Okay, this is official this time, not a few backroom stockboys itchin' to put the new stuff out front before they're supposed to-- Eric Nylund's new Halo novelization, Halo: First Strike, has been released. Lorraine "Mehve" McLees' cover art has been turned into wallpapers at Bungie.net to celebrate. Thanks SketchFactor.
Halo: First Strike picks up where the game Halo: Combat Evolved (and the novel Halo: The Flood) leave off. Nylund last wrote Halo: Fall of Reach, a prequel to the first Halo game.
An outfit called Film Oasis put together a documentary on the making of Halo 2; it was in the bonus DVD/controller package that went on sale last month, but now it's available online in two sizes. As usual HBO has a mirror page. Thanks again Louis Wu at HBO and SketchFactor at Bungie.net.
GameDreamZ has a story up, rumoring that Halo 2 will have a multiplayer mode where Spartans face off against the Covenant in missions that will tie in to the single player story arc-- very similar to what many old school Bungie fans predicted (or rather hoped for) in the original game:
First up is the slickest of the news bits, Halo 2 will have an online mode called Covenant vs. Humans. As it sounds, this mode pits one side of players, playing Elites, against their opponents, the Spartans! Even more drool worthy, is the news that these online missions will tie in directly to the single player story. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but my own theory is that these online missions will move in tandem with the Chief's storyline. So gamers online will be fighting their way to the Covenant Cruiser in Mombassa as the Spartans, while the Elites try to halt their advance!
Of course, this might be nothing more than a scurrilous rumor. But if it's true, it's great news. Thanks to Break Point Halo for finding this.
Konrad9 and Louis Wu report from HBO that the third Halo novel, First Strike by Eric Nylund, which covers the period of time between Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, has hit some store shelves. No word on possible damage.
SketchFactor posted a response to the recent rumors that Halo 2 is coming out on the 15th over in the HBO forum . The long and the short of it? It ain't so. Thanks Louis Wu.
XboxSolution puts up an editorial reiterating everything anyone from Bungie has ever said about release dates: that games are released when they're done.
i think halo 2 will come out in april just because that is when my birthday is so hopefully i get lucky. but i want to know when you think halo 2 will come out
i really like the new guns on halo they look really cool. like how you can have 2 smg's and 1 battle rifle at the same time, that is 3 guns at 1 time that will make the game a little more funner. oh and like a couple mounths before halo 2 comes out they will start slowly what halo 2 has in store for us
Oh and for the xbox videos and more videos go to msxbox-world.com you can see all videos of all xbox games
i just found out that halo 2 will have like 2 times more drivable vehicales. more guns like way more levels and way more.
-more levels
-more enemys
-new races(to kill them all)
-way better ai
-ai hold better guns and switch guns with you
- you can hold more then 2 guns
-new ring world
-2 moon levels(from a tester not accurate)
-3 levels of the alien planet(found from a tester)
-and a better engine to run halo 2
dam and only if they could get halo 2 out by chrismas boo hoo(cry) "tear"
i hope this blog help you.
you guys are stupid if you go to other sites like one i forgot it say april 18th they had a personal intervew with the lead designer and he said april 18th if you dont believe me check the web.
"ass hole" take that dam faggots
i aint kidding this time my friend works at microsoft he actual had a intervew with all game designers and bungie was at the intevew they said it will be ready by jan or feb but they want to hold till april 18th to get more xbox live subscriptions and let halo pc sell a little. So guys set your callenders for april 18th or you can think i am bull shiting you but it is up to you.lol what was that last line about i sounded like a old guy.
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Mat "angryzenmaster" Noguchi posted a note on his blog, warning those that anybody who says they know some inside info on Halo 2 is either wrong or about to be sued. Hmm. Does that mean some unlucky bugger has violated his NDA somewhere? One can only speculate.
The Harcore's Hardcorner column at Xbox.com has reinvented the Vidmaster's Oath, in a way-- insisting that truly "hardcore" players eschew the assault rifle (and nearly all other weapons) for the human and plasma pistols. The most disturbing part, though, is the T. J. Hooker reference. Thank-ee to Louie Woo.