Chronique:Halo Bulletin 18/11/2011

18 novembre

Original

I still know what you did last Monday

I may not know what you did last summer (although I highly suspect it involved a parade of beauty contestants, a somewhat accidental splatter, and a vengeful, hook-wielding fisherman), but I do know what you did last Monday. At least if you were at any of our launch festivities, I do, anyway.

Monday night, at numerous U.S. Microsoft stores, Halo's tenth birthday was ushered in with a bang. And when I say with a bang, I mean with caffeine-laced energy drinks, pepperoni-adorned pizza, and some classic Red vs. Blue multiplayer action. Set to the tune of numerous chanting monks, swag was deposited into eagerly awaiting hands while headshots were served on a silver platter. The second the clock struck 12, however, attention instantly shifted to acquiring the newest installment of the Halo franchise.... Halo: Anniversary.

Halo: Anniversary – We have lift-off

I find launch events -- Halo’s in particular, of course -- to be positively intoxicating. Waiting for something you’ve been anticipating for months while surrounded by people sporting Halo shirts, Halo tattoos, and even custom Halo costumes, is an incredible experience. As Spartans mingle with civilians, there is always an indescribable sense of excitement in the air, one that is not only palpable but also borderline tangible. If you need a visual, picture everybody having Inclement Weather. And yes, the vibe is truly that electric.

That night, upon arriving at the University Village location, I was greeted by a familiar face. One so familiar, as a matter of fact, that he came bearing a gift: deodorant. Oh yes, his nasal passages had not forgotten the smell I tend to emit toward the end of the day. Or even the beginning, actually. Anyway, behind Mr. First-in-Line was a seemingly endless stream of anxious fans. Considering the temperature was more than a little chilly, I think the only thing keeping them warm was the sheer excitement of the evening.

When the doors opened, those rushing in were greeted first with a blast of warm air, and then with a sight for their undoubtedly sore eyes: screen after screen of the most beloved multiplayer maps from the last ten years, patiently awaiting their Spartan’s arrival. It took no time at all for the room to fill up with shouts of joy, cries of defeat, and occasional accusations of screen looking. (For the record, I was not guilty of the latter, contrary to whatever photographic evidence may or may not surface in the near future.)

Back to the topic at hand, though. Two hours of capturing flags, arming bombs, and straight-up slaying only whetted the appetites of those involved, because the very moment the calendar switched over to the 15th, the focus turned to securing the game, and then to hurrying home to begin a fight that originally started exactly ten years ago.

For those that believe a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a small glimpse into the madness that was the midnight festivities. And, just to save you from needlessly complicated calculations, these images are worth 16,000 words. So, don’t tell me this is a short Bulletin. ‘Cause math is clearly on my side with this one.

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Many thanks to the people who captured these images. Charles Valerio and Denmark Valerio specifically, we love your pictures, but please remove the sword from Frank’s back at your earliest convenience. He’s starting to walk funny.

Halo: Anniversary Reviews – It’s amazing! I love it! And you will, too!

I was originally going to use this portion of the Bulletin to tell you my thoughts about Halo: Anniversary. However, I realized I have already been doing that for the last several weeks, if not months (it’s amazing! I love it! And you will, too!). So, in an effort to give you a break from my rather inane drivel, I will instead share the opinions of other people. Here’s a small serving of quotes, followed by a heftier portion of review links.

A tasteful and refined version of the original revolutionary title – G4tv.com

A true homage to the original – God is a Geek

A lot of bang for your buck – Destructoid

The original Magnum is back – Teabag Prevention

A triumphant return to 2001's other space odyssey – OXM

The more time you put in the more Halo reveals itself – CVG

It reminds me why I have fallen in love with the Halo universe – StickSkills.com

You never forget your first – Joystiq

Halo welcomes you with open arms like it was only last week – Thesixthaxis.com

Paying due reverence to the vaunted original game on its tenth birthday – Giant Bomb

There are many reviews out there, so hunt them down should you be interested in more. And, if I may be uncharacteristically serious for just a moment, I’d like to say that we’re so excited Halo: Anniversary is finally in your hands. We love Halo, and we appreciate you. So we hope, more than anything, that you enjoy your time with the game.

Halo: Anniversary Concept Art – Now in wallpaper form

Certain Affinity, the talented team behind the Anniversary maps, recently shared some of their concept art with us. These pieces served as inspiration and artistic guidance in the development process of the seven maps, and our artist, being the nice young mouse -- er, man -- that he is, converted them into numerous conveniently sized dimensions. So if you need more papers for your wall, tops for your desk, or screens for your lock, get to right-clicking and setting as background, because these images aren’t going to jump on your various technological devices themselves, you know.

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