Vanaf woensdag wordt de Halo 3 beta eindelijk vrijgegeven voor degenen die zich hiervoor hebben aangemeld of Crackdown hebben gekocht. De eerste reacties op deze beta zijn niet extreem positief te noemen. Het zou teveel op de vorige Halo games lijken, maar alleen met iets mooiere graphics.

Bungie zelf heeft meerdere malen aangegeven dat de beta niet te vergelijken is met een demo en daardoor niet een volledig beeld geeft van de uiteindelijke game. Zelf verwacht ik op het gebied van graphics nog wel een verbetering in de uiteindelijke versie. Inmiddels is de Halo 3 Xbox 360 fact sheet ook vrijgegeven, die je hieronder kunt bekijken.

The Mission:

The Covenant control Earth. The Flood is unleashed. With the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance, Master Chief is the only one that can save the human race.

The entire epic story arc has led up to this moment. Master Chief, the last of his kind, is a warrior born for combat, bred for war… and humanity’s only hope.

The Blockbuster Saga Concludes.

After stowing away on a Forerunner spacecraft, Master Chief, a genetically altered, cybernetically enhanced Spartan supersoldier, must race back to Earth to stop the Covenant once and for all and save mankind. With his artificial intelligence companion Cortana in the grip of the Flood’s intelligent embodiment, Gravemind, Master Chief and his allies are vastly outnumbered. But the stakes are too high to do anything but face them head on. 

A Desperate Enemy: A Desperate War.
In “Halo 3,” the third installment of this legendary epic, the war has come to a climax – the Flood continue to grow in numbers and strength, the armies of Earth are scattered and decimated, and the Covenant threaten to activate the Halo, effectively destroying all life in the galaxy. Master Chief’s mission: to stop the Covenant, destroy the impending Flood threat and ultimately save mankind.

What: “Halo 3”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Bungie Studios
Format: DVD for the Microsoft® Xbox 360™ video game system; Xbox LIVE™ enabled
Price: Legendary Edition, $129.99; Special Edition, $69.99; Standard Edition, $59.99
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: Fall 2007

The Gameplay:
• Next-generation experiences. With the power of the Xbox 360, “Halo 3” raises the bar on the next-generation gameplay experience with non-stop action, an incredible story, massive battles, and visually stunning worlds.
• Stunning single-player action. Epic and compelling storytelling on a scale never before seen in interactive entertainment with new weapons, characters and challenges. You can experience Master Chief’s greatest battle as he transcends greatness and becomes a legend.
• Xbox LIVE multiplayer redefined. Working in concert with Xbox LIVE on Xbox 360, “Halo 3” builds upon the unique social multiplayer experience of “Halo 2” and promises to enhance the innovative and evolving online gameplay of “Halo 2” on Xbox LIVE.

The Technology:
• Evolution of a Blockbuster. Taking full advantage of the power of Xbox 360, “Halo 3” will expand on everything that has made the “Halo” franchise great and will add a wealth of technical advancements
• Next-generation, high-definition visuals. Presented in stunning HD, see the well-known “Halo” universe as it’s never been seen before. State of the art HDR (High Dynamic Range) lighting makes every scene look and feel like the real thing, from terrifying gloom to dazzling sunshine, adding more detail to every weapon, more texture to every character, and more realism to every battle.
• Enhanced AI. Countless foes, each with their own distinct personality, strategy and fighting style, make for better encounters and more replay value, which will culminate in larger scale combat than ever before witnessed on the “Halo” battlefield.
• Split-screen support. Staying true to the original games, “Halo 3” will support four player split-screen and system link gameplay, letting gamers battle it out both online via Xbox LIVE or with a group of friends right in their own living rooms.
• In-depth stat tracking and standings. Made famous as a key component of the renowned “Halo 2” multiplayer experience, Bungie.net will continue to innovate how gamers track their progress, as they view their rankings and stats in real-time.
• Fully positional Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound. Duck as a rocket sizzles over head. Take action as the footsteps of a Covenant adversary echo in the distance. Every sound in “Halo 3” is fully positional, bringing the world of “Halo” to an even more vivid level of realism.

Legendary Edition:
Individually numbered and available while supplies last, the Legendary Edition includes a copy of “Halo 3” in a collectible Spartan helmet case. In addition to the game, the exclusive set includes the following content:
• Remastered cinematic material from “Halo: Combat Evolved” and “Halo 2” with developer commentary
• “A day in the life at Bungie” featurette
• High definition “Making of ‘Halo 3′” documentary
• Featurettes on game design, development, and more
• Early game concepts and their evolution over the course of “Halo 3’s” development
• Audio-video calibration tool custom designed by the “Halo 3” graphics and audio team
• Exclusive content from the creative minds of Machinima artists Red vs. Blue and This Spartan Life
• Illuminating “Halo 3” storyboard art book from artist Lee Wilson
The Legendary Edition will be available in limited quantities for a limited time at select retailers.

Limited Edition:
Available while supplies last, the Limited Edition includes a copy of “Halo 3” in a sleek metal collector’s case. In addition to the game, the exclusive set includes the following content:
• High definition “Making of ‘Halo 3′” documentary
• Featurettes on game design, development, and more
• Early game concepts and their evolution over the course of “Halo 3’s” development
• Audio-video calibration tool custom designed by the “Halo 3” graphics and audio team
• Elaborate and compelling “Halo” fiction and art book
The Limited Edition will be available for a limited time at select retailers.

Developer Information:
Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years, it has produced games such as the “Marathon” trilogy and the first two “Myth” games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie’s “Halo” franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, logging over 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE, and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel and more. Bungie is currently at work on “Halo 3,” which represents the third chapter in this “Halo” trilogy and is slated for release in 2007.

[bron: Evil Avatar]

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