This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available.

Halo 3
Developer(s)	Bungie Studios
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Game Studios
Series	Halo
Engine	Proprietary
Picture format	480i/p, 576i/p, 720p, 1080i/p
Release date(s)	Fall 2007
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single Player, Multiplayer, Xbox Live, System-Link
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Media	DVD
Input	Gamepad

Halo 3, the third game in the best-selling Xbox game franchise Halo, is a highly anticipated first-person shooter video game under development by Bungie Studios for the Xbox 360 and is expected to "set a new high water mark" for next-generation games.^[1] An official announcement on the developers' website states that Halo 3 will end the current story arc of the Halo trilogy. A beta test of the multi-player component of the game is scheduled to begin on May 16th, 2007.^[2] The final version of the game is due to be released in Fall 2007.^[3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a cultural phenomenon. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1500x844, 785 KB) Halo 3 promotional artwork, Copyright Microsoft Game Studios 2007 Source www. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Bungie Studios is an American video game developer founded in 1991 under the name Bungie Software Products Corporation (more popularly shortened to just Bungie Software) by two undergraduate students at the University of Chicago, Alex Seropian and Jason Jones. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Microsoft Game Studios (MGS), branded with current logo and moniker in 2002 (formerly the Microsoft Game Division), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. ... Halo is a video game series created by Bungie Studios. ... A game engine is the core software component of a computer or video game or other interactive application with real-time graphics. ... Proprietary indicates that a party, or proprietor, exercises private ownership, control or use over an item of property, usually to the exclusion of other parties. ... The display resolution of a digital television or computer display is the number of pixels (or maximal image resolution) that can be displayed on the screen, usually given as a product of the number of columns (horizontal, X) and lines (vertical, Y) making up the aspect ratio. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition from summer into winter. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... Video games are generally categorized into genres. ... First-person shooter (FPS) is a genre of video games which is characterized by an on-screen view that simulates the in-game characters point of view and a focus on the use of handheld ranged weapons. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Xbox Live is a subscription-based online gaming service for Microsofts Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. ... System-link is a form of offline multiplayer gaming on the Xbox and Xbox 360 gaming console. ... The Xbox 360 is the successor to Microsofts Xbox video game console, developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. Information on the console first came through viral marketing campaigns and it was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged... DVD (commonly known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Game controller. ... “NIN” redirects here. ... This article is about the Nine Inch Nails single. ... The Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. ... Halo is video game series created by Bungie Studios. ... First-person shooter (FPS) is a genre of video games which is characterized by an on-screen view that simulates the in-game characters point of view and a focus on the use of handheld ranged weapons. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a cultural phenomenon. ... Bungie Studios is an American video game developer founded in 1991 under the name Bungie Software Products Corporation (more popularly shortened to just Bungie Software) by two undergraduate students at the University of Chicago, Alex Seropian and Jason Jones. ... The Xbox 360 is the successor to Microsofts Xbox video game console, developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. Information on the console first came through viral marketing campaigns and it was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged... The seventh generation is the current era in the history of computer and video games that began on November 22, 2005 with the release of Microsofts Xbox 360, and continued a year later with the release of Sonys PlayStation 3 on November 11, 2006 in Japan, November 17... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Halo is video game series created by Bungie Studios. ... In software engineering, development stage terminology expresses how far through the development sequence things have progressed and how much further development a product may require. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (137th in leap years). ...

Features

Plot

The only plot points that have been revealed so far are that Master Chief is back on a thoroughly conquered and Covenant controlled Earth. Cortana is still a prisoner of Gravemind, and Covenant ships are hovering over an excavation site only a few miles from the ruins of New Mombasa.^[4] Elites have left the Covenant and are waging a war of insurgency,^[5] although whether they have made an alliance with Human forces or not remains unconfirmed. Grunts have so far only been shown fighting alongside Brutes, and the alliance of other races is as yet unconfirmed. An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... Gravemind is a fictional character featured in the video game Halo 2. ... New Mombasa skyline, with space elevator and Covenant ship New Mombasa is a fictional metropolis which figures prominently in the early levels of the video game Halo 2. ... An insurgency, or insurrection, is an armed uprising, or revolt against an established civil or political authority. ...

Graphics

Work-in-progress Halo 3 screenshot of hidden-line rendering in the alpha-build. Not all polygons are shown.

• Halo 3 will utilize a proprietary, in-house graphics engine aptly named the "Halo 3 Engine". This engine builds upon the technologies of the Halo 2 Engine (and previously the Halo 1 Engine), and is re-optimized for the architecture of Xbox 360.
• As detailed on the Bungie Studios website.^[6], it will employ advanced graphics technologies such as High Dynamic Range, global lighting, real-time reflections and real-time depth of field effect. Depth of field however will only be used in cutscenes and not during gameplay.^[7] Certain surfaces, including the Master Chief's visor (when visible) and the armor of a Ghost, will have real-time reflections. Most of the objects in the game will cast real-time shadows on itself and the environment around it, including the game's plant-life.
• Halo 3 will use Normal, Bump and parallax mapping to add much more detail to surfaces without dramatically increasing the number of polygons. Bungie has also stated that the draw distance (horizon of the game world) will be in excess of 10 miles (16 km).
• Sophisticated new atmospheric models are used in the game. Dust and smoke particles can be used to add to the realism of the environment, and the haze effect which is often used in video games to 'save processing power is so realistic that it actually costs processing power.
• Water effects are also dramatically improved; it can reflect images while simultaneously showing what is underneath the liquid. As well as being able to simulate effects such as water falls, it will visually flow around objects in its path and splash when players or vehicles, or other objects, travel through it.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A game engine is the core software component of a computer or video game or other interactive application with real-time graphics. ... Bungie Studios is an American video game developer founded in 1991 under the name Bungie Software Products Corporation (more popularly shortened to just Bungie Software) by two undergraduate students at the University of Chicago, Alex Seropian and Jason Jones. ... High dynamic range rendering (HDRR or HDR Rendering), also known as high dynamic range lighting, is the rendering of 3D computer graphics scenes by using lighting calculations done in a larger dynamic range. ... An example of very shallow depth of field in a macro photograph. ... Normal Mapping used to re-detail simplified meshes. ... Draw distance is a computer graphics term, defined as the distance in a 3 dimensional scene that is still drawn by the rendering engine. ... A mile is a unit of length, usually used to measure distance, in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, United States customary units and Norwegian/Swedish mil. ... km redirects here. ... Impact of a drop of water Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. ...

Physics

• The Halo 3 physics engine is unconfirmed.
• The foliage in the game is physics-enabled, meaning it not only moves in the simulated wind, but actually reacts to the player's (or other creatures) presence and bullet fire, as well as from explosions. Some Flora in the game will also be destroyed after recieving enough damage.

Audio

• As with all titles on the Xbox 360, Halo 3 will fully support 5.1 surround sound audio. In the game there will be many more individual pieces of combat dialogue than in either of the preceding Halo titles(Halo 2 had over 15,000), and the AI controlling this dialogue is designed to ensure the exchanges flow naturally and convincingly.
• Separate recordings have been made for nearby and distant gunfire, making for a more realistic experience. Distant gunfire sounds which may seem like pre-recorded ambient sound, in Halo 3, is often the result of an actual firefight happening in the distance.
• Marty O'Donnell is again composing the original score. Some pieces of the game's music are produced with a much larger real orchestra than anything in the prior two games. For example, the music for the announcement trailer was recorded with a 60-piece orchestra and a 24 piece choir.
• Voice actors returning to reprise their roles in Halo 3 include: Jen Taylor as Cortana and Steve Downes as the voice of Master Chief. Actress Julie Benz however, is not voicing Miranda Keyes for Halo 3.^[8]

The Xbox 360 is the successor to Microsofts Xbox video game console, developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. Information on the console first came through viral marketing campaigns and it was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged... // Halo 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios. ... Martin ODonnell, an American musical composer, has worked on musical pieces for video games such as Halo: Combat Evolved and Oni. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Jen Taylor (born in Seattle, Washington, USA on February 17, 1973) is a voice actress best known for her role as Cortana in Bungies sci-fi first person shooter games Halo and Halo 2. ... Steve Downes Steve Downes is a successful American disc jockey and voice actor. ... Photograph of Julie Benz Julie Benz (born May 1, 1972 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American actress. ...

Gameplay

• AI behavior of both enemies and allies will be greatly enhanced. Marines' driving and gunning skills on the Warthog, Grunt flanking maneuvers in battle, and "Brute pack" mentality have all been mentioned by Bungie as examples of using the power of the Xbox 360 for more than just increased polygon counts. The Covenant will also have new non-combat behaviors, rather than just sitting around waiting for Master Chief to kill them.
• The new default controller layout will see the Right Bumper become the "action" button (pick up, reload, activate switch, etc), with the X button being used for deployment of picked up power-ups, such as the Bubble Shield and trip mine. In a Bungie weekly update this was referred to as the "equipment" button.^[9] Also, when dual-wielding, weapons can be individually reloaded using either the Left or Right Bumper. Other buttons are unchanged, but B (melee attack) may also have a different function in a limited context-sensitive situation.
• When a player is carrying a second weapon in Halo 3, the secondary weapon will be stored on the character's back or leg holster, depending on the size of the weapon.^[10]
• The game will feature the ability to record and send video clips via Xbox Live at any time, making Halo machinima even easier for users.^[11]

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Multiplayer

• The matchmaking system from Halo 2 will be revamped. Call signs will be used instead of small HUD emblems to identify allies. Also, Halo 3's matchmaking system will be based on two different ranks, skill and experience, in order to make the system more fair and to reflect the effect of experience on players' profiles.^[12]
• Bungie also stated that they have redesigned the UI (user interface) from Halo 2, apparently making it easier to generate a custom game in Halo 3 multiplayer.^[13]
• Hosts will now be able to "advertise" their custom games via Xbox Live Public; players no longer need to adhere to pre-made Matchmaking playlists because they can simply join a custom game hosted by another player.^[12]
• In the November 11 Bungie Weekly Update, it was stated that due to a "significant chunk" of Halo 2 players being female, there might be an option to have a female voice for the Spartan character in multiplayer.^[14]
• A new feature dubbed the "A-hole button" will be used to mute players in the game.^[15]
• "As it stands", the strength of the effect of gravity is customizable as one of the game settings in creating custom games.^[16] It is unknown whether or not this will be in the finished game.
• There will also be a greater number of medal announcements in multiplayer, including several "easter egg" medals that will be awarded for very unusual events.^[17]

Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Miscellaneous

• Fauna are undergoing testing for inclusion in the final build of the game, specifically seagulls and a cockatoo-like creature.^[18] Both will exhibit flocking behavior. Some Bungie employees are reportedly keen on the possibility of going grousing in Halo 3.

Fauna is a collective term for animal life of any particular region or time. ... Genera Pagophila Larus Rissa Creagus Xema Rhodostethia Gulls are seabirds in the family Laridae and subfamily Lari. ... Subfamily Microglossinae Calyptorhynchinae Cacatuinae A cockatoo is any of the 21 bird species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. ... Flocking is a common demonstration of emergence and emergent behaviour, invented in 1987 by Craig Reynolds with his simulation program, Boids. ... Duck hunters spring from their blind to take a shot at an incoming bird. ...

Pre-release marketing

As one of the most anticipated videogames in history, the marketing campaign for Halo 3 has been extensive and is planned to be epic in scope. Much of the advertising to date has focused on appealing to the general public, rather than just hardcore fans of the game. Microsoft has announced the launch of an international advertising campaign using the Forerunner Structure imagery (often with massive banners hung from city skyscrapers). The campaign's scope has been compared to that usually seen for a major motion picture.^[19]

E3 2006 trailer

The Master Chief emerges from smoke and rubble that litters an African plain.

A trailer of the game was shown at Microsoft press conference at E3 2006. The trailer ends with the tagline "Finish the fight". The trailer begins in a dry, desolate area, a few miles away from New Mombasa's remains. Parts of the broken space elevator and bridge are in the background, along with the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro. Through the smoke and rubble, the Master Chief emerges holding an assault rifle, occasionally obscured by overlaid images of what appears to be Cortana transmitting a distorted message: Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x544, 158 KB) Summary Screenshot from the Halo 3 announcement trailer released by Microsoft on May 9, 2006. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x544, 158 KB) Summary Screenshot from the Halo 3 announcement trailer released by Microsoft on May 9, 2006. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... E³ logo The Electronic Entertainment Expo, commonly known as E³, was an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment Software Association. ... A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. ... A space elevator would consist of a cable anchored to the Earths surface, reaching into space. ... Kilimanjaro is a mountain in northeastern Tanzania. ... Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN-117, commonly referred to in-game as simply Master Chief, is a fictional protagonist within the Halo universe. ...

"I have defied gods and demons."

"I am your shield; I am your sword.^[20]"

"I know you; your past, your future"

"This is the way the world ends."

Covenant ships disperse as the ancient Forerunner artifact, rumored to be the Ark, is activated.

Cortana appears to be in distress. In the 'Behind the Scenes' video,^[21] it is stated, "We don't know what has happened to her... We don't know it's Cortana. It could be any sort of bizarre, almost Satanic sort of voice. Something seems wrong." This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x544, 122 KB) Summary Screenshot from the Halo 3 announcement trailer released by Microsoft on May 9, 2006. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x544, 122 KB) Summary Screenshot from the Halo 3 announcement trailer released by Microsoft on May 9, 2006. ...

Overhead, a massive Covenant fleet holds position over an enormous crater the Chief is overlooking. Within the crater is a large, circular, metallic structure over three miles in diameter, stated by Bungie to be a Forerunner-related structure. Above the crater, there is an immense maelstrom in the sky caused by "massive, never before seen subatomic forces," presumably caused by the gigantic structure.^{[citation needed]} Banshees and Covenant warships fly towards it, paying no attention to the Master Chief. // The Covenant is a fictional militaristic and theocratic alliance of alien races who serve as the main antagonist body of the Halo science-fiction video game series. ...

The structure activates and a brilliant light rapidly consumes the area, fading to black as Cortana closes with the line, "This is the way the world ends."

The trailer was produced entirely using the Xbox 360 hardware in real-time. After the E³ showing, Bungie demonstrated the real-time nature of the demo by moving the camera around and moving Master Chief to demonstrate the game's visual effects. The Assault Rifle was also fired to demonstrate that the muzzle flash was reflected off Chief's visor in real-time. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

The music in the trailer utilized a 60-piece orchestra and a 24-member choir, above and beyond what composer Martin O'Donnell used for Halo 3's predecessors. The trailer fanfare sports a wholly new arrangement, the addition of trumpets, and the noted absence of Halo's signature "monks."^[21] Martin ODonnell, a musical composer, has worked on pieces for video games such as the Halo: Combat Evolved Soundtrack. ...

The imagery of the Forerunner structure has since been used in a large-scale advertising campaign.

The line "I am your shield; I am your sword" may be connected to Halo being referred to as a "Sword Planet" and the existence of "Shield Worlds" as referenced in Ghosts of Onyx. Ghosts of Onyx is the title of the new Halo novel that is scheduled to be released on November, 2006. ...

ESPN TV advertisement

Master Chief using the new Bubble Shield device, which causes a shield to appear around him. Nearby is a Mongoose ATV.

On December 4, 2006, a 60-second CGI commercial for Halo 3 was aired on ESPN, followed by a release on Xbox.com and Xbox LIVE. The advertisement does not contain any gameplay footage, and was created entirely by Digital Domain, using a mix of live action (for the two children) and animation; Bungie-supplied assets for vehicles and models, and pure CGI.^[22] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (854x479, 74 KB) Taken from new ESPN Halo 3 trailer at Gametrailers. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (854x479, 74 KB) Taken from new ESPN Halo 3 trailer at Gametrailers. ... December 4th redirects here. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the application of the field of computer graphics (or more specifically, 3D computer graphics) to special effects. ... ESPN (which formerly stood for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... Xbox Live is a subscription-based online gaming service for Microsofts Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. ... Digital Domain is a computer graphics company located in Venice, California that provides visual effects for film, commercials and music videos. ...

The ad comprises two main scenes. The first shows two children lying in long grass looking at the night sky, wondering whether they will ever meet beings from "up there". The location and identity of the children are deliberately ambiguous; Bungie have stated that this is up to the interpretation of the viewer. This scene then cuts to Master Chief's point of view, waking from unconsciousness after being thrown from a vehicle. He is on Earth, in the middle of the Covenant invasion soon after the events of the E3 Announcement. Separated from the Marines, the Chief evades plasma mortar impacts and engages a group of Covenant Brutes and Wraith tanks. The ad closes with the same "HALO 3", "FINISH THE FIGHT - 2007" and Xbox 360 taglines as the E3 trailer, and an additional caption: the "Jump In" slogan of the Xbox 360 marketing campaign.

The Master Chief's MA5C Assault Rifle, along with the charred wreckage of a Warthog visible in the background.

Reaction to the advertisement was enthusiastic. It was the first cinematic-quality glimpse into the Halo Universe, designed to appeal to a mass audience. Fans of the series immediately started picking over the imagery for clues relating to the plot or gameplay of Halo 3. Some previously unseen elements include: Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1920x1080, 834 KB) Picture is a screenshot taken from the Starry Night Halo 3 ad by Digital Domain and Bungie. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1920x1080, 834 KB) Picture is a screenshot taken from the Starry Night Halo 3 ad by Digital Domain and Bungie. ...

• The "Bubble Dome", a protective shield resembling a transparent geodesic dome generated by a grenade-like device,
• The secondary weapon being stored magnetically on the Chief's back, or on a leg holster for smaller weapons,
• The Chief's voice, confirming that radio presenter Steve Downes will continue to voice this role.

A geodesic dome is an almost spherical structure based on a network of struts arranged on great circles (geodesics) lying approximately on the surface of a sphere. ... Steve Downes Steve Downes is a successful American disc jockey and voice actor. ...

"Et tu, Brute?" Video Documentary

The "Et tu, Brute?" ViDoc (a portmanteau of video documentary), released on December 20, 2006, shows how the Brutes have been almost completely redesigned for Halo 3 to better reflect the idea that they are meant to be a worthy adversary for the player. Bungie clarified that none of the graphics shown in the ViDoc are final, and that some elements may be completely redesigned before launch.^[23] Et tu, Brute? were, according to legend, the last words of Julius Caesar. ... Look up portmanteau word in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The ViDoc explains that the three classes of Brutes have been differentiated, the same way Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 featured different classes of Elites, Grunts, and Jackals. There are 'standard' infantry Brutes, Brute Captains and the Brute Chieftain. All are shown with much heavier armor than the Brutes in Halo 2. The Minor Brutes wear blue armor held together by buckles. The Captains have more elaborate helmets and armor, and the Chieftains have the most elaborate helmets and armor. The color scheme of Elites in the prior games seems to have been applied to Brutes (blue is the lowest rank, red is higher, and gold is the highest). To reflect the Brutes' violent nature, some new animations have been created. Examples shown in the ViDoc include a Brute ripping off the arms of a Marine, a Brute ramming a Marine into a vehicle, and another Brute punching the stomach of a Marine lying on the ground. // Halo 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios. ...

The AI has also been updated to incorporate the new idea of a Brute pack. A Chieftain in Halo 3 may order all of its troops to throw grenades at the enemy together, or may decide to focus on attacking one character. A hand grenade is a hand-held bomb, made to be thrown by a soldier. ...

The film also includes many previously unseen elements, such as dual-wieldable Energy Swords (at least, by AI) and the new "spike grenade". Early play tests have shown that these "Spike Grenades" may stick to any surface except water and release directional spikes upon explosion. The Brute Chieftain is seen firing a weapon resembling an un-deployed plasma turret from Halo 2. However, as previously mentioned, the game is still in a pre-alpha stage, and the graphics and game elements in the ViDoc are currently unconfirmed for final release in the game. ...

"Is Quisnam Protero Damno!" Video Documentary

A video^[24] detailing the development of the multiplayer game was released on April 10, 2007. It highlighted the major ways in which the developers have sought to improve upon the Halo 2 multiplayer game which was so successful. All graphics shown were from an alpha build - no decoraters were yet in place, many textures were still only placeholders, and the HDR lighting model was not being used. Nevertheless, the graphics were already demonstrably far superior to the game's predecessors. Previously unseen gameplay elements: April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... A software release refers to the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. ...

• The Bubble Shield Device is confirmed to be used in-game (though it understandably looks different than it did in the trailer film); when dropped, a geodesic shield is set up, protecting the player from anything outside the shield perimeter. However, the shield does not look completely stationary, it seemed to roll down the hill it was placed on meaning you might need to move to stay inside it.

Although, in an update, Bungie alluded to the bubble shield staying in one place when deployed (this is still subject to change, but in the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, it will remain stationery when deployed).

• The "trip mine", an explosive triggered by either proximity or touch, that is deployed like the Bubble Shield.
• A "jump pad" (miniature grav-lift) can be seen (although not pointed out) being used by a Spartan on High Ground, and is presumably carried and deployed like the Bubble Shield,
• The human machine gun turret was shown being carried and fired while not deployed by a Spartan assaulting the base on High Ground,although in a Bungie weekly update they stated that this would likely not be included in the beta, or retail product.
• An in-game camera will allow you to see how your enemy killed you as well as allow you to record gameplay clips from first-person view as well as any other position. The recording can be shown in slow-motion.
• At least 3 new multiplayer maps were shown.
• A new game type is possibly shown; at one point "Game: Escort" can be seen.^[25]
• A new map name is possibly shown; at one point "Map: Warthog, Inc." can be seen.^[26]
• The man-cannon seems to have replaced the teleport modules that were found in Halo 2. Bungie did this because they said the teleport modules weren't exciting enough and that it was more exciting if you could snipe a person out of the air while they're man-cannoning across the map.
• The Assault Rifle's statistics were partially confirmed. It will have a smaller magazine than it did in Halo: Combat Evolved, and it will not be dual-wieldable.

// Halo 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... Halo: Combat Evolved, or simply Halo, is a video game in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, created by the Microsoft-owned Bungie Studios. ...

Release and related information

The Halo 3 Limited Edition case

The Legendary Edition set for Halo 3

Halo 3 will be released in Fall of 2007. Three versions of the game package have been announced: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 557 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (740 × 797 pixel, file size: 40 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a picture from the Team Xbox (http://screenshots. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 557 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (740 × 797 pixel, file size: 40 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a picture from the Team Xbox (http://screenshots. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 421 pixel Image in higher resolution (2736 × 1440 pixel, file size: 301 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 421 pixel Image in higher resolution (2736 × 1440 pixel, file size: 301 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Standard Edition (USD $59.99)

• Halo 3

Limited Edition (USD $69.99)

• Halo 3
• Metal Collectors Edition Case
• The Making of Halo 3 (featurettes, possibly the ViDOCs, concept art, A/V calibration tool)
• Halo Collectors Source Guide (species, factions, story)

Legendary Edition (USD $129.99)

• Halo 3
• MJOLNIR Mark VI Game Case
• The Making of Halo 3 (featurettes, possibly the ViDOCs, concept art, A/V calibration tool)
• Halo Collectors Source Guide (species, factions, story)
• Exclusive Disc (cut scenes, commentary, featurette on a day at Bungie, machinima content)
• Lee Wilson Key-Moments Story Art

ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... MJOLNIR battle armor displayed in the Halo 3 announcement trailer. ...

Media releases

On May 9, 2006, exactly a year and a half after the release of Halo 2, the announcement trailer to Halo 3 appeared on the Xbox Live Marketplace, shortly before the trailer made its appearance at E3, due in part to the E3 conference's late start. Halo 3's announcement was soon posted on other gaming sites.^[27] After some downtime on the official Bungie website, the game was announced officially and the trailer was made available for download.^[28] May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (130th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft s Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live subscribers to download purchased or promotional content. ... Bungie Studios is an American video game developer founded in 1991 under the name Bungie Software Products Corporation (more popularly shortened to just Bungie Software) by two undergraduate students at the University of Chicago, Alex Seropian and Jason Jones. ...

On June 6, 2006, Bungie Studios released a behind-the-scenes look at the E3 announcement trailer on their website. The video included many elements intended to produce speculation in the fan community. Some of these elements include glimpses of the updated UNSC Marines' appearance, an unknown race holding a new weapon, and Master Chief holding the M90 Shotgun from previous Halo titles. The video also showed different angles and takes of the announcement video, showing how powerful the engine was (and proving the video was not pre-rendered). June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 1 day remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Bungie Studios is an American video game developer founded in 1991 under the name Bungie Software Products Corporation (more popularly shortened to just Bungie Software) by two undergraduate students at the University of Chicago, Alex Seropian and Jason Jones. ... Speculation involves the buying, holding, and selling of stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, collectibles, real estate, derivatives or any valuable financial instrument to profit from fluctuations in its price as opposed to buying it for use or for income via methods such as dividends or interest. ... Halo is video game series created by Bungie Studios. ...

Halo 3 screenshot shown in Newsweek magazine.

On October 2, 1UP.com featured an article about the November 14 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM). The magazine featured a "blowout" on the game, featuring new information along with new screenshots and videos available on the 1UP website.^[29] In addition, three weeks worth of continuous coverage of Halo 3 was added to the site throughout November.^[11] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2560x1440, 2541 KB) Screenshot released by Bungie of Master Chief from Halo 3. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2560x1440, 2541 KB) Screenshot released by Bungie of Master Chief from Halo 3. ... The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1UP.com is a video-game site owned and operated by Ziff Davis Media, the media conglomerate behind popular videogame magazines Computer Gaming World (CGW) (now known as Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (or GFW) Magazine), Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), and the now-defunct Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... Electronic Gaming Monthly (often abbreviated to EGM) is an American video game magazine. ...

Bungie began using Halo 3 for its Humpday Challenges, a weekly event where Bungie plays Halo games against members of the community.^[30][31]

Joystiq reported a Microsoft blogger claimed Brutes would be a playable race, but this rumor was quickly addressed by Bungie's Frank O'Connor who confirmed otherwise.^[32]. However, it revealed that upcoming Bungie gameplay videos would feature "new insights into elements of the campaign and will peel back the curtain on a certain prominent character in Halo 3."^[33] O'Connor would later say that Brutes would be "more exciting, clever, graphically impressive, terrifying, numerous and angrier."^[34] Bungie promised a "Vidoc" (Video Documentary) focusing on the Brutes, which was released initially on Xbox Live Marketplace at 2AM PST on December 20, 2006. Joystiq is a video gaming weblog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. ... A player character or playable character (PC) is a fictional character in a game who is controlled or controllable by the player. ... The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft s Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live subscribers to download purchased or promotional content. ... PST can refer to: Pacific Standard Time; UTC -8:00, in daylight saving, UTC -7:00 — see time zone Pakistan Standard Time; +5:00 Provincial Sales Tax — a sales tax in Canada Poznański Szybki Tramwaj — a streetcar line in Poznań, Poland . ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The soundtrack to the E3 announcement trailer, titled "Finish the Fight", was released on the iTunes Store (December 14, 2006).^[35] So far there is no information on the release of the Official Soundtrack. “ITMS” redirects here. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

On January 1, 2007, gameplay footage of Halo 3 was posted on various websites. Selected army personnel stationed in Iraq were privileged to test a recent build of the game and apparently had recorded the events on-screen. The footage, six seconds in length, contains the first glimpse of up-to-date, real Halo 3 gameplay that the general gaming community has seen. The footage shows a Spartan traversing the multiplayer map, High Ground with Assault Rifle in hand. No other elements were shown. Stills have also been found through the same sources, featuring Halo 3's user interface and stills of gameplay footage. January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... The user interface is the part of a system exposed to users. ...

On April 10, 2007, new gameplay footage was released, confirming that trip mines will be used in Halo 3 along with the highly anticipated "Bubble Shield". It also shows the three maps that will be played in "Halo 3 Beta" (May 16, 2007 through June 9, 2007), and some of the new weapons. April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (137th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Beta Testing

On November 15, 2006 it was announced that the online beta would be released to the public in Spring 2007, along with new Halo 2 maps.^[36] November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... A software release refers to the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. ... // Halo 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios. ...

As of January 24, 2007, registration for the first segment of the beta test selection is closed to North American entrants. However, the Australian and New Zealand Xbox sites are still offering 15 Beta test places (10 for Australia, 5 for New Zealand). Entrants must provide a 25-word opinion on how they think the Master Chief would "finish the fight" in Halo 3. In Europe, the available slots are available through online media outlets. Bungie has stated that this is only "phase one" of the registration process and that there will be more options for players outside of North America to register for the public beta. According to IGN, over 140,000 players signed up to play in the multiplayer beta as of December 13, 2006.^[37] Applicants for this segment of the Halo 3 Beta test began to receive acceptance e-mails on January 22, 2007. January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN-117, commonly referred to in-game as simply Master Chief, is a fictional protagonist within the Halo universe. ... IGN is a multimedia news and reviews website that focuses heavily on video games. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

On January 3, 2007, Bungie Studios announced that the Halo 3 beta would be obtainable by registering on Halo3.com. However, players must own an Xbox 360, they must have played 3 hours of Halo 2 (between 12:01 AM EST on February 1 and 11:59 PM EST on February 3, 2007) on Xbox Live, and they must be one of the first 13,333 players to have registered on February 5, 2007.^[38] January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Players may also purchase specially marked versions of the video game Crackdown to download the Halo 3 beta. Only the initial launch shipment copies of the game will include the ability to download the Halo 3 beta. The "Download Halo 3 beta" option will become available in the Crackdown main menu when the beta is released. The Crackdown disk will also be required to launch the Halo 3 beta.^[39] Crackdown is a free-form urban action game set for release in early 2007. ...

On February 16, 2007 Bungie released a Halo 3 Beta FAQ to answer a number of questions regarding the aforementioned beta test.^[40] February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... A software release refers to the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. ... FAQ is an abbreviation for Frequently Asked Question(s). The term refers to listed questions and answers, all supposed to be frequently asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. ...

As of April 2, 2007 it is confirmed no more copies of Crackdown with the invitation to Halo 3 Beta are being produced^{[citation needed]}. April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

On April 10, 2007 Bungie announced that the beta testing phase would run from May 16, 2007 at 12am PDT to June 6, 2007 at 11.59pm PDT.^[41] The Beta is confirmed to only have 3 multiplayer maps, Valhalla, High Ground and Snowbound, and will not contain any campaign data. April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (137th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 1 day remaining // 1508 - Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year truce and cede several territories to Venice 1513... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

On April 15, 2007 a Microsoft internal beta for Halo 3 began. ^[42] April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

List of confirmed elements

This section briefly lists elements of Halo 3 that have been confirmed, specifically those returning from the other titles in the Halo series. (Not all elements may end up being used by the player, and all are subject to change.) Halo is video game series created by Bungie Studios. ...

Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN-117, commonly referred to in-game as simply Master Chief, is a fictional protagonist within the Halo universe. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... Gravemind is a fictional character featured in the video game Halo 2. ... Fictional characters from the Halo series of video games that began with Halo: Combat Evolved. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Pete Stacker is a voice-over actor based in Chicago. ... The Covenant is a fictional militaristic and theocratic alliance of alien races who serve as the main antagonist body of the Halo science-fiction video game series. ... The Covenant is a fictional militaristic and theocratic alliance of alien races who serve as the main antagonist body of the Halo science-fiction video game series. ... The Covenant is a fictional militaristic and theocratic alliance of alien races who serve as the main antagonist body of the Halo science-fiction video game series. ... The Covenant is a fictional militaristic and theocratic alliance of alien races who serve as the main antagonist body of the Halo science-fiction video game series. ... United Nations Space Command Defense Force Logo In the fictional Halo universe, the United Nations Space Command (more commonly known by its abbreviation, UNSC) is a fictional world government ruling over a large interstellar empire of planets. ... Fictional characters from the Halo series of video games that began with Halo: Combat Evolved. ... A code name or cryptonym is a word or name used clandestinely to refer to another name or word. ... Adjectives: Terrestrial, Terran, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly Atmosphere Surface pressure: 101. ... Motto Harambee(Swahili) Let us all pull together Anthem Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu Oh God of All Creation Capital (and largest city) Nairobi Official languages Swahili, English[1] Government Republic  -  President Mwai Kibaki Independence from the United Kingdom   -  Date December 12, 1963   -  Republic declared December 12, 1964  Area  -  Total 580... The Forerunners are a fictional race of beings (not yet confirmed aliens) referred to in the Halo universe. ... Kilimanjaro is a mountain in northeastern Tanzania. ...

Other confirmed facts

• Although Halo 3 was planned to end the Halo series, future Halo games are likely. On the Halo 3 FAQ from the official Bungie website it says, "Q: Is this the last ever Halo game? A: It is the conclusion to this story arc." This refers to the two announced games in the Halo universe, including the new Halo Wars by Ensemble Studios. Of the other project, very little is known. Bungie said that it will be on the Xbox 360 and will "be made in partnership with Lord of the Rings and King Kong director, Peter Jackson"^[57] and a recently formed development studio headed by him under the name of Wingnut Interactive.

Halo Wars is a real-time strategy video game that takes place in the Halo universe. ... The Untitled Halo Project is an episodic project that was announced at Microsofts Xbox show, X06. ... Dust jacket of the 1968 UK edition The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy story by J. R. R. Tolkien, a sequel to his earlier work, The Hobbit. ... King Kong battles a pterosaur in the original 1933 version. ... Peter Jackson CNZM (born October 31, 1961) is a three-time Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning New Zealand filmmaker best known as the director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which he, along with his long time partner, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens adapted from the novels... Wingnut Interactive is a video game developement studio that was formed in 2006 from a partnership between Microsoft Game Studios and director Peter Jackson. ...

References

(Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 24 is the 328th day (329th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (130th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Halo 3 site at Bungie.net
• Halo 3 Revealed! on Xbox.com
• Three Weeks of Halo 3 at 1up.com
• Halo 3 News and Updates
• Halo 3 Story on IGN
• Image Press Kit (Direct download link - 102 MB - Zipfile)
• Halo 3 article at Halopedia
• Halo 3 at Xbox.com
• 5 Years of Halo and an update at 360-Play.com
• Halo 3 2006 Recap
• Halo 3 overview

Videos

• Halo 3 ViDoc "Et Tu, Brute?" on Game Videos (Also available on Xbox Live Marketplace)
• Halo 3 ViDoc "Is Quisnam Protero Damno!" on YouTube (Also available on Xbox Live Marketplace)
• Halo 3 'Starry Night' TV Ad on Game Videos (HD Downloads at link - WMV (23.5 MB) MOV (101 MB))
• Halo 3 TV ad on Xbox.com
• Halo 3 Outline on GameSpot (Included with small trailer)
• High Resolution Behind The Scenes on Bungie (Direct download link - 383 MB - Windows Media)
• Halo 3 Flash Trailer (Fast Load - Good Quality)
• Halo 3 Documentary Bungie.net in-depth documentary of the E3 2006 teaser trailer.