This is why we obey the CoC...

[H3WM il Duce]

For those wondering about the topic title, this is what results from being a GGN Ally. This kind of thing is why we have worked so hard to build a clean, reputable gaming community. It's nice to see that work coming to fruition. Thanks everyone!!


As some of you may know, the kindly folks at Bungie have loaded up a truck full of 360s, flatscreens, and the demo version of H3:ODST Firefight for a tour across the country prior to the release date. Today was the event in Chicago, and I happened to get a message from our own ConsumedFever to ask if I wanted to meet up with TTL Xerxdeej at the event for some VIP time. Naturally the answer was "HELL YEAH!" So me and Xerx exchanged info and arranged to meet at the event.

Myself and my guest C0nradi arrived quite early as we allowed travel time for traffic that didn't end up as bad as we thought. We were there at about 10:00 for an event that didn't start till noon. I knew Xerx would be arriving between 11:00 and 11:30 to get about a half hour of private time with the game. Well, as the line formed, myself and Conradi got in it so that just in case something went wrong, we'd still be near the front.







As 11 o'clock came and went I got a bit concerned, only to realize that I had forgotten to store Xerx's number in my phone. I was able to get it thanks to LouieBlack being a badass like that, and it turns out he was actually pulling in as I called. When he got there he came down the line until he recognized me from the pic Consumed sent him and waved us out of line, much to the dismay of most of the fanboys around us...

We were milling around outside the line with Xerx, A Ghuta, and a few other H3ITWP (Halo 3 in the Workplace) for one more of the "VIPs" when the guys running the event came up to us and said, "You waiting for someone?". "Yes" came the reply, which was returned with "Do you want to step into the truck and play while you wait?"

"Yes, I believe we do..."

Upon stepping into the truck we were regaled with murals on the walls, and 8 flatscreens and xboxes running at once.




It was quite a sight to behold, but we were here for the game, not the paintings...

We got 30 minutes of play, 10 minutes on each map, as well as time to scroll around the character models and service tags a bit. This was way more than the general public outside getting 10 minutes with one map, and being warned not to mess with their characters, colors or service tags...

The Firefight mode is amazing, but also incredibly different from the Halo that we're all used to playing. It is definitely going to be a more tactical style of play. Alas, none of the maps that we got to play were warthog enabled. Screenshots of said maps can be found here Don't expect anything groundbreaking, but I hesitate to go into too much detail without first warning of spoilers.. so....

THIS SECTION CONTAINS INFO ABOUT ENEMIES, WEAPON CHARACTERISTICS, AND GENERAL GAMEPLAY

Spoiler: show

When we were first ushered in, the first thing I noticed was that Service tags can now contain 4 characters, either letters, numbers or both. The armor and helmet permutation are not customizable aside from taking the helmet on or off, but the colors are. Which brings me to my first revelation. Black is now a selectable color!! Not gray, not steel, but black.

I quickly changed my emblem to my familiar target, but Conradi did a little more snooping around and discovered that like the cowboy hat in H3, there is now a zoot suit, or "pimp", hat to put on your grunt/skull/whatever. Once the guys running the event chided me for holding up the game, we began...

The first thing that you notice is that your speed is drastically decreased, as well as your size. Even jackals seem large, as does that jump down the stairs that I thought was routine. Turns out fall damage is back, so be careful what ledges you fling yourself off of. The shield system works like a CoD or Gears setup, with a "fade to red" as you take damage when your minimal shields are depleted. Health is tracked by a bar on the top of the screen.

Regarding combat, being smaller and weaker leads to shorter, higher grenade lobs rather than line drives, as well as a lack of dual wielding. An ODST can still rip a turret off its mount, but adding that to already decreased mobility means you may as well leave it mounted... And for those worried about having a precision weapon, although there is no BR, carbines can be picked up off of dead enemies and are extremely effective. The "new/old" Magnum is nice, but it kicks pretty hard and has a relatively shallow clip to be able to take down a shield and kill an enemy with. It seems better used in slaying waves of grunts with one bullet to the dome of each one.

Besides my fall fail, i had a couple more too. Apparently when you hijack a wraith and beat it down, you die with the wraith. Also, a gravhammer is not the weapon of choice to face off against brutes. They can still take more than one hit, but an ODST apparently cannot.

One new enemy that threw me for a loop was a drone that was red, shielded, and carrying a brute plasma rifle. These could be a real pain in bunches.

The round/wave/set system runs more like Left 4 Dead than like the Gears of War 2 Horde which I expected. There are distinct breaks in the action to regroup, but at no point does the game pause and let you confirm that you're ready for the next wave.

The postgame has the carnage details that we have all come to expect from Bungie Studios. Your kills are broken down by what you killed (grunt, jackal, etc.), weapon of choice returns, and a "Largest kill" makes its appearance showing you what you killed for the highest point value. (Conradi had 3000 from rocketing a wraith for a triple kill).

Like I said, I don't think any of this is groundbreaking info, but better safe than sorry for those who want surprises...

After our gameplay time, we snapped a few group shots,




laughed at those poor saps waiting in line,





collected our schwag,


and headed over to the McDonalds for some grub, but not before Xerx decided to wear his new ODST helmet....

After lunch, Xerx and the H3ITWP guys asked if we wanted to go back to Xerx's place for a few beers on his rooftop. Again came the "Yes, I believe we do..."

So, after a quick run to the liquor store, we made haste to the crib, and were regaled with quite possibly the best view of the skyline I've ever seen. We knocked a couple back, talked about Halo, our respective communities, a little CoD, and then unfortunately myself and Conradi had to go.



^Left: A Ghuta Right: H3WM il Duce^




It was an AMAZING day, with all the thanks going to Xerxdeej, Urk over at Bungie, and ConsumedFever for getting me HOOKED UP!!!!

[ConsumedFever]

SOOO MUCH WIN!!!

[H3WM il Duce]

Yes, just in the US, and it was prearranged between Xerxdeej and Urk over at Bungie who was on "the list" for playtime before the public... I was just lucky enough to get on "the list"

[H3WM il Duce]

actually he does.....

[H3WM RJ]

OK Is it just me or does deej look EXACTLY like Kiefer Sutherland in that pic?

Sweet Duce! I wanted to go play this, but they don't go farther than New York into the Northeast.

[H3WM Zer0 Vis]

a heavier version of him yes.

Duce, thats awesome - congrats dude.... now go check your shoes as something must be on the bottom....

[MinorMallets]

NICE!!!!!!!!!

[~Loki~]

Spoiler: show

Did you see any Engineers in Firefight? Apparently they show up occasionally and are a real pain in the ass because they have an overshield and give any shielded enemies overshields like a Brute Chieftain has. They're kinda like Medics in Team Fortress 2, really; take them out if you want to have a chance.

Also, did those 360s have Sergeant Johnson on them? If so, when you removed his helmet did it take his hat?

[HiAperture]

I am jealous to say the least. And that McFarlane helmet is awesome too.

[Little Houdini]

Nice stuff, really cool. Would've loved to have been there.

[H3WM Rogue Jedi]

OK Is it just me or does deej look EXACTLY like Kiefer Sutherland in that pic?

That's exactly what I thought when I saw that pic...when did Jack Bauer start playing Halo: ODST?

[crunchUK]

So what you're saying is, being nice allows you to have fun with other people? Makes sense i guess... omg i just wish that ODST truck would fly over to england sometime

[H3WM Laughlyn]

well dammit i shouldve gone to the one down here then i suppose, i want one of those license plate frames

[Deaf Smith]

You guys are lucky. They were only giving out the license plates at the Portland stop. Also the truck wasn't painted. I wonder how that happened, did someone 'volunteer' to tag the truck? haha.

[Zorn]

Spoiler: show

I told you Duce, it's just like master chief went on a week long crack binge and forgot how to do some stuff. Dual Wield, jump, throw grenades ect...