halo.bungie.org

They're Random, Baby!

WU thumb13 June 2008
Link to this update
Original B.net link
Return to main page
  << 
 
 >>

Bungie Weekly Update: 6/13/08

Posted by lukems at 6/13/2008 4:39 PM PDT

Majorly Gaming

Short update (but at least it's early, right? - assuming Sketch punched the button) this week as Shishka and I are airborne en route to MLG San Diego. (Sketch's update: Button pushed, possibly not quite as early as Luke envisioned)

Getting ready for the MLG event was pretty easy: Shishka handled the heavy lifting for the equipment that we loaded into our luggage; The Bungie Princesses handled the travel booking; and I, uh, sent some emails letting folks know what we'd be bringing with us.

If you're in the SoCal region, come by the event at the Town and Country Resort Hotel, say "hello" to Shishka and you and I can pound it like Obama. (Sketch's update: Don't forget to ask them about Recon!)

Real Talk

If there was an FAQ list taken straight from the subjects of my message box (sounds like something for Achronos to build for me) the list of questions would read as such:

  • 1. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RECON I SWEAR [yes, yes it is actually about recon]
  • 2. OMG CONE SUICIDE IN MY SHARE DL IT [neat, another one of these]
  • 3. HAVE I BEEN BANNED FROM RECON? [after this message, almost assuredly]
  • 4. BUNGIE FAVORITES WTF [sigh]
  • 5. WHY AM I BANNED?

Question five leads us to a perfect storm of events that shook down on the Bungie.net Halo 3 Forum earlier this week. As the Banhammer (don't say we didn't warn you - we did) continues to fell jerks, more and more of said casualties pop-up on our forums inquiring as to why their accounts have been dispatched with ravenous haste.

The blood drips lazily from our jowls.

There's an internal alias here at Bungie devoted specifically to the Banhammer and investigating issues that arise with players and naughty behavior. In addition to arbitration of cases and the metering of righteous and sweet justice, it becomes a thread where images (like the above) tend to show up. After months of pestering one of our Producers, Matt Priestley, I was finally allowed to be included on the festivities - but alas, I'm not actually allowed to ban anyone (Shishka did let me push the ban button once - it was amazing).

Sometimes chatter on various forums around the Internet inform discussion on the Banhammer alias and in exceptional instances - we're actually discussing the fate of someone's account at the exact moment they've inquired publicly as to why their account (or accounts) have been nuked from on high.

Wednesday, June 11th was an example of this rare phenomenon. For those craving a Humpday Challenge - let this thread from the Bungie forums serve as the gentle teabag you've so craved.

I love the Internet

10 seconds of my life lost forever

I don't even know what this means

Sometimes, words fail

Stosh's Screenshot of the Week [blame him if this part sucks]

My first pick is a new screenshot taken by one of my favorite Halo 3 photographers, Predator5791.

 Creature of the night

You don't see a lot of screenshots that use the power of forge for good. Normally you guys draw crudely drawn crate -blam!-es or attempt to win our hearts with poorly written messages about your love for Recon--So "Gargoyle" gets my first thumb's up. Be sure to visit Predator5791's fileshare for more of the awesome. He's got over 3.5 million total downloads so far...and I heard he's going for the big 5.

Predator's fileshare: http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Halo3/Default.aspx?player=Predator5791

Runner up:

http://www.bungie.net/stats/halo3/screenshot_viewer_popup.aspx?gamertag=TACTXofWAR&ssid=39285599

Check out my group if you are interested in discussing cool screenshots and participating in weekly screenshot related challenges. http://www.bungie.net/fanclub/155784/Group/GroupHome.aspx

Expos eh?

In August (specifically between 29-31), Penny-Arcade will host their annual, engorged, and eponymously-titled Penny Arcade Expo here in Seattle. In the interest of doing our due diligence, while still retaining our "we don't tell you anything ever" sensibilities, if you're a fan of Bungie and our games - this is the year to come to PAX. Consider yourself informed and warned. We'll have more on this soon.

Ranked Big Team

Pictures speak volumes. Get to playing RBTB.



bungie.org