Gravitas.

If you've played Halo 3: ODST, you've undoubtedly seen things from this perspective. Sometimes the Chieftains win. Check out TDSpiral's rendition of an unfortunate ODST seeing his life flash before his eyes.  Thanks to HBO for the link.

Last Glimpse

Edge readies their invasion fleet.

If you've been waiting on Edge all week, it looks like they're ready to begin their assault on newsstands around the globe.  To get things started, they sent a recon picket into Bungie territory.  See what early intel they walked away with while you wait to get your hands on the issue proper.

Halo: Reach - Tales Of The Fall

One Legendary fan goes back into cryo.

Fyrewulff reports that his Halo 3: ODST Firefight marathon has come to a close. He, with your assistance, raised over seven hundred bucks to help those in need. Amazing. Stop by HBO and tell him how awesome he is.

Haloing for Haiti

The results are in...

...and they're awesome.  Congrats to all the winners ('specially B.net) and a big, wet thanks to Hawty McBloggy for slappin' this together again this year.  Stop reading and head over to see the post year carnage report.

2009 Best of Halo Awards Winners

Gear61 Owns writes:

Violin music in a montage? No way.

Explicit lyrics mixed with some explicit gameplay. Don't close your eyes for this dream. You'll miss the high definition goodness.

"This is a Halo 3 montage from Alen, edited by Soupy, entitled, 'Dream.' It features some really nice social gameplay, a unique, laid back soundtrack, simple editing (I particularly liked the transitions), and awesome high definition video quality. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!"



YouTube - Dream - A Halo 3 Montage

Insane54 writes:

Play with the guys who run Forge Hub...

- and help the cause in Haiti at the same time!

Thank Goodness It's Forge-Day #48: Be a Hero! Edition will run on Thursday the 21st of January. That's right folks, we said Thursday.

This TGIF has been moved forward by a day to coincide with Bungie's Be a Hero! campaign, a call to the Halo community to show support for victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, which Bungie will match in kind with donations to the support effort. The more players logging online time during today and tomorrow with the correct emblem configuration for their character (which you can find just below this paragraph), the more money Bungie will donate to the Red Cross' efforts in Haiti.

This is a great chance to combine a classic Forge Hub customs night with a genuine good cause, so keep a spot free on Thursday for this special TGIF, come sporting the Be a Hero! emblem and show your support! Sign up here: http://www.forgehub.com/forum/announcements/94973-tgif-48-hero-sign-ups.html

Get fired up!

Bipolar Nick is back in and an amazing mood.  If you need to find your happy place or a whole pile of awesome plays, this is the vid for you.  Check it out.

"Narrows Top 10 Kills is out now! Bipolar Nick commentates some amazing Halo 3 kills."



YouTube - Top 10 Narrows Kills

Submit your Heretic Clips here

Armageddon...now with little party hats!

They say time is a river.  Well, Siddhartha said that.  Okay, it was implied.  Whatever.  What's one hundred percent confirmed is that there's a new Reclaimer spilling out onto these here Internets.  Dip your toes.

Reclaimer 237 - Apostate Awakening

Playing with passion (and a healthy dose of addiction).

We're heading offsite again this week to get you familiar with the Hammer and Oddball wielding maniacs over at GrifballHub.com.  As you might have guessed, these players love them some Grifball. It's right there in the name. Want to know more? Launch into the brief interview below.

"GrifballHub.com was born from the ideas of a few of the current members of the site's staff, including myself. We wanted to create a resource not only for long-standing members of the community, but also for new players looking to learn more about the game of Grifball.

While Grifball.com plays the most important role, serving as the place where teams register to participate in the league and providing a lot of great information regarding team stats, scheduling and game results, what it lacks is a more personal touch. You don't really learn about the players and teams participating in the league. We felt like we had the ability to fill that void with GrifballHub and have done so.

Over the past several months, the Hub has continued to grow and evolve into what it is now - a resource for league news, information on the game of Grifball and how to play, while still also featuring teams and players with both interviews and podcasts which we've affectionately named the HubCast. Perhaps one of our biggest successes has been the Pup and Friends highlight reel, which is released each month following the Grifball Double EXP weekends.

In the month of September, members of the GrifballHub staff made the trek to the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle and participated in the first ever Grifball panel, which along with prominent members of the Grifball community also featured an appearance by none other than Red vs Blue's BurnieBurns. We're hopeful that our appearance at PAX went a long way in continuing to build upon not only what we've personally done with GrifballHub, but to also help spread the word about one of the most infectious and enjoyable game variants in Halo 3!"

What are some of GrifballHub.com's favorite maps?

Guardian and The Pit are two I'm most fond of when not playing Grifball on the Foundry and new Sandbox maps created by Nokyard.

Should I even ask about favorite gametypes?

Well obviously Grifball is the most favorite of those involved with GrifballHub. It's a passion (or perhaps addiction) we all share. When not playing Grifball though, I personally really enjoy SWAT. I fell in love with it in Halo 2, which by the way was my first experience with a first person shooter.

Since the inclusion of Action Sack in matchmaking, I've also become quite fond of two flag shotty. My weakness though is that I tend to forget there's a flag to capture.

What would you like to see injected into Halo 3's matchmaking hoppers?

I would love to see a Social SWAT playlist. While it's fine as ranked, I miss being able to just play it for fun, not worrying so much about dropping in rank.

---

Well, looks like week one with GrifballHub.com has come to a close.  No worries though, we've got a bunch of their content packed into our Bungie Favorites so you can continue getting familiarized. (You should expect Grifball related content.) And of course, if you want to get some more information or just sound off about what you've read, you'll find a handy dandy discussion thread attached so you can do just that.

Just a gentle reminder...

Not that it needs to be said, but as we march towards the Halo: Reach Xbox LIVE multiplayer beta you can be pretty certain that the Internet will inundate you with plenty of bogus information. If you want to avoid being duped, you should make sure your source is legit. Think Bungie.net, Xbox.com, and the whole host of print and online publications you traditionally expect to carry official coverage. Anything else should be met with healthy skepticism, upright eyebrows, and abject ridicule.

Oh, and one more thing. As always, the posting of "leaked" information to our forums, whether it is substantiated or otherwise, will be met with a really mean spirited ban. Especially if you catch us before morning coffee. We're cranky in the am.

Carry on.

Still waiting for the second half of the Mythic Map Pack?

Your wait will be over soon.  As of February 2nd, Heretic, Citadel, and Longshore will be available as a standalone map pack via Xbox LIVE Marketplace.  Read on for more details.

"Microsoft has announced that the Mythic 2 Map Pack, previously only available on the Halo 3: ODST multiplayer disc, will be released on Xbox LIVE on February 2, 2010.

The release of the Mythic 2 Map Pack brings the total number of Halo 3 multiplayer maps to 24.

• Heretic brings players to familiar ground as the Halo 2 arena Midship returns in Halo 3. The stark interior of the Pious Inquisitor might appear austere on first glance, but Heretic's symmetrical spaces require players to execute complex strategies in order to outplay their opponents.
• Citadel may be a long abandoned Forerunner stronghold, but its small, symmetrical confines are far from secure. Two opposing bases offer little safety for players looking for solace. Instead, Citadel forces small squads to stay in constant communication, keep their heads on a swivel, and be prepared to adjust combat tactics in close quarters.
• Longshore lacks the commercial ships that once made it a lucrative port for Old Mombasa, but it still bustles with activity. Designed for large-scale combat and well-suited for smaller affairs, Longshore’s multitude of industrial buildings, elevated walks, and open inlets conspire to create a complex battleground tailored for multiple combat scenarios.

Mythic 2 Map Pack will be available on Xbox LIVE for 800 Microsoft Points.

Additionally, Halo fans can contribute to Bungie’s relief efforts for Haiti by participating in the "Be a Hero" campaign on Xbox LIVE. For every 1,000 people that wear a red heart emblem and play Halo 3 or Halo 3: ODST online today or tomorrow, Bungie will donate $100 to Red Cross, up to $77,000."

What's better than launching a Warthog?

Launching two Warthogs!  Looks like the folks over at HighImpactHalo are still getting up.  Check out their old school launch skills below.

"Halo CE is still very much alive over at HighImpactHalo.org, just check out this clip!"



YouTube - The Double Launch

Gear61 Owns writes:

And it feels. So. Real.

This montage comes with a snarky warning right at the start, but it's nice and short, features great gameplay and editing, and it's shot in HD.  Check it out.

"This is a Halo 3 montage from MeH Leier, edited by B1z3rKeR entitled, "The Comeback." It features some sweet team snipers clips, glorious high definition quality, crisp and clean editing, and a refreshing, unique song selection. Sit back, relax, and enjoy."



YouTube - The Comeback - A Halo 3 Montage

Absolutely dreadful.

Yeah.  We've all run into this guy in matchmaking.  And yes, the setup is the punchline.  Warning: Adult themes and Lady Gaga.

Bring your chair to the upright position.

Anoj didn't waste anytime getting his next Top 10 in the mix.  This one celebrates death from above.  Check it out.  As always the plays (and the soundtrack) are amazing.



YouTube - Top 10 Halo 3 Airborne Kills: Episode 47

MR DROZ writes:

Get it on film and get some MS points.

MR DROZ  and BrenGT2 want you to snag some film clips from your Big Team Battle games.  In exchange, they're handing over a bucket of Microsoft Points (if you're clip makes the grade).  Rules are below.  Even if you're not participating, make sure you're rocking your red heart and white background emblem in support of our Be A Hero charity drive for Haiti.

"Hello Bungie.net community! I, MR DROZ, and BrenGT2 of The Upper Echelon, would like to host a film clip contest to support Haiti. Prize is 4,000 Microsoft Points!

Now, don't get too excited. There are rules. We intend on making you earn it.

RULES
1) Film must be taken during a match on Wednesday or Thursday. No scams, we're as clever as you are.
2) Clip must be from a match in 8v8 Social Big Team Battle.
3) ALL players on your team must be wearing the Haiti emblem (brick/rose/maroon heart with white background).

You can send all your submissions directly to MR DROZ (that's me). The winner will be selected by The Upper Echelon's community of over 400 members. Trust me when I say that they are picky.

So how about it, community? Get out there and impress us. Save some lives in the process.

(Prizes only available to U.S. and Canadian residents. BrenGT2 and I have no way of getting cards that will work in other countries. Sorry.)"

Cry Havok.

Steve and the Space Pickle find themselves in a bit of a...well, you know this week.  Hit the jump below and get clear.

Chronicles of ODS Steve: Cry Havok (#57)

A sucker for questions.

This week's Average Joe rocks out with his ass out and thinks it's totally alright to teabag other players.  Oh, to be in High School again.  If you want to relive your golden years, or you just want to get to know DTA MoonDawg a little bit better, we cornered him after gym class and forced him to say some nice things about us.  Looks like he didn't get the memo about our moms, though.

Q. Who are you and what do you do?

A. My name is DTA MoonDawg, but others simply call me Moon. If you’re a random player in matchmaking, you’ll know me as “that guy who just teabagged you.” I’m a junior in high school mainly trying to study web design this year. When I have some free time, I either hang with the girlfriend or spend my time Haloing it up with some Xbox LIVE buddies!

Q. Cool. Where'd you get the tag, Moon?

A. Halfway through Halo 3’s lifetime, I was known as MoonDawg92. I then joined my friend’s gaming clan called DTA. That clan died a long time ago, but I liked the name, so I kept it! As for the MoonDawg part… that is a little more personal. I am blessed with the last name of Moon. Yes, I was born of the moon, and yes, I mooned your mom last night. Tell her I said sup. Anyway, MoonDawg was always a little nickname in school, so I put it in my Xbox LIVE tag!

Q. My mom is a classy lady. Don't be coming up in here impugning her reputation and whatnot. Keep your ass in your pants, please, and just tell us where you hang out when you drop by.

A. I mainly haunt the Septagon when I have some free time. However, I try to post in a majority of forums. Except the Flood. Too crazy for my tastes. My favorite area of discussion is definitely Halo’s storyline. I’m a sucker when people start asking questions about the plot. :)

Q. So is that why you game...for the story? Ever jump in for the straight up social aspects with friends and family?

A. When I first got Halo 3, I was mainly just playing with a few friends from school. Eventually, I got involved with a site called Facility B5D and met loads of new people! As for the game itself, I mainly hop online because I love everything about Halo. The gameplay, story, music, graphics, maps, the list goes on and on. It’s very relaxing shooting super soldiers. Who knew?

Q. What was the first Bungie title you spent some quality R&R time with?

A. Oh wow…I’d have to say it all started in early 2001. My friend called me up one day and told me to come over. When I got there, he told me about a demo of some new game coming out called Halo. I decided to give it a shot, so we fired it up. We played The Silent Cartographer a good 20 times that month. I was so addicted to it, I couldn’t wait until November! From that point on, I was a Halo fanatic. Hell, I still am today!

Q. Does that ever surprise you?

A. Not really, I love it here! I came to Bnet in early 2004 before Halo 2’s release to look at a few Halo 2 screenshots. Eventually, I made an account, and later that year…got locked out of the account. Dunno why. A few accounts later, here I am! This is my only active account now.

Q. Are you active in any other online communities?

A. My main online community is Facility B5D. I recently became admin there, and we just did a big visual overhaul. It’s great there! I also spend some time at BWO from time to time. But I feel Bnet is my true home.

Q. Anything you wanna add before you bounce?

A. I want to give a big shout out to all of the great members at B5D. I also want to acknowledge some of my best buddies throughout my Halo career, Hawkeye543, Legendary Blue, teck, Kritical, Anelf3, PunkPirateAFO, Mister Magoo, vanert, tye, mrjoshsays, Halcylon, cortanaV, Qbix, XEROPAIN, Psycho Vandal, SickNdehed, Ryan from R7, and many others. I would go on, but my wall o' text would be even…textier.

---

That would be just fine by me, Moon. Everybody knows that the amount of text is proportionally related to the amount of awesome.  That's why I insist on getting paid by word count. Speaking of words, if you're looking to sound off on this brief interview, lend your own to the discussion thread attached.

More ways to give.

HBO's FyreWulff is helping out Haiti the best way he knows how.  He's playing Halo.  If you want to help him, hit the link below and support his Firefight marathon.  Looks like he's sleeping at the moment, but he'll be back in the saddle soon.  All proceeds go directly to OxFam UK.

Haloing for Haiti

Rally up for Haiti relief!

Spread the word, Seventh Column.  We're almost ready to kick off our "Be a Hero" Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST online charity drive and we need you to recruit anyone and everyone you can.  If you're looking for the full instructions, I'll include them below, but the short form is simple: Change your player emblem to a red heart, play Halo 3 or Halo 3: ODST online on Wednesday and Thursday, and make sure you leave your emblem in place until you get word that the charity event is over.

Here are the details.

1. Round up all of your friends and hop online with Halo 3 or ODST any time next from 00:01AM PST Wednesday, 1/20, through 23:59PM PST Thursday 1/21.

2. Edit your appearance settings so your character is wearing the RED HEART emblem.

a. Press START
b. Select “SETTINGS” / “APPEARANCE”
c. Select “EMBLEM”
d. Select “Hearts” ICON, “Circle” BACKGROUND
e. Back out to the APPEARANCES menu and select “COLORS”
f. Set “EMBLEM PRIMARY” to RED (or MAROON / BRICK / ROSE depending on which game you’re playing!)
g. Set “EMBLEM SECONDARY” to WHITE

3. Once your emblem is set, play! This can be a custom game or a matchmaking game, just make sure it’s played online, on Xbox LIVE, or we can’t track it.

If you keep playing more games through midnight on Thursday, KEEP THE HEART EMBLEM ENABLED or you may not get counted.

The full story can be viewed here.

AsiiM writes:

Five plays in reverse order.

Five Halo 3 plays.  High Definition.  Expert commentary.  You know the music...

"Yes guys, it's been a while since episode one, but I think it was worth the wait. Episode 2 is back with fantastic editing, amazing clips, and an awesome commentary. Don't forget to submit for episode 3, and you might just find yourself in the next countdown. Enjoy!"



YouTube - In the Clutch Episode 2

Want to submit to episode 3? Click here.

robby118 writes:

Use it as a pimp cane.

The Master Chief and the Arbiter sit down for yet another showing. This time, they're watching and, of course, commenting on the opening scroll and first cutscene of Halo 3: ODST.



YouTube - Master Chief Theater 3000 - Episode 401

What goes up...

...must come down.  (And sometimes makes for a fancy photo op.)  Check out some sweet snags caught on film and compiled over at Halo 3 Screenshots last Friday.  The focus?  Falling, of course.

Top Ten Halo 3 Screenshots: Free Fallin’

Jackson Pollock would be proud.

What do you get when you splatter a bunch of paint on a digital canvas?  Something you can use to replace that worn and weathered Jonas Brothers poster you have hanging above your bed.  It's called culture. Check into it.

Chief Splat

emilio30 writes:

Banhammer unleashed.

Mark your calendars for a meet up with Bungie.net's best looking moderator. Make sure you suck up and play nice, though. Duardo's got remote access to the Bungie.net Banhammer.

"Episode 24 of The Running Riot Podcast will be recorded LIVE on January 25th at 9:30pm ET. Our guest will be Duardo, Master Forum Ninja at Bungie.net. We will try to be on our best behavior since there will be a ninja in the room."

Come over to The Running Riot on the 25th to tune into the live show and chat along with us!