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{{ | {{Era|H2|H3|H3R}} | ||
{{ | {{Ratings}} | ||
{{ | |||
{{Game | {{New Content}} | ||
|name= ''Halo 3: ODST'' | |||
|image= | {{Game Info Box | ||
| | |name='''''Halo 3: ODST''''' | ||
| | |image=Halo 3 ODST Cover.png | ||
| | |imageSize=250 | ||
| | |Developer=[[Bungie|Bungie, LLC.]] | ||
| | |Publisher=[[Microsoft Game Studios]] | ||
| | |Genre= | ||
| | |US Date Released=September 22nd, 2009 | ||
|UK Date Released=September 22nd, 2009 | |||
|Game modes=[[Campaign]] and [[Multiplayer]] | |||
| | |ESRB=Mature (M) <ref>''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 7</ref> | ||
| | |Platform=[[Xbox 360]] | ||
| | |Media=DVD | ||
|Website=[http://http://www.bungie.net/default.aspx Bungie.net] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Halo 3: ODST''''', | '''''Halo 3:ODST''''', formerly known as '''''Halo 3: Recon''''', is a First Person Shooter video game exclusively developed on the [[Xbox 360]]. ''ODST'' was released worldwide on September 22nd, 2009 <ref name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]">[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]</ref>. | ||
Taking place in the [[Kenya|Kenyan]] port city of [[New Mombasa]], ''ODST'' follows a [[The Squad|squad]] of elite [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] during the [[First Battle of Earth|Covenant invasion of Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 23rd, 2552]] <ref name="IGN.com - Behind the Scenes - PAX 09: Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and More (Off-Screen)">[http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/852871/bungie-project-2/videos/pax09_haloodst_spc_voiceover_090409.html/ IGN.com - PAX 09: Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and More]</ref>. Knocked off course due to the [[Battle of Mombasa|Mombasa Slipspace Incident]], these six Marines fight through the waste-filled and destroyed streets in order to link up and to destroy and evade the Covenant occupation force in the city. | |||
''ODST'' is a campaign expansion and prologue to ''[[Halo 3]]'' which fills in the details of what happened in Southeastern Kenya from ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''Halo 3'' <ref>[http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2317/Halo-3-Recon-Bungie-Speaks/p1 Team Xbox Interview]</ref>. An official five-part prequel comic, ''[[Halo: Helljumper|Helljumper]]'', was released in the months following up to and after the release of ''ODST'' starting in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 1|July]] <ref>[http://www.marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.1 Marvel.com Catalog - HALO: HELLJUMPER #1]</ref>, and ending in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 5|November]] <ref>[http://marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.5 Marvel.com Catalog - HALO: HELLJUMPER #5]</ref>. A multiplayer beta of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#beta Bungie.net : Invitation to the Halo: Reach Beta]</ref>, recently announced at E3 2009, is included with ''ODST''. | |||
==Overview== | |||
===Speculation=== | |||
Although [[Bungie]] consistently stated that ''Halo 3'' was the last game in the trilogy, they never ruled out the possibility of releasing new games set in the same story in the future. An interview by MTV with Don Mattrick (Senior Vice President of Microsoft's Xbox division) revealed that Bungie's game is at the very least Halo-related, and that it is not Bungie's collaborative efforts on ''[[Halo Wars]]'' or ''[[Halo: Chronicles]]'', but a "new" game. | |||
Although a proper announcement was meant for July 16th, 2008 at E3, it was canceled by [[Microsoft]] because they wanted to focus on games by first party developers that were coming out in 2008, criteria which the Bungie project did not fit. It was also stated by Microsoft that they did not want to further lengthen their press conference so as not to stretch the attention span of the attendees, and that they wished to give the new ''Halo'' project an event of its own to release details on it.<ref>[http://e3.g4tv.com/e32008/blog/post/687134/Microsoft_Bungie_Is_Developing_A_Halo_Game.html Microsoft and Bungie are developing a Halo game]</ref><ref>[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/16/microsoft-confirms-bungie-is-developing-new-halo/ Microsoft confirms Bungie is developing new Halo]</ref><ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/07/halo-bungie-e3.html Microsoft explains Halo's no-show at E3 game conference]</ref> | |||
The most popular rumor that had surrounded this new title was that it was a squad-based shooter in the ''Halo'' universe with the player filling the role of a [[Veronica|Marine Captain]], but this is untrue as the player will be filling the role of an ODST Lance Corporal, who goes by the moniker of [[The Rookie]]. <ref>[http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/686996/E3_08_Rumor_Master_Chief_Absent_In_Next_SquadBased_Halo_Game.html E3 2008 Rumor: Master Chief absent in next squad-based Halo game]</ref> | |||
Speculation about a supposed third-person shooter, giving the player control of Marines or [[ODST]]'s instead of SPARTANs, circulated long before Bungie revealed their next project would be ''Halo''-related. Originally, rumors held that this would be the Peter Jackson game, ''Chronicles''. The presence of [[Christian Allen]], a former [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] and [[wikipedia:Red_Storm_Entertainment|Red Storm]] employee who worked on the [[wikipedia:Tom_Clancy%27s_Ghost_Recon|''Ghost Recon'']] and [[wikipedia:Tom_Clancy%27s_Rainbow_Six|''Rainbow Six'']] series and joined Bungie in early 2007, heightened speculation. | |||
===Known Information=== | |||
''Halo 3: ODST'' has been known to be in the pre-production phase since January 2008.<ref name="Bungie Podcast - 1/09/09">[http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/9/2/0921783A-9166-4624-973C-BEB5BB574EF3/Bungie_Podcast_010909.mp3 ''Bungie Podcast - 1/09/09'']</ref>, four months after the release of ''Halo 3''; and was referred to as ''Halo 3: Atlas'' <ref name="Bungie Podcast - 1/09/09"/> | |||
Bungie has confirmed that the game will be a first-person shooter, like the previous three ''Halo'' titles, and that Christian Allen is working on a completely different project within Bungie. Bungie also confirmed that the player will take the role of a surviving Marine, that the game is set in the ruins of [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]; and that it will be released on September 22nd, 2009, and that it is the last known ''Halo'' project related to the ''Halo'' trilogy they are working on. In another interview with a number of different gaming sources, they revealed key information about the game: ''ODST'' will be on a standalone disk, it will ''"include some new multiplayer maps, some of which will be a part of the [[Mythic Map Pack]],"'' and it will run on the updated ''Halo 3'' engine. Bungie has also stated that it will be compatible with the ''Halo 3'' multiplayer, provided they have the Mythic Map Pack and ''ODST''. Saved films, and [[Screenshots]] will be making a comeback as well.<ref>[http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/2317/Halo-3-Recon-Bungie-Speaks/p1 Team Xbox Interview]</ref> | |||
''ODST'' has been described as "returning players to familiar grounds on a vital top-secret mission". ''ODST'''s gripping story, co-operative campaign and new multiplayer content will have Halo fans 'Preparing to Drop' in Fall 2009". The game is shipping at the full-retail price of $60, even though it is believed that the game's campaign will only run three to six hours<ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/929/929686p1.html Halo Recon not Full Price]</ref>; however, in one of their weekly updates, Bungie expected that the campaign will last between three and five hours.<ref name="Bungie Update 11/14/08">[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16208 Bungie Weekly Update: 11/14/08]</ref>. Over the course of development of ''Halo 3: ODST'', Bungie has expanded it to more of a full game, rather than the expansion that was planned <ref name="IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST Campaign and Firefight Demonstration">[http://video.ign.com/streaming/e3-2009/index.html?start=0&stop=1803&show=0&ep=http%3A//cms001.slc1.qcn3.movenetworks.com/cms/publish/vod/vodclip/foxign/5532.qvt IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST Campaign and Firefight Demonstration]</ref>. This includes a campaign length closer to the size of ''Halo 3'' in terms of average hours from start to completion, to the Firefight mode which was revealed at E3 2009. While previously stating that ''ODST'' wasn't going to be priced like a normal game, the increased depth added into the game was the cause for the $60 USD pricetag <ref name="Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content">[http://kotaku.com/5274549/halo-3-odst-priced-like-a-full-game-loaded-with-content Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content]</ref>. | |||
As of E3 2009, Bungie employees (such as [[Brian Jarrard]] and [[Curtis Creamer]]) have stated that development on the game of ''Halo 3: ODST'' is already completed, and that the footage shown at the convention was from the final build/retail copy of the game <ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/989/989272p1.html IGN.com - E3 2009: Halo 3: ODST is 'Done']</ref><ref>[http://www.gamereactor.dk/grtv/?id=4855 GameReactorTV - E309: Halo 3: ODST Interview]</ref>. | |||
===Gameplay=== | |||
[[File:ODST Screenshot 12.jpg|250px|thumb|left|VISR Mode]] | |||
[[File:Battle of New Mombasa.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Battle of Mombasa.]] | |||
[[File:The Squad.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The main cast of ''ODST''.]] | |||
''ODST'' has the main protagonist, The Rookie, searching for beacons across the city of New Mombasa.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 3">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 3</ref> It is up to the player how they get to the specific location, and in what order, giving a very open-world feeling to the game; something for which the main trilogy has been criticized for, due to its linear gameplay style. The "beacons" are various objects, each linked to a particular squad mate in some way. Finding one of these objects sends the player back in the game to find out what happened to one of his five squadmates ([[Edward Buck|Buck]], [[Veronica|Dare]], [[Taylor H. Miles|Dutch]], [[Kojo Agu|Romeo]], and [[Michael Crespo|Mickey]]).<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 3"/> Once you go back in time for a short period, you will take control of the player for around thirty minutes, and play the situations that the particular character went through. Unlike the overall game, these flashback scenes go along the path of the linear gameplay that has been common throughout the original trilogy of ''Halo''. | |||
Due to the fact that you are playing as an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]], you will not be using the shielding or the motion tracker featured on the [[MJOLNIR]] Battle Armor suits. The Rookie and his squadmates will also lose the ability to dual-wield weapons, such as the [[SMG|M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]] or the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle]]. | |||
On the other hand, you will receive a helmet-integrated data management system known as the [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]] (or VISR), which includes a new low-light vision mode which identifies allies and enemies through the HUD on his helmet's visor by illuminating and classifying objects; green outline for allies, red outline for enemies, and yellow outline for important objects. The VISR can also be used to manage waypoints, mission objectives, and information which will help the player. The squad has two new weapons, the [[M7S|M7S Submachine Gun]] and the [[M6C/SOCOM]], which the protagonist and most of his comrades land with in Mombasa during the initial drop. Also, the grenade limit has been increased to 4 per grenade type. | |||
As stated by Bungie in the January 23rd Weekly Update, the [[Sangheili]] will not be appearing at all in ''ODST''.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 Bungie Weekly Update - 1/23/09]</ref> By December 2008, the game was "representational", meaning that players could experience the game from start to finish, albeit in an unfinished state. The entire Bungie staff was pulled from other duties to play through the game and offer feedback. Among the unfinished elements was the lack of finished dialogue delivered by voice actors; storywriter [[Joseph Staten]] filled in placeholder audio. <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551 Bungie Weekly Update: 12/19/08]</ref> Bungie's audio director [[Martin O'Donnell]] will contribute music for ''ODST'', as he has done for the previous ''Halo'' games. Due to ''ODST'''s shift to a new protagonist, O'Donnell created new music that was a homage to ''Halo'', though was taken in a new direction. <ref>[http://bpc.bungie.org/Bungie_Podcasts_Halloween_08.zip Bungie Podcast: 10/31/08]</ref> | |||
===Multiplayer=== | |||
====Firefight==== | |||
{{main|Firefight}} | |||
{{quote|Built on top of Halo 3: ODST's campaign, Firefight is a cooperative game mode that lets you and up to three of your friends put your skills to the ultimate test. It allows you to jump straight into the heart of Halo and experience traditional Halo sandbox encounters with a new, high octane twist. Though you’ve squared off against most of the enemies you’ll face in Firefight before, you’re not going to be able to rely on your past experiences alone to guide you through all of the action. In Firefight, even the most "harmless" enemy can become a dangerous threat when you’re low on ammo, low on lives, and have your back against the wall. Throw gameplay modifying skulls into the mix and you'll find that the combat can become even more interesting and intense.|Bungie.net: Drop Into Firefight}} | |||
Firefight, a brand new feature to the ''Halo'' franchise announced at E3 2009, is a cooperative campaign gameplay mode. Four players over Xbox LIVE or System Link play to complete a series of Human vs. Covenant matches. All features from the Campaign Scoring, as well as skulls, achievements, and leaderboards of ''Halo 3'', will be featured in ''ODST''. | |||
Due to a technical issue, Firefight is relegated to an invite-only game, as opposed to a matchmaking system used by previous installments in the series <ref>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/08/bungie-why-halo-3-odst-firefight-doesnt-support-matchmaking/ Kotaku.com Australia - Bungie: Why Halo 3: ODST Firefight doesn't support matchmaking]</ref>. Fans who have spoken to Bungie employees on this matter have allegedly stated that the matchmaking function would have taken an additional six months to create for ''ODST'' <ref>[http://www.ethiopianreview.com/et/181 Ethopian Review - Seven Things You May Not Know About Halo 3: ODST]</ref>. | |||
=====Known Maps===== | |||
Below is a list for confirmed and rumored maps for ''ODST''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Firefight mode: | |||
*[[Alpha Site (Level)|Alpha Site]] | |||
*[[Chasm Ten (Level)|Chasm Ten]] | |||
*[[Crater (Night) (Level)|Crater]] | |||
*[[Last Exit (Level)|Last Exit]] | |||
*[[Lost Platoon (Level)|Lost Platoon]] | |||
*[[Rally Point (Level)|Rally Point]] | |||
*[[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]] | |||
*[[Windward (Level)|Windward]] | |||
[[File:ODST Controller.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Controls for ''ODST'' gameplay.]] | |||
====Map Packs==== | |||
All map packs (''[[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]]'', ''[[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]]'', and ''[[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]]'') will be available for those who haven't already purchased them over Xbox LIVE Marketplace <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=17195 Bungie Weekly Update - 2/06/2009]</ref>. In addition to the other map packs, an additional map pack will be featured in the ''ODST'' package. These maps are currently known as ''[[Citadel (Level)|Citadel]]'', ''[[Heretic (Level)|Heretic]]'', and ''[[Longshore (Level)|Longshore]]''. | |||
While previously confirmed to only feature a Campaign element as the only gameplay mode, the second disc in the ''ODST'' box will contain all of the maps, which you will be able to play directly from there, without having to download the maps to your Hard Drive and starting ''Halo 3'' <ref name="IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST Campaign and Firefight Demonstration"/>. | |||
<br clear="all"> | |||
===Achievements=== | |||
{{Halo 3: ODST Achievements}} | |||
==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
{{Spoiler}} | |||
{{Under Construction}} | |||
===Opening Scroll=== | |||
Shown after the [[Bungie Studios|Bungie]] and [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]] logos, and before the main menu, is an opening scroll, which is new for the ''[[Halo]]'' games. This is likely a carry over from the ''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' comic series, which opens with such a scroll before the comic begins. | |||
Shown after | |||
{ | {{Opening Scroll | ||
|name = The year is 2552 | |||
| | |text=Humanity is at war with the alien alliance known as "The Covenant". | ||
Humanity is at war with the alien alliance known as "The Covenant". | |||
We are losing. | We are losing. | ||
Line 64: | Line 121: | ||
Now military leaders of the "United Nations Space Command" have prepared their response... | Now military leaders of the "United Nations Space Command" have prepared their response... | ||
Teams of | Teams of "Orbital Drop Shock Troopers" are ready to assault the carrier from Navy ships in low orbit. | ||
This is a near- | This is a near-suicide mission. | ||
But these troopers are the best of the best. | But these troopers are the best of the best. | ||
And saving New Mombasa could be the most important mission of the war... | And saving New Mombasa could be the most important mission of the war... | ||
}} | |||
===The Drop=== | |||
[[File:H3 ODST - Buck Dare Argument.png|250px|thumb|right|GySgt. Buck and Capt. Dare arguing.]] | |||
<small> | |||
{{quote|The Navy put up a good fight.|Private First Class Michael Crespo.}} | |||
{{quote|'Course they did. It's Earth.|Corporal Taylor Miles.}} | |||
{{quote|Better late than never.|Lance Corporal Kojo Agu.}}</small> | |||
The game begins on a UNSC warship orbiting high above [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] on [[Earth]] at about 4:00pm (16:00 military time) on [[2552#October|October 23rd, 2552]] <ref name="IGN.com - Behind the Scenes - PAX 09: Nathan Fillion, Tricia Helfer and More (Off-Screen)"/>; where the majority of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|Squad]] is relaxing around a holo-table displaying the [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Assault Carrier]] hovering directly near the [[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator|Orbital Elevator]]. [[Taylor Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]], [[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], [[Michael Crespo|Private First Class Michael "Mickey" Crespo]], and [[The Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] sleeping in the back, jokingly remarking how the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]] only put up a good fight until the [[First Battle of Earth|Invasion of Earth]] and still managed to allow a [[Covenant]] carrier to slip by the [[Orbital Defense Platform|Orbital Defense Grids]] high above the planet, to which Dutch criticizes Romeo for, stating that they left the lone ship for the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] to infiltrate. Shortly after, the ship is put on alert when their team leader, [[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]], enters the room with an attractive [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] operative named [[Veronica]] or "Dare". Romeo quickly responds to them entering the room with "hello, beautiful", which caught the attention of Buck, ordering them to their [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV "Drop Pods"]]. | |||
Walking to the armory nearby, Buck is stopped by Veronica who talks about the men in his squad being replacements, to which they go on about the small numbers of combat-experienced Marines they have to lead into combat. Conflicted about what she likely told him prior to entering the room, Buck attempts to protect his men by confronting his previous romantic interest about the Assault Carrier being a more vital concern than her covert mission. Dare reminds them they have orders to follow, and that she should be referred to her rank of [[Captain (Ground forces)|Captain]], in keeping with military regulations. | |||
Buck directs the Captain to their pods, when Romeo asks about her; obviously angry about the mission, he confronts the curious Lance Corporal, informing that she is their "new boss". He gives a short speech to his men, and hands a [[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D Sniper Rifle]] to Romeo, confusing him and his teammates about the Assault Carrier mission they were previously given by the Admiralty. Proceeding to enter their pods, Romeo hits the Rookie across the head with the stock of his rifle (the player then transitions to a first-person mode) while still in his pod, which Dutch pushes him out of the way, handing the F.N.G. an [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]]; the Rookie's pod is then shut closed, spun around, and lowered into the launch bay to begin drop preparations. | |||
[[File:ODST Screenshot 7.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The Rookie approaches the Assault Carrier.]] | |||
{{quote|Troopers, we are green, and very, very mean!|Gunnery Sergeant Eddie Buck.}} | |||
{{ | |||
[[ | Marine forces are informed by Dare that the [[Covenant Army]] is massing beneath the carrier near the Mombasa Orbital Elevator for an organized retreat. Dozens of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] are launched into Earth's atmosphere in a coordinated drop to infiltrate and capture the Prophet of Regret aboard the Assault Carrier. They pass by a few destroyed [[UNSC Frigates|Frigate]]-type ships in orbit around the elevator, and begin to enter cloud cover above the city. After a flash forward (as shown by a brief white flash), the Captain orders the squad to adjust their trajectory and drop locations on her order, which launches the Marines way off of their intended course. | ||
Before the Marines can ever deploy the internal parachutes, the invasion forces have already evacuated inside the carrier. Dutch picks up a radiation alert in his pod, and the Assault Carrier proceeds to enter [[Slipspace]]. The slipspace rupture generates a devastating shockwave, while the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} (FFG-142) enters the rupture provided by Regret's flagship. An EMP blast emitted by the rupture causes the Marine assault force to lose power in their SOEIV Pods, throwing them all over New Mombasa. | |||
===The Rookie Awakes=== | |||
Six hours after being knocked unconscious by the impact of Mickey's pod and a violent landing into the side of a building, the Rookie finally wakes up at 10:02pm (22:02 military time), to the noise of a flight of [[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Type-52 "Phantom" Troop Carriers]] flying low above the city. After regaining his situational awareness, the Rookie arms the four explosive bolts located in all four corners of the door to exit the pod. With the door removed from the pod, the Rookie jumps a couple dozen meters down into the streets below, completely draining his stamina. After combing the area for medical supplies, he regains his health, and proceeds to find his lost Marines. | |||
Located only a few minutes away from the Rookie's location is a small area patrolled by at least two Covenant squads (one Jiralhanae and four Unggoy each), this is where the Rookie spots a ringing data terminal shortly after defeating both of the squads using his limited arsenal of suppressed weaponry. This introduces the [[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]], a 2nd Gen. dumb A.I. responsible for the infrastructure of the city. This A.I. provides data unlocked by their commanding officer, Dare, a long time before he encounters the terminal. Complete with maps and notable locations throughout the city, the Superintendent begins to aid this young Marine in his mission. | |||
{{Spoiler End}} | |||
==Appearances== | |||
[[File:The Rookie.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The main protagonist of the game, [[The Rookie]].]] | |||
===Characters=== | |||
The | *'''[[United Nations Space Command]]''' | ||
[[ | **[[The Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] - The main protagonist of ''ODST''. | ||
**[[Dare|Captain Veronica Dare]] - The Rookie's female commanding officer and [[ONI|Naval Intelligence]] operative <ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 1</ref>. She is voiced by actor [[Tricia Helfer]] <ref>[http://www.spike.com/video/gttv-2009-vgas-e3/3175518 GameTrailer TV: E3 2009 Special]</ref>. | |||
**[[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]] - The former-leader of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|squad]].<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/>. Voiced by [[Nathan Fillion]]. | |||
**[[Taylor Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]] - The Heavy Weapons specialist.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/> <ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 5">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 5</ref>. Voiced by [[Adam Baldwin]]. | |||
**[[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]] - The Marksman in the squad, and is quoted as being a "wiseass".<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/> <ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 5"/>. Voiced by [[Nolan North]]. | |||
**[[Michael Crespo|Private First Class Michael "Mickey" Crespo]] - He is the demolitions expert for the squad.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/>. Voiced by [[Alan Tudyk]]. | |||
**[[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]] - New Mombasa's Urban Infrastructure A.I. construct. | |||
**[[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery J. Johnson]] - An experienced Staff Non-Commissioned Officer with nearly a half-century of combat experience. Voiced by [[David Scully]]. <small>(Epilogue only)</small> | |||
**[[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood]] - The Commander-in-Chief of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]. <small>(Mentioned only)</small> | |||
*'''[[Covenant]]''' | |||
**[[Vergil]] - A Huragok with the data and memories of the Superintendent transferred into him. | |||
**[[Prophet of Truth]] - The de-facto leader of the [[Covenant Empire]], he leads a fleet to Earth in order to find the [[Installation 00|Ark]]. Truth can be seen during the Legendary Ending in a cave that goes underneath New Mombasa to the [[Portal]] hidden beneath the city. | |||
**[[Prophet of Regret]] - One of the three Hierarchs of the Covenant, his only known role in the game is at the beginning where his [[Assault Carrier]] enters slipspace over New Mombasa. <small>(Mentioned only)</small> | |||
=== | ===Locations=== | ||
*[[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] | |||
**[[Lumumba|Lumumba District]] | |||
**[[Mbaraki|Mbaraki District]] - Most of Dare's squad landed in this district after they diverted their course from the Assault Carrier to the area surrounding the ONI facility directly across from the Space Tether. | |||
***[[Kikowani Station]] | |||
***[[Kizingo Boulevard]] | |||
*[[ | ***[[NMPD Headquarters]] | ||
*[[ | ***[[ONI Alpha Base]] - This [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Two|Section Two]] facility was the site of a [[Battle of ONI Alpha Base|fierce battle]] that pitted New Mombasa Police and the UNSC Marine Corps, against a Covenant assault from across the bridge. This building was destroyed shortly after the battle for unknown reasons. A Firefight map, known as [[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]], takes place in front of the entrance to the facility <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU061209 Bungie Weekly Update 6/12/09]</ref>. | ||
*[[ | ***[[Tayari Plaza]] | ||
*[[ | ***[[Uplift Reserve]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Tanaga|Tanaga District]] | ||
* | **[[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator]] - Severely damaged by the Slipspace Jump caused by the Prophet of Regret's Assault Carrier, and later destroyed by a falling [[F99 Wombat]] Drone, wreckage from this space tether can be seen all across the city. Only the base of the tether and the bottom few rings survived the jump, though the structure can be seen from most places in the city, blazed in an inferno. | ||
* | |||
*[[ | |||
*[[ | |||
*[[ | |||
===Equipment=== | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
{{col-2}} | |||
'''[[Weapon]]s''' | |||
*'''[[United Nations Space Command]]''' | |||
*[[ | **[[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]] | ||
**[[ | **[[M6C/SOCOM]] | ||
**[[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System]] | |||
**[[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]] | |||
**[[M9 Fragmentation Grenade|M9 HE-DP Fragmentation Grenade]] | |||
**[[M165 Demolition Charge]] | |||
**[[M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher]] | |||
**[[M68 Gauss Cannon]] | |||
**[[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|M90A Close Assault Weapon System]] | |||
**[[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D-S2AM Sniper Rifle]] | |||
**[[Weapon/Anti-Vehicle Model 6 Grindell/Galileian Nonlinear Rifle|W/AV M6 Nonlinear Rifle]] | |||
| | *'''[[Covenant]]''' | ||
*[[ | **[[Type-1 Antipersonnel Grenade]] | ||
**[[ | **[[Type-2 Antipersonnel Fragmentation Grenade]] | ||
***[[ | **[[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer]] <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=15956 Bungie Weekly Update 10/14/08] - ''CJ Cowan just made a Brute Chieftain introduce the business end of his Hammer to some dudes.''</ref> | ||
*[[ | **[[Type-3 Antipersonnel/Antimatériel Incendiary Grenade]] | ||
**[[Type-25 Carbine]] | |||
**[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol]] | |||
**[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae Variant|Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae]] | |||
**[[Type-25 Grenade Launcher]] <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16887 Bungie Weekly Update 1/16/09] - ''At one point I found myself inquiring aloud if the Brute Shot had been powered up.''</ref> | |||
**[[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher]] | |||
**[[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon]] | |||
**[[Type-51 Carbine]] | |||
**[[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]] | |||
**[[Type-52 Pistol]] | |||
{{col-2}} | |||
'''[[Vehicle]]s''' | |||
*[[ | *'''United Nations Space Command''' | ||
*[[ | **[[D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship|D77H-TCI "Pelican" Dropship]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Warthog|M12 "Warthog" Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]] | ||
**[[ | **[[Gauss Warthog|M12G1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle]] | ||
**[[Mongoose|M274 "Mongoose" Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle]] | |||
**[[M312 Elephant HRV|M312 "Elephant" Heavy Recovery Vehicle]] | |||
**[[M808B Main Battle Tank|M808B "Scorpion" Main Battle Tank]] | |||
**[[M831 Troop Transport|M831 "Warthog" Troop Transport]] | |||
**[[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle]] | |||
**[[F-99 Wombat]] <ref>''Halo 3: ODST'', level ''Uplift Reserve''</ref> | |||
**[[UNSC Frigate]] | |||
**{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} <small>(Teasers only)</small> | |||
**{{UNSCShip|Tokyo Rules}} <small>(Teasers only)</small> | |||
**Various Civilian Vehicles | |||
*'''Covenant''' | |||
**[[Assault Carrier]] | |||
* | **[[CCS-class Battlecruiser]] | ||
**[[Type-25 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Type-25 "Chopper" Rapid Assault Vehicle]] | |||
*[[ | **[[Type-25 Assault Gun Carriage|Type-25 "Wraith" Assault Gun Carriage]] | ||
**[[ | **[[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Type-26 "Banshee" Ground Support Aircraft]] | ||
* | **[[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Type-32 "Ghost" Rapid Assault Vehicle]] | ||
**[[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Type-47 "Scarab" Ultra Heavy Assault Platform]] | |||
*[[ | **[[Type-52 Troop Carrier|Type-52 "Phantom" Troop Carrier]] | ||
**[[ | |||
**[[ | |||
**[[ | |||
**[[Type- | |||
* | |||
*[[ | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
===Other=== | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
{{col-2}} | |||
====Sentient Species==== | |||
*[[ | *[[Human]]s | ||
*[[Huragok]] | |||
*[[ | *[[Jiralhanae]] | ||
*[[ | *[[Kig-yar]] | ||
*[[Mgalekgolo]] | |||
*[[San 'Shyuum]] | |||
*[[Unggoy]] | |||
*[[Yanme'e]] | |||
{{col-2}} | |||
====Allies==== | |||
* | *[[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marine Corps]] | ||
**Marine Infantryman | |||
**[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] | |||
*[[New Mombasa Police Department]] | |||
** | **NMPD Officers | ||
* | |||
*[[ | |||
*[[ | |||
** | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
====Enemies==== | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
{{col-6}} | |||
*Jiralhanae | |||
*[[ | **[[Brute Chieftain|Chieftain]] | ||
*[[ | **[[War Chieftain]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Brute Captain Ultra|Captain Ultra]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Brute Captain Major|Captain Major]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Brute Captain|Captain]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Brute Ultra|Ultra]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Brute Major|Major]] | ||
*[[ | **[[Brute Minor|Minor]] | ||
* | **Specialists | ||
*[[ | ***[[Jump Pack Brute|Airborne]] | ||
* | ***[[Brute Stalker|Stalker]] | ||
*[[ | |||
{{col-6}} | |||
*Unggoy | |||
**[[Grunt Ultra|Ultra]] | |||
**[[Grunt Major|Major]] | |||
**[[Grunt Minor|Minor]] | |||
**Specialists | |||
[[ | ***[[Special Operations Grunt|Special Operations]] | ||
***[[Heavy Grunt|Heavy Weapons]] | |||
{{col-6}} | |||
*Kig-yar | |||
**[[Jackal Major|Major]] | |||
**[[Jackal Minor|Minor]] | |||
**Specialists | |||
***[[Jackal Sniper|Sniper]] | |||
{{col-6}} | |||
*Mgalekgolo | |||
**[[Mgalekgolo#Ranking System|Standard Hunter]] (Blue Armor) | |||
**[[Mgalekgolo#Ranking System|Unknown Hunter]] (Gold Armor) <ref name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]"/> | |||
{{col-6}} | |||
{{ | |||
*Yanme'e | |||
**[[Drone Major|Major]] | |||
**[[Drone Minor|Minor]] | |||
{{col-6}} | |||
*Huragok | |||
**Unknown Rank, used as suicide bombers by the Jiralhanae <ref>''Official Xbox Magazine: October 2009'', page 53</ref>. | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
==Marketing== | |||
===Viral Campaigns=== | |||
====Superintendent==== | |||
==Marketing | |||
===Viral | |||
====Superintendent==== | |||
{{Main|Superintendent (Viral Campaign)}} | {{Main|Superintendent (Viral Campaign)}} | ||
On May | On May 29th, 2008, a viral campaign for ''Halo 3: ODST'' started focused around [[Superintendent (Construct)|the AI of the same name]], New Mombasa's janitorial second generation dumb-A.I. construct that aids The Rookie and his squad in surviving the Covenant occupation of New Mombasa. | ||
==== | ====ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A==== | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A}} | ||
On September | On September 4th, 2009, a second viral campaign was released on Xbox.com, letting fans watch interviews of the main characters of ''ODST'' <ref>[http://cdn.haloodst.xbox.com/odst/index.html ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]</ref>. These videos go into the background of each character, with Buck and a various teammate talking about their past, military career, their education, and about the misson ahead. Clips directed by Rupert Sanders can be seen via a marker the Marines place on their right [[Wikipedia:Temple (anatomy)|temple]]. | ||
===Trailers=== | ===Trailers=== | ||
====Announcement==== | ====Announcement==== | ||
{{main|Keep It Clean (Trailer)}} | {{main|Keep It Clean (Trailer)}} | ||
[[Video:Halo 3: Recon - Announcement Trailer|300px|left]] | |||
Elements from this trailer have dramatically altered from announcement to the present day. | First, different screens of areas of New and Old Mombasa come on screen, followed by HEV pods entering the atmosphere. Here you can see the Prophet of Regret's carrier on the right, then it moves behind buildings. The pods come into view as a large explosion (Caused by the Prophet of Regret's carrier entering Slipspace) appears, sending the pods off-course. Then, the Superintendent appears, and shows warning signs and then reboots. All the screens from earlier flash onto the screen, but heavily damaged from the blast. Then, a single [[HEV]] pod falls through the sky, when the ''Halo 3'' Logo appears. The pod then crashes into the camera and goes black, followed by the words 'Prepare to Drop'. | ||
The second part to the trailer, released on the 8th of October, followed on from this - the Superintendent reinitialized itself, attempting to assess the catastrophic devastation and tries to identify the object that survived. Later, after a Covenant [[Phantom]] dropship has passed by, the object opens to reveal a lone surviving [[Unnamed Marine Shock Trooper|Marine Shock Trooper]] to clamber out, wielding a modified M7S Caseless Submachine Gun. The Marine narrowly avoids a [[Jiralhanae]] patrol, before encountering messages from the [[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]], presumably leading him to safety. | |||
Elements from this trailer have dramatically altered from announcement to the present day. | |||
[[Video:Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|300px|right]] | |||
====E3 2009 Gameplay==== | ====E3 2009 Gameplay==== | ||
{{main|Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer}} | {{main|Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer}} | ||
Shown to the press at Microsoft's E3 '09 Media Briefing, the first gameplay trailer showcased the events surrounding the campaign and the new Firefight mode. It focuses mostly on the Rookie wandering around the streets of the city | Shown to the press at Microsoft's E3'09 Media Briefing, the first gameplay trailer showcased the events surrounding the campaign and the new Firefight mode. It focuses mostly on the Rookie wandering around the streets of the city, looking for his lost squadmates, along with Dutch who fights during the [[Battle of ONI Alpha Base]]. | ||
This trailer also shows the very first glimpse of Firefight, the brand new cooperative game mode designed specifically for ''ODST''. | This trailer also shows the very first glimpse of Firefight, the brand new cooperative game mode designed specifically for ''ODST''. | ||
Line 490: | Line 380: | ||
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Desperate Measures}} | {{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Desperate Measures}} | ||
The first ViDoc of ''Halo 3: ODST'', ''Desperate Measures'' takes a look inside the squad that consists of the main characters in the game. It summarizes the skills that each Marine has, along with what equipment they'll be using in-game. | The first ViDoc of ''Halo 3: ODST'', ''Desperate Measures'' takes a look inside the squad that consists of the main characters in the game. It summarizes the skills that each Marine has, along with what equipment they'll be using in-game. | ||
Also shown are little clips of the flashback missions, namely, featuring | Also shown are little clips of the flashback missions, namely, featuring GySgt Buck and LCpl Agu on a landing platform at [[NMPD Headquarters]], where a police Pelican dropship was extracting the two Marines, before getting chased off by two Type-26 Banshee fighters. | ||
====ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.==== | ====ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.==== | ||
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.}} | {{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.}} | ||
The second | The second ViDoc for ''ODST'' first shown at the 2009 Games Convention in Cologne, Germany, ''Bip. Bap. Bam.'' shows off the new ''Firefight'' mode revealed earlier at E3 2009. | ||
[[Avery | [[Avery Johnson|SgtMaj Avery Johnson]] is the narrator of the ViDoc, making a stylish entrance in a [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV "Drop Pod"]] over the ''[[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]]'' map. During the video, Johnson details the gameplay of this new gametype for ''ODST'', along with telling how they can play him by pre-ordering the game at a number of participating retailers. | ||
====ViDoc: Terra Incognita==== | ====ViDoc: Terra Incognita==== | ||
Line 506: | Line 396: | ||
The third ViDoc for ''ODST'' released on Bungie's website, focuses on the development of Halo 3: ODST. | The third ViDoc for ''ODST'' released on Bungie's website, focuses on the development of Halo 3: ODST. | ||
The game developers at Bungie were entering unfamiliar territory, making the largest | The game developers at Bungie were entering unfamiliar territory, making the largest enviroment they ever created as the freely-explorable level of New Mombasa. It also says the differences and similarities of the ODSTs and the SPARTAN-II soldiers, such as jumping height and the fact that no motion tracker is present in ''ODST.'' | ||
===Other=== | |||
====We Are ODST==== | ====We Are ODST==== | ||
{{main|We Are ODST}} | {{main|We Are ODST}} | ||
A 2 | A 2 minute live-action short made exclusively for the launch of ''Halo 3: ODST'' will be released on September 7th, 2009 on [[Wikipedia:Spike TV|Spike TV]] with a run-time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252724+03-Sep-2009+PRN20090903 Reuters.com - Prepare To Drop! Spike TV Gears Up For 'Halo Month']</ref>. This short is directed by Rupert Sanders, who previously on the ''[[Believe|Halo 3: Believe]]'' series. | ||
This short showcases the [[19th Shock Troops Battalion]] during their operations in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. | This short showcases the [[19th Shock Troops Battalion]] during their operations in the [[Human-Covenant War]]. | ||
====ODST Tour==== | ====ODST Tour==== | ||
[[File:ODST tour vehicle.jpg|200px|thumb|A render mock-up of the tour truck.]] | [[File:ODST tour vehicle.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A render mock-up of the tour truck.]] | ||
To promote the release of the game, Bungie and Microsoft started an "ODST Tour", showcasing the game's Firefight mode to fans all across the [[ | To promote the upcoming release of the game, Bungie and Microsoft started an "ODST Tour", showcasing the game's Firefight mode to fans all across the [[United States]] <ref>[http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2009/08/20/sc200.aspx Xbox Press.com - “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle embarks on a nationwide tour]</ref>. Beginning August 22nd in Redmond, Washington, this tour will last for nearly a month, coinciding with the release of the game. | ||
==Pricing== | |||
[[File:ODST Collector's Pack.jpg|180px|thumb|right|The Collector's Pack]] | |||
Early after its announcement, Bungie stated that they did not see ''ODST'' as a regular $60 game <ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/929/929686p1.html Halo Recon not Full Price]</ref>. At E3 2009, Microsoft confirmed that ''Halo 3: ODST'' would retail at the standard normal price of $59.99 <ref name="Halo 3 ODST Priced Like A Full Game, Loaded With Content"/>, which they think that the game features warrant the normal price tag. | |||
As a bonus feature for those who pre-order ''ODST'' at select retailers (including such stores as GameStop and Amazon.com), a token to play as [[Avery Johnson|SgtMaj Avery Johnson]] in [[Firefight]] will be included <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#johnson Bungie.net - PRE-ORDER BONUS: Brings Sgt. Johnson into the Firefight]</ref>. | |||
[[File:Halo3- ODST Sgt. Johnson.jpg|220px|left]] | |||
'''Contents:''' | |||
*''Halo 3: ODST'' Campaign | |||
*''Halo 3: ODST'' "Firefight" mode, a cooperative campaign mode where up to four players can assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies. Facing increasingly challenging waves of enemies together, striving to earn the highest scores possible, while various ''[[Halo 3 Skulls]]'' are progressively activated. | |||
*Three new maps of a second [[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]] pack on a standalone disc. | |||
*All three Multiplayer Map Packs (''Heroic'', ''Legendary'', and ''Mythic''). | |||
*A key to the upcoming ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' Multiplayer Beta. | |||
===Special Edition=== | |||
A "''Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack''" is available alongside the standard version. This includes the game itself, along with a limited edition UNSC-style Xbox 360 controller, and will retail for $99 USD (£60 GBP). The Collector's Pack is only currently available at GameStop in the USA, EB Games in Australia, and Game.co.uk in the UK. | |||
===Related Products=== | |||
====Strategy Guide==== | |||
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide}} | |||
Prima Games will release 272-page strategy guide on the release date of ''Halo 3: ODST'' for $25 USD <ref name="''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com">[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-ODST-Prima-Official-Guide/dp/0761562885/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245259711&sr=1-3 ''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product_ID=74846 ''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on GameStop.com]</ref>. | |||
Contents include <ref name="''Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide'' on Amazon.com"/>: | |||
*'''Move Out Soldier -''' Complete coverage of the single player missions. With labeled maps for New Mombasa and tactics included for the Legendary level of difficulty. | |||
*'''Team Up -''' Intense Co-Op strategy to ensure you and your squadmates survive. With input from the actual developers and testers to give you the inside track. | |||
*'''Clan Wisdom -''' All Halo 3 multiplayer maps with breakdowns and tips from some of the best clan players out there. | |||
*'''Rise Through the Ranks -''' Detailed info on every Achievement from Halo ODST and Halo 3. More than a list, instructions and tips for every one. | |||
====Original Sountrack==== | |||
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack}} | |||
{{quote|Overall I think this score is a bit more intimate and personal. We're telling a human story, not a cyborg story. This isn't a space opera but a story that takes place on earth in one city. Although the player get's to inhabit the shoes of several characters, they still primarily should feel like one person discovering the mystery that lies behind the ruins of New Mombasa|Martin O'Donnell to Music 4 Games.}} | |||
Like previous games in the series, ''Halo 3: ODST'' will be released alongside an Original Soundtrack comprised of music heard in the game. This soundtrack features seventeen new tracks, composed by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]], on two discs <ref>[http://twitter.com/MartyTheElder Martin O'Donnell's Twitter "''MartyTheElder''"]</ref>. Though over three hours of music was composed for ''ODST'', only two hours will be released on the soundtrack <ref>[http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=361 Music 4 Games - Behind the Music of Halo 3: ODST - Interview with composer Marty O'Donnell]</ref>. | |||
==Trivia== | |||
*The tagline for the game is ''Prepare to Drop'', which references the method of Orbital Drop used by the ODST's for quick insertion into operations. | |||
*A teaser trailer for ''Halo 3: ODST'' was ''[[Keep It Clean]]'' released on September 25th, 2008 at 07:07:07 am PST, which coincided with the one year anniversary of the launch of ''Halo 3''. The trailer was viewed through the many security cameras around New Mombasa. The time at which this trailer was revealed is a reference to Bungie's long-time "obsession" with the number [[List of "Seven" References in Halo|seven]]. | |||
*Bungie released the track played in the Announcement Trailer, named "Prepare to Drop". It's track length is 1:17, a reference to [[John-117]]. The track is available [http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=15841 here]. | |||
*The "''Road to Recon''" challenge, as named by Bungie, will give players the chance to unlock the [[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|MJOLNIR Mk.VI "Recon"]] (simply referred to as "''Recon Armor''") for use in ''Halo 3'' multiplayer <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#recon Bungie.net : Road to Recon]</ref>. This challenge will require unlocking the current [[Vidmaster|Vidmaster Challenges]] from ''Halo 3'' <ref name="Bungie Update 11/14/08"/>, and three more Vidmaster Challenges only available through purchasing ''ODST'' <ref>''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 4</ref>. | |||
*On November 25th, 2008, Bungie LLC. renamed the in-development ''Halo 3: Recon'' to ''Halo 3: ODST''.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/Blog.aspx?mode=news#cid16289 Bungie.net Blog - ''Halo 3: ODST'']</ref> The reasons to why the upcoming expansion was renamed is due to the player playing the character of an ODST in the game, and to focus attention off of the fact that players will be able to receive [[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI Reconnaissance Armor]]. | |||
*Though the game takes place during the events of ''Halo 2'' ([[First Battle of Earth]] and [[Battle of Installation 05]]); all of the character, weapon, and vehicle models were taken from ''[[Halo 3]]'', creating an inconsistency within the canon, unless regarded as a Retroactive Continuity. | |||
[[File:RvB ODST - Training Film.png|250px|thumb|right|"Umm...so where's the movie with the regular soldiers?" - Grif.]] | |||
[[File:H3 ODST - Unknown Image.jpg|250px|thumb|right|"Death Comes to All of Us".]] | |||
*During an interview at Gencon 2008 in Brisbane, Australia; [[Alan Tudyk]] commented on a so called ''Halo 3 Supplemental'', in which himself and fellow [[Wikipedia:Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]] actors [[Nathan Fillion]] and [[Adam Baldwin]] would lend their voices to the game.<ref>[http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive30.pl?read=886556 Alan Tudyk does voice work for Halo 3 supplemental]</ref> All three of the actors played the role of [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] in ''[[Halo 3]]''.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', ''[[Halo (Halo 3 Level)|Credits]]''</ref> Assuming that this supplemental is ''Halo 3: ODST'', Tudyk and Baldwin will likely voice members of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|squad]] in the game. The ''E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer'' confirmed Fillion, Baldwin, and Tudyk's roles as Buck, Dutch, and Mickey, respectively <ref name="[[Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|''Halo 3: ODST'' - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer]]"/>. | |||
*To accompany the launch of the Xbox 360's new Avatar Marketplace, Xbox LIVE members will be able to purchase a special clothing set featuring the ODST's Battle Armor <ref>[http://kotaku.com/5274407/xbox-360-avatars-getting-new-outfits-props-marketplace Kotaku.com - Xbox 360 Avatars Getting New Outfits, Props, Marketplace]</ref>. As of early September 2009, only a UNSC Marine Infantryman costume has been released. | |||
*[[McFarlane Toys]] will release a 6-inch figurine replica of The Rookie as a part of their "Medal Edition" line of Series 6, due out in October 2009 <ref>[http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=4020 SPAWN.com - Product page for 'The Rookie']</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13588 SPAWN.com - First Look at 'The Rookie' ODST Action Figure]</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news2.aspx?id=13590 SPAWN.com - Halo Series 6 'Medal Edition' Photography Revealed]</ref>. Included in the package is the M7S/Casless Submachine Gun and exclusive Medals. | |||
*In early September 2009, [[Rooster Teeth]] began a four-part ''[[Red vs Blue]]'' special debuting ''ODST''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Firefight mode to the cast of ''[[Red vs Blue: Recreation|Recreation]]''. The first episode, entitled "''Guys Like Us''" (referring to both the cast of ''RvB'' and ''ODST'' being "normal" soldiers), can be viewed on Rooster Teeth's official website ''[http://redvsblue.com/archive/?id=836 here]''. | |||
*Marketing for ''ODST'' will encompass a broad range of mediums, including print ads in magazines; with television spots taking center stage "with multiple ads prepared and sponsorship of key shows arranged" <ref>[http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35402/Halo-marketing-blitz-detailed#after_ad MCV.com Gaming Industry - Microsoft plans Halo 3: ODST marketing blitz]</ref>. Advertisements will be shown up to Christmas 2009 and into early 2010. Such ads can already been seen in the American version of the ''Official Xbox Magazine'' and even here on [[Halopedia]]. GameStop has already began their advertisements, showing off both UNSC and Covenant in the Firefight mode dancing to SgtMaj Johnson, a bonus unlock item for those who pre-order the game <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8iAeUicU9I YouTube.com : Gamestop Video - Halo 3: ODST]</ref>. [[Wikipedia:Spike TV|Spike TV]] has designated September as the "Halo Month", with five programs lined up over the course of sixteen days <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252724+03-Sep-2009+PRN20090903 Reuters.com - Prepare To Drop! Spike TV Gears Up For 'Halo Month']</ref>. One such show will mark the debut of a live-action [[We Are ODST|ODST short]] and a preview of ''[[Halo Legends]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> ODST-centric film ''[[The Babysitter]]''. | |||
*Copies of ''ODST'' were sold early in France, to which Microsoft responded by investigating and threatening to ban any players on Xbox LIVE playing ''ODST'' before its official release of September 22nd <ref>[http://kotaku.com/5346774/microsoft-taking-action-against-those-who-buy-and-play-halo-3-odst-early-%5Bupdate%5D Kotaku.com - Microsoft Taking Action Against Those Who Buy and Play Halo 3: ODST Early]</ref>. Microsoft France lead manager Stephen Toulouse later stated that they would not ban legitimate buyers of the game <ref>[http://kotaku.com/5347615/early-halo-odst-players-wont-be-banned-so-long-as-they-bought-a-copy Kotaku.com - Early Halo: ODST Players Won't Be Banned (So Long As They Bought A Copy)]</ref>. | |||
*On the morning of September 3rd, 2009, [http://www.ign.com/ IGN.com] released a teaser for the upcoming ''ODST'' with an article called "''Death Comes to All of Us''" and a description of "What could this surprising image mean for one soldier's future?" <ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/102/1021261p1.html IGN.com - Halo 3: ODST - Death Comes to All of Us]</ref>. This article contained an image of torn ODST insignia, possibly a flag or a uniform patch, laying on the ground. The author of this article, Hillary Goldstein, will reveal where this image is from on Friday, September 4th at 10:00am Pacific Standard Time. This image was later revealed to be from the upcoming release of the ODST live-action short. | |||
*Revealed at the Bungie panel at [[Wikipedia:Penny Arcade Expo|PAX 2009]], many "characters" were considered for an expansion for ''Halo 3'', most notably [[Arbiter (Title)|Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadamee]] <ref>PAX 2009: Bungie panel</ref>. | |||
*In an interview with Microsoft Game Studios' Ryan Crosby on Joystiq.com, a sequel to ''Halo 3: ODST'' would be considered if fan and media reception exceeds expectations, and the need arises for a follow-up <ref>[http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/video-interview-inside-halo-3-odst/ Joystiq.com - Video Interview: Inside Halo 3: ODST]</ref>. Despite that, there are no current plans for a sequel, despite the hints of an "''ODST 2''" during the Epilogue cinematic. | |||
==Media== | |||
== | |||
===Concept Art=== | ===Concept Art=== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File: | File:The Rookie.jpg|[[The Rookie]], the main protagonist. | ||
File: | File:Close Quarters Combat Trooper.jpg|[[Mickey]] laden in his heavy gear. | ||
File: | File:ODST Sniper.jpg|[[Romeo]] equipped with his marksman gear. | ||
File: | File:Recon Trooper.jpg|[[Dare]] ready for a reconnaissance mission. | ||
File: | File:SMG Concept.jpg|A modular M7 Suppressed Submachine Gun. | ||
File: | File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-10.jpg|A landing zone for Pelicans, possibly concept art for the landing zone seen in Desperate Measures. | ||
File: | File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-09.jpg|A possible concept art for the Briefing Room, seen in the ODST beginning Cutscene. | ||
File: | File:Halo3-ODST PodConcept-02.jpg|Numerous SOEIV Concepts. | ||
File: | File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-11.jpg|The Mombasa Orbital Elevator base. | ||
File: | File:Battle of New Mombasa.jpg|A fierce battle in the streets of Mombasa. | ||
File: | File:Battle Aftermath.jpg|The same location as before, after the battle. | ||
File: | File:Halo3-ODST EnvConcept-12.jpg|A waste ridden street corner. | ||
File: | File:Concept citycolors.png|An experiment with various possible color schemes for the city. | ||
File:Concept drone.png|Concept art of a drone fighter aircraft. | |||
File:City concept.png|Concept art of New Mombasa after the slipspace incident. | |||
File: | File:Tunnel concept.png|An underground tunnel. | ||
File: | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Screenshots=== | ===Screenshots=== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 1.jpg|The Rookie faces a Jiralhanae Captain inside a Bubble Shield. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 2.jpg|The Mission Briefing, before the actual gameplay starts. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 3.jpg|New Mombasa in flames. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 4.jpg|A Chieftain takes a swing at an ODST. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 5.jpg|A team of players in Firefight. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 6.jpg|The Firefight HUD. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 7.jpg|The Assault on Mombasa. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 8.jpg|Dutch holds off against the Covenant. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 9.jpg|Dutch takes the initiative. | ||
File: | File:ODST Screenshot 10.jpg|The Campaign HUD. | ||
File:ODST | File:ODST Screenshot 11.jpg|Dutch and Mickey. | ||
File:ODST Screenshot 12.jpg|Cooperative on Campaign. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
== | ===Videos=== | ||
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[[Video:Halo 3: Keep It Clean|300px|left]] | |||
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[[Video:Halo 3: Recon - Announcement Trailer|300px|left]] | |||
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[[Video:Halo 3: ODST - E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer|300px|left]] | |||
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[[Video:Halo 3: ODST ViDoc - Desperate Measures|300px|left]] | |||
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[[Video:Halo 3: ODST ViDoC - Bip. Bap. Bam.|300px|left]] | |||
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[[Video:Halo 3: ODST ViDoc - Terra Incognita|300px|left]] | |||
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{{clear}} | |||
==Related | ==Related Links== | ||
=== Internal === | ===Internal Links=== | ||
*''[[Halo 3]]'' | *''[[Halo 3]]'' | ||
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' | *''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'' | ||
*''[[We Are ODST]]'' | |||
*[[Mombasa|Mombasa, Kenya]] | *[[Mombasa|Mombasa, Kenya]] | ||
*[[Orbital Drop Shock | *[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] | ||
*[[Halo 3: ODST | *[[ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]] | ||
===External Links=== | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/Projects/ODST/default.aspx Official ''Halo 3: ODST'' page at Bungie.net]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx ''Halo 3: ODST'' Field Guide at Bungie.net]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=ournextgame ''Meet Our New Game'' - Bungie.net]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16271 ''The Guide to the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers'' - Bungie Weekly Update 11/21/2008]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16545 ''Halo 3: ODST Concept Art Blowout'' - Bungie Weekly Update 12/26/2008]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODSTsquad ''Meet the Squad'' - Bungie.net]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODST_FeetFirst ''Feet First'' - Bungie.net]. | |||
*[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Halo3ODST_Firefight ''Drop Into Firefight'' - Bungie.net]. | |||
*[http://cdn.haloodst.xbox.com/odst/index.html ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]. | |||
*[http://www.amazon.com/Halo-3-ODST-Xbox-360/dp/B001HWB68K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1245259409&sr=8-1 ''Halo 3: ODST'' at Amazon.com]. | |||
*[http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?Product_ID=73841 ''Halo 3: ODST'' at GameStop.com]. | |||
==Sources== | |||
{{Reflist|2}} | |||
{{Halo Games}} | |||
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