Sadly things aren't going so smoothly it would seem for Halo 3: ODST's launch as some users are complaining of disc read errors, with developer Bungie looking into the issue. Older consoles seem to be more susceptible, but Elites have been hit too. Installing the game to the hard drive can fix the issue perhaps? The multiplayer for ODST appears unaffected.
Microsoft and Bungie's Halo 3: ODST has taken the top spot in the UK All Formats chart, and has become the twelfth to achieve a big performance week one on a single-platform. Its predecessor, Halo 3, currently holds the fourth position for biggest week one seller. 64 percent of ODST's week one sales were within the first 24 hours. NCsoft's Aion misses Top Ten.
Over 2.5 million copies of the Xbox 360 exclusive Halo 3: ODST have been sold in two weeks, generating more than $125 million in sales. Not bad for an 'expansion pack'. The entire Halo franchise has now cleared 27 million copies sold worldwide, and with Halo: Reach due next year things won't be slowing down, it's a "chronological prequel" to Halo 1.
The upcoming mega destination for all things Halo related will be a coupling between Intel and Career, Microsoft have revealed. Each offer separate fixes for Halo junkies gamers.
Intel will house all manner of acquirable content like clips, images, tips and loads more stuff. Career will be stat track central for Halo players, converting achievements into ranks.
343 Industries, the internal division Microsoft created to look after the Halo franchise after Bungie went independent, is now looking to fill several staff positions. Whilst nothing official has been announced, these latest hirings could indicate a new Halo title is on the way, which would also be the first created by this new studio...
A position for a Senior Level Designer on a Halo next-gen project is wanted by the corporate giant, and you'd better know your Halo speak. This new blood will be stationed at 343 Industries, the new internal Microsoft studio for all things Halo related. Are you 'rabid fan' enough?
The gaming world will be injected with all new Halo-ness come December 12th, according to GTTV's Geoff Keighley, because the VGAs have it. When the 2009 Video Game Awards kick off, Halo fans will be treated to the "world premiere" of Halo: Reach. The VGAs are mini E3.
Geoff Keighley of GameTrailers has revealed that Spike's VGAs 2009 won't have CG or live action teases for Halo Reach, it'll be all in-game. The footage will take us down "on the planet Reach" giving us our first peek, "which is phenomenal." It will be 2010's "biggest game".
Joseph Staten of Bungie has teased that ODST could have a role somehow in Halo: Reach, where the "squad leader" Buck was stationed. The writer says it'd be "a shame" if they didn't give them a nod, and also said many fans have yet to find "smaller treats" littered in ODST.
Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has dissed all other entries, declaring that Halo: Reach will own that coveted "biggest game of 2010" mantle. Not even Polyphony's GT5 for PS3? Greenberg's seen "years and years of mini-games" from them, but nothing big and meaty he quips.
Microsoft has revealed to the glee of fans that the multiplayer beta, promised to Halo 3 ODST gamers, will be starting up in spring. So if you want in on some online beta for Halo: Reach, you'd best make sure that ODST disc can still spin in the drive. No firm date yet.
You won't be gunning it solo in Halo: Reach, going all 'lone wolf', according to the latest trailer from developer Bungie. You're in Noble Squad. At least six Spartans will be kicking Covenant rear on the planet Reach, which a much more serious tone given from the teaser. Beta in spring.
A survey of all the biggest wigs in our little games industry has concluded that Microsoft's Halo: Reach, a prequel to Halo, shall own 2010. Final Fantasy XIII was pegged as #2. Other big cheeses of the year include StarCraft's return, the next Call of Duty and this year's FIFA.
Halo: Reach will have multiplayer action, that's a given, but developer Bungie is keeping one mode very close to their chest - except to tease. It'll involve "some number" of players against others in a "rousing and highly competitive" game, with points awarded for "all kinds" of stuff.
Major Nelson has given us some Top 10s for Xbox Live, revealing that Bungie's Halo 3 was the most played over the Live service last year. Grand Theft Auto IV was King of Games for Windows Live, followed by Dawn of War II. Top arcaders? Battlefield 1943 and Castle Crashers.
Microsoft Game Studios' 343 Industries, the Halo-centric team, are looking for new staffers to help create "a new game in the Halo universe". A development lead is sought to put together "tools and technical infrastructure" for future Halo instalments. Some mention Natal work.
Thanks to the latest issue of mag Game Informer, and people not above splashing scans of said issue on the net, we have Halo Reach intel! It's all set before the first Halo, has huge scale combat, much more serious tone, follows story of Team Noble, a four-player campaign...
There has been a leaked video from the opening scenes of the upcoming Halo: Reach beta test. The video, which is posted below, shows that there's multiplayer and single-player modes included in the test.
Developer Bungie has finished work on the "second half" of Halo 3's Mythic Map Pack, and it's due out February 2nd announces Microsoft. It includes three new maps and they are Heretic, Citadel and Longshore. This bumps Halo 3's total maps to 24, with this pack at 800 MSP.
Not a single area in the new Halo game is finished though, but overall the project is 70 percent, reveals Bungie in the latest Edge issue. The studio say Halo: Reach takes the Xbox 360 close to its limit, with major campaign surprises along the way. Halo 3's engine 'gutted'.