Ghost of Lockout

The Ghost of Lockout caught on YouTube video. (Double-click for larger video)

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The "Ghost of Lockout" is a mysterious occurrence that haunts the Halo 2 multiplayer map, Lockout.

Introduction

The Ghost of Lockout appeared as an undestroyable character that was seen in the map, apparently controlled by no one, and seemingly attacks players at random. The "ghost" apparently takes the form of whatever the person's player model is, weapon, and color.

The attack the Ghost seemingly preferred to use in the YouTube video was to use Plasma Grenades to stick in game players, all of the time successfully sticking them, and having a seemingly unlimited supply of them. Its patterns seem non-consistent; the Ghost will sometimes ignore players completely, and other times aggressively pursue players.

The ghost does not walk like most players due to the lag, and instead simply glides across the map. It glides up various ramps and jumps off of ledges. The "Ghost" is indestructible, and is impervious even to an assassination hit from behind (probably because he's looking straight at you, even though you don't see it like that.)

Most interestingly, the character does not have a gamertag, does not appear on the score screen, and does not have an apparent controller, also due to lag.

History

The video (shown above) appeared on Youtube in July of 2006 by a user named AfRoSaUcE who claimed it was over a year old and made by Jump Tactic's Anti Noob. It really was old, first appearing on mythica.org. It quickly became popular and speculation was raised that it was some form of mod. AfRoSaUcE denied the allegation, believing it to be a network problem.(Although, if it was a network problem, there would be slim chances of it actually saying "Killed By Guardians" when a player is killed by it)

Since the video's first appearance, several new videos have surfaced, all of which are very apparent hoaxes, with characters who do have gamertags, running animations, and the like. However, a number of mods have surfaced with players controlling characters without these, but not on Xbox Live. Recently a player called Shadow has claimed that it is not impossible for this to occur on an Xbox without any sort of System Link or Xbox Live. His "Ghostly" encounter is as follows:

Other "ghosts" however have appeared on other maps. One such occurrence was the "Ghost of Turf" found and filmed by clan HollywoodHalo. The ghost displayed all characteristics of the Lockout ghost (no Gamertag, walk sliding, no weapon animations). The most interesting thing about this occurrence is that two ghosts appeared. It was this that revealed that these ghosts were caused by extreme lag.

The Ghost of Turf

The Ghost of Turf was filmed by Clan HollywoodHalo, this video is rather odd because two ghosts were in it and the two ghosts shot at each other, ending in one of the ghosts dying. This is very strange because these ghosts are killable while ghosts in other videos are not. This has led to the speculation that this video was faked.

During the video in the lag there were two white Spartans that lost connection. Therefore extreme lag may have caused the two white players to become ghosts.

The Ghost of Coagulation

The Ghost of Coagulation was discovered by accident and is the rarest of the Halo 2 Ghosts. It was discovered when three players by the the name DJ, Macoroni, and Crow were in the middle of a Slayer game. Here is what they said:

DJ I was getting ready to snipe Macoroni when I saw Crow driving a Warthog and someone chasing him. At first I thought it was Macoroni bro, but then Crow crashed into a rock and just exploded. Then Macoroni was bombed before I could see what happened.

Macoroni I was watching Crow and out of nowhere he crashes and blows up. I looked a little to the right and a guy was standing there. I'm thinking this was one of DJ's friends. I turn around and the guy is standing in front of me and throws a Plasma Grenade and I blow up.

Crow DJ and Macoroni were around the field killing each other, and I was in a Warthog riding around, splattering those two, when I turned hard left and crashed into a rock. I was about to get out when a PB hits me and I die. When I spawn back I see Macoroni get "Stuck" by a so called Guardian; the same guy who killed me. When Macoroni respawned, he, DJ, and I left the game.

Supernatural Abilities

• Is invulnerable to all attacks.
• Does not need to look up or down.
• Glides across the map jumping from towers.
• Can perform tricks and super jumps with ease.
• All grenades auto-stick and can be thrown whilst looking the opposite way.
• Can teleport anywhere on the map.
• Has ability to mimic movements.
• Takes the shape of whoever it meets.
• Seems to have a mind of its own.
• Can be docile or aggressive.
• When killed by them it states "Killed by The Guardians".

It is not clear or known whether the ghost only appears on Xbox Live or in normal offline mode. Some reports indicate that it can appear offline, and on other maps.

Theories

• Caused by extreme lag
• Caused by a network problem coupled with a mod
• Created by Bungie to keep the game moving.
• A game Bot created by Bungie when it was in alpha mode, to practice, but never deleted.
• Is an actual guardian killing players more directly than the others.
• Two different online games going on at the same time in the same map, but ending up in the same server.
• Someone modding and hacking into peoples games and killing them all or ignoring them completely and just scaring them.
• An actual AI programmed into each map with random weapons, random apperances, and random armor and or species.
• Caused when someone leaves the game(start menu, leave game.), their Spartan 'dies' in game. This may explain why people only see a ghost after the the person they were playing with exits.

{Conjecturalization End}}

Other ghosts

There have been several other ghost sightings on other maps such as Ascension, Headlong, Ivory Tower, Midship, Backwash, Containment using a sniper, Burial Mounds, and most likely all the other Halo 2 multiplayer maps. There have also been a few Halo:CE multiplayer ghost sightings.In which a blue player with a fuel rod appeared outside of the boundaries in Death Island. This ghost did not move and could be killed with many grenades. This ghost also appeared when modding was occurring.

Halo 3

Go to Halo 3 ghosts.

Related Links

• Edgework Entertainments Forum
• The Unofficial Halo 2 Boards
• VG Cat Forum
• Ghost of Turf
• Ghosts in Halo 3
• Ghost of Ascension