The Castle Map pack is set to release on April 1. Yes, that’s April Fools day. However, I do not believe 343 is fooling us with this map pack.

The three maps are Daybreak, Outcast, and Peridition. Here’s a partial repost of the three maps I wrote about last year. Now here’s the thing though, is this supposed to be Requiem? It’s been destroyed afterall as of Spartan ops Episode 10.
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Daybreak: set in a military facility against the backdrop of an idyllic mountain range

I like the concept pic. Though the holes in the mountains are strange. Then again, this is an alien world, so not all of the same rules apply there as on Earth.

Note a similar theme to Complex? No cliff, but the buildings are at least familiar.

Outcast: plunges you into the warrens, canyons and arches of an alien edifice

There’s something I really like about this concept pic. I can’t quite put my finger on it.  Maybe the relative confined spaces yet with enough room for larger scale combat. Dunno, but I can’t wait to see more of it.

Finally, Perdition: takes players into the heart of an urban sprawl

Is this Forerunner Urban sprawl though or human? It could be either from this concept pic.

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The fact that this is coming out so soon after Majestic is a GOOD thing. I wonder if there will be and hope that there will be more map packs to come. Besides the normal remakes many want, I’d like to see some maps that portray classic battles within Halo-lore. One for instance would be Corbulo Academy. Think about being able to game on a map based from the web series! Run through as Master Chief (if you configure your armor to be like his). Imagine a Spartan Ops season 2 with RETRO missions??? Then we could play against the Covenant there.

-Sal

I wasn’t going to post this since most of the images say “Do Not Redistribute.” However, since Halo.Bungie.Org has, I now feel comfortable in doing so.

This is another article posted by Shae Shatz of 343. This time on the designs of some of the weapons and the shade turret of Halo 4. The artwork is amazing. (My thoughts interjected between graphics)

Over the course of the project I got to design a variety of vehicles, props and weapons for the covenant, forerunner and UNSC. It was a real challenge to learn the visual language for each, how they differed and where they unified. Detail allocation was a big lesson I learned as well as the art of designing weapons and all the subtleties that one needs to factor into their design process for a well balanced design. Special thanks to Nicolas Bouvier, Kenneth Scott, Robogabo, Glenn Isreal and Josh Kao for the conversations along the way!

Our Favorite “Banana Slug” gun gets a slight makeover.

I dont’ think the needler has ever looks better. Fear the pink mist indeed. I can really appreciate the reflected light from the needles as well as the discharge array.

A returning favorite the Covenant Carbine gets a shiny new skin. I never much used this weapon in previous Halo games, but find myself using it a lot in matchmaking. Well, really, it’s because I’m finishing up the commendation for it. I’ve got about 250 more kills with it to finish the master level, IIRC. 

You can see great care was taken into account for the redesign of the DMR for Halo 4, with several overall and specific scope designs presented here.Finally we have the Shade turret. Seen in transparent silhouette the Halo CE is in scale with the Halo 4 version. So while different, the Halo 4 version certainly harkens back to the original design.

The following was taken from a thread on HaloWaypoint regarding the vocal fanbase “not being heard” by 343. The thread link is at the bottom of this article.

DSB Strike (A Halo forum poster on HaloWaypoint.com): Yes, there are a lot of players who don’t come here. The thing is, their voice can’t be calculated into the problems.

HFFL: Actually, while their specific voices aren’t heard, their gaming habits within Halo 4 are seen. 343 is able to collect all sorts of data regarding what gametypes people play, what weapons are used, what maps are voted on, etc.

Using that data, they can surpass much of the vocal crowd here by using this hard data from the game itself, to formulate game updates, fixes, etc.

That’s something many are forgetting.

ReFs BaCk (A Halo forum poster on HaloWaypoint.com): Halo 4 was fully funded and supported by Microsoft, with 343i having 3 years to work on it. I see no excuse on time, resources, or experience gap that made them develop such a shame of a beta-game

HFFL: Actually, the bulk of 343 (as in it’s hundreds of employees) has not been around for those same three years. 343 had to be built from scratch. Even with the talented pool of developers, producers, etc., it still takes time to build that team into a cohesive unit that understands not only the goal (the game itself), but also the processes and procedures of how to get there.

Each development company has their own guidelines and procedures by which they produce a game. So getting all of these folks from all over the video game development world to work as one took time too.

Given all of this, I think it’s quite amazing that 343 has not only been able to put out a Halo game, but one with such visual and audio quality. Halo 4 is a very good game. Frank O’Conner has already stated to the effect that they (343) have learned a lot of lessons along the way while creating Halo 4. Those things deemed a mistake will most certainly be righted in Halo 5.

The problem is that the majority of the vocal fanbase doesn’t want to wait for that. I get that, really. However, we’re also so very hard to please. If one portion of the game is change in one manner, some fans will cheer while others will complain.

The battle between casual and competitive players is one such case. In that way, 343 can’t win. They please some while ticking off others.

The fact is, Halo 4 is a very playable game. Halo from game to game evolves in gameplay. Reach brought us a bigger jump that previous titles. Halo 4 made an even bigger jump that that. It’s up to the gamer if they like those changes or not. Make your voices heard yes, but really do it respectfully. Do you (general you, not anyone in particular) think any business would listen to people who are disrespectful to them, even if those complaints are valid? It’s tantamount to being hollered at. Be respectful in tone, not just to 343 but your fellow forum members and maybe, just maybe you’ll see more happen in the direction you want, or at least more discussion on the matter.

In the meantime, 343 is still going to collect that hard data generated by gameplay from ALL players and tailor that gameplay to the majority. That makes sense, even if it isn’t agreeable to the vocal minority.

Source Link: https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2344859_343–Here-is-your-Fan-Base–Now-Help-It.aspx

Please direct your replies to this article at the link above. I’m sure 343 would appreciate your respectful responses.

Respectfully,
Sal

Okay, THIS is the last one by Shae… All grayscale, YES!

I love the perspective in these concepts/storyboards. So much detail even though it’s just in grayscale.

Last article from “Shae” of 343 for the day:

These images were production stills taken during the construction and shooting phase of the live action set which was being shot in Budapest, Hungary 2012. It was tremendously rewarding to see sketches and paintings (see HALO 4 2012 E3 Commercial) be of help to the folks that fabricated this structure.

Source link: http://shaeshatz.blogspot.com/2013/02/halo-4.html

Now in case you were wondering about the bathroom design, that’s actually real, as in real life working on a space station today!

Want proof?

Source link: http://sciencedude.blog.ocregister.com/2008/06/02/fixing-the-toilet-but-not-flatulence-on-space-station/

or

Source link: http://www.hightechscience.org/zero_gravity_toilet.htm

It’s wonderful when art imitates life to the fullest!

-Sal

Here’s another article penned by “Shae” of 343.

Source Link: http://shaeshatz.blogspot.com/2013/02/halo-4-commercial-stills.html

I think it’s so cool to see how things are created. Now that I’m working on developing/producing a machinima series, this becomes even more relevant.

-Sal

One of the folks at 343 posted a link to these.
As a person who absolutely loves viewing concept art, I had to repost these here.

Description by “Shae” of 343:

Spartan Ops: Apex

HALO 4 Spartan Ops pre-production paintings. Early on, we were seeking to create a mini-narrative that would make for a compelling multi-session based experience, where players could take over an outpost one week, fly a pelican mission the next week and fight their way up a hillside where they could infiltrate a forerunner technology compound. The paintings that follow were the result of various collaborations with BJ Christian, Nicolas Bouvier, Kenneth Scott. This level went on to become as “Apex.”

Source Link: http://shaeshatz.blogspot.com/2013/02/apex.html

Such rich and wonderful colors. I can’t help but appreciate this as an artist myself.

Okay, so by now you may have seen numerous screeshots on Skyline of someone standing with the Hornet off to the side. Have you taken a look around this wonderful small map for yourself though? There are lots of opportunities for cool screenshots. Even ones of just the stuff on the map, not Spartan Action/Posing shots.

Here are two that can be found on the map.

Here’s the unedited version:

Also, take a look at the floor once in awhile. I found these four pages just tossed about on the map. Even though they are low-res, they’re still pretty cool, IMO.

And the two of the unedited versions:

I’m SO happy the fileshare is able to be accessed via Waypoint web!