Ancient picture possible first glimpse into Halo 3's Purple Reign

by Xav de Matos { May 26th 2008 at 6:00PM }

Plugging Halo 3 Purple Reign into your favorite search engine will link you to almost every major message board ignited by the discovery of an image used in a NY Times article from October 2007. Halo fanatics are adamant that the image (above) is the first real look at the upcoming Halo 3 map, Purple Reign.

Based on the description from Bungie on the recently delayed map this image could be a section from Purple Reign. Skeptical message board users claim the image could be a stock photo from Bungie's Halo 2 Midship days, pre-destruction photos of the Cortana level or even shots from the High Charity section of Halo 2's campaign mode. One commenter is sure he heard former community lead Frank O'Connor and Luke Smith talk about this image claiming it wasn't the new map but we couldn't find a source to validate that point.

Be it Purple Reign or not one thing is certain, gamers are still itching for more Halo action. The official description of Purple Reign, which adds weight to this image being true, after the jump.

[Thanks, oriol]

Originally from a Bungie Weekly Update:
Decorators and detail have brought subtle differences to each of Purple Reign's symmetrical bases. One base of this open-air arena could end up getting called "Energy side" and another call-out could end up "Hunter side." Geometrically, Purple Reign is built on a bowl, with some gentle concavity on the floor space, dotted with columns for cover. Four elevated walkways converge in a small bi-level center structure that sports a cache of important items.

Tags: bungie, dlc, downloadable-content, halo, halo-3, halo3, maps, xbox-live-marketplace

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

horngreen @ May 26th 2008 6:08PM

So a crude early stage wire frame image has ignited message boards...GET A LIFE!

Zac LaCombe @ May 26th 2008 6:29PM

I suppose you missed the whole other half of the picture where it's a pretty clean image or what may be the map.

Grimm @ May 26th 2008 7:39PM

I agree with you Zac but the part your missing here is the lack of brain processing power. Since obviously his brain is very very small and underdeveloped it's hard for him to see more then one image at a time. His poor little brain is just stressed out from all the reading he did and looking around. He's probably just urinating all over himself at this point in time...possibly drooling.

BananaBoat @ May 27th 2008 4:11AM

I can see foreverrrrrrrrrrrr

Oh wait...wrong place for that

blazeplanet @ May 26th 2008 6:19PM

that will be awesome if its true

kyle @ May 26th 2008 6:33PM

im not into the new maps for halo anymore, i didnt like the latest ones that much and big woop that there may be a image from the new map

Pudge @ May 26th 2008 6:39PM

Is it just me or does Purple Reign sound EXACTLY like Midship to anyone. A bowl at the bottom with columns (the grav lifts), four walkways converging on a two level top with important items (Sword spawn, and I'm sure they'll be some equipment up there.) The energy side and hunter side thing is probably just for decorations sake (Like the moon side in the original level, or the Scarab on Turf)

If there's one thing Halo 3 needs its an arena level like Midship/Wizard/Derelict. This could be perfect.

Lametastic @ May 27th 2008 4:37AM

Exactly what I was thinking (and hoping). Midship was one of my favorite maps in Halo 2.

callum henderson @ May 26th 2008 6:56PM

Not to sound geeky or anything, but the samsung tv that its being displayed on is a fairly new model - and i remember bungie commenting on the new tv's they were given by Microsoft when making halo 3, so that image definately isnt from them making Halo 2 :)

Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) @ May 26th 2008 7:07PM

Dude, your commenting on a picture of what might be a new map in a video game. You are a geek.

45nm @ May 26th 2008 7:36PM

Yeah, what he said!!! Ur a geEk, n3rdd!!1! Seriously, it's like if intelligence became a sin. Thanks for the helpful observation...:/

callum henderson @ May 26th 2008 7:40PM

Ok...Ok... I know Im a geek - and I dont care, Im proud of it - I said not to sound geeky because as soon as I saw that picture, I recognised that model of TV which is newer than when Halo 2 was in development

blakbuzzrd @ May 26th 2008 10:43PM

Dudes, we're commenting on a videogame site. We are all geeks, to the last man and woman.

SeritoNiN @ May 26th 2008 7:04PM

ZOMGZ A HALOZ NEWZ MAP THAT GUNNA COSTTSZ 800 MS!@!!S

Who cares?

mike @ May 26th 2008 7:14PM

I dont think anyone really cares anymore. Halo 3 is now at the point where even the legendary map pack going free wont encourage me or others to re-visit the game. With GTA out now, and SR, too human in another month or so and then GOW2 in the fall, Halo 3 is all but forgotten. They should of made the map packs free form the start, then they could of charcged for the 3rd pack. It would of kept interest up in the game a whole lot longer. And the fact that they waited 9 months to finally get a proper big team battle playlist going is just pathetic. I mean there was not even big team battle ranked when the game launched. Halo 3 has always been unique from other shooters because of the great vehicles and their superb integration into non vehicle combat. But in halo 3 they only shiped with like 2 maps to play using vehicles and ruined all the BTB gametypes (like not leaving on flag at home in multiflag).

I think they listened to the halo fanboys too much and focused more on the small scale indoor vehicle less battles, which just lead to more similarity to other shooters and a decrease in popularity by the average joe.

Carbonize @ May 27th 2008 4:13PM

Have to agree with Mike on this one. After all the hype and build up to Halo 3 I was majorly disappointed when I got it. The graphics are not as good as expected, the story is lame and the game to easy. Bungie seem to have been to busy focusing on the gimmicky side (videos, forge, etc) and neglected the game.

Mr. Balance @ May 26th 2008 7:45PM

this crap is SO funny. this website cannot go a day without filling in pointless halo articles to serve as "news". maybe because there aint shit going on for 360 outside of halo. thank goodness i got a ps3... metal gear, god of war, killzone, final fantasy.... sighhhh countless franchises!

Xav de Matos @ May 26th 2008 8:07PM

TROLL! KILL IT! KILL IT!

Dark Caboose @ May 26th 2008 8:16PM

@ Mr. Balance

Just because you have a bunch of franchises does not mean any of the them are good. Metal Gear is dumb, God of War gets old fast, i have never played Killzone and i want to just shoot my self thinking about Final Fantasy. By the by if you like starting arguments you need to find help fast.

Troy @ May 26th 2008 8:18PM

Gears of War 2, Ninja Gaiden II, Banjo Kazooie 3, Too Human, Halo Wars, Splinter Cell Conviction, Left 4 Dead (Valve's version), Fable 2, Alan Wake, Huxley, GTA4 (360 exclusive episodic content). yeah, just Halo 3 eh? GTFO.

Arnon @ May 26th 2008 8:23PM

Lol, and your PS3 website cant go a day without butt humping MGS4, what's your point? Considering that the game is 30 hours long, I doubt you'll play through it more than once. Then MG Online(lolz).

Pudge @ May 26th 2008 8:51PM

I'd rather play 5-10 games of Halo 3 in 90 minutes than watch a cutscene.

Mr.U2 @ May 26th 2008 8:52PM

Mr. Balance... I believe you meant to type this into your internet browser > playstation.joystiq.com Hope that helps.

ChewyDogg @ May 27th 2008 9:30AM

Ha! You named four franchises, none of which you can actually play right now. Only one even has a release date.

Omar @ May 26th 2008 8:18PM

Well the guy has a point when it comes to the Halo news, you guys seem to butt hump this game like nothing I've ever seen.

Xav de Matos @ May 26th 2008 9:14PM

You know I don't usually say anything but seriously what kind of a comment is that?

Is it Xbox 360 related news? We report it. It's our job, kid.

Treima @ May 27th 2008 1:35AM

@ Xav

I've read this website for a week (I'm getting an XBox 360 after finally getting tired of my seven year old PS2), and here's the article pattern I've seen

Halo 3, Incredible Hulk, Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Rock Band, Halo 3, Rock Band, Gears of War 2, Halo 3, Resident Evil 5, Halo 3.

Xav de Matos @ May 27th 2008 1:50AM

@ Tremina

Clearly you missed the stories we did this week on:

GRID, Ninja Gaiden II, RBI Baseball, Delisting XBLA games, Left 4 Dead, Mass Effect, Madden 09, Alone in the Dark, Street Fighter IV, Bad Company and more... and sure the list includes Rock Band, Halo 3 and Gears 2 but we cover more than those games...

So, yeah. Well played sir.

Mr.U2 @ May 27th 2008 1:23PM

@ Omar and Treima
Woah, hold up guys. Just because this site isn't benefitting you two doesn't mean it's useless to everyone else. I quit going to the other gaming sites once I found X3F because it was so helpful and because these guys work hard to bring us daily Xbox 360 updates. And no, Halo 3 is not the only thing they write about. But if it was... I would still come here anyways.

Stewart Bananas @ May 26th 2008 8:22PM

So... they're remaking derelict again?

Xav de Matos @ May 26th 2008 9:14PM

Bungie has said this one is brand new, but that description doesn't sound so new.

James @ May 26th 2008 8:58PM

hey mike, think before you talk. Big team battle is doing so great that their even thinking of removing it...

Omar @ May 26th 2008 9:22PM

I think you guys could start a Halo fanboy site with all the news you put up about it TBH.

Wise Guy @ May 26th 2008 10:58PM

@ mike

I don't think it's about getting people to revisit the game as much as it is pleasing the fans and keeping the game going for them. I love Halo 3. Even with all the games and upcoming releases.. I still come back. Either you like it or don't. People just love to hate on this game because Halo 2 did so well and now that there are actually other games out there they rip on it for not being top dog. It doesn't have to be anymore. The market is saturated with games now... it doesn't mean Halo 3 is not still a great game and worth revisiting. This game is different every time I pick it up and that's what keeps myself and others coming back. ALL GAMES get old after awhile so I don't even want to hear that argument from anyone. But when playing multiplayer games... that's another story. Halo is still fun. Deal with it!!