Leaked Halo 3 beta vid: the new Zanzibar [update 1]

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 23rd 2007 at 5:30PM }

Update: Replaced YouTube video with longer, higher resolution video. For a complete analysis of the video click here.

Sure, it's not quite as exciting as a new episode of the Xbox 360 Fancast, but we figured some of you might be interested in watching this freshly leaked video of Halo 3. The video showcases what looks to be the new version of Zanzibar. It's the beta build of the game, and you can see many of the changes (such as the stationary bubble shield) are in place. Give the video your undivided attention and tell us what you think. You'd better do it quick, too. There's no telling when Bungie's ninjas will descend upon us, demanding that we remove the video on pain of death.

[Thanks, Vic]

Tags: bungie, bungie studios, BungieStudios, halo, halo 3, Halo3, microsoft game studios, MicrosoftGameStudios

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ciaran Gallagher @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:36PM

looks just like Halo 2 but with better graphics!
can't wait tho...

Iced_Eagle @ Apr 23rd 2007 6:03PM

Someone mirror it quick! :)

Anyways it looks great! Beta can't come soon enough.

erivera3 @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:41PM

@1

No, it looks like Halo 3.

Anyhow, great vid, didn't show off too much, but the bubble shield looks awesome!

Pinhead @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:41PM

Someone needs to be killed for making that song.

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:41PM

i love the HALO TRILOGY but these graphics aren't that good i will still be at gamestop at midnight getting though cuz it doesn't matter

BAK6E @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:26PM

oh man i can't wait for this!

ArchEnemy20 @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:53PM

Most sequels tend to be like their previous with better graphics...

7min HD version here, it seems to delete itself after you watch though

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W1LJHPT5

Drunkenshaolin @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:44PM

how can u people gudge the graphixs with a yourtube low-res video...;-z
if you dont like what ya see...snap ya crackdown disk..i dear ya

Drunkenshaolin @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:46PM

dare ya!!!!! oppps

Pat @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:46PM

It was interesting to see that the bubble shield can be moved by setting a grenade off inside of it. Also the bubble shield lasted for quite a while.

I too am unimpressed with the graphics. I guess the Unreal Engine and Gears has spoiled me.

erivera3 @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:47PM

Seriously, stop being idiots, this is why bungie doesn't release stuff until it looks gorgeous because idiots like you say the graphics look bad and are already condemning the game. Go buy a ps2 and leave halo 3 to the real fans who know it will be the most beautiful game ALIVE.

Benjamin09 @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:52PM

Halo 3 will be in 1080p so...how can you judge a youtube video that is in pre-beta.

Thats like saying your kids are ugly when they are not even born yet... (some of you are still going to have ugly babies, not my fault)

BadVermin @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:54PM

Could the music be any more annoying? Why not use the the game sound, or is that too much to ask?

Randy Bultena @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:59PM

Cool to see the bubble sheild.

alijah @ Apr 23rd 2007 6:04PM

Marvel Alliance Heros and Villians Pack. I got it check it out

alijah @ Apr 23rd 2007 6:10PM

Big question will halo 3 be cross platform?

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 6:12PM

@15

no

Lucky @ Apr 23rd 2007 9:12PM

It's alpha and on you tube. Of course it looks ugly you fools.

X__x

there is a reasone it's not "done yet".

JamieBoi V2 @ Apr 23rd 2007 6:34PM

Vid has been removed btw

JamieBoi V2 @ Apr 23rd 2007 6:38PM

Also, you cannot trust this vid totally. I mean yeah the bubble shield seems realistic, but it was posted by one of the most notorious Halo 2 Modding clans (PPF Noobs) When I used to mod back in the day, they pulled of some pretty slick shit. I wouldnt be suprised if they used their magic to create this vid

techSage @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:07PM

DL 7min HD version via BT (it's faster):
http://www.torrentportal.com/torrents-details.php?id=1064739

bushe @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:11PM

http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=59795

3cubedminus3squared @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:13PM

Joystiq has it up too.

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:24PM

That mongoose looks badass in the 7 minute version and the map looks great hope the graphics get a little better though it still looks magnifico water effects are decent and i wish you could have seen the spartan laser a little bett exploding a car but better then nothing

Grant @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:39PM

Remember that Bungie did state the the public beta is actually going to be the delta build, if I'm not mistaken.

Anyways, maybe I'm the only one, but I think the graphics are looking great, especially considering that I'll be playing it in HD.

Peekay @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:54PM

I didn't know Halo 3 was coming to the original Xbox. Why didn't they make it for 360?

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 8:10PM

I rather have somewhat bad graphics then have good graphics like in Gears of War with a pretty bad and annoying multiplayer online which the maps are all small compared to the difference in range in HALO 3 with size like zanzibar rather then having identical sides and weapons in GoW the teams have different things on each side. Also you can customize the games you play online with tons of game types, vehicles, and weapons. Also the single player has to be atleast 3-4 hours longer then HALO 2 with all the complaining with how short it was in HALO 2. Just saying i rather have more gametypes and custombalization then whats in Gear of War.

Brian @ Apr 23rd 2007 8:17PM

Looks cool but, my god, the person who wrote that song should be shot. Is there some kind of bubble shield I can use on my ears to save me from that horrible techno?

GANNONSMASH @ Apr 23rd 2007 8:24PM

Shut up #24. This is the beta, and not the one we get to play. The one we get to play is the Delta. This is most likely super old footage. Besides, if Halo 3 had graphics only as good as the original Xbox, would that make it any less great?

Xanto @ Apr 23rd 2007 8:44PM

All I can say is whoa...

Zac LaCombe @ Apr 23rd 2007 9:02PM

27.

Sorry but no. The Beta phase of testing has JUST begun. Read the Weekly Updates. Delta? I've never heard of Delta tests.

svoma15 @ Apr 23rd 2007 9:12PM

http://digg.com/gaming_news/NEW_FULL_HD_Halo_3_Zanzibar_Leak_7_min

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 9:15PM

29 Zac LaCombe

Brian Jarrard: Things are progressing quite well, thanks for asking. We recently concluded our internal Multiplayer Alpha test with Microsoft employees, and we're in the process of readying our internal beta build. Then the next evolution will be our delta, which is what will become the public beta this spring (public delta didn't quite have the same ring to it).

i got it from a website that interviewed him

Justin U @ Apr 23rd 2007 9:32PM

You people are retarded if you think that it looks like Halo 2.

Seriously. Stop being followers on the "Its visuals = Halo 2!" train, grow some nuts, and open your eyes.

Say what you really want to say:

It looks damn good for Alpha. Bungie just demeans themselves a lot.

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:06PM

33

this is not alpha its the beta it says it in the video and if this is recent then the graphics won't get that much better then this if you look at where gear of war was at this time in developement process at the e3 build but we will see may 16th can't wait

Danno @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:14PM

Two things:

1) No respect for Twisted Nerve, screw you guys, okay, the techno remix sort of sucks, but the original is awesome even with the whistling

2) It looks like the quality between some of the assets is different. The player gun models look rather good while it seems like not all of the shaders are final on the world geometry assets. The water in particular looked placeholder.

Justin U @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:18PM

34
Learn Punctuation. It helps if you have grammar as well.

And so what? It still looks a Shitton better than any Halo 2 maps. Try and prove me wrong. And Gears of War? This isn't gears of war. Stop comparing it.

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:48PM

36
stupid i never said it should look like GEARS OF WAR but I said the footage of it was better looking at this point in developement and it didn't really did not change graphically from the e3 footage and so the HALO 3 footage leaked today if recent won't change by much possibly unless bungie developes there games different and does graphics last. Also i know this new footage looks better then halo 2 but it may not improve by much cuz people are saying its going to improve by alot cuz its alpha but its not, its the beta, and i don't care about my grammer cuz i am not typing an article or essay or anything and there's more to life then spell checking a comment

kfresh97 @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:30PM

Man, whoever put that up is going to get ass-raped by Bungie. From first viewing I could spot at least 3 Gamertags clearly. Everyone knows that Bungie keeps a pretty detailed log of all matches, it's going to suck to be this dude tomorrow. Bye bye beta privs.

Danno @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:41PM

There may be more to life than spell checking a comment, but communication is nevertheless a very important life skill. Written communication especially so.

You might want to try Firefox, it has built in spell check on all text fields which makes it particularly easy to proof your messages.

jason @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:49PM

40
i don't really care about having proper grammer to people i don't know at all as long as i can talk to my friends clearly which i don't really even use proper grammer on im nither do my friends so should i spell out lol like laughing out loud

atsui @ Apr 24th 2007 1:09AM

The song is perfect for what it is.. a leak.. this song would be perfect for a parody.. the song is suppose to rub in bungies face..

sekou lumumba @ Apr 24th 2007 1:43AM

This looks great. I'll admit, it does feel a little H2ish, but c'mon...it's Zanzibar. I have nothing but faith in what the final product be. They've said before that a lot of the textures for the beta will be placeholder, as well as some of the weapons. We all know we'll play the hell out of this on May 16th, so let's stop picking it apart,k?

Otis Whitaker @ Apr 24th 2007 2:19AM

Going by all the PR video material for Halo 3, aside from the announcement trailer, Halo 3 looks like Halo 2, in HD, and nothing more, graphically.

People can make all the excuses they want, but why the hell would bungie show crap (relatively speaking) pictures and footage?

It's not like the entire graphics engine is going to get a major overhaul in the last few months of development, or anything.

I'm not expecting more than Halo 2's graphics + HD + lots more Bloom and Brown, and nore should anyone else.

Justin U @ Apr 24th 2007 7:28AM

I don't even care if you spell shit wrong. Just learn to throw in a comma, a period, or even an exclamation point.

Dear god.

And what I'm gleaming from the atrocious thing you call a post, you are saying that Gears of War looked better at the last E3?

Well,
A) It isn't E3 yet, so nyah
B) There won't BE an E3, so nyah
C) This isn't supposed to BE GoW, so nyah
D) It has its own Visual feel, so nyah

Go back to whatever primordial ooze you spawned from and throw yourself back in, philistine.

jason @ Apr 24th 2007 12:18PM

Justin U

DEAR GOD

Well,

1) e3 would be almost two weeks from now if it were the same e3 but its not.
2) there will be an e3 in July stupid.
3) I never said this dhould be GoW and that GEARS at this point was looking great and did not change much graphically so HALO 3 may not change much if this footage is recent and bungie could develope games in different order then epic to i don't know.
4)i know it has its own visual feel i just thought i should let people saying it will improve by alot that it possibly won't but i love the HALO series and i personally don't care what it looks like as long as it is decent.

Get your facts right about e3 and what i am saying and i don't care if i put grammer in my comments you could understand better just drop it i am right you are wrong

new_player @ Apr 24th 2007 3:12PM

For Christ's sake Jason, at LEAST spell grammar right..

Justin U @ Apr 24th 2007 4:42PM

Dude...

You realize, that GoW wasn't in its Beta version at E3, right?

There is quite an extensive amount of graphical polish RIGHT before it releases. GoW had its graphics done for the sake of graphics, so it looked good.

But, Halo 3 is focused on gameplay.

Just admit that it looks NOTHING like Halo 2 and we can be done speaking to each other ever again. My head may asplode if I have to read one more of your comments.

ssuk @ Apr 24th 2007 6:46PM

@11: These guys went out of their way to ensure they left no trace of anything on the video to identify themselves as the people breaking their NDAs. My guess is that the original audio had the testers chatting to each other while they were recording, depending on how big the beta testing team is, they could be tracked down just through that. I think they're heroes enough for leaking this footage, even if their taste in music is somewhat appauling. God speed, Annon!