According to scans from Game Informer provided by Xbox365, the "mystery character" from the Haloverse set to appear in Team Ninja's DOA4 game for the Xbox 360 isn't the Master Chief-- but it is a Spartan; female Spartan-458, despite heavy (perhaps too heavy) hints that a curvaceous Cortana would get the nod.
Seth Schiesel at the old grey lady wrote his impressions of the Xbox 360 after sitting down with one at Microsoft's X05 show in Amsterdam last week. While Bungie wasn't showing anything, it is impossible for the new console to escape the shadow of its star franchise, even when nothing's actually been said about it. In comparison, it seems that the shooter slated for the marquee spot in the 360's launch lineup is faring very well:
Bungie.net is now confirming the Game Informer story that GhaleonEB pointed out earlier in the HBO forum; that a character from the Halo universe will make an appearance in DOA4. Neither developer is stating which one, as of yet, although the Bungie.net story has an impressive display of Cortana's own unnatural formations, which is either a blatant hint or a huge red herring.
The HBO Helljumpers remind us all that it is Talk Like A Pirate Day. (Has anybody seen me mizzen mast? It's mizzen!--Ed.)
XerxdeeJ posted in the HBO forum that his Halo blog, Tied the Leader, is back following the author's wedding. (Also, belated congratulations to Pinkuh who also did the deed this month-- I just saw the announcement in my XBL mailbox after a long hiatus--Ed.)
Frankie filed the Weekly What's Update this week from the floor of the Tokyo Game Show, after getting blitzed on martinis. Wait, that's not right.
Frankie was there just to catch up on other Microsoft games and stuff he likes-- he mentions Phantagram's Ninety Nine Nights (as a lot of people are doing this week)
In Bungie-related news, the move to Kirkland is complete and Bungie held their Summer Pentathlon-- those events will get written up (hopefully) in next week's Update.
Next Generation has picked up a post from Tadhg Kelly's blog, suggesting that as in-engine cutscenes become more detailed, the gap between those images and photorealism becomes actually more pronounced-- and that the only real resolution to this problem is a return to full motion video for cutscenes, using real actors. Halo is cited as support for this:
This week's Weekly What's Update points out that Bungie's "Fight the Flood" T-shirts have raised over $120,000 to help the American Red Cross' relief efforts following the devestation of Hurricane Katrina. There are also a few movie tidbits ("ages away") word on Bungie's new digs (ready, moving next week) and a visit from Claude "Louis Wu" Errera of Bungie.org, whom we've been promised is not going to find out anything about the "secret" new project.
With Halo 3 still aways off, Microsoft is pushing Perfect Dark Zero as the launch shooter of choice for the Xbox 360. Kiziko mentions that the game will ship in a standard and deluxe version (as Halo 2 did) and PerfectDarkZero.com has an interview with the game's senior designer, Duncan Botwood.
Other items of note:
Bungie is asking the community to pitch in and help the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Bungie-style; the Bungie Store has a new $19.99 t-shirt for sale, and of that price $15 will go to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts.
Eric Trautmann and Major Nelson both pointed out the announcement of the trilogy of Perfect Dark novels to be published by Tor Books to expand on the universe of Joanna Dark from the Perfect Dark series of games, set to be continued with the release of Perfect Dark Zero for the Xbox 360.
[image:9674 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0] First Major Nelson will be attending, now the Frag Dolls will be at this year's Penny Arcade Expo-- and looking to add a new member, according to eToyChest.
Eric Trautmann's latest (lengthy) blog update is a hoot to read and is even on-topic, as his new neighbors disclose his location to the neighborhood Halo fans.