GamesRadar - Halo 2

Contributors and Cover Art for Halo: Evolutions Revealed (News)

Oct 28, 2009

Tor Books has released the contributor list and cover art for Halo short story collection, Halo: Evolutions.

A Homemade Halo Warthog (and how to make one) (News)

Oct 11, 2009

BeefJack writes: "As Xbox Live's most played game, Halo surely has it's fans. Some know the ins and outs of the universe whilst others can claim Recon armor. However, the true winners are those who can make driveable Warthogs for their children!"

Full Size Halo "Warthog" to be Unveiled at MCM Expo (News)

Oct 1, 2009

The M12 'Warthog' LRV is an A-reg 1984 Land Rover Defender 110, rescued from the GumTree 4×4 yard before its eventual scrapping due to MoT failure. Rebuilt by Props Studios, the vehicle has been fitted with an entirely new body and lifted suspension, along with as a heap of other modifications. It's thought that the vehicle will arrive in London in full working order.

Master Chief 1:2 Scale Bust Available for Pre-Order (News)

Sep 19, 2009

The busts are cast in high-quality polystone, hand painted to the highest standards. Each piece is packed inside a moulded foam interior, ready for safe shipment, and packaged in a full-colour box with an authenticity card. These busts are strictly limited (650 units), and will no doubt high atop the most wanted lists of all those gamers with money to burn.

The best of HaloRadar (Feature)

Sep 18, 2009

Halo is more than a franchise. Halo is a cultural phenomenon. If you need proof, look no further than this page. When Halo 3 launched two years ago, we launched an epic adventure of our own: nearly 50 straight weeks of HaloRadar coverage. ...

Technically, that's not correct... (Feature)

Aug 25, 2009

Game developers are wrong about 90% of everything 83% of the time. I know, because I’m a super-expert on facts. My dad invented facts. So hold on to your sugary carbonated bevorage, uncross your legs and take your left hand off your face, because I'm about to drop a straight-up 10-megaton truth bomb on this bitch. All the subjective bullshit and “artistic license” that game designers cower behind is polluting the hard facts... ...

A brief history of missile rides (Feature)

Aug 19, 2009

Since time immemorial, mankind has gazed upon missiles and secretly thought, “Hey, that’d be fun to ride.” For whatever perverse reason, the idea of straddling or surfing on what amounts to a blazing rocket engine packed with deadly explosives is wildly fascinating to just about everyone, particularly if someone else does it. ...

Microsoft didn't want Halo as flagship title (News)

Aug 14, 2009

Microsoft never planned for Halo to become its flagship title, according to Microsoft VP of game publishing Ed Fries.

"We didn't know what was going be our biggest title," Fries admits. "There was a lot of negativity around Halo, actually, mostly coming from the games press. We showed it several times publicly, and we got pretty negative feedback."

Microsoft Responds To Accusations Of Halo 2 Holding Back Xbox Live (News)

Aug 13, 2009

G4TV writes:

"Halo 2 is the reason you can't have more than 100 friends on Xbox Live, I reported earlier this week. Technically, it's because the old Xbox Live tech, which Halo 2 runs on, can't support more than 100 friends, but Halo 2 remains the only viable community preventing Microsoft from shutting down the previous XBL. Microsoft has since issued an official response to my story that provides little clarity."

Confirmed: Director Neill Blomkamp Would Probably Not Do a Halo Film, Even If Offered One (News)

Jul 24, 2009

In 2006, it was announced that a film adaptation based on the insanely popular videogame series Halo would be helmed by a 26-year old first-time director named Neill Blomkamp. Blomkamp went so far as to create some Halo-inspired shorts, but after several months of development, the project ultimately fell apart. Blomkamp went on to work with producer Peter Jackson to create his first feature-length film District 9, but some Halo faithful still held out hope that Blomkamp might return to the video game franchise again.

The secretly sinister storylines of your favourite games (Feature)

Jun 12, 2009

You never knew they were so wrong... ...

E3 2004: Five Years Later (Feature)

Jun 1, 2009

Before we dunk our collective heads into the salty man-pool that is E3 2009, let’s take a moment to reflect on the events and images of E3 2004. Just five years ago Nintendo was struggling, Sony was unquestionably on top and Microsoft only had Halo 2 to keep fans attentive. Today… well, it’s a little different, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves ...

Video game villains who got away with it (Feature)

May 1, 2009

People like to see good triumph over evil. It's the reason Superman always wins despite getting stabbed in the face with shards of Kryptonite. Why John McClane beats a skyscraper full of heavily-armed terrorists with nothing but a string vest. And why those pesky S.T.A.R.S. agents always get the better of the T-virus. Sometimes, though, there are games brave enough to spit in the face of convention and let their no gooders go ...

8 of the lamest game endings ever (Feature)

Apr 6, 2009

We hate rubbish endings. There's nothing more unsatisfying than becoming emotionally attached to a game for 10 or so hours and then have it end on a whimper. It's like having a really tasty meal and then finding a rusty nail in your last forkful. A nail that ends in an unsatisfying cliff-hanger, cheesy line or unresolved plot thread. And sod everyone who says it's about the journey, not the destination. The following games all take you on a ...

100 reasons fanboys hate shooters (Feature)

Mar 25, 2009

Cue the banjo! It wouldn’t be the Week of Hate without our trademark “100 Reasons” videos. In case you missed it, last year we targeted game platforms. So this year we thought we’d change it up and go after a few popular genres. Up first, the ubiquitous shooter. ...

The Top 7… games you either love or hate (Feature)

Mar 16, 2009

Like petty school children bickering in a playground fight, gamers are obsessed with choosing sides. Never content to rate a game as simply “above average” or “slightly disappointing,” we allow internet hearsay, magazine previews, fanboy feuds and console preferences to push our views to ridiculous extremes. We can’t just like something… we have to deem it BEST EVER. We can’t just dislike something… we have to declare it EPIC FAIL. ...

Videogames versus the real world – second showdown! (Feature)

Feb 26, 2009

Breaking news! Toad isn’t actually a toad... street fighting doesn’t involve fireballs… guns rarely come with chainsaws attached… and a theoretical physicist has never spent his scientific career smashing zombie head crabs with a blood-soaked crowbar.

As we demonstrated last week, however, the real world would be a hell of a lot more interesting if any of the above was true. ...

Gaming's big-ass booms! (Video)

Feb 11, 2009

The sequel to Xbox's biggest game is a multiplayer masterpiece, even if single-player suffers a bit.

The most superior superior races (Feature)

Feb 5, 2009

Don’t get too comfortable, puny human. You may be perched high on your planet’s food chain right now, but it won’t last forever. There are plenty of races waiting for their chance to assimilate you into their culture, usually by killing you. ...

Halo Warthog Real Life Vehicle Goes for Test Drive (News)

Feb 3, 2009

Gamer nerds rejoice! These are pictures of a functioning, full-size replica of the Warthog, popularized by the video game Halo. Built in Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop, near Wellington, New Zealand, the vehicle will be touring around promotional events and conventions in New Zealand, and possibly elsewhere.

The 10 manliest men in videogame history (Feature)

Jan 30, 2009

Spoiler alert! The following video and article contain explicit discussion of critical plot points from several popular games. Watch and read at your own risk. ...

The 10 manliest men in videogames (Video)

Jan 30, 2009

The sequel to Xbox's biggest game is a multiplayer masterpiece, even if single-player suffers a bit.

The greatest game on every platform (Feature)

Jan 28, 2009

What is the best Super Nintendo game ever made? Which Xbox 360 title is already the definitive classic? What Atari, Dreamcast and PlayStation experiences are most worth remembering? Growing tired of the internet’s countless, wishy-washy attempts to answer such questions, we decided to make the tough decisions ourselves. You’ll find no Top 5s, Top 7s, Top 15s or Top 100s here - just a single winner and runner up for each platform. ...

Online gaming's dirtiest tricks (Feature)

Jan 6, 2009

For as long as it's existed, the Internet has been a wretched hive of scum and villainy. The anonymity lets the world's worst people run free pretty much unchallenged and there's always someone trying to scam you – be it stealing your Facebook password or, at its most extreme, tricking you out of thousands of real-world dollars. What follows is a collection of dark tales from the terrifying world of online games.

It may seem ...

Tournament of level one enemies (Feature)

Oct 21, 2008

Ladies and gentlemen, we present the runts and rejects of the forces of darkness, the first line of defense for evil. They're kind of a joke. Nonetheless, they stand tall and straight, inches above knee level, and they bop, hop and wiggle towards any nearby heroes. ...

Halo Interactive Board Game Released in US (News)

Oct 15, 2008

The battle for supremacy begins - NOW. Genius Products, LLC and B1 Games today announced that the first-ever board game based on Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie's best-selling Halo property - Halo Interactive Strategy Game - has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Bringing the Halo universe to a broader audience through numerous family-friendly features, the game features a modular board that can be reconfigured to create a virtually limitless gameplay experience...

How modern gaming has made us into wimpy gamers (Feature)

Sep 16, 2008

Think you're hardcore? By current standards you might be. But you're still a noob. Here's why. ...

GamesRadar's E3 2008 Awards (Feature)

Jul 18, 2008

Another year, another grueling E3 experience for all involved. As press, we have to be in constant motion, reading, writing and presenting all the information that's blasted at our eyes and ears. As readers, you're tasked with digesting an ocean of content in 72 constantly updated hours. It's a hell of a ride and we're glad to be at the end, especially given the rather dismal nature of this year's show.

Instead of wasting your weekend ...

20 Most Rabidly Patriotic Games (Feature)

Jul 4, 2008

To celebrate Independence Day (the holiday, not the movie), we’ve scoured our encyclopedic minds for the most patriotic games to be developed. But that wasn’t funny enough. So, we dug deeper to find the most rabidly patriotic games every developed. Ya know - the ones with so much love for Old Glory that it starts to get a little ridiculous. Behold - our results!

America's ArmyUS Army | 2002Any game can add the word ...

Sexy Fan Art: Cortana Edition (Feature)

Jun 13, 2008

Why do we love Cortana? After all, she's no more than an intangible chunk of computer software, a particularly well programmed series of 1s and 0s. You can't touch her. You can't look at her without seeing right through her. Even to the fictional characters within the fictional universe of Halo, she is utterly unattainable. And that is precisely what drives our overactive imaginations wild. She is the ultimate dream girl. Sassy, spunky, sexy... but beyond our reach in every possible way. ...

GTA Rules NPD All-Time U.S. Top 10 (News)

Jun 5, 2008

Next-Gen.Biz writes: "The NPD Group has revealed the top 10 selling games of all time in the U.S. market.

Forbes reported earlier this week NPD Group's up-to-date top ten U.S. videogame sales figures by units, revealing a list dominated by the Grand Theft Auto and Madden NFL franchises.

As seen below, GTA: San Andreas from 2004 is the top-selling game in the U.S. with 9.43 million units sold. The franchise shows up on the top 10 three times, while Madden appears four times.

Activision had two 2007 titles already break the top 10 (Guitar Hero III and Call of Duty 4), while EA had one 2007 title on the list in the form of Madden NFL 08."

Red vs. Blue is Back with Reconstructed (News)

May 27, 2008

The gang at RoosterTeeth.com is back at it again with Red vs. Blue Reconstruction. Episode one of an this new Red vs. Blue series appears almost a year after its 100th and "final" episode.

LIVE Activity for week of 4/21 (News)

Apr 29, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Guitar Hero III

Top Arcade Titles
1. Lost Cities
2. Ikaruga
3. DOOM

Original Xbox Top Live Titles
1. Halo 2
2. Splinter Cell Chaos
3. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

LIVE Activity for week of 4/14 (News)

Apr 23, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles:
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Gears of War

Top Arcade Titles:
1. Ikaruga
2. Battlezone
3. Brain Challenge

Original Xbox Top Live Titles:
1. Halo 2
2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat

LIVE Activity for week of 3/31 (News)

Apr 8, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Top Arcade Titles
1. Mr. DRILLER Online
2. DOOM
3. Brain Challenge

Original Xbox Top Live Titles
1. Halo 2
2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3. Fable

The Top 7... inanimate objects (Feature)

Apr 7, 2008

Inanimate objects. Wow, we must really be out of ideas, huh? It's true, at first pass this sounds absurd, open to all kinds of interpretation with an infinite number of potential entries, but after careful contemplation (i.e. shouting at one another for hours) we've come up with a list of in-game objects so desirable that every gamer should love 'em - even if all they do is sit there.

For our consideration, the items have to be ...

HaloRadar: Machinima Academy Awards (Feature)

Mar 14, 2008

Watching one Master Chief kiss another Master Chief is funny as hell. So are two SPARTANs arguing over the morality of teabagging, or an Elite ordering food at the drive-thru. A skilled machinima director can make you laugh, cry, feel fear... completely within the confines of the game's environment.

We announce our favorite Halo 3 filmmakers and give you a sampling of their work. The envelopes, please!
...

Live activity for week of 3/3 (News)

Mar 11, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Guitar Hero III

Top Arcade Titles
1. N+
2. Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
3. Triggerheart Exelica

Original Xbox Top Live Titles
1. Halo 2
2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3. Counter-Strike

HaloRadar: Master Chief Mutations (Feature)

Mar 7, 2008

In games, he's always been the same. Strong. Silent. Steadfast. But in the wild, wild world of unofficial and unregulated fandom, Halo 3's champion is free to be whatever the hell he wants to be. Or, at least, whatever the hell YOU want him to be. Here are 14 of his most surprising and strangest transformations. ...

Live Activity for week of 2/25 (News)

Mar 4, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles:
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Guitar Hero III

Top Arcade Titles:
1. N+
2. Triggerheart Exelica
3. Worms

Original Xbox Top Live Titles:
1. Halo 2
2. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
3. Counter-Strike

HaloRadar: Gears of War vs. Halo (Feature)

Feb 29, 2008

The Halo and Gears of War series are both incredible, but in a world of internet trolls and blind fanboy allegiance, only one can be crowned. So, in an effort to declare a final victor - or at least ignite a flame war - GamesRadar Editors Charlie Barratt and Chris Antista put aside all professional objectivity and fair minded rationality for a bloody (and juvenile) battle royale. ...

Gamers rock out! (Feature)

Feb 27, 2008

When aspiring musicians and the internetz collide, it often results in some of the most unholy power combos the universe has ever seen. We’d even go as far to say that most of these mighty Gods of Rock surpass real-world supergroups like Velvet Revolver and Damn Yankees. YouTube alone holds a treasure trove of musical gems, and these are some of our very most favoritest. And yes, we're including the hand farter. ...

Live activity for week of 2/18 (News)

Feb 26, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles:
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Guitar Hero III

Top Arcade Titles:
1. N+
2. UNO
3. Rez HD

Original Xbox Top Live Titles:
1. Halo 2
2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3. Counter-Strike

HaloRadar: Silliest Fan Art (Feature)

Feb 22, 2008

Some people's love of Halo is simple. They play the game. Other people's love of Halo, however, goes way beyond simple. It's mad. It's bizarre. It's creative. It's inspired. It's totally unique and completely unexpected. To these superfans, Master Chief can appear anywhere. Everywhere. All they have to do is imagine it... and then build it. Here are their weird, wacky and wonderful creations. ...

Live activity for week of 2/11 (News)

Feb 20, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Guitar Hero III

Top Arcade Titles
1. Poker Smash
2. Commanders: Attack
3. Rez HD

Original Xbox Top Live Titles
1. Halo 2
2. Ninja Gaiden Black
3. Star Wars: Battlefront 2

Bungie Charity: Original Mister Chief Art (News)

Feb 13, 2008

"Proceeds of the sale, conceived of by Bungie Studios and executed by bungie.org, a fansite, will go to the Brian Morden Foundation, an organization working towards a cure for Ewing's Sarcoma. 100% of the final bid, minus our costs, goes to this cause.

"The painting rendered in soft pastels on canvas with loving detail and craftsmanship signed by the creator and original artist, Frank "Frankie" O'Connor of Bungie Studios." from Bungie.org's eBay listing.

Halo 2 Decides It Wants To Be a Platinum Hit (News)

Feb 11, 2008

Xbox360 Fanboy writes:

"After being on the market since 2004, earning an average metacritic score of 95 and selling millions upon millions of copies, Microsoft decided Halo 2 could sit among the Max Payne and Shark Tales of the world and officially become a Platinum Hit.

Woohoo! Actually, we bet it was the other way around. Halo 2 finally decided it was time to lower itself to the Platinum Hits catalog and force Microsoft to quit milking its $39 retail price tag as its retail teets have become sore and gone dry (yeah, bad mental picture)."

Has Gearbox Been Hired to Continue Halo? (News)

Feb 7, 2008

"Earlier this week, Gearbox Software President and CEO, Randy Pitchford, revealed that the company is in the early stages of a new project that is the most important development they have ever worked on.

If Gearbox is indeed developing the next Halo game, could this be "Halo: Chronicles," the new chapter co-created by Peter Jackson, or are we looking at the first news of Halo 4?" writes César A. Berardini.

Live activity for week of 1/28 (News)

Feb 7, 2008

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased this week. Here are the top 3 for each charts, see the source for the complete top 10 list.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles
1. Call of Duty 4
2. Halo 3
3. Guitar Hero III

Top Arcade Titles
1. Rez HD
2. Chessmaster Live
3. Metal Slug 3

Original Xbox Top Live Titles
1. Halo 2
2. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3. Counter-Strike

HaloRadar: The Halo Suicides (Feature)

Jan 25, 2008

For more of our weekly HaloRadar coverage, click here. Judging by your submissions, most of you share our current obsession with Halo suicides. There's just something about Master Chief's expressionless ragdolling that turns us into giggling school girls. We can't explain why, but our therapists assure us that reveling in the grisly demise of the iconic uber-patriot "doesn't make you a bad person." Good to know, given the "epic lulz" all your videos generated around our office. And we want ...

HaloRadar: Fans Gone Wild (Feature)

Jan 18, 2008

For more of our weekly HaloRadar coverage, click here. Drugs. Gambling. Pornography. Halo. Addiction can take many forms. How do you spot the warning signs? Medical experts that we read about somewhere on the internet tell us harmful overdependence could affect over 23 million people in this country alone, with fewer than 10 percent going untreated. And while the junkies and perverts can always go to Dr. Phil or Dr. Drew for help, those with an unnatural compulsion for Master Chief have ...

A historic day for Major League Gaming / Halo 3 (News)

Jan 15, 2008

If you haven't already heard about it you're either not listening or living under a rock. MLG, the nations biggest video game tournaments powered by the Xbox360 and Gamestop are home to some of the worlds best gamers and biggest video game tournament pay-outs. Amongst all the negative news and competitors attacks, Halo 3 (the worlds #1 online shooter and MLG's premier game)is alive, well and on top of the heap. And as if the MLG tourneys and millions of game owners weren't enough..Now you can watch how the pro's play with coverage from the worlds leader in sports media.

ESPN.com, the leading online sports destination, today announced it has entered a content agreement with Major League Gaming (MLG), the leading professional video game league.

ESPN will serve as a primary outlet for news about MLG, providing extensive digital coverage of MLG's 2008 Pro Circuit Competitions, including exclusive streamed matches, pro player interviews, and scores and stats. Additionally, MLG will host ESPN co-branded online video game tournaments.

This is exciting news for anyone who call's themselves a "gamer"

HaloRadar: Halocide (Feature)

Jan 11, 2008

Jan. 8, 2008 For more of our weekly HaloRadar coverage, click here. Halocide. If that isn't a recognized term, then we're officially coining it here and now. Sure, Forge's map editor serves up some fantastic multiplayer customization, and Theater offers more than an occasional glimpse at ragdoll amusement. But after making the video below, we can honestly say nothing shimmers quite so fine as elaborately laying out the hilariously macabre details of your own demise. The coward's way out? ...

HaloRadar: Gift Guide (Feature)

Dec 21, 2007

Our complete collection of HaloRadar coverage is right here. For true Halo fans, the games are only the beginning. Master Chief's universe extends well beyond the realm of consoles and controllers, after all, into areas both surprising and bizarre. He's in books, toys, art, comics, clothing, kitschy gadgets, even soda. Some of this stuff, of course, is useless junk; quite a bit, however, is incredibly neat and worthy of both your attention and your cash. We've scoured the internet, we've ...

Halo's Filthiest Trash Talk (Feature)

Oct 30, 2007

Oct 30, 2007 Game experience may change during online play. This innocuous disclaimer accompanies every game with Xbox Live connectivity, but what it actually means is that you're about to be subjected to a barrage of bigotry so profoundly offensive that it will shake your faith in humanity to the very core. During some recent Halo sessions, we encountered loads of vile, bilious ranting that seemed to know no restraint. Rather than using the mute button, we hit record and captured these ...

Halo 3 - Halo's filthiest trash talk 10-30-07 (Video)

Oct 30, 2007

The sequel to Xbox's biggest game is a multiplayer masterpiece, even if single-player suffers a bit.

Universal and Fox Pull Plug on Halo Movie (News)

Oct 29, 2007

Hollywood trade journal Variety reported on October 19:

It's game over for Universal's and Fox's participation in the feature adaptation of Microsoft's Halo.

Both studios that agreed to co-finance the Halo movie have abruptly backed out of the project after Microsoft and the filmmakers (Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, etc.) refused to reduce their profit participation. The movie budget was rising above the original projected $135 million and rumored to approach $200 million. Microsoft demanded an up-front payment of $5 million for the film right to be made on October 15, a further payment of 10 percent of gross, and a screenwriter (Alex Garland) and a first-time director (Neill Blomkamp) dictated by Microsoft, Bungie and Peter Jackson.

The studios demanded a pay cut at the last minute before the October 15 deadline. Microsoft, Bungie and the filmmakers said no. So Universal and Fox pulled the plug on the Halo movie.

The history of Halo (Feature)

Oct 8, 2007

Oct 8, 2007 For more Halo coverage, click here. With a team of hundreds working on it, a marketing budget of millions and a fanbase as fanatical, informed and excitable as anything the best TV shows like Lost can throw up, Halo is perhaps - in fact, definitely - the most important videogame franchise currently in existence. But it hasn't always been this way. Although commencing later than the usual bedroom development story, Bungie's rags-to-riches tale does follow similar lines, kicking ...

New Details: Microsoft, "Halo" maker Bungie split (News)

Oct 7, 2007

Bungie president Harold Ryan announced that the studio will continue to develop games exclusively for Microsoft Xbox 360 and Windows for the foreseeable future. Although Bungie will be free to make games for other platforms such as Sony PS3 at some undisclosed time in the future, Ryan said his studio has no plans to do so.

The Settle Times has revealed new details of the circumstances that led up to the Bungie-Microsoft split:

Ryan said Bungie was "used to being able to look around the room and see Bungie people," and they "feel lost" inside of the much-bigger organization of Microsoft. "That desire to be independent is something that a significant number of the people on the team still felt lacking," said Ryan.

Tom Edwards, who worked for Microsoft on the first two "Halo" games, said the split had been inevitable since 2005. Edwards saw firsthand the friction between the two cultures. He recalled Bungie developers being resentful at Microsoft for having him assessing the studio's development.

Microsoft did not disclose the contractual terms with Bungie over the split, leaving analysts and observers to speculate. Even as they go separate ways, Microsoft will continue to invest in Bungie, collaborate on projects with Bungie, and publish games from Bungie.

Bungie Jumping: Bungie's Frank O'Connor: Games on Other Platforms Possible (News)

Oct 5, 2007

Forbes magazine reports (direct quotes):

Bungie Studios will break away from Microsoft, its parent since 2000, both companies said Friday, though Microsoft will keep an equity interest in Bungie and will continue to publish many of Bungie's games--future spin-offs from "Halo," included.

Why would Microsoft allow such a marvelous cash cow to roam free? ... "This is seen as a reward to them for 'Halo' doing so well," says Bungie writing lead Frank O'Connor. Day-to-day interactions with Microsoft will remain the same, he says.

. . .

For what O'Connor calls the "medium term," Bungie is committed to giving Microsoft first choice of any games it develops, and working on programs for the Xbox, Microsoft Game Studios and a spin-off from the "Halo" series. O'Connor says that in the future it is possible that Bungie would develop games for other platforms...

In time, Bungie developers could see their work appear on those platforms and on portable systems and computers, rather than toiling exclusively for Microsoft.

"This lets us not be tied down to the processes inherent in a big corporation," says O'Connor. "We never conformed to the typical Microsoft culture."

Trailer Trash (Feature)

Sep 28, 2007

Sept 28, 2007 Beowulf Beowulf: The Film will be out in November, and will be sharing a publicity budget with a Game of the same name. The film is produced by Robert Zemeckis (this isnt the last Zemeckis reference in this weeks Trailer Trash - youve been warned), and features an all star cast including Angelina Jolie, John Malkovitch, Anthony Hopkins, Crispin Glover, and others. This trailer for the game, however, stars a sword falling into a puddle over and over while some repetitive-looking ...

Halo: The Story So Far (Feature)

Sep 22, 2007

Exactly how well do you know your Gravemind from your Guilty Spark? What about your Forerunner and your Foehammer? Admit it - Halo is confusing as hell. That's why you need our condensed story guide. For the hardcore fans, it's a quick and dirty refresher course on who's who and what's what in Master Chief's world. For the newbies, it's the best introduction available on the web, complete with cutscene montages. ...

Custom Halo 3 Spartan Armor Suit on sale on eBay (News)

Sep 12, 2007

From the eBay auction:

"You are bidding on the best and most accurate Master Chief Costume on Ebay. This suit is my own personal suit that I am now giving up. The suit is so awesome, it has been featured on Spike TV, G4 TV, and in a Dell Commercial. This suit is FAMOUS!

Now it can be yours. The suit is made from a very hard Urethane Plastic. It isn't one of those cheaply casted vacuum formed suits. You could probably pound in a nail with your forearm if you wanted to. I'm 6"1' in the pictures, so you can figure out how well it might fit you from that.

Also included is an Assault Rifle Display. The reason I say display is because it's ONLY HALF OF A GUN - the other side is flat. See pictures for what I mean.

Included is:

The Best Halo Helmet in Creation. Perfectly accurate, and the right size. You can see perfectly out of the visor, and is very comfortable.

* Chest/Back Piece
* Shoulders
* Forearms
* Hand Plates
* Belt/Cod Piece/2 Belt Pouches
* Thighs
* Shins
* Ankles
* Toe Plates
* Boots
* Assault Rifle Display

You can have this suit in time for the halo launch! Wait until people see you walk in the door with this thing on! People will love you. Then, you can win all sorts of costume contests when Halloween comes around."

Is BioShock better than Halo 3? (Feature)

Aug 22, 2007

Aug 22, 2007 Were in for one of the hottest winters on record, and not just because of global warming. The sheer quantity and quality of games coming out before January completely boggles the mind. Nothing, however, is as huge or important as the release of Halo 3 this September. The trilogy capper to one of the most successful videogaming franchises of all time is almost guaranteed commercial success. Okay, okay, it is guaranteed. But just because Halo 3 will be the biggest seller doesn't ...

Japan Gets Halo History Pack (News)

Aug 1, 2007

And by Halo History Pack, Microsoft of Japan means a "Platinum Collection" package featuring both Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 for a paltry 2,980 yen (about $25 USD). Microsoft is readying the super-budget two-in-one Halo History Pack to get Japanese gamers-okay, Western ex-pats-hyped up for the Xbox 360 release of Halo 3.

Library Hosts Halo 2 Tounament, Community Reacts (News)

Jul 24, 2007

A Chicago area library's planned Halo 2 competition has turned into controversy.

As reported by the Daily Herald, the tournament is scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Mount Prospect Public Library. While the library is requiring parental permission slips before admitting underage players to the event, the game's M-rating is not spelled out. Some worry that parents may not realize that their kids will be playing a violent shooting game.

Halo : Uprising Unveiled (Comics) (News)

Jul 19, 2007

Halo is a science fiction video game series created by Bungie Studios. The Halo trilogy centers around Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN-117, or simply "Master Chief", a human cyborg super-soldier equipped with technologically-advanced battle armor, and his Construct AI companion, Cortana. The video games, particularly Halo: Combat Evolved, have been praised as being the best, and most influential, first-person shooters on a game console, with Halo being the Microsoft Xbox's "killer app". This has led to the term "Halo killer" being used to describe console games that aspire to be better than Halo.

Machinima Series Red vs. Blue Ends Tour of Duty (News)

Jun 26, 2007

Red vs. Blue, the cult hit, web-video series created from in-game Halo footage, concludes its genre-defining run as it airs its 100th and final episode Wednesday evening.

Halo 2 Xbox Live Challenge (News)

Jun 7, 2007

A new Xbox Live Halo 2 Challenge is starting next week! With the chance to win some cool prizes, all you have to do is spend a measly $4 to get the new maps. What makes the tournament unique is that it will be played over a period of about 6 weeks and through a Halo 2 Matchmaking playlist! The top 64 on the playlist titled, "H2 Challenge" will be qualified for the final rounds and eligible to win the Elites. All games will be played on Tombstone and Desolation, so this is a bit of a ploy to make some WashingtonsÂ¿of courseÂ¿if you don't already have the mapsÂ¿you shouldn't even consider playing, probably. It's a fun little tournament that will most likely hold off the halo fanatics until Halo 3.

Info from Xbox.com:

Halo 2 Challenge Tournament
First, compete in the Online Tournament from June 11 through July 25, 2007. After a 15-day leaderboard qualification round, the top 64 ranked players on the "H2 Challenge" Rumble Pit playlist will advance to the live bracket round. Matches during the tournament will be played on the new maps, so get them now and practice.

First place prizes: Top three finalists with the highest scores after Grand Final play will receive an Xbox 360 Elite game console with an accessories package including an additional Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black) and two Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kits.

Runner up prizes: The remaining five finalists not eligible for a Grand Prize will receive a 12 month Xbox LIVE Gold Membership subscription.

Halo 2 Requires Use of New Maps for Matchmaking (News)

May 18, 2007

As we all know, the Halo 2 Blastacular Map pack did not download the way it should have. Now, Bungie has released a statement saying that in order to have any kind of matchmaking in Halo 2, you must have the new maps in order to do so.

Halo Killers (Feature)

May 15, 2007

Halo isn't perfect. Oh, there's no denying the series' greatness. Its brilliance, even. Halo and Halo 2 have done more to revolutionize and shape the way we play console shooters than any other game. Where do you think Gears of War learned the strategic economy of the two gun inventory? Where did GRAW and Call of Duty discover the simplicity of regenerating health? Above all, where did the entire genre realize the importance of online multiplayer? The answer is always... Halo. As the years ...

New Halo 2 maps free in July (News)

May 10, 2007

Another update on the stat reset and of course news that the new Halo 2 maps will be free in July.

Halo 2 hits 5 million players (News)

May 9, 2007

Moments ago, we watched the odometer of Halo 2 players roll over the 5,000,000 mark. Today also happens to be the 2.5-year anniversary of launch.

Blastacular Map Update (News)

May 8, 2007

Frankie has posted an update on the new Halo 2 map pack regarding fixed glitches, people getting the maps for free, and how/why you will need to redownload them.

Halo 2 Blastacular maps fixed (News)

May 2, 2007

Hooray! Map download problems are fixed! If you were one of the (significant) number of people unable for a variety of reasons, to download the recent "Blastacular" map pack, a fix implemented last night should have worked for you. Firstly, our apologies. We (Bungie) realize this has been inconvenient and annoying.

Matchmaking Playlist Update and Rank resets next week (News)

Apr 26, 2007

Frankie has stated that the new Matchmaking update and rank resets will occur sometime next week due to problems with the Halo 2 map downloader.

Halo 2 Map Pack Issues with Xbox 360 (News)

Apr 18, 2007

Numerous reports are coming in from various forums showing users getting multiple error messages when trying to buy the new Halo 2 maps on an Xbox 360. Many users see "Purchase failed. You will not be charged for this transaction. Please try again later." This is happening even with a credit card associated with the Gold account. Another error users are seeing is "Installation of content failed".

There's also many reports of big glitches in the new maps, such as multiple invisible walls in Tombstone.

New Halo 2 maps out! (News)

Apr 17, 2007

Bungie has released the promised two new multiplayer maps for Halo 2's still stupidly-popular multiplayer mode, though it'll cost you some bucks to get your hands on them. $4 is the asking price for the pair, which are both remakes of classic Halo arenas Hang 'em High and ...

Master Chief Shoots Out The Blastacular Map Pack (News)

Apr 17, 2007

Gamerreports.com says that the Halo 2 'Blastacular Map Pack' is now available for download over Xbox Live. This pack is US $4.00, and it contains two maps: Tombstone and Desolation.

Halo 2 Auto-update is up (News)

Apr 12, 2007

Bungie sends out word about their new auto-update.

"As you know by now, we're just over a week away from unleashing two brand new Halo 2 multiplayer maps upon the world. "Desolation", a remake of the Halo 1 map Derelict, and Tombstone, a remake of the classic "Hang 'em High", are both being released on Xbox Live on Tuesday 4/17. For the bargain price of $4.00 you'll be able to unleash a new can of whoop-ass on these completely re-imagined multiplayer arenas. We'll have a lot more to say (and show) about each of these maps next week as part of our continuing coverage on Bungie.net."

Halo machinima series Red vs. Blue to conclude with hundredth episode (News)

Apr 4, 2007

The series that has been the premier machinima for the past four years will be calling it quits. The Blood Gulch Chronicles will conclude with their 100th episode.

Good bye Red vs. Blue, Thank you for the Memories.

New Halo 2 Maps revealed - screens inside (News)

Mar 30, 2007

Two new maps will be available for download from April 17 on Xbox Live for $4. Bungie mouthpiece Frank O'Connor explained, "It's true! Two new maps, both available on April 17 through the Halo 2 downloader in the game itself, and it's just $4 for the pair. The maps are Tombstone and Desolation - remakes of Hang 'Em High and Derelict, respectively." Bungie also released two shots of the remakes, one of which you can see on this very page. See the other behind the Images tab ...

Halo 2 (Screenshots)

Mar 30, 2007

Latest Halo 3 internet update (News)

Mar 26, 2007

It's a new week, which means a new internet update trickling from the Bungie fortress, and this week it focuses on Halo 3's new and improved battle encounters. "Halo 3 encounters are more fun, more challenging, more varied and more enjoyable than those in Halo or Halo 2," the update reads. "The interplay and strategies created among the various Covenant foes is just thrilling." "One weird thing that I just can't get used to (in a good way, I mean) is the fact that you have to plan for ...

Master Replicas Announces Halo Collectibles (News)

Mar 5, 2007

Corgi International and Microsoft have entered into a partnership to bring the exciting and interactive world of Microsoft's "Halo" franchise to life with stunning 3-D merchandise. Slated for release later in 2007, Corgi International will unveil a comprehensive line of replica collectibles and gifts.

Ruined endings - part one (Feature)

Mar 2, 2007

The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Epic quests need epic endings, and theres not much that's more epic than a giant red thing fighting an oversized golden award trophy. The dragon trophy decimates the Vishnu-armed creature by breathing white stuff on it, and the fate of the world is put in your hands. But the games over, so good luck with ...

Warner Music buys Halo rights (News)

Mar 1, 2007

Warner Music and Microsoft have penned a deal that will see a greater emphasis placed on pushing videogame soundtracks in your face. Under terms of the deal Warner Music will claim, administer and license music compositions owned and controlled by Microsoft. Some of these will obviously include scores for Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Age of Empires, Fable, and Kameo: Elements of Power. Ed Pierson, Warner's legal guy, explains: "We're confident we can develop and identify some exciting and ...

Guitar Hero II to include "Halo Mjolnir" theme song (News)

Feb 27, 2007

A rumor coming straight out of the Official Xbox Magazine suggests that gamers will be able to download and rock out to the "Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix," which greets you when you fire up Halo 2. The opening guitar in the theme was recorded by seven-string guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. We've put in a few calls to the right people but they couldn't help us either way. But seeing as though a Spartan featured as an unlockable character in Dead or Alive 4, we reckon there's every chance of this ...

Halo theme performed live - by teenagers! (News)

Feb 23, 2007

Recorded in what looks like someone's living room, these kids jamming the Halo theme tune is good enough to be the real thing. One drummer, one guitarist (no, not Steve Vai who recorded the guitar in Halo 2 ), one bass player and one awesome violinist is all it takes - as well as some serious talent - to play your favorite videogame theme tunes. There's also a hi-fi belting out the famous monks in the room too, but that just adds to the whole performance. This has to be seen to be ...

Bungie on Halo 2: We Screwed Up (News)

Jan 23, 2007

In a recent interview with EDGE magazine, Chris Butcher of Bungie Studios has publicly admitted that Bungie committed many mistakes in the development of Halo 2. Comparing the time dedicated to polish Halo and its sequel, Butcher said:

"We miscalculated, we screwed up, we came down to the wire and we just lost all of that. So Halo 2 is far less than it could and should be in many ways because of that. It kills me to think of it. Even the multiplayer experience for Halo 2 is a pale shadow of what it could and should have been if we had gotten the timing of our schedule right. It's astounding to me. I f*cking cannot play Halo 2 multiplayer. I cannot do it. And that's why I know Halo 3 is going to be so much better."

Bungie veteran sets up new studio (News)

Dec 15, 2006

Former Bungie team lead Max Hoberman has told GamesIndustry.biz that his new studio, Certain Affinity, won't necessarily develop games exclusively for Xbox and Xbox 360 - despite a close relationship with Microsoft.

Certain Affinity officially opened its doors earlier this week, announcing that its first project would be to develop multiplayer maps for Halo 2 in partnership with Bungie Studios and Microsoft Game Studios.

It's also planning to produce a title for Xbox 360, details of which have yet to be announced.

According to Hoberman, "Microsoft has been a great partner for Bungie, so Certain Affinity has every intent of building a strong relationship moving forward.

"We're also huge fans of the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, but it's too early to say whether we'll ultimately end up exclusive to Microsoft platforms," he added.

Hoberman spent 10 years at Bungie, where he was team lead for the multiplayer sections of Halo 2 and Halo 3 - initiating and overseeing gameplay, interface and online systems.

"What we've accomplished with Halo 3 is extraordinary," he commented. "Halo 2 turned the online world on its head, but Halo 3 is going to rip its head right off."

Hoberman's new staff members have experience of working for a range of developers including Bungie, Origin and Digital Anvil, and have worked on titles such as Ultima, Myth, Ghost Recon and Asheron's Call.

A statement on the Certain Affinity website reads: "Certain Affinity's mission is to create innovative action-oriented games set in immersive worlds. Now, lots of people say things like that, so you're probably wondering what sets us apart.

"Well, there's really nothing we can say to convince you today, but we hope that when we have something ready to show you'll decide for yourself that we aren't full of sh**. In the meantime all we can really do is point to our collective...

Meet Certain Affinity! (News)

Dec 14, 2006

Say hello to our newest friends in the game development biz - Certain Affinity. This new team founded by ex-Bungie multiplayer lead Max Hoberman is hard at work on new Halo 2 maps and a full game of their own.

The Top 7... alien invasions (Feature)

Nov 7, 2006

Gears of War got us thinking: Massive explosions. Guts strewn everywhere. People running in terror. Few things ignite the minds of gamers like a good alien invasion. It may be bizarre or terrifying (and in the case of Gears of War, it may come from underground instead of outer space) but in video games, aliens always bring massive destruction in their wake. This week, we take a look back at the seven games with the most memorable, exciting or disturbing alien invasions... ever. 7. Halo 2 ...

Four billion Halo 2 games played on Live (News)

Oct 31, 2006

A recent post by Bungie revealed that, thanks to database programmer extraordinaire Roger Wolfson, games of Halo 2 online have 'officially surged over the four billion games played mark'. And that's in a little under two years after the game's launch.

Wolfson also notes that they're pretty close to hitting the four million unique players mark. Along with the update Bungie posted a lovely pie chart, which does more than take us back to our school days. It clearly shows that team-based games are by far the most popular.

Halo 2 speed trial becomes Guinness world record (News)

Aug 17, 2006

How fast can you beat Halo 2? In August of 2005, Cody Miller managed to take on the Flood on Legendary difficulty in 3 1/2 hours ... without dying. It's an amazing feat, so much so that the 2007 Guinness Book of World Record lists Cody's stunt.

Boy trades Halo 2 skills for hamster (News)

Jul 28, 2006

Friday 28 July 2006 An eight-year-old boy has bought himself a hamster after earning money as a videogames coach, giving lessons online to gamers wanting to better their Halo 2 skills. He's named the hamster Cortana after the AI character in the sci-fi Xbox shooter. The lad in question is a New Yorker who has the incredible name Victor De Leon III, but is better known on Xbox Live as Lil Poison. He is able to charge $25 per hour for Halo 2 tutoring thanks to being part of a training group ...

Top Xbox Live Games for week of 7/3 (News)

Jul 10, 2006

Last weeks top live games list is broken out two ways. Both lists are based on WW UU's on Xbox Live*
If you combine the lists, then Halo 2 would be number 1 followed by all Xbox 360 games.

Xbox 360 Top Live Games
1 Call of Duty 2
2 Ghost Recon 3
3 Oblivion
4 BFMC
5 Prey Demo
6 Final Fantasy XI
7 EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3
8 2006 FIFA World Cup
9 PGR3
10 Perfect Dark Zero

Original Xbox Top Live Games
1 Halo 2
2 Battlefield 2: MC
3 Counter-Strike
4 Splinter Cell Chaos
5 Rainbow Six 3 BA
6 Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
7 Pro Evolution Soccer 5
8 Madden NFL 2006
9 Forza Motorsport
10 Splinter Cell Chaos

This Years MLG Anheim Results (News)

Jul 6, 2006

This year saw the unstopable Team Boss win the Halo 2 4v4, it is also their first major tournament win since they went signed their gaming contract. In the Halo 2 Head to Head Karma took the top spot with another rather impressive performance.

The best XBox headset ever made, for $14.99 (News)

Jun 29, 2006

The Plantronics Halo 2 headset is now only $15, and some of the proceeds go to Katrina victims. What else do you want?

GamesRadar - Halo 2

Contributors and Cover Art for Halo: Evolutions Revealed (News)

A Homemade Halo Warthog (and how to make one) (News)

Full Size Halo "Warthog" to be Unveiled at MCM Expo (News)

Master Chief 1:2 Scale Bust Available for Pre-Order (News)

The best of HaloRadar (Feature)

Technically, that's not correct... (Feature)

A brief history of missile rides (Feature)

Microsoft didn't want Halo as flagship title (News)

Microsoft Responds To Accusations Of Halo 2 Holding Back Xbox Live (News)

Confirmed: Director Neill Blomkamp Would Probably Not Do a Halo Film, Even If Offered One (News)

The secretly sinister storylines of your favourite games (Feature)

E3 2004: Five Years Later (Feature)

Video game villains who got away with it (Feature)

8 of the lamest game endings ever (Feature)

100 reasons fanboys hate shooters (Feature)

The Top 7… games you either love or hate (Feature)

Videogames versus the real world – second showdown! (Feature)

Gaming's big-ass booms! (Video)

The most superior superior races (Feature)

Halo Warthog Real Life Vehicle Goes for Test Drive (News)

The 10 manliest men in videogame history (Feature)

The 10 manliest men in videogames (Video)

The greatest game on every platform (Feature)

Online gaming's dirtiest tricks (Feature)

Tournament of level one enemies (Feature)

Halo Interactive Board Game Released in US (News)

How modern gaming has made us into wimpy gamers (Feature)

GamesRadar's E3 2008 Awards (Feature)

20 Most Rabidly Patriotic Games (Feature)

Further Reading (Feature)

Sexy Fan Art: Cortana Edition (Feature)

GTA Rules NPD All-Time U.S. Top 10 (News)

Red vs. Blue is Back with Reconstructed (News)

LIVE Activity for week of 4/21 (News)

LIVE Activity for week of 4/14 (News)

LIVE Activity for week of 3/31 (News)

The Top 7... inanimate objects (Feature)

HaloRadar: Machinima Academy Awards (Feature)

Live activity for week of 3/3 (News)

HaloRadar: Master Chief Mutations (Feature)

Live Activity for week of 2/25 (News)

HaloRadar: Gears of War vs. Halo (Feature)

Gamers rock out! (Feature)

Live activity for week of 2/18 (News)

HaloRadar: Silliest Fan Art (Feature)

Live activity for week of 2/11 (News)

Bungie Charity: Original Mister Chief Art (News)

Halo 2 Decides It Wants To Be a Platinum Hit (News)

Has Gearbox Been Hired to Continue Halo? (News)

Live activity for week of 1/28 (News)

HaloRadar: The Halo Suicides (Feature)

HaloRadar: Fans Gone Wild (Feature)

A historic day for Major League Gaming / Halo 3 (News)

HaloRadar: Halocide (Feature)

HaloRadar: Gift Guide (Feature)

Halo's Filthiest Trash Talk (Feature)

Halo 3 - Halo's filthiest trash talk 10-30-07 (Video)

Universal and Fox Pull Plug on Halo Movie (News)

The history of Halo (Feature)

New Details: Microsoft, "Halo" maker Bungie split (News)

Bungie Jumping: Bungie's Frank O'Connor: Games on Other Platforms Possible (News)

Trailer Trash (Feature)

Halo: The Story So Far (Feature)

Custom Halo 3 Spartan Armor Suit on sale on eBay (News)

Is BioShock better than Halo 3? (Feature)

Japan Gets Halo History Pack (News)

Library Hosts Halo 2 Tounament, Community Reacts (News)

Halo : Uprising Unveiled (Comics) (News)

Machinima Series Red vs. Blue Ends Tour of Duty (News)

Halo 2 Xbox Live Challenge (News)

Halo 2 Requires Use of New Maps for Matchmaking (News)

Halo Killers (Feature)

New Halo 2 maps free in July (News)

Halo 2 hits 5 million players (News)

Blastacular Map Update (News)

Halo 2 Blastacular maps fixed (News)

Matchmaking Playlist Update and Rank resets next week (News)

Halo 2 Map Pack Issues with Xbox 360 (News)

New Halo 2 maps out! (News)