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All Articles: Halo 4
Get your first look at Halo 4 in this video
Microsoft and developer 343 Industries (I originally wrote Bungie, that’s going to be a hard habit to break) have pulled back the curtain on Halo 4 with the video above. The video gives us a first look at actual in-game footage as well as the updated Battle Rifle, and some multiplayer tidbits.
Halo 4 will be available for the Xbox 360 this Fall.
Halo 4 Narrative Designer leaves 343 Industries
Ryan Payton, Narrative Designer on Halo 4, left 343 Industries, according to Kotaku. Payton – formerly of Kojima Productions, where he worked on Metal Gear Solid 4 – was diagnosed with severe depression a few months ago. “I had a great run at Microsoft,” Payton said. “I don’t regret one day of it. But after a few years, there came a point where I wasn’t creatively excited about the project anymore… The Halo I wanted to build was fundamentally different and I don’t think I had built enough credibility to see such a crazy endeavor through.”
The split is amicable – Payton has said that he doesn’t think Halo 4 is a bad game, and 343 Industries wishes him the best of luck in his new endeavors. What are those new endeavors? He wanted to start up his own game studio and do something less constraining than work on triple A titles, and so he has started up his own studio, Camouflaj. Two new titles are already in development. Payton said, “I think time is the most valuable thing we have, and I’ve decided that I’m not going to waste one more day working on something that doesn’t speak to my values.”
Payton has been replaced by Armando Troisi, Lead Cinematic Designer on Mass Effect 2, as the Halo 4 Narrative Director. I have to say that what Payton did took a lot of courage, and I look forward to seeing what kind of games he can create in this new atmosphere.
Halo Fest videos of Halo 4 are badass
Wow. There’s a lot of intensity going on in this panel opening video for Halo 4 from Halo Fest (which was part of this weekend’s PAX Prime). Franchise Development Director Frank O’Connor, Executive Producer Kiki Wolfkill, and Studio Creative Director Josh Holmes from 343 Industries pour out some of their thoughts on the game, obviously relieved to finally be talking about this project.
Hit the jump for another cool video that shows some Halo 4 concept art. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Halo 4, PAX Prime 2011
Halo 4 is the start of the Reclaimer Trilogy; no beta codes with Halo Anniversary
While there wasn’t a new trailer, the Halo 4 panel at PAX Prime has revealed a bit more about the Master Chief’s next adventure.
Developer 343 Industries is referring to the three-part story that’ll begin with Halo 4 as The Reclaimer Trilogy. According to Creative Director Josh Holmes, the game will look deeper at the Master Chief than ever before: “It’s a little bit about getting closer to that character than we have in past games.” Part of this character study will involve John-117’s relationship with Cortana, his AI companion.
But Franchise Director Frank O’Connor assured those in attendance that discovering more about the Master Chief’s character won’t be the only exploration players experience in Halo 4. He confirmed that the game will feature more glimpses into the Forerunner civilization, including buildings and technology that “[aren’t] completely dead.”
Finally, O’Connor passed along some bad news, confirming that there won’t be any Halo 4 multiplayer beta access codes included with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
[Source: GameSpot]
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Halo 4, Halo: Combat Evolved, PAX Prime 2011
Halo 4’s Warthog pulls into Forza 4’s garage
Dubbed “car porn” by more than one commentator, Forza Motorsport 4‘s Autovista Mode is a Kinect-powered look inside some of the world’s coolest cars. And also some of the coolest cars that aren’t even of this world. That’s right, the new Warthog that the Master Chief will drive in next year’s Halo 4 will be available to ogle in Forza Motorsport 4.
Turn 10 has stressed that you won’t be able to drive the heavy duty vehicle in the game, but if you want a closer look at the Chief’s ride, the trailer above is definitely for you.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Forza Motorsport 4, Halo 4, PAX Prime 2011
Halo: Glasslands novel set for October
Tor Books and their Halo fiction factory continues to roll with Halo: Glasslands this October. Glasslands was written by Karen Traviss and is the beginning of a new trilogy that sets the stage for Halo 4 in the aftermath of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx.
“Although Karen’s novel deals with the characters and events from ‘Ghosts of Onyx,’ it’s the wonderful new characters and scenarios that she brings so vividly to life that will excite Halo fiction fans,” says Frank O’Connor, Franchise Development Director for 343 Industries. “We get an incredible opportunity to explore the Halo universe in the aftermath of the Covenant war, and unveil some mysteries and storylines that will connect readers to a compelling corner of the Halo universe. I can’t wait for readers to enjoy this book as much as we have.”
Halo: Glasslands will be available in stores in paperback and on compact disc on October 25, 2011.
See the Halo 4 trailer again
While it’s still over a year away, the announcement of Halo 4 has overshadowed pretty much everything to come out of Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference. In case you missed the trailer during the show, here it is again.
Halo 4 is in development at 343 Industries and will be released in late 2012.
MS @ E3 11: Halo 4 announced, coming in 2012
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary isn’t the only Halo game Microsoft was ready to announce at this year’s E3 Expo. The publisher has just confirmed that Halo 4 is in development at 343 Industries and will be released near the end of 2012.
The teaser trailer is short, just a few seconds of Cortana waking the Master Chief from cryostasis before his ship explodes. Halo 4 is described as the “dawn of a new trilogy for the Xbox 360,” so you can be sure the Xbox 360 will be around for a long time. And, if you think about it, this is also an announcement for Halo 5 and Halo 6.
But that’s the end of the show. Hope you enjoyed the 2011 E3 Press Conference from Microsoft.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged E3 2011, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Infinite