made by Forge can change the way a map plays quite drastically from its original configuration, players can basically create their own gametypes.
Example 1: Super Mario Madness - All weapons in the level are set on top of crates which are hovering above the ground. To get a weapon, players must go underneath a crate, jump up to hit their head on the create to break it, allowing the weapon to fall to the ground for them to use.
Example 2: Rocket Race - There are five teams of two, where one teammate is a VIP that the other must escort to certain objective points to score. Everyone has rocket launchers, and everyone spawns together, near a fleet of two-man Mongoose ATVs.


SAVED FILMS
This feature allows players to save a copy of the game data of a multiplayer match or campaign session to their Xbox 360's hard drive, so that they may watch what happened again. It has been confirmed that you can save up to 100 saved films on a hard drive at a time.
Players will be able to view the action from almost any angle and any player's perspective (including a free-roaming camera), as well as being able to slow down the speed and also play the recording in reverse. The Saved Films can even be edited in-game to create a shorter clip of a particularly amazing or special moment. Players can also use the tool to take screenshots from films and upload them to the Bungie website.
As the Saved Films are only the game data (not actual video files), this allows the file sizes to be relatively small. A recording for a typical game is in the region of only 6 MB. Films will also be played back at whatever resolution the Xbox 360 they are running on is set to, regardless of the resolution at which the a player was using at the time of the recording. All games are recreated in real-time on the Xbox 360 using the Halo 3 engine. This allows them to be shared amongst any other Xbox 360 without any compatibility issues because they all run off the same code. The Saved Films feature is described as an "excellent training aid" since players can gain valuable tactical insight into the strategies of other players by viewing the saved films.
This feature will also facilitate the creation of machinima and other game-related videos, as well as give the creators of such videos advanced tools to enhance the quality of this medium. Video game montage creators can save games to the hard drive of their Xbox 360 console for later use, so they never have to miss a camera shot, while machinima directors and cinematographers will have expanded camera options, instead of having to resort to using a first-person, gameplay perspective.


FILE SHARE

File Sharing in Halo 3 is an online storage and sharing service for a range of files that are created in the game, and is an extension of the game's online capabilities. Files such as Saved Films, screenshots (up to 50, high-res), custom gametypes and Forge settings can all be uploaded to the File Share. Items stored there then appear on a players Bungie.net Halo 3 profile, with the ability to comment on them and queue items to download for when the player next plays the game online.
Players can view and transfer these files individually to others while they are online, but can also upload them to a central, Bungie-run server so friends (or rivals) can then view and download them even when the player who created them is not online.
All Xbox Live Gold subscribers get 6 file slots and 25MB of storage. Players can purchase storage space and slots for 750 Microsoft Points, dubbed "Bungie Pro". Bungie Pro bumps storage up to 24 slots and 250MB. While players with Xbox Live Silver do not have access to the free File Share, they may purchase Bungie Pro to share their files.
Bungie has also extended the File Share to their website in that players may flag files for download (up to 8) on Bungie.net. The next time the user signs in on their Xbox 360, it will automatically download the flagged files to their hard drive.


CONTROLS
Halo 3 uses the new 360 bumper buttons. Reloading is no longer using the X button. Now, the right bumper button will reload your main weapon if single wielding, or reload right weapon and if held pick up a right weapon if dual wielding. It also is the action button. The left trigger will switch grenade type if single wielding, or reload left weapon and if held pick up a left weapon while dual wielding.
The X button is now used to activate equipment (e.g. Bubble Shield).
The B button is used for melee attacks and to remove guns from their turrets.




AVERAGE HALO 3 ENCOUNTER
This is the volume of enemies and other stuff we can expect from the average encounter in Halo 3, according to Bungie in one of their weekly updates (posted here).

Encounter Recipe:
* Scary Post Apocalyptic Environment: 1
* Phantoms: 3
* Grunts: 14
* Marines: 6
* Brutes: 8
* Jackals: 3
* Wraiths: 3
* Ghosts: 6
* Mongoose: 1
* Warthogs: 1
* New version of old favorite: 1
* Chief: 1
* Giant Bad Guy in distance: 1
* Frightening and Inexplicable Maelstrom: 1
* Ancient Forerunner Artifact: 1




ANIMATED GIFS


Multiplayer Beta GIFs:
GIF 1 - GIF 2 - GIF 3
GIF 4 - GIF 5 - GIF 6
GIF 7 - GIF 8 - GIF 9
GIF 10 - GIF 11 - GIF 12


THE ARSENAL
The following weapons are confirmed to be in the game. More details about them will be added as the info is released on the Bungie website.

- UNSC Weapons
Spartan Laser | Assault Rifle | M6G Pistol | M7 Caseless SMG | M90A Shotgun | Battle Rifle | Sniper Rifle | Rocket Launcher

- Covenant Weapons
Plasma Pistol | Plasma Rifle | Needler | Carbine | Beam Rifle | Brute Spiker | Brute Mauler | Brute Shot | Gravity Hammer | Energy Sword | Fuel Rod Cannon

- Support Weapons
Plasma Turret | Machinegun Turret | Missile Pod | Flamethrower

- Grenades
Spike Grenade | Incendiary Grenade | M9 Fragmentation Grenade | Plasma Grenade

- Equipment
Energy Drain | Regenerator | Bubble Shield | Personal Shield | Flare | Invincibility | Proximity Mine | Gravity Lift

- UNSC Vehicles
Mongoose | Warthog | Troop Transport Warthog | Scorpion | Hornet | Elephant

- Covenant Vehicles
Brute Prowler | Wraith | Banshee | Scarab | Ghost | Brute Chopper


SPARTAN CUSTOMISATION (MULTIPLAYER)



Armour Variants:
Unlockable by completing Achievements in Campaign and multiplayer, armour variants are only usable in multiplayer. They are cosmetic sets of armour comprised of several pieces (helmet, shoulder pads, chest pieces) which can be combined.
- C.Q.B. Variant
- E.V.A. Variant



Service Tags:
You have an emblem, but you also choose a 'one letter, two numbers' service tag for your profile (e.g. G23). When players are off in the distance, their service tag will be displayed rather than their full name.


DESKTOP WALLPAPER
http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/as ... t=60&cc=21


STORYBOARDS
http://www.bungie.net/projects/halo3/as ... t=52&cc=21


THE GRAPHICS

As detailed on the Bungie Studios website, the Halo 3 engine will employ advanced graphics technologies such as HDR lighting, global lighting, real-time reflections and real-time depth of field effect (in cut-scenes).
Certain surfaces, including the Master Chief's visor (when visible) and the armour of a Ghost, will have real-time reflections. Most of the objects in the game will cast real-time shadows on itself and the environment around it, including the game's plant-life.
Halo 3 will use Normal, Bump and Parallax mapping to add much more detail to surfaces without dramatically increasing the number of polygons. Bungie has also stated that the draw distance (horizon of the game world) will be in excess of 10 miles (16 km). Sophisticated new atmospheric models are used in the game. Dust and smoke particles can be used to add to the realism of the environment, and the haze effect which is often used in video games to save processing power is so realistic that it actually costs processing power. Water effects are also dramatically improved; it can reflect and refract images simultaneously. As well as being able to simulate effects such as water falls, it will visually flow around objects in its path and splash when players or vehicles, or other objects, travel through it.
The foliage in the game is physics-enabled, meaning it not only moves in the simulated wind, but actually reacts to the player's (or other creatures) presence and bullet fire, as well as from explosions. Some flora in the game will also be destroyed after receiving enough damage.
Footprints are left on sand and in snow, and grenades will stick in snow for example.


SOUND AND VOICE ACTING
As with all titles on the Xbox 360, Halo 3 will fully support 5.1 surround sound audio. In the game, there will be over 50,000 pieces of audio, with nearly 40,000 of those being NPC dialogue. This is more than what was in Halo and Halo 2 combined; Halo 2 had over 15,000 pieces of dialogue. The AI controlling this dialogue is designed to ensure the exchanges flow naturally and convincingly.
Separate recordings have been made for nearby and distant gunfire to make for a more believable sound experience. Distant gunfire sounds, which may first seem like prerecorded ambient sound, are often the result of an actual firefight happening somewhere in the game.
Voice actors returning to reprise their roles in Halo 3 include: Jen Taylor as Cortana and Steve Downes as the voice of Master Chief.
Other voice actors:
Nathan Fillion (Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly)
Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb in Firefly)
Alan Tudyk (Wash in Firefly)
Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica)
John DiMaggio (Bender in Futurama and Marcus Fenix in Gears of War)
Terence Stamp (General Zod in Superman II)


MUSIC
Marty O'Donnell is again composing the original score. Some pieces of the game's music are produced with a much larger real orchestra than anything in the prior two games. For example, the music for the announcement trailer was recorded with a 60-piece orchestra and a 24 piece choir.
- Halo Theme (right click and save)
- Halo 2 Theme (click link and follow download instructions)


ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI behaviour of both enemies and allies is greatly enhanced in Halo 3. Marines' driving and gunning skills on the Warthog, Grunt flanking manoeuvres in battle, and Brute "pack mentality" have all been mentioned by Bungie as examples of using the power of the Xbox 360 for more than just increased polygon counts. Enemy AI will also have new non-combat behaviours, rather than just sitting around waiting for players to kill them.


VERSIONS OF THE GAME
Standard Edition (RRP = £39.99/$59.99):
Just the game itself.


Collector's Edition (RRP = £49.99/$69.99):
Includes the game, a metal case, a Halo fiction and art book, and a DVD containing extra/bonus content such as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and videos including a high-definition "Making of 'Halo 3'" documentary, numerous high-definition featurettes documenting the creative design processes involved in developing the game, a look at some early game concepts and their evolution through the game's development, and an audio-visual calibration tool custom designed by the Halo 3 graphics and audio team to make the most of fans' high-definition home cinemas.


Legendary Edition (RRP = £69.99/$129.99):
Includes the game, a replica of Master Chief's helmet, a collection of original Halo 3 storyboard art depicting key/pivotal moments in the game, and 2 additional DVDs. The 2 DVDs contain the following: completely remastered cut-scenes from both Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 with developer commentaries, a featurette documenting a day in the life at Bungie, exclusive Machinima content from "Red vs. Blue" and "This Spartan Life", exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and videos including a high-definition "Making of 'Halo 3'" documentary, numerous high-definition featurettes documenting the creative design processes involved in developing the game, a look at some early game concepts and their evolution through the game's development, and an audio-visual calibration tool custom designed by the Halo 3 graphics and audio team to make the most of fans' high-definition home cinemas.



ACHIEVEMENTS

- Landfall (20G): Finish the first mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Holdout (20G): Finish the second mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- The Road (20G): Finish the third mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Assault (30G): Finish the fourth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Cleansing (30G): Finish the fifth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Refuge (30G): Finish the sixth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Last Stand (40G): Finish the seventh mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- The Key (40G): Finish the eighth mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Return (50G): Finish the final mission of the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary.
- Campaign Complete: Normal (125G): Finish the Campaign on Normal.
- Campaign Complete: Heroic (125G): Finish the Campaign on Heroic (unlocks achievement for Normal, if not earned).
- Campaign Complete: Legendary (125G): Finish the Campaign on Legendary (unlocks achievements for Normal and Heroic, if not earned).
- Iron (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Black Eye (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Tough Luck (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Catch (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Fog (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Famine (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Thunderstorm (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Tilt (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Mythic (10G): Finish the Campaign on Normal, Heroic, or Legendary, then find and claim this skull.
- Spartan Program Recruit (10G): Win your first game in matchmaking to sign up for the Spartan Program (Online).
- UNSC Spartan (15G): Earn your Sergeant rating to be recognized as a true Spartan (Online).
- Spartan Officer (25G): Advance to the Spartan Officer ranks (Online).
- Two for One (5G): Score a Double Kill with a single spartan laser shot in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Too Close to the Sun (5G): Destroy an enemy banshee with the spartan laser or missile pod in a ranked playlist or in campaign.
- Triple Kill (5G): Kill 3 enemies within 4 seconds of one another in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Overkill (5G): Kill 4 enemies within 4 seconds of one another in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Lee R Wilson Memorial (5G): Score 5 grenade sticks in any ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- We’re in for some Chop (5G): Destroy an enemy vehicle with equipment in a ranked playlist or in campaign.
- Killing Frenzy (5G): Kill 10 enemies without dying in any ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Steppin' Razor (5G): Score a Triple Kill with the sword in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Mongoose Mowdown (5G): Splatter an enemy with the mongoose in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Up Close and Personal (5G): Kill 5 enemies by melee or assassination in a ranked free for all playlist (Online).
- Fear the Pink Mist (5G): Kill 5 enemies with the needler in a ranked free for all playlist or in campaign.
- Headshot Honcho (5G): Kill 10 enemies with headshots in a ranked free for all playlist or in campaign.
- Used Car Salesman (5G): Destroy a vehicle that has three enemies in it in a ranked playlist or in campaign.
- Marathon Man (40G): Locate and access all Terminals in the Campaign.
- MVP (5G): Earn the MVP in any ranked playlist (Online).
- Maybe Next Time Buddy (5G): Board the same vehicle within 10 seconds after being boarded in any free for all playlist (Online).
- Demon (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the second mission.
- Guerilla (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the first mission.
- Cavalier (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the third mission.
- Askar (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the fourth mission.
- Exterminator (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the fifth mission.
- Ranger (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the sixth mission.
- Vanguard (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the seventh mission.
- Orpheus (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on eighth mission.
- Reclaimer (10G): Score over <X> points in the Campaign meta-game on the final mission.

MULTIPLAYER MEDALS

- Double Kill: Kill 2 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Triple Kill: Kill 3 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Overkill: Kill 4 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killtacular: Kill 5 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killtrocity: Kill 6 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killimanjaro: Kill 7 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killtastrophe: Kill 8 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killpocalypse: Kill 9 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killionaire: Kill 10 opponents within 4 seconds of each other.
- Killing Spree: Kill 5 opponents in a row without dying.
- Killing Frenzy: Kill 10 opponents in a row without dying.
- Running Riot: Kill 15 opponents in a row without dying.
- Rampage: Kill 20 opponents in a row without dying.
- Untouchable: Kill 25 opponents in a row without dying.
- Invincible: Kill 30 opponents in a row without dying.
- Sniper Spree: Kill 5 opponents in a row with a sniper weapon without dying.
- Sharpshooter: Kill 10 opponents in a row with a sniper weapon without dying.
- Shotgun Spree: Kill 5 opponents in a row with the shotgun without dying.
- Cheneymania: Kill 10 opponents in a row with the shotgun without dying.
- Splatter Spree: Splatter 5 opponents in a row using a vehicle without dying.
- Vehicular Manslaughter: Splatter 10 opponents in a row using a vehicle without dying.
- Sword Spree: Kill 5 opponents in a row with the sword without dying.
- Slice 'n Dice: Kill 10 opponents in a row with the sword without dying.
- Juggernaut Spree: Kill 5 opponents in a row as the Juggernaut without dying.
- Unstoppable: Kill 10 opponents in a row as the Juggernaut without dying.
- Infection Spree: Kill 5 humans in a row as the zombie without dying.
- Mmmm Brains: Kill 10 humans in a row as the zombie without dying.
- Zombie Killing Spree: Kill 5 zombies in a row as the human without dying.
- Hell's Janitor: Kill 10 zombies in a row as the human without dying.
- Is Quisnam Protero Damno: Kill 15 zombies in a row as the human without dying.
- Hail to the King: Kill 5 opponents in a row from inside the hill before it moves.
- Bulltrue: Killed an opponent that was in the act of a sword lunge.
- Splatter: Hit and kill an opponent with your vehicle.
- Carjacker: Board a land-based vehicle by forcably removing the opponent in it.
- Skyjacker: Board an aircraft by forcably removing the opponent in it.
- Death from the Grave: Kill an opponent after you have died.
- Killjoy: End an opponent's killing spree.
- Laser Kill: Kill an opponent by using the Spartan Laser.
- Grenade Stick: Kill an opponent by sticking them with a plasma or Brute grenade.
- Sniper Kill: Kill an opponent with the Sniper Rifle or the Beam Rifle.
- Assassin: Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack from behind.
- Beat Down: Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack.
- Incineration: Kill an opponent with a flame-based weapon.
- Destroyed Vehicle: Destroy a vehicle occupied by an opponent.
- Wheelman: Be the driver of a vehicle when a passenger kills an opponent.
- Bomb Planted: Plant the bomb in Assault.
- Killed Bomb Carrier: Kill an opponent bomb carrier in an Assault game.
- Killed VIP: Kill an opponent's VIP in a VIP game.
- Killed Juggernaut: Kill the Juggernaut in a Juggernaut game.
- Oddball Kill: Get a melee kill while swinging the oddball.
- Flag Score: Complete a scoring flag capture in a CTF game.
- Killed Flag Carrier: Kill an opponent flag carrier in a CTF game.
- Flag Kill: Kill an opponent with a melee attack using the flag.
- Last Man Standing: Be the last human in an infection game.
- Extermination: Wipe out an enemy team with at least an Overkill.
- Perfection: Win a slayer game without dying with at least 15 kills.

RANDOM STUFF
Poster:


Red vs Blue:
An episode made using the Halo 3 beta engine:
http://www.xboxyde.com/stream_3834_en.html


Halo 3 Game Fuel:


Master Chief Waxwork:


McFarlane's Halo 3 Action Figures:
The following figures are expected to hit store shelves in Spring 2008:

Master Chief:



Brute Chieftain:



Cortana:


Jackal Sniper:


Grunt 2-Pack:



Warthog:


Ghost:


Brute Chopper:

[NickSCFC]

THAT! is how you start a thread

[Daniel]

I still play this now and then online. Go through phases. Some weeks I play it all the time then will go a month or so without a game so add me if any one plays it online

[shas'la]

Pretty much play this every day. Looking forward to the rumoured AI placement in multiplayer, or Campaign forge type thing.

[Daniel]

Yeah hoping to see some more DLC that arent just maps

[Zombitedesade]

Pretty much play this every day. Looking forward to the rumoured AI placement in multiplayer, or Campaign forge type thing.

Is that defintently happening or just rumour? How will it work? actual A.I bots ala unreal tournament or a more co-op type affair? Or maybe A.I stuff going on around a multi-player match?

Actually went back to this for some time after getting rather bored of Cod 4, its got that extra special 'last-ability thing' that just keeps you coming back.

[Daniel]

Whats the differences with MLG mode and normal?

[TravelJug]

I'm not here to troll but does anyone else think that Halo is one of the most over hyped over exagerated games ever? It's a generic FPS to me. No better, no worse than the average out there.

[shas'la]

Whats the differences with MLG mode and normal?

You move faster, and can take different amount of damage, while your shield rechagre slower ( trying to recreate halo level of speed/health), the levels and objectives have been tweeked for "balance" so neither team holds an advantage where they spawn. And no equipment.

Zomb - the only thing that has been teased out is when they received their award from EDGE of innovation, and had flood/brutes and ODST's on rats nest, the rest is pretty much wild speculation.

[Zombitedesade]

Whats the differences with MLG mode and normal?

MLG = No Radars, shields possibly less effective (not sure bout that mind) head shots do more damage, Very BR foucsed weapon variants and generally a more focused hardcore game type of play.

[Hulohot]

The campaign was okay at best I think. Not sure why it got such high scores.

[Codename 47]

Has anyone got any links to the rumours about a campaign version of Forge? I'd definitly love to see that happen.

[Dave]

I'm not here to troll but does anyone else think that Halo is one of the most over hyped over exagerated games ever? It's a generic FPS to me. No better, no worse than the average out there.

When I first played it I was like , but then I was like

[Daniel]

I'm not here to troll but does anyone else think that Halo is one of the most over hyped over exagerated games ever? It's a generic FPS to me. No better, no worse than the average out there.

[/url]

I dont think that much of single player to be honest and its certainly not my fav FPS series but online its so so so much fun and thats what counts plus the after-release support and innovations like the theater are awesome

[shas'la]

Has anyone got any links to the rumours about a campaign version of Forge? I'd definitly love to see that happen.

here

[JiggerJay]

I liked halo 3 multiplayer a lot, prob hit about 100+ hours on live with it, I am kinda glad my disc has died tbh, as I would always get annoyed by something, there is always someone making a racist reference to my name, tame killing, camping, leavers, and the people who try to "bagsy" something before the game starts, because they think they are amazing with it, then i show them how to use the mother strawberry floating laser!

Halo 3 would be great if we didn't have the selfish, loud and abusive yanks!

[Ario]

I play this game too much...

[Daniel]

I liked halo 3 multiplayer a lot, prob hit about 100+ hours on live with it, I am kinda glad my disc has died tbh, as I would always get annoyed by something, there is always someone making a racist reference to my name, tame killing, camping, leavers, and the people who try to "bagsy" something before the game starts, because they think they are amazing with it, then i show them how to use the mother strawberry floating laser!

Halo 3 would be great if we didn't have the selfish, loud and abusive yanks!

Most of them went to COD4 for a bit and Halo got a reprive but now they seem all to be back. I mute everyone but my mates

[shas'la]

Here are my stats as of last week;

[Sarge]

Bungie Update

It’s no secret that what we originally envisioned for “The Bungie Fan’s Summer 2008” is ultimately much different from what “The Bungie Fan’s Summer 2008” has actually ended up being. The periods in between major announcements and any sort of reveals are lean ones. However in these lean times, on these long treks through barren, sun-scorched deserts, small scraps of manna have fallen from on high.

In recent weeks we’ve released a pair of machinima-based awards acceptance speeches. In both cases, astute fans noticed some hints and chicanery associated with both of these videos (if you’ve somehow missed them, watch them in the Bungie Media Player now). Additionally, in both cases overly zealous, froth-filled fans bathed in excitement, undoubtedly quivering at things they are looking at with a far-too strong microscope.

There will be no insertion of Campaign objects, enemies or friendlies via the Forge as folks have speculated. There will be no “bots” added to the game. The “set” on Rat’s Nest was designed to appear like a backlot of a film set, a holding area, not some depiction of a brand-new feature that implements Campaign objects into multiplayer. Do consider this issue a closed one. Calm yourselves down, pump the brakes, and take a breath.

We’ve of course heard the gums flapping on the Internet that Bungie is making more Halo stuff. We’ve never said that we’re finished with Halo 3; in the Edge acceptance video, we confirmed that the ride isn’t over. Ever since our independence last year and taking control of our destiny, we've been pretty open about the fact that we have three distinct projects underway within Bungie and they aren't all Halo related.

More info here