The Halo team has taken over some of the ”most iconic landmarks” where they staged a ”theatrical experience” for fans and media to witness a ”brutal” war zone complete with pyrotechnics.
The Microsoft crew have commandeered a 13th Century Castle, an entire quarry, and created a military camp in the countryside. The Halo franchise is worth $3 billion.
”For one day only, the mountainous landscapes of the normally tranquil Liechtenstein countryside became a stage for an epic sci-fi saga as Xbox 360 created a mysterious alternate universe inspired by the video game franchise which has sold a staggering 46 million copies worldwide since launch in 2001,” informed Microsoft’s press release.
”Super fans and worldwide media from 16 different countries were catapulted into this off-world environment to take part in a theatrical experience which saw them travel to a top secret location before being unexpectedly thrust into a war zone which recreated brutal battle grounds through pyrotechnic explosions, thunderous sound effects and cinematic set builds.”
They summarise what was involved in the huge marketing feat:
• Reimagining a 13th Century Castle – standing on a 70-metre high spur of rock, Gutenberg Castle, one of the most important historical landmarks of Liechtenstein, took on a new guise as a futuristic military fortification where guests become among the first to play “Halo 4”
• Overtaking an entire quarry – a working mine became a jaw-dropping arena for sci-fi adventure, with an appearance from the hero of “Halo 4”, the Master Chief, amidst a series of pyrotechnic explosions
• Creating a Military Camp in the countryside – a local farmer’s field become a post-apocalyptic battle ground
• Finishing touches included the use of bespoke props, special effects and pyrotechnics
• Immersive theatre –15 actors took guests on a two-hour adventure which involved decoding a series of cryptic clues to help save mankind from extinction by fighting off the threat of an attack
Halo 4 releases exclusively on Xbox 360 November 6th.
