halo-legends posts (Subscribe to this feed)

PSA: Second Halo Legends episode free, available today only

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 21st 2009 at 11:30AM }

If you enjoyed the Cowboy Bebop-meets-Master Chief action presented in the first episode of Halo Legends (seriously, that main character looked just like Spike Spiegel!), then you may want to check out the second episode of the Spartan-themed anime premiering today on Halo Waypoint. For 24 hours starting at 12:00AM PST (about eight hours ago), Xbox Live Silver and Gold members will be able to access "The Duel" through the "all-things-Halo" hub.

Microsoft also notes that this will be the last week for Xbox Live Silver members to explore Waypoint, and in turn, enjoy the weekly free episodes of Halo Legends. If you're wondering what time the show will be available for you and you don't live in North America, a full list of showtimes is available on Xbox.com.

Reminder: Watch the first episode of Halo Legends today [update: it's gone]

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 7th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Update: The episode is no longer available.

This is just a quick public service announcement to remind all the Halo fans out there today that the first episode of Halo Legends is available on Halo Waypoint today. Entitled "The Babysitter," it tells the story of a squad of ODST soldiers on a mission to assassinate a Covenant Prophet. The only catch is that a Spartan has been assigned to lead the squad. ODSTs and Spartans don't necessarily get along, so things get a little complicated.

The episode is only available today, so be sure to grab it quick. And remember, something related to Halo Legends will be airing on Waypoint every week, so keep an eye out for future installments.

Interview: 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 6th 2009 at 6:00PM }

Now that Halo Waypoint has launched and the Halo Legends anime project will soon begin airing on Xbox consoles everywhere, we got the chance to discuss the current state of Halo with 343 Industries creative director, Frank O'Connor. After the break, you'll find discussion on Waypoint, Legends, Halo 3: ODST sales and whereabouts of Ryan Payton. We also talk about the whether or not there's just too much Halo out there, whether we'll see any Halo games for kids and we even squeeze in a question about Pimps at Sea.

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Microsoft details Halo Legends preview schedule

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 5th 2009 at 7:45PM }

We knew that the first installment of the Halo Legends anime project was debuting November 7 on Halo Waypoint, but now Microsoft has revealed the dates for most of the remaining episodes. Beyond Waypoint simply airing each episode, Halo fans will also be treated to "making of" features for each episode. All told, you can expect something related to Legends every week from now until January 9, 2010 (and likely beyond, as there are still some episodes unrevealed). Grab your calendar and a nice permanent marker, then check out the schedule after the break.

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Halo Legends Blu-ray dated Feb. 9, 2010; perfect fanboy storm approaches

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 5th 2009 at 2:27PM }

A year ago, the following sentence would have been absolutely, totally, and in all other ways inconceivable: The Blu-ray edition of the Halo Legends anime project is scheduled for release on February 9, 2010. The impossible union of Halo and Blu-ray will not only arrive on the same day as the DVD release, but it will also contain an exclusive overview of the series through the events of Halo 3. As Blu-ray.com risibly puts it, "Soon you'll be able to play Halo on your PS3."

Now, we'd like to think that this generation of consoles is far enough along that this news won't ruffle any fanboy feathers. Then again, we'd also like to think that HD DVD, in all its awesomeness, is poised for a comeback. Just remember, Halo fans, Blu-ray discs are not your enemy. Cliffhangers are.

First Halo Waypoint programming revealed

by JC Fletcher { Nov 3rd 2009 at 9:20AM }

Even if you're not in the Halo Waypoint preview, you can get an early look at what's going to be available when it launches for real on Thursday, November 5, thanks to a weekly schedule we received from 343 Industries. By Thursday's launch, you'll already be able to watch a "Spotlight on Louis Wu" and a "Halo in Five Minutes" presentation, as well as page through some Firefight screens from the community.

Other content up this week: "Welcome to Waypoint," which serves as an introduction and overview to the service, some Firefight strategy from Prima, and, on Saturday, a full episode of Halo Legends called "The Babysitter." See the full schedule after the break.

Gallery: Halo Waypoint

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ODST reaches 2.5 million sales; Haloverse expansions detailed

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 8th 2009 at 10:28AM }

After yesterday's full-fledged assault on mainstream gaming news coverage, we were refreshed to read this great USA Today report on the current state of the Halo franchise. Sure, it further promotes the tired opinion that Bungie's ever-popular shooter is set to overtake the Star Wars franchise in the cultural marketplace. However, it backs up that assertion with startling figures: According to the report, Halo 3: ODST has sold 2.5 million units in the past two weeks, bringing the total sales for the entire franchise up to a cool 27 million.

Additionally, USA Today further supports its thesis by compiling a list of the future franchise spin-offs, including -- *deep breath* -- Halo: Reach, the Halo: Blood Line comic series, Halo Legends, Halo Waypoint, the Halo: Evolutions novel (and another heretofore unnamed book trilogy), and more McFarlane toys. Some may accuse this franchise of succumbing to over-saturation -- we think it crossed that bridge around the time it got its own Mountain Dew.

Here are five minutes of Halo Legends

by Justin McElroy { Sep 21st 2009 at 9:10AM }

Spike got a five-minute look at the upcoming anime Halo Legends, and (as you'll see for yourself right after the break) it's got all our favorite tropes of the genre: comically exaggerated animations, vaguely effeminate dudes and very weird-looking soups.

Of course, it's also got something else that's going to have your eyes glued to all 298 seconds: Master Chief being a total badass and kicking the living crap out of a Brute. Enjoy.

[Via Siliconera]

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Halo Legends footage, Waypoint previewed on GTTV tonight

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 17th 2009 at 9:45PM }

Halo.Bungie.Org has revealed that tonight's episode of Spike TV's Gametrailers TV will host previews of several upcoming Halo projects. The show, which airs tonight at (check your local listings), will feature a preview of Halo 3: ODST. While that's not terribly exciting, given how close it is to release, the show will also be hosting footage from the first episode of the Halo Legends anime project. In addition, GTTV will be previewing Microsoft's upcoming Halo destination, Halo Waypoint.

If you love all things Halo, be sure to tune in. Alternately, you could always wait until the footage lands on the internet sometime tomorrow. Sleep, or Halo? We know, it's a tough question.

Tor announces Halo: Evolutions story collection

by Justin McElroy { Aug 12th 2009 at 5:00PM }

We know what you're thinking. "Sure, I like how much of my life is devoted to keeping track of the different Halo properties, but if there were just one more, just a single other thing I could add to the pile, my life would really be complete."

Tor Books answers the call today with Halo: Evolutions, featuring a number of new short stories from authors like Halo novelists Eric Nylund and Tobias Buckell, and Karen Traviss, who wrote Gears of War: Jacinto's Remnant. We're assuming F.X. Nine was otherwise occupied.

The book, which features "a wide variety of tales set across the span of the Halo universe," will arrive this November 24.

Halo Legends director introduced to franchise by his wife

by Justin McElroy { Aug 6th 2009 at 7:45PM }

If you totally fall in love with Halo Legends when the anime series drops on the Halo Waypoint next year, you'd do well to remember that you have Shinji Aramaki's wife to thank. The creative director told Famitsu that his spouse was the one who brought him into the world of Master Chief.

"I've always been a fan of video games, and my wife told me that Halo 3 is the best game on the 360," Aramaki said. "I just sort of got addicted after that. It's a very intricate world. It's hard to do such an epic story in movie form these days, but it's easy to get into it as a game."

1UP's got a bunch of other details on what you can expect from Halo Legends, from the interview, if you're so inclined.

Microsoft says Halo Chronicles is 'on hold' - doesn't use the 'C' word

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 28th 2009 at 5:30PM }

While Microsoft wouldn't say that Halo Chronicles was "canceled" – Peter Jackson told us during the San Diego Comic-Con that the ambitious episodic series was "no longer happening" – it did confirm to us that the project was "on hold." Today, Microsoft hasn't outright confirmed the partnership's end, but clarified the project's current status.

"Microsoft Game Studios is deeply committed to supporting and strategically growing the Halo franchise, and our relationship with Peter and his team is something that we greatly value. Given the bandwidth of both of our companies we've decided to put this joint effort on hold and prioritize resources against other projects like Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach and Halo Legends."

Jackson's manager re-confirmed to the Company Town blog that the collaboration between Microsoft and Jackson had ended allegedly as early as last January. Microsoft has yet to comment on what role it plays in Wingnut Interactive, Jackson's game production company, said to be "still working on new IP."

Comic-Con 2009: Microsoft's Frankie talks Halo Waypoint

by Kevin Kelly { Jul 24th 2009 at 12:30PM }

Pictured: enthusiasts living the Halo lifestyle

And by "talks," we mean "briefly mentions." Yesterday during the Halo Comic-Con panel, which was almost entirely focused on the upcoming anime series, Halo Legends, consummate Halo shepherd Frank O'Connor spoke about Waypoint and what it means. "Halo Waypoint is something you can experience on your couch, then early next year, on DVD and digital formats. It will be the digital hub for all things Halo, [to] look at your Halo career, and enjoy your Halo lifestyle."

Halo lifestyle? What does that even mean? An Xbox Live version of Home, where you're outfitting your own Master Chief's digital den with photos and Covenant couches? We'll have to wait and see.

Halo Legends trailer includes 3D swording, surprise teddy bears

by JC Fletcher { Jul 24th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Yesterday, you saw two still images from the Halo Legends anime miniseries. Are you ready to see more images -- played in rapid succession? As promised, GameTrailers premiered a trailer for the miniseries featuring snippets from five anime studios' takes on the Halo series. We were surprised to see, among all the traditional animation, a CG sword-fightin' segment from Casio Entertainment.

Anime News Network reports that Mamoru Oshii, the director of Ghost in the Shell, The Sky Crawlers and more, will direct one of the segments, proving what we have heard about Microsoft before: that it has a lot of money.

Halo Legends preview on GTTV tonight

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 23rd 2009 at 5:30PM }

A quick note for all the folks who like to stay up late to get their gaming news: GameTrailers will be showing off the first trailer for the Halo Legends anime series tonight on GTTV. The show will also have the first footage of Brütal Legend multiplayer, as well as new trailers for Command & Conquer 4 and NBA Live 10. GTTV is scheduled to air at 12:30am Eastern, so be sure to grab some caffeine if you want to see these brand spankin' new trailers.

Or, if you want, you could just wait until tomorrow when we post them right here.