[Art]

If someone buys me the game, I'll start the clan.

[TahoeJeff]

You know what? I think I put down a deposit for this game the same day that I put down my deposit for my Wii. Wow, that was a long time ago. I'm glad I remembered!

[Mr. claw]

Originally Posted by Art

If someone buys me the game, I'll start the clan.

And thus I no longer believe this to be a good idea.

With respect, if you're not willing to buy the game, I don't know if I'd really want you as an overlord.

I probably won't be buying this for a while. I made the decision that if I had a 360, I wouldn't have pretty grades for my senior year. *sigh*

Eventually.

[Art]

if I was not poor, i would be willing to buy the game.

[Andrew]

I am currently planning my plan to purchase this game. As soon as I can. This game is half the reason I wanted a 360. Oh yes. I am not a big online gamer, so Art might end up with it for a little while after I am through. Oh yes.

[Shift]

I was going to buy it but my brother moved the 360 into his room. He doesn't get out of bed until 1:00 and I work afternoons... it would just be a waste of money for me.

I have partial ownership in just about everything but the actual console, by the way

Maybe after that bum gets a job and school starts I'll actually get to play it again!

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Shift

I was going to buy it but my brother moved the 360 into his room. He doesn't get out of bed until 1:00 and I work afternoons... it would just be a waste of money for me.

I have partial ownership in just about everything but the actual console, by the way

Maybe after that bum gets a job and school starts I'll actually get to play it again!

Cut everything that you half own in half and give him his half. That would show him.

[Mr. claw]

My apologies, Art.

Here's a small update on new things Bungie has thrown into the game. More when I get the September issue of EGM.

New Weapons

Mauler: This Brute shotgun comes with an extra-deadly bonus: dual wielding. "It's not quite as powerful as the shotgun," sais Sandbox Design Lead Jaime Griesemer. Oh boy, oh boy.

Gravity Hammer: Halo 3's Gravity Hammer -- based on Halo 2 final boss Tartarus' weapon -- should make players as giddy as Halo 2's plasma sword did. "It will do a short lunge like the sword does, but mostly you use it to do area-affect damage," said Griesemer. Yes, we get to use the Gravity Hammer.

The Fourth Grenade: We also saw hints of a fourth grenade type, though it never actually appeared in action and Bungie won't give any details, including whether it will even be included in the final game.

New Vehicles

Hornet: This Marine aircraft zips around and takes on Covenant Banshees in Campaign mode.

Prowler: This Brute craft holds a driver, a man on a forward-mounted turret, and two passengers. < Because the Spectre just isn't scary.

Elephant: A three-story-tall behemoth that's crawling along the sand much like a Jawa Sandcrawler. It's drivable (but indestructible), has a mounted turret, can respawn troops, holds your home flag, and is the return point for the enemy flag. Whoa. < This is going to be so freakin' cool.

New Gear (I think most of it is equipment)

Radar Jammer: Mostly useless in Campaign mode (enemies don't use radar), this device tricks enemies with false signals. (not so new, but just in case)

Personal Shield: A stationary version of the Jackal's handheld deflector, it only protects against attacks from one direction.

Regenerator: Its green field instantly recharges players' shields.

Flare: The Flare merely blinds, rather than hurts, anyone (friend and foe alike) who sees it.

Invincibility: Brute chieftains would be intimidating enough with the ability to command legions, but their temporary invincibility power puts them right over the edge.

[guitarjockey111]

Yeah I cant wait I got my copy reserved and im hoping to get some money in aug so I'm going to go in and pay it off so I dont have to worry about spending the money on something else. Plus that way I can just go in and grab it. Only thing is there's to many good games coming out in the next to months its hard to pick. Like big brother, medal of honor and ohhh crap there was another but I cant remember. But yeah I should have it so a clan might be pretty cool. Though it will probally be small.

[Andrew]

The only game coming out this fall, that I know of, that is going to hold a candle to Halo 3 is the next Splinter Cell game. Which I about wet my pants over on a daily basis.

[Mr. claw]

I didn't even know they were working on a new Splinter Cell! Cool.

Crysis. That game....great scot...COD 4 looks promising too.

[Mr. claw]

Bungie just put this update on their page. ZOMG.

It’s time for us to sack up and tell you what’s what regarding online co-op.

So you were probably wondering why we didn’t want to commit to two player co-op online over Xbox Live. We certainly got plenty of mail asking, no, demanding that we make it happen. Of course we were working on it, but we were also working on something better. Not two player co-op. Not three-player co-op, but up to four player co-op. Online. On Xbox Live, or sure, System Link if you prefer.

That is correct – up to four player co-op in Campaign mode on Xbox Live or System Link.

We’ve been playing it for quite some time, and bluntly, having some of our greatest ever Halo experiences. We wanted to make sure all our “t”s were crossed and our “i”s dotted before unveiling this important new part of Halo 3’s Campaign mode.

Apart from the horrifying network challenges this new mode presented us, were the various gameplay balance issues it adds to the fray. So we got it all together, polished it, and that’s why we’re revealing it now. As a result, you’re going to want to play co-op as hard as you can stomach it. We’d certainly recommend Legendary, but we’ll be revealing some more ways to make the game more interesting and challenging for multiple players in the very near future.

Acting as a team is a fantastic new twist to the Campaign gameplay – something that works as well on foot, in close confines as it does on the battlefield, with large scale vehicle mayhem. Scared of Jackal snipers? Send out a scout to see what dangers lie ahead. Terrified of an open field? Flank your enemies and swipe their rides. The combinations and scenarios are endless – and you’ll be able to enjoy them time and time again in Saved Films of your co-op exploits.

We mentioned that we’ve been having a blast. We have a lot of stories. Many of them would require that we explain some of the reasons replay will be a big factor, but not quite yet. Soon, we promise.

Like every other aspect of Halo 3, this mode is chosen from a Lobby. Simply select Campaign, choose your network (Xbox Live or System Link) and invite your friends to join you, or they can simply join your session once it’s set up and in a lobby (but they cannot join a game once it’s in-progress). They will pop into your lobby instantly, and when you have all the players you need (anywhere from one to four) you can begin the game from the beginning – or from any of your saved checkpoints.

Split-screen co-op is as ever, limited to two players per screen – but they can if they wish join two other friends online or via System Link.

For fictional reasons, we decided to avoid Halo’s slightly surreal compromise of two identical Master Chiefs and rather, use this opportunity to expand the Halo universe just a little bit. Player one will control the Master Chief, player two will control the Arbiter and players three and four will get the chance to control two brand new Elite characters.

Allow us to introduce them:

PLAYER 3 (Sangheili)

Name: N’tho ‘Sraom
Affiliation: Fleet of Retribution/Special Warfare Group/Special Operations
History: N’tho ‘Sraom is the youngest member of his Special Operations unit and is one of a growing number of human sympathizers amongst the Sangheili youth. He is a fairly typical young male adult Sangheili—he began compulsory military service at the end of adolescence, and remains unmarried with no close, non-familial relationships outside of his martial order. N’tho Sraom refused to stand idly by while the Prophets replaced Sangheili units with Jiralhanae packs, and now bears deep resentment toward those Sangheili politicians who landed his kind in their current predicament.

Although N’tho ‘Sraom’s romanticized nationalism is emblematic of all Sangheili, he has developed a healthy respect for humanity—not for their physical abilities or martial prowess, but for their audacity and resolve.

PLAYER 4 (Sangheili)

Name: Usze ‘Taham
Affiliation: Fleet of Retribution/Special Warfare Group/Fleet Security
History: Although Usze ‘Taham was born into a respected merchant family he was fathered by Toha ‘Sumai—one of the preeminent swordfighters of this age. Usze graduated with honors from the top War College in the Iruiru region of Yermo, Sanghelios (a distinction he shares with Rtas 'Vadum). Shortly after receiving his first post within the Covenant Navy he was offered a place on the Prophets’ Honor Guard but he declined citing “lack of practical experience”. In truth, he had no desire to be part of a largely ceremonial unit, and at the end of his third combat tour, Usze ‘Taham again refused the post—even though his superiors warned him such behavior could be misinterpreted as apostasy.

Since that time Usze has evaded countless punitive actions, at least two assassination attempts, and served with distinction for two additional tours before the Schism. Following the dissolution of the Covenant, he was approached by the Ascetics to become one of their liaisons within the Navy.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Every player will have identical abilities – only their appearance and weapon starts are different (Elites will start with Carbines versus Battle Rifles for example, depending on the mission). So there you have it. Mystery solved. Internet dramas ended. Four player online co-op it is. And a special thanks to the test, engineering, production and design teams who worked incredibly hard to make this feature happen.

Bam!

[Andrew]

I think I should lay on the ground and cry. In the middle of my office.

holy. Crap. Yes.

[Shift]

This is set to release in September, right (that's next month now!)? I might be able to have a 360 by then.

Things are looking up

[Mr. claw]

September 25th.