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This topic has moved here: Subject: Guide to Canon in the Halo Universe
  • Subject: Guide to Canon in the Halo Universe
Subject: Guide to Canon in the Halo Universe

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Posted by: Child0fTheMind
Thank you, Maimum FEAR. And I completely agree, the idea of canon and the halo universe is becoming more and more convoluted.

Halo: Wars, Halo: Legends, Halo: Reach, etc, each bringing in more and more inconsistencies, at first they were subtle like in Halo: Wars, but now with Legends and Reach they seem even more so.

I truly wonder if 343 has an ultimate plan for these?


Thanks for the quick reply, I'm glad some people are engaged enough in the topic to reply thoughtfully and passionately. I'm perfectly happy for people to have opinions that differ from mine, as long as they argue in a well reasoned way. So thanks for getting involved.

I think the goal of this thread is no longer realistic, which was to define exactly what is and is not canon based on the testimony of Bungie employees such as Joseph Staten, Frankie and others. There is just too much going on right now to actually classify everything. Especially when different studios are working on separate stuff at the same time.

As far as I can tell it seems that 343 Studios is now the official home and voice of Halo. As much as Bungie created and nurtured Halo, once they leave the series with Reach they'll no longer be taking an active role in the expansion and development of the Halo universe. Therefore the official word on matters such as canon will fall on 343 Studios, which is fine by me.

Hopefully 343 Studios will clarify at some point exactly what they consider canon and what they think should be dropped, or de-ranked as canon. That should make it easier for fans.

The Star Wars Expanded Universe works so well because you know exactly where you stand. The Star Wars website outlines the different levels of canon, with the films at the top, and how all the different publications like novels, comics, games etc. fit into the universe and what outranks what.

For now at least it's probably still useful to use this basic guide for understanding the different elements of the Halo universe:


- The games rank first
- Published materials (books, comics, soundtrack liner notes etc.) rank second
- Marketing and PR materials third


So rule of thumb for most situations is that games always outrank novels and marketing materials, novels always outrank marketing materials and the latest releases of those items are "the most canon". So if Reach contradicts anything in Halo: CE it would be a good idea to go with what Reach says rather than Halo: CE. Hope this helps anyone who is confused.

  • 02.15.2010 3:23 PM PDT
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Thanks. These new things by 343 industries are really making everything a lot more confusing, so its hard to say what is and isn't canon.

  • 02.18.2010 11:12 AM PDT
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I would say 343 has probably stated what they conisder cannon when decided to make the Halo Encyclopedia. Now there are some inaccuracies in the encyclopedia and they've acknoweleged that, so those specific things should be taken as just that, innaccuracies in the book that 343 has said they would like to fix in an updated version of the encyclopedia at some point. So as far as what 343 considers cannon, I'd say that book is probably it.

  • 03.01.2010 8:53 AM PDT

I am Field Master Avu Med 'Telcam, Servant of the Abiding Truth, and I have many brothers.

A god who creates tools is still a god. It is not for us to impose qualifications upon the divine or presume to guess its intentions.

Where's Halo: Legends?

  • 03.02.2010 4:55 PM PDT

Fast Like Black Flag Rapid Kill

Posted by: Qbix89
Sweet job!
*thread saved*

Agreed

  • 04.27.2010 3:09 AM PDT

Don't cross the white line.

"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a Halo regular a fish, and he'll complain about the taste, color, type, size, where you found it, how you obtained it, whether or not you'll give him more fish later, and I don't know how many more things.And then when you give him another fish, he'll complain that it's not exactly like the first fish. Rinse and repeat."

Surely Halo:Legends is not canon. Spartan-1337? MC flying in space on some kind of big gun with no cockpit? Dinosaurs?!
Although I thoroughly enjoyed Legends I cannot see how they can be accepted as canon, at least not all of it.
Possibly "The Babysitter".
So what are the Bungie facts on that?

  • 05.16.2010 2:49 AM PDT

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Posted by: xDARKxL0RDx
Surely Halo:Legends is not canon. Spartan-1337? MC flying in space on some kind of big gun with no cockpit? Dinosaurs?!
Although I thoroughly enjoyed Legends I cannot see how they can be accepted as canon, at least not all of it.
Possibly "The Babysitter".
So what are the Bungie facts on that?


I haven't really looked into it to be honest. What with the Halo Encyclopaedia being released I've assumed that it would have mostly cleared up what is considered canon and what is not. Seeing as though 343 Industries is now/soon going to be in control of Halo canon this post no longer serves that much of a purpose as its all evidence from Bungie itself.

  • 05.22.2010 3:04 AM PDT

Don't cross the white line.

"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a Halo regular a fish, and he'll complain about the taste, color, type, size, where you found it, how you obtained it, whether or not you'll give him more fish later, and I don't know how many more things.And then when you give him another fish, he'll complain that it's not exactly like the first fish. Rinse and repeat."

Posted by: xDARKxL0RDx
Surely Halo:Legends is not canon. Spartan-1337? MC flying in space on some kind of big gun with no cockpit? Dinosaurs?!
Although I thoroughly enjoyed Legends I cannot see how they can be accepted as canon, at least not all of it.
Possibly "The Babysitter".
So what are the Bungie facts on that?



I haven't really looked into it to be honest. What with the Halo Encyclopaedia being released I've assumed that it would have mostly cleared up what is considered canon and what is not. Seeing as though 343 Industries is now/soon going to be in control of Halo canon this post no longer serves that much of a purpose as its all evidence from Bungie itself.


Apparently all of Legends is canon except "Odd One Out". Although some artistic license needs to be taken into account.

  • 05.22.2010 5:22 AM PDT
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Well, now that they are rereleasing the first 3 novels with updated information, the cannon contradictions may be cleared up soon... maybe.

http://torforge.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/tor-books-announces-e nhanced-re-issues-of-the-original-halo-novel-trilogy/

  • 05.22.2010 7:24 PM PDT

Oh hey there

Posted by: petarded2
It's a metaphor for the 07s' lack of identity. too old to be newfa­g, yet too new to be oldfa­g, we wander b.net in search of a home, forever trying to be something we are not.

This thread has been ridiculously helpful thank you.

  • 07.04.2010 11:45 AM PDT
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The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Callout to all Halo fans. If anyone can help me on this website http://www.factpile.com/forerunners-vs-galactic-empire.htm/co mment-page-33#comment-143124 with the ongoing debate it would be greatly appreciated.

  • 07.19.2010 12:29 PM PDT

I acknowledge my user name is stupid. However, I promise I'm not.

Disclaimer: The latter is a lie.

Great thread. Helped a lot.

  • 08.27.2010 10:43 AM PDT
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I guess this will be updated for Halo: Reach, right?

  • 09.16.2010 1:23 PM PDT

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Posted by: Goalie Master 8
I guess this will be updated for Halo: Reach, right?


Doubt it.

Now that 343 Industries are in charge of Halo, it's up to them to decide what is canon and what is not, thus negating the work in this thread. Plus the problems Reach has thrown into the mixture mean it's just too much work.

  • 09.17.2010 9:10 AM PDT
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Posted by: Maimum FEAR
Posted by: Goalie Master 8
I guess this will be updated for Halo: Reach, right?


Doubt it.

Now that 343 Industries are in charge of Halo, it's up to them to decide what is canon and what is not, thus negating the work in this thread. Plus the problems Reach has thrown into the mixture mean it's just too much work.


That's why I was hoping on this thread to sort them out, haha. Don't worry. This thread was good while the intact canon lasted. Maybe Bungie will release some explanation, but I've given up on making sense of it as of now. Thanks for the help though, I've used this guide numerous times since it was written.

  • 09.18.2010 8:01 PM PDT

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Posted by: Goalie Master 8

That's why I was hoping on this thread to sort them out, haha. Don't worry. This thread was good while the intact canon lasted. Maybe Bungie will release some explanation, but I've given up on making sense of it as of now. Thanks for the help though, I've used this guide numerous times since it was written.


Turns out I might end up updating this thread with the problems brought about by Reach and possible explanations. I know a few people are scouring Halsey's journal because Nylund has fixed a lot of stuff apparently (I haven't read mine yet.

Maybe in the next couple of days. That will likely be the last update though.

[Edited on 09.19.2010 2:15 AM PDT]

  • 09.19.2010 2:13 AM PDT

Would be appreciated

  • 09.19.2010 2:16 AM PDT

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I still haven't picked up the Halo Encyclopedia so I haven't been able to look at any problems with canon that it causes or rectifies. Can someone with knowledge of Halo lore who owns a copy of the encyclopedia give me a quick run through of these issues so I can add a section to the main post?

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Think I am going to redesign the original posts and better organize everything. Now that I am going to update it I might as well do a proper job of it.

Going to need some help though, I don't currently have much information on the status of:

- Halo Comics/Graphic Novels
- Halo Legends

Help would be greatly appreciated.

[Edited on 09.19.2010 4:49 AM PDT]

  • 09.19.2010 4:19 AM PDT

Heya

This is heavy dude

  • 09.20.2010 4:37 AM PDT

This needs a total update for Halo: Reach!

  • 10.05.2010 2:43 PM PDT

Yes it does because if Reach over rides the books, then the books no longer make any sense.

  • 10.08.2010 6:21 PM PDT

We'll bury our burdens in blood...


Posted by: xDARKxL0RDx
Surely Halo:Legends is not canon. Spartan-1337? MC flying in space on some kind of big gun with no cockpit? Dinosaurs?!
Although I thoroughly enjoyed Legends I cannot see how they can be accepted as canon, at least not all of it.
Possibly "The Babysitter".
So what are the Bungie facts on that?


Not to mention the age of Dr. Halsey in the package. She was all young and hot. She wasn't supposed to be, she should have been older.

  • 10.11.2010 9:07 AM PDT

CrimsonPandaStudios

Nice, almost everyone of the posts where unknown to me.

  • 10.11.2010 9:21 AM PDT

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Sorry for the delay in the update. Had stuff to do recently. Still working on it though and should have it up soon.

  • 10.25.2010 10:57 AM PDT

If Bungie refers to the novels when writing a game...why the heck it the Pillar of Autumn in Halo: Reach? In the book, the ship is fighting in orbit with Master Chief, with Cortana onboard. In the game, it isnt is all I will say for spoiler sake :).

So what gives canon wise with that?

  • 10.25.2010 4:16 PM PDT