Modification de Chronique:Halo Bulletin 15/02/2012

Inside the studio across a myriad of monitors is often where the magic happens. Every once in a blue moon, though, the planets—or in this case, water droplets—align and make that magic visible to all. Such was the case yesterday when a seemingly endless sea of clouds gently parted, allowing a triumphal arch to curve its way across the sky, leaving a trail of softly woven colors lingering in its wake.

Inside the studio across a myriad of monitors is often where the magic happens. Every once in a blue moon, though, the planets—or in this case, water droplets—align and make that magic visible to all. Such was the case yesterday when a seemingly endless sea of clouds gently parted, allowing a triumphal arch to curve its way across the sky, leaving a trail of softly woven colors lingering in its wake.

Since the aforementioned artists proved they are capable of emitting magic of near mythical proportions while outdoors, I thought I would talk about the magic they also produce when within the confines of our studio as well, in particular, some of the general philosophy behind the Master Chief's physical appearance in Halo 4. You did, after all, recently get a small preview of what's to come.

Since the aforementioned artists proved they are capable of emitting magic of near mythical proportions while outdoors, I thought I would talk about the magic they also produce when within the confines of our studio as well, in particular, some of the general philosophy behind the Master Chief's physical appearance in Halo 4. You did, after all, recently get a small preview of what's to come.

Today was the last day of the American International Toy Fair. Every year, this event takes over New York City's Javits Center for four entire days, bringing manufacturers and buyers from around the world together to celebrate one very important thing: toys. Whether you like the company of others or you prefer to do it by yourself, as long as you like playing, this is the event for you.

Today was the last day of the American International Toy Fair. Every year, this event takes over New York City's Javits Center for four entire days, bringing manufacturers and buyers from around the world together to celebrate one very important thing: toys. Whether you like the company of others or you prefer to do it by yourself, as long as you like playing, this is the event for you.

So, files are delivered, digital sculptures are made, and then a prototype is created to make sure everything looks right physically. This is also the point in the process where joints are checked to make sure they work. Once the prototype is perfected, it's sent to the factory along with the digital files, and the steel that will be the molds for the toys is cut.

So, files are delivered, digital sculptures are made, and then a prototype is created to make sure everything looks right physically. This is also the point in the process where joints are checked to make sure they work. Once the prototype is perfected, it's sent to the factory along with the digital files, and the steel that will be the molds for the toys is cut.

Right now, with the McFarlane Toys Halo 4 Master Chief figure in particular, we're in the process of approving paints, so you'll likely see the colors shift slightly from the prototype. You'll notice small details like the glove on his undersuit changing to some extent as well.

Right now, with the McFarlane Toys Halo 4 Master Chief figure in particular, we're in the process of approving paints, so you'll likely see the colors shift slightly from the prototype. You'll notice small details like the glove on his undersuit changing to some extent as well.

The Toy Fair is all about works-in-progress. The big picture is not about the little details, and there's an understanding that minor things will change. We are ramping up the quality and pushing our partners to make the best toys they can for Halo 4. Our partners are fans, and we're fans, so we're all concerned about the same thing: getting the details right.

The Toy Fair is all about works-in-progress. The big picture is not about the little details, and there's an understanding that minor things will change. We are ramping up the quality and pushing our partners to make the best toys they can for Halo 4. Our partners are fans, and we're fans, so we're all concerned about the same thing: getting the details right.

While it's exciting to get a glimpse of the Halo 4 Master Chief in toy form, nothing will compare to when you finally see him in-game. I'll never forget the exact moment his design started coming together; when inspecting the smaller details of his armor, such as the scarring on his chest piece, suddenly gave insight into the depth of his character; when suddenly... the Master Chief was the Master Chief.

While it's exciting to get a glimpse of the Halo 4 Master Chief in toy form, nothing will compare to when you finally see him in-game. I'll never forget the exact moment his design started coming together; when inspecting the smaller details of his armor, such as the scarring on his chest piece, suddenly gave insight into the depth of his character; when suddenly... the Master Chief was the Master Chief.

There's a lot of dark history in the fiction, but the Master Chief has always been an aspirational character. In fact, the Chief's looking up is important to understanding his character. What's interesting is that we have an opportunity to use that understanding of the Chief to tell different stories with subtle physical cues. As we develop the visual ID, the Chief's current head-tilt is in an interesting territory where he's typically looking up into the danger that he needs to conquer, but the camera tilt is potentially posing a question. Is he looking up, or is the camera tilted so that he's actually looking down?

There's a lot of dark history in the fiction, but the Master Chief has always been an aspirational character. In fact, the Chief's looking up is important to understanding his character. What's interesting is that we have an opportunity to use that understanding of the Chief to tell different stories with subtle physical cues. As we develop the visual ID, the Chief's current head-tilt is in an interesting territory where he's typically looking up into the danger that he needs to conquer, but the camera tilt is potentially posing a question. Is he looking up, or is the camera tilted so that he's actually looking down?

To provide you with additional insight into the Master Chief's design process, I coerced, er, asked, Kenneth Scott, Senior Art Director of Halo 4, to write this week's OHI entry. He kindly acquiesced, so here are his thoughts on this subject matter.

To provide you with additional insight into the Master Chief's design process, I coerced, er, asked, Kenneth Scott, Senior Art Director of Halo 4, to write this week's OHI entry. He kindly acquiesced, so here are his thoughts on this subject matter.

Discuss.

Discuss.

{{Halo Bulletin}}

{{Halo Bulletin}}