Endurance: Halo: Reach Proves Xbox 360 has it

Notice the image above? It's meant to display the lasting pull of the Xbox 360. Ever since the new Halo: Reach trailer was unveiled, the internet has been in an uproar. Some questioned the validity of the showing while believers were awestruck, and now the speculations run endless. But there's one thing that Bungie's biggest effort yet demonstrates: Xbox 360 has staying power and will stand next to PS3 for years to come; this must be reassuring to Microsoft.

Year after year, PS3 owners have been making the argument that eventually PS3 games will outperform that of it's nemesis the Xbox 360 by miles. And while by "miles" might be a stretch, PS3 exclusive games are definitely starting to look better than those of the 360. Or so we thought?

You see, Microsoft it seems knows how to counter whatever the competition sends their way and I applaud them for it. Many thought the Xbox 360 would go the way of the dinosaurs when the redesigned PS3 Slim was launched, but this past November the software giant proved that they still have a lot of tricks up their sleeves and the 360 managed to outsell the PS3 by over 100,000 units in the that month, throwing even some of the most seasoned analysts off their game.

Skeptics predicted that the Xbox 360 would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor the original Xbox, but clearly we see how wrong those skeptics were. Next winter, Microsoft will be releasing what they think will help strengthen the Xbox brand and give longevity to their current system, the Xbox 360 and it will. We won't know for sure how successful Project Natal will be, however we know there will be some kind of impact, one that will ultimately lend more time to the Redmond company aiding them to make a decent profit or at least cut even before they venture into the next effort.... another Xbox.

There are many more reasons why Xbox 360 will be around for quite some time, but now we want to look at what matters the most, which are the games and this one exclusive in particular has just added more life into Microsoft's box.

Halo: Reach - The trailer was revealed last Saturday at the 2009 VGAs and as already stated, the internet went bonkers. Some people were disappointed but most were elated and since then, the hype train left the station, and will come to peak when the title is launched late next year.

The graphics look amazing. Nothing like we've seen on the Xbox 360, which was accomplished on an in-game engine, no CG. Just when the gaming world thought that the Xbox 360 was losing steam in comparison to the PS3, Microsoft strikes again with their ace-in-the-whole - Halo: Reach.

The conclusion: PS3 and Xbox 360 will live in discomfort side-by-side until the seventh generation is out, and the eighth rolls in.

12/15/09 Ernice Gilbert

Video Thirst: Halo Reach World Premiere Trailer

The Video Game Awards did not live up to the hype Keighley built for it, but there were are few great moments that made the thing worth watching.

To me the best part was when Uncharted 2 received the prestigious GoTY honor, but to millions more it could have been when the world premiere trailer of Halo Reach was shown. Video after the read.

The title is still at least a year off so it was only fitting that Bungie did not show gameplay footage, but rather a brief in-game cutscene of what you can expect from the newest installment in the legendary Halo franchise. It looks great actually and you should expect Microsoft to hype this one up to the heavens.

Your lips are dry, drink water now.

12/12/09 Ernice Gilbert

Halo Reach will be the "biggest game of 2010 by far", says Keighley

Wow, big bragging words from Mr. Keighley, "biggest game of 2010" would mean, God of War III, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Final Fantasy XIII, Gran Turismo 5 and some of the other big name titles would have to make room for this new Halo iteration. His comments on the latest Major Nelson podcast relays his belief best:

"At the VGAs, we're actually going to be able to go down on the planet Reach and see this game for the first time," he said.

"It's all going to be in-game stuff. This is not CG, this is not live action, like all the kids on twitter are speculating. You're going to get a first glimpse of the world of Reach, which is phenomenal."

Now this is where the guy made the earth-shattering prediction: "I think it's going to be the biggest game of next year by far. Folks loved ODST and thought it was great, but when people see the huge leap forward Bungie's taking with Reach... Everyone I've talked to that's been on the team and seen it is incredibly excited about that game."

VGAs will be aired on December 12th. Serious talk folks, real serious talk.

12/07/09 Ernice Gilbert

Halo: Reach to be shown during Spike's VGAs

With the end of 2009 readily approaching, it's that time of year again when Spike holds their annual "VGAs" or 'Video Game Awards'.

For those of you who wish to attempt to make a difference and vote for your favorite game in the huge amount of categories, the official 'VGA' website has opened the polls. The biggest news of that night however, is that Bungie will be revealing the first look at the highly anticipated prequel, 'Halo: Reach'.

As for the categories and the nominees, it's safe to say that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves has a solid chance at winning, as it has been nominated in 8 different categories. Follow the link to start voting for your favorites and remember to check out the award show on December 12 on Spike.

Rumor Thirst: Halo Reach screens leaked

It's either are slip up, or just marketing strategy, we tend to think the latter. The screens are blurry, and look just like Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST and yeah, all the Halo games.

Do you think they are real? It's ok, you won't get marginalized for thinking so at all. This is not bigfoot you know; more details are available via Neo Gaf's user "Dani" including a squad-based combat dynamic, cloaking, hologram and sprinting.

Also, it seems according to the info that elite strike is over, so you know the bums are back on the streets and apparently the covenant's packing a new Needler-like weapon.

Microsoft has taken the usual route " we don't comment on rumors and speculation." Sounds like a Sony line to me.

The game will be out next year.

11/06/09 Ernice Gilbert

Microsoft says Halo 3: ODST read disc errors are not widespread

This may come as good news to Halo 3: ODST owners, who are a bit perturbed by recent reports from gamers complaining about disc read errors, while playing the campaign and firefight modes of Bungie's latest effort Halo 3: ODST. Microsoft has since then responded on the errors, telling eurogamer, "we are aware of a very small number of people who are reporting they can't play the game," and then adding, "at this point it doesn't appear to be a wide spread issue.

Polling done by Joystiq would beg to differ with Microsoft's numbers. Surprisingly out of 5608 people, 1769 (31 percent) of respondents said they were having technical problems while attempting to play ODST. For gamers sake, let's hope Microsoft is right; and the polls wrong?

09/29/09 Ernice Gilbert

Bethesda's Production Director: Microsoft 'totally bungled' OSDT marketing

Halo 3: ODST is a great game. Yes, may be overpriced to some, but still, the fact remains Bungie has delivered once more. Over at Bethesda, Ashley Cheng believes the uproar could've been avoided if Microsoft hadn't "totally bungled" the game's marketing. Cheng says on his blog that, "reviewers are now mentioning that Halo 3: ODST may not be worth the price point, that it should've been cheaper, etc... give me a break."

Cheng contends Microsoft, voicing that if they'd only kept a persistent note on what the game was, and not waver back and fourth, this wouldn't have been an issue. He says, "First saying it was a standalone extension pack, then coming out and saying wait, no, we're charging full price because - surprise! we put 'more' stuff in it and it's called Halo 3: ODST now, vs the original title, Halo 3: Recon."

Wow, pretty ticked off I see. Bungie in a recent interview with Joystiq, tried their best to justify the price point, expressing that Halo 3: ODST is indeed a full, well produced game. For some, that still won't suffice. Check out the interview after the jump.

09/23/09 Ernice Gilbert

Halo Movie to be produced by Steven Speilberg?

The man revered for making some of the best films, is rumored to be producing the oft delayed Halo movie. According to sources speaking with the film site IESB, talent agency CAA, and studio execcutives, Speilberg is in talks to oversee the production of a new Halo movie. Love him, or hate him, the guy is pure genious, and if the right people are involed, I believe it could be good. Most game-turn-movie or vice-versa end up being major failures in the site of gamers, so here's to hoping that the Halo joint defies the odds.

The IESB said Speilberg has been "blown away" by Stuart Beattie's screenplay, which make it sounds as if the Legend is excited to be part of the team. We'll keep you informed as the details surface.

08/10/09 Ernice Gilbert

via kotaku

Bungie is ‘Close’ to signing a new IP deal with undisclosed Publisher

We all know that Halo Reach will be Bungie’s last in the saga, but you didn’t think the guys would just pack their bags, close down their studio and go dreaming of Halo forever then then end up working at Burger King did you? Of course not, in fact Bungie’s Lars Bakken, the same guy who broke the news concerning Halo reach being the studio’s last, is now quenching our thirst even better with some new information. He says:

"I think internally we'll know sometime soon. I don't handle these things, but I'd imagine we're going to know way before we make the public announcement of who's handling that! But sure, I think those talks are, I guess, close."

That’s very good news if you ask me. Bungie is undoubtedly one of the better developers in the industry, and will definitely deliver a solid experience no matter what this new IP turns out to be. Also this new game has been in development for over a year, which leads me to believe that soon we’ll be getting more info. Incase you’re wondering, Bungie is not tied down to a particular platform either. Good news? We’ll have to wait and see.

07/28/09 Ernice Gilbert