In this featurette we learn all the resources it took to make the 1:30 live action commercial for ODST. True to form M$ and Bungie seemingly spent no expense at the creation of a fantasy world. You even get to see a cut firefight scene.

*finger crossed* Now I’m just waiting on a movie.

As we await for the squad based Halo 3: ODST, Microsoft has treated us to an extended viewing of their previously 1:30 TV Ad Spot. While there is the on again/off again Peter Jackson film of Halo. I sit and wait desperately hoping it will come true. I don’t know if the hype surrounding ODST is warranted, but I look forward to more well designed commercial spots.

The ODST are the desperate measures of humanity’s last stand in Mombasa. Group Leader Buck fills you in on the situation, your fellow soldiers, and the various armament you have at your disposal while fighting the Covenant. For those familiar with the awesome sci-fi series Firefly, Buck is voice-acted by and modeled after Nathan (Mac) Fillion and joined by co-stars Adam (Jayne) Baldwin and Alan (Wash) Tuck.

Looks like the news just keeps coming from Bungie this week. In an interview with Kotaku, Bungie reps Luke Smith and Brian Jarrard cleared up some misconceptions regarding Recon, the new expansion for Halo 3.

Halo 3: Recon is, for all intents and purposes, Halo 3 with new characters and more stealth. Seeing as how the new hero, an ODST, is nowhere near as badass and tough as the Chief, you’ll have to pick your battles wisely. Which, of course, means stealth. But that’s not the biggest part. According to Kotaku, Recon isn’t DLC, nor is it a title update. It will be released as a full-on stand-alone title, with new achievements, maps, and a new aesthetic. Recon will include more night-time fighting, contributing to the whole stealth feature.

But what does the fact that it’s stand-alone mean? It basically means that the Mythic maps, which were announced with the release of the new achievements, will be released in an upcoming update. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait for Recon for these maps. And no, you will not be able to get an ODST helmet for beating it on Legendary. Sadly.

[From Kotaku]

Late last night, Bungie rolled out what it’s calling "Title Update 2", including multiple new achievements and a new ranking system for all playlists. Dubbed "Playlist Rankings", the system adds new military ranks for each playlist, on top of your global ranking and your "Trueskill" rank (That number next to your name in each playlist). This basically removes the Trueskill rank from your experience ranking, which only matters because it gives you more stats to prove that you’re better than your friends at a playlist.

Hit the jump for the 10 new achievements and why there’s more to this update.

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Ragdoll physics always seems to produce the most interesting (and sometimes lewd) ways for corpses to be thrown across a battlefield. Halo3screenshots.com has assembled a collection of 26 different positions illustrating the letters of the English alphabet, as well as 10 extras for the numbers 0-9 and an additional three for a period, question mark, and exclamation point. They also shrunk them down and edited out most of the background for those who wish to use them as a font (though there’s no actual font file for them).

Perhaps a Halo Corpse Grammar Lesson is in order. Think of the benefit for all of the kids you find in Xbox Live multiplayer matches! English standardized test scores would skyrocket. Are you paying attention, Department of Education?

[Boing Boing]

Hey, at least you start outside in a forest this time. Guess there can only be one Library, huh?

After all the bullcrap and the launch party at New York, videos of people throwing duffel bags through a window, and the oodles of “memorial” ads littering game sites, I get to play Bungie’s final game of the trilogy which is synonymous to that thing you see on Jesus and angels. So how fares Halo 3, you wonder?
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The day finally arrives, the day of dreams.

But for some, it didn’t come till later in the day. Due to unknown circumstances the players who bought “Crackdown” for the beta code to play, there was a problem with the downloads so the promised 5 am release time was pushed back, till. say, PM CST. With me and my roommates all waiting patiently on the Bungie Forums, many MANY people were on complaining, which didn’t help of course, but it made us all feel better.

But the glorious time has arrived, and this writer has been playing it for the last 2 hours. The beta is beautiful with new weapons, the Spiker, the Spartan Lazer, (Imma chargin mah lazor!) Rocket pods, removable turrets, and the glorious return of the Assault Rifle. 3 new maps, including a remake of a timeless classic, Blood Gulch, and a special ranking system, this was an occasion to wear my special Red Vs Blue shirt, signed by Caboose, whom i saw at ACEN.(Which btw i still need to make a post about).