XBOX One backwards compatibility question.

Do you think the XBOX ONe  was planned to be backwards compatible? Or did the failed launch of the Halo Master Chief collection spur Microsoft to make this happen?

The HMCC hasI just like to know which one it is only been out for six months. Do you think that’s enough time for the Xbox engineers to have developed backwards compatibility?

I am curious about this myself. I think either is plausible. I’d just like to know which one it is.

The reason why it could be because of the HMCC is that Microsoft didn’t want to have another title from the 360 failed to launch on the XBOX One.

What do you thinkhat do you think? Reply below or send me an email to [email protected].

HFFL Community night this Friday!

It’s been some time since I’ve held a community night .  So this Friday starting at 8 PM until 11 PM EST there will be a HFFL Community night on Halo the Master Chief Collection.  Depending on how many people there are we will be playing either custom games or matchmaking .  I do have two maps that I have designed that I would like for you folks to play on and give me your feedback .

The Spirit of Fire podcast episode 16: HtT, eSports, upcoming books and E3!

Spirit of Fire Podcast LOGO_R-sm

Both my co-hosts, Zach and Martin join me for talk of HUNTtheTRUTH and HUNTtheSIGNAL as well as Halo eSports, what we hope versus what we expect to see for Halo from E3 this year, upcoming books and more!

This is a jam packed cast!!

This episode runs about 1 hour 45 minutes. So have a sit back, prop up your feet and have a listen as we chat away about Halo.

      SoF-ep16.mp3

A new category added to sidebar: HUNTtheTRUTH

Since it looks like there are going to be a lot more entries for this, I wanted to make it easier for you all to find the HUNTtheTRUTH (HTT) articles I’ve posted on the blog.

Go to the sidebar on the main page. Click on the button for ‘categories’. Scroll down. Just under the HaloWaypoint link is the sub-category for HUNTtheTRUTH. Click that and you’ll find all of the related articles. I’ll keep adding to this category as new HTT information presents itself.

-Sal

The Spirit of Fire podcast episode 15: Locke and Master Chief commercials discussion

Spirit of Fire Podcast LOGO_R-sm

On Sunday, March 29, 2015, two Halo 5 Guardians commercials aired during the season finale of the Walking Dead. The first featured Locke, while the latter featured Master Chief. Both were near exact in shot and sequence, but with very different dialog. These were part of the beginning of the HUNTtheTRUTH campaign, leading up to Halo 5.

In this podcast, my co-host Zach and I discuss those two commercials at length comparing scenes. In fact, if you want to follow along with what were talking about in a visual manner, open up this link in another window.

Beyond this, we talk more about the HUNTtheTRUTH campaign. Specifically Episode 1: A Hairline Fracture of the Benjamin Giraud reports.

After this we discuss the newly amounted Halo Online game.

So please listen in on our discussion and let us know what you think about the topics we discussed as well as our speculation on it. Oh, I should note, my microphone wasn’t picking up my voice as well the whole time. So the volume of my voice seems to drop a little, then raise back up. Apologies on that. I’ll be looking into that issue to fix this for the next podcast.

This episode of the Spirit of Fire runs about one hour and 20 minutes.

      HUNTtheTRUTH.mp3

-Sal

Regarding leaks

For those that want to give me guff  over reposting the video from the Hunt the Truth website, I am only one fan with a simple blog. I unlike others do not make any money from Halo. I repost or reblog leaked content because I know other fans want to know more information.

if someone from Microsoft contacts me and asked me to take the post down I will. This has never been an issue before. Continue reading

Good news on our plumbing nightmare…

Yesterday we received $4k towards this. I’m keeping the information as to who confidential per request.

What this means is that we are now at needing $2272. Which is WAY down from needing $11k before we got the new estimate which took us down to $7842. That total was dropped more by the addition of funds we could add to it from our tax refund and a couple of paypal donations. That brought the total to $6272, which is what you saw as of Tuesday early on the gofundme campaign page.

When we got the $4k yesterday, I immediately dropped the needed amount to the $2272 you see as of this writing.

We can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. However, we are still in need. So any donations will help. If you don’t/can’t donate through the gofundme campaign, you can donate via paypal. Either click the link on the right sidebar from the main page to donate, or better yet, so no fees are taken out, you can send them directly to [email protected] and send as a gift. This way we get the full amount of your donation.

Many thanks to those who have donated thus far!
-Sal

Still need help folks. please

Still very much in need.

I am ashamed to have to ask, but might you folks pass the word along on this? http://www.gofundme.com/oeg6r4 via twitter and/or elsewhere?

The first two days got some donations, but it’s stalled now. My wife and I are seriously in need here. I’m worried that the methane build up might cause the home to blow up. I don’t know if it works like that or not, but it’s something I fear. Not to mention the smell. Where are the grunts to breathe this stuff in, when you need them?

I wouldn’t ask if we really didn’t need your help. Anything helps, even $1.

If you don’t want to donate via gofundme, then you can donate via paypal. If you do, please send as a gift so paypal doesn’t take out any fees. My paypal e-mail is: [email protected]. Any donations given through that will be deducted from the gofundme account to reflect the lesser amount needed. Everything is on the up and up here.

With respect and much humility,
-Sal

Please help…

As many of you know, my wife and I have been going through some rough financial times. With me being unemployed for sometime now, we’re behind in bills. However, that’s not what I’m asking help for.

You may recall that I’ve mentioned about my home’s main water pipe busting. After looking at a few plumbers, we found one that will replace the pipe and do the restoration work. However, that will cost us more than $11K. We will be able to get $1,300 from the insurance company. (They won’t cover the cost of the pipe replacement, just some of the cost of the restoration work.)

As well, a week ago last Friday, I applied for emergency assistance through the VA (Veteran’s Administration). If I qualify, I might be able to receive up to $1,600 from them. That’s IF I qualify, and I’m not guaranteed that whole amount.

So, with no assistance coming whatsoever (save the possible emergency one above), we are in real need. A friend told me about the website GoFundMe. There people can set up a fund page to help with all sorts of things. This particular needs is one of those things. So I set up a page that people can donate to. Here is the link to it: http://www.gofundme.com/oeg6r4

Folks, even if all you have is spare change, anything at all will help.

I really don’t know how effective this might be. But I need to try something else beyond what we’ve already tried for.

Please pass this along to your fellow Halo friends, especially if they know my blog. Any funds raised will be put directly to the intended need. In the unlikely event more than what is needed is raised, I will donate the over amount to Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh.

It does shame me to have to ask for help folks. I’m a proud person and don’t like to ask for help. Yes, there is the yearly charity/LAN fundraiser, but that is entirely different as that’s something for fun and charity. What I’m asking here directly impacts my wife and I.

So I come to you with humility and ask for your help.

Respectfully, 
Sal

Regarding the password protected post from yesterday.

I know some of you are wondering what that is about. Here’s the explanation.

I’m building a portfolio post to show potential employers some of my work over the years. The information and graphics contained within that password protected post is copyrighted and is not for everyone to see.

I’m using this as a tool to gain employment. The overwhelming majority of the content in the password protected post is not Halo. The only bit that is, is to make mention of the blog and my association with Halo and it’s community.

If anyone has any further questions about that post, please feel free to ask. Though certain questions I may answer given the nature of that post.

-Sal

Microsoft wants Bungie rumor is false

As I suspected, the rumor is false.

Shinobi has tweeted out that they never made the tweet that was screenshot.

Apparently the post from Frank O’Conner was taken from a different thread and was posted some time ago, not recently.

Darren O’Hare hasn’t posted on Twitter in some time.

So it appears ‘thefriendlyassassin’ isn’t so friendly. To start an outright lie like that is ridiculous and of course wrong.

For my part in reposting that, I apologize. I did say treat it as rumor. However, next time, when something like this happens, I”ll endeavor to research it a bit more to see if it’s true or not.

Folks, I’m not a professional reporter. I’m a Halo fan. So when I read news like this, I pass it on to you. Yes, I feel like one was pulled over on me (and you as well). I can tell you this much, I”ll never report something from the friendlyassassin again, no matter how credible it may seem.

-Sal

Need a medical excuse to play Halo? XBOX has you covered!

If you go to xboxsicknote.com you’ll find a neat little app within that let’s you create a medical excuse for gaming. There are a few games to choose from. Of course I picked Halo…

Here’s the resulting medical excuse I got:

Halo medical excuse

Wort wort wort! LOL.

Go check it out and have a little fun. Though don’t expect to actually USE the note and be excused. You’ve been warned.

-Sal