Woot, I had a blast earlier messing around in forge with the Castle maps.
While on Daybreak, I snapped these two screenshots (in theater mode). (click to make bigger)
That Darter is freakin’ AWESOME! I hope Mega Bloks makes this a set and/or McFarlane a Micro Ops set.
In the meantime, the view out towards the planet’s star is nearly breathtaking.
-Sal
Jen Taylor was spotted at 343 today. Want proof?
So this begs the question…why? Hmm, doign voice-overs for Spartan Ops season two perhaps???
-Sal
This second trivia contest questions is for the Elite “Junior” set from Fatheads.
There are three NAMED Elites in Halo 4’s Spartan Ops. What are their names?
Remember, you have to be registered on the blog and reply on the blog to have an eligible answer.
Don’t forget folks that coming April 13, I’ll have a 30% off code good for all Halo Fathead products. So even if you dont’ win this one, it can still be yours and for a great discount!
-Sal
So you want to know the code for the Castle Map Pack? Here ya go!!!
This awards you XP, but better a great gallery of Castle Map concept art. Can’t view it via Waypoint? I could you covered there too!
-Sal
From HaloWaypoint.
We’re about to turn up the heat with new extra XP challenges throughout Halo Week: Drop Shock, allowing you to rank up your Spartan faster by playing online. With 14 daily and six weekly challenges, you’ll have the opportunity for extra XP by competing in any game mode, be it War Games, Spartan Ops, or Campaign. Daily Challenges can be earned once a day, all week long, so be sure to try and earn as many as you can each day!
| To Be Precise | Get 20 kills with a Precision Loadout Weapon. | 5000 XP |
| Removalist | Win 3 Matchmaking Extraction matches. | 7500 XP |
| Rolling Thunder | Earn 2 Killing Spree medals. 5000 XP | 5000 XP |
| Baller | Win 3 Matchmaking Oddball matches. | 7500 XP |
| Deadeye | Kill 20 Players with a headshot. | 5000 XP |
| We are the Champions | Win 3 Matchmaking Slayer matches. | 7500 XP |
| Deft Hand | Earn 2 Combat Skill Medals. | 5000 XP |
| Raise the Flag | Win 3 Matchmaking Capture the Flag matches. | 7500 XP |
| In Your Face | Earn 2 CQC Medals. | 5000 XP |
| Take the Hill! | Win 3 Matchmaking King of the Hill matches. | 7500 XP |
| Got Backup | Get 20 kills with a Secondary Weapon. | 5000 XP |
| Dominator | Win 3 Matchmaking Dominion matches. | 7500 XP |
| In the Back | Assassinate 2 Players. | 5000 XP |
| Your Majesty | Win 3 Matchmaking Regicide matches | 7500 XP |
| Spray and Pray | Win 3 Matchmaking Regicide matches. | 6000 XP |
| One, Two, Three, Four… | Get 200 kills with an Automatic Loadout Weapon. | 10000 XP |
| Requiem for a Friend | Earn 50 Multikill medals. | 12000 XP |
| He is Made of Iron | Complete any Campaign Mission on Heroic or higher difficulty with the Iron skull. | 18000 XP |
| Destroyer of Grunts | Kill 100 Grunts. | 10000 XP |
| I am the 99 Percent | Kill 50 Elites. | 15000 XP |
That is some serious XP folks!
-Sal
Starting April 11 at 2:00 a.m. PST and ending April 12 at 2:00 a.m. PST, play and complete any 5 missions of Spartan Ops and receive an exclusive Avatar tee*. You can also replay your favorite missions from Spartan Ops Season One as Matchmaking for the entire season begins anew, starting with the first episode on April 8, 2013.
*To receive avatar item, you must play and complete 5 different Chapters of Spartan Ops on Halo 4 standard edition while connected to Xbox LIVE, any time between April 11 2013, 2AM PST and April 12 2013, 2 AM PST. A download code will be sent to your Xbox LIVE messages inbox associated with your Xbox LIVE account by June 1, 2013; Limit one avatar item per gamertag. Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for Halo Infinity Multiplayer (sold separately). Offer available to users 17+, in all Xbox LIVE countries except Italy, and is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and cannot be combined with any other rebate or offer. In New Zealand, only adult accounts (18+) can download or stream content over the Xbox LIVE marketplace. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Download charges may apply as set by your ISP. For Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and system requirements, see www.xbox.com/live. Offer provided by: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052.
From HaloWaypoint.
Your Competitive Skill Rank (CSR) measures your performance against other players in Halo 4 Matchmaking War Games. You will have a CSR specific to each active playlist. Your best CSR is shown on your Player Card and Service Record, as well as Player Compare. Your Competitive Skill Rank can be seen on all screens of Halo Waypoint and measures your performance against other players in Halo 4 Matchmaking War Games. It is a number from 1 to 50 (higher is better) which will go up and down based on match outcomes. You will have a CSR specific to each active playlist, and your best CSR is shown on your Player Card and Service Record, as well as Player Compare.
Competitive Skill Rank is a brand new feature for Halo 4 and to celebrate, we’re issuing you a challenge: Play in the Castle DLC playlist from April 8th at 2am PST to April 22nd at 2 am PST, reach CSR level 35 or higher at any point on or between these dates, and you’ll receive an exclusive avatar tee!*
*To receive avatar item, you must play Halo 4 standard edition and achieve a CSR rank of 35 or higher on the Castle Team DLC Playlist while connected to Xbox LIVE, any time between April 8 2013, 2AM PST and April 22 2013, 2 AM PST. A download code will be sent to your Xbox LIVE messages inbox associated with your Xbox LIVE account by May 13, 2013; Limit one avatar item per gamertag. Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for Halo Infinity Multiplayer (sold separately). Offer available to users 17+, in all Xbox LIVE countries except Italy, and is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and cannot be combined with any other rebate or offer. In New Zealand, only adult accounts (18+) can download or stream content over the Xbox LIVE marketplace. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Download charges may apply as set by your ISP. For Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and system requirements, see www.xbox.com/live. Offer provided by: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052.
From HaloWaypoint:
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been building up to the launch of Castle Map Pack, the third Map Pack from the War Games Map Pass. In addition to that, we’d also like to welcome you to Halo Week: Drop Shock, a full week of Halo 4 contests, challenges, giveaways and brand new stuff for your viewing, playing and listening pleasure.
Here’s the fourth of my four part reviews of Jada Die-cast toys.
The Warthog. An Iconic, no, THE iconic vehicle of the Halo franchise.
As I’ve said before regarding packaging, Jada does a really good job of showcasing their product within. Front and center is the Master Chief, along with a UNSC Marine.
With the outer box removed, you can see the set has a backdrop to it, upon which the machine gun turret sits. I’m going to take an educated guess here, that given the design of the toy, it’s likely Jada will rerelease this, but with a Gauss cannon turret or Rocket Launcher turret instead of the machine gun turret.
As with previous sets, this one also comes with a base screwed into the bottom of the inner packaging through to the toy.
You’ll note in the pic above that again the underside of the vehicle is well detailed. Though again is made of plastic.
A close-up of the turret still on the backdrop of the inner packaging.
Apologies for the slightly fuzzy pic above. This is what you get in the set. The minifigs are well sculpted, however lack definition in the paint applications. Perhaps some weathering or shading would have helped to greatly accentuate them. I may just do that myself and revisit these articles at another time.
Finally, as seen above, the set with the turret attached and the minifigs in place.
The wheels move and the turret rotates. No other moving parts. I was a little disappointed with the position of the top mounted light (the black square along the windshield). I tried to reposition it, but it wouldn’t budge and I didn’t want to break it, so I let it be. Again, just a minor disappointment though.
The detailing on this set is fantastic. Mine is the “matte” version. I see by Jada’s website that there is a “glossy” version too. I’d rather have had that, but am not sure if that was an exclusive or just along side the other warthogs. Again, my wife got these for me though, so I’m happy to have them, regardless of what version I got. She’s a dear.
This set costs around $20 and I’m happy to say, it’s worth it. While I’ve expressed previously that you shouldn’t expect the minifigs to “make” the set and I agree with that here too, since this set includes Master Chief, it makes it all the better.
One thing to note from the above pic. The minifigs can’t actually hold onto the turret. I had to reposition this a few times to get it to stand properly for the shot. So in that respect, I have to say this is a display piece rather than a “play” piece (or toy).
-Sal
An XBOX Live friend of mine who went to PAX East won this incredible Gaems Halo UNSC Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment.
Not only did he win the set, but it is COVERED with autographs from folks who work at 343.
I’m not to proud to say I’m pretty jealous of him. LOL.
The gaming set is normally priced at around $350. With those signatures, it’s “priceless,” as Mick said. I have to agree.
Dang my “unemployedness“…
-Sal
I’m looking forward to this map second to Perdition. I like the environment, especially the bases.
The use of a “Darter” cargo ship, in the background is a fun homage to Halo Wars.
Following text from HaloWaypoint.
Outcast is a fortified network of rebel facilities that features a winding network of vehicle pathways. Built for vehicular combat such as Mantis vs. Wraith battles, this map offers a wide open outer ring with a central tunnel system that demands close quarters combat at times. Suggested game modes on this map include King of the Hill, Team Slayer and Capture the Flag, but the map will support a variety of game modes within Halo 4.
When playing, you’ll notice that the Wraith and Mantis spawn opposite from one another. If you’re piloting one, be wary of the center of the map – the corresponding adversary may be right around the corner.
-Sal
Made by the same artist I posted earlier today, here is a rendering of Cal Spartan 141.
This artist has some skills. Great lines, excellent color choice. Perspective is great. Shading and transparency are both fantastic.
For those who don’t know who Cal is, here is the text from her HaloWiki page.
Cal-141 was abducted and conscripted into the SPARTAN-II program byDr. Catherine Halsey in 2517 when she was just six years old. Cal was then taken to the planet Reach, and trained by the AI Déjà  and Chief Petty Officer Mendez, along with the rest of the Spartan children.
Cal-141 was sent on an operation, along with the four Orbital Drop Shock Troopers she commanded, to assassinate a Minor Prophet and gather intel of unknown ruins on a Covenant-held planet, Heian. The group consisted of Dutch, O’Brien, Cortez and Checkman. Only three remained after the drop, as Checkman was killed in the upper atmosphere of the planet insertion.
During the operation, a Brute Chieftain wielding a Gravity Hammer nearly killed O’Brien only to be stopped by Cal. Cal then engaged the chieftain in close-quaters combat knocking it out of the forest with a kick and into a shallow stream overlooking a steep waterfall. She closed the distance while at the same time dodging multiple swings from the Chieftain. Cal managed to deliver a powerful punch to the Brute’s bare stomach, causing it to vomit out half-digested material. She then proceeded to sidestep and elbow the brute across the face breaking through some of its armor and caving in one of its eyeballs; followed by another kick to the face causing blood to jet out from its throat. As the Chieftain was momentarily stunned from the damage, she prepared one final kick sending the Chieftain tumbling over the waterfall to what seemed to be its death. Meanwhile, O’Brien hung for dear life over a waterfall as they fought, and was rescued by Cal soon after.
While waiting for the Prophet to arrive, the heavily-damaged Brute Chieftain that Cal had supposedly killed the day before was still alive, and ambushed Cal and the three ODSTs. Cal spotted the Chieftain, about to strike O’Brien again, and quickly moved before the others could react to get the ODST sniper out of harm’s way. She was hit across the head and right shoulder by the Chieftain’s Gravity Hammer, resulting in fatal injuries, despite her armor taking the blow.
After the Chieftain was shot in the head repeatedly by Dutch, the trio removed Cal’s helmet to inspect her injuries. They were stunned that Cal was a female, as opposed to the squad believing she was a male, especially O’Brien and Cortez. Cal, realizing that with her badly damaged arm, as well as her blurring vision due to her head injuries, she would no longer be able to take the shot, ordered O’Brien to kill the Prophet, which he succeeds in doing.
After O’Brien killed the Prophet, the ODSTs tried to tend to Cal’s wounds, but she knew that she was not going to make it back to the Destroyer. In her dying words, Cal asked Cortez to make a delivery to Dr. Halsey. This delivery consisted of an optical chip from Cal’s helmet, which contained intelligence of the planet the mission was carried out on, as well as ruins that were neither human nor Covenant (possibly forerunner). Cortez tried to assure her that she would be able to give the chip to Halsey herself, but Cal replied that the two of them knew it was not going to happen as she felt her death already moments away. She held Cortez’s hands a bit longer and eventually died before the three ODSTs.
Cal’s death left a profound impact on the ODSTs with whom she fought with on the mission. They, like all ODSTs, had a bitter rivalry with the Spartans and considered them to be freaks, but Cal’s efforts in the mission and her actions in saving O’Brien’s life many times until the loss of her own had changed their thoughts and opinions on the Spartans. This change was shown well as the ODST team later returned to their ship, where both Cortez and Dutch angrily scolded a marine for mocking Cal’s combat credentials, and O’Brien pondered on how he might be dead if it hadn’t been for her.
Publicly, she was likely classified as MIA as opposed to KIA, as per ONI policy regarding the deaths of the supposedly-invincible SPARTAN-II super soldiers. It is possible that in the end, O’Brien, Dutch, and Cortez either buried Cal or took her with them to the pick up point as her body is not seen in the same place where she died, although the former is more likely due to the fact that a SPARTAN can weigh upwards of 1000 lbs when fully armored.
Tweeted by HaloBungie.org, I saw this and knew it had to be reposted on the blog. Simply AWESOME!
The blue hues are very well done. Lines are crisp, perspective is spot on. VERY well done piece of fan art. Original credit to: Quirkilicious on deviantart.com
-Sal
For those interested in being a part of this new Halo based web series, please check this link.
The meeting will be on XBOX LIVE starting at 3pm. Those who have already expressed an interest in being a part of the production will have first dibs to be in the meeting. Should we have more than 16 people, I’ll hold another meeting right after.
Also, for those that have SKYPE, I’ll hold a meeting after the XBL ones.
For XBOX my GT is: HaloFanForLife1
Skype: halofanforlife
If wanting to join the meeting, please send an invite request in TEXT form on XBOX. State your interest in MaC Rounds.
-Sal
I have to say that this is the map I’m looking forward to most from Castle. I prefer the urban type settings it seems more than rocks and vegetation, and certainly more than Forerunner themed.
I think this map have a lot of potential for MaC Rounds, my upcoming video series, based on the further adventures of Fireteams Majestic and Crimson.
Following text from HaloWaypoint.com:
Perdition is an industrial, asymmetrical map that features a mixture of both open and tight spaces. This map offers many different vehicle routes, with a variety of ramps, bridges and corridors. Suggested game modes on this map include King of the Hill, Team Slayer and Capture the Flag, but Perdition will support a wide variety of Halo 4’s game modes.Â
When playing, you’ll likely notice that the Warthogs and Ghosts are deadly on this map due to its track-like outer roadway – be sure to control these vehicles along with the power weapons in order to establish map control.
The Castle Map Pack comes out April 8. If you already have the map pack pass, then you only need to download it. If not, this map pack itself costs 800 MSP (or $10US).
-Sal