Oh teh nos! Master Chief to die in Halo 3?

by Dustin Burg { Aug 2nd 2007 at 3:00PM }

Will Master Chief's death in Halo 3 be the super secret climactic end to the Halo story arc? Well, some new Halo 3 promotional materials are (in a round about way) hinting to such a tragic end. The 7th Columnist wrangled up a Halo 3 ad (seen above) that is featured in the latest issue of EGM and is worded in such a way that it almost sounds as if they are remembering Master Chief. You know, like he was gone or had passed away. It's quite the interesting ad indeed. Also, as part of the Halo 3 sponsored Projekt Revolution tour, a Halo 3 advertisement pamphlet was handed out and talks of musical celebration that is "honoring the life and legend Master Chief John-117". Sounds very "Master Chief is dead, let's remember his life" to us. But then again, why would Bungie blatantly put a massive campaign spoiler in their advertisements? This has to be some sort of sneaky red herring trickery, it just has to be ... doesn't it?

Read - Halo 3 EGM ad
Read - Halo 3 Projekt Revolution Pamphlet

Tags: bungie, bungiestudios, halo3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

machrc @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:07PM

Its harry pothead all over again

Joshua @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:10PM

I would think it is implying more about the immorality of the hero mythos.

Luke Valentine @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:12PM

see i think thats always been halo's problem. i dont care about master chief. i dont sympathize with him, i dont relate, theres no emotional connection, and because of that i couldnt care less if he died.

when it comes down to it, halo's storyline has always just been a platform to battle it out in different levels with aliens. it has very little in the way of giving the player some way to connect with the chief.

dare i say, aside from some beautifully orchestrated music, that nothing in halo has ever captivated me emotionally, and iv always felt quite empty after blasting my way through hundreds of the same enemy.

TORO @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:15PM

That's the exact same thing I thought when I saw this ad in my Gamepro mag.

Yea I think Bungie would be smart enough to not reveal any spoilers. I'm sure this ad will catch fire on the internet tubes, Bungie usually claries these type of things on their website.

Hope MC doesn't die, and pushes the Arbiter to his death instead.

erivera3 @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:20PM

@ 3

I don't think I could agree any less. First off, I wish you guys would put "SPOILER" warnings and force people to click on articles, ESPECIALLY in the future before the game is released, so that huge plot spoilers don't pop up in my face the second I open the site.

Second, just like MANY halo fans I feel a huge connection with the Masterchief and that the storyline of Halo is the most immersive and has the potential for being the greatest, most epic story I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. I will most certainly feel sad if he dies, if he has to make the ultimate sacrifice to save humanity. This game has touched the lives of so many, if it hadn't then we wouldn't be here now talking about it and millions wouldn't have played the first two installments.

Fontez @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:20PM

I kind of agree with you... In the fact that they could have attempted to make you care a little more about the Masterchief and the human race.

However...

Just to clear the rumor before it get's all retarded...

The Master Chief Spartan John 117 does NOT die at the end of Halo 3... PERIOD

A few main characters do, but the Master Chief is NOT one of them...

If you'd like a further explanation feel free to e-mail me as always...

brianfontez@hotmail.com

Tony Bowman @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:22PM

it would bet the ad is referring to the Arbiter dying to save humanity.

ccc @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:25PM

Heh, good riddance.

TORO @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:30PM

Well thanks Fontez for clearing that up. How do you know everytime a Halo 3 related blog is posted? Lol or maybe you only respond to H3 related stuff.

Crashman06 @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:36PM

@6

I've got to agree with you. I've felt a connection with MC grow through the series but I'm not sure why. It's interesting because not a whole lot is done to develop his character in the traditional sense. He doesn't speak much and when he does it's pretty short, we know very little about his past, etc. But I think he perfectly represents the selfless mythic hero, in the tradition of say Beowulf or Achilles. MC is an archetypal fearless hero and that fact adds depth to his character. Would anyone be surprised if the whole framework of the entire series actually turned out to be some human storyteller, tens of thousands of years in the future, telling the legendary tale of humanity's first spacefaring mythic hero? It makes sense to me and I think that would be kind of cool. Who knows if it'd actually end like that but... I felt that there was always a traditional storytelling feel around Halo that reminds me a bit of Homer and other classic folklore.

zourskittles @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:34PM

Fontez, warn us with a spoiler, as uninformaative as it is, before you say anything.

AoE @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:35PM

For those who don't care about Master Chief, perhaps you misunderstand. It's a first person shooter, you're not supposed to sympathize with Master Chief, you ARE Master Chief. I suspect that's the reason we've never seen his face; Master Chief isn't Black, or White, or Latino, or Asian... he's Master Chief. He is whoever's playing him at that moment. You're not meant to build an emotional connection with him, or care about him; you're meant to be him.

Fontez @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:36PM

Jesus Christ CCC you're such a fuckin pessimistic prick !! keep your useless comments to yourself you fuckin negative little Bitch !!

If you don't like this game then go fuck yourself and take an extra shift at the Gamestop you brag about working at....

Why the FUCK do you visit this site and comment just to BITCH and COMPLAIN !?!?!

FACK !!

brianfontez@hotmail.com

Faraz @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:41PM

ooooohhh man!!! first Old Snake now Masterchief?!?!?!?
i don't think that i can handle this much trauma!!
well look on the bright side, if he dies we are assured to see his face or they can do it like v for vendetta where you never see his face except for the one who loves him a.k.a. arbiter hahahaha

DjDATZ @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:42PM

Well, first, that WHOLE poster is majorly flawed. MC is NOT the last Spartan. Kelly and ME are. I jumped into a time vortex and got thrown here, where there was some "game" and "books" created about me and surprisingly, it depicts everything almost perfectly... Kelly jumped into the Shield World where the Halos couldn't kill her and so she will lives. MC dies because the Halos are activated. Thats that. But Kelly will end up carrying MC's legend forward for generations to come. I can't remember who else was with her.

Oh yea...Spoiler alert! Bitches.

Luke, I'm gonna punch your jaw in. Wait, your so tiny I could flick you and I'd shatter bones in your body. You just wish you were me. Or the godly, god rest his soul, Master Chief. Remember, I run these streets.

erivera3 @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:46PM

True that Fontez, I don't like it when people hate a game and yet come to the forums of said game just to bash it and try to ruin it for others who truly enjoy it.

Also @12 Crashman06

Finally someone who agrees, I knew there had to be someone out there. I am not sure what it is either, maybe it is how much I love Halo in general that helps, but there is something about the chief that puts him above any other super hero or epic character, something so mysterious about him and his past and all he has had to go through to try and save the world by himself! Add in the fact that we are fortunate enough to get to play as him! Gosh, I love that chief, it will be sad to see the Halo trilogy ending as much as I want to finish the fight!

Luke Valentine @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:47PM

@15

ohhhhhhh thats so cute, you think your a real spartan! bless you, you can think that if you like. have you got your spartan helmet on? has the glue dried, or did you use cellotape? although cereal boxes are usually a pain to make things from, im sure you look just like one.

w10 @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:48PM

well....i have to say this could mean that MC dies. Yesterday, i was messing around on one of the Halo message boards and saw a reference to a big spoiler.

Someone from bungie was expressing disgust over the fact that apparently this was a microsoft overseen ad-campaign - not bungie.

I would go back and try to find out where i saw this, but Im at work and dont have the time - but fish around on either bungie.net or teamxbox (i think) and you'll find it.

DjDATZ @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:55PM

AHAHAHAHHA...thats the greatest post i've ever made. LOL

@ Luke: Read the books. They add INFINITE depth to the whole story. I'm not even done the first one (I have heard some spoilers) and I can already see HOW MUCH of the whole story I MISSED from not reading the books.

ccc @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:55PM

@13

LOL! Looks like I really struck a chord with this cock sucker. U would clean each of master chief's nut hairs if he was real U pathetic looser. Y dont U crawl back into the hole ur family came from.

DjDATZ @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:56PM

Who said I've ever taken my helmet off? And how do you know who I am?

Luke Valentine @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:57PM

i read the first (i think it was the first) the one where they pick him and groom him as the chief. that was cool, and agreed, totally added loads. however, i found the book so explicit after playing the game, that i struggled to see them as the same story.

the book revealed things, it fleshed out the chief and those around him. it gave him emotions and a personality.

start playing the game though, and all that becomes completely irrelevant. theres no sign of the young guy who became the MC, theres no flaws or anything to make me beleive that hes real.

hes like superman, but without the essential character of clark kent, he just becomes a one dimensional being, unstoppable, unflappable and empty.

just like to say that i do really enjoy the games, one of my favourites of all time, but the only thing that sucks me in is the action.

erivera3 @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:58PM

Halo 3 will be the greatest game ever Luke, so get with the times there. Fontez knows things, SCARY things.

Ebase

Boss Tempo @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:00PM

Man you choades are actually talking about "being sad" that a few billion lines of fictional story code dies a fake death in a video game.

Dorks.

Crashman06 @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:02PM

erivera,

Yeah, it's cool. Again, I'm not quite sure how they do it but they're very slick about it. I got completely wrapped up in the story, and the developers didn't even need to trot out standard video game cliches like too much exposition or overblown melodrama (a problem that many RPGs fall into, especially JRPGs) to catch me. It's especially surprising to me because I didn't come to the Halo party until late, and before I started playing it I couldn't figure out what the big deal was. I think there's a lot of subtext and hidden influences to the story that goes unnoticed, but helps it nonetheless.

DjDATZ @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:03PM

Boss Tempo, have you every watched a movie and gotten into it where you've felt excited for someone, anxious for someone, sad for someone, angry for someone?

If so, you are equally guilty of being a dork.

If not, your an emotionless being.

Done. :D

JLD @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:08PM

confirmed at the HBO forums by frankie that this is total bs, the marketing guys who made this poster DON'T KNOW THE END OF THE GAME, it's just "flavor".

http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=821487

so maybe he does die, but the ad isn't a spoiler. its just bullshit.

Toph @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:23PM

It follows a formula already set out in the Halo universe. Listen a minute.

Master Chief has believed all these years he really is alone, and the last surviving SPARTAN. We know, mostly through the books, that this is not the truth, but his perceived truth.

Perhaps something happens to JOHN-117 where he is sent offworld and is assumed to be dead, but in reality he still fights the good fight, only in another location, permanently away from humanity? That wouldn't damage the Halo playability if Master Chief ever were to be used in any future stories. Perhaps he would also have Cortana with him, and a human sympathizer clan at his side as well. It would make a great story arc!

Then again he COULD die. After all, he is a battlefield soldier supposedly the last best one we have, and little else is as glorious for a life-career military man than to be taken down in battle, protecting the innocent. I for one would be better satisfied for him to give his life rather than to win a war, return to Earth and raise children or something. Blah to that!

Fontez @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:43PM

Toph,

That is an interesting idea for a story arc... honestly it is...

But you just proved to me that you haven't read the books... so don't say that you did...

John knows he's not the last Spartan...

And although the game is not as detailed as the books are... They were meant to be completely interconnected...

Which they are...

Joseph Staten and Eric Nylund practically wrote the books together...

The reason Bungie is not incorporating any of the elements from the books into the game is simple...

Bungie knows that the Majority of Halo Fans either can't read or won't touch a book to save their lives...

How the hell is the game gonna make sense to ppl that don't read the book if they use the same elements...

I'm gonna say it again...

The Master Chief Spartan John 117 does NOT die...

brianfontez@hotmail.com

CCC is an idiot, boycott his posts by ignoring him...

intRvenous @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:45PM

Luke Valentine (#3) read Fall of Reach... you...will...sympathize.

Ripped from his family when he was 6, subject to the most brutal training the military could muster, excruciating bio-augmentation at age 14 (killing half of his fellow trainees), battling Covenant at 15.

Go MC

graddy @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:50PM

I can't find any character development in halo so far and just to piss off the fanboys Half life does a much better job at story telling. Its the truth, if you want to give a feeling of emersion remove cut scenes and put in scripted events, give your character a back story worth a dam.

erivera3 @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:58PM

@31

No.

ccc @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:06PM

@29

Heh U said it all right there dipshit.

"Bungie knows that the majority of Halo fans either can't read(

Luke Valentine @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:14PM

ahh that was in, fall of reach, thats the one. yeah, like i said, that totally opened up the halo universe, but like i said at 22, i just dont think the game capitised and and added any more to the universe.

Abscissa @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:02PM

It may have been awhile since I've played the other Halo games but, as I recall, Master Chief kept dying every couple of minutes anyway. (Ha ha! Ok, stupid joke.)

ccc @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:20PM

Heh post cut off:(

Anyways #29

In ur #13 post U seem to say that if some1 dosn't like Halo they can Fuck off, actually thats exactly what U say.

U seem to be completly ignorant to a thing called freedom of speach. And to the fact that I myself and every1 else is entitled to thier own opinion.

Just because its not what U wanna hear or see U go crying like alittle baby. To some degree this actually is funny. This isn't Burger King little boy and U cant always have it Ur way.

U also ask me why I come to this web site. As if to imply that this entire site is supposed to be commited to the Halo franchise. What a scrub.

Your blind love for this Video Game is sad and may need serious medical evaluation.

Lets also talk about the fact that in my last post#20 I accuse U of wanting to preform sexual favors for a certain big bad spartan if he were real,Oh if only right Fontez, heh.
Cince U failed to acknowledge them or deny them in your last post #29 I and every1 else can only assume I am correct.
Im done toying around with U today,. I got grown up things to do kid so I'll be going now but leaving this for all to check out..

BrianFontezisaScrub@hotmail.com

SirUrza @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:21PM

I thought the same thing when I read it. Wouldn't really be a surprise if Master Chief were to die at the end, it'd mean there'd be no pressure for Halo 4.

Joe @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:21PM

Master Chief will turn out to be Miss Master Chief

octo INC @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:26PM

Chuck Norris is Master Chief

GLewis @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:33PM

Please all of you halo haters out there STFU.

I hear things like this "if parents dont want their kids playing video games then they shouldn't let their kids play, they just wanna bitch so they can let everyone know how much of a bad parent they are."

then I say things like this "if people want to complain about how much a game sucks then maybe they shouldn't play it, they wanna bitch because they want people to know how much of life they dont have."

Caleb @ Aug 3rd 2007 5:38AM

duh hes gonna die, hence "this is how the world ENDS" did everyone overlook the END in the trailer at the 06 e3?

Unr3alChi3f @ Aug 2nd 2007 5:55PM

I posted this thing on BNet, most of the responses were shitty, and put the spoilers.... My thread ultimately got locked and a BNet "ninja" replied...

Anton P Nym Wrote

This is getting over-heated. Folks, it's an ad. I honestly don't know how "spoilery" it is, though I do know that some folks fear it gives away too much of the plot. If you're one who thinks along those lines, skip the ad.

-- Steve still plans on buying the upcoming EGM... when it's in his hands, then he'll decide whether to read the ad or not.

http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=12044805&postRepeater1-p=1

typical jackass @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:15PM

Achilles isn't a selfless hero. He's a mythic hero, but not selfless. Hence why, when disrespected, he allows Agamemnon to rush to battle against the Trojans without the help of his Myrmidons, knowing full-well he is the key necessary to turn the tide.

That's all I really wanted to point out. The quote is bad ass, and it's highly possible the Master Chief could die. Who knows, really?

Who Flang Poo @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:30PM

@ccc

You are a bitch. Get your lazy ass off this article, yea the site isnt comitted to the Halo franchise, but the fucking article is!

Just move along and stop wasteing everyones time by posting gay ass comments and showing evreyone how much of a pathetic life you have. You have enough time to sit here on a site and start pointless arguments with people and make youre self look like a stupid asshole?

Thats just fricken sad..

I would also like to say that i would not assume that Fontez would perform sexual favors for the chief, but that i would assume thathe wouldnt because he didnt even attempt to acnowledge that because its such a gay, immature comment.

While im on this topic if Cortana was real i would instantly bang her. =)

Hey Fontez, send me your Gamertag, Im look forward to seeing you on live.

TheBeast355@aim.com

O,yea to quote the words of a great man.
"If youre not a fan of Halo you can fuck off."

Fontez my 360 got the ring and will be back in 4 to 6 weeks so yea, c ya on live around then hopefully.

Eddy @ Aug 2nd 2007 6:49PM

Many of you really have to read the books to understand the pain and torture the chief has gone through. Not only at a young age, but through the fights portrayed in the books. The flood that would tirelessly and relentlessly come at him, GuiltySpark and his robots, in the third book when they were faced by THOUSANDS of covenants at once, and all the deaths that were necessary in order for chief to make it that far. not to mention "THE HUGE EXPLOSION" at the end of book three. you guys gotta read that part. that was probably the ultimate scarifcice.

and btw, ppl can get attached, I've heard on the news where there are psychologists just for little kids when Harry Potter died at the end.

Zeus the God @ Aug 2nd 2007 8:25PM

Of course they will... They need to kill the fucker off, otherwise, they will continue to create mediocre/shitty games about him, that will be hyped to the max, when completely undeserving.

Halo 3 will be a dread to play through for those who have played even just the first in the series.

ccc @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:00PM

@43

Heh, U are either fontez or some sort of fontez admirier. Talk about a real bitch U define it. If U really are some1 other than that moron great,U can both get it on with ur little iconic hero. U call fontez "a great man"? LMAOI wtf! how old are U kid? And for the record U make urself look like a stupid ass hole.

Whats really frickin sad is that U decided to bring urself into this for no reason other than ur cock is hard for Fontez. Real stand up thing to do I guess. Hey, maybe Ull get his gamertag now, who knows where it could go from there,heh. I think they allow same sex marraige in Virgina but don't quote me on that. If Ur not 1 in the same then U should most definatly be 1 in each other.

BrianFontezisaScrub@hotmail.com

Gross Greg @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:19PM

At the end of Halo 3, Marcus Fenix is going to jump out from around a corner and chainsaw Master Chief's ass in half.

alpha @ Aug 3rd 2007 10:41AM

I think it's quite realistic for master chief to die in the end. (not saying that it WILL happen) Maybe he will have to stop the covenant in the final battle from destroying earth or activating the rings and ending up dieing but saving us in the end..

I like the part of the arbiter dieing instead of master chief. HAHA!! I love what TORO said...

That would be funny if master chief is about to jump to save them and the arbiter jumps right before and screams as he is falling, "HA I BEAT YOU!!!"

Gross Greg @ Aug 2nd 2007 9:30PM

DEAR GOD - that was meant to be a joke; hopefully nobody takes offense to it. I hadn't read all of the personal attacks here on the site. (Wait, is this Kotaku?)

For the record - B. Fontez always has good insight to Halo mythology.

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