HFFL Exclusive Interview with Toxik Nate, RTX finalist for the Halo 4 Global Championship.

Posted on 07/14/2013 by Sal

Toxik Nate was the break-out surprise at the Halo 4 Global Championship qualifier at RTX. In part due to his being a non-pro and playing so well against them.
I contacted Nate right after RTX to see if he’d be interested in doing an interview with HFFL. He agreed and here it is. If you’re not familiar with Nate, he was one of only SIX to advance to the finals of the Halo 4 Global Championship, RTX Qualifier of 696 contestants. I think we’re about to hear even more about him in the future, especially if he performs well at the Finals in Seattle during PAX.

HFFL: Hello Nate, thanks for agreeing to do this interview with me.
Toxik Nate (Nate): No problem Sal, just call me Nate.

HFFL: You made quite a showing at the RTX Qualifier for the Halo 4 Global Championship. Did you think you’d place so high, knowing there would be several pros playing as well?
Nate: I knew that several pros were attending, There was no doubting the skill of my competitors, so I did not doubt myself.

HFFL: Tell us what it was like to play in the tournament at RTX. Could you feel the excitement in the air?
Nate: RTX Austin had a HUGE turnout this was my first time at Rooster Teeth. So much cosplay it was like every video game/movie character came out to PARTY. I had a lot of fun talking with Master Chief John 117 himself. He told me the ending of the Halo series beyond H4 and it is truly amazing. (HFFL: LOL) As I entered the open FFA I knew that this was an important time to play my game.

HFFL: Were you nervous? If so, what did you do to overcome that nervousness? Any pre-game warm-ups, rituals?
Nate: Yes, I only got nervous before the finals on main stage. As for pregame rituals I often listen to two of my favorite bands, The Deftones and TOOL, before I play and sometimes while I’m playing. During the line up for the mainstage finals I can remember the song SCHISM by TOOL was playing over the showroom speakers. Hearing that song was good for me that’s one of the songs I blast before I start gaming.

HFFL: Upon your completion of the tournament at RTX, what were you feeling when you knew you had made it through?
Nate: When the tournament was over I was feeling good and was thankful for my placing. I enjoyed post game sportsmanship as every finalist congratulated one another.

HFFL: Do you have any tips for the rest of us who will be participating in the online portion of the contest?
Nate: For the online portion players should pay close attention to the host of the game. This is the GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP so expect fans of Halo all around the world to compete. If your trying to qualify and you live in the states, getting caught on a foreign HOST makes it harder to play. Try aiming your rifle through 3000 miles of internet traffic.

HFFL: Should you win or place high in the finals at Seattle, would you consider going pro if given the opportunity?
Nate: If I place well in Seattle, I will consider playing professionally.

HFFL: What about Halo made you a fan in the first place?
Nate: Halo multiplayer is a lot of fun. Master Chief is an awesome main character.

HFFL: Which game in the Halo franchise is your favorite?
Nate: Halo 2

HFFL: What is your favorite Multiplayer game type and why?
Nate: FFA. Chaos, kill stealing, and competition.

HFFL: Favorite Map and why?
Nate: Halo 2’s Midship. PARTY AT PINK 2!

HFFL: Favorite Weapon from any of the Halo games and why?
Nate: My favorite weapon has always been the battle rifle. As you become more precise with your shots you will see its the best weapon.

HFFL: What do you think about the changes 343 have and continue to make to Halo?
Nate: 343 Industries has improved the game play of Halo 4 with the weapons tuning update. Its nice to see the developers listen to community feedback helping to bring a better player experience to Halo 4.

HFFL: Thanks, Nate, for your time and willingness to answer these questions.
Nate: Sure, no problem.

You can find Nate at his twitter account: twitter@toxiknate

If you’re like me, you want to see Nate win. He’s the underdog to be sure. Being a non-pro, he’s got the odds stacked against him. Still, I think it would be GREAT for Halo if a non-pro won it all at the finals in Seattle. It would show that there is indeed a chance for ANYONE to win this, not just those that play Halo professionally.

-Sal

Why I am strongly supporting the Champions Bundle Pack

Posted on 07/13/2013 by Sal

This bundle is a TON more than just 2 maps. Seems like folks want to call out only those parts of the bundle they like and then say that’s all it is. I’ve read others say, it’s only armor or it’s only skins, etc. It’s ALL of this. None of this specific content is recycled, but for maybe Pitfall, and even that has been dramatically redesigned.

Would it have been nice to get this pack free? Sure, but where is the business sense there? Mind you I’d LOVE to have noobs come back to the game so I can PWN. But honestly, even if this were free, I doubt we’d see much of an increase anyway and it wouldn’t last. There are just too many games out there for people to choose from. This is why the perceptions are so skewed when it comes to play population. If you compared Halo 3 to Halo 4, then you’re saying Halo 4 is a failure.
One simple thing people don’t take into account is that there were less big blockbuster games back then to take you attention away from Halo. Now there are several successful franchises out there. So Halo has more to compete against. If makes perfect sense that player population isn’t going to be were it was, especially when more games (big name/franchises) keep coming out.

With Halo being a 1 every year/other year thing now, it’s pretty safe to assume that we’re not going to get these packs free.

Regarding Halo collector perceptions:
One thing that I do find strangely funny in an odd way is when collectors gripe about the cost of the map packs. We spend HUNDREDS of dollars on the toys, but when a simple $10 bundle pack comes out, people complain. Seriously???
To quote a Halo collector: “People are just saying that $10 for some recycled assets is a bad deal.” And yet Mega Bloks, McFarlane, Funko and other licensees reuse molds of their toys all the time and put new paint on it. For example, one jut ONE McFarlane figure cose more than this whole pack. That same figure could be repainted in 5 different colors, yet people buy it. It’s the same toy, just a different color. How about the Mega Bloks multipacks? For a long time we were getting the same figures, just in different colors. Yet people clamored over them.
I fail to see how this bundle pack is bad when comparing this. With the bundle pack we are getting ALL NEW stances, some NEW armor, a NEW map, a NEW game type, then the armor and weapons skins.

I’m willing to bet most collectors have spent WAY more on Halo Mega Bloks, McFarlane, Funko, Jada, etc., than they have on the games themselves. Yet it’s the games that keep ALL other Halo lines going. Without the games, the licenses would dry up and gone would be the toys with them.

Even take the novels into account. One hard cover novel costs $25-30. Softcover maybe half of that. BOTH are STILL more than this bundle pack.

I dunno, I choose to show support for this pack. It IS cheap and it DOES offer a lot of variety. There is something in there for everyone. And the best part is, if you don’t want all of it, 343 is making it available for you to purchase parts of it instead for even CHEAPER prices. The only thing then that you’ll miss out on is the bonus content. THAT is a reward for those who buy the whole pack. And I agree with that decision. Again, for only $10, we’re getting a ton of great content.

Here’s another thing to consider, for those who collect, do you display your stuff or play with it? If it’s display only, then it’s just sitting there. If you play with the stuff, when’s the last time (as an example) you picked up the original Mega Bloks Ghost and zoomed it around on your table? I’d say chances are pretty slim that is happening. Yet, if you’re an active Halo gamer, you’re using these assets all the time. I know many a gamer friend that is excited about the Mark V and/or ODST armor. A lot of people are looking forward to the return of the Pit, now called Pitfall. This new gametype, Ricochet, looks like a LOT of fun and you can BET it’s going to be a new mini-gaming league SOON in the future.

Anyway, I’m not mad, just really perplexed by people’s perceptions of this pack. Hmm, was that an alliteration…

To read more about Halo 4, please check out HFFL’s section on Halo 4 HERE.
And as always you can read that and MORE by going to HFFL’s homepage, HERE.

-Sal

Custom Mega Bloks Covenant CSO Cruiser

Posted on 07/12/2013 by Sal

Once again I tackle another custom building bloks ship. This time the Covenant Super Cruiser, also known as the CSO Covenant Assault Carrier.

First here are two of the images I used as reference:

Now, as always, I ONLY used ONE set to make this. So while I tried for accuracy, it can be very tough given the limited amount and type of parts used. However, I think in this case, I did a pretty darn good job.

In this case I used a Halo Mega Bloks Phantom set. I had bought this from a friend of mine some time ago. He sent it in a box semi completed (as the Phantom). There it sat for I’d guess at least a year to a year and a half??? Just guessing that though. So anyway, I had recently completed the CCS Cruiser and wanted to make this one. I knew I had those parts, so I dug them out of storage and proceeded. I had to disassemble the Phantom my friend had started, to start this from scratch.

Let me say this, there were several times were I had to completely tear down a section I built to rebuild it. I either wasn’t satisfied with how it looked or it wasn’t sturdy enough. Along the way, my friend and fellow Halo Mega Bloks customizer, Goodwill Hunter, made his version of a CCS cruiser. I looked at what he did to see if I could utilize some of his design in my build. Turns out I could to a point. The top neck portion of this custom build I relatively patterned from his. Though it is different.

The custom measures:
26 inches long
8.5 inches wide
4.5 inches high (not including stands) 5 inches high with stands

You’re probably saying, WHY IS HE STILL TALKING….Okay, I heard you loud and clear. Here are the pics starting with the finished product, then going back through the building stage and finally some comparison shots. As always, click to make BIGGER.

So first as with any set, custom or otherwise, I separate my parts by kind into a brickyard:

As you can see above, I taped my reference pics onto the table. This made it immensely easier to build.
The next several shots were of the body being built:

Next, I decided to start planning out the neck and head placement.

The neck ultimately was moved higher and further back.The head saw some MAJOR redesign. Especially the back lower angled part. I redid that section at least 4 times until I was happy with the result.

This next shot is MUCH further along. As you can see, I’ve completed most of the neck portion.

Here again is the completed ship. Yes, it’s not 100% accurate, but again given the fact that its from only ONE set, and I’m therefore limiting myself on piece count and type, I’d say it’s pretty darn good.

Top view:

Bottom View:

Oh of note above: The black pieces you see toward the front of the ship are the stand and can easily be removed. The blue cylinder actually twist clicks into place and can also be easily removed. I deliberately designed the blue area to be exactly where the glassing plasma port is located. So when display it looks like it’s glassing something. Yes, I know wrong color, but you do with what you have.

Next up are comparison shots between my two other Covenant Cruiser. Both of those are CCS Cruiser, but in different scale.

Now a comparison to the official Mega Bloks Forward Unto Dawn set:

And finally, for some play factor, I did indeed build this with a flip open cockpit that fits an Elite!

So what do you think? Like I said, I’m pretty dang happy with this.

All told I’d say I spent a good 25-30 hours on this between redesigns and such.

For more customs, toy reviews, previews and pics of Halo Mega Bloks, click HFFL’s Mega Blok Section. (Scroll down to see more articles in that link)

-Sal

The new map Pitfall as seen from OUTSIDE the playable area.

Posted on 07/11/2013 by Sal

Certain Affinity just posted the following graphic on their facebook page showing a comparison between Halo 3’s the Pit and Halo 4’s Pitfall from the outside.

Unfortunately there isn’t a bigger shot of this yet… As soon as there is one posted, I’ll put it up!

Wow, I would LOVE to game on that space outside of the map. Looks like a LOT of fun!

-Sal

The Halo Bulletin 7-11-13

Posted on 07/11/2013 by Sal

This week’s bulletin is PACKED (Bundle packed you might say) with goodness!

As expected there is a brief recap of RTX 2013.

What a great display for the Halo 4 Global Championship tournament to be shown on!

Below is a pic of the 343 staff as well as the 6 finalists of the RTX qualifier.

Next up is the REAL MEAT of the bulletin. The “Champions” bundle pack. While I went over this in decent detail over the weekend, now we have the official news and names of stances, bonus weapons skins and so on.

The Champions Bundle contains three DLC packs, as well as bonus content, including:

Bullseye Pack (Includes Ricochet, a new game type)
Steel Skin Pack
Infinity Armor Pack
Bonus content, including new stances, armor and weapon skins, and a new armor mod

All of this content makes the Champions Bundle unique from other DLC, and each of the aforementioned packs can be purchased separately or as a group. For example, if you’re most interested in the Bullseye pack, you can download it as a separate piece. However, bonus content is included with the entire bundle.

As I reported over the weekend the two new maps are Vertigo and Pitfall, the latter a remake of the Pit.

To illustrate the difference here are two graphics showing the classic Pit beside the newly modeled Pitfall:

Pitfall look fantastic. It stay very true to the original, with a scant few changes. Aesthetically, the Pit never looked better. I can’t wait to play on this!

Along with Pitfall comes a new game type, Ricochet. Scoring a goal by tossing in the ball nets your team 20 pts, while running it in nets you 50 pts. I just KNOW there are going to be Ricochet leagues starting from this. Hmm, I might just look to start a HFFL team if there is interest.

There is also the Ricochet armor. I’m told this armor is usable anywhere, not just within the Ricochet game type. Though I believe that while playing Ricochet, your spartan’s armor will default to that, much as when playing flood you default to a flood if infected.

Here’s a better look at that armor:

Speaking of armors, again as I reported on, there are three armors coming with “Champions.” The long awaited return of the Mark V and ODST armors have seen maybe a Halo fan squeal with delight. No that was NOT me squealing..Promise… As well there is a very cool Forerunner-equse armor called Prefect.

Check them out below along with some technical info about them:

MARK V Armor
DESIGNATION: MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor System [GEN1] – MARK V
MANUFACTURER: Materials Group
TESTING SITE: Damascus, Vhalkem – CHI CETI IV

ODST Armor
DESIGNATION: MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor System [GEN2] – ORBITAL DROP SHOCK TROOPER
MANUFACTURER: Cascade Stronghold Technologies
TESTING SITE: Mindoro, Lhopat – CASCADE

PREFECT Armor
DESIGNATION: MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor System [GEN2] – PREFECT
MANUFACTURER: The Watershed Division
TESTING SITE: Denegroth, West Conamara – EUROPA

Next the Steel Weapons skin pack:

I have to say these look SLICK as HELL!

Now along with the Maps, Armor, and Weapons packs which you can buy separately, if you buy the WHOLE bundle, you get the following bonus content:

Bonus Weapons skins:

Okay, so a couple of changes here. Gone are the additional DMR skins. The blue one I’m okay with being gone as it is similar to the McFarlane toy release code coming early fall. The one I’m disappointed not being in here when it was just shown this weekend is the Tiger Stripe skin. THAT looked cool as hell.

Still, I LOVE that blood splattered AR. I see that one being used a LOT! As well the Teeth AR Skin is really cool.

Eight not seven stances as I reported. Looks like they held one out on us from RTX.

Definitely liking these stances. Okay, now which to use??? I’ll likely use Loyalty for awhile, though the Captain Morgan er…Lookout pose will be used for sure at some point. As I mentioned, the Han Solo pose, seen here as “Drawn” is in. That is a VERY classic pose from Star Wars. I being a fan of that franchise since it first came out, I KNOW it will get some use in my player card.

Bonus Armor Skins:
Five new armor skins:
• Tracer
• Column
• Python
• Bayonet
• Solid

Hmm, so let me think aloud here what those skins might look like:
• Tracer – I foresee this having small lines all over the armor, thus giving the appearance of tracer bullets.
• Column – Hmm, now if this is for Seventh Column… Otherwise, I”m a bit clueless as to what this could be.
• Python – Cobra from GI Joe! LOL. Seriously though. I know they are two different kinds of snakes, but wouldn’t it just be cool if we got a symbol that was Cobra like on the chest plate?
• Bayonet – This I see as having blade like markings, especially on the forearms.
• Solid – Hmm, maybe rivets?

In any event, Im glad to see yet more skins coming.

Halo 4 Armor Mod update:
In addition to the Halo 4 Champions Bundle bonus content, we’ll be releasing two additional armor mods free of charge for the community to enjoy. We’re currently planning on releasing these one day before the Champions Bundle releases on August 20, and you’ll immediately be able to incorporate these new mods into your loadout and experiment with them.

• Survivor ejects you out of a vehicle if it’s about to explode.
• Recharge decreases the time it takes for your shields to recharge.

Also, Resistor Tactical Package. The Champions Bundle will include a sneak peek to the Resistor armor mod, which allows players to retain full mobility despite taking fire for a few moments. The armor mod will eventually be made available to all players in Halo 4 Matchmaking free of charge.

Now for the Matchmaking Playlist Update.
It’s all about the Halo 4 Global Championship.

The Halo 4 Global Championship online qualifiers are about to begin! If you have not yet registered for the tournament, head here to get signed up. The online portion of the tournament will include five weeks of gameplay, with new winners, game types and prizes each week. For a recap of the details of the Halo 4 Global Championship online qualifier and scoring system, check out last week’s Halo Bulletin. As a reminder, we’re using a scoring system that ranks you based on your performance across all of your matches.

Online qualifier scoring system, by placement:

1st – 8 points
2nd – 7 points
3rd – 6 points
4th – 5 points
5th – 4 points
6th – 3 points
7th – 2 points
8th – 1 points
Quit – 0 points

Over the course of all of your games, your average will be calculated. For example, a player who plays and wins 20 matches during a week of the Halo 4 Global Championship is given an average score of 8 points. A player who places first in 19 matches and places second in match 20 receives an average score of 7.95.

In the event that two players are tied with the same average at the end of the week (or at any point during the week), the leaderboard will automatically use the following tie breakers to determine each player’s rank:

Most games played
Most first-place finishes
Most kills
Fewest deaths
Most assists
Fewest quits
Earliest date and time of first qualifying game played
Earliest date and time of tournament registration

For example, if the top two players for week 1 both have an average (perfect) score of 8, the player who plays (and wins) a twenty-first game would be ranked higher for having more games played as well as more first-place finishes. However, keep in mind that if that player places even as low as second in match 21, that player’s average would drop below 8. This system maintains a high-skill factor and leaves no room for error or loss at the top of the leaderboard. In the event that two players have 21 games won, the next tiebreaker would be most total kills for the week, then fewest deaths for the week, and so on. These tiebreakers ensure that the players who perform the best across all of their games will advance to the finals.

As announced last week, the game type for our first week of competition will be Infinity Rumble, which has received some subtle tweaks for tournament gameplay. Here are the full details:

Mode	Pro
Score to Win	250
Time Limit	12 minutes
Infinity Rumble Options
Kill Points	10
Loadout Usage	Personal Loadouts
Ordnance
Initial Ordnance	Enabled
Random Ordnance	Disabled
Infinity Settings
Personal Ordnance	Enabled
Personal Ordnance Options
Customize Personal Ordnance	Enabled
Left
Only Possibility	Frag Grenade
Middle
Only Possibility	Plasma Grenade
Right
Only Possibility	Pulse Grenade
Equipment
Motion Tracker	Enabled

This game type will be played on the following maps, which have been updated and modified with optimized respawn points, initial ordnance and on-map weapons:

Haven
Solace
Adrift
Abandon
Landfall
Monolith
Skyline

The Halo 4 Global Championship playlist will be available at the top of the War Games Lobby playlists and will use new parameters and settings that are optimized for competition. Also, the Global Championship playlist will replace the Rumble Pit playlist during the tournament. Here’s some of the things you can expect in the playlist each week:

There will be no map voting in the playlist. Once you search and find a match, a map will be auto-selected and a three-second countdown will begin, during which players will not be able to leave or “back out.” Leaving the lobby or game through any method after this point will be counted as a Quit.
After the game concludes, you’ll have an opportunity to view your post-game stats, and then you’ll be returned to the War Games Lobby rather than another searching phase. This will ensure that players do not accidentally hop straight into another game. To hop back in, simply search the playlist again.
Join-in-Progress is disabled throughout the entirety of the tournament.
The Max Party Size is 1, restricting players to solo-searching.

Each week’s winners will undergo a full account and game history investigation. As a result, we will not be announcing the official winners immediately at the end of each week. Wait for the official winner announcement on Halo Waypoint each week. Best of luck to all Global Championship competitors! Be sure to tag your tweets with #Halo4GC throughout the tournament. We’ll be retweeting our favorites from the Halo Waypoint account!

Next up word of Legendary Slayer:

At PAX East, we announced that we were working on a new playlist named Legendary Slayer. After much iteration, discussion and playtesting, we’re excited to announce that it is (almost!) here and (almost!) ready for your enjoyment. Legendary Slayer is a variant that focuses on basic gameplay with only one loadout, on-map weapons and motion tracker enabled. Here are the key settings:

4 vs. 4 Slayer
Default starting weapon (Assault Rifle)
No Armor Abilities
Motion Tracker enabled
All weapons and grenades located on map (no initial, random or personal ordnance)

The singular loadout is:

Starting weapon: Assault Rifle
Secondary weapon: None
Armor Ability: None
Grenades: Frag x2
Support upgrade: Explosives
Tactical package: Resupply

We’re excited to deliver a brand-new experience to Halo 4 Matchmaking that will focus on even starting weapons and map control, with players fighting to gain control of all rifles, power weapons and each map’s power positions. The Legendary Slayer playlist launches Monday, July 15, on the following maps, which have been custom-created specifically for this playlist:

Haven
Solace
Adrift
Abandon
Landfall
Monolith
Skyline
Shutout

As always, we’ll keep a close eye on community feedback and Matchmaking statistics for this playlist and are very excited to play with you! Lastly, Crimson DLC will be replacing Majestic DLC as our featured DLC playlist. We will continue to monitor the population and activity of this playlist as we rotate and optimize DLC content in Halo 4 Matchmaking.

San Diego Comic-con 2013:

As you may have seen on Major Nelson’s Blog, we’ll be at the Xbox Gaming Lounge at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con! Both Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo 4 Champions Bundle will be playable in the lounge. We’ll have Ricochet, Pitfall and Vertigo playable for the first time ever, with prizes and giveaways. We’ll also be running mini-tournaments on the new maps and game type from 5:30 to 8:00 PM PDT on Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21. You’ll need an SDCC pass to enter the lounge. We hope to see you there!

Additionally, we’ll have a panel that will provide some insight into the making and fiction of Halo: Spartan Assault:

Inside the Looking Glass: Building “Halo” Worlds and Wonders, Past, Present and Future
Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
Thursday, July 18, 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM PDT

And finally as always, the Bulletin ends with a Screenshot Spotlight, this one on the Mark VI armor.

To read the full bulletin go to the official site (though truthfully, this is one time where I copy/paster much of the bulletin, so you won’t get much more there other than the Screenshot spotlight.)

-Sal

Halo at San Diego Comicon 2013

Posted on 07/09/2013 by Sal

The latest news of Halo available at San Diego Comicon (SDCC):

Xbox Lounge at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Manchester Ballroom, 1 Market Pl., San Diego, CA 92101
Hours: Thursday, July 18 – Saturday, July 20: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 21: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

In addition to the Xbox One and Xbox 360 games being shown at the Xbox Booth at the Convention Center, the Xbox Gaming Lounge located just down the street in the Grand Hyatt will also feature “Halo: Spartan Assault,” and for the first time ever, hands-on demos of “Halo 4 Champions Bundle.”
(A San Diego Comic-Con Expo pass is required for entrance to the above)

Panel:
Inside the Looking Glass: Building “Halo” Worlds and Wonders, Past, Present and Future
Room 6BCF, San Diego Convention Center
Thursday, July 18, 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Spartans Unite! Join Frank O’Connor (Franchise Development Director), Dan Ayoub (Executive Producer), and other 343 Industries guests as they celebrate and discuss the exciting new addition to the “Halo” universe (“Halo: Spartan Assault”), the new comic-book series from Dark Horse Comics (“Halo: Initiation”), along with some “Mega” surprises.

HFFL: Mega surprises? Hmm, I wonder if they mean the new Mega Bloks Halo line coming early fall???

Stay Tuned to HaloFanForLife.com as I bring you as much Halo news possible from SDCC 2013 that I can get my hands on!

-Sal

Tor Books announces “Mortal Dictata” the third and final book of the Kilo-5 trilogy.

Posted on 07/09/2013 by Sal

Tor Books and 343 announce Halo: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss, coming January 2014.

More info to likely follow at San Diego Comicon.

Is that girl on the cover Naomi? Hmm, mysterious. “Mortal Dictata” is already canon in the Halo universe:

The UN Colonial Mortal Dictata is a human piece of legislation or code of ethics which was in effect as of 2549. The precise contents of the Dictata are unknown, however it is known to prohibit the flash cloning (or perhaps cloning in general) of full human beings. Dr. Catherine Halsey is known to have violated the code on numerous occasions, most notably when cloning herself in order to create Cortana.

I’d like to thank Tom from Dust and Echoes podcast for giving the heads up on this.
Source Link

An EXCLUSIVE Interview with April Orenski herself, Enisha Brewster.

Posted on 07/09/2013 by Sal

You know her from Forward Unto Dawn, the Halo miniseries that premiered in October, 2012. She played the leader and senior cadet of Hastati squad, April Orenski. It is my pleasure to bring you a HaloFanForLife.com exclusive interview with Enisha Brewster.
(If you represent another website, please only link back to this article, do not copy/paste in whole or part. Professional courtesy, please. This is my exclusive.)

And now, on with the interview:

HFFL: Hello Enisha, thanks for agreeing to do this interview with me.
Enisha Brewster (EB): My pleasure.

HFFL: According to your IMDB profile, you’ve been acting for 3-4 years now. Is that the case?
EB: I’ve been acting since I was 10, but I began my film and television career just 3 years ago.

HFFL: Is there anyone in particular that motivated you to go into acting?
EB: The first person to put a script into my hands was a sweet woman named Reba Kendrid in Houston, Texas. I was hooked from that day forward. A couple peers in college motivated me to pursue a career in acting well before I’d made that decision for myself. And a casting director in Atlanta encouraged me to consider a career in TV and film before I’d even given it a thought. I am ever grateful to each of them.

HFFL: Who in your life, famous or not, is an inspiration to you, and why?
EB: I am inspired by humanitarians like Kerry Washington, and great women like Phylicia Rashad, and great artists like Geoffrey Wright. My family inspire me every day of my life.
HFFL: Family can definitely inspire!

HFFL: You played “April Orenski” in the Forward Unto Dawn mini-series. Have you done mini-series in the past? If so, which ones? Were any sci-fi related?
EB: Forward Unto Dawn was my first mini-series and my first sci-fi project ever.

HFFL: Forward Unto Dawn was shot in Canada. Was that your first time acting in a production outside of the United States?
EB: Yes. We shot Forward Unto Dawn in Vancouver, a lovely city with even lovelier people.

HFFL: With Forward Unto Dawn being a hit, are you aware of your now lifelong association with Halo? Would you like to reprise your role as Orenski if offered that opportunity?
EB: That never ceases to excite me! I would be happy to reprise my role as April Orenski given the opportunity!

HFFL: Where/What would you like to see Orenski become?
EB: A loaded question 🙂 I have some ideas, but I’m going to defer to the creative geniuses at Microsoft on this one.
HFFL: I have some ideas as well. Admiral Orenski!

HFFL: You recently were nominated for an EMMY for your role as Orenski. How and when did you find this out and what was your reaction? (By the way, congrats and I truly hope you win!)
EB: The official nominations will be announced on July 18th, 2013. It would be a huge honor to be nominated. At this stage I have been submitted to be considered for an Emmy Nomination–which itself is a huge deal!

HFFL: Are you at all like Orenski? If so, how, and if not, what separates you from her?
EB: I think April Orenski and I both have a strong sense of duty, commitment, and responsibility to the things and people we hold in high regard, but April is far more stern and way less empathetic then I am. She is military. As much of a tomboy as I once was (and still am in some sense), I love a little beauty, a little glitz, a touch of glam every once in a while.

HFFL: Are/Were you a fan of Halo? Did you know of Halo before your work on FUD?
EB: Honestly, I wasn’t very familiar with Halo before being cast. I had to get the scoop from my brothers. I didn’t start to understand how huge an opportunity and franchise Halo is until I heard their excitement.

HFFL: Are you a Gamer? If so, have you played any of the Halo games? Before your work on FUD?
EB: No, I can’t say that I am a gamer. But I have a sneaking suspicion that will change very soon.
HFFL: Well, I hope you do get into gaming and feel free to add me as a friend on XBOX when you do. My Gamertag is: HaloFanForLife1

HFFL: Did you have any surreal moments on the set? If so, please expound upon this. For example, seeing Master Chief for the first time.
EB: Seeing MC for the first time was indeed a surreal moment! Daniel Cudmore, who embodies him in Forward Unto Dawn, is himself a tall man with a great presence. Seeing Daniel in full armor as Master Chief for the first time was like meeting a superhero. My heart started racing and my eyes must have been a mile wide.

HFFL: What projects do you have up and coming?
EB: I can be seen in the 12th and 13th episode of Perception this season, back in uniform and barking orders! The episodes air in September on TNT.

HFFL: Thanks again for your time Enisha. It continues to be my honor to talk with you. I wish you all the best in your future acting career. Should you win the EMMY, don’t forget we little folk who are pulling for you!
EB: Thank you, Sal!!

You can find news of Enisha at her official website: enishabrewster.com
As well you can follow her on twitter at: @EnishaBrewster

-Sal

Ooohhh, VERY exciting article coming tomorrow (or Wednesday). A HFFL EXCLUSIVE Interview!

Posted on 07/08/2013 by Sal

If you heard me on a recent Podtacular podcast then you know what I’m talking about. If not, then you’re in for a real surprise and treat. I’m not going to let it out again though….So if you want to know what the article is going to be, you’ll just have to check back!

This is an EXCLUSIVE to HaloFanForLife.com. (So if you see it on any other sites out there, please let me know.) I did all the work for this, so it would be appreciated if it wasn’t stolen by others to promote their sites…

-Sal

Just added a Paypal Donation option to the blog—> on the sidebar —> (on home page)

Posted on 07/08/2013 by Sal

Hello folks. I’ve been running the blog for almost two years now and have only ever once asked for donations in the past. I’m going on 28 months of unemployment, so I really could use your help. To ensure HaloFanForLife.com stays put on the net, I’d appreciate any donation you can send. All monies donated will go to paying for the site, upgrading the blog, and any other item needed to create the content you see here on HaloFanForLife.com

It’s not mandatory and NEVER will be. I’ll never make this a partitioned site where the more you donate the more you see. That’s kind of douchéy in my opinion. All the content you see here now as well as all the content to come in the future will always be free. It’s up to you if you like what you’ve seen and/or read to decide if you want to donate.

I appreciate your support of the blog so far as subscribers, tweeps and facebook followers. Were I gainfully employed, I would NOT have the donation tab to the right. When I DO become employed again, I’ll take the tab off.

With respect and humility,
-Sal Salerno
Owner/Blogger
HaloFanForLife.com

HaloFanForLife.com

A site by a Halo fan for Halo fans

Monthly Archives: July 2013

HFFL Exclusive Interview with Toxik Nate, RTX finalist for the Halo 4 Global Championship.

Why I am strongly supporting the Champions Bundle Pack

Custom Mega Bloks Covenant CSO Cruiser

The new map Pitfall as seen from OUTSIDE the playable area.

The Halo Bulletin 7-11-13

Halo at San Diego Comicon 2013

Tor Books announces “Mortal Dictata” the third and final book of the Kilo-5 trilogy.

An EXCLUSIVE Interview with April Orenski herself, Enisha Brewster.

Ooohhh, VERY exciting article coming tomorrow (or Wednesday). A HFFL EXCLUSIVE Interview!

Just added a Paypal Donation option to the blog—> on the sidebar —> (on home page)