Editing Halo 3: ODST

{{Era|H3R|RW}}
{{Ratings}}
{{Game Info Box
|name='''''Halo 3: ODST'''''
|image=Halo 3 ODST Cover.png
|imageSize=250
|Developer=[[Bungie|Bungie, LLC.]]
|Publisher=[[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|Genre=[[First-person shooter]]        
|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]] 
|Designer=[[Paul Bertone]]<br/>
[[Lars Bakken]]<br/>
[[Dan Miller]]<br/>
Alex Pfeiffer
|Writer=[[Joseph Staten]]
|Composer=[[Martin O'Donnell]]<br/>
[[Michael Salvatori]]
|Media=DVD
|Website=[http://www.bungie.net/Projects/ODST/default.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo 3: ODST Project Page'']
}}

'''''Halo 3: ODST''''' (formerly known as '''''Halo 3: Recon''''') is a first-person shooter video game developed by [[Bungie]] for the [[Xbox 360]]. ''Halo 3: ODST'' was released worldwide on September 22nd, 2009, at 12:00 midnight. <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]]n port city of [[New Mombasa]], ''ODST'' follows a [[Dare's Shock Trooper Squad|squad]] of elite [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] during the [[Battle of Earth|Covenant invasion of Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 20th, 2552]]. Knocked off course due to the [[Battle of Mombasa|Mombasa Slipspace Incident]], these five Marines lead by an ONI officer fight through the waste-filled, destroyed streets in order to link up with each other, evade the Covenant, and execute a top secret mission.

''ODST'' is a prologue to ''[[Halo 3]]'' which fills in the details of what happened in southeastern Kenya from ''[[Halo 2]]'' to ''[[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 leading 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>. An [[Xbox LIVE]] invitation to the [[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|Multiplayer Beta]] of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' <ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#beta Bungie.net : Invitation to the ''Halo: Reach'' Beta]</ref>, announced at E3 2009, was included with ''ODST'', and ran from May 3, 2010 through May 20, 2010.

On release, ''ODST'' became the top-selling Xbox 360 game worldwide. The title received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the atmosphere, music, and story approach. Critics were divided on whether the relatively short campaign and included extras were enough to justify the full-game price tag.

==Campaign==
=== Levels ===
*"[[Prepare To Drop (Level)|Prepare To Drop]]"
*"[[Mombasa Streets (Level)|Mombasa Streets]]"
*"[[Tayari Plaza (Level)|Tayari Plaza]]"
*"[[Uplift Reserve (Level)|Uplift Reserve]]"
*"[[Kizingo Boulevard (Level)|Kizingo Boulevard]]"
*"[[ONI Alpha Site (Level)|ONI Alpha Site]]"
*"[[NMPD HQ (Level)|NMPD HQ]]"
*"[[Kikowani Station (Level)|Kikowani Station]]"
*"[[Data Hive (Level)|Data Hive]]"
*"[[Coastal Highway (Level)|Coastal Highway]]"

===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.

'''{{Opening Scroll
|name = Opening Scroll
|text = The year is 2552.

Humanity is at war with the alien alliance known as "The Covenant".

We are losing.

The Covenant have burned our worlds, killing billions in their genocidal campaign.

Earth is our last bastion - a carefully guarded secret.

But not anymore.

A Covenant carrier has breached Earth's defenses and attacked the African mega-city, "New Mombasa".

Initial reports confirm major damage and heavy civilian casualties.

Now military leaders of the "United Nations Space Command" have prepared their response...

Teams of highly-trained "Orbital Drop Shock Troopers" are ready to assault the carrier from Navy ships in low orbit.

This is a near-suicidal mission.

But these troopers are the best of the best.

And saving New Mombasa could be the most important mission of the war...
}}'''

===The Drop===

[[File:H3_ODST_-_Buck_Dare_Argument.png|thumb|250px|Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Captain Dare arguing.]]

{{quote|The Navy put up a good fight.|[[Mickey|Private First Class Michael Crespo]].}}

{{quote|'Course they did. It's Earth.|[[Dutch|Corporal Taylor Miles]].}}

{{quote|Better late than never.|[[Romeo|Lance Corporal Kojo Agu]].}}

The game begins at around 4:00pm, [[2552#October|October 20th, 2552]]. The majority of an [[ODST]] [[Dare's Shock Trooper Squad|squad]] are preparing for the mission on board the {{UNSCship|Say My Name}} orbiting high above [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]. They are grouped around a holo-table, which shows the [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Assault Carrier]] hovering near the city's [[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator|Orbital Elevator]]. [[Taylor Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]], [[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], and [[Private First Class]] [[Michael Crespo|Michael "Mickey" Crespo]] are gathered around the holo-table. [[The Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] is asleep in the back of the room.

Romeo jokingly remarks how the [[UNSC Navy]] managed to put up a fight during the [[Battle of Earth|Invasion of Earth]], but still allowed a Covenant carrier to slip by the [[Orbital Defense Platform]]s surrounding the planet. Dutch criticizes Romeo, stating that the navy left the lone ship for the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] to infiltrate. The ODSTs are soon put on alert when their team leader, [[Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Edward Buck]], enters the room with an attractive [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] operative named [[Veronica Dare]]. Romeo utters "Hello, beautiful" in response to Dare's appearance, catching Buck's attention and prompting him to order the ODSTs to their [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV "drop pods"]].

While walking to the nearby armory, Buck is stopped by Dare, who remarks that the members of his squad are replacements. Buck acknowledges the problem, but notes that after 25 years of war with the Covenant, very few veterans are left in the UNSC. Conflicted about what she likely told him prior to entering the room, Buck confronts Dare about the objective of his team, stating the Assault Carrier (carrying the Prophet of Regret) is a more vital concern than her covert mission. Dare reminds him that they have orders to follow, and that she should be referred to as "[[Captain (Navy)|Captain]]", in keeping with military regulations.

Buck directs the Captain to her pod, where Romeo asks about her; obviously angry about the mission, Buck confronts the curious Lance Corporal, replying that she is their "new boss". He gives a short speech to his men to motivate them for the drop, and hands a [[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D Sniper Rifle]] to Romeo, drawing questions from the squad, who were anticipating a close range battle inside the Covenant Assault Carrier. While en route to his own drop pod, Romeo rudely awakens the Rookie, hitting him with the butt of his rifle (at which point the camera changes to a first-person view) while the Rookie lies asleep in his pod. Dutch pushes Romeo out of the way and hands the Rookie a [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun|silenced SMG]], telling the ODST to relax despite Romeo's obnoxious behavior; the Rookie's pod is then 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 Edward Buck.}}

Marine forces are informed by Dare that the [[Covenant Army]] is massing beneath the Assault Carrier for an organized retreat. Dozens of ODSTs 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|Frigates]] in orbit around the elevator, and begin to enter cloud cover above the city. The Captain then orders the squad to adjust their trajectory and drop locations; sending the ODST's way off of their intended course.

Before the ODST's are able to deploy their internal parachutes, however, Dutch picks up a radiation alert in his pod, and the Assault Carrier proceeds to enter [[Slipspace]], closely followed by the UNSC frigate [[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]. An EMP emitted by the Slipspace rupture disables the drop pods before they are able to deploy their parachutes; the ODSTs are scattered across New Mombasa. Dare's commandeered squad, farthest away from the Slipspace rupture, manages to survive the fall, but the remaining ODST's aiming for the Carrier are killed in action. During the fall, the Rookie's pod collides with Mickey's pod, sending it out of control. The impact knocks the Rookie unconscious.

===The Rookie Awakens===
{{Quote|Hey, Rookie? You out there? Respond, that's an order.|Buck, sending a transmission over the COM.}}
{{Quote|Give it up, Gunny. Even if he ain't dead, he's lost in that soup. Our com chatter can't cut through that.|Romeo}}
{{Quote|Oh, give up, huh? What if it were you down there?|Buck}}
{{Quote|Just saying. I ain't dead.|Romeo}}

[[File:RookieAwakes.jpg|thumb|202px|The Rookie emerges from his pod.]]

Six hours after the drop (10:02pm), the Rookie awakens to the sound of two [[Phantom]]s flying nearby. He soon regains his situational awareness, discovering that his drop pod is lodged in a building at least twenty feet off the ground. With no choice, he jumps out of the pod, and falls to the street, slightly injuring himself when he hits the ground. After combing the area for medical supplies, he heads in to the city to find his squad.

Almost immediately after starting out, the Rookie encounters a few Covenant patrols covering a small area. The Rookie uses his silenced weaponry to eliminate the patrols, after which he is alerted to a ringing data terminal. Upon accessing the terminal, the Rookie is connected to the [[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]], a second-generation "dumb" [[A.I.]] tasked with maintaining the city's infrastructure. The A.I. provides the Rookie with data that had been previously unlocked by Dare. The Superintendent begins to assist the Rookie, giving him maps, marking notable locations throughout the city, and providing warnings using road signs.

As the Rookie travels throughout the city, he finds clues regarding the fate of his squadmates. When the Rookie finds a clue, the game's perspective shifts to that of the relevant ODST.

Six hours earlier, Buck had landed somewhat safely (if uncomfortably) and made radio contact with Dare, who told him that she had been trapped in her drop pod. With the assistance of Marines in the area, Buck fought his way to her position. Along the way, he noticed a "family feud" within the Covenant, as many [[Sangheili]] were found dead and seemed to have been killed by the Brutes. By the time Buck got to Dare's pod, she was nowhere to be found. Buck noticed a [[Huragok]], and saw that it was holding Dare's helmet in one of its tentacles. Curious, the alien began to examine Buck. Having mistaken its curiosity for hostility, Romeo sniped the inquisitive alien, inadvertently triggering the bomb mounted on its back. The resulting explosion threw the helmet out of sight, although the Superintendent recorded a video showing where it landed. Romeo and Buck regrouped, the former stating his belief that Dare was dead. The Rookie later finds the helmet.

Meanwhile, Dutch landed in the Uplift Wildlife Reserve, where he led a [[Warthog]] charge in an effort to breach Covenant defenses and secure the long-departed carrier's landing zone. Mickey had landed nearby, and stumbled upon retreating Marines from the [[405th]]. Mickey used a [[Scorpion]] to bring the Marines to their rally point: the entrance to [[ONI Alpha Site]]. There, he and Dutch regrouped and found a desperate [[NMPD|police]] officer, who was searching for an explosives expert. Mickey, who had originally hoped to dig in at the rally point and wait for backup, was pressed into service, and he and Dutch headed to the ONI Alpha Site with the police officer in tow.

The two ODSTs worked with the officer and several Marines to defend the ONI complex. Dutch and Mickey used explosives to destroy the bridge leading to the base, but the Covenant easily countered by using Phantoms to land troops past the broken bridge. The courtyard was quickly overrun by Covenant forces, prompting the besieged humans to retreat to the structure's interior. The humans are eventually forced to retreat from the building using a police [[Pelican]]. As they fled, they destroyed the base using remotely-detonated explosives, preventing the Covenant from using the structure and it's contained information. While in flight, Dutch and Mickey managed to re-establish communication with Buck; they headed to the NMPD Headquarters to pick him up.

Upon arriving and attempting to land on a rooftop to pick up Buck and Romeo, Mickey, Dutch and their NMPD allies are attacked by [[Banshee]]s, and their Pelican is shot down. Buck and Romeo fight their way across the rooftops of the NMPD HQ to the downed Pelican and their squadmates. There, the four ODSTs used [[missile pod]]s, heavy machine guns, and [[rocket launcher]]s to defend the building from Banshees and Phantoms with landing parties. They were successful in repelling the Covenant assault, but in the process, Romeo was badly wounded by a [[Brute Chieftain]], and their Pelican was damaged and left inoperable.

Buck led the group to Kikowani Station, planning to use the tram system to escape the city, stabilizing Romeo with [[biofoam]] along the way. Upon arrival, however, the group discovered that the tram tunnels had been flooded. They proceeded to hijack a Phantom and escape the city, fighting their way past enemy Banshees and even a [[Scarab]] in the process. Along the way, they noticed several CCS-class Battlecruisers moving toward the crater left by the Assault Carrier's Slipspace jump. After escaping the city proper, Buck realized where Dare was, and ordered Mickey to turn back and set him down.

===Reunited with the Team===
Meanwhile, the Rookie, having made his way to the Superintendent's Data Center, finds Captain Dare locked in on sub-level nine. She reveals that her orders were to fight her way to the A.I.'s data center and retrieve the information that had recently been discovered about what lay beneath the city, and deny access to the Covenant. The data center, however, had been infested with an entire hive of [[Yanme'e|Drones]], which in turn were supported by numerous other Covenant forces. She explains that this was why she requisitioned a whole squad for her mission: it would have been suicide to fight these forces alone.

Dare and the Rookie fight their way to the data center, arriving just as the severely damaged Superintendent finally shut down. Closer inspection of the AI's core by the pair reveals a lone, hiding Huragok. Dare reveals an ONI discovery: the Huragoks were enslaved by the Covenant, and have little love for their overlords. She also reveals that this particular Huragok, named Vergil (due to its absorption of the Vergil subroutine in the Superintendent), has combined it's knowledge with the information possessed by the Superintendent, information that can aid humanity in the war.

The two convinced the Huragok to follow them just as the Covenant arrived; Buck arrives at the same time. They escape the data core and fight though hordes of Covenant troops before reaching an elevator, which takes them to the city's coastal highway. Buck informs Dare and the Rookie that he has his stolen Phantom waiting in the shipyards down the highway. Vergil powers up an [[Oliphant]]; Dare drives, while the Rookie and Buck provide supporting fire from a [[Warthog]], and later, a [[Scorpion]].

More Covenant ships enter the city, and the fleet begins to [[glass]] the area in an attempt to uncover the buried [[Forerunner]] [[The Artifact|Portal]] to the [[Ark]]. Buck, having witnessed glassing during the [[Battle of Reach]], is particularly disturbed by the sight. A Scarab manages to score a direct hit on the Oliphant, damaging it severely and forcing the ODSTs to abandon their vehicles and take cover inside the building entrance to Uplift Wildlife Reserve. Buck orders Mickey to provide extraction instead of waiting for them to arrive.

The ODSTs endures multiple Covenant attacks while waiting for Mickey to arrive. When Mickey and the rest of the squad reach their position, the group boards their captured Phantom, narrowly avoiding a Covenant Carrier's glassing beam.

A month later, Admiral [[Terrence Hood]] gives [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] clearance to interrogate Vergil on an ONI orbital facility. Dare warns Johnson to be careful. As the two enter the room, they see Vergil toying with the optics for a drone fighter. The squad is clustered around the Huragok, with the Rookie asleep in a corner. Johnson casually tosses his lighter to the delicate (and flammable) creature, much to Dare's alarm, which Johnson ignores. Johnson expresses the mutual loathing that humans and Huragok share towards the Brutes, and appeals to Vergil to help the human cause, stating that "You're (Vergil) gonna tell me exactly what they're looking for. And then, you're gonna help me stop 'em." Vergil raised the lighter, flicked it open, and lit the cigar that Johnson just placed in his mouth, suggesting that this Engineer is friendly and willing to cooperate with the humans.

An additional scene plays upon completing the game on [[Legendary]]. The [[Prophet of Truth]] is seen in the chamber that houses the Superintendent's core, smiling as more Huragok uncover an extensive Forerunner complex beneath the dirt. There is no clear indication as to whether this structure is part of the previously uncovered portal generator or something else entirely.

===Characters===
====Major Characters====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''[[United Nations Space Command]]'''
*[[The Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] - The main protagonist of ''ODST''. {{1st}}
*[[Dare|Captain Veronica Dare]] - The Rookie's 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 [[Tricia Helfer]].<ref>[http://www.spike.com/video/gttv-2009-vgas-e3/3175518 GameTrailer TV: E3 2009 Special]</ref> {{1st}}
*[[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]] - The former-leader now second-in-command of the [[Unnamed Shock Trooper Squad|squad]].<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 1"/>. Voiced by [[Nathan Fillion]]. {{1st}}
*[[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]]. {{1st}}
*[[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]]. {{1st}}
*[[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]]. {{1st}}
*[[Superintendent (Construct)|Superintendent]] - New Mombasa's Urban Infrastructure A.I. construct. Voiced by [[Joseph Staten]].<ref>''Halo 3: ODST'' Credits</ref> {{1st}}
*[[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]].
{{col-2}}
'''[[Covenant]]'''
*[[Vergil]] - A Huragok with the data and memories of the Superintendent's subroutine "Vergil" transferred into him. {{1st}}
*[[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 a Forerunner artifact 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. {{Mo}}
{{col-end}}

====Minor Characters====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Covenant'''
*[[Huragok]]
*[[Jiralhanae]]
*[[Kig-yar]]
*[[Mgalekgolo]]
*[[Sangheili]]<ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', level ''[[Tayari Plaza (Level)|Tayari Plaza]]''</ref> {{C|Dead bodies only}}
*[[San 'Shyuum]]
*[[Unggoy]]
*[[Yanme'e]]
{{col-2}}
'''UNSC'''
*[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[UNSC Marine|Marine Infantrymen]]
**[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
*[[New Mombasa Police Department]]
**NMPD Officers
*[[Terrence Hood|Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood]] - The Commander-in-Chief of the [[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]. {{Mo}}
{{col-end}}

===Locations===
*[[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]
**[[New Mombasa Data Center|Data Center]] - A significant location throughout the game, the data center is where the Squad's ultimate objective lay. It is also where the Rookie finally reunites with his squad. {{1st}}
**[[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. {{1st}}
**[[Kikowani Station]] - One of [[New Mombasa Transit Authority|NMTA]]'s [[MagLev Train|train]] stations in the city. It was flooded with water during the battle. Buck and his team arrived here to try to escape the city and ended up stealing a Phantom. {{1st}}
**[[Kizingo]] {{1st}}
***[[Kizingo Boulevard]] {{1st}}
**[[Tanaga|Tanaga District]] {{1st}}
***[[NMPD Headquarters]] {{1st}}
**[[ONI Alpha Site]] - This [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Two|Section Two]] facility was the site of a 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 to prevent the Covenant from getting any important information. 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> {{1st}}
**[[Tayari Plaza]] {{1st}}
**[[Uplift Nature Reserve]] {{1st}}
**[[New Mombasa Orbital Elevator]] - Severely damaged by the Slipspace Jump caused by the Prophet of Regret's Assault Carrier, snapping due to the tremendous stresses put on the tower, 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, still blazing.

==Features==
===Weapons===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''[[United Nations Space Command]]'''
*[[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]]
*[[M6C/SOCOM]] {{1st}}
*[[MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System]]
*[[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun]] {{1st}}
*[[M9 Fragmentation Grenade|M9 HE-DP Fragmentation Grenade]]
*[[M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]
*[[M41 SSR MAV/AW Rocket Launcher]]
*[[M68 Gauss Cannon]]
*[[M90 Close Assault Weapon System|M90A Close Assault Weapon System]]
*[[M168 Demolition Charge]]
*[[M7057/Defoliant Projector]] <ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', level ''[[Data Hive (Level)|Data Hive]]''</ref>
*[[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]]
{{col-2}}
'''[[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-end}}

===Vehicles===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''United Nations Space Command'''
*[[D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship|D77H-TCI "Pelican" Dropship]] (Police Variant)
*[[Warthog|M12 "Warthog" Light Reconnaissance Vehicle]]
*[[Gauss Warthog|M12G1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle]]
*[[Mongoose|M274 "Mongoose" Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle]]
*[[M808B Main Battle Tank|M808B "Scorpion" Main Battle Tank]]
*[[M831 Troop Transport|M831 "Warthog" Troop Transport]]
*[[M312 Elephant HRV|Olifant Waste Recycling Vehicle]]
*[[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle]]
*[[F-99 Wombat|F-99 "Wombat" Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle]] <ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', level ''[[Uplift Reserve (Level)|Uplift Reserve]]''</ref>
*[[UNSC Frigate]]
**{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}
*{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} {{1st}}
*{{UNSCShip|Tokyo Rules}} {{C|Teasers only}}
*Various Civilian Vehicles
{{col-2}}
'''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-52 Anti-Aircraft Artillery|Type-52 "Wraith" Anti-Aircraft Artillery]]
{{col-end}}

===Achievements===
{{Halo 3: ODST Achievements}}

==Gameplay==
[[File:H3ODST Campaign 1stPersonVISR02.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 on how to get to any specific location, and in any 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 a single mission, 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 do not use the motion tracker or the shielding featured in the [[MJOLNIR]] Battle Armor suit, instead using the more traditional health bar/medkit system. The Rookie and his squadmates are not able to dual-wield weapons, such as the [[SMG|M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]] and the [[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle]]. They also cannot use [[equipment]].

On the other hand, the player receives a helmet-integrated data management system known as the [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]] (or VISR), which includes a 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, blue for scavengable weapons, vehicles, ammo and grenades, and a thick yellow outline for important objects. Outlines of scenery and objects that will block weapons-fire have a thinner yellow outline. 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 3 per grenade type.

As stated by Bungie in the January 23rd Weekly Update, the [[Sangheili]] do not appear as enemies in ''ODST''.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 Bungie Weekly Update - 1/23/09]</ref>. Although, several groups of [[Sangheili]] corpses are found throughout the campaign, apparently killed by Brutes. 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]] contributes 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==
[[File:ODST Controller.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Controls for ''ODST'' gameplay.]]
===Firefight===
{{main|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'', are 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>. It has been confirmed that Firefight mode will be returning in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and Bungie have specifically confirmed that ''Reach'''s Firefight mode will feature matchmaking.

===Firefight Maps===
Below is a list of maps for ''ODST''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Firefight mode:

*[[Alpha Site]]
*[[Chasm Ten]]
*[[Crater]]
*[[Last Exit]]
*[[Lost Platoon]]
*[[Rally Point (level)|Rally Point]]
*[[Security Zone]]
*[[Windward]]

===Map Packs===
All map packs (''[[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]]'', ''[[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]]'', ''[[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]] as well as [[Cold Storage (Level)|Cold Storage]]'') are 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 are featured in the ''ODST'' package. These maps are ''[[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,&nbsp;[[Halo 3: Mythic]], contains all of the maps, which you can play directly from there, without having to download the maps to your Hard Drive and starting ''Halo 3''. &nbsp;<br clear="all" />

==Marketing Promotions and Release==
===Viral Campaigns===
====Superintendent====
{{Main|Superintendent (Viral Campaign)}}

On May 29th, 2008, a viral campaign for ''Halo 3: ODST'' started which 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|ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A}}

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 mission ahead. Clips directed by Rupert Sanders can be seen via a marker the Marines place on their right [[Wikipedia:Temple (anatomy)|temple]].

===Trailers===
====Announcement====
{{main|Keep It Clean (Trailer)}}
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.

====E3 2009 Gameplay====
{{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 and looking for his lost squadmates, along with Dutch who fights during the Battle of ONI Alpha Site.

This trailer also shows the very first glimpse of Firefight, the brand new cooperative game mode designed specifically for ''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.

Also shown are little clips of the flashback missions, namely, featuring Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Lance Corporal Agu on a landing platform at [[NMPD Headquarters]], where a police Pelican dropship was extracting the two Marines, before getting chased off by two [[Banshees]].

====ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.====
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Bip. Bap. Bam.}}

The second "ViDoc", which is more of an advertisement, for ''ODST'', first shown at the 2009 Games Convention in Cologne, Germany. ''Bip. Bap. Bam.'' shows off the new ''Firefight'' mode, which was announced earlier at E3 2009.

[[Avery Junior Johnson|Avery Johnson]] is the narrator of the ViDoc, making a stylish entrance in a [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|Drop Pod]] over the ''[[Security Zone (Level)|Security Zone]]'' map. During the video, Johnson explains the details of this new gametype in ''ODST'', along with explaining how players can play as him by pre-ordering ''Halo 3: ODST'' at a number of participating retailers.

====ViDoc: Terra Incognita====
{{main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Terra Incognita}}

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 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.''

====ViDoc: Dramatis Personae====
{{Main|Halo 3 ODST ViDoc: Dramatis Personae}}
The fourth ViDoc for ''ODST'' released on Bungie's website, focuses on the cast of the characters featured in ''ODST.''

Originally intended as an 'Extra' for people who played through the game, the ViDoc was posted on the Bungie website and on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It introduces the viewer to the cast behind ''ODST'' and Sadie's Story and explains how the voice actors helped to bring life to their characters in the game.

===Other===
====Strategy Guide====
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Official Strategy Guide}}
Prima Games released the 272-page strategy guide alongside ''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 3: ODST and Halo 3. More than a list, instructions and tips for every one.

====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 is retail for $99 USD (£60 GBP). The Collector's Pack was available in most stores across the world.

====We Are ODST====
{{main|We Are ODST}}

A 2 minute live-action short made exclusively for the launch of ''Halo 3: ODST'' was 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 directed the ''[[Believe|Halo 3: Believe]]'' series.

This short showcases the [[19th Shock Troops Battalion]] during their operations in the [[Human-Covenant War]].

====ODST Tour====
[[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 [[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 lasted for nearly a month, coinciding with the release of the game.

==Soundtrack==
{{main|Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack}}
Like previous games in the series, ''Halo 3: ODST'' was 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 were 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> Upon release, the soundtrack received near-unanimous praise from critics,<ref>[http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/g-l/halo-3-odst?page=0%2C2 OXM: Halo 3: ODST review]</ref><ref>[http://ie.music.ign.com/articles/102/1029363p1.html Halo 3: ODST Original Soundtrack Review on IGN]</ref><ref>[http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/699307/Halo-3-ODST-Soundtrack-Review---Music-for-Repelling-the-Covenant.html Halo 3: ODST Soundtrack Review - Music for Repelling the Covenant]</ref> and won the Spike Video Game Award for "Best Original Score".<ref>[http://www.chiff.com/recreation/video-game-awards.htm 2009 Spike TV Video Game Awards Winners, Nominees]</ref>

==Trivia==
[[File:H3 ODST - Unknown Image.jpg|200px|thumb|right|"Death Comes to All of Us".]]
[[File:ODST Collector's Pack.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The Collector's Pack]]
*The tagline for the game is ''Prepare to Drop'', which references the method of Orbital Drop used by the ODSTs for quick insertion into operations.
*This is currently the only game in the Halo series to not include the [[Flood]]. In addition to this, it is also the only game to not include [[Sentinels]] or a [[Forerunner]] [[Monitor]].
*A teaser trailer for ''Halo 3: ODST'' called ''[[Keep It Clean]]'', was 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]].
*The "''Road to Recon''" challenge, as named by Bungie, gives 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 requires unlocking the current [[Vidmaster|Vidmaster Challenges]] from ''Halo 3'', 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]].
*The Multiplayer HUD page on the game's Chinese version instructional manual has mistakenly called the "Elite Combat Harness" the "Jackal Combat Harness".{{fact}}
*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> This supplemental is actually ''Halo 3: ODST'', Tudyk and Baldwin 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]]"/>.
*You can receive Halo 3: ODST clothing Awards for your Xbox 360 Avatar from [[Halo Waypoint]] by unlocking achievements in Halo 3: ODST.
*[[McFarlane Toys]] released 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/Caseless Submachine Gun and exclusive Medals.
*In early September 2009, [[Rooster Teeth]] began a three-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'' encompassed 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 were shown up to Christmas 2009 and into early 2010. Such ads could already been seen in the American version of the ''Official Xbox Magazine'' and even here on [[Halopedia]]. GameStop had 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 marked 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>.
*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.
*As a bonus feature for those who pre-ordered ''ODST'' at select retailers (including such stores as GameStop and Amazon.com), a token to play as [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]] in [[Firefight]] was included.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#johnson Bungie.net - PRE-ORDER BONUS: Brings Sgt. Johnson into the Firefight]</ref>
*If you've played on this game with your current LIVE account, you will unlock the ODST [[Visual Flair]] in [[Halo: Reach]].<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_082010 '''Bungie.net''': ''Express Yourself'']</ref>

==Sources==
{{Reflist|3}}

==Related Pages==
===Internal===
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*[[Mombasa|Mombasa, Kenya]]
*[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]
*[[ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]]

===External===
*[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]

{{Halo Games}}

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