Halo 3

To end a successful beta program on a good note, Microsoft announced today that Halo 3 will be released on September 25. Along with the final installment of the epic trilogy, Microsoft will release limited edition 360 controllers sporting some gorgeous designs.

Over 820,000 unique players logged in to play the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, racking up more than 1400 years worth of gameplay. That sounds like a success to me.

Bungie's weekly update included this Halo 3 teaser image, which contains an interesting piece of information. Aside from being visually stunning, the teaser image includes the words "Fall 2007", officially defining a more specific launch window.

The teaser is available as a desktop wallpaper in four different sizes.

• 1024×768
• 1280×768
• 1280×1024
• 1600×1200

Xboxic realized that fall is going to be a great time of year for Xbox 360 gamers. Several quality like Half-Life 2 and GTA IV will be released for the console. Halo 3 just tops it off.

The weekly update also reveals the multiplayer controller layout. Hit the jump for the whole thing.

If you're without a Halo 3 Beta invite, you're not alone. Although it may seem like everyone you know got one, including your grandma, thousands of loyal Halo fans are feeling your pain (including me). Remember, you can still give in to that shameless Crackdown sales scheme, which may not be a bad idea given my first impression of the demo.

Regardless of your ability to participate, you'll still be interested to know that Bungie has posted an FAQ that includes some scrapes of information regarding the program. Still no information about when the beta will begin or how long it will last, but Bungie did say that the function of the mysterious "X" button will be revealed. Bungie admits "it won't be all that surprising. Just cool."

Bungie is doing you a favor by designating an "A-hole" button, which allows you to mute annoying players quickly. The feature was implemented perfectly by Valve games like Counter-Strike and Day of Defeat, but Xbox Live gamers have had to put up with whining jackasses unless they wanted to take the time to mute them using the guide.

So now, you simply press a button (back button, for the moment anyway) and up comes the score list with everyone’s tag on it. The right stick lets you highlight the miscreant and you can then instantly mute them for the rest of the game.

[Bungie Weekly Update @ Bungie.net]

The Bungie.net team has been hard at work compiling some equipment profiles about the new gear debuting in Halo 3. Last week, we got new details about the Mongoose, a lightweight all terrain vehicle for the USMC. Today, Bungie posted some new information regarding the MA5C assault rifle, again including testimonials from "real" USMC soldiers.

The first bit of information about the MA5C came from the December 2006 issue of EGM. The rifle packs more punch than Halo 2's submachine gun and is far more accurate than the assault rifle in Halo 1. It will be the default spawn weapon for multiplayer, so you'd better get acquainted with it early on.

It's the Moongoose! Bungie's new super lightweight ATV-like vehicle that will debut in Halo 3. It seats two and will leave any other vechical in the dust. High speed combined with it's low weight allow this thing to fly--literally.

Bungie has a detailed profile of the new vehicle, complete with remarks from real USMC soldiers! Hit the jump to hear from them.

Microsoft announced two new ways to grab a spot in the Halo 3 multiplayer beta program. Specially marked copies of Crackdown, an Xbox 360 title scheduled to release on February 20, will include an invitation. When the Halo 3 beta program launches in spring, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can use the Crackdown disk as a key to download the multiplayer beta. It seems like a shameless way to sell more copies of Crackdown, but there's no doubt it will work.

When Bungie had the guys in Iraq play test Halo 3, someone had the guts to grab some shakycam footage. The two videos are short and not all that engaging, but hell it's Halo 3. Check out the other video after the jump.

Bungie gave soldiers in Iraq a chance to play a beta version of Halo 3 this weekend, according to a member of the GameSpot forums. The game was available 24 hours a day for three days. It sounds like a nice surprise for the troops in Iraq during the holidays and a good way for Bungie to get some feedback from a reputable source.

Of course the biggest question was regarding the function of the mysterious X button. Unfortunately, the button was not active in this build and it was described as "classified" on the controller layout. See more pictures after the jump.

[What’s better than getting to play Halo 3? via YouNewb]

Bungie released this seven minute video documentary about Brutes in Halo 3 this morning at 2AM. One developer admits that the Brutes were a hasty addition to Halo 2, but Halo 3 will show them in an entirely new light. Although most of the shots are unfinished, the video showcases some adjustments and additions that Bungie has done to make the Brutes more significant. New armor, appearance, and weapons beef up the Brutes and should make them very worthy adversaries.

Hopefully, Bungie will continue to release these "VidDocs" that provide some great opportunities to see what goes into the production process.

[Et 2am Brute? @ Bungie.net]

I was skeptical when I heard that the Halo 3 ad was part live-action, part CGI. But I saw it a moment ago and I was very impressed. They pulled it off flawlessly. I'm hoping that the kids in the begining are Spartans-in-training, one of them being Master Chief. That would open the possibility for some killer flashbacks back during the new campaign.

Remember, the registration for the spring Halo 3 multiplayer beta program is now open at www.halo3.com. The site is taking forever to respond (and sometimes it just doesn't).

A handful of Halo 3 fans spotted a few users playing "Pimps at Sea" on Xbox Live last night. For those who wern't aware, Pimps at Sea is common codename that Bungie uses to refer to the Halo 3, and it was a big part of their April Fool's joke. Bungie gives the details in this week's update:

There was a very special Pimps at Sea Humpday last night, the first night in which players were able to take each other on in the Alpha. One of the playlists that’s being tested in matchmaking right now is Rumble Pit, which is the same as Halo 2’s except it’s set to four players right now. Last night a very special match occurred with some special participants.

Bungie also announced that a Xbox 360 Dashboard Theme based on the new TV ad will be released in the near future.

Turn on ESPN between 5:30 and 6:20 PM PST on December 4th to see the premier of the new Halo 3 ad. Shortly after the premier, the 60-second spot will be available on Xbox.com, the Xbox Live Marketplace, and (probably) YouTube. The image to the left is a single frame of the ad.

Registration for the spring Halo 3 public beta also opens on December 4. Applications to participate will be accepted at www.halo3.com.

[Halo 3 Ad Airs Monday! @ Bungie.net]

As promised, Bungie made some exciting announcements on Halo's 5th anniversary. The first surprise was this massive screenshot (scaled down to the left). Take a look at the original post for the full resolution version. Bungie announced that a pre-rendered CGI advertisement for Halo 3 will air during during ESPN's Monday Night Football on December 4. Digital Domain, a third party visual effects company will create the ad using original models from Bungie.

There is big news coming from X06, Microsoft's annual event that's taking place in Barcelona this year. Xbox 360 will become host to more exclusive titles in the coming months.

Peter Jackson and Microsoft will partner to bring two new exclusive titles to the Xbox 360. The first will be the next chapter in the Halo series, which is supriseing because many thought Halo 3 would be it. Jackson will help write, design, and produce a game that we'll just call Halo 4 for now. Jackson will also work with his team in New Zealand to create a title that aims to capture the attention of new audiences and bring them into the world of video games.