Chronique:Halo Bulletin 02/07/2014

We're headed to Austin for RTX this week! Actually, we're already here. Where are you? We've got lots to show you, so please come soon!

If you'll be joining us, we'll see you in just a few days. If you're actively participating from home, be sure so keep an eye on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Waypoint to keep up with everything going on each day! Last week, we spoke a bit about what we'll have going on this weekend, and this week, we've got some more details. Let's get into it!

RTX 2014[modifier]

Halo: The Master Chief Collection Demo

The first place you'll have a chance to see Halo: The Master Chief Collection is within the walls of our behind-closed-doors demo on the show floor. You can be some of the first people to see how we're bringing the story of Master Chief to you in one unified experience, as well as get an exclusive demonstration of the Halo 2: Anniversary Campaign. We're excited to see what you think! In addition, those that make the journey to see the The Master Chief Collection in-person will get an exclusive gift!

Classic Halo Play-a-Pro

How have your truly classic Halo: CE and Halo 2 skills held up over these past 10 years? Want to find out? We've packed some old school TVs, original Xboxes, controllers, and GH057ayame and Neighbor into the back of a big truck, and we're sending everything down to RTX. Everyone who steps up to the challenge against our pros will get a free Halo Micro Action Figure blind pack from Mega Bloks!

Those skilled players that can get one kill against our pros will win a beautiful RTX Play-a-Pro exclusive Halo: The Master Chief Collection poster, and if you actually beat one of our professional players, you'll get a code for a Halo: The Master Chief Collection digital download at launch on November 11, 2014!

The player that performs best against our pros each day of RTX gets a daily grand prize: an Xbox One, Astro A40 Headset, Halo: The Master Chief Collection digital download, limited edition poster and a Series 8 Micro Action Figure!

If you think you’ve got what it takes, you can line up for a chance at the times below:

The Classic Halo Play-a-Pro Schedule:

Friday, July 4: noon to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, July 5: 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, July 6: 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and noon to 1:30 p.m.

(Times shown are local)

343 Panel - Halo: The Master Chief Collection

We'll have a few of our top 343 Industries agents as well as friends from Certain Affinity in our Halo: The Master Chief Collection panel. We'll be showing off some new stuff, so we have a feeling you won’t want to miss it. Everything starts at noon on Saturday, July 5 in the Main Theater.

The official description is below:

This fall, the Master Chief’s entire story is brought together as Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The collection brings all four Master Chief Halo games to Xbox One, including Halo 2: Anniversary, which features re-mastered and reimagined gameplay in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Halo 2. Get an inside look at the vision and design of this recently announced project through the eyes of 343 Industries.

Panel attendees will receive an exclusive RTX 2014 Halo: The Master Chief Collection poster (limited availability).

Attendees:

Dennis Ries, Max Szlagor, Max Hoberman, David Mertz, and yours truly.

Can't make it down to RTX? That's okay, because Rooster Teeth will be live streaming our panel. Tune in and chat along with us! The panel will be available at http://www.twitch.tv/rtxlive2 at noon on Saturday, July 5.

Panel Meet and Greet

After the panel, come swing down to our booth, where we’ll be hanging out from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bring your Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 2: Anniversary questions, and we’ll bring our answers. Also, please bring donuts.

Instagram #ChiefSelfie Contest:

Post your best selfies with Master Chief during RTX for a chance to win a signed Limited Edition Spartan Emile Figure! Tag it with #Halo and #ChiefSelfie to enter!

Your selfie can include any version of Master Chief - get creative! We just want to see your love for the Master Chief. Share it with us via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and tag it #ChiefSelfie for a chance to win.

So much more cool stuff!

We're bringing more to share, show, and sell…we just can't fit it all in this Bulletin, so we'll be updating you all weekend on our adventures on Waypoint.

If you are heading to RTX, come and say "hi!" Also, remember each day of RTX, the first 100 people to make a purchase from our store will get a free, exclusive Halo: The Master Chief Collection water bottle, ridiculously modeled by me below. I was forced into this.

We'll see you in Austin!

A Volcanic Voyage[modifier]

There’s no doubt that Halo and the story of the Master Chief have inspired many around the world. Whether it’s knowing that Spartans never give up, or realizing that sacrifices must sometimes be made in order to reach a better tomorrow, we’ve heard quite a few stories about how Halo has inspired fans to persevere and accomplish some pretty incredible things. Just a few days ago in fact, we got wind of a Halo-inspired tale that we must share.

Last month, David “TimeliestBrute” Shockey, a storied professional Halo 2 player, was inspired by Halo’s elusive Killimanjaro multiplayer medal to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro – yes, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Naturally, we thought this was pretty fantastic, so we sent David a good luck package which included our best wishes as well as one of the best sidekicks we could offer: a San Diego Comic Con 2013 exclusive Spartan Warrior Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure. The little sucker might be small, but it packs quite a punch (actually, a compact-channel linear accelerator that fires a high-explosive round at incredible speed). You’ll also notice in the below pictures that the Spartan does not break their stoic gaze even once.

We’re told that traveling up the mountain was rough, and after over six days of trekking up the trail, both David and his trusty Spartan-IV made it to the top, where conditions included a -15 degree windchill, 40 MPH winds, and an elevation of nearly 20,000 feet. Check out some pictures from the adventure below.

We’re quite impressed with David’s summit, and glad that a brave, little Spartan-IV was able to join. Truth be told, we never doubted either of you. Although many Spartans may have achieved Kilimajaros, we are pretty sure this is the first time one of them has actually been to the top.

David, from all of us on the Halo team, congrats on your achievement, and thanks for bringing a Spartan to where they’ve never been before.

Holiday Weekend[modifier]

To celebrate this weekend’s festivities, we decided to add to the explosions with a brand-new Team Regicide game type. In this new version, Kings will wield a modified Spartan Laser.

The playlist will be available from July 4–6, so hop into the playlist to join the action!

Halo: Reach Custom Challenges Decommissioning[modifier]

We’re shutting down Custom Challenges for Halo: Reach by September this year. The Custom Challenges interface for Halo: Reach in the Xbox 360 Waypoint app will be decommissioned sometime this summer. You’ll still be able to create Custom Challenges on our website here through September. After September, Halo Waypoint will not support the creation of new Custom Challenges. Be sure to make any challenges you want before then!

Screenshot Spotlight: Rocket[modifier]

Two weeks ago, we turned the spotlight on the LightRifle. Take a gander at the following Rocket screenshots, and maybe even find inspiration to make your own.

For your chance at being in the next spotlight, take a screenshot that features a non-default weapon skin and then tag it with “Snazzy Skins” and “Halo Waypoint,” and maybe, just maybe, yours will be featured in the next Halo Bulletin!

The Demon by MrMartini85

And with that, this week’s Bulletin comes to a close.

Until next week,

Bravo