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Have you ever dreamt about the perfect Halo 3 armor permutation? You know, armor that you may not have unlocked yet, various colors, maybe a spiffy new Hayabusa helmet too? Well, you're Spartan dress-up fantasies are now a reality, because garbageman has the perfect solution, the Halo 3 Player Model Generator.
The model generator uses Bungie.net's armor preview options allowing anyone to preview any set of armor permutations. You can change out armor colors, helmets, shoulder pads and chest plates all with the click of a button. And, as an added bonus, you can search for a player's Gamertag to see what armor permutations they chose. Even cooler yet (yup, it gets better) is that the generator tells you what you must do to unlock the various armor pieces that you decked your Spartan in. It's crazy useful and crazy fun ... now about the website's UI.
Sound the trumpets and alert your neighbors, because today marks another first in Halo 3's long legacy ... the first roll out of a matchmaking update!
Today Bungie announced a few changes to Halo 3's matchmaking that are in effect right now and were changed using all the data they mined from gamers' online habits. Changes include the reduction of shotty-snipers in Team Slayer, when shotty-snipers is vetoed another shotty-snipers will not appear, Big Team Battle now houses 16 player versus, one sided VIP games will now supply a VIP indicator for the defensive team and Lone Wolves will feature more straight-up slayer gametypes. Phew! As you can see, the changes are quite minimal, but we are welcoming them with open arms, because more straight-up slayer in Team Slayer and Lone Wolves makes us happy Halo 3 players.
We may have newly confirmed holiday 360 bundles, but it's now being reported that one more may be on the way. A forum poster on eletrolado.net claims to have already purchased an Xbox 360 bundle that included Halo 3. The bundle reportedly costs 350 euros, approximately US$540 and contains Halo 3 (duh) and a 20GB HDD premium console with HDMI port (no HDMI cable, though). The bundle was supposedly purchased in Mijas, Spain, with the photo above submitted as proof.
We agree with Joystiq that the info seems a little sketchy at this point and the photo is more than suspect. Still, seeing as Halo 3 is basically the best selling thing ever, it would make sense for Microsoft to bundle it with the Xbox 360, at least during the upcoming holiday season. Of course, Microsoft isn't confirming or denying the bundle -- or whether or not it will make it to North America -- at this point.
Spotted for pre-order over on Amazon.com by eagle eyed halo.bungie.org member Onebitrocket is a listing for a yet to be announced hardcover version of the Halo: Uprising comic books. The Marvel comic series, which bridges the story gap between Halo 2 and Halo 3, was initially slated for four separate comic books with staggered release dates throughout the year and into 2008. But never did Marvel mention plans for a collective hardcover version of the comics and at a $16 retail price, you can count us in. Hardcover Halo: Uprising FTW!
The very interesting and somewhat confusing news of Bungie leaving the comforts of Microsoft and going independent has shocked and awed the gaming world, but what exactly does it mean for everyone involved? Well, according to Frankie in an interview with Game Informer not too much will change and he says it will actually benefit both parties in the long run.
In his sit down with Game Informer Frankie talks about the future of the studio, where they're headed, how their operations will work and goes on to give praise to Microsoft saying that they've been extremely supportive of their decision to go independent. Mr. O'Connor also confirms the fact that they'll still be publishing under Microsoft Game Studios and that their future projects will revolve mostly around Microsoft platforms. Yes, it's still a somewhat odd and head cocking arrangement that has been set up that leaves a lot vagueness in the air, but if you're curious to know what we think this is how we see it: In general, Bungie (post Halo 3) wants to create other IPs and the only way for them to feel free to do so is to not be held back by Microsoft's Halo shackles. So, both companies agreed, they gave each other a big hug and continue to be best friends forever while Bungie technically becomes an independent studio. Sounds good to us, how about you?
The introduction of the Forge to Halo 3 has set the stage for some very interesting game types and play variations, but there is one aspect of the level editor that we haven't seen much of yet: film making. Sure, anyone can stack some fusion coils and record some epic Mongoose launches (we did), but making something truly creative takes some effort. Case in point, this video of Super Mario Bros. done Halo style. Add some sound effects, graphics, and the oh-so-recognizable soundtrack, and you've got a decent video. Check it out above.
Now, before you leave, we like to issue a call for more interesting Halo 3 clips. Sure, we like awesome grenade sticks, but we'd really like to see some creative utilizations of Forge. Rube Goldberg machines, dominos, whack-a-Spartan: that's what we want to see. Get crackin' fanboys.
Hey kids! Just a quick reminder that our first Fanswag Weekly giveaway is still underway. For our first giveaway, we're giving away a copy of Halo 3 and some Game Fuel swag to boot. If you haven't already, be sure to submit your entry on the official giveaway post. Remember though, you can only enter once, so stay far, far away if you already have. As for the rest of you: get to it!
There's some new swag over at the Bungie Store today including the long promised official Halo 3video calibration filter or as we call it, a piece of blue see-through plastic. And you'll be pleased to know that the video calibration filter is free with any Bungie Store purchase or you can get it free by itself, but you'll have to dish out a $9 shipping fee. Among the other new goodies are a set of two Halo 3Mixer Glasses and a new Dual Deco Hoody too. Everything is gettable after the jump, so spend wisely and be sure to add the free video calibration filter to your cart while you're at it.
Okay, Blue Dragon we understood. Even Gears of War had the beautiful graphics and third person perspective going for it. But this, this was unexpected. Yes, the headline above is true. Halo 3 has landed on the number one spot in Japanese video game sales. Now, before we all go check ourselves into the loony bin, there are some clarifications in order. While Halo 3 did garner top honors, it did so with only 59,000 copies. In fact, there were two versions of the new Pókemon Mystery Dungeon 2 released that sold thousands more copies combined than Halo 3, though they are technically considered different games. Also, Blue Dragon, which landed in fourth place upon release last year, sold over 80,000 copies in its first week. So, while Halo 3 is doing well for a 360 title, it's not setting any records. Sill, positive 360 news out of Japan is rare, so cheers Microsoft, cheers.
Halo 3's saved films feature is one of the single coolest things implemented into a game to date, especially when you need video proof of the most amazing grenade stick ever. Embedded above is the video of BlackShadowMist's most amazing plasma grenade stick that made our jaw drop and left us with only one descriptive adjective ... amazing. Just picture it. You're in The Pit, see a sniper on the turret tower, so you launch a grenade through the air in desperation, you then see your grenade miss the sniper's body, but are overjoyed to watch your plasma land in the gravity lift behind the tower and get flung into the air only to land on said sniper's head. What more can we say than ... amazing.
Today, Microsoft released global sales numbers for Halo 3's first week on the market and let's just say the Halo 3 money machine continues to churn away. $300 million is the magic number and is the total sales Halo 3 made in the first seven days at retail, adding an additional $130 million to its 24 hour US sales record. Not only did the game make a massive amount of cash, but Microsoft is also reporting that Xbox 360 hardware sales have nearly doubled compared with the weekly average. We think we can safely say that Halo 3 is a financial success ... a really big financial success.
So, by now we're betting that most of our readers have finished most, if not all, of the Halo 3 campaign. From here there are several natural progressions. Maybe you'll start fiddling around with the saved film feature, taking screenshots of your most glorious moments. Perhaps you'll delve headlong into multiplayer, owning n00bs and taking names. Then again, you might try your hand at creating the perfect maps and game types in Forge. But, if you're like us, part of your post-campaign regimen will include the search for skulls. For example, we just took an ill-advised blogging break to grab the elusive IWHBYD skull with a Joystiq buddy. The fever even seems to have gripped the folks at Penny Arcade, as you can see from the image at right.
We'll admit it, we're using guides, guides, guides. Off the internet of course -- we're not going to do something silly like pay for one. How goes your hunt for the skulls? Are you employing the mass-intelligence of the internet or are you going it solo, trusting your killer instincts to uncover them? Dare we ask if there's anyone out there with all of them?
Bungie is stepping up the plate, unlocking the information kept in their brains and is allowing the Halo community to submit questions for their Halo 3 Ultra Q&A. Bungie knows we've got questions about Halo 3 and wants to answer as many as they can, so that's why they want you to submit questions for their Q&A that will be featured this Friday over at Bungie.net. To submit your question, simply make your way over to the official forum that has been set up, type away, press submit, and cross your fingers. Then hopefully come Friday we'll get some juicy Halo 3 details, answers and maybe, just maybe, Bungie will give us the Halo 3 loading screen as a downloadable screensaver. Demand it fanboys, demand it!
Another hot, hot, hot armor permutation for Halo 3 has been discovered, but it's so exclusive that the average gamer won't be able to wear it.
While playing online against Bungie's own Ske7ch, tipster Flash2000 noticed something a bit odd about his helmet ... it was on fire! Yup, head on fire just like Ghost Rider. And after doing a bit of Googling we found out that the flaming helmet armor permutation is available exclusively to employees of Bungie. So, no matter how much Gamerscore you achieve, how many skulls you find or how much you cry about it, you can't get a flaming helmet. Those lucky little devils.
We're suckers for some good video game based LEGO creations and when we came across SNobleJr's Halo Covenant models we just had to share. Seriously, we start drooling uncontrollably and start to mildly hyperventilate when we spot great LEGO models ... yes, we have a problem. Anyhoo, if drooling and losing your breath in spastic fits is something you enjoy too, hop on over to the HBO forums and check out SNobleJr's LEGO creations featuring Elites, Grunts and Jackals in various Bungie approved poses. Man, we wish we were talented enough to build things out of little plastic blocks. Sigh ...
Have you ever dreamt about the perfect Halo 3 armor permutation? You know, armor that you may not have unlocked yet, various colors, maybe a spiffy new Hayabusa helmet too? Well, you're Spartan dress-up fantasies are now a reality, because garbageman has the perfect solution, the Halo 3 Player Model Generator.
So, by now we're betting that most of our readers have finished most, if not all, of the 
