Halo 3 tested in Iraq by our soldiers [update 1]
by Dustin Burg 
{ Dec 31st 2006 at 5:15PM }
Over at the Gamespot's forums pictures and a brief video have surfaced of the Halo 3 beta being played by soliders in Iraq. There are a few offscreen pictures posted and a short video showing what looks to be either the Halo 3 loading screen or the title screen. Bungie and Microsoft set up a huge gaming station to showcase Halo 3 multiplayer for the soldiers ... how friggin' cool is that? If any soldier living overseas is reading this, please send us a tip if you know about this sneak peak at Halo 3 and/or your reactions if you got some hands on time. More pictures and video after the break ... salute!
Update 1: Another video was found, updated video links after the break.
[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Z3r0 D3adly @ Dec 31st 2006 5:25PM
Oh my god this is so awsome I can't wait for that beta to be out for us and Im really glad that the soildiers in Iraq get to be one of the first to play this beta!
zourskittles @ Jan 3rd 2007 6:31PM
My brother said he was near the building they were testing it at but he had to help along with a few other guys take care of cleaning up from a box of grenades that blew up in a tent, but luckily my brother was able to get a bit of time with the demo and said that people were going nuts over how great it was. Lucky bastard.
jake @ Dec 31st 2006 5:44PM
now i wouldn't say lucky bastard. Hes in Iraq after all
BucklingLeader @ Dec 31st 2006 5:49PM
now thats something that those guys deserve, makes their stay over there a little more enjoyable
Broken_Speed @ Dec 31st 2006 5:54PM
MS really is brilliant when it comes to PR. They are the masters at this. Special thanks out to those serving in Iraq, its not easy when you know someone who serving overseas. My 2 friends are former marines. Awesome pictures though.
razer @ Dec 31st 2006 6:11PM
Umm, the last time I checked there isn't a draft going on. These people enlisted and knew the risk that they might be called into combat and heaven forbid DO THE JOB THEY ARE PAID FOR. Too many people join the military thinking they will be stationed somewhere stateside or in a non-combat zone where they can soak up the pay, the tuition and insurance benefits. Well, sorry you have to actually do your job. I appreciate what our soldiers do and I have much respect for them. But don't make it sound like this is something outside of the scoop of being in a military unit training to be a soldier for combat.
MS is great at the PR thing, what better way to gain some press for themselves then by using soldiers as their marketing tools. I'm sure this is less of "hey our soldiers deserve a treat" and more of "hey we can use the iraq war to push Halo into the news more". Bungie are some of the most arrogant, full of themselves devs/publishers out there and I could see them all laughing about this over a pint.
ciroslive @ Dec 31st 2006 6:14PM
Notice the HUD? It only has three grenades on the top left vs. the four shown in the "Et tu Brute" video...
DC @ Dec 31st 2006 6:31PM
heres another video guys: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=1641839735
Mikeawesome @ Dec 31st 2006 6:34PM
Either they removed a grenade entirely, or they just took it out of the beta, because they aren't ready to reveal it quite yet.
DaKing240 @ Dec 31st 2006 6:35PM
First of all, Razer your comments are completely unnecessary, rude, and out of line. It makes me sick to think that you are sitting in the comfort of your house, playing games, eating pizza, and talking crap about our soldiers. Any person who stands up, and fights for our freedom is respected in my books.
Second of all, I think that Bungie is very cool to let them try out the game first, since it seems that everyone wants to see what the game is shaping up to be. This is not a marketing gimmick, it is just a good gesture on behalf of Microsoft and Bungie.
RogueStorm @ Dec 31st 2006 6:35PM
@6.
Hey, no one is expecting them to have their asses kissed all the time and most of the time soldiers (myself included), get sick of it. However, let's say you had a tough job that had you in a foreign country, say building an oil pipeline while a civil war rages around you, but that's what you get paid to do. Wouldn't you like some creature comforts in a while from someone? Sure you would...
On another note, what better way to get input on combat techniques for AI and weapons than from a bunch of seasoned war veterans in a war zone. No my friends, this is much more than a pat on the back for these guys in Iraq. Bungie is tweaking the combat systems, AI and weapons I bet.
C Mac @ Dec 31st 2006 7:19PM
6. Umm, the last time I checked there isn't a draft going on. These people enlisted and knew the risk that they might be called into combat and heaven forbid DO THE JOB THEY ARE PAID FOR. Too many people join the military thinking they will be stationed somewhere stateside or in a non-combat zone where they can soak up the pay, the tuition and insurance benefits. Well, sorry you have to actually do your job. I appreciate what our soldiers do and I have much respect for them. But don't make it sound like this is something outside of the scoop of being in a military unit training to be a soldier for combat.
MS is great at the PR thing, what better way to gain some press for themselves then by using soldiers as their marketing tools. I'm sure this is less of "hey our soldiers deserve a treat" and more of "hey we can use the iraq war to push Halo into the news more". Bungie are some of the most arrogant, full of themselves devs/publishers out there and I could see them all laughing about this over a pint.
Wow...are you a solider? You have a very poor way to look at. I'm a solider and I think it's great that they got to play the beta. Have you even been to Iraq? I have and let me tell you it's no cup of tea. And yes we did sign up and yes everyone knows the risk of being in the military, do you seriously think that people sign up not thinking that there going to ever not go to war? Man your a moron if you don't think that. Anyway besides the point Halo 3 is going to be sweet adn I'm glad that there getting to test it.
EricOSU @ Dec 31st 2006 7:34PM
WOW! It almost wants you to sign up for the military so you can get shot at for real. Good for them though they deserve it whether they signed up to be in Iraq or just hoped to be stationed in some remote island sipping margaritas as razer said. Of course to his defense if anyone watched the news shortly after the Iraq war broke out a couple of “soldiers” tried to sue the army because they didn’t sign up for war but instead the free education they were promised and wanted out.
Taylor @ Dec 31st 2006 7:40PM
this is garbage.. i just got back from iraq. this has to be in kuwait. they would never bring all that stuff to iraq. unless they are at camp victory/liberty. ..damn it i can never catch a break
mandake @ Dec 31st 2006 8:13PM
I don't comment much but I really needed to say razer, you really are a jerk. There would be a draft if nobody volunteered, and last I checked, the armed forces are still meeting their recruitment goals even though the war is now more than three years old. It's a pity that with our volunteer army, it's the stand-up, high quality dudes that end up getting wasted and all we're left with are the good-for-nothing whiners like you who stay safe and warm with momma while others do the dirty work.
Oh, and thanks for the cheap shot against Bungie too. I'll bet you won't crow when you come up with your own mega-hit game.
ads @ Dec 31st 2006 8:17PM
i think it would be funny if the soldiers started yelling "Allah-Hu-Akbar" after killing each other in the game.
trj156 @ Dec 31st 2006 9:25PM
hey wow...it looks like hi-def halo 2! im so excited...
Yo mama @ Dec 31st 2006 10:39PM
Thats badass! =)
Merxx @ Dec 31st 2006 11:08PM
Combat tested. You guys and gals come home safe. You have become heroes and GI Joe/Jane in my kids’ eyes. Kick ass and come home safe.
Character is who you are when no one is watching.
soldier @ Dec 31st 2006 11:13PM
awesome way to support our tropps
Cal @ Dec 31st 2006 11:24PM
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4616/icons2or9.png
remember bungie said we won't have icons, but numbers over our heads for teams? well those could either be icons, or the background color being your spartan and a number on top.
Jonah Falcon @ Dec 31st 2006 11:51PM
Or it could just be something included in the beta.
Pipe @ Jan 1st 2007 12:45AM
@6 dont ever diss on the troops overseas or else where for that matter. just keep in mind that they are the ones who stand outside your door keeping you safe. i'm mexican and would gladly join the military (marines) to defend this country. (i would of but because i've gotten in trouble with the police a few years a ago, i can't)
i don't think MS/Bungie was suppose to get PR out of this. i think, these pics and vids were leaked out. we would of probably gotten more, but thats just me
rualanthony @ Jan 1st 2007 1:18AM
i know this is off the topic but i wanted some views. My 360 just got the 3 flashing red lights and i was wondering was it because i had too much hooked up to it. I have my 360 in a pelican fan stand. my hd-dvd player is hooked up to the 360 via usb,my wireless adpator snaped on the back of the hd-dvd,the fan stand plugged into the second slot of the hd-dvd. Since the fan stand usb is double-sided, i also have my live camera plugged into the fan stand usb. Do you think this might have cause the 360 to die because it was draining too much power?
xxOmenChildxx @ Jan 1st 2007 1:50AM
@ razer.. Wow just wow. I'm amazed at the type of freedom of speech we protect. Wow.. morons like you make soldiers like myself think that you should've been born in Iraq. During the Saddam Era. There's no benefit in losing your life. There's no benefit in losing your loved ones or being injured. Yeah we get bonuses and health care and all kinds of benefits but TRUST me.. no benefit is worth it. What's worth it is defending my country and my loved ones. Six years active duty and 2 tours IN Iraq and I'm proud to STILL serve my country. It's an honorable thing to do."razer" you are a buffoon and I only attack you because Im an American soldier defending YOUR freedom of speech and YOUR pathetic way of life. I commend Microsoft along with Bungie for what they're doing. We had our whole FOB networked and played Halo 2 when we were off so I'm sure the guys appreciate it. Well to everyone on this blog Happy New Years! B Co 2-3 BTB and HHC 1-30th INF BN out of 3RD ID Fort Stewart, what's up everyone!
RangerPrimeX @ Jan 1st 2007 2:08AM
Wow!
Some of the comments on here shows off some of the crappy people you meet on XBL as well as the what the anonymous nature of the internet allows to shoot off their mouths like they never would do to someone's face.
I think it is great for MS to give our troops a little bonus by playing some Halo 3 early. Lord knows it is rough there. For you jerks on here, they just broke 3000 dead. PR stunt or not, it is a great thing to do as a thank you.
Happy New Year, anonymous internet posters.....jerks and I would say that to your faces.
ExpiredPants @ Jan 1st 2007 3:50AM
Support the TROOPS: not the WAR! I have 3 of my closest high-school buddies serving right now. I think they should get Halo 4 AND Gears 2 tommorrow! They are all we got, if they aren't the most eligible to play shooters FIRST tnen you fanboys can have CARTMAN's mom wipe your WOW ass!
ExpiredPants @ Jan 1st 2007 3:50AM
KICK ASS & COME HOME SAFE
ExpiredPants @ Jan 1st 2007 3:51AM
Wow your RAZER Ass was eating leftovber turkey and playing GAYBOY ds when fellow AMERICANS where taking shells so you could be ignorant. I hope there is a draft and you die by friendly fire you jakcfass. SUPPORT THE TROOPS, NOT THE WAR! KICK ASS @ COME HOME SAFE!
Daniel D @ Jan 1st 2007 5:10AM
Wow look at this blind support in our troops they are not so much defending our freedom as they are fighting for oil I mean its amazing how ignorant you can be.
I am with razor completely.
Since when did it become unpatriotic to not support the troops? This is an illegal war they are fighting in after all. They should be playing halo 3 at home not in iraq. Alot of people here need to get a clue.
Bush is a Nazi @ Jan 1st 2007 5:37AM
Wow, the americans in iraq have nothing better to do than play games, good job boys. Its obvious they belong there, hey why dont you invade switzerland next i hear that there were directly involved with 9/11.
xxOmenChildxx @ Jan 1st 2007 8:42AM
@Daniel D
Lets agree with you mister and say you ARE right. Its all about oil. You are allowed to feel any type of way. Thats what makes our country amazing. Now if you think the war is illegal then wouldnt you feel for the men and women of YOUR country that are dying daily for this illegal war? I do my job. I follow orders. Just like all the personnel in the Armed Forces from lowest to highest ranking. I didnt have a choice to go but I did. Just like if we were actually fighting on American soil. Stop being a hypocrite ur either high or have no backbone. The average troop is 20-some years old and likes to do what most 20 yr olds do. I imagine just like yourself. Maybe Im giving you the benefit of the doubt. The difference between and I is this: I live here and support it and when called upon I leave EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE on ORDERS to accomplish a mission. Whether its in Iraq or in relief for Hurricane Katrina. We're there. YOU!?... youre sitting on your comfy couch watching unfold on TV bad mouthing us because you have a sorry existence. 2007 just started and youre a shoe in for a$$hole of the year with slight competition from razer. I thought this was about Halo 3 anyway...
ExpiredPants @ Jan 1st 2007 6:06AM
Yes Bush was directly responsible for 9/11 (Such average MASONIC TEMPLAR SATANIST behavior, he should have been hanging next to saddam): 3000 casualties in Iraq? , try the DRAFT in the 70's, Vietnam ANYONE?40,000+ casualties.
Lets think in the now, I bet if the NFL, MLB, and NBA went on stike TODAY protesting the war then people might care/listen, until then, support your brothers and sisters in arms. Forget the politics, if a Halo3 beta raises the moral of the troops, then it is the least we can do to applaud all parties involved. SUPPORT THE TROOPS, NOT THE WAR. KICK ASS AND COME HOME SAFE
xxOmenChildxx @ Jan 1st 2007 6:12AM
Thank you ExpiredPants. There's so much more Id like to say but still being in the Army I just can't.
hppymnky @ Jan 1st 2007 8:01AM
Wow, I don't even know where to begin. So @6, @30, @31 and anyone else talking shit about people who volunteer to defend your ass, please STFU! Seriously you wanna know when it became unpatriotic to talk shit about the troops? Try, oh I don;t know, 1776? Before that even, seriously, sure they get paid, but not nearly enough, and they lay down their lives so we can listen to ignorant a-holes like yourself. Whatever man, the troops didn't start this war, but they fight it because it was started and now must be fought. SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!!!
ASSHOLES!
xxOmenChildxx @ Jan 1st 2007 8:23AM
thanx hppymnky and everyone else for the support here.
JrezIN @ Jan 1st 2007 11:58AM
wtf!?? **our** soldiers?! USA soldiers!!!
Also, thumbs *down* for Bungie *and* MS to support the war... even this way!
I'm reconsidering buying H3 after this one...
BklynKid @ Jan 1st 2007 12:04PM
Sheesh, not for nothing but you'd imagine this idiot could make the videos longer video without all the shaking and moving. What a waste of time.
s2h @ Jan 1st 2007 12:18PM
#6 your and idiot.. #30,31 your and idiot..
people like you should be deported..
Jonathan Hartner @ Jan 1st 2007 12:52PM
Razer is an idiot. Don't be an asshole about our troops. Support them or be quiet. Also if Bungie was being so arrogant, they would have release a statment saying how badass they are for letting the troops try it. Hevan forbid a company does something nice for someone and get credit for it.
AVL @ Jan 1st 2007 3:39PM
geezus H, ppl will jump at any chance they get to argue about politics. go to fucking youtube or something if you wanna act like an immature piece of shit that thinks your opinion is the only one that matters. why would you post your political viewpoint on xbox360fanboy.com? i really hope that 6, 30 and 31 are not americans because i would really hate for our soldiers to be losing their lives for fucking assholes like you. you three are not better than anyone else, neither are your opinions, just do us all a favor and kill yourselves now.
i feel disgusting for involving myself in this awful argument, but when i read the previous comment i had to give that person props. his comment deserves to be re-read:
40. Razer is an idiot. Don't be an asshole about our troops. Support them or be quiet. Also if Bungie was being so arrogant, they would have release a statment saying how badass they are for letting the troops try it. Hevan forbid a company does something nice for someone and get credit for it.
Posted at 12:46PM on Jan 1st 2007 by Jonathan Hartner
HAPPY FUCKING NEW YEAR
Nif @ Jan 1st 2007 3:57PM
God, calm down everyone.
US troops are dying in Iraq to protect the US's freedom. Whatever. When was the last time Iraq made an attack on American soil? Never?
Why not go after Iran or Saudi Arabia? There's far worse things happening there. Oh wait, Iran is too strong, and Saudi Arabia is already friendly.
Whatever happened to a democracy where people could say what they wanted, when they wanted. Anyone who says the troops shouldn't be in Iraq is deemed to be a traitor to America. Why should the public support everything a country does? Why should the public support a war, if they think it's morally wrong? Does patriotism fly higher than morals? Than ethics? Is it ok to kill someone, if you're doing it for your country?
And, for all your information, people don't hate America because America is free, they hate it because of years of abusive foreign policy. Because America supports Israel. Because America only intervenes when it's own interests are at stake. Why was nothing done about Darfur? About the Israel-Lebanon war? About the Rwandan genocide?
Support your troops, fine. Don't bitch about other people if they don't want to do the same.
That's just one step away from fundamentalist terrorism - if you're not with us, you're the enemy.
Ben @ Jan 1st 2007 4:15PM
#42 - Nif... I agree somewhat with what you say... but realize dude that you're not staying true to what you say.
"Don't bitch about other people if they don't want to do the same."
And what do you do? You're bitching to people who are supporting the troops. Lame dude. Very lame.
Maylon @ Jan 1st 2007 5:04PM
Razor, you seem to spout the same rhetoric I here from every geek that believes MS=Evil, all of it is baseless and sophomoric. And more importantly, your comment about the troops, well frankly I am in awe of your willfull ignorance.
Maylon @ Jan 1st 2007 5:11PM
Also, you are welcome to have a point of view, or else we would not be having this debate. And just a reminder, America is a REPUBLIC, not a democracy.
Max Howell @ Jan 1st 2007 6:19PM
I take it this blog is entirely americans then? Seeing as it's 'our' this and that. Don't get me wrong this is fine, I just didn't realise, and I may be looking for a more everyone 360 feed in future as this suits me better. I don't want to get overly americanised in my opinions. I seriously thought the blog was hosted in Europe or something! Dumbarse me yep.
RabidDog @ Jan 1st 2007 8:36PM
#6 Your a jackass.
http://objflicks.com/GladiatorAmericanStyle.htm
Zell @ Jan 4th 2007 12:25AM
Everybody here has kissed M$ and Bungie's ass like no other. Im ready for Halo3, but damn you guys must go to Bungie forums if you kiss this much ass.
Broken_Speed @ Jan 2nd 2007 12:52AM
PPl plz lets stick to halo 3 and leave the politics out of this....is RAZOR, Daniel and all these losers pricks? Definitely....but not for what he said but why & where he said it of all places here...He's prolly some 14 yr old whos a loser at school and gets beat on by daddy so he has to feel what a big man he is by insulting ppl he doesn't know but I disgress...Stick to HALO 3 ppl I get enough of that from watching the news....I come here to get away from the horror that goes on not only in IRAQ but everywhere else in the world btw this is coming from a guy who has known 2 former marines ever since HS, It's quite possible I would've joined the military with my friends but my mother desperately needed me to get an education so I did, just want to be clear on that point...
If these pics truly were leaked we shoulda heard some comment from MS or BUNGIE which there has been none...either they choose not to comment on it or they're waiting for the right time either way they still made a excellent gesture one which sony would never have had the capacity to think of this creatively. It's one of the main reasons why I think we will win the console wars. Sony and MS are both in the business to make money but MS never starts something it doesn't intend to win, it expects to win its always been Gates style which is why no one not even the govt. likes him b/c he always wins.
Just my 2 Cents
3000, still coming to terms with that figure.
USMC God's Soldiers!!!!
YoMamaSoFat @ Jan 2nd 2007 7:53AM
@ RAZER
Wow dude. Just because they get paid for it doesn't mean it's something we shouldn't respect/applaud/thank/feel sorry for. I personally was against the war in the first place, but that is besides the point. That is a crappy job they have and VERY few people are glad to be over there. Iraqis are fleeing the country en masse because of how lousy the circumstances are. If Iraqis are leaving that quickly you can bet how nasty it is over there and therefore can understand how unexcited americans or ANYBODY would want to be there. Have a little sympathy and respect for people who are doing a much nastier job than you are...in the name of our country, whether or not you agree with the war...which I again will admit I did not agree with the war however I very much respect and appreciate what the soldiers are giving up for the country, whether or not it is a good idea. In fact, I would imagine it would be that much harder to be a good soldier to fight for something that you don't even necessarily believe in. i have earnest respect for anyone who has had to go through what they have.