My bud “Cowboy” over on www.littleenglishhaloblog.com scored a great opportunity to interview the voice of Cortana, Jen Taylor.
Go here to read the interview.
One of her answers made my eyebrow perk up:
…I do have a blue, spandex suit with LED attachments that I MUST wear in the recording booth.
To that I say, “Pics or it didn’t happen!” LOL.
To Cowboy I say, well done mate, well done!
-Sal
SPOILERS in article and links.
While checking out another vid on IGN, I saw the link for this.
Article by Ryan McCaffrey.
He lets you know that the franchise is in good hands. He feels very comfortable with what he saw and PLAYED. There is a terminal you can find at the beginning of the game that is a 20-30 second recap of Halo 3’s story. (A nice way to transition to Halo 4, whether or not you’ve played Halo 3.) From there a little later he ventures OUTSIDE of the Forward Unto Dawn, paying homage to Halo 2 in this respect.
There’s a lot more to read in the article so I won’t spoil it any further. Just click on the link at the top of the article and enjoy.
-Sal
Courtesy of Alison Stroll via Twitter:
Kiki Wolfkill once again gives us info on Halo 4. Specifically the first mission called “Dawn.”
The vid is a mix of just released videos part of which I’ve just reported on, so it will look familiar. Josh Holmes also speaks in a vid later on in the article.
A new game mode called Dominion is previewed. It’s a capture the base mode, similar to 3-plots in Reach, but where the longer you hold the fort, the more it builds up. (likely with more weapons to be able to protect it, like turrets or power weapons)
-Sal
Courtesy of giantbomb.com. <–clicky link for video interview.
Franchise Development Director Frank O’Conner speaks on Halo 4. The color Orange plays a role. Of course we now know that to be the Didact and his forces.
The vid shows footage just released of the campaign (that I linked to a few articles ago.)
Scattershot can BANK projectiles coming from it!
I have to say that the interviewer did a VERY good job. He was articulate and knowledgeable about the Halo universe.
-Sal
Courtesy Alison Stroll, Senior Producer on Halo 4 via Twitter.
Okay, you may have seen the previous vid. However, that one clouded up the weapon noise with music. So here is the vid sans music.
The needle rifle sounds more like a machine gun needler than it did in Reach.
The Carbine sounds POWERFUL! Lots of PUNCH to it.
The Fuel Rod has a distinct “canister” sounds to it.
Needler seems faster. Plasma pistol definitely sounds more like a pistol than something futuristic.
The Plasma Sword sounds fantastic. I hear references to the Light Saber in activation as well as in a strike. I LOVE IT!
Concussion rifle has a little bit of the canister sound, mixed with shotgun. Well, that’s how I hear it anyway.
Now the Beam rifle…OMG, that sound is awesome. Futuristic to be sure.
We’ve heard wha the Gravity hammer sounds like form recent vids on Griffball, but now we get confirmation that it’s in Multiplayer as well!
Ahh yeah!!!
-Sal
IGN has a preview on Halo 4 showing the NEW Legendary Shield. They (343) state that it’s Forerunner in origin.
Okay, so do you like this new shield and skull?
I like it. It of course HAS to change from being Elite to something Forerunner as the Forerunners (or at least the Prometheans and presumably the Didact) are the main enemy of Halo 4, not the Covenant.
Thanks to HaloWaypoint for the link. Screencap of shield by VaderRx.
Here’s the shield recolorized and cropped a bit.
-Sal
In case you missed them, check them out here:
Spartan Ops and War games interview with Kiki Wolfkill. (Executive Producer at 343i on Halo 4)
Kiki goes over what Spartan Ops is, mentioned the episodes per week with they’re five related playable missions, covering 10 weeks of episodes/missions. The episodes are about “Majestic” squad, while you as a player will be part of “Crimson” squad.
Campaign Interview with Josh Holmes. (Creative Director at 343i on Halo 4)
Josh gives us some great info on the campaign, specifically why we are still facing the Covenant even after an apparent truce with them at the end of Halo 3.
The campaign itself takes place some 4 years 7 months after the events of Halo 3. Cortana is well past her shelf life as an AI.
You HAVE to check out the awesome assassination of a Promethan Knight in this clip.
Wow some REALLY cool images in both vids.
-Sal
First I’d like to thank Cowboy on http://www.littleenglishhaloblog.com/ for the info.
The “Awakening: The Art of Halo 4” book is now on sale at Amazon for just over $23. This down from $35. It’s a good time to buy. Plenty of good pics on the upcoming game. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Here’s Amazon’s write-up on it:
A glimpse at the beginning of a new trilogy in the massive global gaming franchise, featuring a stunning array of concept art, character sketches and much, much more.
Halo 4 is the next blockbuster installment in the iconic franchise that shaped entertainment history and defined a decade of gaming. Set in the aftermath of Halo 3, it marks the beginning of a new trilogy as the Master Chief confronts an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe.
Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 will give gamers an in-depth look behind the scenes at the creation of the stunning worlds of Halo 4, with commentary from the art director and game designers throughout. Concept art, character sketches, detailed environments and an additional section on the forthcoming multiplayer game make this the definitive guide to 343 Industries’ take on the Halo universe.
I know I’m getting this! Are you? Please feel free to reply.
-Sal
I just got word via Twitter, that the information embargo for Halo 4 is lifted. While much has already been revealed, we can expect a LOT more info to come out now. In the meantime, I have a TON of articles to write.
That brings me to one point I need to mention. In the last couple of days, I’ve forgotten to give credit to a few people for tipping me to info. To those folks I apologize. Not my intention. As for retweeting on Twitter, I only do that a little bit. I prefer to write up an article myself based off of the info provided, that includes my own thoughts and views on the subject.
Now, on to a lot of new info, interviews, gameplay footage and more…
-Sal (HFFL)