Okay, this week’s weekly challenge is EASY. It just takes time is all and not as much as you might think.
Monthly Archives: March 2012
Target coupon for 50% off all Mega Bloks (including Halo!!).
Target is running a 50% off coupon for all Mega Bloks (including Halo). You can find the coupon in your Sunday paper.
If however you want to order online, you can do that too and I have the coupon code for you: TGT8AJVK Now, I did this and it gave an error, but when you continue with the purchase it DOES take half off.
I bought a Pelican online and saved nearly $40. I’ll now be going to my local store to get a UNSC Elephant and save almost $60 there. Woot! It’s like getting the Pelican for free in essence after buying the Elephant. If you’ve though about buying Mega Bloks Halo stuff before, NOW is the time to do it. The coupon is only good until the end of this month.
-HFFL
McFarlane Series 6 White JFO (Walgreens exclusive) in hand pictures!
I was able to get this via eBay. I do not often look to eBay for new toys. However, given the dubious nature of stocking for Walgreen’s stores and the likelyhood that this figure is going to be extremely hard to find, plus all the wasted time and especially gas looking for it, I opted to take a hit and get it on eBay before it becomes much harder to get and more expensive.
That said, I’m happy with this figure, though I think there is a little bit TOO much “dirt” on it. You’ll see what I mean in a moment. First let’s look at the figure carded:
Standard card, nothing to denote this is an exclusive on the front. Then again, since I got this from eBay, if there are any Walgreen’s stickers they were removed before I got it.
Now here we can see in the composite view shot the dirty look to the figure I was talking about, along with a close-up shot:
Here’s a good look at the Target Locator included, close-up in four views:
Finally a friend asked me to post the UPC of the figure for easier reference when going to Walgreens to explain to the workers there what they were looking for. So I’m happy to oblige.
Now as far as the figure itself, it uses the standard multiplayer base figure. All of the armor parts have been released before, but in different colors. What makes this fairly unique is that it’s White (albeit dirty white), and it’s one of the view that has a visor color other than gold. Since it’s an exclusive, I HIGHLY suggest if you see it at Walgreens to pick it up immediately. I doubt you’ll see it again. As well, and again I don’t push this often, if you see it on eBay for a price you’re willing to pay, get it.
A white spartan of any armor configuration is desired as it is the easiest to custom paint. Though with this one’s exclusivity, I’d think twice about it.
-HFFL
Mega Bloks Die Cast BATTLE SETS!
Two new Die Cast sets coming soon from Mega Bloks Die-cast line:
Battle Set: Scorpion/Covenant Sniper tower
and
Battle Set: Wraith/Pelican
These are not official names. However I will endeavor to find that out as soon as possible.
In the mean time feast your eyes on these cool sets to come. (Product subject to change before release):
No word on cost either. Assuming the Wraith set is $20, then this battle set will be a lot more given the size of the Pelican. Hopefully not more than $40 though. The Scorpion/Tower set should be more than $30 given the small size of the tower. We’ll see though.
Inheritor twice over…
Halo Mega Bloks Master Chief Helmet set.
The Mega Bloks Halo Toymation contest has been over for awhile. Now we get to see one of the prizes awarded to the winners. It’s a Master Chief Helmet set on a base. Not quite to scale, but still totally awesome.
I would so TOTALLY get one of these if it came in Master Chief Green with the visor being gold.
Hmm, maybe they will consider it. Even without the majority of the base it would be uber cool to have.
New Halo Reach Multiplayer map?
Okay the title IS misleading. I created a small map for Double Team. I call it “Archive.” It’s supposed to represent an area where there is an archive of information stored in a shield world. Similar to the “index,” but not used for purposes of firing a Halo ring.
It uses a portion of Tempest not often used. However, my map looks nothing like Tempest in that most of it is covered up with the exception of the Power Core near the back of the map.
With some lighting effects and the use of the Juicy filter, I feel I’ve come up with a map that doesn’t look like the normal multiplayer maps seen.
I’m going to put it in my fileshare later today, but for now here are some screenshots I took. Let me know what you think of it.
Congrats to winners of the HaloFanForLife Reach/Mega Bloks posting contest.
Congrats to the following:
Jeff Anderson-Blog post
@MCDahlman-Twitter post
Dan Hoskins-Facebook post
Jeff Anderson also wins the extra entry portion for posting on all three.
Winners, please contact me with your shipping addresses to receive your prizes.
Why Spartan IVs in Halo 4 Multiplayer?
To answer this question completely you need to read “Glasslands” by Karen Traviss.
However, I’ll explain it in part here.
First, it’s a natural evolution for the Spartan program to proceed to the development of new Spartans. Master Chief is a Spartan II, while Noble Team from Reach, which the exception of Jorge (who himself is also a Spartan II), are all Spartan IIIs.
After the war with the Covenant there are only a handful of Spartan IIs left. There are some Spartan IIIs as well.
Oni takes control of the Spartan III program since Colonel Ackerson (the creator of the Spartan III program) is killed in action during the war. The remaining Spartan IIIs are essentially then to converted to Spartan IVs. For all intents and purposes of this writing it looks like for them it’s an armor swap.
The remainder of the Spartan IVs are to conscripts from the UNSC military, much of which will comes from the ODST ranks, though some may be regular Marines or Army. This leads to a possibility that Gunnery Sergeant Buck may finally become a Spartan. I think that would be a GREAT way to reintroduce Nathan Fillion back into the franchise.
Now, with the addition of Spartan IVs in to the Haloverse, this begs the question, how strong will they be? Obviously Spartan IIIs who convert to Spartan IVs will be stronger than their ODST/Marine/Army converted counterparts. So how will that play out in Multiplayer if at all?
If it does have an affect, I’d say that through playing multiplayer you gain skill and experience. This in turn allows you to rank up from being a marine or army conscript to an ODST conscript to eventually a Spartan III conscript. So by prolific and skillful multiplayer gaming you become stronger and faster. Kind of interesting to think about. This is theoretical on my part though.
Halo Bulletin 3/7/12
The full bulletin Halo Bulletin 3/7/12.
Here it is in a shortened paraphrased version with some of the points of it discussed.
—
Monday was the day we officially released the first in-game look at Halo 4, in the form of a behind-the-scenes video and three screenshots featuring the Master Chief and the Battle Rifle. We answer several of your Halo 4–related inquiries.
What is your general approach to the marketing of Halo 4? Can we expect more/bigger info blowouts before release or will you keep things closer to your chest this time (compared to other Halo games)? –Sempik
We have some surprises in store. It’s a combination of genuinely wanting to surprise fans and, of course, the production reality of making sure everything is cool before revealing things. We have some ideas, traditional and not-so-traditional, that certainly embrace marketing. Expect at least a human presence from 343 Industries at many of the big events in the gaming calendar year.
When will the full game be released? –Burninhell647
In precisely 2012. The actual ship date (and other details) will be rolled out in the not-too-crazy-distant future.
Seeing how Halo 4 is the return of Master Chief, when can we expect to get some Campaign information? –Maggot081608
We’re going to be rolling out more information throughout the year, and you will certainly find out more about both Campaign and Multiplayer relatively soon. Of course, now you have to define “relatively.”
What is the difference of philosophy of visuals between Campaign and Multiplayer, and will we see a more cinematic look in the Multiplayer with different techniques usually reserved for single-player? –DemonCarnotaur
The technology for both Campaign and Multiplayer graphics is effectively identical, but the philosophies will vary depending on the game mode/map. Certainly the traditional MP stuff we’ve already shown continues Halo’s tradition of clean lines of sight and recognizable environments designed to propel and lubricate map flow and fast-paced gameplay. The technology in Campaign will be used differently to accommodate a more cinematic experience, but there are a lot of approaches we’re taking to the whole game this time that will add layers of nuance to those approaches.
With all the care being put into improving and pushing the Multiplayer and single-player experiences forward, will the same care be put into features such as Forge and Theater? What are your goals for improving community content in Halo 4? –AtlasIsShruggin
We will do our best not to disappoint fans of the existing Halo feature set. Every aspect of the game is being approached with a passion and fervor to improve, grow, or streamline. More detail soon, but I suspect most folks will be pretty happy.
Every Halo game is different, sometimes subtly, sometimes radically. You can expect that tradition to continue here, but the short answer is that the core things that make Halo Campaign and Multiplayer feel like Halo will be intact and immediately available to players.
Will other characters, besides Master Chief and Cortana, from the previous games or novels appear in Halo 4? –Assassin 11D7
One of the luxuries of being in the game business is the ability to keep story and surprises completely shrouded in secrecy for a very long time. I can at least confirm that there will be some very interesting new characters joining the fray.
What stage of development are you at currently? –UnrealCh13f
We’re finishing levels. Improving perf. Finishing gameplay. Finishing UI. The Campaign is playable from beginning to end. Cinematics are being fully realized. Music is composed, final orchestra sessions are booked. Some levels are graphically polished and beautiful, others waiting their turn in the schedule. Testing and polishing of systems continues.
It is not the same number of guns. I can state bluntly that we have made significant changes to the sandbox. Perhaps the most radical overhauls and additions it’s ever had in a single iteration. Fans should expect to see very new stuff. And not just weapons. Yes, a lot of guns have made me go wow.Almost every single gun sound effect makes me go wow.
The HUD shown in the gameplay clips lacks a health bar. Will this change, has this changed, or will Halo 4 use the same health system as the one in Halo 2 and 3? –Gravemind
Health has been changed. There are no health pickups, but we’ll have more news on how that system works in gameplay at a later date.
All of the music you hear from this point out is going to be from the game. We’re taking it in a different direction, but one that still, we think, fits the Halo universe beautifully. Our composer will be revealed soon enough, and as soon as a fairly dry contractual date arrives, we will be ecstatic to introduce him to you.
There will be interesting ways to replay Halo 4, as is traditional in the series.
Any chance we’ll be getting Forge info anytime soon? –Nuclear Taco 42
We will discuss the future of Forge later this year. It will not be sad news.
The BR is a three-shot burst weapon. It is hitscan. In its current tuning, it has recoil (not bloom) which causes it to rise slightly (in a predictable and suppressible way).
Will there be multiple editions like with previous Halo titles? (Standard, limited, legendary) –Revenant1988
After we announce the release date, we will announce what content will be available at retail.
Will assassinations return and if yes, will we have more unique weapon moves, for example the Energy Sword in Halo: Reach? –D4RKNESS 360
Short version, yes. Assassinations are altered, but they’re back. The weapon question isn’t something we’re going to answer today.
At least one more Karen Traviss novel, with important connective elements, will arrive between now and launch, although the final Forerunner chapter from Greg Bear will arrive afterwards. For some pretty specific strategic reasons. As you can imagine, juggling all these things is crazy hard.
What kind of features will Halo 4 provide to the machinima community? –farmer scott21
Halo has been a cornerstone of the machinima community. It’s also a personal passion of mine (and others here on the team), so we will continue to embrace and support that community, but I honestly don’t have too many details to share at this point.
Will Halo 4 include Gravity Hammers and Energy Swords (or adequate replacements) for Grifball? –Kalbelgarion
It will be (more or less) possible to play Grifball in Halo 4.
That will become apparent in the fiction of the game components, but the “feel” of Chief as it relates to the “feel” of a Spartan IV will be practically identical for gameplay purposes.
Will there be a color-blind option? Even in Reach where contrast is high, people such as myself have a hard time even with Blue Team’s colors against the dark grays of Countdown. –HamboBlank
We have a lot of color-blind players in the studio, including myself (100% red/green, which is why I seldom break the Tashi Ceiling), but we will not be producing a color-blindness “mode.” However, we have considered it as an art team, in how we choose palettes and types of contrast. The Spartans and UI elements help tremendously, and so far I am doing a bit better than I’d expect in that area.
Points discussed about the rest of the bulletin:
My fuller thoughts on the Halo 4 ViDoc.
My thoughts: Awesome (with some reservations)
Why?
• Glad to see the BR back
• Looks like Spartans move well. The new sleek armor adds to that look.
• Maps look good. I especially like Warhouse with the Cyclops Mk II mech in the middle. Can you imagine if we get to use that huge ass Cyclops in the game? If so, I’m thinking it would be VS one of the Didact’s War Sphinx’s.
• Master Chief does indeed look SICK. Ididn’t think I’d like the sleek look of the armor, but it grew on me FAST.
• Lighting is simply AMAZING. Finally if you’re in darkness your armor isn’t still bright and shiny. It looks like it’s in shadow. AS IT SHOULD! Kudos to 343.
Good but concerns:
• Sprint IS in and it appears to be BUILT-IN. Everyone will have it. All other AA’s will now be equipment. I’m totally fine with that. Would have loved to have a perma jetpack, but I’m cool if it’s just equipment.
• Covies. Okay, you want to know what races of them? I know one for sure. I can’t say how I know as it would put someone’s job in jeopardy. It’s BRUTES. And they seem to be more primitive from what I’ve learned. Though this could be just their look after the great schism war.
A feeling of ARGH:
• Perks. There WILL be weapons perks. It seems the more you play the better upgrades you can get to your weapons. What are those? The following is speculation and should not be considered fact:
Upgrade to tech such as:
– Higher accuracy (Bigger reticule-this allows for a larger hit scan area than normal) It would make sense to because over time you would get bette with a weapon, though in reality you wouldn’t have a growing reticle to help you
– Bigger clip so you don’t have to reload as much
– Faster reload, obvious
There also appears to be Armor perks as well:
– Stronger. This could mean either a stronger shield and/or bigger health bar. Either way you can take more hits
– Faster movement. Either a natural faster normal movement or you can sprint faster and longer
– Jumping. You can jump a little higher. This could really be a help if you’re trying to get to places you’d otherwise have to walk/run around to get to. Gets you the advantage of positioning.
If all of those perks play out then it is NOT going to be a balanced game at all.
The one thing we can hope for is that the game will match people up of similar rank. The problem is though when you have a mixed party of ranks.
For instance, you guys just KNOW I’m going to play the hell out of the game and will likely get perks quick. I have friends who don’t play Halo as much but would want to game with me. They would have a severe disadvantage if every team is matched up against me since I might be the highest “rank.”
This video is only the beginning though, so we’ll have a lot more to learn as fact as time goes on.
The one thing that does kind of piss me off is that it’s been confirmed NO BETA. WTH? Really? I know they want to spend time on the game itself. However, the feedback 343i could get about the game through a BETA would be invaluable.
My thinking is that, since they are building/rebuilding this game from scratch, they just simply would not have the time to “fix” things we find broken in the game. I foresee perks being one of these things. I hope they have an “out” for this.
Sure it could bring in Call of Nooby fans…But it’s going to alienate many hard core Halo fans. While CoD did kick everyone’s ass in sales last year, turning Halo into CoD or some facsimile there of does an injustice to Halo and it’s long term fans.
Respectfully,
Sal
No Halo 4 BETA. :(
Confirmed by Frank O’Conner himself.
Check out the vid in the link:
Halo 4 interview with Frank O’Conner
Well this is sad news. I was hoping to get my mits on a BETA Key to try the game out. I believe that 343 is taking a huge risk not having a BETA. While the vid looks great, fans want to test it out.
I’ll still be buying it though as likely will you.
Halo 4 ViDoc reveal: A closer look at the Multiplayer Map Warhouse
This map looks amazing! With the huge Cyclops Mk II Mech being constructed in the middle and the more than amazing lighting, this map just screams multiplayer madness (that’s in a fun way).
Here’s some shots of the Mech:
This map has hints of the Halo 3 MP map “Orbital” but amped WAY up.
The lighting in particular is what gets me. Finally players in shadows LOOK like they are in shadows. None of this bright colored armor no matter where they are on the map. That has been on of my biggest peeves about previous Halo games and it looks like 343i has solved that.
These next shots show that lighting in action:
And finally some assorted shots of the map in play:
I can’t wait to play on this map!!!
Halo 4 ViDoc reveal: A closer look at the Multiplayer Map Wraparound
One of two multiplayer maps revealed in the ViDoc, this one distinctively Forerunner. The map itself is supposed to be a facility for generating an artificial sun, hence the bright lighting.
Note the tall structure with the partial circle. It looks similar to the one seen on Breakneck, the revised Headlong Multiplayer map from Reach.
Here are the screenshots:
Note the red “up” arrow in two of the shots. Not sure if it’s necessary with an enemy immediately in front of you. I wonder if this can be achieved through radar instead. The arrow may be distracting. Here’s hoping for a Beta to check that out more.