I could spend 450 words or so talking about the embarrassment Cartoon Network should feel over its latest contribution to the decline of western civilization, "Total Drama Island," but I'm in a pretty good mood. I'll let it go the way of "Steven Seagal - Lawman" and just keep pretending it doesn't exist. As long as I stay pretty quick with the fast forward button on my TiVo remote, it doesn't.
I didn't have to deal with the whole Sayid-died-but-he-really-didn't-die thing on Tuesday so I'm feeling pretty animosity-free toward life on (and off) the island as well.
I'd rather spend my time this week talking about one of my favorite subjects, Halo.
The ridiculously popular first-person-shooter series has remained exclusively available on Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. But the unavailability to the Playstation nation and the Wii-tards hasn't hindered game developer Bungie's profit margins in the least. With five separate game titles under its belt, the series has even spawned its own fan-fiction with titles such as "Halo: Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe," "Halo: Uprising," "Halo: Helljumper" and "Halo: The Cole Protocol."
Microsoft games writer Eric S. Nylund even got some extra typing time in with "Ghosts of Onyx" and his trilogy, consisting of "The Flood," "First Strike" and "The Fall of Reach."
Austin-based machinima innovators Rooster Teeth Productions used the series to create their own seven-plus seasons of "Red vs. Blue." The show eventually became a solid part of Halo-lore when Bungie began having the company make promotional videos for the release of new titles. Not to mention that Grifball became a super-official part of the multiplayer world as one of the games in Action Sack with the release of "Halo ODST."
In the iTunes ap store, users can download everything from game guides to weapons timers and virtual coaches. More techno-savy users who have jail-broken their iPhone or iPod touch can find a stripped-down, fan-generated version of the game.
PC users have even been able to join in the fun since Microsoft released "Halo: Combat Evolved" and "Halo 2" for PC.
The series has even been given its own place of honor on Xbox Live with Halo Waypoint.
The original game can be downloaded in the Xbox Live Marketplace and played on 360 consoles. Now if we could just get Microsoft to re-code "Halo 2."
Even the mild disappointment doled out by "Halo Wars" can't keep fans' mouths from watering at the thought of the new bits of awesome wonderfulness the Halo universe has to offer this year.
Warner Home Video released "Halo Legends" on Tuesday, and it's on the way to my mailbox right now. Thanks again Netflix.
The Halo series now has its own version of the "Animatrix" with this collection of seven animated short films.
Toys anyone?
Todd McFarlane has released his seventh series of Halo figures this year including characters from "Halo Wars" and "Halo ODST," such as Sgt. Forge, ONI Operative Dare, Tartarus, a yellow Elite Flight, a steel Spartan Hayabusa, an orange Spartan Security officer and a blue Spartan Rogue.
Nylund's "The Fall of Reach" is getting a revisit of sorts this year as well. While not a remake of Nylund's story, gamers will find themselves on the planet of Reach this fall as part of a six-man team of Spartans in what is more than likely the final title in the series, "Halo: Reach."
Bungie's got a couple of new aliens and weapons for us this time around, and I'm looking forward to taking a few headshots with the Needler Rifle.
Owners of last year's "Halo ODST" have in their possession an invitation to the multiplayer beta testing. So keep your copy in hand and keep an eye on Bungie.net.
So a big two thumbs up to Bungie this year, and a disapproving look of concern to Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios for not coming forward with a tentative release date for "Gears of War 3" yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment