ArtisticallyChill

I called IT. I was on the money, like how Data solves the crime all too quickly in one of his Sherlock Holmes holodeck programs.

The only thing I can deduce is that maybe this next Halo project is focused on the ODSTs (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper). Could this be the next chapter in the Halo universe? A squad based shooter a la Ghost Recon or Rainbow Six? How will this fit with Master Chief’s storyline? Could this be an aftermath story? “Keep It Clean” could very well imply that the ODSTs are dropping into a hot zone to clean up any remaining Covenant and/or Flood left behind after the events of Halo 3.~ Me, Halo 3 Shit Falls Out of the Sky and We Get A Superintendent

Last night, Bungie dropped an actual full trailer. While it doesn’t prove my squad-based shooter speculation, we clearly know that this next chapter in the Halo Universe, Halo 3: Recon, will involve the ODSTs in a whole new campaign. We still don’t know whether or not this chapter takes place before, after or during the events of Master Chief. But it’s clear that the player will be jumping into the role of a new hero, the Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.

How will the gameplay differ from playing as Master Chief? No one knows but Bungie. ODSTs are no different than UNSC’s Marines and certainly do not have the physical enhancements or the protection of a Mjolnir armor like the Spartans. So we can expect a different HUD, possibly a health bar instead of a shield bar. Different vision modes are a possibility as “state of the art communications gear, along with a HMD and thermal and motion detectors” are built into their helmets.

No official release date has been given except that Bungie is planning a Fall 2009 release. Yes, 2009, not 2008. With a release practically one year from now, I can only assume that this is another ambitious project and will probably be the first huge DLC (downloadable content) ever offered for HALO 3. With Halo 3 Recon being announced as a ‘New Campaign’, let’s hope for a good 2GB or more with at least 7 hours of gameplay.

UPDATE 10.10.08Word on the InterTubes is that Micro$oft has been quoted at TGS08 saying that Halo 3: Recon is “a stand-alone expansion”. This could very well mean that it will be released on disc format instead of as DLC and could retail for the price of a new game at $60. The question to ask yourself: Is a stand-alone expansion worth $60 when you know there will be very little chance that this game will go one step further in gameplay, graphics and running time from Halo 3? After all, it is an expansion. At least 95% of everything from models, to textures, to core code will remain the same from Halo 3.

So is it worth $60? Personally, I don’t think so.

~ LoneWolf

So there you have it. Absolutely nothing. Does this even count as a teaser trailer? The only thing I can deduce is that maybe this next Halo project is focused on the ODSTs (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper). Could this be the next chapter in the Halo universe? A squad based shooter a la Ghost Recon or Rainbow Six? How will this fit with Master Chief’s storyline? Could this be an aftermath story? “Keep It Clean” could very well imply that the ODSTs are dropping into a hot zone to clean up any remaining Covenant and/or Flood left behind after the events of Halo 3.

One could also speculate that if this is another series, that the continuing advancements in ODST technology could lead into a new Spartan program; which could lead into the next chapter of the Master Chief or a new chapter about the graduate(s) of the new Spartan program with a story of a search and rescue mission to bring Master Chief back from deep space.

Or is this some kind of episodic DLC that runs off of the inner workings of Halo 3?

Speculation aside, Bungie is definitely working on something within the Halo universe. Hopefully the next countdown will show us something more than just shit falling from the sky.

~ LoneWolf

p.s. Thanks to Jason for coming up with an excellent blog post title!

It’s a minute after midnight on this quiet Monday morning. There’s 24 hours left. I’m avoiding all online reviews, idiot comments and videos of hatred by $ony drama queens, and all kinds of spoilers. The only thing I’ve seen are all the cool tv ads of The Museum of Humanity like the ones above. With marketing like this and a successful launch, maybe there will be some renewed interest in the Halo live-action flick. Hell, if they actually made a “Museum of Humanity” and charged admission to look at all the cool props, they could use that money toward the movie. Maybe Microsoft and Bungie can set aside some of the profits from the game to help Neil, Peter [Jackson], and WETA bring it to the big screen. It would be a waste of a good warthog, as seen below, if the movie doesn’t happen.

~ LoneWolf