Monthly Archives: January 2012

McFarlane Toys Halo line-up for 2012 PREVIEW

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Here’s the official link from HaloWaypoint.com:
McFarlane Toys to Create Halo 4 Action Figures

Here it is in full text (my thoughts to follow after initial post):

Long-Running, Best-Selling Figure Line Continues in 2012 with All-New Figures from the Latest Halo Video Game

This fall, Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries are releasing Halo 4, the highly anticipated video game expected to be one of the top entertainment launches of 2012. McFarlane Toys is proud to announce that its best-selling line of Halo action figures continues this fall as well, with figures from Halo 4.

Halo 4 brings back the most popular character of the Halo universe, the Master Chief, and kicks off an all-new trilogy of games. Dubbed the “Reclaimer Trilogy” by 343 Industries, these new games explore the characters of the Master Chief and Cortana, expand the Halo fiction in bold new ways and bring even more of the innovation that the Halo series is known for to the gaming world. McFarlane Toys Halo 4 action figures bring the all-new characters, weapons and vehicles of Halo 4 to video-game fans and action-figure collectors worldwide.

“Each new Halo game is a significant entertainment event,” says Todd McFarlane, CEO and founder of McFarlane Toys. “Halo 4marks the return of the Master Chief and Cortana, plus the introduction of new characters, weapons and locations sure to excite long-time fans.”

Action figure collectors can expect the same quality and attention to detail in the Halo 4 line that they’ve come to expect from McFarlane toys. “We’re really excited to be working with the all-star team of 343 Industries,” Todd notes. “Microsoft has assembled an incredible group of developers to ensure Halo‘s continued place among the top entertainment franchises. 343 Industries is pushing the envelope with the visuals, storytelling and gameplay, and we can’t wait until fans get their hands onHalo 4.”

The Halo 4 figure series continues in the 6-inch size introduced with their Halo: Reach figures. They’re also introducing a series of larger, boxed figures. These deluxe items are in scale with their 6-inch figures, but include larger accessories, such as Master Chief’s Cryotube.

McFarlane Toys is part of a select group of licensees with Halo 4 products available at game launch. Halo 4 Series 1 kicks off this August with four carded figures and one boxed figure set, and expands to include even more figures later in the fall.

Todd promises, “343 still has some surprises to reveal, so we can’t give you all the details just yet. But we’ve seen what they’re working on, and Halo 4 will be worth the wait!”

August 2012

Carded Figures
• Master Chief
• Secret Figure 1
• Secret Figure 2
• Secret Figure 3

Boxed Figure
• Frozen Master Chief and Cryotube

November 2012

Carded Figures
• Cortana
• Secret Figure 4
• Secret Figure 5
• Secret Figure 6

Boxed Figure
• Secret Boxed Figure 1

Halo 4 Series 1 will be launched in August 2012, and will expand around the game launch in fall 2012, continuing into 2013. Available at Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, GameStop, local comic book stores, drug stores and other retailers. MSRP is $12 for standard carded figures and $25 for deluxe boxed figures.

HALO UNIVERSE

In addition to its all-new Halo 4 action figure line, McFarlane Toys is continuing its popular Halo: Anniversary series in fall 2012. Since the franchise’s tenth anniversary has now passed, the line is being rebranded as “Halo Universe.”

Halo Universe continues to bring fans the classic, fan-favorite characters from the earlier Halo games, and even includes “expanded universe” sources such as novels, comic books and the animated feature, Halo Legends. This series also continues the popular “build-a-figure” feature of our Halo: Anniversary lines, bringing collectors an extra bonus item such as the Difficulty Plaque or UNSC Logo.

Todd explains, “Halo 4 brings fans figures from the latest and greatest Halo video game. But Halo is a franchise with over a decade of incredible games, movies, books and comics. With our Halo Universe line, we can continue to offer long-time fans the classic characters they know and love.”

Halo Universe Series 1 consists of five figures and one 6-inch-scale vehicle:

• Frederic-104 (Halo Legends)
• Romeo (Halo 3: ODST)
• Elite Commando (Halo 3)
• Brute Captain Major (Halo 3)
• Spartan (Multiplayer)
• ODST Drop Pod

Halo Universe Series 1 debuts in October 2012. Available at Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, GameStop, local comic book stores, drug stores, and other retailers. MSRP is $12 for figures and $39 for vehicles.

HaloFanForLife is going to New York Toy Fair!

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We will be attending this year’s New York Toy Fair. Expect great coverage from us with tons of pictures. This is our first Toy Fair and we are GREATLY excited at the prospect of going.

New York Toy Fair 2012 runs from 2/12/12 – 2/15/12.

Stay posted for more info about Toy Fair as it gets closer, as well as those pics and info as promised.

-Emily
Staff Writer/Site Photographer

Mega Bloks Halo game? If only…

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Deviantart user DANYVADERDAY created this very cool rendition of what a Mega Bloks Halo game case might look like.

Unfortunately this is NOT real. I’ve spoken with an official from Mega Bloks several months ago about the possibility of a Mega Bloks Halo game. While MB would LOVE to have a game made, at this time MicroSoft isn’t developing one. That doesn’t mean it will never happen. It’s just not on the radar.

I for one hope MS strikes while the iron is hot, while the game franchise is going strong and the toy license is selling like hotcakes. Even if this was a campaign only game, I’d gladly buy it.

Halo Novel synopsis and review: Halo Cryptum (Book one of the Forerunner Saga) SPOILERS!

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Cryptum, by Greg Bear, is an interesting look into the pre-halo game history of Forerunners seen through the eyes of a very young Forerunner. The story takes us through a winding tale of a young Forerunner who goes against the grain and seeks to explore rather than be tied down by the traditions of Forerunner classes or rates. He was to be a “Builder.” Instead he goes off exploring for an ancient artifact and instead finds an old Cryptum. Not just any one though. It’s that of the Didact himself.

The Didact was perhaps the most powerful of the Warrior-Servant class and was/is married to the Librarian, the highest of the lifeworkers. When our young hero “Bornstellar” revives the Didact, they immediately begin a mission that would change the course of history for Forerunners and indeed all sentients.

Along with two humans, who against their will are taken along, Bornstellar and the Didact visit places from the Didact’s past. An age old “enemy” has escaped and another old enemy is soon to make a reappearance. It’s up to this band of Forerunners and Humans to figure out the truth of the situation. Before all can be revealed, the Didact mutates Bornstellar so that our young hero would have the memories of the elder Forerunner.

They meet up against the Master Builder, the highest of the highest Forerunners, who test one of the Halos against the San-Shyuum homeworld. The Didact is taken into custody, Bornstellar is returned to his home and family, and the whereabouts of the humans remains to be seen.

While home, Bornstellar learns more about the universe and specifically his father’s role in it. Bornstellar is summoned to appear before the council of Forerunners. The Halos have been brought to the Forerunner homeworld, the Master Builder is in custody and a possibly mad/rampant AI known as Mendicant Bias takes control of roughly half of the Halos.

All hell breaks loose when the Halos begin to charge up or flee. The Forerunner fleet comes for a rescue. However, before we find out the fate of the homeworld, Bornstellar and two council members flee and are transported through a wormhole with one of the Halos to the Ark.

There Bornstellar meets the Librarian…

There is more to know and understand in this novel. If you want to enjoy and learn more information about the Haloverse then this book and eventual series of three is a must buy. The writing style is a little wonky at times. However that may in part be due to the perspective of it coming from a Forerunner and the use of terms the casual fan won’t be familiar with.

There is a rich sense of history and order in this novel that gives into personal decisions.

I’d say more about the book, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise.

Book two “Primordium” is out now and I will be reviewing that soon. As soon as I finish Glasslands, a tale of the aftermath of the presumed ending of the Human-Covenant war.

I hope you enjoyed the synopsis and review and again if you haven’t read this book, then I highly recommend buying it and reading for yourself.

Please feel free to sign up for my Blog and post a comment or three.

-HFFL

McFarlane releases full pics of Halo Series 6 figures and Deluxe sets!

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First I need to give credit for the pics to McFarlane’s website: http://www.spawn.com/news/news2.aspx?id=13807

Now onto the pics (I’ve consolidated them here for quicker reference).

First the single carded figures to scale with one another:

Click on each thumbnail to see a larger version.

Great looking figures as always. I’m partial to the Brute and JFO. For some reason I really like the way McFarlane has sculpted the brutes. I wear the JFO helmet a lot in multiplayer, so it stands to reason I’d be partial to it. I still find it strange though that Walgreen’s got the exclusive for this. Jun and Kat look good and they round out the rest of unhelmeted Noble squad members. (We never saw Emile or Noble 6 clearly without helmets in the game.)

Of the three deluxe sets, I am looking forward to the objective one the most, then the Invasion one. I wouldn’t have bought the Generator Defense one, but McFarlane scored with me by including the JFO.

Mega Bloks Revenant Custom

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As promised I took my second set of the newly released Covenant Revenant Attack and customized that Revenant to be more accurate to the in-game model.

So here it is next to the original on the left. I was extremely fortunate during the custom build to have enough pieces left over to make somewhat close mini-sized Revenant.

I ONLY used pieces from the one set to make the custom. NO parts were used from the other set. So you too can make this custom if you just bought one set.

(Click on pics to open up a larger version)

Here is a nice shot of the custom a 3/4 front driver’s side view.

Here is the mini at a similar position:

A comparison front view of the original/in-game/custom model.

A comparison side view of the original/in-game/custom model.

As you can see by the front view I was able to make it slimmer and closer to the in-game model. Also note that the much of the build retains the original build at least from the outside. The rear area had some slight changes to accommodate the large 3×3 curved pieces. I integrated them with the back to better reflect the in-game model with shows more of the wine color armor on top and just to the sides of the seats.

For those wondering, YES, the side wings do indeed rotate, though less than Mega Bloks’s design. I was willing to give up a little bit of that articulation for better accuracy to the look, however my pivot point is much closer to the in-game model than the original.

I’m going to keep both the original and custom versions intact. I do have a couple of ideas for a third version of this set. If it ever goes on sale later on in the year, I’ll tackle this custom again and rework the design.

I hope you like the custom. Let me know what you think of it by signing up for my blog and posting here.

-HFFL