{"id":2303,"date":"2012-07-18T23:59:31","date_gmt":"2012-07-19T04:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=2303"},"modified":"2012-07-18T23:59:31","modified_gmt":"2012-07-19T04:59:31","slug":"the-halo-bulletin-7-18-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/?p=2303","title":{"rendered":"The Halo Bulletin: 7.18.12"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/h1>\n

The Halo Bulletin: 7.18.12<\/a><\/h1>\n

Or just read it here:
\nBy\u00a0Bs Angel<\/a>19. July 2012 02:00<\/p>\n

\n

RTX and SDCC Q&A<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I watch a swarm of rain-swollen clouds descend upon our studio, I am struck by two thoughts: I\u2019m thankful to be back in a place where hoodies are the norm, and I\u2019m pretty sure, as dark and ominous as the sky currently looks, that I could have squeezed more liquid out of the undergarments I wore to both RTX and SDCC than those clouds could ever hope to drop during their entire moisture-laden existence.<\/p>\n

Oh yes, it was hot in Austin and San Diego. And I\u2019ll leave it at that.<\/p>\n

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

Hot Trip #1 \u2013 RTX
\nLocation \u2013 Austin, TX
\nAverage Temperature \u2013 95 degrees
\nFelt like \u2013 You were sun bathing. On the sun.<\/strong><\/p>\n

RTX, or Rooster Teeth Expo, took place July 7 and 8 at The Austin Convention Center. Amidst the near torturous temperatures, we showed off War Games (the competitive Multiplayer modes of Halo 4) and hosted a panel, all the while wondering why we were there. While that age-old question did not get answered, several others did, especially those about Forge.<\/p>\n

You see, during our 60-minute group discussion, we presented a live Forge demo. It wasn\u2019t just any Forge demo, though. It was the first ever Halo 4 Forge demo. Joining us for the festivities were Certain Affinity – a group of people we just happen to have\u2026 well, a certain affinity for. They have a long history with Halo, and we\u2019re excited that tradition is continuing with the next installment in the franchise.<\/p>\n

If you missed the RTX Halo 4 panel, you can watch it in its entirety\u00a0here<\/a>. Not only will you be introduced to Halo 4’s Forge mode, but you\u2019ll also get to hear some totally awesome Halo jokes (It\u2019s worth noting only one of the aforementioned statements is true. And I bet you\u2019ll never guess which one…).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Hot Trip #2 \u2013 San Diego Comic-Con International
\nLocation \u2013 San Diego, CA
\nAverage Temperature \u2013 81 degrees
\nFelt like \u2013 You were in a sauna. With 120,000 of your closest friends.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the heat in Austin was dry, in San Diego it was anything but. The good part about that was the ten-minute walk to the convention center resulted in me losing approximately ten pounds of water weight each and every day. The bad part about that was everybody that visited the Halo 4 booth had to smell the remnants of that water-evaporation process\u2026 each and every day.<\/p>\n

Those lacking in the olfactory department were treated to numerous Halo 4-related events. Along with having both War Games and Spartan Ops playable on the floor, the Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn cast was on hand to sign posters, as were Steve Downes and Jen Taylor. We also hosted two panels, both of which are currently in a viewable format on YouTube (watch the Halo 4 Fiction panel\u00a0here<\/a>, and the Campaign and Multiplayer panel\u00a0here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

All in all, it was a good, albeit sticky, few weeks.<\/p>\n

As is customary when we release a new batch of information, there are questions. So, this week\u2019s Bulletin is dedicated to answering just a few of those inquiries. We\u2019ll resume the normal Bulletin format next week, but for this week, enjoy the RTX and SDCC-themed Q&A, the \u201cQ\u201d of which was provided by you, and the \u201cA\u201d of which was provided by Frankie.<\/p>\n

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

It was mentioned in the Forge demo that there will be multiple Forge environments. Does this mean multiple Forge Worlds with a different setting and theme for each? If so, can we assume different styles of parts for each? – BenPwnsAtGamez<\/strong><\/p>\n

There will be some aesthetic variety we\u2019ll talk about later \u2013 as well as the obvious inclusion of aesthetics and Forgeable objects from specific maps (Forerunner vs. UNSC objects, depending on the content of the environment), but most objects will be UNSC themed \u2013 although there\u2019s more to come on that front later.<\/p>\n

What sounds (open\/close tray, power button) will the Halo 4 console make? – r3m1x3d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u201cclose tray\u201d and \u201cpower\u201d button sounds were created by Tajeen and the audio team and are based off of sounds made by Forerunner technology, but are custom built for the console \u2013 so they are not repeated anywhere in the game verbatim, but you may recognize the basic elements of those sounds from the game. I would describe their sound as \u201cmetallic crystal.\u201d But I am pretentious like that.<\/p>\n

Will we see more Armor Abilities than those already revealed, as well as different secondary weapons besides the Pistol and Plasma Pistol? – u4iX<\/strong><\/p>\n

You have not seen all of the weapons yet. We have not fully exposed all of the Armor Abilities yet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n
\nSo, we’ve seen the ball-objective have the ability to be thrown from player to player. Are there any specific flag movement modifications? – Heckfu<\/strong><\/p>\n

What you saw was just a tease. You can expect the full story on returning modes soon.<\/p>\n

Will any 343-created Forge maps be released into matchmaking alongside the 10 regular maps? – Link1201<\/strong><\/p>\n

We won\u2019t be putting Forge creations in the \u201cmain\u201d matchmaking areas initially, at least. Certainly Forged variants may go in (rules, the odd object placement) eventually, but we\u2019re still discussing how to promote and enable Forge creations in a way that maintains a separation of that kind of content from the main mix.<\/p>\n

With the console bundle, you announced that it would come with exclusive in-game content. Is this in-game content the same as the Limited Edition bundle content? – The Little Moa<\/strong><\/p>\n

The content is different and unique to each SKU. While we know there are completionists that would like to have it all, it\u2019s not unreasonable to think that we may eventually make all of the content available after the holiday. I would also like to point out, since this is a thing that generates lots of conversation, that the unique or exclusive items are custom created and curated for that purpose or promotion or partner, rather than simply redistributed from stuff created for the shipping game. It\u2019s a subtle distinction I suppose, but in our case a real one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n
\nCTF looks to be Yellow vs. Green and Oddball looks like Purple vs. Orange. Any reason behind this? – Xx Overkill VR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those are the current colors, based on stuff like map palette content, color blindness, all sorts of reasons, but they\u2019re also simply the colors from the build that was ready at Comic-Con, so don\u2019t be shocked if that changes.<\/p>\n

How big are the multiple Forge environments compared to Forge World? – bellz1996<\/strong><\/p>\n

The environments will be large enough to accommodate just about any design you can think of, from a Lockout remake to a sprawling racetrack. There will be rolling hills, flat, sterile spaces, big, flat indoor areas and everything in between. The difference is that we\u2019ll use more than one environment \u2013 an aesthetic \u2013 rather than a giant contiguous space like Forge World. There will also be HUGE FLAT JUMBO Coliseum \u201cwalls\u201d that you can instantly place as enormous floor tiles (or walls). All the spaces are being designed with flexibility and performance in mind. The inclusion of a new lighting engine and some unique palettes will make things look more varied and connected. Some simple examples \u2013 you can make Lockout and The Pit with relative ease and plenty of room. If you want to do something giant and meandering, you\u2019ll have to incorporate some of the environments existing features (hills, cliffs etc).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

With the new dynamic lighting in Forge, will we be able to make almost a nighttime looking map? And will there be lights at our disposal as well? – x HoMiiCiDe<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll reveal more about the environments later, and while you won\u2019t be able to make a literal night time version, there will be an element that will enable a starkly different look than the bright daytime maps you\u2019re used to \u2013 and the addition of proper lighting and shadowing on and in objects will make a radical difference.<\/p>\n

I noticed that there was no “Weapons” menu selection in the Forge demo. Will we have the ability to place weapons on the map in Forge or will we be limited to using ordnance drops and loadouts? – Lehnaru<\/strong><\/p>\n

The menu in the Forge demo was not only a placeholder, but was actually pretty borked \u2013 it was dropped in just for RTX. Naturally the final menu will have complete feature parity with \u201cold\u201d Forge, plus several important new additions, and so yes, of course you will be able to place weapons \u2013 and vehicles at will. Custom games will also allow you to define your own loadouts so you will not be limited by your progress in the main Infinity progression.<\/p>\n

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

What changes have been made to the multiplayer sandbox since the build we played at RTX? – CaneCutter<\/strong><\/p>\n

No actual changes have been made, but you only saw a small selection of the potential sandbox content at RTX \u2013 specifically, stuff that was firmed up for E3, so it\u2019s older than you think. That being said, there\u2019s been a heck of a lot of tweaking and tuning over the past few months.<\/p>\n

In Forge, will the coordinate system we had in Reach be returning? Also, will the Grid be returning as a placeable object in Forge? – Nuclear Taco 42<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coordinates and grids are returning and will be in some ways more useful thanks to other features like magnets and so on.<\/p>\n

What can we expect in terms of playlist setup? – JDHarbs19<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Halo 4 team is starting work on that stuff now \u2013 the MP design team has always felt that a more concise, streamlined set of playlists is essential to a healthy population of new and returning modes.<\/p>\n

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Along with the game and console-related questions, there were also several inquiries about Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, our live-action digital series that will debut on Machinima Prime, as well as Halo Waypoint, on Oct. 5, 2012. Mr. Kevin Grace, who stopped by last week with an expertly penned OHI entry, agreed to stop by again this week to answer the most asked queries. Here they are, in no particular order.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s the story with Chief\u2019s armor? Does that design work with canon\/Halo Wars\/book covers\/everything else?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Totally works. That design, influenced heavily by the armor seen in The Package from Halo Legends, fits squarely within the Mark IV line of MJOLNIR armor (and all existing stories\/depictions from that timeframe in the canon). Does it look exactly like the armor from Halo Wars? Nope, and that\u2019s 100% okay. MJOLNIR armor is constantly evolving and having special variants developed, just like many other major weapons systems (fighter jets\/helicopters\/capital ships\/tanks). There is no \u201cone design only\u201d for each generation of MJOLNIR, as it would lessen the scope of the MJOLNIR project to suggest that those scientists made one suit and then called it a day for a decade or so. But it is important that each generation shares similar characteristics and a signature look (as well as evokes the big-picture Master Chief gold visor\/green armor\/overall profile), and we think that this version of the armor works well on all fronts.<\/p>\n

What happened to Chief\u2019s voice? That\u2019s not the Steve Downes I was looking (listening) for!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quite correct, that\u2019s not the heroic growl you\u2019re used to hearing coming out of that helmet, but just like the armor that is the result of some very specific (and challenging) decisions about how to best integrate Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn into the existing fiction. Light spoiler incoming, but we\u2019ve already announced that the series takes place right around the beginning of the Human-Covenant war, which in our universe means we\u2019re somewhere in the neighborhood of the year 2526. Since most of the time we\u2019ve spent with the Master Chief in the games so far takes place right around the end of that war, which means we\u2019re used to hearing Chief\u2019s voice around the year 2552. Applying a bit of maths, the Master Chief you see and hear in the trailer is around 26 years younger than what you\u2019re used to. I don\u2019t know about you, but I didn\u2019t sound the same 26 years ago, and while we love Steve Downes\u2019 voice it wouldn\u2019t make sense for Chief to have had the same exact voice across three decades of war. Because we wanted to maximize consistency, we first tried to \u201cde-age\u201d Steve Downes\u2019 voice, but all efforts there ended up with something that sounded like an awesome reject from Alvin and the Chipmunks. With that option off the table, we turned to the great casting team we used for the rest of the actors in the show to find us a younger sound-alike voice actor to provide younger Chief\u2019s voice, with the aim being that if you close your eyes and squint your ears just a bit, the voice you hear from Chief makes you think \u201cyeah, put that voice through 26 years of hell and battle and he\u2019ll end up sounding like the Chief I know.\u201d This is a really sensitive subject for a lot of people because voices are so important in connecting to a character, but I think we have a solution that works for both character and consistency\u2026 give young Chief a shot, and I hope you\u2019ll agree.<\/p>\n

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

Hey, is that the girl from Narnia?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quite! And she, like all our cast and crew, is most excellent and was just as excited to be a part of Halo as we were to have her join us for the show.<\/p>\n

Who designed the armor those cadets are wearing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That armor is a good example of the production and costume designers on the show working very, very closely with artists at 343 Industries. Like all the Halo projects made by 343, we\u2019re building in tons of meaningful connections to and from the game so every little bit of Halo you can get all feels like it solidly fits together in the same universe. What this means, of course, is that paying very close attention to the show will result in some very interesting Halo 4-specific bits and pieces\u2026 but perhaps I\u2019ve already said too much. Let\u2019s move on for now!<\/p>\n

Is this an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) training academy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Corbulo Academy of Military Science is an academy for the children of high-ranking UNSC officers from all branches of service, and in turn it prepares cadets for careers all across the UNSC. That ODST cadence you heard in the teaser trailer released a few weeks ago is definitely an ODST reference, but that\u2019s more a representation of how respected the ODSTs are among everyone in the UNSC than of a specific course of training for those cadets. Those cadence calls are often ways to remind you how tough you are as you\u2019re running your feet off on tour around the grounds, and what\u2019s tougher to compare yourself to than an ODST? Hint: Not much.<\/p>\n

I heard that the Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Special Edition that comes with Halo 4 LE will be digital content. Is that true? If so, as one of the minority whose internet connection isn\u2019t good enough to stream video content without obscene hours of buffering, please tell me that a physical copy will one day exist. -Stolen Snapshot<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, we\u2019re working on making the full show available for sale both digitally and in stores in case you\u2019re not lucky enough to snag one of the Halo 4 limited versions. Plans are still very much in progress and more details on those options will come later. Please stay tuned.<\/p>\n

I feel like Kevin may have said more than he should have. Oh well, as long as nobody mentions the space mop, we should be okay\u2026<\/p>\n

<3,
\nbs angel<\/p>\n

\/end copy-paste<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

So some good info from both cons. I’m especially excited about the Forge stuff and anything about the FUD series.<\/p>\n

I’m still waiting for some groundbreaking news about Halo 4. But in the meantime, all these little tidbits being released have helped quell some of the anxiousness I have felt for the game. Man, November just can’t come soon enough!!<\/p>\n

-Sal (HFFL)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Halo Bulletin: 7.18.12 Or just read it here: By\u00a0Bs Angel19. July 2012 02:00 RTX and SDCC Q&A As I watch a swarm of rain-swollen clouds descend upon our studio, I am struck by two thoughts: I\u2019m thankful to be … 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-2303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-halo-waypoint"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2303","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=2303"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2313,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2303\/revisions\/2313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/halofanforlife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}