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| Upon the first day of release, ''Reach'' grossed over $200 million, surpassing ''[[Halo 3]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s record of $170 million.<ref>[http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/09/15/how-much-cash-did-halo-reach-bring-in-on-day-one.aspx '''Game Informer''': ''How Much Cash Did Halo Reach Bring In On Day One?'']</ref> | | Upon the first day of release, ''Reach'' grossed over $200 million, surpassing ''[[Halo 3]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s record of $170 million.<ref>[http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/09/15/how-much-cash-did-halo-reach-bring-in-on-day-one.aspx '''Game Informer''': ''How Much Cash Did Halo Reach Bring In On Day One?'']</ref> |
| ==Marketing promotions<!-- and Release -->==
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| ====''Halo: Reach'' Multiplayer Beta====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta}}
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| The ''Halo: Reach'' Multiplayer Beta was a phase in the development of Halo: Reach, produced by Bungie, LLC and organized by Microsoft Game Studios. The beta was made available to those who bought ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' and it was released from May 3 through May 20, 2010. More than 2.7 million players participated in the beta during its three-week run on LIVE. After July 21, 2010, Bungie stopped supporting stats and files from the beta. Players who participated in the beta on their current LIVE accounts receive an Halo: Reach Beta Visual Flair for use with their gamertags, which is represented with an [[MA37]].
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| ===Trailers===
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| ====E3 2009 Announcement====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach - Announcement Trailer}}
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| Shortly after the ''Halo 3: ODST'' E3 2009 Trailer premiered, it was soon followed up by the first official announcement trailer for ''Halo: Reach''.
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| ====2009 VGA Trailer====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer}}
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| At the 2009 Spike TV Video Games Awards, the first official in-game trailer was shown. This 2:36 video was an opening cinematic that showed a glimpse of the new characters and graphics.
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| ====Once More Unto the Breach====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach ViDoc: Once More Unto the Breach}}
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| The Once More Unto the Breach ViDoc focused on the graphical and gameplay changes to the game between ''Halo 3'' and ''Halo: Reach''. This 7:45 video showed the development of the series over the years.
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| ====Carnàge Carnivàle====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach ViDoc: Carnàge Carnivàle}}
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| The Carnàge Carnivàle ViDoc focused on the new multiplayer in ''Halo: Reach''. This 8:20 video shows the many gameplay enhancements that have been added.
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| ====E3 2010 Demo====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach E3 Campaign Demo|Halo: Reach E3 2010 Trailer}}
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| On June 14, 2010, at [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2010]], [[Bungie]] released a demo displaying a section of campaign in ''Reach''. It introduced various new vehicles, and the new feature of space combat. A shorter gameplay trailer of the same level was also released.
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| ====Firefight 2.0====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach Welcome to Firefight 2.0 Trailer}}
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| On June 16, 2010, Bungie released a collage of clips from ''Halo: Reach'''s Firefight feature.
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| ====Red vs. Blue ''Halo: Reach'' PSA: Deja View====
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| {{Main|Red vs. Blue Halo: Reach PSA: Deja View}}
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| On July 7, 2010, in honor of [[Bungie Day]], [[Rooster Teeth Productions|Rooster Teeth]], the creators of the popular Halo machinima [[Red vs. Blue]], released a special PSA revealing the return of [[Blood Gulch]], the classic [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] multiplayer map. The video teases the rest of Forge World in the form of a scene where Sarge stands on a cliff admiring the view and commenting on the map's large size.
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| ====Forge World====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach ViDoc: Forge World}}
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| The Forge World ViDoc was released July 23, 2010. It was focused on the new multiplayer map, [[Forge World]], the largest map in the ''Halo'' franchise.
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| ====The Battle Begins====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach "The Battle Begins" Campaign Trailer}}
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| The Battle Begins campaign trailer was released July 29, 2010.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_073010 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update 07.30.10'']</ref> The 1:06 trailer showcased several cinematic scenes from the campaign.
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| ====A Spartan Will Rise====
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise}}
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| The 'A Spartan Will Rise' ViDoc was released August 17, 2010. The ViDoc focused on the characters of the game, with [[Dr. Halsey]] acting as the main narrator.
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| ===Noble Map Pack Trailer===
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| {{Main|Noble Map Pack Trailer}}
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| The Noble Map Pack Trailer was released October 25, 2010. The trailer released new information about the [[Noble Map Pack]].
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| ===Defiant Map Pack Trailer===
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| {{Main|Defiant Map Pack Trailer}}
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| The Defiant Map Pack Trailer was released February 14, 2011. The trailer released new information about the [[Defiant Map Pack]].
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| ===Viral campaign===
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| ====Birth of a Spartan====
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| {{Main|Birth of a Spartan}}
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| On April 26, 2010, a website was created by [[Microsoft]] as part of a viral marketing campaign to promote ''Halo: Reach''. At first, the site merely consisted of a teaser image which showed the UNSC emblem washed out by static, with the words "Augmentation Begins April 28, 2010".<ref>[http://www.welcometonobleteam.com/ '''WelcomeToNobleTeam.com''': ''Homepage'']</ref> On April 28, both the standard and extended versions of the ''Birth of a Spartan'' live-action trailer were released.
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| ====Remember Reach====
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| {{Main|Remember Reach|Remember Reach Webfilm|Patrol|New Life|Spaceport (Remember Reach)|Deliver Hope}}
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| An advertising campaign titled ''Remember Reach'' was launched on August 17, 2010. The campaign includes the website rememberreach.com, as well as several live-action shorts.<ref>[http://www.rememberreach.com/ '''www.rememberreach.com''']</ref>
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| ===Merchandise and promotions===
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| {{Halo: Reach Versions}}
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| {{clear}}
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| ''Halo: Reach'' was released in three different versions. The Standard Edition comes with the game disc and manual. The Limited Edition is cased in an ONI "black box" and includes an exclusive Sangheili armor set for use in multiplayer modes and an artifact bag containing [[Dr. Halsey]]'s [[Dr. Halsey's Personal Journal|personal journal]] and other classified documents and effects that unravel long-held secrets of the ''Halo'' universe. The Legendary Edition contains everything from the Limited Edition along with extra SPARTAN armor effect for use in the game, along with an exclusive hand-painted and numbered Noble Team statue by [[McFarlane Toys]] in UNSC-themed custom packaging. Those in North America who purchase ''Halo: Reach'' on launch day will receive a new variation of the coveted [[Mark VI MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|MJOLNIR Recon Armor]]. Recon will also be available to any who have pre-ordered the game.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=news&cid=26642 '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo: Reach Launches 09.14.2010! '']</ref> As a bonus, the [[UA Multi-Threat MJOLNIR Mark V(B) Armor]] will be given to customers who pre-order the game at GameStop.
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| In addition, Bungie has announced that players who have/buy a copy of ''[[Halo PC]]'', can use that same authentication key to obtain a special in-game ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' symbol on their nameplate . Players of Xbox's ''[[Halo 2]]'' before the April 14th, 2010 cutoff (Shutdown of Xbox Live v1 Service) will be awarded a special in-game ''Halo 2'' symbol on their nameplate. If your current gamertag has changed since the last time you played ''Halo 2'', or if your current gamertag never played ''Halo 2'', you will not be receiving this item.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_042310 '''Bungie.net''': ''This is the End'']</ref> ''Halo 3'', ''Halo 3: ODST'', Bungie Pro, ''Halo: Reach'' Beta flairs are also displayable in a similar way.
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| Also, a ''Reach'' themed Xbox has been announced.<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/projects/reach/vidaudio.aspx?c=58&i=27383 '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo: Reach Unboxed'']</ref> The Xbox will include a 250-gigabyte hard drive, two ''Reach'' themed wireless controllers, standard wired headset, and a standard copy of Halo: Reach. The ''Reach'' Xbox 360 will also feature exclusive Elite Armor, Waypoint Avatar Gear, and ''Halo Legends'' episode: "''[[The Package]]''",<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGRW8R-rvWM '''You Tube''':''Unboxing Reach'']</ref> as well as custom ''Halo'' sound effects from the Xbox itself.
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| In addition the controllers and headset will be sold separately for $59.99 and $49.99 respectively. The controller will also bring a token for a downloadable animated Covenant Banshee avatar item. The theme includes ONI property tags and more, which according to Microsoft, is canon material in the ''Halo'' universe.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/07/halo-reach-xbox-360/ '''Wired.com''': ''New Halo: Reach Xbox to Sport 360 Design, Custom Sound''] - ''The imagery and text on the console isn't just gibberish. It will all have meaning for Halo die-hards.''</ref>
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| The game has brought the proposal for merchandise, such as [[action figures]]. [[McFarlane Toys]] had announced that they were planning to release a series of ''Reach'' 5-inch scaled figures in September 2010.<ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13664 '''McFarlane Toys''': ''MCFARLANE TOYS TO PRODUCE 'HALO: REACH' ACTION FIGURES'']</ref> [[Square Enix]] has also showcased several figures for their new ''Reach'' line of action figures.
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| A new comic book series, titled ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - Boot Camp]]'', was released alongside ''Halo: Reach''. ''Boot Camp'' is a graphic novel adaptation of ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''.
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| ===Soundtrack===
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| {{Main|Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack}}
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| Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack was released on September 28th, two weeks after the release of ''Halo: Reach''. The soundtrack features twenty new tracks heard in the game, composed by [[Martin O'Donnell]] and [[Michael Salvatori]].<ref name="soundtrack">[https://www.sumthingdigital.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumid=4811 '''SumthingDigital''': ''Halo: Reach Original Soundtrack'']</ref>
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| ==Release and reception== | | ==Release and reception== |
| {{HR Review}} | | {{HR Review}} |
Template:Ratings
Template:Game Info Box
- "From the beginning, you know the end."
- — Game tagline[1]
Halo: Reach is a first-person shooter video game set in the Halo universe and direct prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, depicting the Fall of Reach. It was developed by Bungie, LLC. and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 console.[2][3] It was announced by Joe Staten during Microsoft's Media Briefing at E3 2009; Reach was released on September 14, 2010 in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia with the exclusion of Japan whose release was a day later.[4]
Upon the first day of release, Reach grossed over $200 million, surpassing Halo 3's record of $170 million.[5]
Release and reception
Template:HR Review
Halo: Reach was released to critical and commercial success. 1Up praised the campaign, calling it "a grand re-telling of the Battle of Thermopylae, but portrayed from a gritty, ground-level perspective across multiple missions like Band of Brothers, and all done with typical Halo flourish.[6] IGN noted that though the past games had repetitive landscapes and complicated plots, Reach was an altogether different matter.[7] Gamepro stated "the only thing missing from this impressive entry is a number “4” in the title, because for all intents and purposes, Reach feels like the next big thing in the Halo franchise".[8]
Many reviewers praised the enhanced graphics and audio, calling them "top-notch". Some reviewers noted that large amounts of action on-screen occasionally resulted in frame rate slowdowns and that the friendly non-player character artificial intelligence was less advanced than that of enemies, especially while driving.
Microsoft listed Reach as an Xbox Live Marketplace download on August 12, 2010, at a price of 99999 Microsoft Points (~US$1250); A spokesperson confirmed the download was for media review purposes, and that there were no plans to distribute the game to the public through Games on Demand. Four days later, hackers managed to access, download, and distribute the game online; Microsoft claimed to be actively investigating the matter.
Trivia
- Bungie has stated that Halo: Reach will be the last Halo game being released by them in the foreseeable future, as they are beginning a partnership with Activision, while 343 Industries has taken over the Halo franchise.
- Early on in the game's development, before coming up with the idea of a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, Bungie considered making a follow-up to Halo 3, with John-117 as the protagonist.[9]
- Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck, one of the main characters in ODST, appears in Halo: Reach as a Firefight voice in game and as a cameo in the level New Alexandria.
- On the project page for Reach, located in the "Multimedia" section, the soundtracks to a couple of Reach trailers, "Lone Wolf" and "Uphill, Both Ways" by Martin O'Donnell, are available for download for free from Bungie.net.
- Halo: Reach's original achievement set has 49 achievements, which is a reference to Bungie's love of the number seven, since seven times seven is 49.[10]
- Currently, Halo: Reach has 56 achievements, with 7 new achievements added during the release of the Noble Map Pack on November 30th, 2010. This is still a reference to 7 (8 x 7 = 56).
- All of the Campaign achievement titles, along with many of the others, are quotations from the Halo games and books.
- The game's release date, September 14, is the same day when Earth's Orbital Defense Platforms were activated in 2552.[11]
- Many of the Army troopers and Marines encountered in the game are named after Bungie employees and notable community members.
Gallery
Concept art
Concept 01.jpg
A Sangheili attacks two UNSC infantrymen.
Concept 05.jpg
A bridge leading over a canyon.
Doomed.jpg
A battle between Sangheili and SPARTANs.
KIuWJ.jpg
Noble Team in combat position.
Hreach concept 2.jpg
An early concept of SPARTANs and other UNSC forces.
Screenshots
Halo Reach - Alpha Build Menu.jpg
The Alpha-Build menu of Halo: Reach.
Noble Team in a battle with the Covenant.
Reach being glassed by the Covenant.
A multiplayer match on Spire.
Sources
Links
Internal
External
Template:Halo Games
