23 November 2011
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The Halo Bulletin: 11/23/11

23. November 2011 23:30

No news is good news. Or so they say.

When faced with revealing what could previously only be described as a gaping flesh wound of doom (also known as a paper cut in certain circles), some people choose to lift the cloth bandage slowly, opting to be subjected to a lower level of pain over an extended length of time. Other people, though, without the slightest hesitation, take a firm hold of the adhesive strip and rip it off in one swift motion, oftentimes letting out a yelp of protest that dissipates almost as quickly as the pain. This week, as it pertains to the Bulletin, I've decided to take the latter course of action. That's right, you don't get a long, rambling, barely coherent introduction today. You get a short, rambling, barely coherent one instead.

Yes, I'll wait a moment while you give thanks.

…

Now, back to business. Much of the studio is out today. A bustling place that was once full of life, laughter, and the odors only the most manliest of (wo)men are capable of emitting now stands empty, reduced to a near-silent cluster of computers being kept alive solely by the soft glow of standby. That's because your friendly, neighborhood Halo team is currently getting a head start on mashing their potatoes, creaming their peas, and stuffing their soon-to-be-engorged turkeys. Oh yes, it's the small things in life. And by small, I mean edible. And, of course, delicious.

Because of the short work week, and also the food-induced comas that will undoubtedly follow, there is no news dropping today. I don't have the details of December's Halo: Reach matchmaking playlist update (that's coming next week, more than likely before the next Bulletin). I also don't have the specifics regarding ATLAS (although, considering it's launching next month, I should probably get on that). I do know, however, that we're thankful for you, the community, which takes me to the subject of this week's Bulletin…

How do we love thee? Let me count the ways.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the Halo community is the most talented, passionate, and amazing group of gamers out there. The things you make, whether they're in-game or in real life, never cease to amaze. To celebrate the masterpieces you, the community, manage to put out at an unbelievably fast rate, I've compiled the top ten things that have caught our eye over the past year. Keep in mind this is not meant to be an all-compassing list, but more of a poorly written ode about why we are so thankful for each and every one of you.

That being said, buckle up because it's going to be quite the ride! And a long one, at that…

1. Gametypes and Maps

Forge, by definition, is a mode that allows you to edit multiplayer maps. For people like me, that means, on a good day, I can drop a tank onto the ground, sometimes without even killing multiple teammates. For the more creative types, though, the skybox is the limit. From Duck Hunt to Speed Halo to faithful recreations of practically every Halo map ever released, the game types and maps you have made are nothing short of astounding. Here are some examples from the past year that completely and utterly blew our minds (and yes, each incident was as messy as it sounds).

Arcade-Style Skee Ball in Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach Pinball

If you make a custom map, you can share it in the Community Creations section of our forum. You will also find a full list of the top classic Halo maps remade through Forge there, along with general map-making tips and tricks. Go explore! When you're done ingesting the Bulletin, I mean.

2. Halo-themed Tattoos

Tattoos are serious business. After all, THEY NEVER GO AWAY. It takes a hell of a lot of love to get one of those things permanently etched upon your body, and we are honored Halo is important enough to you that you would even consider such a thing. To celebrate your lifelong commitment, here are some rather amazing tattoos we've seen over the last several months while out and about in the Halo world. And, if body modifications make you all tingly inside (as opposed to the outside when they are actually inserting the indelible ink into your skin), you can see more related images in our tattoo-tagged posts.

Legendary Tattoo

Master Chief Tattoo

Halo Tattoo

Master Chief Tattoo

Spartans Never Die Tattoo

3. Screenshots

Whether you're constructing statues in Forge, capturing memorable scenes from unique angles, or applying filters and getting all artsy on us, the screenshots you snap in theater mode are beyond breathtaking. In fact, we're so enamored by the way you work the in-game camera that we feature your pictures each and every day in our Halo: Reach Screenshot of the Day series. Here's a tiny glimpse into the incredible collection of in-game images the community has been capturing since the day Reach was released.

Flagtality

The Thinker

I Am the Future

Planking

Hadouken

Advice

Neverending Staircase

Wake Up, John

4. Videos

There are certain times of the day, typically between the hours of nine and five, which require copious amounts of computer-friendly entertainment. Thankfully, for those not-so-rare occurrences, we have your videos to watch. Quick jaunts through the intertubes always reveal numerous Halo-related top-10 compilations, machinimas, montages, and more, and let's just say we can't get enough of 'em. I don't think we're alone, either, as these videos are often enjoyed both far and wide. Here are a handful of your recorded creations that showcase the variety of talent that lies within the Halo community. And please, consider us officially impressed.

Art With Salt - Halo

Real Life Halo Forge

Battle of the Brick, Built for Combat

Spies vs. Guards - A Halo: Reach Machinima

5. Custom Cosplay

A small group of extremely talented community members have taken a fondness to collecting blood, sweat, and tears and transforming it into custom Halo cosplay. We're not exactly sure how that process works, but we strongly suspect witchcraft. Or maybe just papercraft. Either way, below is a small sampling of the amazing costumes made by fellow fans. And, for the record, you won't be seeing just Spartans. There's also a Hunter, an Elite, and a Plasma Grenade-wielding Grunt. Oh, yeah, Cortana's in there, too. A female one, in case that detail matters.

MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor Replica

Elite Cosplay

Hunter and Friends Cosplay

Grunt Cosplay

Halo 4 Master Chief Cosplay

Halo Cosplay

Cortana Cosplay

6. Confectionery delights

Cake is, perhaps, one of the greatest inventions ever. Wait, can a type of food be an invention? Regardless of the correct answer to that question, some people take their baking to such an extreme level that if it isn't considered as revolutionary as the wheel, it certainly should be. After you check out your daily serving of Halo-related confectionery delights, I think you'll understand why.

P.S. None of these cakes is a lie.

Emile Birthday Cake

Grunt Cake

Halo: Reach Legendary Edition Cake

Warthog Beats Cake

7. In-Game Tricks

In my opinion, one of the best things about Halo is the wide variety of experiences it offers. If you just want to play the games, you can just play the games. If you just want to read the books, you can just read the books. And if you just want to pull off crazy trick after crazy trick, you can just pull off crazy trick after crazy trick. This batch of videos showcases the last. Prepare to be amazed. Then push play.

Only Getting Started - A Halo: Reach Trick Jumping Montage

Re-Creation - A Halo: Anniversary Tricking Video

Halo: Reach Tricks - Surviving Lone Wolf

Brute Force - Halo: Reach Trick Jumping

8. Halo IRL

When I'm not sitting comfortably in front of my computer screen or traversing the virtual battlefields with my online buddies, I'm forced to navigate my way through a rather strange place called the real world. During those rare occurrences, I often see things that remind me of my favorite fictional universe. Sometimes, it's the number 117. Other times, it's a random object that resembles something born in the Halo universe. Many of you experience the same sense of déjà vu. Then you're kind enough to snap a picture, and send it my way. Here are some of those moments that cause me, and other Halo fans, to nod our heads in appreciation and agreement.

Beaver Creek

Inclement Weather

Armor Lock

Superintendent Latte

Legendary Drive

9. Miscellaneawesome

There are a lot of fan-made creations that don't naturally fall into one of the preceding categories. That's okay, though, because that's why we have the "miscellaneawesome" section. From podcasts to websites to random crafts, if you're making something Halo-related, we definitely love it. To see what sort of things belong in this group, check out the following awesomeness. Er, miscellaneawesomeness, that is.

Emile Motorcycle Helmet

Master Chief Balloon Mask

Master Chief Stained Glass

Halo Clay Sculptures

Pipe Cleaner Master Chief

Spartan Snowman

10. Friendship, and Love

Watching people come together through a video game is an amazing experience. I've had the pleasure of seeing not only friendship blossom, but also love. Here's to hoping all of our Halo relationships can be as long lasting as these.

Two Spartans Find Love at San Diego Comic Con 2011

You Had Me at Halo: SickNdehed and PsychoVandal

So, to wrap this sucker up, we just want to say we're thankful for you, the community, and everything you do. We'll see you next week, assuming everybody survives the turkey-filled festivities…

<3,
bs angel

P.S. Discuss.