HALO 3

[MarketTantrik]

Through the Looking Glass - Halo: Emotion Evolved

 

From: http://agamingcorner.blogspot.com/2008/07/...lo-emotion.html

___________________________________________________________________

 

Before I start, I would just like to point out that this article isn't a comment on what I think of Halo as a game. To be completely honest, I like Halo but I'm not fanatical about it. This feature is for examining subtexts or looking at alternate readings of games and I hope you enjoy reading it.

 

In the cold hard depths of space, suspended forever in a moment, a halo floats at the centre of a war. We are on the Pillar of Autumn and a recently awakened Master Chief arrives on the bridge, humanity’s last hope, it’s captain and hero. With the ship’s main cannon offline Cortana is vulnerable and her capture is unacceptable. This is where the Chief comes in, time for a hard transfer. If they capture her they'll learn everything: force deployment, weapons research…Earth. With the transfer complete, Cortana and Master Chief are now one. “Your architecture isn't much different from the Autumn's.” and so this is how they begin, a whisper in a bang.

 

 

“We're gonna make it aren't we, sir? I don't wanna die out here.” One of the marines on the lifepod asks. He doesn’t get an answer and he never will as only moments later, Master Chief emerges, a lone figure, from the flaming wreckage that had rescued them from the Autumn. This isn’t the last time the Chief and Cortana will survive in the face of spine shattering odds, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

 

Cortana is Master Chief’s voice. She is as commanding as the Chief is brutal. Ripping through the enemy lines, united they claw together more fortunate marines from other crash sites. The Chief is on a combat high, Cortana is working, thinking, plotting. Things are close to desperate but looking up. Time to save Keyes. The Chief and Cortana complete each other. She thinks, he does. She has power over this blunt weapon, this “demon” and as they travel on the gravity lift into the heart of a Covenant ship, they are becoming closer, anticipating each other, beating as one. The momentum is with them.

 

Later on, Keyes is safe, they find themselves in Halo’s central control room. “You all right?” the Chief asks. “Never been better! You can't imagine the wealth of information; the knowledge! So much so fast. Its glorious!” comes the response. Unlike Master Chief’s control on the battlefield, Cortana’s dark desire for information and power shows who is the real demon. The Chief feels this bubbling malice, Cortana snaps, “This ring isn't a cudgel, you barbarian.” However, Cortana becomes aware of a new threat, something beyond her conception and control.

 

Cortana: The Covenant found something buried in this ring; something horrible. And now they're afraid.

 

Master Chief: Something buried? Where?

 

Cortana: The captain! We've got to stop the captain!

 

Master Chief: Keyes? What do we...?

 

Cortana: The weapons cache he's looking for is not really... We can't let him get inside!

 

Master Chief: I don't understa...?

 

Cortana: There's no time! Get out of here, find Keyes stop him before it's too late!

 

 

The Flood are coming, remaining hooked to the halo’s computers she sends Master Chief off, alone, to stop Keyes. She has abandoned the Chief.

 

We now find ourselves in Installation 04 and 343 Guilty Spark, an A.I. construct of Forerunner origin, shows Master Chief the way, “We must collect the index before we can activate the installation.” They only find death and destruction in this place - and the precious ‘index’. Keyes and his squad are dead and the Flood have been unleashed. Time to escape back to the control room.

 

Cortana, absorbed in Halo’s fountain of knowledge, has lost focus and with it command of the Chief and the situation in general. She has let Guilty Spark use Master Chief to achieve its own calculated ends and, as hers was before, his loss is now unacceptable.

 

Cortana: I've spent the last twelve hours cooped up in here watching you toady about helping that thing get set to slit our throats.

 

Master Chief: Hold on now. He's a friend.

 

Cortana: Oh! I didn't realise. He's your pal, is he? Your chum? Do you have any idea what that bastard almost made you do?

 

 

“Sod off!” Cortana barks in a rage as Guilty Spark notices in disgust this new alien A.I.. Master Chief is wavering, “The Flood is spreading. If we activate Halo's defenses we can wipe them out.” Guilty Spark reminds him. The Chief is an unknown, a volatile weapon, a blunt tool vulnerable, needing instruction and now at the mercy of the universe’s most powerful artificial intelligences. However, Cortana is more than just a calculating construct. She has grown to know the Chief, as he has her. She returns, humbled, to her familiar self, a creation of logic growing beyond her preconceived parameters. She tries to regain control of the spiraling situation “You have no idea how this ring works, do you? Why the Forerunners built it? Halo doesn't kill Flood - it kills their food. Humans, Covenant, whatever; we're all equally edible. The only way to stop the Flood is to starve them to death and that's exactly what Halo is designed to do - wipe the galaxy clean of all sentient life. You don't believe me? Ask him!” And so she sparks doubt in Master Chief’s mind, “Is it true?” he asks Guilty Spark. “More or less.” comes the response.

 

Cortana has wandered through the horrors of the shade but has finally emerged bloody, but unbowed. Ignoring Guilty Spark’s blathering Cortana and the Chief are working as one again, “Get us out of here.” With everything to lose, the halo must be destroyed; the only way is to detonate the crashed Pillar of Autumn.

 

The Maw - the Autumn is enveloped in rot. Just like the previous two chapters Master Chief and Cortana are alone. They have evolved together and we can see the culmination of their interaction almost explicitly expressed as they approach the Autumn:

 

Cortana: This thing is falling apart!

 

Master Chief: It'll hold.

 

Cortana: We're not going to make it!

 

Master Chief: We'll make it.

 

Computers, A.I.s, machines are definably inhuman through their inability to look beyond reason. To borrow from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which captures this idea perfectly, “There are things that machines will never do. They cannot possess faith - they cannot commune with God... They cannot appreciate beauty - they cannot create art. If they ever learn these things, they won't have to destroy us. They'll be us.” The Chief has led Cortana to this epiphany and she presents us with the most human of characteristics - faith. It isn’t an illusion or an attempt at replicating an idea; it is genuine faith. Neither solely logical nor abandoned to emotion she now places her trust, not to mention her life, in Master Chief’s hands against her own judgment (and considering her intelligence, her judgment might as well be law). As Master Chief put his trust in her before, it is time for her to return the favor.

 

 

Together, not only do they complete each other, they are holistic.

 

With the job done, the halo destroyed, they escape into the dust and echoes. “We're all that's left. We did what we had to do - for Earth.” Together, adrift in space, the threat to humanity is extinguished; there is nothing more for them to do. “Halo - it's finished.” remarks Cortana.

 

 

Master Chief: No. I think we're just getting started.

 

 

And there we have it, Halo: Combat Evolved, at least, is over – job done, boy meets girl, boy and girl blow up universe destroying alien artifact. In part two we’ll see what happens when their bond is put to the ultimate test – the ride is definitely just getting started.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Interesting....

[TRMNTR]

Through the Looking Glass - Halo: Emotion Evolved

 

 

That reminded me of some good times I spent playing Halo 1...

Awesome article MT.

 

I miss Halo 1 and my 'Original' Xbox (1) doesn't even work now

[john117]

^^ then buy halo from marketplace ..

[K'dash]

I still got my original xbox intact...just love playing Halo on it..oh yeah n XBMC is Godlike..

[TRMNTR]

^^ then buy halo from marketplace ..

 

Will probably do that...

 

OR if somebody could sell me their copy of Halo 1

[Somebody]

It's Here! Exclusive preview of Weta's range of Halo 3 sculptures

 

Weta has been working for nearly a year to produce a stunning line of limited edition sculptures from Halo 3.

 

At this stage, we're just finalizing the last details and we'll be starting to take pre-orders shortly.

 

If you want to be the first to know – sign up to our mailing list!

 

We are also auctioning four one-of-a-kind silver statues to celebrate.

 

 

Master Chief's Mark VI Spartan Helmet

3D Sculptor: Ed Denton

Model Maker: Dave Tremont, Daniel Cockersell

Painter Sourisak Chanpaseuth

Subject to sculpt and paint approval

 

Master Chief And Arbiter

Lead sculptor: Daniel Cockersell

Sculptor: Brigitte Wuest, Eden Small, Ben Hawker

3D Sculptor: Stephen Lambert | Model Maker: NeilSchrader

Painter: Sourisak Chanpaseuth, Dordi Moen

Subject to paint approval

 

Master Chief And Grunts

Lead sculptor: Daniel Cockersell

Sculptor: Don Brooker, Gary Hunt, Ben Hawker, Bill Hunt

3D Sculptor: Stephen Lambert | Model Maker: NeilSchrader

Painter: Sourisak Chanpaseuth, Dordi Moen

Subject to paint approval

 

Master Chief And Flood

Lead Sculptor: Daniel Cockersell

Sculptor: Jamie Beswarick

3D Sculptor: Stephen Lambert | Model Maker Neil Schrader

Painter: Sourisak Chanpaseuth, Les Nairn

Subject to paint approval

 

Cortana

3DSculptor: Greg Tozer, Steve Lambert

Model Maker: Neil Schrader

Painter: Les Nairn, Dordi Moesn, Sourisak Chanpaseuth

Subject to paint approval

[TRMNTR]

[TRMNTR]

AU Deuce

[A part of the Weekly Update]

Last week I mentioned that there was a second Autoupdate coming to Halo 3 and that I'd talk about it this week.

 

Mostly invisible to players are a mess of backend changes that continue to pump more information to us about behaviors (naughty and nice), tendencies and general smoothing of issues underneath Halo 3's hood that we weren't thrilled with.

 

Much more visible to the players is some new functionality coming to Halo 3's Experience system.

 

As it stands in Halo 3, Experience is collected into a single bucket which then uses your highest skill in a ranked playlist to give you your "Rank." We're adding new Playlist Ratings to Halo 3 Matchmaking.

 

Before I break down how things are changing here's what is NOT changing:

• We are not resetting your "Skill." Your Trueskill value will not change.
  
• We're not resetting your current EXP. Your total EXP will still be displayed in your Service Record and that Rank will still be displayed in your Service Record.
  

However, at the Playlist level, things are changing noticeably.

 

While your total experience will still continue to climb in your Service Record, when AU2 goes live, we are enabling individual Experience ratings in each playlist. Playlist Ratings are based on how much experience you've accrued in a given Playlist. We'll be basing your rating in a given playlist off of this value. When AU2 is released, we'll begin tracking your experience per playlist, in that respect, everyone begins fresh. These new Playlist emblems will be familiar to Halo 3 players, but they have received a light graphical pass in game to distinguish Playlist Ratings from your Overall Rating.

 

In the simplest terms this means that becoming a General in Team Slayer is no longer dependent on reaching Level 50 and acquiring a certain number of total experience points. Via Playlist Ratings, players can reach General in as many playlists as they want .The currency powering these new Playlist Ratings is Experience.

 

 

[Here's an example of how the Playlist Progression system could appear on Bungie.net. You can see the Progress bar beneath the name of the playlist as well as the parenthetical denotation of whether or not a playlist is Social or Ranked.]

 

Under this system, however, players will have individual Ratings in each playlist and they'll see a graphical treatment of that here on Bungie.net and they'll see their current status for the playlist that they are in. In custom games, the Rating on a player's Service Record will be the icon that other players see.

 

**UPDATE**

 

Here are some quick and dirty user questions on the Playlist Ratings from the Internet:

 

Posted by: Da Kr3w 4893

Can shishka or someone PLEASE clear up this new ranking system? I am honestly very confused.

1. Will each playlist have a seperate rank?
   
2. When the update goes live, when I go into a playlist, willl my rank show as a recruit?
   
3. Do you still have to be a 50 to be a general?
   

1. Yes. Ranked and Social lists each have their own ranks.
   
2. When you enter a playlist for the first time after AU2 you will be a Recruit in that playlist. In a Ranked playlist your SKILL number will still show.
   
3. To be a General on your SERVICE RECORD you must still be a 50 in a playlist, that is your Overall Rank. At the playlist level you can reach General from gaining Experience. Skill number is not required.
   

Posted by: Toadie1979

 

Explain to me how a General now could be a Gunnery Sgt. in one playlist is fair to others in there? I guess I'll wait till it goes live to make up my mind, but right now in theory, this is a horrible idea. I guess it'll even itself out after a few weeks, but MM is going to suck till it does.

Actually, we'll still be matching by Skill value the same way we have all along. At the playlist level, you'll still be matched against similarly skilled players, we're not resetting those numbers. We're adding a new metric for you to track your progress in a given playlist. If you're a 44 in Ranked Team Slayer, you'll still be a 44 and your 44 will still display. You will just be a level 44 Recruit in Team Slayer. After a whole bunch of games you may be a 44 General in Team Slayer.

 

Rank at the Playlist level is no longer contingent on the numerical "skill" value (the one to fifty). But Rank is still being used to determine who you will face because we want the matches to be as fair as possible.

 

 

 

 

[TRMNTR]

Bungie Weekly Update: 8/01/08

 

Many Birds, One Stone Hammer

Before we get too far underway, ride shotgun in this '80s hatchback and let's cruise back in time to the beginning of July:

 

The Bad News First

 

Recently, we've seen a moderate influx of things appearing in File Shares that don't belong there. Some this is just tweaked content from Halo 3 that has been uploaded in sundry and illegal fashions. In fewer cases, there have been a relatively small number of incidents of folks uploading inappropriate non-game content to the File Share.

 

Fair warning: Users who have modified content on their File Share - regardless of who created said content - will be subjected to the full power of the Banhammer's thrust. This includes some never-before-unleashed technology that will effectively terminate your Halo multiplayer experience online in every imaginable facet. In fact, the ban is so thorough that simply calling it the Banhammer is a complete understatement. I just couldn't come up with a more hyper-exaggerated term that had the same feel. Banplatform? Banpocalpyse? Banmageddnon? None of those did the trick.

 

Last month we warned users here at Bungie.net that putting modified content in their File Shares would have disaster-filled repercussions on your Halo 3 Online Experience. This week, a new tool clicked into place behind the scenes that has enabled a variety of much-needed functionality for File Share abuse and misuse.

 

Amidst the carnage this week, a handful of users took up a torch for their banned cousins/brothers/friends/selves and asked why there wasn't a "warning." While it seems harsh, there was a warning here on Bungie.net and for several months there has been a tip in-game warning of cheating auto detection.

 

This week's seeming "glut" of bans was an extremely small number of our users and here's what warranted a ban.

 

Authoring modified content in a File Share

 

Our definition of modified content is content that is created or uploaded outside of the parameters of what can be done using the game-provided tools. This includes but is not limited to: "hacked" variations of maps and screenshots that are not Halo 3 images (you know what these are).

 

Also, it's important to note that once you've downloaded a piece of moderated content and renamed it – the system considers you the author of said content. Simply renaming the content is not going to shift the onus of ownership from you to say, Shishka – the system is smarter than that.

 

Authors of uploaded modified content received the following prizes:

• The account is permanently banned from Matchmaking
  
• Permanent loss of File Share functionality.
  
• The Xbox hardware has been banned from Halo 3 for a month.
  

Uploading modified content to your File Share

 

By definition, this is downloading modified content and then putting it in your File Share for others to download. Users did not make any changes to the file, which would assume ownership of said file.

 

Tell them what they've won:

• Permanent loss of File Share functionality.
  

Let's look at some frequently asked questions about the recent series of forceful ejections from Halo 3.

 

Q: WTF I only had a picture of Hitler Pikachu in my File Share that I'd renamed something hilarious to share with my friends and I saw these other guys had pictures of women doing unnamable things to each other. That's dirty, mine is just a joke, unban me.

 

A: It's wholly subjective to dictate what is and isn't offensive. As a result, there is no subjectivity in assessing how files are treated. If a file qualifies as modded content regardless of whether it's a walrus or a cartoon drawing – it is removed and the authors are removed from Halo 3 Matchmaking.

 

Q: Where was the warning for this? I just logged in and that was it? I'm banned?

 

A: Sure, we realize that not everyone tunes in on Friday to read the Weekly Update and folks probably don't read the entire Terms of Service for Xbox Live, but that ignorance isn't met with sympathy.

 

The issue of File Share abuse is a pretty serious one and we will continue to police it incredibly aggressively.

 

Q: I don't have anything in my File Share, but I did save this hilarious Walrus picture. Will I get banned for that?

 

A: Currently, we're not policing download activity. However, if you rename the file and upload it, you'll be considered an author and banned from Matchmaking. If you upload the file to your Share, you'll permanently lose the File Share.

 

Q: I made some uh, Forge "nude art" using the Halo 3 Forge, what is going to happen to me? Am I permanently banned from Matchmaking too?

 

A: Inappropriate content, albeit racist, pornographic or otherwise created in Halo 3's Forge can result in revocation of File Share use.

 

Q: I took a screenshot of this modded map, can I be banned from Matchmaking for that?

 

A: Nope, the screenshot of modded content isn't a bannable offense. Just don't upload the modded content to your File Share.

 

Q: OK, I'm really, really, really sorry that I filled my File Share with pictures of naked women. I won't do it again. Can I have my File Share back please?

 

A: lololololol

 

 

[AU Deuce]

 

 

Shishka's Matchmaking August Playlist Update

 

Matchmaking changes for August, 2008:

 

Ranked

 

Team Objective

• ADDED Oddball
  
• ADDED King of the Hill
  
• REMOVED Ghost Town from symmetrical map variants
  

Team Doubles

• ADDED Oddball
  
• ADDED King of the Hill
  
• ADDED 2 Flag on the Pit
  
• ADDED 1 Flag on Blackout
  

Ranked Big Team Battle

• "Heavy" map variants added to Slayer rotation
  
• Standoff Heavy modified for more insanity
  
• ADDED Sandtrap Heavy
  

DLC

 

DLC Slayer

• Increased weighting on Cold Storage
  

Hardcore

 

MLG

• REMOVED MLG Blackout
  

Double EXP Weekends (In order of appearance)

• Legendary Brawl (Ranked)
  
• Grifball
  
• Team Snipers
  
• Living Dead
  

You may be thinking to yourself "Hey, that's a pretty short change list." While a lot of the changes done this month were backend things that players will never notice, you would be right to think that August's changes feel very minimal. The reason for this is that we've been focused on preparing a larger series of changes to Matchmaking for September. Much larger.

 

Much, much larger.

 

No, really. It's huge. You should see how giddy Luke gets when I talk about the tentative plan.

[TRMNTR]

 

 

 

:roflroll2:

[godspeed4476]

its a accepted fact that most of the 360ians love the halo series for its involving story line and addictive multiplayer mode.....but other than gameplay what other aspect of halo do u like, ex: any specific character,vehicles or any other halo related aspect plz share here........

 

according to me the most strong feature of the HALO is its soundtrack..........its just mindblowing, the best in any game,better than hitmans soundtrack, and the guitar hero version of halo track is super-uber-bumper cool its the best use of guitar tunes in any sound track of the game

 

#found no apporiate section so posted here, modz may move the thread to any other appropriate section

[SchizoidFreud]

Cortana

[MAK]

Theatre Mode,Forge,Screen Shots,Double EXP Weekends,Ranking Systems the list can go on.....

[MarketTantrik]

Moving to the Halo 3 thread.

[Systematic]

Theatre Mode,Forge,Screen Shots,Double EXP Weekends,Ranking Systems the list can go on.....

 

Would also like to add the abundance of various multiplayer gametypes to fuel professional and casual gamers alike.

[Doobz]

waats all dis y u merged it

[TRMNTR]

Bungie Weekly Update: 8/08/08

 

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Last night, G4TV revealed the winners of their G-Phoria awards – this is a fan-voted awards show and Halo 3 was voted the Best Game of the Year by you guys. Regrettably, we weren't able to make it down in person, but we conjured up a quick little acceptance blurb that is worth your while to check out.

 

You can view it over at G4 by clicking here.

 

Cluttering Up the Yard

 

There's been an excessive amount of hair, soap and grime clogging Sketch and I's inboxes of late (he created this thread to remind folks); the result of a couple of different "Internet scams," where folks imbue words with falsities and then faithful believers blight our Inboxes with messages at the behest of the deceiver. The recent "Watch this video on Youtube, send a Bungie staffer a PM and get Recon," craze has been like watching Lemmings throw themselves off of a cliff and fantastically crash into the craggy shores of the Cannot Have Recon list.

 

These are some hard and fast safe bets you can make while you're out there Internet-ing it up, or running amok on Xbox Live.

 

• A Bungie Employee will NEVER ask for your LiveID or password
  
• A Bungie Employee will NEVER send you a URL to a web site
  
• A Bungie Employee will NEVER offer Recon in return for something via an XBL message
  
• Beating a Bungie Employee at Halo 3 or challenging them to play you will not get you Recon.
  
• Unless it's announced on Bungie.net, completing a Forged obstacle will not get you Recon.
  
• Sending harassing messages to users who have Recon will not get you Recon.
  
• If they aren't someone you don't know personally, it's probably not worth having them on your Friend's List
  
• If someone sends you something that seems too good to be true (go to this URL for free Xbox points), it is too good to be true. Don't go.
  

Put on Your Thinking Cap

 

We've just updated the Bungie Publications with some presentations that you folks will probably be interested in. They are a sultry mix of very recent, semi-recent and classic presentations.

 

Halo AI Retrospective: 8 Years of Work on 30 Seconds of Fun

By: Damian Isla, AI Engineering Lead

Presented at: Develop '08

Download here

 

Isla examines the iterative changes made in the Halo trilogy's AI. From Halo: Combat Evolved's Elites, to the ferocious Brutes of Halo 3's and a look what must improve in our AI looking forward.

 

Decision Making and Knowledge Representation in Halo 3

By: Max Dyckhoff, AI Engineer

Presented at: MALAGA Workshop, NIPS '07

Download here

 

Dyckhoff exposes the major representations used in Halo 3's AI systems, and the algorithms behind the complex decision making which drives the industry leading AI.

 

Evolving Halo's Behavior Tree AI

By: Max Dyckhoff, AI Engineer

Presented at: GDC '07

Download here

 

An analysis of the improvements to the behavior tree AI system from Halo 2 to Halo 3. Presented as part of a three-part session at GDC '07 in collaboration with developers on EA's Spore.

 

The Technology of Halo 2

By: Chris Butcher, Engineering Lead

Presented at: Gametech 2004

Download here

 

At its heart, the Halo engine is a world simulation engine. Engineering Lead Chris Butcher describes the evolution of the "Halo" engine from its traceable origins in Pathways into Darkness and to its present state in Halo 2.

 

The Illusion of Intelligence: The Integration of AI and Level Design in Halo

By: Chris Butcher, Engineering Lead and Jaime Griesemer, Design Lead

Presented at: GDC '02

Download here

 

An investigation of the intersection between design and code as it relates to combat behavior in Halo: Combat Evolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________

[TRMNTR]

its a accepted fact that most of the 360ians love the halo series for its involving story line and addictive multiplayer mode.....but other than gameplay what other aspect of halo do u like, ex: any specific character,vehicles or any other halo related aspect plz share here........

1. Halo Soundtrack + All other compositions (Especially, Halo 1)
   
2. Characters > Cortana, Sgt., Oracle
   
3. Halo 3 > Theater Mode, Screenshots, Forge, Gametypes
   
4. Multiplayer in general
   

...and the list goes on and on!

[TRMNTR]

Coming soon to screens near you

 

Grind Rider, a new kind of western. The grit, the sand, the guns, the blood.... it's still the same. But the horses and six shooters? Gone the way of the buffalo.

 

First Class Pictures presents a sneak peek at Grind Rider. Coming soon to digital displays around the world.

 

Viewable at Veoh.Com or YouTube.

 

First Class Pictures is a Bungie.Net community project started by Just Another Fan that involves members of the fan community including some of the Bungie.Net forum ninjas.

 

Grind Rider will be released in October of 2008. A full-length dramatic machinima, it is one example of the Bungie statement of "maybe one day the fans will use this to make Macbeth" brought to life.

 

We hope that this trailer entertains and increases your interest in what really can be done with the Halo 3 Saved Film tool, time and effort. Stay tuned for more information or visit our group at First Class Pictures.

 

Grind Rider Official Trailer

 

 

 

 

__________________________________

[TRMNTR]

Believa Pinata

 

An unofficial video has surfaced parodying last year's Halo 3: Believe campaign, this parody is for Rare's upcoming Viva Pinata title.

 

Hilarious fan-made send up of the Halo 3 "Believe" ads starring the characters from Viva Pinata. Check it out here.