Monthly Archives: October 2013

Spirit of Fire podcast #7 What’s good in Halo 4.

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Spirit of Fire Podcast LOGO_R-sm
After a couple of shows where we’ve expressed our displeasure with some aspects of Halo 4, I thought it only fitting that we had a show that discusses things we LIKE about the Halo 4. I’m joined by my co-hosts, Zach and Martin for this one.

Have a listen here.

      SoF 10-16-13

Or right click/download here.

SoF 10-16-13

In this episode you’ll here about the following (with links to certain topics if you want to follow along that way as well):

The Week in Halo
• McFarlane reveals the Halo 4 Master Chief Statue will go on sale December 6. https://halofanforlife.com/?p=11095 ; https://halofanforlife.com/?p=11141
• Halo Initiation #3 is out. Last in the 3 part mini-series leading up to Spartan Assault. https://halofanforlife.com/?p=11101
• Halo Bulletin: https://halofanforlife.com/?p=11108
– Majestic is no longer needed for Team Slayer!
-Oddball replaces King of the Hill. Has ‘Stickyball’ variant gametype sticky det/sticky nades
-Team Throwdown gets the v5 settings (give list of gametypes/maps)
-Interview with Ghostayame
– Screenshot Spotlight – Forge I like “Jurassic Park 4 Rampage”,  Pillar of Autumn, Risen
• New York Comicon has Halo presence. Frank O’Conner signs Mega Bloks Mammoth poster Panel discussions, giveaways
• AGL switches to Halo 3 for their next tournament: https://halofanforlife.com/?p=11169

Blog specific news:
• Various Halo Artwork shown on blog and put on HFFL’s Pinterest page. Specifically a great vertical timeline: https://halofanforlife.com/?p=11132
• Color me this: Halo Initiation #1 variant artwork. Several blog posts showing the original black and white art, the artists final render and my progression of the piece.
• Upcoming multi/simulcast with PGCR (Post Game Carnage Report) Various Halo community people as panel of guests. Expected to be a LONG podcast. 3-4 hours.

What is good in Halo 4?
Campaign – Good story. Nice graphics, great sound.
Multiplayer – Lots of maps within the first 6 months of release.
Spartan Ops – A great additional campaign as seen through your multiplayer spartan’s eyes. 15 maps over the course of all 10 episodes.
Forge – Magnets, three “forge” maps

Halo 3 for FREE
Finally the game we’ve been waiting for to be free is available. Mythic Maps not downloaded? Is this an issue with anyone else? E-mail me!

When I first started this up earlier today, I immediately felt a rush. Call it nostalgia if you want. All I know is that it felt good. Like I was ‘back home’ again. While I thoroughly enjoyed ODST and Reach, Halo 3 for me was the BEST of all the Halo games to date. I’m going to spend some hours playing the campaign again AND taking screenshots in theater.

This week’s podcast is just over 2 hours. Have a listen and let me know what you think of it. Reply below or on twitter. My twitter page is: https://twitter.com/HaloFanForLife or @HaloFanForLife

-Sal

 

The Halo Bulletin 10.16.13

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Here we are again with another bulletin. Man, another week just flies by.

An article about this past 343 community playdate talks about 343 trouncing we lesser people, with them going 11-1.

Several 343ers talk about their experience during the playdate. Notably BS Angel with her more than inappropriate innuendoes regarding balls. It’s kind of played out now Jess. You’re a mom and a professional. Maybe you should take being the senior community manager job more seriously, especially in the official weekly bulletin. Yes, that’s me opinion here, but I’m not the only one who feels/thinks this way. Anyway, moving on…

Community Ricochet game types:

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Come Oct 28, we’ll see a new playlist in Community Forge Ricochet. This will include the top 6 finalist from the Ricochet Forge contest. This week, Waypoint asks us which of the above three variants would we like to see in the Community Forge Ricochet playlist. Below is a description of each: 

Quickochet 
Quickochet is the intersection of Ricochet and Halo: Reach’s “Hot Potato.” Loadouts and overall game settings are identical to Ricochet, but after a certain period of time, the ball will explode at random. Get ready to string together some passes!

Shotgun Ricochet 
In Shotgun Ricochet, teams must move together as they inch across the map and eliminate each line of defense. Players are equipped with Shotguns, Plasma Grenades, and Thruster Packs. With lots of in-your-face combat, this game type makes Ricochet up close and personal.

Legendary Ricochet 
Legendary Ricochet pits teams against one another with preset starting Loadouts in Halo 4’s Legendary experience (Battle Rifle starting weapon, no Armor Ability, Motion Tracker enabled).

Of these three, I’m leaning towards Quickochet. I like the idea of having to get rid of the ball fairly quickly. 

Head here to vote on the Waypoint forums.

THe next article is a FUN one. It’s time for HALO-ween! With that we have several Halo Pumpkin Stencils!

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I have to say, I may just try one of these out this year!

As if you didn’t already know, Halo 3 is free to XBL Gold members. Download it! You won’t be able to play on Mythic Maps unless you purchase those or use your ODST disc. Still, other than those, you can play everything else in Halo 3, for FREE. I played the first 4 missions last night alone and had a BLAST! Love reliving some memories. Wow, those graphics STILL hold up even after 6 years!

And finally this week’s Screenshot Spotlight: Armor Ability

Seems most of these were active camo. Something I hope returns to being a map pick up in the next game. (Should never have been an ability, IMO)

Anyway, here is my favorite of those posted on Waypoint:

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Next week’s spotlight will be on Oddball.

To read the full bulletin, go HERE.

-Sal

Halo Art by 343 artist John Liberto

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You may have seen most/all of these, but they are all so well done they needed to be shared again!

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Source link

Remember when these images evoked a grandness to Halo 4? So sad that much of that has been lost. But I am thankful for this artwork!

-Sal

 

Halo 3 is now FREE!

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Halo 3 is now FREE! (For XBL Gold members)

Halo 3 is freeSo in case you’ve never played the game, here’s your chance. At the very least, even if you have the game, this means you won’t need the disc to play it anymore.

Hmm, I wonder how much this will impact Halo 4’s population???

Click here to get Halo 3 for free!

-Sal

 

Halo 4 Matchmaking moves this week.

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In case you hadn’t seen or forgotten, there were a few matchmaking moves this week.

The rotational playlist went from King of the Hill to Oddball, with the ‘Stickyball’ variant.

As well the Majestic DLC is now gone from Team Slayer.

On that last note, it became readily apparent that DLC requirements in basic playlists were dragging those down in population. Team slayer is now back to it’s numbers in terms of population before Majestic was required.

So whether you’re looking to hold balls or slay, get back into Halo 4!

-Sal

What does a near 2-hour conversation with PGCR get you?

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I just finished a near two-hour long discussion with Robowski of Post Game Carnage Report (PGCR) about an idea for a future multi-cast/simulcast podcast between PGCR and Spirit of Fire.

To say we were both into the idea and talked a lot about the topics is an understatement. We will be having a panel of other Halo folks. Some community leaders, some everday fans, and of course Robowski, myself and portions of our ‘crews’ respectively.

Since he and I talked for almost 2 hours, I can guarantee that this multi-cast is going to be much longer. In fact we’re expecting it to be at least 3 hours, maybe 4.

What will the topics be? Hmm, well you’re just going to have to tune in for that. We are working towards recording this NEXT Tuesday (Oct, 22) with the simulcast be released either the 23rd or 24th.

Folks, this is one that if you’re a Halo fan, you NEED to listen to.

Part of the reasoning for doing a simulcast and having a panel is to show there is a larger voice than just one or the other of us that wants to have our voices and opinions heard.

-Sal

Color Me This: Halo Initiation #1 Monday progression

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I wasn’t feeling so well yesterday and took a break from this. However, I did work on it today. Here is where I am so far now:

Halo Initiation 1 Monday Progress
Here is what the progression has looked like over the last couple of days:

Orig-Fri-Sat-Artist
Tomorrow, I’ll finish up the Brute (in this case the damage being done. As well, I’ll add highlights and shadows to both Palmer and the Brute.

Then Wednesday, I’ll add in a background, thereby completing the project.

Anyone else working on this? I’d love to see your progression as well! Send me an e-mail at sal@halofanforlife.com with your progression shots. jpg format please.

-Sal

 

 

My thoughts on AGL switching to Halo 3 for their next tourney.

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I’ll say this straight up. BAD MOVE.

Yes, halo 3 was a great game. WAS is the key word here. To move to a game that came out 6 years ago? As well as essentially abandon Halo 4?

Why the hell would 343 back ANYTHING AGL wants to do with Halo now?

Look, I have my issues with Halo 4, but I DO want 343 to succeed. I DO want the Halo franchise to become poplar and flourish again.

By AGL switching to Halo 3, it’s just a huge slap in the face to both 343 as well as the Halo community on the whole. Also…let’s consider those folks who had already made plane to compete in the next tourney thinking it was going to be Halo 4. Now AGL just switched that up? Honestly, if some teams drop out over this, they SHOULD ask AGL for their money back. NOT just in competitor fees either, but ANY costs incurred. Those being hotel pre-registration, plane fare paid for, etc. AGL really screwed the pooch here. It’s another DICK move by the same business that brought us Conner White, AKA “Giggle Monster”.

So what was the thinking here? Could be because Halo 3 will be free for GOLD members. But man, that is NO way to show loyalty to 343, especially considering they (343) gave AGL some advertising on the Halo start-up screen. That is something some business would LOVE to have. For all we know AGL got that for FREE. (If not, I’d like to know what that cost…)

Anyway, point being is AGL has cancelled tourneys, they’re changing games well after pre-registration has begun and again, they spawned the likes of Conner White. I certainly can NOT in good conscious support AGL. I hadn’t before, and this seals it even further.

No matter your opinions about Halo 4, good or bad, if you are a Halo fan or are in the business of promoting the franchise, be that through tournaments, blogs, podcasts, etc, you MUST stick with the current game if you want it to keep going on.

I still play Halo 4 daily, even with all the griping I’ve done recently. Yes, I could just as well go back and play previous Halo games. I’m often asked by XBL friends to do so. But I don’t and won’t. Halo 4 is the current iteration of Halo. Stand by it or please just go the frick away. (This means you AGL)

Gawd, I wish I had the means/funds to create a Halo pro gaming league. I’d do so. And you bet I’d promote the hell out of it!

Anyway, folks, it’s okay if you personally play previous Halo games. I won’t knock anyone who does that as an individual. But for a business that makes their money from Halo and has had the current developer’s support, it’s just a bad business move.

-Sal