Halo 3 ViDoc on Brutes now on Live Marketplace

The Halo 3 video documentary Bungie promised us this week arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace at 2am PST running approximately 7 minutes in length. The video showcased work-in-progress and the basic production process behind the Brutes in Halo 3. From this video it is obvious that the Brutes will play a strong, aggressive, and more realistic role in the third installment. The video basically goes over the concept artist discovering an appropriate look for the Brutes and the animators working towards movements that portray appropriate Brute behavior. At the moment the video is only available on the Xbox Live Marketplace but Bungie claims that a non-marketplace version will be coming shortly so hold onto you pants.

Update: The documentary can be viewed online here.

Halo 3 Campaign footage this week

The recent weekly update on Bungie.net indicates that there is yet another treat for Halo 3 fans coming this season. Sometime this week, no actual date mentioned, there will be documentary footage on Halo 3's campaign mode released on Xbox Live on 720p resolution. The video will also be released online so non-Xbox users will not be singled out. Frankie, who made the update also confirmed a rumor surfacing around that Brutes will be playable in Halo 3, this rumor has been confirmed as false. Sigh...

[Source: Bungie via Joystiq]

Gears of War, 2 Million copies sold and still going

Who would have thought that in 6 weeks there would be 2 million or so players around the world fragging the daylights out of the Locust horde. Microsoft and Epic games today confirmed that since release 2 million copies of Gears of War have been sold, 1 million in North America alone. And no Gears of War is not another Halo game if that's what you think after living under a rock for a year. It's a third person shooter that takes you into an epic futuristic battle against an ugly, horrendous, and nightmarish race, the Locust, that you have to beat-the-daylights out of to save mankind. Sounds fun doesn't it? Hell yeeeah, it is!

How fun could it be? Very! Microsoft claims that it increased subscriptions to their Xbox Live service by over 50% since emergence day. Approximately a million users are online battling in 10 million online gameplay sessions. Can you spell FUN in any other way? I'm sure that the game itself is going to drive up sales of the Xbox 360 console this holiday season. What do you think, is Gears of War the next Halo killer?

Halo 3 HD Trailer Now Online, Chief Looks Amazing

You want Master Chief, you want Halo 3? You got it! The 2nd trailer for Halo 3 just went online moments ago, above is a YouTube version, but you can view the HD version at GameTrailers.com. I had to watch the beginning a few times to realize the two kids were not made in CG, no biggie. I loved every millisecond of it from when Master Chief grabs his helmet and snaps it on. Of course we still don't see his face. What I really loved was how he smacked that shield gernade or what ever it is officially called, into the ground and then ran over the cliff into Covenant forces.

Give it a look and be awed beyond belief, and you thought the Wii had some awesome moves.

By the way, the animation and effects are beyond amazing!

Update:
The CG was done by Digital Domain, a hollywood FX house. Microsoft's Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends' CG work was also partially outsourced to Blur Studios.

In depth, Freudian Analysis of the Halo 3 Screenshots

Are you guys tired of talking about Halo 3? I know I'm not tired of talking about Halo 3, and Bungie isn't tired of talking about Halo 3 either! Halo 3.

Up on the official website, they posted a Screenshot Dissection which has more detail than some coroner reports. The article goes very in depth, and discusses some interesting additions to the game. Things like degrees of vehicle damage, new weapons, new vehicles, and flags that wave " with tiny little ripples."

One of the most interesting things about the article for me was an insight into how the Bungie team designs map. They discuss placing weapons, turrets, and vehicles, and the thought process ensured to make the map balanced for both teams. So far the game looks fantastic, and I can't wait to be running back to my base, with the flags tiny little ripples flowing behind me.

Halo 3 is HERE, with 1600 Xbox Live Points

This is the holiest of all that is holy, the holy grail for the Xbox 360 gamer. This is Halo 3, the most anticipated, most long-awaited, most "OMG I'm gonna dump my girlfriend to play this" game ever brought into existence. Well at least for a plenty some.

Don't get your pants wet and soggy just yet, the game isn't out and the wait is still going to be long and extremely painful. Until then just sink yourself into the recently released Gears of War.

If you really REALLY want this game, so bad that you would skip your high school prom or your own wedding to get it then consider pre-ordering it at Best Buy. Yes Best Buy the nicer and friendlier version of Future Shop. They are holding a special offer to pre-order Halo 3 simply because they know how bad you want it. Even though you won't get to touch the game for a year you can feel at ease knowing your copy is secure.

Yes I know it sounds stupid and beyond all reason, insane! But the real incentive is that you get to buy a card loaded with 1600 Xbox Live points for only $4.99 if you pre-order right now. It's a great deal and it may even pay off later if you hold onto those points. I'm sure there will be Halo 3 goodies that those points could be used towards.

Go pre-order now! Have 60 bucks ready...

Found via Xbox 360 Fanboy