[360] Halo 4

[metallicorphan]

details on the Halo 4 war Pass
http://majornelson.com/2012/10/24/announcing-the-halo-4-war-games-pass/

With the highly anticipated launch of “Halo 4” on Nov. 6 less than two weeks away, Microsoft and 343 Industries today unveiled that there will be more content to come in the months post-launch, and the “Halo 4” War Games Map Pass is your ticket to getting it all at a 15 percent discount. Stoking the excitement for launch, 343 Industries also premiered the gameplay launch trailer for “Halo 4, available now on Halo Waypoint.

Retailing for $24.99 USD2 (2,000 Microsoft Points), the “Halo 4” War Games Map Pass confirms your access to three War Games map packs as they become available in December, February and April, and represents a savings of more than 15 percent versus purchasing the packs individually. In addition, Map Pass purchasers will receive two bonus in-game helmets, as well as a unique in-game emblem.
 
    
Exploring new worlds and wonders, all three Map Packs provide classic “Halo” combat and exciting ways to experience the new feature-set of “Halo” Infinity Multiplayer. Descriptions and tentative release dates are as follows:

Crimson Map Pack (December release timeframe)

Maps: Wreckage, Harvest, Shatter

Description: Witness the chaos of a clash of civilizations in Wreckage, with its blend of claustrophobic spaces and dangerous exposures and venture into the human colony environs of Harvest, and explore a human foray on an alien moon in Shatter.

Majestic Map Pack (February release timeframe)

Maps: Landfall, Monolith, Skyline

Description: Landfall’s emphasis is on infantry battles against a glittering ocean on a distant world, while Monolith exposes you to the naked vacuum of space – and the firepower of opposing teams, and Skyline’s distinctly industrial feel provides new challenges in somewhat familiar, but occasionally confined spaces.

Castle Map Pack (April release timeframe)

Maps: Daybreak, Outcast, Perdition

Description: Daybreak is set in a military facility against the backdrop of an idyllic mountain range, while Outcast plunges you into the warrens, canyons and arches of an alien edifice, and Perdition takes players into the heart of an urban sprawl, with tactical speed and situational awareness its key features.


Also included in the “Halo 4” War Games Map Pass are two unique in-game helmets (‘Scanner’ and ‘Strider’) that feature new geometry, and an exclusive in-game emblem (‘Falcon’). The “Halo 4” War Games Map Pass is included as part of the Halo 4 Limited Edition.

[USMC Kato]

Launched Halo waypoint and watched the Infinity multiplayer video, and it completely sold me. I previously wasn't excited about Halo 4 but after watching the video, I believe 343 Industries has gone above and beyond than what Bungie has done.

[Azhag]

Pretty upset I put this on my birthday/Christmas list as now I can't play until the end of November at the earliest. I should know better...

[USMC Kato]

Episode 4 of "Forward unto Dawn" is available on Halo Waypoint and it kicks a lot of ass.

[Soulchilde]

Episode 4 of "Forward unto Dawn" is available on Halo Waypoint and it kicks a lot of ass.

I've watching these via the youtube App on the 360.   Forgot about Waypoint... I need to launch that when I get home.

[leo8877]

Holy crap I just watched all the available episodes of Forward Unto Dawn and they're awesome!  I'm pumped for Halo again!!

[Roguetad]

Holy crap I just watched all the available episodes of Forward Unto Dawn and they're awesome!  I'm pumped for Halo again!!

They were good.  I just watched them tonight.  I got goosebumps near the end of episode 4. 

[leo8877]

Does anyone know if this will be available on release day in Games on Demand?

[metallicorphan]

it's not listed in this link Leo

remember that 'war games map pass' for 2000 points i quoted at the top of this page?

well according to XBL schedule its now called 'War Games Map Pass Season One'

http://majornelson.com/2012/10/30/content-coming-soon-to-the-xbox-live-marketplace-18/#disqus_thread

[leo8877]

it's not listed in this link Leo

remember that 'war games map pass' for 2000 points i quoted at the top of this page?

well according to XBL schedule its now called 'War Games Map Pass Season One'

http://majornelson.com/2012/10/30/content-coming-soon-to-the-xbox-live-marketplace-18/#disqus_thread

Argh!  Why not offer this Digital Day 1?  So dumb.

[Jarrodhk]

http://www.twitch.tv/343industries/b/337586280 Video of the MP they showed today, well yesterday now. Skip to 4:27 for where there is actually video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_o9y79QrIE Watching an early release stream if anyone else is up right now. Want game.

[Jarrodhk]

Enjoyed the review Ron. Disappointed to hear there is no Firefight mode. I love that mode.

[Soulchilde]

Nice review and looking forward to it


Here's another review   Kinda getting excited now

[metallicorphan]

from GT review

Griffin:
As a long time fan of the Halo series, I can safely say Bungie left us in good hands with 343i. I usually breezed through the “Legendary” difficulty when I played the other Halo titles, but the Halo 4 campaign was very challenging even on the “Normal” difficulty!

I'm screwed!!...then it's official,that 6-8 hour Campaign will be double for me


I can't believe it's been 5 years since Halo 3,but then i remember Halo Reach(which isn't surprising i am trying to forget it)


It's good to hear you can play the Spar Ops weekly thing solo,i thought i was to miss out on some cool action thinking it was Co-Op only

[th'FOOL]

from GT review

Griffin:
As a long time fan of the Halo series, I can safely say Bungie left us in good hands with 343i. I usually breezed through the “Legendary” difficulty when I played the other Halo titles, but the Halo 4 campaign was very challenging even on the “Normal” difficulty!

I'm screwed!!...then it's official,that 6-8 hour Campaign will be double for me


I can't believe it's been 5 years since Halo 3,but then i remember Halo Reach(which isn't surprising i am trying to forget it)


It's good to hear you can play the Spar Ops weekly thing solo,i thought i was to miss out on some cool action thinking it was Co-Op only

Keep in mind that my son is NOT the average player. Normal difficulty is challenging but once you figure out certain tactics against the Prometheans you're able to get through things a little better.

Also, the story drove me to keep keeping on. It's really good

[th'FOOL]

Enjoyed the review Ron. Disappointed to hear there is no Firefight mode. I love that mode.

You should love Spartan Ops. It's basically Firefight mode evolved.

[leo8877]

Do you have to play Spartan Ops missions in the week they are released, or can you play them as you are able to get to them?

EDIT:  Also congrats to Kathode, looks like the reviews are all off the charts!!

[th'FOOL]

Judging by how the UI is laid out I think you can just access them whenever after they are released

[PeteRock]

Sold.

 

[kathode]

Thanks for the awesome review! 

[th'FOOL]

Thanks for the awesome review! 

The pleasure was all mine I hope Griffin hasn't been beating on you 343 guys too bad over the last week or so. He told me he "owned" Frank O'Conner in Slayer last week... 

[Roguetad]

Thanks for the awesome review! 

The pleasure was all mine I hope Griffin hasn't been beating on you 343 guys too bad over the last week or so. He told me he "owned" Frank O'Conner in Slayer last week... 

Regarding the review, you had me at "No Flood!!!" 

[leo8877]

I think GT community should get early access >_>

[CeeKay]

awesome that it has a great story, that's about all I'm really planning on playing it for.  can you change the difficulty on the fly?

[Roguetad]

How does the forge compare to Reach and Halo3?

[metallicorphan]

here it is,you have waited for it,and it has arrived... the unboxing and review of Halo 4 special edition pizza from Pizza Hut

[USMC Kato]

Another thing I love about the Halo series is that their online multiplayer lobbies are the most intuitive and should be the #1 standard for others to follow

[th'FOOL]

How does the forge compare to Reach and Halo3?

Looks pretty comparable. I dunno, never been much of a Forge guy so I don't have much of a frame of reference.

Materials tout 3 unique environnements, new functionality, expanded toolset, improved interface, new player traits, expanded color palette, and redesigned lighting engine

[Roguetad]

How does the forge compare to Reach and Halo3?

Looks pretty comparable. I dunno, never been much of a Forge guy so I don't have much of a frame of reference.

Materials tout 3 unique environnements, new functionality, expanded toolset, improved interface, new player traits, expanded color palette, and redesigned lighting engine

Thanks.  My stepson plays nothing but the forge in halo3 and reach.  It's by far his favorite part of the game.  He can spend an hour or more free building if I let him.

[Jarrodhk]

From what I've seen and read, he should love the new forge. Lots of new toys/options and improvements in the UI and how things are built.

If you look on waypoint from the dashboard, there should be a ViDoc that talks pretty exclusively about the forge and the new things about it.

[metallicorphan]

Wow,there is a lot of cool stuff on Halo Waypoint,i was on there for a few hours last night,i caught up with the 4 episodes of Forward Unto Dawn(5th and final episode is out today),i watched Headhunters 3 part comic/animation,and i am going to watch an 11 part cartoon series called Mona Lisa which is also on there

and they have videos explaining who everyone and everything is...a big improvement since the last time i went on there sometime about a year or two ago and the videos are pretty slick,i do get an error once in a while so i have to quit to dash and restart,and if they are going to have commercials they can at least vary them,i am sick of seeing that IamDavidBailey Samsung camera and Compare the Meerkat commercials


in the mood now though,changed my avatar into my Master Chief gear


and i think i will finally get round to playing Halo CE Anniversary this weekend

[metallicorphan]

Clans and Theatre mode campaign may be added in future updates

Halo 4 updates could introduce clans and Theatre Mode campaign support, according to 343 Industries' Jessica O'Shea.

Writing in the latest Halo bulletin, she said (via OXM): "Theater Mode in Campaign did not make the cut for launch for various reasons of scheduling, rendering issues and some significant engine changes.
"However, we are treating Title Updates very differently for Halo 4 and rather than simply using them as opportunities for simple big fixes, we are thinking of them as a way to sustain and grow features and options, so it is possible you could see Saved Films made available for Campaign (as well as some other significant features) at some time in the not-too-distant future, but that's yet to be determined."

On the subject of clan support, O'Shea said: "As we mentioned before, we plan to continue consistent and meaningful sustainment updates to improve and enhance player experience.

"Social constructs are something we too have missed since Halo 2, and we're looking at interesting ways to improve those experiences in the not-too-distant future. I will be using that expression a lot. Get used to it."

[leo8877]

The last episode of Forward Unto Dawn was released today.  I'm pumped for Halo 4!

[USMC Kato]

The last episode of Forward Unto Dawn was released today.  I'm pumped for Halo 4!

Very well done. The director for this series did an amazing job, especially with a limited budget.

[leo8877]

The last episode of Forward Unto Dawn was released today.  I'm pumped for Halo 4!

Very well done. The director for this series did an amazing job, especially with a limited budget.

I read they spent $10 million!!!

[metallicorphan]

well,i guess that's not bad as a whole,its 20 minutes x 5 episodes,most movies at that running time cost a billion times that(not really)

you have to give it up for MS though,they do like to spend that money when there is a Halo game out

[Mystic95Z]

I assume Forward unto Dawn is the movie thats going to come as part of the collectors edition, correct? Actually pretty pumped for this, even re upped my live sub.

[metallicorphan]

I assume Forward unto Dawn is the movie thats going to come as part of the collectors edition, correct? Actually pretty pumped for this, even re upped my live sub.

Yes it is,but it claims the Collectors(Limited)Edition will be the extended version

However,in this link,it says:

“Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” Special Edition – An extended 90-minute version of the live-action digital series that will bring the “Halo” universe to life as you’ve never seen it, and provide an enthralling backstory leading up to the events of “Halo 4.”

so you get an extra 5 minutes over the Waypoint version,so just watch all 5 episodes now,here
http://majornelson.com/2012/11/02/watch-all-five-parts-of-the-halo-4-forward-unto-dawn-live-action-halo-series/
(just to be clear,it wasn't 5x 20 minutes like i thought,it's 20m,16m,16m,16m,17minutes for each episode)

[Roguetad]

The last episode of Forward Unto Dawn was released today.  I'm pumped for Halo 4!

Very well done. The director for this series did an amazing job, especially with a limited budget.

Agreed.  Bring on the game.

I liked the scene in the end...

Spoiler for Hiden:

that showed the 3 spartans sitting across from the 3 cadets.  That was well done.  Even down to the details of the spartans faces bearing the scars of battle and/or surgery.

[Ridah]

The positive reception to Halo 4 is super important. It shows that MGS doesn't need Bungie, and it means that the next Xbox console will have another excellent Halo title.

Great job, 343!