Author Archives: Sal

About Sal

I’ve got tons of experience with Halo gaming and collecting. I feel I have something to offer to the greater Halo fan community. Posts along the way will be about tips and tricks in the games as well as collecting and many more Halo related things. I’ll also repost interesting articles from the official site, Halowaypoint.com, or from fellow Halo fan sites. As I continue this blog, I hope to help gamers who want advice on the games, as well as any collectors with regards to where to find collectibles as well as deals, coupons and so on. You can also follow me on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/HaloFanForLife or Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/halofanforlife11. Welcome to my blog and I hope you’ll come back again and again. -Sal

Toy Review: Wicked Cool Toys “World of Halo” Jackal Sniper

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The term “World of Halo” used in the title refers to all figures in that series being in scale with one another.

Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Head
• Ball Joint Neck
• Hinge Joint Jaw
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Ball Joint Elbows
• Ball Joint Wrists
• Swivel Jointed Chest
• Ball Joint hips
• Hinged Joint Knees
• Hinged Joint Hocks
• Ball Jointed Joint Ankles
Accessories: Stalker Rifle, Green/Grey Figure Stand
Additional Contents: Halo Infinite Code card.
Cost: $10 (US)
Availability: Mass Retail (I got mine from Target)

And on with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)

The packaging has a nice shape to it. It gives off a vibe of being very “strong”, if you will. Kind of how a muscular person’s torso is. Thicker at the top, slimmer at the waist, then thicker at the hips. It could also be interpreted as being Master Chief’s helmet. Green mostly all over, with the window (visor), having an orangish color card in the background.
The back shows a pic of Master Chief in a running pose. Most of WCT’s World of Halo packaging is like this. Not sure why they went that route instead of displaying other toys in the line? But it still looks nice.
Considering that I open the packaging, the back doesn’t make much difference to me. For those that collect and keep in package, this shouldn’t matter much either as you do not generally display figures with the back facing front.

Continue reading →

Toy Review: Wicked Cool Toys 12 inch UNSC Marine

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Before I start the review, I would like to make note that the 12 inch line of WCT Halo figures is following the recent trend of other toy manufacturers. This is to say that the backs of the figures are flatter and there is not as much articulation as their shorter figures. The 12 inch line is most definitely meant for kids, so please consider that, as I did, when reading these reviews and should you decide to buy the figures.

Okay, let’s move on to the review.

Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Head
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Ball Joint Elbows
• Swivel Joint Wrists
• Ball Joint hips
• Ball Joint Knees
Accessories: Hydra Launcher
Additional Contents: N/A
Cost: $10 (US)
Availability: Mass Retail (I got mine from Target)

And on with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)

The packaging is tall and slim. The figure’s arms are slightly pinned behind the figure, with a plastic band, to allow for a tighter squeeze into the packaging. The Hydra is partially on display at the front bottom of the window. Take care to carefully cut away any plastic holding straps before trying to remove the figure.

Continue reading →

Toy Review: Wicked Cool Toys Spartan Series 6 inch White Mark VII [B] Spartan

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Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Head
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Double Hinge Jointed Elbows
• Ball Joint Wrists
• Swivel Jointed Torso
• Ball Joint hips
• Double Hinge Knees
• Double Jointed Joint Ankles
Accessories: VK78 Commando Rifle, Plasma Pistol
Additional Contents: Halo Infinite Code card.
Cost: $20 (US)
Availability: Mass Retail (I got mine from Target)

And on with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)

The packaging is fairly standard. Which is to say it looks nice. A large window shows off the entirety of the contents.

Continue reading →

Toy Review: Wicked Cool Toys “World of Halo” Brute Captain

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Before I get started, I wanted to mention something.
This article marks a NEW chapter for HFFL. The FIRST of reviews for Wicked Cool Toys Halo action figure line! I already have many reviews lined up.
I have to say, this line easily rivals McFarlane’s line from several years ago. I think fans are going to be very happy with what WCT has to offer!!

Also, the term “World of Halo” used in the title refers to all figures in that series being in scale with one another.

Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Head
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Ball Joint Elbows
• Ball Joint Wrists
• Swivel Jointed Chest
• Ball Joint hips
• Double Hinge Knees
• Double Jointed Joint Ankles
Accessories: Mangler, Thrusters, Removable Helmet
Additional Contents: Halo Infinite Code card.
Cost: $10 (US)
Availability: Mass Retail (I got mine from Target)

And on with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)

The packaging has a nice shape to it. It gives off a vibe of being very “strong”, if you will. Kind of how a muscular person’s torso is. Thicker at the top, slimmer at the waist, then thicker at the hips. It could also be interpreted as being Master Chief’s helmet. Green mostly all over, with the window (visor), having an orangish color card in the background.
The back shows a pic of Master Chief in a running pose. Most of WCT’s World of Halo packaging is like this. Not sure why they went that route instead of displaying other toys in the line? But it still looks nice.
Considering that I open the packaging, the back doesn’t make much difference to me. For those that collect and keep in package, this shouldn’t matter much either as you do not generally display figures with the back facing front.

Continue reading →

UGC Halo Classic Tournament Atlantic City!

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UGC is hosting a Halo Tournament the weekend of September 6-8. There will be several Halo tournies going on all at once.

Halo 3 (HMCC) 4v4, Prize Pool $50,000
Halo 3 (HMCC) Free For All, Prize Pool $1,000
Halo CE (HMCC) 2v2, Prize Pool $2,000
Halo 5 2v2, Prize Pool $5,000

Folks, this is a great opportunity to see Halo at the highest levels with many players at the professional level. I’ll be there as press for the blog and will be live tweeting and taking pics of the event. Continue reading →

THAT Atriox Bust!

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Sometime in Spring this last year (2018), I reached out to Jeremy Cook of 343 to see if he might be able to come to my annual Halo LAN. He couldn’t commit then, but said he’d try. I knew it was a shot in the dark anyway, so no worse for wear.

Early July of 2018, I asked Jeremy again if he might be able to make it. He said unfortunately no. So I had another shot in the dark… I asked him if he’d be so kind to send a sketch in his stead. This to be used as the grand raffle prize. (I started having raffles two years ago to try and recoup money spent on the LAN as we have been in the hole every year.) He kindly agreed.
I followed up with him about a week later to see the progress on the sketch. He said he had something else in mind. Something 3D. Well, I had a guess, but I didn’t want to spoil the thought, so I waited for Jeremy to tell me what it was. He revealed to me that he was making an Atriox Bust. This would be only the fourth one in existence. I was floored!

He sent me the Bust with some very important instructions. This was NEVER to be sold on eBay. This included whomever won the raffle. I immediately agreed to that stipulation.

Once unpacked, I placed the bust on a shelf of my collection for folks to view it during the LAN.  Continue reading →

Halo Toy Review: Mattel Halo 6 inch figure Series 2 Spartan

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Technical Specifications:
Articulation:
• Ball Joint Neck
• Ball Joint Shoulders
• Swivel Biceps
• Hinge/Swivel Elbows
• Hinge/Swivel Wrists
• Ball Joint Torso
• Ball Joint Hips
• Swivel Thighs
• Double Hinged Knees
• Ball Joint Ankles
Accessories: “BoomCo” skinned AR, Magnum
Additional Contents: Instruction Manual
Cost: $18 (US)
Availability: Target Exclusive

While the box says this is a Spartan Locus, in actuality, it’s Argus armor, with a Locus helmet attached. An Argus helmet is also included, if you so choose.
This is not a deterrent though folks. This is a VERY cool looking figure regardless of which helmet you choose to have on the figure. Since I already have the Linda figure and I think the Locus is just an awesome helmet, I chose to keep that on it.

On with the pics! (Click pics to make BIGGER)

The box has a large window on the front to display the figure. Instead of a build-a-figure piece, it has an extra different helmet. On the back it shows the different armor pieces and other figures from the first wave of Mattel Halo action figures.

Continue reading →

Halo To The Players Podcast: Episode 7 Valentines Day Edition

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Topics include:
• Halo 3 Settings Update (Oddball and King of the Hill)
• February MCC Update
• Bonnie Ross inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and
   Sciences Hall of Fame at the DICE Awards last night.
• Spartan Company INVITE
• Valentines Day via H5 Forge by Primordial
• Grind to 152

      HTTP Ep007 Valentines Day Edition

Have a listen and let me know what I can do to make this better.
-Sal

MCC Feburary (2019) Update

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This is a repost from HaloWaypoint:

By Postums

After a mild start to winter here in Western Washington, “Snowpocalypse 2019” decided to show up and really bring that MCC winter-themed background to life! Scoops tweeted out one of our Warthogs stuck in the snow in front of the studio last week, asking people to take a stab at recreating the in-game menu on their own. Wanting to show off his artistic side, community member Vosico took to the challenge and made the following!

The February update for MCC is bringing some fun additions that many of you have been asking us about for quite some time. This update touches on nearly all areas of the Halo community from casual, to just for fun, all the way up to die-hard competitive. Continue reading →

Halo 3 Settings Update

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This is a repost from HaloWaypoint:

Since Halo 3 has come back into the competitive scene in a big way, we’ve been keeping an eye on the competitive settings from both a player and viewer’s perspective.

For the HCS Invitational at SXSW, we’re planning to make some minor changes but we’re looking for your help in collecting data and providing feedback. With Oddball on Guardian and King of the Hill on Construct, we’ve been noticing many “dead man walking” scenarios where, at the end of the game, one team is so far ahead that it’s mathematically impossible for the other team to come back. This is especially true for Oddball on Guardian. For viewers, this often leaves the match in a weird state where some players are still playing, some have put their controllers down to celebrate, and perhaps some have even taken to Twitter to announce their victory. In matchmaking, we believe these scenarios, where the outcome is decided before the game actually ends, is also causing players in matchmaking to quit rather than finish out the remainder of the match. Continue reading →

Halo To The Players Podcast: Episode 6 Outpost Discovery policies and more

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Topics include:
• Outpost Discovery Policies: Weapons and Props; Cosplay; Other
• Fan Made Halo Wars 2 Mastodon
• Fan Art
• Elite Meme
• Fan-made map Candor (Truth reskin)
• Mega Construx Halo Heroes Series 9
• My Grind to 152

      HTTP Ep006 Outpost Discovery Policies v2

Have a listen and let me know what I can do to make this better.
-Sal

Some cool Fan Art I found.

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These cool fan art pieces come from @MilesTheDill via twitter. Permission was asked and granted to repost them here.

Love this action scene. The Pink Spartan stands out against the more earthy tones.

Nice SPI Spartan here.

Not sure if this is Noble Six, prior to Reach. Regardless, it’s pretty cool!

A very cool battle scene. I can totally see this in a comic book.

So what do you think of this art? Like it?