O' Bungie, how I love thee...

Bungie is a company that is well known for pleasing their followers in more ways than one...XD. They've always put out quality games, content and updates that appease the masses and never seem to disappoint. The Halo 3 Beta was the start of something new, showing gamers that their incesant ravings in forums weren't just that; they were actually being paid attention to. The Halo: Reach Beta followed suit and the masses are saying that this will be epic.

Getting to the point, Bungie loves their gamers as much as their games. They produce pretty cool swag, from hoodies to action figures and even the good old Master Chief themed Xbox 360 back when Halo 3 debuted. Now with Reach on the horizon, Bungie took it upon themselves to make Microsoft's new baby, the "slim" Xbox 360 into something actually worth having.

 

Sporting a sweet brushed silver exterior with Bungie's designs all over the console and controls, the Halo Reach Limited Edition Console is definitely a buy for me. But its not all about looks; Bungie also added an easter egg here and there: on start up you'll hear the invisibility that you've come to know and love start up and when you eject a game you hear the horrifying sound of your shield having to charge up. Toss in a copy of the game and what more to you need in life? A k/d spread as good as mine XD.

All in all, I know for a fact that I'm getting this, and possibly a Gears one if its cool enough.....I'm gonna have four 360's now....hmm...

--Armand

Reach has a Release Date!

Yeah. September 14th. This Year. I'm going to destroy everything. Seriously. I played about 500 matches of the Beta, mainly Arena but a lot of Grab Bag and some Invasion + Generator Defense. Definitely liked the Armor Lock and Jet Pack abilities along with the Pulse Rifle and Needle Rifle. Elite play is sick and I can't wait for more.

I can only pray for more weapons, abilities and game types along with a better way of making and keeping rank in the Arena (I started Gold, dropped to Silver, dropped again to Steel, went up to Bronze and then again to Silver all while playing consistently the entire time.)

Here's hoping!

-Armand

Bungie Defends Its Honor

Bungie has put out a statement about their recent (and unexpected) partnership with Activision Blizzard:

"The story of Bungie is wild, winding, and full of majestic wonder. We’ve treaded many pathways over these last nineteen years. But for all the twists and turns we’ve taken, we’re still doing what we set out to do from the beginning, back when the whole of “Bungie Software Products Corporation” consisted of two friends operating out of a basement in Chicago:

Making kick ass games that we want to play."

"And as Bungie has grown, the industry’s best and brightest have been totally accretive to our own creative margins. It’s no secret that while the full might of our studio has focused on making Halo: Reach, another core team, led by our co-founder and Studio Creative Director, Jason Jones, has already begun laying the groundwork to bring our newest universe, stories, and characters to life.

Today, we’re poised to open a new chapter in Bungie’s history—one that begins with a partnership between Bungie and Activision and ends where we always knew it would, with World Domination. Our Next Big Thing now has a concrete path, leading from our studio to the platforms of our choosing. The business formalities are behind us. Our Constitution remains unchanged. We are still Bungie, still independent, and now we are free to bring our stories to an ever bigger audience.

Next up, the most ambitious game we’ve ever made, Halo: Reach. Built upon ten years of experience developing the Halo franchise, we’ve assembled the best team, the best technology, and the best talent to ensure that Reach is the game our fans deserve. Strap in and buckle up tight, we’re sending our baby out with a bang.

Once the smoke clears, all the pieces will finally be in place for Step 7. Don’t worry, though. We won’t let World Domination go to our heads. We’re gonna keep making kick ass games on our own terms, and since you’ve been so supportive throughout the years, we’d love to bring you along for the ride."

I really don't know what's going to come of this but after reading Bungie's message I can't help but feel kind of secure about what they're doing. Oh well....

-Armand

Bungie Has Gone To The Dark Side....

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced......Obi Wan was right. It appears that Bungie, (yes, HALO's Bungie), has partnered up with Activision......for 10 years......

According to Bungie's President Harold Ryan - "We chose to partner with Activision on our next IP because of their global reach, multi-platform experience and marketing expertise. From working together over the past nine months on this agreement, it is clear that Activision supports our commitment to giving our fans the best possible gaming experiences."

According to the COO of Activision Blizzard Thomas Tippi - "Today we are very proud to announce a groud breaking ten year partnership between Bungie, one of the greatest developers in the world and the makers of Halo, with Activision, the number one video game publisher, who will bring the new intellectual property to fans worldwide across all platforms.[...] We are always looking for opportunities to bring great games to gamers worldwide; there are very few studios in the world of the caliber of Bungie, with the track record of making games that sell. As such we began discussions with Bungie about nine months ago...."

Bungie isn't making the same mistake as Infinity Ward did however, they plan to stay independent and maintain ownership over this new IP; Activision only gets publishing and distribution rights.

Whatever their new IP is, I hope that the franchise doesn't get boned over in some way by Activision and their greedy ways. I can only hope that Halo: Reach is going to be so amazing that it makes up for the travesty just commited......if I see Bungie's name on a Wii or DS game I will flip out and burn ever copy to a crisp.

I dunno, I'll probably end up getting anything Bungie puts out, Activision or not; here's hopes for Marathon revival!

-Armand

Reaching Out For Reach (Its Almost Here *squeeeee*)

Cue the ominous vocalization track; its Halo time. That’s right folks Bungie’s brainchild turned Microsoft’s cash cow is back and goddamn it looks good. This time around we’re playing Halo: Reach; set before the downfall of the Elites, rise of the Brutes, deaths of the Prophets and the destruction reigned down upon all of their terror-filled bodies by the one and only Master Chief John-117. This will be Bungie’s second Halo game without neither hide nor hair of the Chief and one can only speculate its success.

Reach should be at least somewhat familiar to those who have read the best-selling book by Eric Nylund: The Fall of Reach in which you see the beginning of a hero; John-117. It’s a planet in Epsilon Eridani system, and the birthplace of the Spartan-II’s.

We see Halo: Reach though the eyes of Noble Team who are assembled after a teammate goes MIA (Spartans are never listed as KIA) and the seemingly silent “Rookie” type character. As far as the campaign goes that’s all that I really know.

The multiplayer on the other hand has been completely revamped. There are so many differences between this game and all the past titles. Here are just a few:

Adversarial balance between Spartans and Elites – The Elites are now bigger and faster, they also have better shields and also regenerate health without health packs; they can also evade (a roll). The Spartans have better aim with more precise weapons as well as the ability to sprint and are definitely the teamwork unit.

There are Armor Abilities now; kind of like a loadout in most other FPS games. For instance you get the assault rifle with the jetpack and sprint with the DMR (Dedicated Marksman Rifle). Not a real customization feature but definitely not reminiscent of the BR/AR combo and pick up as you go. It does offer the possibilities of expanding gameplay in the sense that you, as a jetpack trooper can nick the sniper rifle and boost to a perch almost out of harms way, if it’s within your boost range of course (falling damage is back).

Armor Lock is a timed invincibility that also lets out an EMP burst that’s strength is dependant on the time it’s held for. It leaves you immune to vehicular and melee as well as guns but renders you immobile. Just imagine you’re the lone defender of your flag and your teammates are at the respawn screen. Give the other team a run for their money by Armor Locking and bursting just as your teammates sprint and fly to your rescue.

Assassinations aren’t really new to the Halo scene but the way they’re conducted in this game definitely is. There’s still the typical button mashing silliness equated with trying to beat someone down before they get you but if you are lurking around the map in a blindspot, you can hold down the melee button to trigger a third person assassination animation, which in my opinion, is totally worth the time it take to execute it.

Weapons have been overhauled. No more do they look like little toy guns. Now the weapons look mean. And the new ones aren’t pulling punches either. On the Covenant side there’s a plasma grenade launcher and something called the “Focus Rifle”. For the Spartans though, there’s a nifty little grenade launcher that, if you hold the fire button, will cook the grenade, seemingly indefinitely and then blow up in your enemy’s face.

There’s going to be a lot of Shriekers on Day 1…..I think I might just play with my speakers muted for a few days. This brings back memories of when the Halo 3 beta went live….not only did I thoroughly enjoy lasering people, I enjoyed the mute option for all the 11 year olds that somehow conned their mothers into buying them Crackdown. Let’s hope they didn’t buy their kids ODST huh?

-Armand