When Bungie goes Hunting

We're guessing that the Halo movie is all but dead, considering that WETA has begun unloading valuable props to Frankie and the gang, where they will only cause pain and sadness.

For more pics of terrifying bald men and details on upcoming Halo maps, check out this week's update on Bungie.net.

Downloadable Content/Team Hardcore

Bungie announced today the upcoming release of three new downloadable maps, which will be available December 11th for 800 MS Points. Pictured is "Standoff," a nice looking, vehicle-oriented outdoor map. For more details and pics, be sure to read Bungie's official announcement..

Also announced was the return of "Team Hardcore," the competition-oriented playlist favored by the kids at MLG.

Freeeeedommmmm!

I want to quit posting about Halo, I really do, but the news just keeps a comin'.

Today Bungie announced their departure from Microsoft Studios, and is once more an independent game studio. The split was amicable, and they plan to continue developing Xbox titles, including future Halo titles through MS Games. Congratulations, Bungie!

When co-founder Alex Seropian left the company to return to the indie scene a few years ago, I thought it was an admirable move. He fled board meetings and produced one of the most entertaining games on the original Xbox. Now he's working on what looks to be a nice little boutique party game that I'm sure will earn rave reviews.

Not that I've been critical of Bungie's work at MS; They've done amazing things. Halo is truly a masterpice, and it would not exist as it does without the backing of Gates & co. But that chapter is closed, and to move forward in a creative fashion would have been impossible with MS goons leering over shoulders, looking for another $300 Million-dollar game.

Now, if only they would abandon that creepy Washington warehouse and return to Chicago. So I can work for them. As a janitor, if I must.

The Stuff of Legend

Everything Legendary.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

I'm finally starting to recover from the initial shock of Halo 3's release. And by recover, I mean sleep more than 2 hours a night and occasionally leave the house.

Everyone's been asking me what I think of the game, but I'm at a loss for words. I want to send Bungie an overly sentimental and sincere Hallmark card, thanking them for doing such a good job on this game. I love it like I love a great record, which I believe is a testament to Bungie's love for their project. It's more than a product to them, and it really shows, especially in Campaign mode, where Halo 2 seemed a bit lacking.

I'm no game designer, so it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what Bungie did (although Wired took a crack at explaining it), but Halo 3 recaptures the feeling that made the first installment so, well... Legendary. I lol'd when I was killed, I pumped my fist with excitement during cinematics, and I felt the same bittersweet love at the end that I felt when The Return of the King faded to black (for the final time). What I'm trying to say is, the third part has cemented this trilogy's status as an all-time great. If it could, it would surely win 10 Oscars.

While there is no game award prestigious enough to honor a game like Halo 3, Bungie might take consolation in the fact that their game smashed media sales records in its first day of release. That's across all mediums, mind you. Films, records, books... you name it. Halo beat them all, including the highest grossing film, Spiderman 3, and even mother-fucking Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. It crushed them. And keep in mind, only American sales have been tallied. When the worldwide numbers are in, first-day sales are expected to exceed $300 million. First. Day. Sales.

To everyone that's going to rip on me for this entry: have you considered that, just maybe, you've been missing out?

It's Halo-Eve.

Well, folks, the evening has arrived. I'll be heading to Gamestop tonight at midnight to pick up my copy of Halo 3 (Legendary Edition of course, MSRP $130.00). I even took a day off of work to play the game, although due to a minor confusion, I took Wednesday, not Tuesday. So tomorrow I might be a bit grumpy at work.

When I was in Michigan a few weeks ago, Ian showed me this commercial. I thought it was funny at first, but as we near the launch of Halo 3, the more genuinely emotional it seems to me. To go extreme dork on ya'll, I have to admit: I'm getting a bit sentimental at the thought of retiring my good ol' Halo 2 disc. It brought some good times: extreme laughter and extreme anger. And that's what games are all about.