Seventh Column Set To Return
Bungie.net will be down for a bit on the 23rd, according to SketchFactor, so that Bungie.net can be upgraded to pave the way for the new 7th Column site. Cool new things are afoot, stay tuned!
Death by intelligence.
The Bones Make Them Crunchy
Looks like bentllama has been fooling around in Fable when he isn't undergoing crunch time on Halo 2. I wonder if pancakes make you evil or good...
NYT Bemoans Lack Of Originality In Games
The New York Times has put up an article on how true innovation is lacking in today's videogames-- but holds up Halo as an exception to the rule. Editor's Note: Free registration required, or use the login/pass rampancy/rampant.
That's Not The Sound Of Silence
Marty O'Donnell has been interviewed by Electronic Gaming Monthly; the three-page article is online at 1Up.com. Fun fact: Halo 2 has about 15,000 lines of random combat dialogue. So far.
While most of Bungie has been mum lately about the single player campaign, Marty does reiterate how his sound work is contributing to it, and what Bungie is trying to do in the second game:
Bungie Collates Weekly Update Q&A Session
The impromptu interview that SketchFactor and Frankie conducted with fans last weekend has been collected on a question & answer page that serves as last week's update.
Bungie Update: Ask Frankie And SketchFactor
This week's Bungie Update took a slightly different format: Frankie and SketchFactor offered a question and answer session (excepting those on the story or campaign mode).
September 17, 2004. Originally at Bungie.net.
Bungie Weekly Update : Special Q&A Edition
For the latest Weekly Update we decided to mix things up a bit and try something a little different. With poor Frankie stranded in LA going on his fourth day without sleep and everyone else in the studio madly crunching away on the game, a traditional update looked very unlikely. So, instead of Frankie's usual insightful and witty commentary on the latest happenings within the studio, the forums were used to take questions from Bungie.net members. The flood gates were opened around noon and within 2 hours we had over 16 pages of questions. Then, for the next hour, Frankie and myself went into New Mombasa and did our best to answer as many questions as we could.
To make things easier to digest for those who weren't here to experience it live yesterday, I'm recapping the whole thing here in this handy top story. And, as an added bonus, I'm even going back and answering a few additional questions! (though obviously there are dozens and dozens that we can't or won't be able to answer just yet...)
So, without further ado, here's the special Q&A addition of the Bungie Weekly Update!
Q
KPaul asks: Does Shishka still have that evil look in his eye despite the fact that he's working at his dream job?
A
Shishka is as evil as ever.. in fact, he's got a new nickname courtesy of Frankie : Evil Lord British (look it up). Though his eyes are now mere narrow slits due to his lack of sleep and being overworked like a kid in a Cathy Lee sweatshop.
Q
TRfeuer asks: uhmmm...exactly how many guns will be usable in multiplayer?
A
We're not able to give a specific quantity for this, but if you do some research with all the coverage from the recent Beta, you'll see quite a few covered. (the latest reveals are things like the Covenant Carbine, the Covenant "Beam Rifle" (aka Cov Sniper Rifle), the Brute Shot, Magnum (pistol), etc..)
Q
Sticky Fingaz asks: Can I block the plasma sword?
A
No, you can dodge it, but there's no block button. Quick horizontal dodging is essential. And you need to remember that they can dart at you vertically very quickly.
Backstage Passes All Over The World
The Xbox Live Backstage Pass contest as announced earlier was only valid in North America; of course, the contest itself is worldwide, but each country gets its own page:
Return Of The Bungie Store
The Bungie Store is back according to Bungie.net; not everything shown is available yet; Frankie calls the selection "compact and bijou", which we'll assume he's doing to prove he knows French. One thing they do have, though: flaming ninja t-shirts.
Win An Xbox Live Backstage Pass To Play Halo 2
Microsoft today announced the Xbox Live™ Backstage Pass Sweepstakes featuring Halo® 2, which will give 20 lucky winners from around the world the chance to play Halo 2 multiplayer before the most anticipated game of the year hits store shelves in North America on November 9, 2004. With over a million members, Xbox Live is the premier destination for online console gamers. In order to be eligible for the sweepstakes, gamers must have a valid Xbox Live account as of October 15. Winners will be drawn on October 22 and will receive a three-day/two-night trip for the winner and one guest to Bungie Studios in Redmond, Washington to play Halo 2 multiplayer. Package includes round-trip air transportation to Seattle, Washington, hotel accommodations, roundtrip airport transfers, meals and a tour of Bungie Studios. For more information and official rules, please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/news/backstagepasssweepstakes.htm
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Bungie Rumor Control Returns
Frankie has brought back what used to be called the Bungie Rumor Control Database, this time in the form of RumorBuster. This installment covers charges for Halo 2 online play (there are none other than normal XBL charges), rumored ports of Halo 2 for other platforms, online player limits, cooperative play, and other points-- including the won't-die, hit-it-with-a-stick Halo 1.5 Gold rumor.
Halo 2 Previews Pile Up
Three more Halo 2 previews popped up over the last few days: Computer and Video Games (part one, part two) and Game Daily (covering gameplay).
GameSpy Publishes Second Reader Feedback Follow-Up
GameSpy has again taken reader questions and fed them back to Bungie to try and get more information. Here's a summary of what gets clarified this time around:
Updates, Updates Everywhere
Frankie's update this week is at Halo Babies, where, like Andre the Giant in Princess Bride, Mister Chief is dreaming of large women. Except, in his case, it's a nightmare. In addition, Bungie.net has a roundup of all the Halo 2 previews that are going up all over the web. Some we mentioned before, some are new to us.
Will Halo 2 multiplayer have powerups?
Halo 1 featured powerups, such as overshields and active camoflauge (invisibility).
Currently there are no powerups in the game, although they might be added later. (Editor's note: this gets a big thumbs-up from me. I've never ever bothered to cycle powerups like the active camo or the overshield, and never thought I should be punished for wanting to get right on with playing instead of going shopping.)