Spike TV Awards
Spike TV's annual video game awards will air on December 14th, and feature the best games of the year, lined up in their sparkly finest to win awards, or cry themselves to sleep after losing. You decide who wins and you can vote for your favorite game [url=http://www.spiketv.com/events/vga2004/]Right Here![/url]
Might we suggest you [url=http://www.spiketv.com/events/vga2004/]VOTE[/url] for a little game we like to call Halo 2?
Halo 2 is here. And playing Halo 2 should make it easier to get through the grim rain of the Thanksgiving holiday. With that in mind, we've prepared a monster guide to getting around the intricate maze of features and fun in Halo 2. Check back throughout the month for more news and updates.
Read Full Top Story
Xbox Live Most-Played Games
Last week's Xbox Live rankings (most-played games on the Xbox Live service) shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, but it's worth noting that Xbox Live activity is up overall as a result of you know what. Which is cool for everyone. Thanks to Major Nelson from Xbox.com for collating this list.
1 Halo 2
2 Tom Clancy`s Ghost Recon 2
3 Rainbow Six: Black Arrow
4 ESPN NFL 2K5
5 Madden NFL 2005
6 Counter-Strike
7 Project Gotham Racing 2
8 Need for Speed Underground 2
9 ESPN NBA 2K5
10 Dead or Alive Ultimate
Bungie Weekly What's Update!
You guys sure have a lot of questions. Luckily, we're in the business of [url=http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=weeklyupdatenov19]answering them.[/url] So here, for your delight and edification are the answers to the most "popular" questions of the week, with special guest answerers!
Seriously, go check out all the networking, matchmaking and secret-related answers we're prepared to give out today. And again, the [url=http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=weeklyupdatenov19]ANSWERS ARE HERE![/url]
Exclusive Multiplayer Guide Pages!
Thanks to our friends at Prima Games and Piggyback Interactive, we are pleased to offer Bungie.net readers a sneak preview of some of its multiplayer guide pages in [url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/9/e/49ea4306-f7eb-4164-8a98-625d4106307e/H2_E_216-219_1117_CO.pdf]PDF format right here[/url].
Again, you can download a sample in [url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/9/e/49ea4306-f7eb-4164-8a98-625d4106307e/H2_E_216-219_1117_CO.pdf]PDF format right here[/url].
Piggyback and Prima, as you may be aware, produced the best-selling Official Halo 2 Strategy Guide in conjunction with Bungie. If you haven't checked out the guide, you should, since its publisher claims it's the fastest selling initial release they've ever had – ahead of even Bill Clinton's recent autobiography.
The pages available here give detailed strategies on the Zanzibar map, but you can find more samples for download at [url=http://www.piggybackinteractive.com/en/halo2/downloads.html]Piggyback Interactive[/url]
and download exclusive additional pages at [url=http://www.primagames.com/strategy/book/6649]Prima Games[/url]
Halo 2 Clan Update
Apparently a number of players have had some problems with their Halo 2 Clans today. Not to worry, the Xbox Live team is aware of the issue and they're working on restoring your Clan very soon. Your Clan has NOT been deleted.
Our inboxes have been filling up with panicked mails from a number of players who have logged into Live and noticed that their Clan is no longer appearing. Don't worry folks,
[b]YOUR CLAN HAS NOT BEEN DELETED![/b]
Whew.
The Xbox Live team is working to fix the problem right now and your Clan should be as good as new soon. =)
Update: Major Nelson from Xbox.com has let us know that maintenance on Xbox Live will be taking place at 4 PM PDT today and should last about 30 minutes. You may experience unpredictable results with your Clan while this work is underway.
Also, please note : If you were in a Clan originally that was not appearing as of about 5 hours ago and you decided to make a new one, you will be rolled back to your original Clan when the maintenance work is complete. Your new Clan you created will not exist. If you weren't already in a Clan and just happened to make a new one from scratch, no worries - everything will be fine.
Make with the Voting!
[url=http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2004/11/15/cx_ld_1115mondaymatchup.html]Forbes magazine[/url], when not oppressing the steamer classes, or arguing for a flat tax, has other interests. Some of which appear to include video games.
Obviously those number-crunching, monocle-wearing, tatterdemalion-abhorring plutocrats like to hit the Rumble Pit for some deathmatch carnage. As evidenced by this [url=http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2004/11/15/cx_ld_1115mondaymatchup.html]POLL[/url] which you should go fix, now-ish.
GAMESPY POLL: THE LAST PUSH!
It's way after Election Day and accusations of voter irregularities are still rife! [url=http://www.gamespy.com]GameSpy is still running a poll[/url] to decide which game folks are most excited about! Express your excitement for Halo by voting as many times as you like, as far as we can tell. The poll is on the [url=http://www.gamespy.com]front page of GameSpy[/url] on the bottom left!
Are we aiding in the voting irregularites? Yes. Halo Pride baby. [url=http://www.gamespy.com]Again, that's the front page of GameSpy[/url] on the bottom left! The voting is close now. TOO CLOSE!
PS, we think Half Life 2 is rad, we would simply like to win the vote.
Weekly What's Update
The Weekly Update is back!..sort of. Since we don't have any game development stories to share anymore, we're opening it up to [url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=weeklywhats111204]reader Q&A.[/url] This week, a number of popular Halo 2 queries are answered. (Mister Chief included!)
Frankie is away in LA rubbing elbows with Hollywood elite and doing yet another TV gig. But back here in Redmond, the show must go on. Luckily, through the power of the internet, he was able to beam us the latest version of the Weekly What's Update so we can pass it along to you. A few things have changed since the original updates (the game finished!) but Frankie has shifted gears to answer your pressing questions about anything and everything. And yes, Mister Chief is still here too.
Go [url=http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?story=weeklywhats111204]HERE[/url] to read it now.
You can use our forums to pose your own questions which might get answered next week.
For more questions about Halo 2, be sure to check out all of the information contained in the various docs on the stats page. The FAQ and detailed guides about matchmaking and stats provide a wealth of information.
The Halo Humpday Challenge
Starting today, we're launching a weekly challenge. We're throwing down the gauntlet and playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live against anyone who wants to take us on. This week, it was [url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=humpdaychallengeIGN]IGN.com[/url] and you can see the results of that carnage right [url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=humpdaychallengeIGN]HERE[/url].
And since it all happened on Xbox Live, you can actually see the stats, the Game Viewer and more importantly, the proof behind the winning team's [url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=humpdaychallengeIGN]smacktalk[/url]. Of course, you'll have to sign into Bungie.net to see everything...
Halo 2 Launch!
Halo 2 is here! Yesterday and last night proved to be an exciting time for thousands of fans across the U.S. who eagerly awaited the midnight hour. Here's a [url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=launchstory]recap[/url] of what we were up to.
So much happened yesterday that the story quickly grew beyond the confines of a mere "regular" news story. However, since we're still welcoming tons of new Halo 2 fans, I don't want to overwrite Frankie's general "Welcome/Help" top story. Instead, I've created a hybrid. This regular news story that happens to link to a top story. Enjoy!
[url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=launchstory]Halo 2 FanFest & Midnight Madness Story[/url]
[url=/News/TopStory.aspx?story=launchphotos]Halo 2 Launch Photo Gallery[/url]
What were you and your friends doing yesterday? Share your experiences in our forums!
Halo 2 is finally here. And it's a monster. So with that in mind, we've prepared a monster guide to getting around the intricate maze of features and fun in Halo 2. Check back throughout the week for more news and updates.
Read Full Top Story
The Last Update!!!
Sniff. It's true, the final update is over at [url=http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=306356&page=1&pp=15]TeamXbox.com[/url] and it's more of a farewell thanan update. But go check it out anyway, and we'll see you again next week, when things are gonna be very different.
Still here? Go to [url=http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=306356&page=1&pp=15]TeamXbox.com[/url] right this minute!
Halo 2 Online Stats
We've been doing some work behind the scenes to get our Stats page ready for next week so you might notice it coming and going over the next few days. It's been up and down a few times already and it will continue to do so until we get it locked down. In the meantime, take a look around and get a small taste of what's to come.
Getting your Halo 2 Xbox Live stats on Bungie.net is damn cool. We're all excited to be able to offer this new functionality to our members but it's not exactly an easy task. Starting yesterday we began hooking up all the various bits and pieces and it's slowly starting to come to life. You might notice some irregularities on the site over the next few hours and days as we continue to tighten everything up. At the moment, the stats page is up though so feel free to take a peek.
Please keep in mind that this is our pre-release version so there are some obvious content holes that are intentional. You can still check out some of the leaderboards (filled mostly with tester accounts) and some player stat pages and even some post game carnage reports. If you want to see some examples, check out the player page for Frankie and myself. Use the "find player" option and enter "Frankie" or "ske7ch" and you can see some of the games we've played lately. Click on the "Games" tab and you'll get a list of all the games we've played. Once you're on the game screen, click on one of the games in the list to see the full Post Game Carnage Report.
Please note : All stats and leaderboards are going to get reset in time for the game's release so don't worry about us jerks getting a headstart and taking over the top spots.
We still have a few more tricks up our sleeves and hopefully have even more cool stats to roll out in the future. Stay tuned!
[url=/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=970659]Discuss this Story >[/url]
Sgt. Johnson Radio!
David Scully, Halo's own Sergeant Johnson, will be filling the airwaves with that soothing, mellifluous baritone of his, when he hosts The Lunchtime Show with David Scully, a political, satirical show, which, thanks to the magic of the information superwhatever, you can listen to and read about [url=http://www.staticfactory.org/]HERE[/url].
So go find out more about David, Staticfactory.org and the show, right [url=http://www.staticfactory.org/]HERE![/url] But kiddiewinkles and schoolmarms beware, Mr. Scully has been known to use colorful language from time to time.
Halo 2 Hits the Airwaves!
What are you doing Thursday night at 11pm, ET/PT? WRONG! Cancel whatever that crap was, because you're now watching Spike TV's Ultimate Gamer Halo 2 special, where some lucky jerk wins a visit to Bungie Studios, gets to play before anyone else, drives around the desert in a Warthog-type off road vehicle and blows up real stuff with real explosives.
Curious? You should be. The show is like a cross between While You Were Out and Black Hawk Down. Kinda. Anyway, it's fun, and the winner claims to be the world's biggest Halo fan (hey, that might have just been the tightness of his shirt) and he was a good kid to boot. And just wait until you see what they did to his Xbox rig while he was here in the studios.
You'll get a quick behind the scenes look at Halo 2, see some never before seen game footage and a ton of other surprises. Including certain bald hot dudes acting all sexy. And you'll see Stryker – sure to be a hot forum topic for years to come. Check it out. Spike TV, Thursday November 4th, 11pm ET/PT.
In addition to the premiere on Spike TV on November 4 (11:00-11:30 PM, ET/PT), this half-hour special encores (all times Eastern & Pacific) on Saturday, November 6 (2:00 – 2:30 PM); Saturday, November 13 (1:30-2:00 AM); Sunday, November 14 (9:30-10:00 AM) and Sunday, November 21 (9:00-9:30 AM).
VOTER FRAUD!
Can you believe it? It's not even Election Day and yet accusations of voter irregularities are rife! [url=http://www.gamespy.com]GameSpy is running a poll[/url] to decide which game folks are most excited about! Express your excitement for Halo by voting as many times as you like, as far as we can tell. The poll is on the [url=http://www.gamespy.com]front page of GameSpy[/url] on the bottom left!
Are we aiding in the voting irregularites? Yes. Halo Pride baby. [url=http://www.gamespy.com]Again, that's the front page of GameSpy[/url] on the bottom left!
Bungie Weekly Update!!!
After this, there's only one more [url=http://www.redvsblue.com/forum/viewTopic.php?id=289493]Weekly Update[/url] left before the game comes out. So we're posting it over at [url=http://www.redvsblue.com/forum/viewTopic.php?id=289493]Red Vs. Blue[/url] just for the hell of it. Go check it out. It's short, but it's free.
And if you don't want to register to read the update, the good folks at Halochat are mirroring it [url=http://halochat.edgegaming.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15]HERE.[/url] Thanks Halochat. You rock.
Why are you still reading this? Get over to [url=http://www.redvsblue.com/forum/viewTopic.php?id=289493]Red Vs. Blue[/url] or [url=http://halochat.edgegaming.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15]Halochat[/url] before the Internet runs out.
Halo 2 Video Extravaganza
The Collector's Edition of Halo 2 not only comes in a sweet metal case, it also comes with a bonus DVD jam packed with video features and cool content. We've just updated our Halo 2 [url=/Games/Halo2/page.aspx?section=AudioVideo&subsection=GameVideos&page=1]video page[/url] with one of the featurettes available on that DVD. (and, we added the Halo 2 TV ads as well!)
The Halo 2 collector's edition has been hyped up for a while now but for good reason - it kicks ass! Not only do you get a very cool brushed metal case for the game, you get an extra bonus DVD that's filled with cool content.
To get a glimpse of what the DVD has to offer, check out the "Beyond Single Player : Multiplayer & Live" featurette on our Halo 2 [url=/Games/Halo2/page.aspx?section=AudioVideo&subsection=GameVideos&page=1]video page.[/url]
The Collector's Edition is only available while supplies last and also includes a unique Covenant themed version of the manual. The DVD itself contains:
[*]"The Making of Halo 2 : Behind the Scenes of Bungie Studios" - a full length documentary
[*]Featurettes including game design, animation and multiplayer
[*]Deleted scenes and outtakes
[*]Commentaries from the development team
[*]Art gallery
[*]And much, much more!
And, speaking of videos, the Halo 2 video page also has Windows Media Player versions of the Halo 2 advertisement that's currently airing across the world.
FanFest! Save the Date!
This just in... We are indeed having a little FanFest to celebrate the launch of Halo 2! If you live in the general vicinty of Seattle, WA, come join us on the afternoon of Monday, 11/8 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Hang out with Bungie, win some sweet prizes and best of all, play multiplayer 11 hours before you can get your hands on it. More details inside.
Sorry for the short notice but things have been crazy around here and everything is slamming together all at once. We are planning to have a little mini FanFest here in Seattle on Monday, 11/8 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The event will be taking place at the Experience Music Project in downtown Seattle.
Come hang out with the Bungie team and get some hands on multiplayer action while everyone else is still waiting in line to get the game. Don't worry, we'll have you out in plenty of time to get to the stores to grab your copy at midnight.
In addition to some multiplayer madness, we'll have a few surprises up our sleeves like an epic raffle with the grand prize being an awesome Master Chief statue. We'll be giving out copies of Halo 2 and more Bungie swag than you can shake a beef stick at. (just what does that mean anyways?)
The event is open to anyone and everyone though if we get too crowded we'll have to enforce some crowd control.
We'll have a lot more details in the next few days so for now, clear your calendars and plan on a good time!
Ask Noguchi!
With all the charm of an acid-spurting boil, Mat Noguchi, our resident tools expert, is willing, nay, desperate to answer your questions. Post them [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=942227&viewreplies=true]HERE[/url] and we'll get them to him.
Seriously, he knows everything there is to know about Halo code. And he's mean. So go [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=942227&viewreplies=true]HERE[/url] to get your pressing questions answered. And don't ask any plot questions. And Mat will provide the answers when he feels like it. But check the front page from time to time.
Streets of Fame
Master Chief and Link are head to head! Halo and Master Chief have been nominated to have a star in their honor at the San Francisco Metreon on the venue's "Walk of Game" which is clearly modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To vote, you have to [url=http://www.walkofgame.com/]REGISTER HERE[/url].
Now while registering is an unpleasant way to start your morning, it's worth it in the end, just think, you'll be able to rest easy knowing that Master Chief and Halo are forever stamped into the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. So [url=http://www.walkofgame.com/]head over there right now[/url] and register at the [url=http://www.walkofgame.com/]Walk of Game.[/url]
In our continuing guide to game modes and play strategies, we thought we'd give you a quick overview of Dual Wielding, and start you thinking about which two pieces you'll wanna mix and match...
Read Full Top Story
MTV Halo 2 Special!
MTV: Music Television today announced that "Making the Video Game: Halo 2" will premiere on MTV on Friday, November 5th at 11:00pm ET/PT, and MTV2 on Saturday, November 6th at 9:00pm ET. The special will give viewers an inside look at the making of Halo 2.
The special will also include interviews with the game developers (us), celebrity Halo fans, and the bands involved in the new soundtrack including Incubus and Hoobastank. Both the game and soundtrack hit stores on November 9th.
So if you want to see what kind of madness went on behind the scenes, you can check it out on any of these dates. And if you don't have cable you can always get some taste of the backstage antics with the Special Collector's Edition DVD.
[b]MTV [/b]
11/5 11pm (premier)
11/7 11:30pm
11/8 2am
[b]MTV2 [/b]
11/6 9pm
11/6 2am
11/7 1am
11/8 11pm
11/9 9:30pm
11/9 2am
Halo 2 : Spoiler Alert!
After the Halo 2 leak, our fan response has been overwhelming with people helping us shut down sites hosting these files and delete spoilers from various forums. Unfortunately our own forums have become too difficult to protect so we're advising all members who are worried about spoilers to stay away. Should we shut them down entirely? Vote and let us know.
Though our moderators work their asses off on the Bungie.net forums, day and night, for nothing more than a free t-shirt, there's only so much they can realistically do. In light of the fact that our forums receive dozens of posts a day revealing campaign spoilers for Halo 2 and the fact that our moderators are fans just like anyone else who don't want the game spoiled either, we're letting all of them take a break from their modding duties until the game is released.
Frankie, Shishka, Achronos and myself will still do our part to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending jerks but obviously we can't be everywhere all the time.
So, as much as I hate to say this...
[b]IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT SPOILING THE HALO 2 SINGLE PLAYER EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE GAME IS RELEASED - YOU ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE BUNGIE.NET FORUMS.[/b]
While I'd hate to do this since we obviously have more happening on our forums than just Halo 2, if people feel strongly enough, we do have the option of shutting our forums down entirely as other fan sites have done.
[url=/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=915999&viewreplies=true]VOTE HERE[/url]
This is a last case option, but we'd still be curious to see what you think we should do.
Thanks for bearing with us and hanging in there, we'll all have the game soon and then it won't matter anymore. =)