The Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta will go live on May 16th at 12:00 AM PDT and run through June 6 th at 11:59 PM PDT. That means that folks who purchased specially marked copies of Crackdown, or won a spot in the Beta through the “Rule of Three” or other regional promotions, will be able to log into their Xbox Live Gold accounts, download and play the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta and enjoy an early peek at the multiplayer aspect of the game.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, and are interested, you can still enter the Beta by picking up a specially marked copy of Crackdown, which would ordinarily be a chore, but thankfully Crackdown is an awesome action game which might ironically distract you from the Beta I’m pimping here. Bungie is also giving out a few Friends and Family spots to valued community members, but those are few and far between, so it’s safer to assume you’re not getting in that way.

Now, I will say this again and again – the game you’re going to play one month from now, is Beta software – and while it will look somewhat close to the final game, it IS Beta – and will contain quirks, a couple of roughedges and all that jazz. But we’re pretty confident you’ll find it a dynamic and exciting taste of what’s to come in Fall.

 
This could be you, in May.

The Beta itself consists of three maps – Valhalla, High Ground and Snowbound – graphically improved since our first MP screenshots – and all three will be playable in Matchmaking only (that is after all, what we’re Beta testing here). All three maps are suitable for a wide variety of gameplay types, and you will have the chance to try all manner of game types, familiar and new.

There are a number of new features you’ll get to test out – including a new grenade type, a completely different class of weapon and some of the enhanced online functionality we plan to bring to the game – but it should be noted, a lot of secret features are hidden in this Beta. We’re keeping a lot of our powder dry for Fall. In May, when your firing the Spiker, sniping vehicles with the Spartan Laser and sticking fools with the Brute Spike grenade, remember that it’s just a peek-a-boo fraction of what’s to come.

And do me a special personal favor – walk down to the beach, the river or the lake in High Ground and Valhalla, and take a look at the water.

There will also be new guns, vehicles and gameplay features to try – including the mysterious “X-Button” functionality. But you don’t have to wait to find out what that is, since you can now view part of its functionality in our latest Vidoc, “Is Quisnam Protero Damno!” a long look at the making of Halo 3’s Multiplayer game.

Here you’ll meet the Multiplayer team and watch a level get built from concept to completion. You’ll see the care and attention that goes into every aspect, and yes, you’ll see a level or two that nobody has ever seen before.

There are a lot of questions raised in this Vidoc, and we’ll be answering them in the next couple of weeks, so keep checking back for more updates. You’re probably not even reading this huh? You’re watching the Vidoc. I give up.

NOTE: All of the game footage in this doc was taken during the Alpha stage and isn’t even representative of what you’ll see in the Public Beta, let alone the final game. You will see frame rate skips, unfinished animation and graphical features that will change come Fall. All the footage is clearly marked Alpha. You’re looking at the features here folks, not the final quality bar – which we’ve set pretty high. Your next taste of that will be in May.

And there’s a ton of stuff in the Vidoc you simply haven’t seen before (including the X-Button) – and it’s well worth the download. Now, there’s nothing like seeing it in 720p in Dolby Digital, so remember this Vidoc is also available today on Xbox Live Marketplace, where big screen TVs can do it more justice than your PC.

Download the Multiplayer Vidoc “Is Quisnam Protero Damno!” here:

NOTE: You must be signed in to "Save As" thanks to Agegate restrictions - otherwise click on the link directly.

QuickTime - 37 MB (320 x 180): Click Here to View
QuickTime - 104 MB (640 x 360): Click here to View

Windows Media - 110 MB (640 x 360): Click Here to View
Windows Media - 32 MB (320 x 180): Click Here to View

NOTE : The Vidoc is also available as a free, high definition 720p download at Xbox Live Marketplace through your Xbox 360 console .

 
Bungie reveals its own detailed analysis of Halo 3's new ultra-light all-terrain vehicle.
 
January 11, 2007 - Things are happening at Bungie.net. First we get the kick-ass Documentary of the Brute and less than a month later we're giddy with the idea of exactly how far we can powerslide on the newly implemented ultra-light all-terrain vehicle, the Mongoose.

Introduced in its latest Website update, Bungie's Mongoose provides an alternate to the Warthog for transporting messages, documents, and light cargo between units. According to Bungie's KPaul, the mongoose "may also be used to transport forward observers, reconnaissance personnel and sniper teams. Its proven versatility has made it a vital asset to field commanders when used as an alternate means of communication."


































What does that mean in Netspeak? It's light, fast, and wily, motherf****. With a top speed of 60 MPH, light weight of 896 lbs., and a 1000cc liquid-cooled, longitudinally mounted, four-stroke, hydrogen-injected ICE. But while it's light and fast, the Mongoose is unarmed and prone to tipping over, requiring smart skilled players to successfully drive it.

Some of Bungie's observations illustrate its strengths and weaknesses:

"(The M274) is pretty nimble for its size; add to that the fact that it can do ninety plus kilo papa hotel over uneven terrain and you've got the ultimate commando hot rod."

"Speed is the only protection this vehicle provides; it is unarmored, noisy, and prone to roll-over. It demands a level of skill from its operator that is impossible to expect from the rank and file during combat conditions. Those not qualified as expert need not apply."

"That thing will go from zero to thirty in three seconds on anything short of snow covered ice."

"The M274 doesn't have a radio of its own, isn't equipped with GPS, it doesn't even have any gauges. The only piece of equipment more primitive is the crate it ships in."
"The first thing everybody does is yank the front cargo cage - if you were to carry anything on it your forward visibility would be obstructed out to about six meters - that and less weight equals more speed… anyway it's the first thing everybody does."

"It's a super versatile ATV in the tradition of the Sperry FCMMagLEV and Willys Jeep; without the former's vulnerable drivetrain or the latter's innards-rupturing suspension."

"If they're not gonna give us armor they should at least give us a mounted weapon. And you should be able to tow a trailer with it. And, god forbid, you try to ford bodies of water more than seven feet deep."

"The M274's range is excellent, and that's even before you consider that you can double or triple its range that without severely impacting its max load - just a couple of jerrys of slop¹ and a carbon feeler."

"Some fellas piss and moan about the M274's lack of offensive capability, but it's not meant to be an AFV! Still; with a brave fella riding pillion you should be able to put out enough disencouragement to break contact with all but the most bloodthirsty bravo kilo."

"The (M274) is definitely the most Buddhist land-based motive system in the UNSC's arsenal… I'll just let that sit with you for a while."





The Mongoose, it seems, is not a small Warthog. It's not a small tank or a bomb-equipped motorcycle. It's a quick, light-weight ATV. It's uses are narrow and shallow, but if used smartly, like a real SPARTAN, they can be devastating. The Mongoose offers limited offensive capabilities, but in a capture the flag game, for instance, it could in be instrumental in a quick strike. It's pretty fast, but moreover its quick acceleration is what makes it tough to shoot. Thus, while having no weapons-based defenses, it's quickness, maneuverability and acceleration become its offensive abilities. Oh yes, and there is the matter of the Spartan Laser, which is a slow but powerful laser canon that could devastate a Mongoose. Well, the Mongoose is equipped with an E-brake, giving it the ability to change direction quickly. With a good driver, the Mongoose could ferry a soldier from one campground to another without taking a single hit.

Bungie's new vehicle can only carry two people, the driver and a second soldier. According to Bungie's site, "The Mongoose's primary use is as an objective ferry. While you can use it to branch out quickly and gain control of key areas, ultimately the brass believes that the Mongoose's most appealing trait is its ability to carry the driver and a passenger holding an objective. A driver and passenger can go from base to base or two assailants can grab a Mongoose laying around at the enemy base to transport the flag back to their home base." Sounds like a flag might be a good item to hold while on a Mongoose. Pure speculation on our part, of course. Heh.

Take a look at the shots and for more on the Mongoose check Bungie's site .

 



Bungie Weekly Update
Posted by Frankie at 4/6/2007 4:33 PM PDT

Although you probably forgot about it, after two years of non-stop Multiplayer, Halo’s Campaign mode features lots of cinematics. Now in the past, these were put together by a hard working and talented team that basically comprised Joe Staten and CJ Cowan. And a keg of Pabst. One of the massive changes this generation is the addition of far more cinematics resources. We’re still going to do all the cinematics using the game engine as the basis (for continuity and immersion) but the sheer wealth of tools available to the cinematics team now is staggering.

One of the long-term additions to that team is Lee Wilson, a bona fide Hollywood storyboard artist. He frames and composes many of the amazing shots you’re going to see in the cinematics this time, working in close concert with CJ and Joe. Although Lee is straight out of movie production, he is also a comically stereotypical cheery cockney chappy. Honestly, sometimes I expect him to come in with a chimney brush and a cloth cap singing, “Mary Poppins, Step in Toime!” He is also the greatest plasma grenade stickmeister ever to fight his way out of Saaaarf London.

The beauty of this storyboarding approach is that it eliminates much of the compromise that often goes into the process. A shot is framed – and then it’s replicated by animators and artists pretty much exactly as it was imagined.

In Halo 3, the animation resources available to us are deeper and broader, and the sheer volume and quality of animation is increased exponentially this time around. I’ve already been watching some of the roughed in animatics, and more excitingly, the fully integrated stuff in-game. Right now, it has a lot of placeholder audio and music, but as those layers are spliced in, it’s going to become even better.

I noticed this with a subtle example - a Marine tech sits on a muddy berm and examines a pice of equipment. He shuffles to get comfortable. Now, this kind of subtlelty is hardly new to any form of animation, but it's a good example of how much extra care and energy we're committing to this important area of the Campaign game.

Although there are a ton of straight up technical improvements – such as better lighting, or more realistic faces – stuff like our new lip-synching tech takes a back seat to the actual events going on in the cinematics and the vignette-style cutscenes. From the first level of Campaign, to the final moments of the trilogy itself, we hope to bring you a compelling and stunning conclusion to the story arc and the technology ramp that we’ve built ourselves.

And speaking of technology…

Perhaps the single greatest improvement, and the one on which we have spent most of Halo 3’s development time and resources on, is the trusty UNSC Fusion Core. The safest, most intelligent way to transport and store highly explosive compressed plasma energy. Think of it as a Faberge Egg, filled with plutonium and nitroglycerin. Of course, the reason these things are stored in flimsy glass and aluminum containers it top secret. Suffice it to say that the answer is very scientific.

 
The first fusion core was pretty, but lacked the necessary warning signage seen in the new, improved Halo 3 Fusion Core. The new improved Fusion Core will become important in strange, secret ways in Fall 2007. Consider yourself warned.

 
Here we see the three stages of Fusion Core "stability" from inert to face-meltingly assploded. The trick is to not use them as desks, or hiding places. Rolling and stacking them can be deadly, or rewarding. Depending on your level of skill and patience. Everything you see here is in-game, except the hexagons.

The noble Fusion Core didn’t even exist in Halo. The Xbox at that time, simply couldn’t handle the truth: The truth being that storing explosive superheated radioactive materials in teetering stacks is the wave of the future. So we had crates. And non-explosive boxes. For Halo 2, we decided that crates needed a little more flava – and in this case, the flava was muy caliente! Enter the Fusion Core.

It is a well-known scientific fact that much of an adult brain is devoted to recognizing exploding objects in video games. MRI techniques have shown that up to 80% of your brain’s potential power is actually used for that, and knowing that coins or a rocket launcher are hidden behind a waterfall. The Fusion Core is our homage to your brain’s higher functions. In a Western themed game, it would be a barrel of gunpowder. But this is the future.

 
3D Fusion Core QT VR Apocalypse. It's provocative. It gets the people goin'. Right Click image to Save As.
Use arrow keys to rotate! Are you still not entertained!?

Fusion Cores can be used as weapons, or as traps. Personally I liked tipping them off the elevator in Ivory Tower, or shooting them as an opponent walks by, rather than wasting bullets on multiple headshots. In Halo 3, you’re going to need to use them a lot. Especially in High Ground. Conserve bullets – shoot Fusion Cores - It’s the green thing to do. Also, do not hide behind Fusion Cores. Why are we giving out all this information and imagery about Fusion Cores you ask? Well because they’re about the least top-secret thing in all of Halo 3, and also to distract you from the slightly bad news below. But keep reading, because the news eventually gets better. And then much better.

Sketch’s Halo 2 Matchmaking Update! Read this! It is very, very important.

As you know by now, we’re just over a week away from unleashing two brand new Halo 2 multiplayer maps upon the world. “Desolation”, a remake of the Halo 1 map Derelict, and Tombstone, a remake of the classic “Hang ‘em High”, are both being released on Xbox Live on Tuesday 4/17. For the bargain price of $4.00 you’ll be able to unleash a new can of whoop-ass on these completely re-imagined multiplayer arenas. We’ll have a lot more to say (and show) about each of these maps next week as part of our continuing coverage on Bungie.net.

However, before we can release the new maps, we need to release a new auto-update for Halo 2. My sources tell me this is likely happening at some point next week and there could be a small interruption in play while this update is being deployed.

The primary purpose of this update is simply to enable the game to recognize the new content but we’ve also taken the opportunity to enhance some of our existing Banhammer functionality. This will be transparent to our legitimate players but suffice it to say that we’ve got a few new bells and whistles under the hood that should hopefully further combat and deter cheaters and jerks who are still trying to ruin your fun online. They will know immediately that something has changed.

This update will clear your online networking history which means that for a short period of time, the game won’t have any record of your ideal network capabilities which means you could experience some shaky games until things settle down. Basically over time the game learns what size games you can reliably host in order to give you the best possible experience but initially it’s not going to know if you’re on dial-up or a T1. This should return to a peaceful state of harmony after a few games. It’s also worth noting that the update will erase your “map cache” on your Xbox – this means that the first few games you play after the update could take a little longer than usual to load the maps since they’ll have to be freshly loaded into memory. This also means that the maps will need to be loaded from your Xbox game disc, so if you have a scratched or damaged disc, you could encounter some errors that you might have noticed before since the maps were previously already cached.

The point to all of this is just to let you know that longer load times and potential rocky games are expected and perfectly normal but everything will return to the way it was after you play a few games.

We are currently planning to update the Halo 2 matchmaking playlists the week following the map release (around 4/24). You’ll have some time to download the new maps but once the playlist update comes, please be aware that almost all playlists will require the new maps to play. You can of course play custom games and offline games as much as you want as soon as the maps are released, but on or around 4/24, you will need the new maps to enjoy the majority of the playlists offered in matchmaking. Lastly, in conjunction with a new auto-update, new maps and fresh playlists, we’re going to RESET ALL RANKINGS for Halo 2.

The last time we did a ranking reset was the release of the map pack and corresponding auto-update and we feel it’s right to do it again since the online landscape will be changing. This reset will also even the playing field in a world where the population has diminished somewhat and the majority of players are spread far across the level spectrum. It will pull everyone back together again and make it easier to get into games.

It’s awesome that we still have a steady group of people playing Halo 2 even today and we’re really looking forward to invigorating the online game one more time with new maps and a fresh ranking start before we look towards Halo 3. As always you can share your suggestions, requests and comments about matchmaking in our Optimatch forum here on Bungie.net. Thanks for your support and we’ll see you back on Xbox Live soon!

Thanks Sketch, and now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Audio has seen some noticeable improvements too. Honestly, it’s sounded about perfect for months, but they just keep adding layers to it. Last night during a multiplayer test I heard a few new sounds – including a very convincing waterfall sound in Valhalla, that works really well over distance, and a new sniper ricochet sound that made me poop mah pants. It spanged off a rock behind my head, and even though I had missed the sniper contrail, I knew I was in jeopardy. It sounds hot and fast and frightening. And it isn't just one sound - it's lots of different effects, each scarier than the last. The ricochet sounds are backed up by (in Valhalla at least) a distant echo of the report itself, arriving fractionally after the bullet itself.

The distant muffled battle sounds continue to amaze me, and they’re being tuned frequently. They sound so real, that it’s hard not to think of them as an ambient soundtrack – but they’re all made by real gunfire in the distance. I also noticed a subtle, brief distortion sound when using team chat – kind of a futuristic mic crackle. It’s subtle and brief, but it’s there. Marty laughed when I said I’d noticed all this new stuff in the public beta build and pointed out that his guys (Jay and C Paul) were still adding tons of cool new stuff. And that I would be “amazed.”

Best of all; you guys will get to hear this stuff for yourself in the Public Beta later this spring (more news on that fairly soon) and you’ll get to see how much the graphics have changed since the Alpha. The Public Beta itself will probably be the very first opportunity for you to see some of the new lighting, textures and decorator effects – even the next Vidoc feature (coming soon, but sometime between now and the Public Beta) only features graphics from the Alpha build.

So yeah. Big changes coming. Big changes and big news. Next week is going to be significant. Until then, enjoy this potted history of Mister Chief's evolution.

Discuss this story

 

"Starry Night"

The Halo 3 CG prime time teaser ad which ran one time only - "Starry Night".

"Starry Night"

Brute ViDoc (WMV)

This video documentary deals with the Brutes and how they're changing for Halo 3.

Brute ViDoc (WMV)


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E3 Making Of Documentary

A look at the making of the Halo 3 Announcement Trailer.

E3 Making Of Documentary

Announcement Trailer

The real-time trailer that officially announced Halo 3.

Announcement Trailer

 


02.23.2007

"Halo 3 Logo"

02.23.2007

"Halo 3 : Return of Chief"

Storyboards


02.26.2007

Halo 3 : Storyboards : E3 2006

02.26.2007

Halo 3 : Storyboards : E3 2006

 
M12 Warthog 
 

Right-click to save-as 3D QuickTime movie (15MB) 

Description

The M12 is primarily used in a scouting capacity, or as an integral part of a mechanized infantry unit. In the case of the LRV and LAAV variants it can hold three soldiers including the gunner. The mounted weapon includes a battery for short term operation separated from the vehicle, but normally operates on the vehicle’s power supply. The vehicle is powered by a 12 liter hydrogen-injected ICE and can reach speeds up to 125 kph (78 mph).

A number of variants of the Warthog are in service with UNSC forces, including the M831 TT (which eliminates the support weapon in favor of four side-facing passenger seats), the M864 A (with an enclosed passenger compartment and treads in place of wheels), and the M914 RV (equipped with a towing winch and a heavy duty motor and gear system). 

Weapon Statistics



Weight:
3 tonnes
(3.25 tons)

Length:
6.1 meters
(20 feet.)

Height:
3.2 meters
(10.5 feet)

Width:
3 meters 
(9.75 feet)

Power plant:
12.0 L liquid-cooled hydrogen-injected ICE



Range:
790 kilometers
(490 miles)

Main armament:
M41 12.7mm LAAG
(M12 LRV version)

Main armament:
M68 25mm Gauss Cannon
(M12G LAAV version)

Unit Replacement Cost:
cR. 52000.00


Observations

Overall soldiers had only positive comments for this asset. They believe the vehicle could benefit from greater versatility in mounted weaponry and perhaps an armor upgrade.

 

Field Use

The Hog is a huge, unwieldy, difficult to steer death trap – until you learn how to drive it properly. With proper application of the hand, or “e-brake” the Hog can actually turn on a dime. Massive disc brakes allow the thing to come to a near immediate halt from its top speed of 78mph, and more importantly, swing around rapidly to allow a gunner a better angle on a prospective target.

In combat it is vital that driver and gunner are copasetic. If the wheelman knows where his turret-firing buddy needs to aim, the results are almost always destructive and impressive. The gun itself is simple to use, but presents challenges when being pushed to the limits on a busy battlefield. This movement and unpredictability can be lessened with good driving.

Evasive maneuvers are if anything, more important than offensive attack. It is vital that a driver can get in and out of dangerous situations without flipping the heavy and hard-to-right Hog. A Spartan can pretty much right an upturned Warthog, but that puts the drivers and passengers in a very dangerous situation while trying to rectify a messy crash.

The Warthog’s ostensible scouting and personnel transport purpose should not be ignored in favor of its offensive capabilities. As a matter of fact, for objective based missions, it should be noted that a fast moving Hog with a good driver and a gunner, is the perfect getaway vehicle.

Knowing when to get out is just as important as knowing when to get in. The Hog’s automatic braking systems will bring the vehicle to a sudden, but controlled stop should the driver be ejected, or choose to leave the vehicle. Since there are no doors, you can hop over the sills and take advantage of the vehicle’s momentum to give you a running start when making the transition from vehicle to on-foot maneuvers.

The hog is tough, but a couple of direct hits from grenades, or a well placed rocket, will end its reign of terror almost immediately. Now if only there was some way to make them indestructible…
 

 
Remarks

“(the M12) is sort of a bear to wheel around, but that’s something you gotta expect – the thing is twice the size of my grandad’s car – but it’s something you get used to pretty damned quick.”

“On the battlefield speed is life and the M12 has that in spades – having a great big damn gun don’t hurt, either.”

“One word: hand. brake .”

“I have yet to come up against an obstacle that the warthog couldn’t go right over.”

“The Sarge hates it when we ram stuff, says the ‘hog ain’t indestructible. But it sure feels like it when you’re plowing through a crowd of startled Grunts, though.”

“The seats are unreal! I was thinking of pulling a set out of a parts vehicle and shipping them home… but the wife shut it down – says everyone would be able tell where they came from.”

“Look at these legs – pretty nice, huh? It’s totally from getting in and out’a the ‘hogs. Thirty-six inch damn step height.”

 
"Et tu, Brute?" Video Documentary

The "Et tu, Brute?" ViDoc (a portmanteau of video documentary), released on December 20, 2006, shows how the Brutes have been almost completely redesigned for Halo 3 to better reflect the idea that they are meant to be a worthy adversary for the player. Bungie clarified that none of the graphics shown in the ViDoc are final, and that some elements may be completely redesigned before launch.[24]

The ViDoc explains that the three classes of Brutes have been differentiated, the same way Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 featured different classes of Elites, Grunts, and Jackals. There are 'standard' infantry Brutes, Brute Captains and the Brute Chieftain. All are shown with much heavier armor than the Brutes in Halo 2. The Minor Brutes wear blue armor held together by buckles. The Captains have more elaborate helmets and armor, and the Chieftains have the most elaborate helmets and armor. The color scheme of Elites in the prior games seems to have been applied to Brutes (blue is the lowest rank, red is higher, and gold is the highest). To reflect the Brutes' violent nature, some new animations have been created. Examples shown in the ViDoc include a Brute ripping off the arms of a Marine, a Brute ramming a Marine into a vehicle, and another Brute punching the stomach of a Marine lying on the ground.

The AI has also been updated to incorporate the new idea of a Brute pack. A Chieftain in Halo 3 may order all of its troops to throw grenades at the enemy together, or may decide to focus on attacking one character.

The film also includes many previously unseen elements, such as dual-wieldable Energy Swords (at least, by AI) and the new "spike grenade". Early play tests have shown that these "Spike Grenades" may stick to any surface except water and release directional spikes upon explosion. The Brute Chieftain is seen firing a weapon resembling an un-deployed plasma turret from Halo 2. However, as previously mentioned, the game is still in a pre-alpha stage, and the graphics and game elements in the ViDoc are currently unconfirmed for final release in the game.

Release and related information



The Halo 3 Limited Edition case



The Legendary Edition set for Halo 3

Halo 3 will be released in Fall of 2007. Three versions of the game package have been announced:

Standard Edition (USD $59.99)

Halo 3

Limited Edition (USD $69.99)

Halo 3
Metal Collectors Edition Case
The Making of Halo 3 (featurettes, possibly the ViDOCs, concept art, A/V calibration tool)
Halo Collectors Source Guide (species, factions, story)

Legendary Edition (USD $129.99)

Halo 3
MJOLNIR Mark VI Game Case
The Making of Halo 3 (featurettes, possibly the ViDOCs, concept art, A/V calibration tool)
Halo Collectors Source Guide (species, factions, story)
Exclusive Disc (cut scenes, commentary, featurette on a day at Bungie, machinima content)
Lee Wilson Key-Moments Story Art

Media releases

On May 9, 2006, exactly a year and a half after the release of Halo 2, the announcement trailer to Halo 3 appeared on the Xbox Live Marketplace, shortly before the trailer made its appearance at E3, due in part to the E3 conference's late start. Halo 3's announcement was soon posted on other gaming sites. [25] After some downtime on the official Bungie website, the game was announced officially and the trailer was made available for download.[26]

On June 6, 2006, Bungie Studios released a behind-the-scenes look at the E3 announcement trailer on their website. The video included many elements intended to produce speculation in the fan community. Some of these elements include glimpses