It’s 5:35 a.m. on Monday, June 9, and once again, instead of hitting the snooze button and/or throwing my phone out of my hotel room window, I jump out of bed after hearing my alarm because today just happens to be another exciting day, and one worthy of an early-morning wake up call. Back home, our community, web, and services teams (to name just a few) are hard at work preparing for the announcements that will soon be made at E3. In downtown Los Angeles, I meet up with the away team in an already buzzing hotel lobby. We’ve been in dress rehearsals since Friday, and this morning we will be on a stage for all the world to see. We cram into a car, and we’re off. Continue reading →

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about E3. You’re excited, we’re excited, and we can finally say that E3 2014 is less than five days away. Some members of the team are already in Los Angeles, and the majority will be flying down over the next two days to prepare for the Xbox Media Briefing on Monday morning. We know you’re hyped about next week, so in this week’s Bulletin, we’ll be breaking down everything you need to know, and where you need to be next week. Let’s get into it!

Halo @ E3 2014 

If you haven’t already, mark your calendar, and depending on your locale or potentially wacky sleep schedule, set some alarms for Xbox: Game On, the Xbox Media Briefing.The event will take place on Monday, June 9and begin at 9:30 AM PDT. If you don’t live near us, click here to find out what time the event is happening in your time zone.

The briefing will include trailers, in-depth looks at various Xbox titles, and everything you need to know about what’s coming in 2014 and beyond. To stream the event, you can head to Xbox.com, Xbox Live, and Windows Phone globally, with the pre-show coverage beginning at 9:00 AM PDT. You can also watch the event on Spike TV in the U.S. and Canada at 9:30 AM PDT. We hope you’ll join us for the briefing! To join the conversation, be sure to tag @Halo, our new Twitter handle! Which reminds me – we’ve got a new Twitter handle.

Twitter

Last week we retook the hill on the @Halo Twitter account. Those of you already dutifully following @HaloWaypoint were automatically brought on to our new sweeter, shorter handle. We have an extra eight letters to play with and with E3 next week – we think you might want them. If you’re not already following us, it’s a great time to start. We’ll be tweeting live from E3 2014 all next week, with behind the scenes pictures, videos, and more.

HFFL: You can expect I’ll be blogging and tweeting furiously as well during E3. Anything Halo related WILL be covered here on HFFL.

Halo Waypoint

Next week, we’ll have some E3-themed goodies and happenings here on Waypoint – be sure to swing by throughout the week to keep up with everything that’s going on from the show floor, including updates, photos and videos, and more. There won’t be a regular Halo Bulletin next week, and we’ll instead have live coverage from LA. Don’t miss it.

We know you’re pumped to learn more about what’s ahead for the Halo franchise, and we can’t wait to share the details with you. We’ll see you next week!

Halo and ASTRO Gaming Announce New Partnership 

HFFL: (as mentioned already here on the blog)

As you may have read earlier this morning, we announced a multi-year partnership with ASTRO Gaming! I can often be found wearing an ASTRO Gaming headset, and I’m wearing my ASTRO A38s as I type this. I often make my coworkers gape with awe at my ability to spin endlessly in my office chair without fear of becoming hopelessly tangled in wires. Halo and Astros go together like chocolate and peanut butter, so the fact that we’re partnering with them now to develop several new products: branded headsets, speaker tags, and more just feels… right.

I’m incredibly excited to see the products, excitement, and new awesomeness that comes from our new partnership, and will absolutely share more at our earliest convenience.

Halo: Spartan Assault Free on Xbox One

HFFL: (as mentioned already here on the blog)

Starting today, Halo: Spartan Assault is available for free on Games with Gold for Xbox One! For the month of June, Xbox Live Gold members can get the epic top-down, twin-stick shooter at no cost. Go get it!

Screenshot Spotlight: King of the Hill

Last week, we turned the spotlight on the King of the Hill. Take a gander at the following black and white screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: I have just one that I really like from this Spotlight. It’s the “welcome to the UNSC” by deluca34 screenshot.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot that features a Ghost and then tag it with “Ghost” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

HFFL: Hmm, will THIS be the week I actually take some screenshots and submit them for the Spotlight??? The Ghost is a good subject to do this for.

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close. We’ll see you in just a few days at E3
Until next week,
Bravo

HFFL: Hmm, not much NEW in the bulletin this week. Already had news of the Astro Gaming partnership and Spartan Assault being free for the One. Nothing really divulged for E3 other than times to tune in. And again, if you miss those, rest assured, I’ll be covering E3 Halo news extensively.

-Sal

The weeks that lead up to E3 always sneak up on you. Just a few weeks ago, the team was looking at the calendar and thinking “Wow! We’ve still got over a month until E3!” and now, as we band together to put the finishing touches on our E3 presence (as well as book last minute flights, hotels, and hot-air-balloon packages), we realize that in just under nine days, we’ll be on our way to Los Angeles to prep for the Xbox Press Conference and the frenzy that will follow. We’re excited about our plans at the show, our plans for those of you watching from home, and we can’t wait until the show begins. For this week’s update, we discuss Halo: Escalation, the new Minecraft Mash-Up pack, and more. Let’s get into it!

HFFL: I for one can’t wait for E3. For one, I hope the rumors are either dispelled or confirmed about Halo 2: Anniversary. Hopefully a Halo 5 Guardians trailer as well as something from one or both of the video productions. E3 promises to chock full of games for the XBOX One and Halo factors into that!

Halo Escalation #6

The sixth issue of Halo: Escalation released today! The ongoing series, published by Dark Horse Comics, spins directly out of the events of Halo 4. To check out the first six pages of Halo: Escalation #6, head here and read below for a preview of what’s to come.

The saga of Halo Wars enters the modern age as Infinity struggles to liberate the long-lost Spirit of Fire from the deadly Vata ’Gajat. Meanwhile, Petra’s search for the identity of Infinity’s spy could result in her death. The Halo universe is on the brink of a new galactic war!

Visit the official Dark Horse website to grab Halo: Escalation #6.

HFFL: Heh, I’ve already covered this pretty extensively with the preview and a spoiler discussion post. Go back a few posts on the blog and you’ll find the spoiler article. (That’s if you want to know what happens in the story of that issue.

Minecraft Halo Mash-up Pack

Last week, we shared a sneak peek at what’s coming to Minecraft: Xbox 360 edition, and today, we announced that the Halo Mash-up Pack is now available!

The Mash-up pack, expertly crafted by 4J Studios, includes a Halo-themed texture set, themed menus and user interface, craftable items and 31 music tracks across the Halo franchise. Also available are 40 pixel-perfect character skins depicting beloved Halo characters, and incredible recreations of legendary Halo spaces such as Blood Gulch, The Silent Cartographer, and more. Check out the above links for more details, and check out the below video for an awesome look into what all of this means.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHxOZk7otaM

HFFL: I didn’t post this earlier in the week. I’m not much for Minecraft. It feels like a huge step backwards, like when I was 10 years old. (That was a LONG time ago…) However, this pack has me at least considering it. This with Marvel…hmmm. We’ll see. Do any of you play Minecraft? If so, why do you like it? This is a question I’d really like to get some response for as your comments may affect my decision to get the game or not.

Forge Idol

The team over at Beyond Entertainment have put together a brand new Forge contest. Six 2v2 maps have been nominated, but only one Forger will be named the Forge Idol! To cast your vote on your favorite map of the bunch, head over to their official voting thread. Round one of voting will be open until May 30, and the final two contenders will face off in one final vote that will end on June 2. Once a winner is selected, we’re excited to confirm that we’ll be bringing the map into the Team Doubles playlist in our next Matchmaking Update!

In addition to the above, the Forge Idol will also have their map featured in Beyond Entertainment’s Forge Idol 2v2 tournament powered by Astro Gaming. The tournament will take place on June 28, and matches will consist of 2v2 Team Slayer on Haven, Skyline, and the winning map from the Forge Idol competition. If you’re interested in competing, grab a partner and sign up at the link above.

HFFL: I was just reading about this yesterday. While the prizes aren’t huge, they’re still pretty nice for a FREE tournament. I’d enter, but I know I’d just get trounced… I’m an above average Halo gamer, certainly not Pro status worthy. (And I’m okay with that.) If any of you decide to enter this contest, let me know and I’ll feature your team here on the blog!

Mammoth Proportions

Late last week, we noticed our friend and famous Forger petetheduck took a stab creating the Halo 4 Mammoth in Forge. Typically known for creating incredible custom game types and maps as well as Rube Goldberg machines, petetheduck describes himself as “definitely not an aesthetic Forger,” but after seeing his Mammoth, we’re pretty sure he’s lying. In his blog, he tells us that he created the below beauty in a single Forge session over the course of about 12 hours, and also gives some insight into how he constructed the transport headquarters. Lastly, if you’d like to run around inside, you can download the map variant here.

petetheduck’s Halo 4 Forge Mammoth

HFFL: I downloaded this map several days ago. It’s SWEET! Pete is, IMO, the best forger out there. He certainly is for mini-games. And this Mammoth shows he IS an aesthetic forger as well. I highly suggest downloading it. It’s fun to roam around in and on top of. Now if only 343 would take a hint and give us a map with a Mammoth on it. (Even if it’s stationary.)

Screenshot Spotlight: King of the Hill

Last week, we turned the spotlight on the Shotgun. Take a gander at the following King of the Hill screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: I’m partial to the “Clang of the Hill” and “Crack!!!” screenshots here. Are there any here that YOU like? Let  me know by replying below.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot that is mostly black and white and then tag it with “blackwhite” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

HFFL: Dangit… I ALWAYS forget about this. I really need to get on the ball and take some screenshots for these.

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

-Sal

It’s 2:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, March 16. HFFL: Sorry for the interruption, Bravo. It was May, not March. Okay, carry on. After about an hour of sleep, my alarm goes off, but for the first time in weeks, and possibly months, I don’t hit the snooze button. Instead, I jump out of bed, throw a hoodie on, grab my backpack and keys, and I’m out the door. After a quick, foggy-eyed drive down the road, I swipe my badge at the door, and find a (mostly empty) studio, with a few fellow members of the Community team already at their desks. It was time to announce the title of the next installment in the legendary saga of the Master Chief, Halo 5: Guardians.

Last week’s announcement was, as Frankie said, a big weight off of our shoulders. For nearly a year, you’ve been wanting to know more about the future of Halo on Xbox One, and being able to finally announce this title, along with releasing some visuals, was exciting to say the least. Seeing the immediate response, analysis of the visuals and name itself, as well as all of the new discussions that emerged was overwhelming. We were thrilled to join in on the long-awaited excitement and conversation for the first time since last year. We’ll be able (and can’t wait) to share details about what’s coming for the Halo franchise in 2014 in just a few short weeks at E3.

HFFL: Hopefully, 343 will address the leak by the supposed insider. Either refuting it, confirming parts of it, just please do not completely IGNORE it…

Last week, we released some exclusive Halo 5: Guardians wallpapers (you can snag ‘em here), and today, due to requests from you, the community, we prepared wallpapers of Friday’s concept art from our very own Sparth. Download below, and beautify your screens.

Desktop – 1024×768, 1280×720, 1920×1080

Windows Phone – Surface – Android – Android Tablet – iPhone 5 – iPad – iPad Mini – iPad 2

Next up, we’ve got some Matchmaking goodies as well as community creations. Let’s dig in!

Matchmaking Playlist Update

Last week, we sat down and brainstormed about which King of the Hill game types we could include in the Community Choice Poll. During a quick run down memory lane (which is fairly common for a Community Choice Poll brainstorm), we stopped at Halo 3’s Mosh Pit, and immediately knew that it had to be included for community consideration. Apparently you did as well, as the game type earned nearly 80% of your votes, and will be included in the King of the Hill playlist this coming Monday. Once you’re done BBQ’ing with the family, jump into the Mosh Pit. Actually, it may be best to wait 30 minutes after eating before doing so.

Additionally, we’ll be adding Stealth King to the playlist. The game type is quite different from traditional King of the Hill – each player is equipped with a Sniper Rifle, Plasma Grenades, and the Thruster Pack. Oh, and all players in the Hill have Active Camouflage. If it sounds crazy, it absolutely is, and we hope you enjoy this new fun game type during King of the Hill’s reign as our featured playlist.

HFFL: A variant of Stealth King was playable in Halo Reach. I’m definitely looking forward to playing that game type.

We’ve also added several new game types to other playlists – included in this list is the following:

•  Added Oddball to Team Doubles
•  Added Neutral Flag to Team Doubles
•  Added Neutral Flag to Team Heavies

To enjoy these new experiences in Halo 4 Matchmaking, jump in and try ‘em out!

The Master of Master Chief Makeup
We don’t often get the chance to talk about makeup on The Bulletin, so we were excited to see Elsa Rhae’s absolutely incredible makeup and face painting skills highlighted on thechive.com. Elsa is in a category several steps above that guy who can slap a set of kitten whiskers on your little sister at the county art fair. Of course, we’re particularly impressed by her Master Chief face paint, but you should check out the rest of her impressive breadth of work at her Facebook and Instagram or even take a master class from her, courtesy of her YouTube channel.

Community Spotlight Shines Again

The acclaimed and mysterious author of our Community Spotlight recently returned from their sabbatical. The weeks spent on a moisture farm near Tashi Station have treated him them well and the series returned this week with renewed spirit!

This week, learn all about Mastrbiggy from HBO’s news team and look forward to future installments of this bi-weekly series.

HFFL: Just once, I’d love to see a fan spotlighted who ISN’T from one of the huge sites. No offense to any of those sites. However, they have well more than enough publicity and members. I wish 343 would take a page from Bungie when Bungie used to spotlight small sites/groups/etc. Some of those sites are just as dedicated to Halo, even if they aren’t as big/popular/as well staffed/etc. I can think a several I’d like to see be spotlighted who I think are deserving of it, given their passion and dedication to Halo. (And no, I do not mean me, though it of course would be an honor.)

Screenshot Spotlight: Shotgun
Last week, we turned the spotlight on the Sticky Detonator. Take a gander at the following Shotgun screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: From this gallery I like the following: “Spark of Life” and “Enter the matrix”.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot from a King of the Hill match and then tag it with “KotH” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

HFFL: Is it me or are the bulletins a bit sparse of late? Hopefully they are saving up for E3 in just a few short (LONG) weeks….

-Sal

The weather in the Pacific Northwest over the past few days has been fantastic. The sun is shining each and every day, we’re into the 70s, and there is no rain in sight. I know this because I’ve been checking the weather forecast on my computer from inside the studio, where we are prudently planning for things ahead, one of those things being E3. By the time everyone leaves the studio each evening, the sun has likely gone down, but we move closer and closer to being able to share things with you early next month in Los Angeles. Many of you have been sending us countdown tweets or reminders for the past few weeks (and for many of you, months) which generally read something along the lines of “100 days until E3 (insert really excited exclamation here!)” and while we’re excited to see the event draw nearer, we realize we now have less than 30 days before the show. This preparation has us quite busy, so we have a lighter Bulletin today, but I managed to bother the Franchise team to answer some lore questions, and we’ve got a few Matchmaking goodies to talk about. Let’s get into it!

HFFL: Yes, HURRY UP E3! I would like some news of the Halo XBOX One Edition and if it will come with or without the Kinect!

Matchmaking Playlist Update

This Monday, we introduced Dominion Light, a 4 vs. 4 playlist that features smaller maps and slightly modified settings for smaller teams. We hope you’ve been enjoying the game type and the hunt for any last commendations, as well as the Commando armor set. Additionally, we updated Halo 4’s “Select Playlist” screen UI to indicate which playlists are new, featured, and which have received new maps and/or game types. We’ll continue to update this screen to provide an easy way to see what’s been added. Next week, we’ll have some news regarding the upcoming King of the Hill playlist as well as some other updates to a variety of playlists, but for now, we’ve got a new Community Choice Poll. This week, we want to know which game type you’d like to see featured in the new upcoming King of the Hill featured playlist!

Community Choice

Shotgun King
In the same family as Shotgun Ricochet and Shotgun CTF, Shotgun King equips players with Thruster Packs, Plasma Grenades, and a Shotgun. Get ready for some up close and personal combat.

Rocket King
Rocket King is not a game type for the faint of heart. Players willing to get in the Hill in this game type need to be ready for immediate explosions as well as lots of respawns.

HFFL: YES! I love chaotic game types like this. I’m voting for this one!

Mosh Pit
A game type that will be familiar to Halo 3 players, Mosh Pit uses one central Hill that doesn’t move, and provides players in the Hill with increased shields. There is only one rule: if you’re killed, just head back to the Hill and jump right in.

HFFL: This is a pretty good choice too. I’m all for one hip and one hip only! Lots of predictability in this game type.

Head here to vote on the Halo Waypoint forums, where voting will be open for approximately four days. Check back next week to find out which game type is the winner and will be included in the playlist!

Knowledge Drop: Community Q&A

After last month’s Knowledge Drop, we received more questions than ever on Twitter and the forums, and I’ve been sending them over to the legendary Franchise team in search of some answers. Learn about some lore below, and if you have any questions of your own, send them over to us on Twitter or in the discuss link at the end of this article. If you already sent us your questions but haven’t been answered yet, fear not – they are patiently waiting in line with the other questions, and may very well be answered soon.

Question: Do the ships of Battlegroup Dakota have class names, or are they just “ship class A/B/C”?
-@TheTrekspert

Answer: Interestingly, these ships were all part of the most recent Visual Guide, but didn’t make it in due to space limitations. Here are their names, but alas, which is which? Some of the more vigilant of Halo spaceship fans will likely be able to tell.

HFFL: For those that don’t know, Battlegroup Dakaota was at Earth when the Didact attacked it and later joined with the UNSC Infinity for the mission back to Requiem.

Vindication-class Light Battleship
Length: 1,580m (5,183ft) 

Poseidon-class Light Carrier
Length: 719m (2,359ft)

Strident-class Heavy Frigate
Length: 1,887ft (575m)

One hint is that the ships are not completely to scale with each other as objects in the game, but the dimensions above represent their fictional sizes. It’s possible we may dig deeper one day.

HFFL: Okay, since they want to be a little secretive and you folks KNOW I love Halo’s spaceships, HERE are the ships: 

In the graphic below, they are in order as presented above, Vindication, Poseidon, Strident:

(side note, I pulled the different images from the net. I don’t know who the person is who got the screenshots.)

Here they are in relative scale to each other: 

HFFL: (I’ll be adding these to my Halo ships scale sized poster shortly. (Likely tomorrow)

Q: What ever happened to Endurance? Did she Compose herself to drive a Promethean?
-@Mr_Admirals

A: Keeping in mind that the terminals in Halo 4 are impressions of reality created by the Domain, whereas the novels are far more literal in their interpretation of the universe, you actually get a glimpse of Endurance at the end of the terminals when the Librarian takes Requiem’s Prometheans under her control. Her fate is clearly conveyed here.

Q: In the 1st level, the Dawn has a vacuum resistant energy barrier. Was that tech taken from the Covies or made by humans?
-Onyx81

A: A little of both. There had been early experimentation with these kinds of barriers, but recovered Covenant technology ultimately tipped the scales to actual production.

Q: What made everyone of every race/culture/ethnicity suddenly drop all hate for each other and come together to form the UNSC?
-LimaOmegaLima10

A: The UNSC is an imperative of the UEG and both are the offspring of the Interplanetary War (and really the answer to it), which actually saw humanity at a state where the above kinds of hatreds weren’t the main ones in circulation. Frieden and Koslovic ideologies dominated the landscape and produced a variety of kinds of animosity. The UNSC wasn’t forged during a time of peace, but rather as a solution to a violent war.

Screenshot Spotlight: Sticky Detonator

Last week, we turned the spotlight on Multi-Team. Take a gander at the following Sticky Detonator screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: I like “Cast Glare” (more for the Spartan’s armor than the sticky set, “Out of Ammo” again, more for the Spartan (love that crackling effect), and “Shocking“. Great use of a light filter there!

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot featuring the Shotgun and then tag it with “Shotgun” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

-Sal

Years ago, I remember sitting in the comfort of my East Coast home, with a not-so-comfortable N64 controller in hand, repeatedly playing GoldenEye 007’s third mission, Runway. It was the shortest mission in the game, and while I would sometimes roam around in the tank waiting for wave after wave (Firefight, anyone?) of fly-swatting guards to slowly kneel down and take aim, other times I’d look to beat the level as quickly as I possibly could. I’d cut every corner, grab the ignition key from the front of the table, and make a beeline run to the single-engine propeller plane at the end of the asphalt. My (not-so-well-executed) pursuit of the 0:22 world record for the mission was one of my first attempts at speed running, and I loved the intricacies and particulars of how players shaved off a second here and there. Reading tips, tricks, and top times from the world’s quickest runners (and then trying to get those times myself) gave me a real respect for the art that is speed running.

Just this past week, we watched Andrew “goatrope” Halabourda take some time off of his Halo: Combat Evolved Legendary world record speedrun, and set a new 1:38:57 world record. We’d like to congratulate Andrew on his new time, and also thank him for sharing the stream with the world. goatrope’s commentary is insightful, brilliant, and funny, and the gameplay is full of countless tricks, triple grenade jumps, backpack reloads, and much, much more. To see the latest Halo speedrun world record, check out the video below – you won’t be disappointed.

Matchmaking Playlist Update

This Monday, we’ve got a brand new Matchmaking update coming to Halo 4. The first of these is the Dominion playlist, which is making a lean and mean return to Halo 4 Matchmaking as Dominion Light, which features 4 vs. 4 gameplay. The updated game type will feature a faster pace, modified scoring, smaller resupply drops balanced for smaller teams, and a new custom map list. Here are the maps that will be included in the playlist:

• The Ark
• Black Site
• Graphite
• Hekau
• Honeycomb
• Inheritor
• Onyx
• Serenity
• Shutout
• Station 9
• Plaza
• Procedure

We’re excited about this new twist on Dominion, and hope you are too. We’ll see you in the playlist!

HFFL: Man, I’m SO happy Dominion is back, if even for just two weeks. I LOVED this game type. I hope it plays as well at 4v4 that it did as 6v6.

Community Choice

Last week, we asked which Action Sack game type you’d like to see added to the playlist, and we weren’t too surprised to see Team Ninja Assassins take the win. This means it’ll be available in Matchmaking in just a few short days – hop into the playlist to sharpen your sniping, sword-ing, and Thrust – er…Thruster Pack skills. Thanks for voting in last week’s poll, and be on the lookout for a new poll next week!

HFFL: Ugh…well, I know I’ll be by-passing that one. I really wasn’t a fan of Ninja-Assassins, other than having BLACK armor!

Halo 4 Playlist Flags

We’re always looking to optimize your online experiences within Halo 4, and starting Monday, Halo 4’s playlist selection screen will have a bit more color. Moving forward, any time a playlist is updated, it will be indicated by a corner flag over the playlist’s image. Whether a playlist is featured, new, or has new maps or game types, we’ll be letting you know by marking the playlist accordingly. Take a look at some examples below!

This new information will allow us to quickly communicate which playlists are updated, when they’re updated, and also what’s included. If you want to know if any of your favorite playlists have been updated recently, just simply scroll over to the playlist and see what’s new – we’ll display these flags for four weeks after each Matchmaking update. We hope this new information helps you discover and get into Halo 4’s new playlists, maps, and game types quicker than ever before.

HFFL: Okay, this is a nice idea. 

Element 117, My Dear Spartan

A long-standing experiment dedicated to the synthesis of a new chemical element at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russia was recently successfully completed. For no reason other than our own love of all things science and the advancement of knowledge all of us at 343 Industries were thrilled to hear about this most auspiciously numbered of elements: Element 117 aka John “Ununseptium.”

According to JINR, “The decay properties of the isotopes of element 117 and its daughter products- the isotopes of elements 115, 113, 111, 109, 107, and 105 together with the formerly synthesized … isotopes of elements 112-116 and 118, are a direct experimental evidence of the existence of the ‘islands of stability’ of super heavy nuclei. The discovery of the superheavy elements considerably expands the limits of the Table of elements; the enhancement of nuclear stability makes it possible for the first time to explore their unusual physical and chemical properties.”

In other words, we’re officially mere centuries away from faster than light travel and MJOLNIR armor.

HFFL: Were it so easy… (I love using that quote whenever I can!)

Screenshot Spotlight: Multi-team

Last week, we turned the spotlight on the Wraith. Take a gander at the following Multi-Team screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: The only one I like of this bunch is “Rainbow” by Z6NITRO. For one simple reason…It shows all four team colors that multi-team has.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot featuring the Sticky Detonator and then tag it with “StickyDet” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!
And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.

Until next week,
Bravo
p.s. If you’re on Twitter, you may want to enter into this week’s #FreeStuffFriday. Stay tuned to our official account on Friday morning for details on how to enter!

HFFL: Dang-it! I keep forgetting to submit an entry for the screenshot spotlight. One of these weeks I’m going to submit something. I just hope it gets picked.

As loyal readers know, the weekly Halo Bulletin has typically released late on Wednesday evening, around the same time that the sun can be seen setting over Lake Washington. Recently, I’ve been working with the community team (which includes many talented, fancy individuals who fix all of my typos and create pretty graphics) to get the Bulletin out to all you earlier for several reasons. One is that although the third floor multiplayer lab provides a beautiful view of the neighboring snow-capped mountains during the sunsets, we like to, when possible, leave work while the sun is still up. More importantly, though, is the fact that we like to get you each week’s update as early as possible, especially because we know many of you live to the right of us, and are reading from the Midwest, East Coast, or even – gasp – the UK, where Bulletins were typically published in the wee hours of the morning. Moving forward, we’re looking forward to bringing you each Bulletin at a most reasonable time. We hope this will be helpful as we begin to discuss future adventures, as we’d like for the Bulletin to disrupt the fewest sleep schedules possible.

HFFL: As a fan and blogger, I’m grateful that the bulletin is coming out a bit earlier. Previously, most often, I reported the bulletin the next morning. Now I’m able to get it reblogged the same day it was posted by Waypoint.

One of the added benefits of pushing out the weekly update earlier was the ability to occasionally join the 343 indoor soccer team in their battles at the local sports-dome-complex-facility. Week after week, I’d receive emails about the team, and I’d always have to explain that Wednesday was Bulletin day, and that I wouldn’t be able to make it. Last week, though, we got the Halo Bulletin out early in the afternoon, while the sun was still high in the sky, and I made my way over to the game and prepared to defend the 343 goal with honor, integrity, and 343 spirit. The good news is that after 40 minutes of play, the team had done just that, while also scoring quite a few goals of our own, and we went home with a win. The bad news is that I had my elbow stepped on in the process, and also took home an injury along with the win. As such, I sit here now typing away with only my left hand, and my right arm in a rather uncomfortable sling. It is difficult and time consuming, as is eating lunch and brushing my teeth, but the hardest thing is not being able to playtest future Halo experiences that are being built within the studio walls. That part sucks.

I’ve got a full month before I can pick up a controller again, but was it worth it? Yes. The 343 team was victorious, and that’s really all that matters. AXIOS!

This week, we’ve got a few cool things to talk about, including Spartan Lasers, tournaments, and more.

Matchmaking Playlist Update

Just this Monday, we released the Heavies playlist, which returned due to an overwhelming community response. After its return on Monday, we weren’t surprised to see it immediately take the #1 spot over Big Team Battle, and as I check the Matchmaking playlists now, this is still the case. We’re glad to see that so many of you are enjoying the explosions and heavy machinery. We’ve also seen some questions regarding why Heavies wasn’t rolled into Big Team Battle, and there were a few reasons why we gave Heavies its own dedicated slot. First and foremost, Heavies is a 6 vs. 6 playlist and game type, while Big Team Battle exclusively hosts 8 vs. 8 game types. Additionally, we’re confident that Heavies is popular enough to sustain a healthy population, and also provides an area where we can host all of the maps from the Crimson and Castle Map Packs, which are also optimized for 6 vs. 6 game types. Lastly, having a home for 6 vs. 6 game types also allows us to look at additional options, such as Dominion. In short, we’ll continue to monitor the health of each playlist to ensure that we’re offering an optimal Matchmaking experience in Halo 4 across all playlists and voting options. Keep an eye on each Bulletin to read about what we’re seeing in Matchmaking and thinking about in terms of playlists updates.

Multi-Team will also be available until May 12, when Dominion will return as our featured playlist. We’ll have some additional update details next week, but this week, we want to know which new game type you’d like to see added to Action Sack!

HFFL: Before I get to the vote, I have to once again say that I really REALLY want Multi-team to be a permanent playlist!

Team Ninja Assassins
A 4 vs. 4 version of Halo 4’s most popular Free-For-All game type! All of the sniping, sneaking, slicing, but this time, you’ve got ninja teammates who will (hopefully) assist with the assassinations.

Stickyball
Sticky Detonators, Plasma Grenades, and an Oddball. Side effects may include explosions. Sticky ones.

Shotgun CTF
Similar to Shotgun Ricochet, Shotgun CTF equips players with Thruster Packs, Plasma Grenades, and a standard issue M45D Tactical Shotgun.

Head here to vote on the Halo Waypoint forums, where voting will be open for approximately four days. Check back next week to find out which game type is the winner!

HFFL: My vote goes for Stickyball. Why? Well, we just had Ninja Assassins, even if it was FFA. Also, we have a dedicated CTF playlist. However, we are severely lacking with Oddball, for which Stickyball is an offshoot of. So if you need those Oddball commendations, THAT is the game type you should be voting for. It’s my vote!

The Spartan Laser Will Be quite Operation When Your Friends Arrive

A post on r/halo led us to this completely astounding fully functioning airsoft Spartan Laser.

Our highest admiration and awe go out to Redshirt over at 405th.com. He’s spent four years crafting this stunningly detailed and surprisingly functional replica of Spartan Laser terror that is not just beautiful, but ready to fire 2200 BBs per min at anyone foolish enough to cross his path in open battle.

Check this bad boy out below!

HFFL: I reported on this earlier in the week. You can see a video of this in action HERE.

Spring Showdown Recap

This past weekend, our friends at Beyond Entertainment hosted the Spring Showdown, a 1 vs. 1 Halo 4 tournament over Xbox Live that featured the Halo 4 Global Championship settings. Hundreds of competitors entered the tournament, and after a full day of matches, one winner emerged. Fighting to the final game on Onyx, GUNPLEX managed to win the match by one kill and become the Spring Showdown champion.

This week, I had a chance to sit down with GUNPLEX and chat about his history as a Halo player, and also bothered him for some head-to-head tips. Read on below for the details!

Hey, GUNPLEX! Congrats on winning the Spring Showdown 1v1 tournament. Tell us, did you expect to win going in?

Thank you! To be honest, I would say I expected to win because I felt confident going in – I knew I could win it all if I took it one round at a time.

There were 128 total players in the bracket. Who would you say was your toughest competition?

I would say my rival and runner-up Dramis. I was undefeated throughout the whole tournament and didn’t drop a game until game 2 of the Finals, and then only won by 1 kill in the final game. He was definitely my toughest opponent.

How long have you been playing competitively? Have you always enjoyed 1v1 matches throughout the Halo series?

I started playing Halo competitively back in Halo 2, and haven’t looked back since. Competitive Halo has always been my greatest passion. And absolutely, 1v1 matches have always been my favorite alongside 4v4s in all the Halo series.

What are your favorite 1v1 maps from all of Halo multiplayer? Are there any maps you could play over and over again?

Some of my favorites are Lockout, Midship, The Pit, Guardian, Narrows, Zealot, Sanctuary, Onyx, Pitfall, and Haven. I would say Midship and The Pit are maps I can play over and over again.

What tips would you give to aspiring competitive players who want to improve their 1v1 game?

Relocate a lot during the game, and don’t stay in the same spot – it will keep your opponents guessing. Timing the Powerups and Power Weapons is also a big key to winning. Patience is important and can give you an upper hand over other players, so don’t rush out to into unnecessary deaths. In Halo 4 you need to “creep walk” or crouch walk here and there – it’s the best way to be sneaky and not be heard by your opponent. Another big thing is knowing respawns and trapping opponents when they respawn. If you don’t have the hang of the main respawn locations, watch your game films and learn where opponents can respawn in various situations.

Anyone you’d like to thank?

I definitely have to give a shoutout to my 4v4 team “Empowered” which consists of: PreSchool Slays, The Impulsion, Toxic KM, and myself. Also, my montage editor Riley Hastings who has been putting together a sick montage for me recently – look for it in May. Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to Tom “T2” Taylor  who was my inspiration in competitive Halo and the player I looked up to.

Thanks for joining me today, and best of luck in future tournaments!

Thank you!

Screenshot Spotlight: Wraith

Last week, we turned the spotlight on melee attacks. Take a gander at the following Wraith screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: Hmm, I like the “14 wheels” one for fun and the “Abyss” shot for dramatic effect.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, hop into the Multi-Team playlist (or grab some friends for a Multi-Team custom game) and take a screenshot featuring multi-colored teams and then tag it with “multi” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

HFFL: Well, not as exciting as last week’s bulletin. Hurry up E3!!!

As I’ve written before, holidays are pretty fantastic at 343. Sometimes we have unlimited amounts of Lucky Charms, other times we get custom Halo valentines. Most times, there is a lot of delicious homemade food. This past Tuesday was Earth Day, and as you may have guessed, it was a pretty big deal here at 343. Sitting on each desk on Tuesday morning was a little surprise in the form of a custom-made trading card. It is worth noting here that the cards were made from 100% recycled paper.

The franchise team put together a collection of eight trading cards, each featuring a planet from the Halo universe, and gave each employee a random card. This made everyone excited, and also made some people want all of the cards. I may or may not be one of those people. The planet I received was Earth – good place to start, I thought. I quickly looked around at neighboring desks to see which cards my co-workers had received, and immediately stared going through my inventory of Halo figures, dogtags, and other trinkets for items to barter with. Others were a bit more direct, and started negotiating trades on an email chain with the entire studio. This is when I knew things were gonna get serious.

By the end of the day, I had traded a set of Halo 4 Infinity dog tags for Sanghelios (URS IV), and was lucky enough to nab a Te (SVIR V) in exchange for a future favor. I realize this may have been a questionable decision, but I really wanted the card. At the time of this writing, I am still actively searching for the remaining five Earth Day 2014 Halo trading cards. I will find them.

HFFL: Heh, glad to see the collecting bug has bitten Bravo! Now he is one of us! Well, me anyway…

This week, we’ve got a new issue of Halo: Escalation, a (heavy) Halo 4 Matchmaking update, and more. Let’s chat!

Matchmaking Playlist Update

As we mentioned last week, we have some new stuff coming on the Halo 4 playlist front. This weekend will be the last chance to play Ninja Assassins during this rotation, so if you’d like to grab some final screenshots or save the game type off to your hard drive, hop into Matchmaking. We’re glad to see that the playlist was so popular as it became one of Halo 4’s most popular Free-for-All playlists. Moving forward, we’ll look to create additional unique and refined experiences for featured playlists, and there may even be a spot for a Ninja Assassins style gameplay in a permanent Matchmaking playlist. Speaking of bringing back game types, we’re excited that Heavies will be returning to Halo 4 Matchmaking this coming Monday in a pretty big way.

Heavies

Heavies was one of Halo 4’s most popular featured playlists. There’s something special about Spartans, heavy vehicles, and heavy weapons meeting in the middle of a wide open battlefield, and we’re not surprised that the playlist was so frequented. We’ve been listening to your feedback, and over the past week, we’ve been doing some additional game type testing to prepare the playlist for its own spot in Halo 4 Matchmaking. Additionally, we added Heavies CTF into the game type rotation. As of Monday, Heavies will have a dedicated playlist, and the Ricochet playlist will be removed as we move the Ricochet game type into existing playlists.

HFFL: YES! Heavies to be permanent!!!! Now maybe I can finish those dang Scorpion kills for my commendations! And what is this? Ricochet to be absorbed into another playlist? I love the game type, but agree that it should merge with another. I hope if goes to Grifball. Then maybe call that playlist: BALLS! LOL J/K. (not kidding)

The following game types will be available in the playlist:

•          Heavies Slayer
•          Heavies King of the Hill
•          Heavies Capture the Flag

The above game types will be played on the following maps:

•          Longbow
•          Daybreak
•          Wreckage
•          Shatter
•          Harvest
•          Perdition
•          Ragnarok
•          Vortex
•          Meltdown
•          Exile

HFFL: Okay, looking at this playlist and knowing that many do not have all of the DLC, I foresee Longbow, Ragnarok, Vortex and Meltdown being played the most. I’m okay with that. I’m just happy to have Heavies back and permanently!!!

Multi-Team

Multi-Team is back! The playlist features four teams of three players each, and offers a mix of game types, including Infinity Slayer, Legendary Slayer BR, Oddball, KotH, SWAT, Regicide and Ricochet. The playlist will be available for two weeks, until May 12.

HFFL: YES!!! I LOVE Multi-team. It’s just chaotic fun! Please folks, play this game type!!! I really REALLY want to see it be made permanent again. Just think of the times you’ve had 2 others in your party… You are forced to play in a playlist that will put a random on your team. We need a 3 party game type and Multi-Team is IT!

Community Choice

HFFL: Alright! My pick was the winner!

Last week, we asked which game type you’d like to see in Multi-Team, and Legendary Slayer BR was the winner! The game type will offer an interesting mix of precision weapon based tactical gameplay and absolute chaos, as players from four different teams enter the fray respawn after respawn. As is always the case with Multi-Team, it’s sure to be fast paced and chock-full of multikills. To check out the game type, head into the Multi-Team playlist starting on Monday morning.

HFFL: The next section talks about Halo Escalation #5. AS I’ve already covered that a bit, I’m going to skip that section. It repeats much of what I’ve already said…

Update on Halo: Spartan Assault

Halo: Spartan Assault is now one of the first titles available across multiple Windows devices for the price of a single download, starting with Windows and Windows Phone 8.1. This functionality is currently only available to Windows and Windows Phone 8.1 users, but the single-download functionality will be expanded to Windows 8.0 users in May.

 Screenshot Spotlight: Melee

Last week, we turned the spotlight on Adrift. Take a gander at the following melee screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: I like “Ninja Assassins 7” by MrMartinit85 as well as “Dropping In” by RECEPTOR 17. Which one or more are your favorites from this week’s spotlight?

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, hop into the Heavies playlist (or grab some friends for a custom game) and take a screenshot featuring a Wraith and then tag it with “Wraith” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

HFFL: I have to admit that this week’s bulletin was pretty good. Now if I can get my hands on a set of those Earth Day trading cards…

This Monday, I came into the office a bit early. It was quiet, with only a dozen or so early birds at their desks working on all sorts of unannounced projects. Needing to catch up on work, I naturally spent the first 20 minutes reorganizing the various amount of Halo figures, plushies, and limited edition trinkets on my desk in to the perfect arrangement. Then I finally headed into the kitchen to get a morning cup of tea. That’s when it happened.

I hear a pretty loud “THUD!” behind me, and turn to a co-worker to find out where the noise came from. Our eyes gravitate toward the refrigerators that house a variety of beverages that keep 343’ers quenched throughout the day. Frozen sodas were splatted across the glass. Initially, this gave me an extreme craving for a Slush Puppie, but I then realized that a soda had violently exploded and that we might have an issue on our hands. I walked over to the refrigerator and saw something I may never forget.

Throughout the entire fridge, several dozen kamikaze sodas had already exploded, leaving tasty, frozen carbonated slush and jagged-edged soda-can-shrapnel all over the place. Seconds later, another exploded and sent the neatly stacked Coke Zeroes into a domino-like tumble. At this point, I realized the studio was in extreme danger, and took the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.

What I’m trying to say is that I made a sign. Two signs, actually.

About a minute or two after making these very serious signs, a team member from the Halo Waypoint web team approached the fridge, and I cautioned them to not open it. Seconds later, another “THUD!” was heard as another self-destructive soda came flying at the glass. We looked at each other for a moment. Did I save his life? Yes. Did I save many lives that morning? Probably. Am I a hero? No. The real hero is the refrigerator maintenance man who bravely, without any tactical gear, let alone facial or cranial protection, exposed himself to extreme danger as he emptied the fridge out one explosive can at a time.

Lesson: If you want colder soda, don’t turn the temperature down. That turns the fridge into a vicious life-threatening machine. Use ice cubes.

This week we’ve got a lighter Bulletin, but a few things to talk about. Let’s get into it.

Matchmaking Playlist Update

This past Monday, Ninja Assassins (sneakily) made its way into Halo 4 Matchmaking, and has consistently been one of the top playlists. We hope you’re enjoying the fast paced, snipe / slice / sneak action, and if you’re unfamiliar with the settings, rules, and steps required to become a level 3 ninja, check out last week’s Bulletin. Additionally, we added Neutral Flag and two community maps, Excavation and Panic Station, to Big Team Battle. Be sure to hop into Matchmaking this week to check it all out.

In the coming weeks, we’ll have some new featured playlists as well as changes to existing playlists. We’ll dive into the details then, but we currently have plans to bring Ricochet into other playlists and remove the Ricochet playlist as a permanent installment. We also have plans to bring Heavies back into Matchmaking in a big way, and we’ll have those details and more next week. Yes, we like massive vehicular combat just as much as you do.

This week, we’re preparing for the Multi-Team playlist, which will return to Matchmaking as our featured playlist from April 28 through May 12. The playlist will include a wide variety of Slayer and objective game types, and we’ve got room for one more. Let us know which you’d like to see in this week’s Community Poll:

Community Choice: Multi-Team

HFFL: Can I say first that I for one am EXCITED that Multi-Team is coming back, even if for only two-weeks. However, I’m going to ask all of you to play the HELL out of that playlist. It really needs to make it’s way back into Matchmaking, permanently! How many times have you gone in with yourself and two friends and had to play team slayer or a bigger team playlist? Multi-team fills that void when it’s just you and two others.

The chaos of Multi-Team brings a new feel to each of the below game types:

Quick Draw

One of Halo 4’s newer game types, Quick Draw equips players with Magnums, Frag Grenades, and a dream.

Legendary Slayer

Multi-Team Legendary Slayer pits players against one another in a precision rifle based experience. Headshots, stolen kills, and this time around, there are three losing teams instead of just one.

Team Swords

Lots of Energy Swords, clashing, and nonstop action.

HFFL: I’m tired of Swords (Clang of the Hill anyone?). Quick draw? Meh, pass. But Legendary Slayer? YES PLEASE! This is the closest to Halo 3 that we’re going to get. I’m ALL for it and would ask you all to vote for that one please, even if you’re not going to play multi-team. The link is in the very next paragraph.

Head here to vote on the Waypoint forums. Voting will be open for approximately four days. Be sure to check back next week, where we’ll announce the winner along with the Matchmaking Update!

Community Meld Comes to Halo: Spartan Assault

As we mentioned last week, Community Meld is now integrated into Halo: Spartan Assault on Xbox One! Be sure to check out the feature as we continue to deliver news and updates via Xbox One. These will include news about Matchmaking updates, future projects, and more.

To open Meld, just press “Y” on the Halo: Spartan Assault main menu:

Knowledge Drop: Community Q&A

Since the last knowledge drop, we’ve received more fiction questions on our official Twitter account, and I took some of them over to our Franchise writers this week to see if I could get some answers out of them. Check out the answers to some of your burning questions below!

Question: Do they still have eye glasses in the 26th Century? Or has near/far sightedness become a thing of the past?
-@TheRookieXBL

Answer: Medical science has resolved most issues with eyesight, though some people choose to wear glasses for a variety of reasons.

Q: I’ve heard rumors Sangheili speak backwards. Is this true? And what does “wort wort wort” mean?
-@Charmancer

A: Stsgiloporhtnaonex yb ylevisnetxe deiduts gnieb llits dna xelpmoc ylbidercni si egaugnal iliehgnas. Noitseuq taerg.

HFFL: Translation: Great Question. Sanghelil language is incredibly complex and still being studied extensively by xenoanthropoligists.

Q: Can you elaborate on what the object beneath Sword Base was along with the info it contained?
-@Mr_Admirals

A: It was a Forerunner ship and its debris field was spread out across Eposz for a hundred millennia. It’s secrets are still under heavy scrutiny.

Q: Where are Covenant ships and armors created post war? And why do the Covenant use green lights?
-@TheMasterBuild1

A: While a handful of their local shipyards still exist, most are inactive, forcing many Sangheili to fight over what remained at the close of the war. Shipboard/hull lighting can vary in color for a number of reasons, including things such as the manufacturer, the era of production, and a commander’s personal preference.

If you’ve got a question you’d like us to answer, be sure to send it over on Twitter or post in this Bulletin’s discussion thread!

Screenshot Spotlight

Last week, we turned the spotlight on the color pink. Take a gander at the following Adrift screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: Damn, I forgot to tag mine… I had some good ones to. Of the ones shown, I like Ignition. It’s similar to one of the ones I was going to submit: 

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot featuring a melee and then tag it with “Melee” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

HFFL: Well, off to try and get some good melee shots for me!

This is a reblog of this week’s bulletin. My thoughts will be highlighted in BLUE along the way.

Last week, a strange package arrived at the studio. Actually, similar to last time, it was more like a normal box and not very suspicious, but the contents were far from ordinary. Shortly after its arrival, bs angel walked over to my desk with quite a surprise. In her hands she held a battle damaged Noble Six helmet, modeled after the Mortal Dictata cover. It was sent over by Jim from Stony Props, and it is absolutely incredible.

HFFL: Wow, this is impressive. Why can’t these be made available to fans? I’d LOVE to own an official Halo helmet prop. (Assuming I could afford one of course.)

Creations like this bring us big smiles (as you can clearly see above – under the helmet, Laskan has a huge smile on his face), and we’d like to thank Jim for sending over this masterpiece, as well as each and every one of you who have ever shared your community creations with us. Not only are they super awesome, but when designers, testers, artists and producers see these creations, whether on a forum or inside the studio, it reminds us how talented and special the fans of this franchise are, and why we get to do what we do every day. Also, it’s been really fun wearing this helmet around the studio every day, and I don’t anticipate that getting old any time soon.

This week we have lots to talk about – a new Matchmaking playlist, an upcoming 1 vs. 1 tournament, a Halo: Spartan Assault update and more. Let’s get into it!

Matchmaking Playlist Update

This coming Monday, we have a brand new playlist premiering: Ninja Assassins! We’ve been playtesting the game type over the past few weeks, and it requires stealth, precision, patience, and a whole lotta Thrustin’.

Ninja Assassins is an 8-player Free-for-All game type that features Spartans decked out in custom armor, equipped with Energy Swords and Sniper Rifles, and outfitted with the Thruster Pack. Motion tracker is disabled, and ten points are awarded for each kill. Watch your back, though, because if you manage to sneak in an assassination, it will net you 30 points – the equivalent of three kills. During each life, you’ll level up – this is accomplished by getting kills in succession. One kill will bring you to level 1, two kills for level 2, and if you manage to get three kills in a row, you’ll be at level 3 – here are the details and attributes of each level:

Ninja Level 1
Shields recharge at a faster rate (2x)
Assassinations performed at a faster rate (2x)

Ninja Level 2
Shields recharge at a faster rate (2x)
Shields recharge sooner than normal (after 3 seconds)
Assassinations performed at a faster rate (3x)

Ninja Level 3
Shields recharge at a faster rate (2x)
Shields recharge sooner than normal (after 2 seconds)
Assassinations performed at a faster rate (4x)
Unlimited Thruster Pack energy

HFFL: Wow, okay, this sounds extremely cool! I stink at assassinations, but I’m going to gov ethos a go. Also, I’m VERY happy to see that there is indeed a “tiered” system for kills. I suggested something like this months ago. Not for assassinations, but rather weapon drops. In fact, here are the two articles I wrote as such: 

https://halofanforlife.com/?p=12594 (posted 1/24/14) and

https://halofanforlife.com/?p=8010 (posted 5/15/13)

While not the same as players attribute adjustments, I wonder if this is possible?

Ninja Assassins will be available as our featured playlist through April 28.

Big Team Battle Refresh

We know many of you are suckers for 8 vs. 8 vehicular combat, and this is probably part of the reason why Halo 4’s Big Team Battle typically holds the number one spot across all playlists. We’re actively adding to the playlist (including recently added Big Team Snipers) and this week, we’re back with more maps and game types in order to keep the experience fresh and new. Here’s what’s coming on Monday:

Neutral Flag

Nothing says “Tug O’ War” more than Neutral Flag. The game type will be played on the following maps:

• Ragnarok
• Exile
• Longbow

We also added two brand new community maps with help from the Community Cartographers. The maps are:

Excavation by Flying Shoe ILR

Excavation is a rotationally symmetrical map set in an abandoned mining area. The most important asset on Excavation is the Mantis, which is a powerful tool for controlling various parts of the map.

Panic Station by The Psycho Duck

Panic Station is a large map with vertical gameplay elements. This map provides unprecedented freedom for Warthog and vehicle play while still offering plenty of options to players on foot.

The new maps and Neutral Flag will be available in Big Team Battle on Monday morning – hop in and check ‘em out!

HFFL: More objective based gameplay in BTB is fantastic for me. Neutral Flag can be fun, especially if you’re got a cohesive team that makes great call-outs and moves with the objective as necessary. I’ll be looking forward to playing these additional game types and maps.

Community Choice: Proving Ground

Last week, we asked which objective game type you wanted to see included next into the Proving Ground playlist, and Oddball edged out Capture the Flag to win the community vote. As a result, Oddball will also be available as an option in Proving Ground on Monday. We’ve got more planned for this playlist, so be sure to get in on the action, which features Battle Rifles starts, and no Armor Abilities or Personal Ordnance.

HFFL: Are any of you playing in the Proving Ground playlist? I stay away from it as it’s WAY to competitive for me. Or rather I should say chock full of skilled players who are better than me and I know I won’t get an evenly matched game, due to the ALWAYS low population of this playlist. Whew, a mouthful…. You get the idea.

Team Slayer Top 200: Season 2 Final Rankings

Last week, we posted the final rankings for Season 2 of the Team Slayer Top 200. As we mentioned at the beginning of this past season, we’ve been keeping an eye on the leaderboard for players using exploits to make their way to the top, and have removed any suspicious players from the leaderboard. Below, you’ll find a preview of the top ten players:

We’d like to congratulate these players who battled with integrity and determination. To see the full Top 200, head here. To see the latest Proving Ground standings, head here.

Community Meld Coming to Halo: Spartan Assault

Over the past few weeks, we have been working with the Xbox team to integrate the Community Meld, a new Xbox One feature that you may have seen on Killer Instinct, into Halo: Spartan Assault.

We’re excited about the potential of the Community Meld and want to let you in on how we’re thinking about this feature for our games. You shouldn’t have to leave the game to get the latest news and information about new products and more. We realize that you don’t always want to open up a website on your laptop or mobile device, and that it might be easier to skim through news and upcoming projects and watch new videos right in the game itself. As more news is released this year, we are excited to bring you details about future projects, game updates, and all the latest information in the Community Meld.

The feature will launch for Halo: Spartan Assault on April 15. Here’s a preview of the Community Meld below:

Halo Waypoint Store Weekend Sale

From April 10-14, we’re having a sale at the Halo Waypoint store! All tees will be discounted to $15, and all hoodies will be dropped to $45. Head over to the official store this weekend to pick up some apparel!

Beyond Entertainment Spring Showdown

Our friends over at Beyond Entertainment have announced their Spring Showdown Halo 4 1v1 tournament! The free-to-enter tournament will use the official Halo 4 Global Championship settings and be played on Haven, Skyline, and Onyx. The tournament is limited to US residents and will run on April 26. We’ve teamed up with Beyond Entertainment to provide some prizes for the event, including a Polk Audio Melee Gaming Headset and more for first place.

Screenshot Spotlight: Pink

Last week, we turned the spotlight on grenades. Take a gander at the following Pink screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

HFFL: Of the ones shown, I like “Colorful” by Azpekt297.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot on the map Adrift and then tag it with “Adrift” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.
Until next week,
Bravo

To see the bulletin on the official site, go HERE.
-Sal