Halo 3: ODST Message Board  

E3 2009: Halo 3 ODST Demoed

June 1, 2009 - Today at the Microsoft Press Conference at E3, Joe Staton from Bungie demoed Halo 3: ODST. It started as a pod dropped to New Mombassa containing "The Rookie." These specially trained fighters have access to new weapons like a low-light vision modes for the visor and the famous scoped pistol from Halo 1.

As the story of the game progresses the player switches perspectives between different Orbital Drop Shock Troopers with their own abilities. It will include a new cooperative game mode called Firefight that will be available on September 22 when the game launches.

Set in the year 2552, the Covenant are searching for something below the streets of the planet. The demo showed off Dare and Buck dropping to the surface of the planet just as the Prophet of Regret's ship was on its way out. A number of weapons were shown off, including two new suppressed weapons, one of which, the SMG, was shown off. Also on display were grenades and a Spartan laser. On the reworked HUD it also seemed like spike grenades were an option to pick up.

Bungie has posted some additional details on the new Firefight mode. The mode will allow you to join up with a party of your friends and battle it out against invading Covenant waves. In multiple environments you can fight, utilizing different equipment, vehicles, and progressively activated skull modifiers for high scores and achievements. Then after the round you can check out your kills and stats, as well as how you match up against friends and others in the community though the game's integration with Bungie.net.

The game will also include three new multiplayer maps -- Heretic, Longshore, and Citadel – along with the full Halo 3 multiplayer experience that includes the Heroic, Legendary, Cold Storage, and Mythic map packs. If you buy ODST, you'll get an invitation to the multiplayer beta for the just-announced prequel, Halo: Reach.

E3 2009 Gameplay Trailer - Link

E3 2009 Demo Part 1 - Link

E3 2009 Demo Part 2 - Link

IGN

Personally, I like the idea of the flashbacks and playing as several different ODST's. It expands your knowledge of what happen a lot. The graphics look amazing. The scene of the Covenant cruiser opening a portal was incredible, and the scale of the space elevator is just awesome.

E3 2009: Halo 3: ODST is 'Done'

June 2, 2009 - Halo 3: ODST made its big debut at the Microsoft Press Conference on Monday and it was certainly worth the wait. While we learned a bit about ODST during the press conference, we discovered something else that was interesting. During a private demo of Halo 3: ODST, Creative Director Joe Staton told us that the game is essentially "done." That means there's little chance for a delay and that Halo 3: ODST should be as polished as a game can possibly be when it ships on September 22.

IGN

For anyone interested there's a blog called Ascendant Justice that analyzes the Halo universe. They've done the Terminals, every level of Halo 3, the Halo Wars storyline, and now they're doing ODST. They've already done four or five pieces on it, their latest one goes over the trailer and gameplay footage seen at E3, it's worth a read.

Ascendant Justice - Link

Bungie made a field guide that covers the Personnel, Ordnance, Intel, and Enemies of Halo 3 ODST.

Link

IGN Demo

Part 1 - Link

Part 2 - Link

Part 3 - Link

Gamespot Demo

Link

Microsoft Defends ODST Price Hike

UK, June 12, 2009 - Microsoft has responded to the price hike for Halo 3: ODST that was revealed at last week's E3, saying that the game is much more ambitious than previously envisioned, and now is more than just a Halo 3 expansion.

Shortly after Bungie's latest first broke cover last year, there were claims that the game was not going to be a full price affair owing to the campaign's three to five hour running time.

However, Halo 3: ODST is now being listed as a full-price game on several retailer's sites. 'At the time of those statements, the overall scope of Halo 3: ODST was not yet finalized, and since then the project has grown increasingly more ambitious' Microsoft told Joystiq in response to the swelling.

'We believe this standalone experience is much more than just an expansion,' they continued, 'Halo 3: ODST provides a new campaign from the point of view of an entirely new character. Combine that with three new multiplayer maps, the entirely new cooperative mode called Firefight, and the complete Halo 3 multiplayer collection on a standalone disc, we feel this is a good value and tremendous addition to the Halo franchise.'

Man why'd they change the name of it from HALO 3: RECON to HALO 3: ODST why?!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!

Does it really matter?

And considering there are only ODSTs in this game... why didn't they just name it Halo 3 ODST to begin with is the real question you should be asking.