{"id":16389,"date":"2014-08-07T10:09:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-07T15:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=16389"},"modified":"2014-08-07T10:09:37","modified_gmt":"2014-08-07T15:09:37","slug":"the-halo-bulletin-8-6-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=16389","title":{"rendered":"The Halo Bulletin 8-6-14"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"halobulletinheader_8-6_800-572e45287c074a3fa7288acefb3b4872\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Just before flying home from San Diego Comic-Con less than two weeks ago, I remember looking down at my mobile device and reading \u201cSeattle \u2013> Cologne: 10 Days Until Check-in,\u201d which meant we had just over a week to put the finishing touches on our presence at the world\u2019s largest gaming event: gamescom in Cologne (K\u00f6ln), Germany. There were new builds to test, videos with never-before-seen (and in some cases, not-yet-recorded) footage to finish, and much more as we prepared to show you new experiences. We are nearly ready to give you your first hands-on experience with Halo 2: Anniversary, and we are nearly ready to show you new things that you haven\u2019t yet seen.<\/p>\n

With each late night, we get closer to showing you more of what\u2019s to come. With each build of Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, we come nearer to the version of the game that will be playable on the gamescom floor in just seven days. Next week, we\u2019ll hand the controller to you for the first time, and you\u2019ll hear from fellow Halo fans as they share their impressions of Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer with the world. But that\u2019s not all – in the coming week, you\u2019ll get a first look at brand-new upcoming experiences, have a chance to see the world\u2019s first Halo: The Master Chief Collection eSports event, and more.<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Yes, if you folks haven’t heard, there will be a Halo 2 tournament at gamescom. More details below.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re incredibly excited to share all of this with you, and if you aren\u2019t one of the 350,000+ gaming fans heading to Cologne, don\u2019t worry – we\u2019ll be bringing you the latest on Waypoint, Twitter, and Twitch.<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> And of course, I’ll be covering this as much as possible (form home though, not in Germany).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"map-banner-da3ae475e82b4d32a07e729488dd7c67\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of what to look out for at this year\u2019s show:<\/p>\n

Gamescom 2014 Xbox Press Briefing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tuesday, August 12,\u00a02:00 PM CEST (5:00AM PDT), Twitch.tv\/Xbox<\/a><\/p>\n

Next Tuesday, we\u2019re excited to join the Xbox team in the annual press briefing, where we\u2019ll share some new announcements with you in our portion of the show. The show will be streamed at Twitch.tv\/Xbox<\/a>, so you\u2019ve got no excuses. We\u2019ll see you there.<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Next Halo 2 Anniversary map reveal?<\/span><\/p>\n

Halo 2: Anniversary Multiplayer Hands-On<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Halo 2: Anniversary will be playable for the first time on the gamescom show floor. We\u2019ll be running 4v4 gameplay on Ascension and a yet-to-be-announced map, with multiple game types available for your enjoyment. Swing by the Xbox booth in Hall 6, where we\u2019ll have a bunch of consoles and controllers waiting for you. We\u2019re excited to watch you play and hear your thoughts on the anniversary treatment we\u2019ve given to Halo 2 multiplayer. If you’re at the show, you will have a chance to play Wednesday through Sunday.<\/p>\n

Halo Stream From the Xbox Booth<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wednesday, Aug 13,\u00a011:00 AM CEST (2:00 AM PDT), Twitch.tv\/Xbox<\/a><\/p>\n

Live from the gamescom Xbox booth, we\u2019ll have our very own Bonnie Ross, Dan Ayoub, and Kiki Wolfkill live streaming content we\u2019re only showing behind-closed-doors via Twitch.tv\/Xbox.<\/a> Be sure to tune in for insider access and sneak peeks at what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> You know I”ll be tuned in for this (even though it will be 5am my time…)<\/span><\/p>\n

Halo: The Master Chief Collection – gamescom Showdown<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"gamescom-showdown-349b3cee9129437da301b9b69ea9f127\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Not only will gamescom be the first opportunity to get hands-on with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer, but we\u2019re also working with\u00a0ESL<\/a>\u00a0and Twitch<\/a> to bring you a legendary 4v4 tournament<\/a>. Open to all gamescom attendees, the tournament will feature $10,000 USD in prizing, four days of qualification on the gamescom show floor, and culminate with the grand finals on Sunday, August 17. Our friends at Twitch will be broadcasting the finals for all the world to see at Twitch.tv\/Halo.<\/a><\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Damnit…LOL. Well, Looks like I might have to change some plans for that Sunday. Several of the HFFL Gaming Group guys will be here with me in Pittsburgh as an extra day after the LAN. I’ll have to rearrange the schedule I had planned for that day to accommodate watching the finals event. That’s a GOOD thing!<\/span><\/p>\n

To qualify for the finals, swing by the ESL Arena in Hall 9, where ESL will have a dedicated area for Halo: The Master Chief Collection competition. On these stations, we\u2019ll be featuring \u201cwinner stays\u201d 4v4 gameplay, so grab three teammates (or form a team on the spot) and come compete on Ascension and one other unannounced map. The rules are simple: If your team wins 10 matches in a row, you\u2019ll take the top spot on the daily leaderboard, and if another team tops your score (and wins 11 in a row), you\u2019ll need to swing back and reclaim your spot. At the end of each day, the top teams will advance to the Sunday finals, where they\u2019ll compete for a prize pool of $10,000 USD on the eSports main stage. If you qualify, but don\u2019t have Sunday passes to gamescom, we\u2019ve got you covered – all qualified teams will receive complimentary Sunday access courtesy of ESL.<\/p>\n

The Sunday finals will kick off with a Free-For-All exhibition at 10:30 CEST, and conclude with the 4v4 finals, where the bracket will be whittled down until only one team remains. The broadcast will feature commentary from yours truly and Alex \u201cGoldenboy\u201d Mendez, and run from 10:30 to 17:00 CEST (4:30AM \u2013 11:00AM EDT) at Twitch.tv\/Halo<\/a>. We hope you\u2019ll join us.<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Ah cool. Goldenboy and Bravo back at casting again. Last year’s Halo 4 Global Championship casted by them was awesome!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Halo: The Master Chief Collection – gamescom Showdown Schedule<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"qualifiers-banner-ef4a53de462f47998f71fae63528a6ff\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, August 13 \u2013 <\/strong>ESL Arena, Hall 9
\nQualifier tournament \u2013 14:00 to 19:30 CEST
\nThursday, August 14 – <\/strong>ESL Arena, Hall 9
\nQualifier tournament – 10:00 to 19:30 CEST
\nFriday, August 15 – <\/strong>ESL Arena, Hall 9
\nQualifier tournament – 10:00 to 19:30 CEST
\nSaturday, August 16 –<\/strong> ESL Arena, Hall 9
\nQualifier tournament – 09:00 to 19:30 CEST
\nSunday, 17th August \u2013 <\/strong>ESL Arena Main Stage, Hall 9 (Watch the finals on <\/strong>Twitch.tv\/Halo<\/a>!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pre-tournament Free-for-All – 10:30 to 11:15 CEST (1:30 to 2:15 AM PDT)<\/p>\n

4v4 Tournament Final – 11:30 to 17:00 CEST (2:30 AM to 8:00 AM PDT)<\/p>\n

ESL Gamescom Showdown Finals Prize Breakdown:<\/p>\n

Total Prize Money: $10,000 USD<\/p>\n

1st<\/sup> Place: $5,000 USD
\n2nd<\/sup> Place: $1,500 USD
\n3rd<\/sup>\/4th<\/sup> Place: $750 USD
\n5th<\/sup>-8th<\/sup> Place:\u00a0 $500 USD<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Dang, now I REALLY wish I was going. Heh, might even have had a ‘slight’ chance of being in one of the top eight spots. Rolls eyes….<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll be covering the tournament on Waypoint and Twitter<\/a>, so stop by next week for the latest each day, and be sure to join us for the finals live stream. We hope to see you there as we kick off the first ever Halo: The Master Chief Collection eSports event!<\/p>\n

Lastly, for general gamescom coverage and announcements, be sure to stay tuned to the above channels before, during, and after the event – we\u2019ll be bringing you the latest from the show floor on all things Halo.<\/p>\n

Screenshot Spotlight: Race<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, we turned the spotlight on Landscape<\/span>. Take a gander at the following Race screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.<\/p>\n

\"Spotlight<\/a><\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Of the ones above, I like Playing ‘Ketchup’ by Draxsonia and SNAFU by Z6NITRO. Those two folks seem to dominate the spotlight. I’ve noticed they have had several concurrent weeks of being picked. Well, they do take some good screens. Hopefully, I’ll make it in there some day.<\/span><\/p>\n

In preparation for Halo: The Master Chief Collection and our upcoming games com announcements (which includes a new Halo 2: Anniversary map reveal), we\u2019re dedicating next week\u2019s Screenshot Spotlight to classic Halo map remakes. For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot of or on your favorite classic Forge remake from Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, or Halo 3, and tag it with \u201cClassic<\/span><\/strong>\u201d and \u201cHalo Waypoint<\/strong><\/span>,\u201d and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!<\/p>\n

With that, this week\u2019s Bulletin comes to a close. While we will not have a Bulletin next week, we\u2019ll have plenty of coverage from gamescom. Prepare yourself.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll see you soon, Germany. We\u2019re looking forward to hanging out and playing some Halo with you.
\nBravo<\/p>\n

HFFL:<\/strong> Okay, so not much other than gamescom…(I think that was plenty though, LOL)<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just before flying home from San Diego Comic-Con less than two weeks ago, I remember looking down at my mobile device and reading \u201cSeattle \u2013> Cologne: 10 Days Until Check-in,\u201d which meant we had just over a week to put … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-halo-waypoint"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16389"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16393,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16389\/revisions\/16393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}