Crossover

Gamers generally have certain interests in common... other than vigorous masturbation, eschewing hygiene and social norms, and Hot Pockets. Things like animation. And music. Which leads me, very directly, to the subject of this post:

Sept. 25 isn't just H3 day, it's also the street date for Dethklok's DethAlbum.

Maybe the world needs to start using a term other then "street date" to refer to the day an album is released. Because tumbling down from the skies of the interwebs, the album covers the tubes like confetti in the streets of Times Square on New Year's just after midnight. So the date that the album hit the streets is not the same as the industry "street date". (The spread of the album is not accurately reflected in the measly 4 google results at the time of this writing.)

Anyway, my point is that it rocks. Check it out if death metal by a virtual band from an animated series is your kind of thing.

Cat's In Pajamas

Seen at Joystiq.

Future Weapons tv show to do a Halo 3 special

For those of you that get the discovery channel, please set your DVR to record this.

EDIT:
Bah, I had the vid embedded, but then they disabled embedding, so here is the link instead.

10 days to go

Over the past 4 or 5 years I have become part of a universe that has been very influential on my life. It started out as a fun way to waste a few hours with my buddies. That was truly my induction to multiplayer gaming. I'd played some C & C and a little Golden Eye, but nothing prepared me for this. Gradually I found more people that were into this game for the (insert bleh here) Xbox. I had a PS2 and staunchly believed that I had the superior console. As I found more people playing this game, I began to find it hard to keep driving to far away places to play. It was at that time I bought my own Xbox. In the face of all my previous statements that the Xbox controller sucked, and "the graphics aren't that much better." Soon I had exhausted the campaign and was finding out that LAN's were second only to sex...and beer. I realized that this game called Halo was one of my favorite things to do and whenever I met someone else who shared my passion it was like instant camaraderie.

Online gaming? What is that?
Halo 2 burst on the scene to all the fanfare and expectation of a major film production. Marketing giants with their fingers in everything had me buying 7-11 Big Gulps, and random Bungie paraphernalia. I was so into the story line of the game I even purchased the Halo novels. I loved this game. One day I got home and my room mate was playing Halo by himself. No big deal...except he had a mike on and was wasting some poor ten year old with a rocket to the mouth and there were certainly no 10 year olds in our apartment. My room mate had connected to Xbox live.

Year long pause for a year of Big Team being played for hours on end.

Finally I had bettered all of my mates and thought I had become a "good" Halo player. It was at this time that a lot of my friends had abandoned Halo for WoW and I was by myself in big team games and not having much fun anymore. For a while I played with a close friend of mine, but something was missing. It was just me and my friend. I knew there were "Clans" out there that were playing this game as a team and they were good. But I had no way to get in a clan. So, I quit playing Halo 2.

I didn't play for at least 6 months. During that time my friend was playing non-stop trying to improve. I got him started on the game and I had played hundreds of games at that point. He convinced me to get on and we started up again pretty solid playing a lot. After a time I told him we needed to get in with a clan. We were found by one of my new close friends. He showed me how bad I was...in a nice salty way! Seeing how good he was and the friends he played with inspired us and we ate drank and slept Halo. We played in online tournaments, went through dramas with breakups of friendships and relationships. We met a ton of new people and even played in the holiest of holies...MLG.

At the end of it all, I stand today with that feeling all over again. As if I was standing on the precipice of a Covenant invasion. With 10 days to go...we can only imagine how the final chapter in the saga of the Master Chief will continue to captivate us. New stories of pwning my best friend with a flamethrower or a night of "pass the potato" where we play player's choice customs all night. It's starting again all over from the beginning. Everyone has the chance to play on the 25th. And it's up to the players to play for dominance. There is no pecking order. Hopefully there will be pros from RCG. Hopefully we will fulfill the promise that we didn't with H2. Hopefully those who know more now, will go on to do even greater things in H3. Good luck RCG's. Good luck gamers. Enjoy this, the last time we will feel this way about this game. Remember everything you've experienced and remember those you experienced it with. It's time for the finale. Load your BR and fire.

The H3 Special Edition Xbox 360

A Special Edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 is coming out in September. It is a dark military green color with what they are calling gold accents, but it looks more orange-y to me. It also has Halo-ish markings and a worn finish that makes it look like it's been in some battles. Xbox360fanboy has some nice hi res pics, and confirms that there will be an H3 special edition wireless headset sold separately also.

M$ extending warranty coverage to 3 years for Red Lights of Death

Both teamxbox and ars gaming are reporting that Peter Moore (VP at m$) delivered an open letter announcing that m$ is extending the manufacturer warranty from 1 year to 3 years only for the Red Lights of Death issue.

Hopefully you never have to take them up on the offer (but chances are you will).


Update:
The letter was posted to xbox.com. I have to add it to my rss feeds...

Update : RB6 Vegas Black Pack problems

Major Nelson came through with an answer to the mystery today. Apparently it was supposed to be free, and should be free and available as of now. Anyone who paid for the Black Pack already should get a refund within 8 to 10 weeks.

He also announced that the Red Pack will be free now. Wtg cheapskates and broke bastards.

Black Pack first impressions

Streets - Redux is almost identical to the original Streets. There are really only 2 differences.
1) It is night time, making the topside much darker which will give people sprinting across the open yard a little better chance of avoiding instant death.
2) The cannister deposits for retrieval are now on the corners of each porch. I think this will change the strat from "nade the deposit" to "snipe the depositor".

Wartown is huge-gantic. Ridiculously large. I don't think it will be enjoyable with a room of less than 14.

Red Lotus is busy. Kinda small but it has 3 levels with lots of places to hide. Usable for small, medium and large rooms.

Presidio is small with lots of places to take cover from and hide behind. Even small rooms will find lots of action here. The map is really too small for a full room though and people will be stepping all over each other.

Neon Graveyard is fun. It is medium sized but the layout and placement of retrieval deposits and the package really forces confrontation.

Overall I like the Black Pack much better than the Red Pack so far. Don't expect to find a whole lot of rooms to join using the new packs though. It was demonstrated by the Red Pack that RB6 Vegas players in general are a bunch of broke bastards or cheapskates and are not willing to shell out the moolah on the new maps.

RB6 Vegas Black Pack problems

After being available for purchase and download for a couple/few hours on the Marketplace last night, the Black Pack magically disappeared and was not available. There is a lot of speculation regarding why but I have heard nothing definitive. Larry Hryb, Xbox Live Director of Programming, mentioned on his Major Nelson blog only: "This has been pulled. I’ll let you know when it makes a return."

Meanwhile, our very own FilmMan started a thread on the xbox forums in which someone called m$ and got information from support saying that the maps will be available again today with the issues fixed (although I don't know what the issues are).

New R6:V downloadable content

New Vegas maps ninjaed onto the scene today. I say ninjaed because usually stuff like this is well known in advance and well covered when it happens, but all I saw today was a little blip from ars gaming and I had to go to the xbla marketplace to see for myself.

Anyway, we have Streets - Redux, 3 new maps, and a map from Rainbow Six 3. If I remember to, I will post again with my impressions.

Control

This interview with RV6 mlg pro team Control gives us some insight into competitive play on Vegas. It also gives me an itchy trigger finger.

Halo 3 Alternate Reality Game

Remember ilovebees for Halo 2? Like Rogue mentioned on the forums, the yet unnamed(afaik) ARG for Halo 3 getting under way.

New heat sinks showing up in repaired 360s

Some 360s that have been coming back repaired by M$ lately have been sporting a new heat sink. Speculation is that the new heat sinks are there to combat the red ring of death problems that lots and lots of people have been reporting. M$ has never been very forthcoming with comments regarding red rings of death and they are similarly mum on the heat sinks too, neither confirming nor denying that the heat sinks have anything to do with RRoD problems.

Shake that post beta depression

Xbox LIVE is running a Halo 2 Challenge. Registration starts on June 7 and ends on June 25, 2007. Online Tournament from June 11 through July 25, 2007.

Come on, it's not like you Halo freaks have anything better to do. Represent.

H3 Complete medals list

Assault games

Bomb Plant! Plant the bomb in Assault.

Killed Bomb Carrier! Kill an opponent bomb carrier in Assault.

Beat downs

Assassin! Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack from behind.

Beat Down! Hit and kill an opponent with a melee attack.

Capture The Flag games

Flag Kill! Get a melee kill with the flag.

Flag Score! Score the flag in Capture The Flag.

Killed Flag Carrier! Kill the opponent flag carrier in Capture The Flag.

Multiple Kills

Double Kill! Kill 2 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Triple Kill! Kill 3 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Overkill! Kill 4 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killtacular! Kill 5 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killtrocity! Kill 6 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killamanjaro! Kill 7 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killtastrophe! Kill 8 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killapocalypse! Kill 9 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Killionaire! Kill 10 opponents within 4 seconds of the previous kill.

Spree kills

Killing Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row without dying.

Killing Frenzy! Kill 10 opponents in a row without dying.

Running Riot! Kill 15 opponents in a row without dying.

Rampage! Kill 20 opponents in a row without dying.

Untouchable! Kill 25 opponents in a row without dying.

Invincible! Kill 30 opponents in a row without dying.

Shotgun Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row with the shotgun without dying.

Open Season! Kill 10 opponents in a row with the shotgun without dying.

Sniper Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row with a sniper weapon without dying.

Sharpshooter! Kill 10 opponents in a row with a sniper weapon without dying.

Sword Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row with a sword without dying.

Slice 'N Dice! Kill 10 opponents in a row with a sword without dying

Splatter Spree! Splatter 5 opponents in a row with a vehicle without dying.

Vehicular Manslaughter! Splatter 10 opponents in a row with a vehicle without dying.

Juggernaut Spree! Kill 5 opponents in a row as the Juggernaut without dying.

Unstoppable! Kill 10 opponents in a row as the Juggernaut without dying.

Hail to the King! Kill 5 opponents in a row from inside the hill before it moves.

Oddball Games

Oddball Kill! Kill an opponent with the oddball.

Other medals

Death from the Grave! Kill an opponent after you have died.

Grenade Stick! Kill an opponent by sticking them with a sticky or brute grenade.

Killjoy! End an opponent's killing spree - any spree.

Perfection! Win a slayer game with a score of 15 kills or more without dying.

Extermination! Get an overkill on an opposing team that results in all of the team being dead.

Bulltrue! Killed an opponent in the act of a Energy Sword lunge.

Vehicle Medals

Wheelman! Be the driver of a vehicle when a passenger kills an opponent.

Highjacker! Highjack an opponents vehicle.

Splatter! Hit and kill an opponent with a vehicle.

Skyjacker! Board an aircraft.

VIP Games

Killed VIP! Kill an opponent's VIP in a VIP game.

Juggernaut Games

Killed Juggernaut! Kill the Juggernaut in a Juggernaut game.

Weapon Medals

Sniper Kill! Kill an opponent with a Sniper Rifle or the Beam Rifle.

Laser Kill! Get an opponent with the Spartan Laser.

Meet Halo 3's first General

This guy has 50's and over 20,000 kills.

MLGPRO.com has a new look

and new feel. They have been adding a lot of content lately and now they have revamped the look and feel of the site. Go check it out.

Halo 3 Beta Customs

The lobby was discovered weeks ago. Now it's seems folks have found a way to actually play customs. I'm still searching for it. Last night browsing some www.mlgpro.com threads I saw one that had the info. I figured I'd look at it later as it was late. Now mlgpro is down until at least 1pm. In the meantime you can enjoy a primer on the menus and options available there. This is a good write-up. Go check it out.

Overswarm has a new place to call home

If you're not already familiar with Overswarm, then you are a nub. You know I'm just kidding, you're worse than a nub. No but seriously, Overswarm is famous for his in depth manual to the ins and outs of playing Halo 2...with a brain. He coined the playstyles and many other important pieces of Halo 2 meta goodness. Go check out his NSCS guide and more at www.overswarm.com.

H3 Beta playlist updates

We now have a ranked BTB and an unranked 2v2 training. Go check out the details here. Or, just go play!

RCG BBQ...1st ever!

This Friday and Saturday I had the chance to meet up with some of the great gamers we have in our clan. I, being Rogue, made the three and a half hour trek up to Oroville, CA to Salty's house where I also met Juicey, Bee, Lumpy, MetalScorpio, and Mafungoo. We had a blast. The first night I got there we played H2 and ran through everyone. Suffice it to say it was nasty. The next day we LAN'd H1 and had a blast. After that was BBQ and Mindy's bomb ass ribs. Then we watched Apocalypto which was a savage movie that I recommend to everyone. Here are some pics from our shindig.


Here are all of us gaming nubs from Left to right: Mafungoo, Rogue, Juicey, Salty and Lumpy.



Here are my gracious hosts, Damon and Mindy. Thanks you two!



You all know him as Juicey, you also may know him as the eternal mouth...j/k juice, ya know I luv ya.



Here is Casey, otherwise known as Mafungoo. He loves WoW...nuff said.


Here is Forrest or RCG Lumpy. Salty and Bees son. Funny little F#%K! Naw, it's all in good fun.