Tag: Halo

Geekscape Picks: Top Ten New Trailers From The Xbox Press Conference

by S.J. Borger

We live bloged the Microsoft press conference, but we felt bad that our description of some of the trailers/teasers/gameplay we saw there basically boiled down to “OMG OMG OMG shiny,” so we thought we’d actually post our favorite video moments from today’s conference for you to judge for yourself (in no particular order).

Note: this is just about the trailers, not so much about what we may or may not think of the game!

Second Note: Some of these are NSFW and/or children.

1. Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Studios)

More than a trailer, almost a short film, Ori and the Blind Forest’s debut trailer was just gorgeous, with stunning imagery and an exquisite soundtrack.  Why waste more words?? Here it is:

http://youtu.be/kn4HM36KyI0

2. Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games)

With vibrant, comic-book style art (complete with onomatopoeia bubbles), Sunset Overdrive is a not-so-traditional shooter that combines high-agility feats, unique weapons and a wise-ass protagonist into a fun mix of non-stop action–at least in the trailer.

http://youtu.be/qmRR6MnS6dc

3. Scalebound (Platinum Games)

Continuing the trend of wise-cracking heroes, Platinum Games  released a trailer for their upcoming release, Scalebound. With vaguely Kaiju-looking monsters and the ability to ride a dragon, Scalebound also promises a new level of immersive gameplay on the Xbox One.

http://youtu.be/IE0ZzgZmLb8

4. Assassin’s Creed: Unity (Ubisoft)

Ubisoft’s trailer for the new Assassin’s Creed: Unity highlighted the new co-op play, where players can form their own Brotherhood with up to three friends and adventure through Revolutionary France. Adventure may be slightly too light and fun of a term here, as you will see at the end of this video:

5. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Projekt Red)

Projekt Red showed off the new game play and 1080p graphics in the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. While not strictly a trailer, it sure is pretty. And that Griffin!

http://youtu.be/j6Xg_Ul_7rg

6. Evolve (Turtle Rock Studios)

Turtle Rock Studios revealed a new, playable monster and announced the open beta of the much-anticipated game, Evolved, all in one eerie, creepy, awesome-rific trailer.

7. Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition (Capcom Vancouver)

Capcam Vancouver kept its tongue firmly in cheek for their trailer announcing the new, four-player, co-op arcade mode that launched yesterday and is available now on Xbox One.

8. Crackdown (Microsoft Studios)

Microsoft teased the return of their Crackdown franchise with an all-new installment. Crackdown will feature both co-op and single player play, and at some point you get to take out a building with a truck. With a truck!

9. Dragon Age: Inquisition (Bioware/EA)

We got a peek at the brand new trailer for the much-anticipated third game in the Dragon Age series. There was a much more detailed look at the game at EA’s conference later, but this trailer was still pretty awesome:

10. Phantom Dust (Microsoft Studios)

A reboot of the original fan favorite, Phantom Dust‘s trailer was greeted with cheers and applause–and it delivered.

Okay, there’s our ten. What do you think? Did they live up to what you wanted? Are you excited? Did we miss one??

Stay tuned here for all your E3 news–we’ve just barely started!

E3 2014: Microsoft Unveils ‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection’

by Shane O'Hare

The Microsoft E3 Press Conference is minutes over and the news coming out of it is exciting. The biggest one out is that 343 Industries is dropping a HUGE collection of games, in a fancy little bundle called Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This bundle will include, Hal0: Anniversary Edition, Halo 2: Anniversary Edition, Halo 3 and Halo 4. All the games have been remastered to run at 60 FPS and will utilize the FULL POWER of the Xbox One. They will also include over 100 Multiplayer maps, including 6 new maps for Halo 2. Check out the full Press Release below:

Flanked by some of video gaming’s most celebrated creators, Microsoft unveiled an incredible games lineup, including new iterations of its most popular franchises. 343 Industries lifted the curtain on “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” for Xbox One, which includes the complete story of the Master Chief on one console for the first time ever (“Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary,” “Halo 2 Anniversary,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4”), including an entirely remastered version of the iconic classic that revolutionized online console gaming, “Halo 2 Anniversary.” A massive collection that lets you experience “Halo” in an all-new way, at higher visual fidelity running at 60 frames per second (fps) on dedicated servers, “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” features curated campaign and multiplayer playlists across all four games and features more than 100 multiplayer maps — authentic to their original release. In addition, “Halo 2 Anniversary” will include six all-new maps built from the ground up for Xbox One

Halo 2 will  be getting the most attention it seems in this release. The collection will also feature 4000 gamerscore points, and a series of “Playlists”. The playlists will let players go through a series of levels from each game, like huge battles or levels that are driving central.

You can get your hands on Halo: The Master Chief Collection, this November!

‘Halo 5: Guardians’ Has Been Announced!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The next entry in the Halo franchise has just been announced.

We knew it was coming, and we even saw a brief, unrevealing trailer for it at last year’s E3, but the game now officially has a title and release window. It’s called Halo 5: Guardians, and it’ll release in Fall 2015.

Bonnie Ross, General Manager of 343 Industries took to Xbox Wire to talk briefly about the title. She wasn’t able to reveal too much (but told us that much more was coming at this year’s E3 and to stay tuned for more).

Here’s what Bonnie had to say:

Any time you transition to a new platform, there is the opportunity to look at things with a new perspective. For us at 343 Industries, the launch of the Xbox One was an opportunity to think about what stories we wanted to tell, how to tell them, and how best to push the “Halo” franchise to showcase the platform. And, most importantly, combining our passion for “Halo” with the vocal and informative input from our fans.

 

“Halo” isn’t simply a perennial game franchise, it’s a part of the Xbox platform itself. In terms of innovation and ideation, it’s sometimes important to people who might not even play “Halo.” And of course it’s a passion and an essential experience for two generations of gamers.  So we asked ourselves, how do we begin and where do we go with “Halo” on Xbox One?

 

In the past, “Halo” games have pushed the Xbox forward, showcasing the console and its ecosystem in entertaining and innovative ways. Making a “Halo” game that runs at 60 frames per second, on dedicated servers, with the scope, features and scale we’ve been dreaming of for more than a decade, is non-trivial.  It’s a task that we, at 343 Industries, are taking very seriously to ensure we deliver the “Halo” game that fans deserve, and a game that is built from the ground up for Xbox One.

 

I’m happy to reveal that “Halo 5: Guardians,” the next installment in the legendary saga of the Master Chief, will launch on Xbox One in fall of 2015.  In the tradition of every “Halo” game since its debut in 2001, it is a massive and exciting project.

 

“Halo 5: Guardians” is a bigger effort than “Halo 4.”  That applies to the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what’s now a brand new and more powerful engine.  Certainly there are some core elements carried over from prior games, but we’ve invested a huge effort in retooling our tech to take full advantage of the Xbox One’s hardware and ecosystem to create worlds and experiences worthy of next-gen.

 

It’s a game that will hopefully demonstrate the talent, learnings and abilities of the 343 Industries team. A game that will incorporate the things we learned from “Halo 4” about technology, aesthetics, performance and scale – and perhaps more importantly, understanding and embracing a community of gamers who love what lies at the heart of this game, and the limitless potential of the “Halo” universe.

 

And 2015 won’t simply be the year of “Halo 5: Guardians,” it will also be a year that offers us a unique opportunity. The opportunity to invite old friends and new audiences into that universe through the “Halo” television series, launched as a unique collaboration with Steven Spielberg and some of the finest creative minds in the business.  A series that will stand alone, as well as complement and enrich the game experience.  We’ll have more to share on the “Halo” television series as we near its projected fall 2015 release.

It’s interesting that they chose to officially announce the game so close to E3, but in any case, we’ll definitely be seeing more of it during Microsoft’s press conference in just a few weeks. You can rewatch the teaser from last year’s E3 below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the game.

http://youtu.be/AE-5szqJQIQ

NeoGAF User Leaks Microsoft Games Info

by jake108

Along with the Halo 2 leak posted earlier, there have been quite a few leaks concerning different Microsoft IP’s. The information is as follows:

Forza Horizon: “Fall 2014, probably September. Super sexy weather system and… shit tons of co-op/social stuff. 1080P and open-world, so you can road trip with your bros.
Halo Anniversary 2 will be 1080p, iffy on the 60fps, maybe not.
Quantum Break is Holiday 2014
Multiplayer confirmed for HA2, same devs as Halo Anniversary.
Sunset Overdrive is Fall 2014
Fable Legends is Summer 2015
Gears of War will probably need a 2.5 year dev time.
First Titanfall DLC is 45 days from release, then another one 120 days from release.

If you’d like to see the post in it’s entirety, you may find it here. As said in a previous article, the user who has leaked all this info has been verified by NeoGAF as a legitimate source. Still, as with all leaks and rumors, any of this can change. If any more leaks show up, be sure to check back here as I will update the article!

Report: Halo 2 Anniversary Coming November 11, 2014; Halo 5 Due 2015

by jake108

Welp, it’s finally here. Just about as much confirmation we can get without Microsoft coming out and saying it themselves. In a NeoGAF thread, that can be found here, user ntkrnl announced the following:

Neosc

 

If you’re interested, here’s another couple of posts:

 

Neosc2

 

neosc3

Now, before you get your pitchforks out, it’s very important to note that NeoGAF verifies its sources, and this particular user has been verified. Though, as with all leaks and rumors, final say would have to come from Microsoft. If you’re also interested in the Crackdown franchise, you’ll be happy to know a third installment is also in the works!

 

Start the countdowns!

Check Out Eight Gorgeous New Screenshots From Bungie’s ‘Destiny’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This game just keeps looking better and better.

Sony has just published a batch of new screenshots for Bungie’s upcoming Destiny. The images look to be a mixture of gameplay and cinematic, and each and every one of them is absolutely gorgeous.

Now, my PS4 may be getting a little dusty right now (well, so are all my other consoles, but it’s more a lack of time than a lack of content), but if it wasn’t clear from our top games of 2014 list, 2014 is going to be a great year for gamers.

Take a look at the new screenshots below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the game!

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‘Halo: Spartan Assault’ Coming To Xbox One On December 24th!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We knew that it was coming, but now we know when.

Major Nelson has announced the release date of the Xbox One version of 343 Studios’ Halo: Spartan Assault. The downloadable title will be available on December 24th, for a cool $14.99. The Xbox 360 version has been slightly delayed, and is expected to release in January.

According to the piece, if you already own the title on Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8, the Xbox One version will cost you just $4.99, which makes a nice incentive for you early adopters.

We went hands-on with the game at this year’s E3, and it looked and felt absolutely fantastic. I do hope that Microsoft one day releases it on non-Windows tablets however, as I still haven’t had a chance to play it (and I really want to)!

Take a look at the release date trailer for the game below, and let us know if you’ll be picking it up!

New ‘Destiny’ Trailer Debuts At VGX!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Just one day after its release date was revealed, Bungie has debuted a brand-new, gorgeous trailer for Destiny.

The game looks absolutely breathtaking, and hits stores worldwide on September 9th, 2014. Watch the new trailer below, watch it again, and then let us know what you think. We’ll have more info on the game as soon as it’s release!

http://youtu.be/bGYp4-vhKq8

The Worldwide Launch Date Of ‘Destiny’ Has Been Revealed!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Bungie’s next, highly anticipated title, Destiny, just got its worldwide release date.

The game will release on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows on September 9th, 2014. The beta for those who have pre-ordered the game will begin this Summer (first for Playstation players).

The game looks absolutely incredible, and is one that I cannot wait to play. I usually don’t pre-order games, but getting to try this one as soon as possible is definitely something that I need to do.

Here’s the full text from Bungie’s blog post:

Destiny has always represented a new beginning for our team. It was born from brave possibilities. We dreamed of a renewed and independent Bungie. We found partners willing to bet big on some crazy new ideas with us.

 

We first shared the design pillars of Destiny less than one year ago. We promised to redefine what players should expect from a Bungie game. We said we wanted to change the way people play games together. We set our bar high. For us, Destiny represents a once in a lifetime opportunity.

 

Since then, Destiny has continued to reveal its promise. Every new build brings us closer to our original vision. With those goals in sight, we intend to use every moment from now until the release of the game to ensure that Destiny lives up to your expectations, and our own.

 

Today, in partnership with Activision, we are proud to announce that the worldwide launch of Destiny will happen on September 9th. Accordingly, the Destiny Beta will kick off in the summer of 2014, available first on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3.

 

The early support and enthusiasm for Destiny has been inspiring and humbling. We believe this is the right decision for our game, our studio, and our passionate community. Thank you for coming along with us on this adventure.

 

See you starside.

Excited? Sound out below!

‘Halo: Spartan Assault’ Is Landing On Xbox One & 360

by Shane O'Hare

Halo: Spartan Assault was very well received when it was first announced. Everyone rejoiced! Then it was announced it was going to be on Windows Mobile devices only, and many people stopped rejoicing. Then there was a bit of leaked code that talked about controller support. Everyone rejoiced yet again! Then 343 Studios said there were no plans to bring it to the consoles. The rejoicing stopped…once again. Well folks, get your rejoicing shoes back on because, YES! IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED! Halo: Spartan Assault is getting an official Xbox One and Xbox 360 release! Check the new trailer below!

Play longer than ever in a new online Co-op mode, and watch each other’s backs with all-new Co-op missions.

 
Engage in Operation Hydra, the expansion from the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 game that brings mystery and a chilling addition to the single player Campaign.

 
Wage war against a persistent and overwhelming enemy – encounter the Flood for the first time in Halo: Spartan Assault.

 
Go in strong with an expanded arsenal that brings you more weapons, more armor abilities, and more upgrades – it’s the ultimate Spartan Assault experience!

 

Pricing and availability have not been announced, but expect Halo: Spartan Assault to be available very near the launch of Xbox One on the Xbox Live Arcade.

Head Into The Wild With A New ‘Destiny’ Developer Diary!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Destiny developer Bungie yesterday released a fantastic new developer diary for their highly anticipated shooter, titled ‘Out Here in the Wild’.

The diary takes us, well, into the wild of Destiny, and shows off many of the environments and weapons we’ll be seeing in the game. If you’re as excited for Destiny as I am, you’ll definitely want to take a look at this.

Watch the diary below, and let us know what you think! Destiny hits PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC sometime in 2014.

Oops, I Did It Again… Casual Gaming

by TinyNightmare

When I first started playing Halo over XBox live, I learned how to play from a highly ranked female gamer. We laughed every time she would receive a message in her inbox that made the accusation she must be a “fat ugly loser” to become good enough to beat her male counterpart. Because obviously her only option in life for any social engagement would be to sit on the couch and play Halo with strangers and that could be the only explanation for this guy to have his ass handed to him by a girl.

None of their accusations were true – to this day she is a very beautiful model. That very fact is probably why we laughed so hard at their ridiculous comments.

Of course, whenever I would play I would get my ass beat and a flood of messages would come in about how I should go back to playing house with Sims. Not only did these interactions bring up the obvious problem of the male-dominated world of video games and their very anti feminist points of view – but it also made me think, “I really like Sims and when I am working on my computer waiting for something to render – I really love my casual gaming.”

But then that calls into question: can I still call myself a gamer if my work has forced me to spend more time playing Doodle God, Angry Birds, Cityville or leave me wondering if I should start to play online bingo?

I guess the real question is: What defines a casual or hardcore gamer?

If I love my FPS and MMO‘s but I don’t have a few hours everyday to dedicate to it and I use casual games on my phone to get my fix – am I just a poseur now?

Kind of like people in NA, I still consider myself a hardcore gamer because I know if I start, It’s hard to stop. I get easily addicted to bettering my head shots and I had to cancel my WoW account to make sure I spent more time working on my business than on raids.

So, if really I am just being responsible with my gaming and casually playing Borderlands and Halo every once in a while – maybe the real question is: What’s wrong with being a girl and casual gaming?

E3 2013: Hands-On With ‘Halo: Spartan Assault’

by Jonathan

I’ll be honest. I almost passed up the change to play Halo: Spartan Assault out of spite. After a course correction filled E3 press conference showcasing nothing but games, Microsoft’s booth was the one that had the smallest amount of playable titles… by far. When I walked through the Xbox area, I saw lines for demonstrations on Project Spark, Dead Rising 3 and a new dance game (they all kind of run together), but nothing that was really hands on except the Windows Phone 8 Halo game Spartan Assault. You’ve got to be kidding me. After all of the hemming and hawing about their new system and a focus on games, the only big game that they were showcasing as playable, that an entire fourth of their booth was devoted to, you didn’t even need one of their systems to play?!?

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Thank goodness they were giving away shirts. And thank goodness that our Halo-loving writer Jacob Lopez wasn’t attending and probably wanted one of those Halo: Spartan Assault shirts, because that’s what made me play it… that and my own questions about whether or not a touchscreen Halo game could hold the same level of depth and action as the console version. Well, the questions are now behind me and the answer to all of them is a definite yes. My short time with Halo: Spartan Assault was one of my most surprisingly fun times at E3 this year (and I got Jacob Lopez a shirt).

The game is a top down action game that looks a bit like a PC RTS game but has the traditional touch controls of most touchscreen games in that it tries to replicate dual thumb pads for movement and firing. Heck, put that way, it’s almost a throwback to Smash TV, one of my favorite arcade games ever. The story of the game is in canon with the Halo universe we know and love and before being deployed on a mission players go through a series of weapon, power up and mission select screens where they can pick and choose how to approach different parts of the overall campaign. You can also select and deselect the popular Skulls, in order to modify your experience. Some of these additions cost credits, which you unlock and accrue through playing… and I also saw a place where you could use a credit card to buy more if you want to follow the Pay to Win model popular in a lot of mobile games.

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I played through two missions in my time with the game, a defense level in which I led my squad in the defense of a base against Covenant troops that were being dropped on our heads and an offensive mission in which the goal was to get across a valley teaming with Prometheans, Wraiths and Elites. In each, the controls were very easy to pick up and play with, with separate touch buttons near the thumb spaces for things like throwing grenades, swapping out your weapons for those dropped by dead enemies and piloting a Wraith. Nothing felt out of place and the gameplay was really well designed. The missions were also fun, the graphics were great and at times they reminded me a little bit of playing Halo Wars (although the top-down view probably had a lot to do with this as well). The missions could have been a bit longer, but the ones that I played might have been parred down for use as a demo. Ultimately, Spartan Assault is a game that every Halo fan should get, as it adds a new facet to the rich tapestry of the Halo universe and does so in a fun and engaging way. Those who aren’t as glued to the Halo experience should still check it out, as it’s one of the best mobile games that I’ve ever played and even rivals most of what the consoles have to offer.

Now, if Microsoft would just tell us that this is coming to iOS and Android as well, we’ll be all set.

Halo 5 E3 2013 Teaser and Analysis

by jake108

Earlier during the Microsoft E3 Press Conference, we got our first look at Halo 5.  If you haven’t seen the teaser yet, check it out below!

Halo 4 Spoilers Below!

At the end of Halo 4, Lasky inadvertently brought Master Chief down to Earth and humanized him. This struck a cord in Chief, especially after losing Cortana. It’s clear the loss affected Chief to the point where he is no longer the Spartan we met in 2001.

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Thinking back to Halo 3’s E3 2006 trailer, we saw Master Chief walking through the ruins of New Mombassa. He walked with his back straight and chin up. He was a soldier. At the time, Cortana was stuck on High Charity and was on Earth, alone. Still, it would seem that his drive to find her and protect humanity is what gave him determination. Here, Chief is walking a hunched back and head lowered. He’s a Spartan. Wind and desert aren’t going to make him tired, so it leads me to believe that the Master Chief we’re seeing is different, perhaps sad.

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This is made evident when he takes out his dog tags. Attached is the the chip in which Cortana resided. Before, we only saw this chip with a blue hue emitting from it. Now, it’s lifeless and hollow.

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What surprises me the most is Master Chief’s armor. He’s had some time to fix his armor or even get a new suit. Instead, Chief wears the same armor he used the day he lost Cortana. The fact that it’s still damaged also leads me to believe that he has no A.I. to conduct nanobot repairs.

Now for the other hints.

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Because of the orange-yellow colors in the eyes, I have no doubt this thing is Forerunner. My best guess? It’s the Composer. Let’s not forget Master Chief is immune to the Composer’s attacks, because of a gift from the Librarian in Halo 4.

As for the the planet Master Chief is on, the only hint we have is the view of another planet in the sky.

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I’ll update if I can find more information, but if you beat me to it, don’t be afraid to comment!

It’s Official! ‘Halo: Spartan Assault’ is Coming… to Mobile!

by Josh Jackson

Amongst a sea of rumored E3 titles from Microsoft, one of the more curious names seen was Halo: Spartan Assault. With Halo 5 on the way, what could this other game be? A revival of the much acclaimed strategy game Halo Wars perhaps? Well, we got our answer ahead of E3, and it turns out it’s not an Xbox game at all.

Coming to Windows 8 tablets and the Windows Phone 8, Spartan Assault is a top down shooter for touch pads. The trailer shows off an absolutely gorgeous setting with all the vehicles, enemies and fancy explosions gamers have come to expect from Halo by now. How it will tie in to the overall lore of the universe hasn’t been said, but don’t be surprised if the game ties in to the upcoming Halo TV series, and of course, Halo 5 when it’s released.

I was personally hoping for a revival of the strategy spinoff, but hey, I’ll take this instead! Halo fans, keep your eyes peeled in July! Watch the trailer and tell us if you’re planning on taking out hoards of Covenant on your phone.

Xbox One’s E3 Lineup Possibly Leaks!

by Josh Jackson

Since the Xbox One was announced, there has been plenty of speculation as to what the promised 15 exclusive games would be, including our own two cents on the subject. If anyone is taking bets out there, anyone who was counting on not one, but TWO Halo games is going to be that much richer if this new image is to be believed.

From the image, we can see the previously announced Forza 5 and Quantum Break, on top of a new Banjo-Kazooie title called Grunty Land, Dead Rising 3, (which started as a 360 exclusive before getting ported to the Wii,) the return of Lionhead Studios with Fable IV and two Halo games, Halo 5 and what looks like Spartan Assault.

Keep in mind that nothing is confirmed, and for all we know, this image could be nothing more than nerd bait. But for the sake of argument, I’m pretty happy to see at least one of my choices for a returning IP in Banjo coming back. More Fable is always a good thing, and Halo fans will have a lot to look forward to with two games AND a TV show.

What do you think? Think this is worth getting excited over? Or is it too early to tell? Sound off below and let the speculation begin!

Source: Gamingbolt.com

Amazing Violinist Lindsey Stirling Takes On ‘Halo’

by J.C. Marquez

Lindsey Stirling has produced violin covers of some of the most beloved musical themes from popular video games and movies, such as The Legend of Zelda and The Lord of the Rings. Now the 26 year-old Southern California native takes aim at the Halo franchise. Literally.

Accompanied by pianist William Joseph, Stirling performs a cover of the opening theme from Halo, all while a game of Team Deathmatch unfolds around the two musicians. Those familiar with Sterling’s videos know how well-produced they are, but this one in particular may just be her best yet. The 405th Infantry Division, a group of Halo costume and prop builders, fight one another as Stirling avoids bullets and even dodges a bazooka shell aimed straight at her head.

One will be hard pressed to witness something as amazing as a violin player taking a machine gun turret to a group of genetically-engineered super soldiers from the twenty-sixth century.

‘Halo’ Television Show Coming to ‘Xbox One’

by Josh Jackson

The Halo series has been a multimedia juggernaut practically since it launched back in 2001. Movies, books, Mega Blocks, Risk boards and of course, video games based on the sci fi shooter have helped keep a steady flow of content to appease its fans.

With the announcement of the Xbox One and its large focus on bringing all forms of entertainment into one living room hub, this includes original television programing, first of which is a new Halo program. As a colabaration between developer 343 Industries and presenter of Freakazoid, Steven Spielberg, details are about as slim as the Xbox One’s known game library, (ZING!) but it’s easy to see that Microsoft is all in with this concept.

Watch the reveal and let us know if this is the next step in television evolution or if it’s nothing more than an elaborate Halo 5 commercial.

Watch A Jon Favreau Directed Trailer For Bungie’s ‘Destiny’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Bungie today released a very cool new trailer for their upcoming sic-fi game, Destiny. Mixing live-action and CG, the preview was directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), and stars the always-impressive Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) as a father telling the story of Destiny to his child.

The most exciting aspect to me isn’t the preview itself, but what is revealed at the end of it: we’ll get out first taste of Destiny‘s gameplay at Sony’s E3 press conference on June 10th. I’ve already marked my calendar.

Watch the new trailer below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the game!

How Xbox One Will Change the TV Landscape

by jake108

Earlier this morning, Microsoft unveiled its entry into the next generation of gaming consoles. The Xbox One presentation was spearheaded by the console’s capabilities involving games, internet browsing, movies, and television. With the advent of social media and smart phones, the way we view television has undergone a transformation, and with the upcoming release of Xbox One, television will undergo yet another transformation.

The introduction to the Xbox One strayed from announcing a lineup of next generation games and instead showcased its features as a media center. The things you can do on an Xbox One are unlike those you would be able to do on a cable box or dish service. For instance, you cannot vocally command your cable box to boot up along with the TV or command the box to search for a specific title. Granted, most of these features are impaired with the lack of a Kinect device, a backend product for last generation’s Xbox 360. However, every Xbox One will come bundled with a Kinect, eliminating the hassle of buying it separately. There are features on the Xbox One that will allow things like Instant Switching and Snap Mode, two things exclusive to the Xbox One. Instant Switching enables users to switch between all of the features on the Xbox One in what seemed like two seconds. For example, a user can switch between the game they’re playing to live or On Demand television program. This is done by simply saying, “Xbox, switch to TV.” Once the user is watching TV, they can then enter Snap Mode, which will divide the screen to include a small sidebar that will allow the user to make a Skype call or look something up on an Internet web browser. An example shown during the presentation, a user was viewing Star Trek (2009) while simultaneously looking up showtimes and tickets for Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). These two examples alone eliminate the need for multiple devices and allow the user to find what they want on a single device.

With piracy and other TV services entering the television fray, such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go, ratings has had a direct negative effect. This, in turn, has made Live Event TV that much more important to advertisers trying to get a good slot. For programs like The Super Bowl, 30-second spots can reach into the billions, and advertisers buy it because they know we’re watching. Xbox One plans on revamping Event Television by means of Snap Mode. Let’s say you’re watching an NFL game in Week 14. Your Fantasy Football league is about to end and you’re set to win it all. Xbox One’s Snap Mode allows users to view live up-to-the-minute updates on Fantasy Football scores. This is in partnership with ESPN, and will also encompass the NBA and MLB. Users will also be able to view all of ESPN’s channels. While all of the above features still require a cable provider, it does not change the danger advertisers face. There’s no stopping a user from instantly switching from a program on commercial break to a game they have running in the background. As an avid NFL viewer myself, the Xbox One will definitely be changing the way I view the games I seek. This feature will also be compatible with Xbox Smartglass, which is already available on mobile devices running Android or iOS. What’s even bigger news here is that Microsoft and the NFL announced a partnership starting with the above features for the Xbox One as a direct competitor to NFL Sunday Ticket, only NFL Sunday Ticket won’t be able to Skype call your friend who’s a fan of your rival team that just loss.

Lastly, the Xbox One will be the newest platform offering Original Programming that isn’t owned by any current television network. Their first splash into original programming will be a live-action television series based in the world of Halo. Halo is arguably the most popular science fiction first person shooter that has dominated Microsoft consoles since 2001. With the release of Halo 4, fans were treated to a live-action mini-series used as a primer leading into the Halo 4’s story. This was Forward Unto Dawn, and while this mini-series was marketed toward fans, this new live-action Halo series will be open to a much larger audience as it is using Xbox One as a springboard. As if that wasn’t big enough, Steven Spielberg plans to showrun the series and expressed his excitement this morning during the presentation.

The television landscape is changing and will never stop. Advertisers will need to adapt just as viewers will too. The newest and coolest thing in television is no longer constricted in a dish, cable box, tablet, or 15” monitor. This new iteration of next generation gaming is overflowing into new territory that plans to be a part of the change. The Xbox One will be releasing later this year.

Xbox Reveal Conference LIVE BLOG!

by Shane O'Hare

The newest iteration of the Microsoft console is getting announced RIGHT NOW! So if you can’t watch  then follow along with us here as I try to keep up with these marketing types!

Xbox One

 

20 minutes behind schedule but we’re here! Newest console will be called ” XBOX ONE” So far the newest console will have a lot of the same features the PS4 has. Live game DVR and asynchronous events. Search for your perfect match making game while you do other things.

 

EA Sports president is on stage talking about exclusives. EA Sports ignite. (New game engine?)

Sports stars are on talking about their specific sports. A lot of bombastic music. Appears that EA Sports Ignite IS a new engine or programming platform specifically for sports games.

Got a lot of buzz words going on here. EA Ignite will feature 10x the animation depth and detail from previous engines. Multiple calculations will allow for more life like interactions.

This crowd HAS to be paid or have plants in it because there are some people going CRAZY over polygons. Fifa 14 looks fucking GORGEOUS!

 

Microsoft studios Phil Spencer on stage. This crowd is dubbed! THEY DUBBED THEIR CROWD!

MS Studios wants to focus on original content and story telling. Developers have already been writing for the XBOX ONE.

Forza Motorsports 5 running on XBOX ONE. MY Favorite racing game of all time. Forza 4 looked amazing but this looks pretty damn good. I think slightly less than PS4 Drive Club but still only a trailer. Forza 5 will be available at console launch. More news at E3!

UGGG! “Cloud Powered” games that change. I don’t like this.  Remedy Games (Max Pane) have a new game called Quantum Break. Live action trailer. Game looks as if time will be the major gimmick here.

 

Nancy Tellem head of Xbox Entertainment Studios onstage. She is talking about her work at CBS and various TV shows. TV on xbox will let you “Virtuall jump into the action”. Truly personalized TV. Social TV.

 

Head of 343 industries Bonnie Ross onstage. Possible Halo TV show? She is talking about Halo story telling. They want to expand story telling on XBOX ONE. LIVE ACTION HALO TELEVISION SERIES! LIVE ACTION HALOZ! Steven Spielberg is on the Telescreen talking about his love of games.

 

NFL Network on XBOX TV. Exclusive content that supports Smart Glass and Kinect. Focus on Fantasy Football. Skype integration.

 

Conference recap. Focus of this conference appears to be on TV shows.

 

XBOX ONE will be released later this year. Most likely Holiday. More games will be revealed and shown at E3.

 

All Call of Duty DLC will launch first on XBOX ONE.

 

Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg on stage. Next COD had a focus on an entirely new world, new characters. Infinity Ward dev diary on the Telescreen. Brand new COD game engine for COD Ghosts. Stephen Gaghan writer of Traffic and Syriana worked on the story. The game takes place after a global event where the US is the underdogs, and actual dogs. You will have a dog be apart of your squad. New polygon tech, Sub D, will increase polygon count the closer you get to an object.

Did they really just say that game leaning is a new feature? LEANING A NEW FEATURE? DAFUQ!?

Environments will have an AI. Smoke. Flora and fauna. Shadows.

Dynamic maps. Earthquakes (BF3 much?), player damage. More in depth player customization.

Side by side of COD: MOD 3 and Ghosts. There is a HUGE leap of “visual fidelity”. Granted, COD MOD 3 was running on VERY old tech, this jump is substantial.

New trailer for COD Ghosts. All is supposed gameplay running on an XBOX ONE. So much ‘MURICA in this trailer it hurts. I am getting a confederate flag tattoo because of this!

 

AND THAT IS A WRAP FOLKS! Not a lot of new games displayed but still a good deal of information to go through. Focus on centralizing entertainment was huge. Expect to see more focus on keeping you in the living room and using the XBOX ONE to consume entertainment. Stay with us during E3 and we will be sure to update you on all of the new games promised from XBOX ONE!

How Spartan Ops Revolutionized Console-Based DLC

by jake108

We’ve all been there. Three months after the release of our beloved game, we must then dig deep into our pockets and shell out $10 for our first piece of downloadable content. Over the past ten years or so, gamers have witnessed the rise of DLC and how lucrative it is for the video game industry. Now, I’m not going to get into this publisher mishandled this, or this developer lied about that. DLC is an integral part in shaping video games today. However, to say it has a set standard in terms of distribution and content would be inaccurate.

 

Halo Jul

 

Very rarely do we get DLC that advances the game’s canon significantly. Even rarer is DLC worth playing that is free. Couple these two events together and you have 343 Industries’ Halo: Infinity.  Halo: Infinity can be found under Halo 4’s Spartan Ops menu and is free to all Xbox Live Gold Subscribers. Clocking in at 10 episodes, 50 chapters in total, Spartan Ops makes a splash when it comes to extending your playtime in Halo’s universe.

 

Picture 9

 

Halo: Infinity takes place six months after the events of Halo 4 and do not include any playtime with Halo’s most recognizable protagonist, Master Chief. Instead, 343i relies heavily on transmedia material, specifically the novels, surrounding the Halo universe. While this may not sound great for a few, it is hugely rewarding to fans of the universe who set out to explore its characters and canon further than the games. I realize this is nothing new in the realm of different universes before video games, but this is however the first significant bridge connecting novels to video games. Spartan Ops doesn’t contain just a couple of hours of playtime and ten minutes of cinematics, then call it free DLC. It goes further, providing narratives, plots, and characters gamers aren’t usually accustomed to.

 

Picture 10

 

There are numerous examples as to why Spartan Ops is special. One of the best ones is its episodic structure. Gamers were treated to episodes every week, not including a mid-season break. These episodes had twists, action, and overall provide significant change to the universe. Fans of the Halo franchise cannot expect to have full knowledge of Halo’s universe going into Halo 5 without first playing Spartan Ops.

 

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Each episode contains almost five minutes of cinematics and five chapters to play through. Each chapter’s playtime is extended on the level of difficulty and the amount of people you’re playing with, (four players max). The story is not presented entirely in cinematics, of course, as players get most of the canon by playing through each chapter. It should be said that Spartan Ops isn’t perfect. 343i could work on the variety of environments used within Spartan Ops. Still, gamers who share that view have little ground to stand on provided that Spartan Ops is not paid DLC. Others may argue that not a whole lot happens in each episode. Those who are bored during episodes is understandable, assuming that they are equally clueless of the backgrounds each character has in the novels.

 

While everything about Spartan Ops isn’t as perfect as it can be, it definitely paves the way for future DLC installments in Halo and other franchises. Developers and Publishers should take notice of the success Spartan Ops is earning. Some developers are already onto this. The closest franchises that produces DLC that advances canon would be Mass Effect. Of course, gamers would have to pay small amounts of money to get the full experience of the universe, however, gamers did not need to purchase the DLC to get a grasp on the happenings between installments.

 

DLC is evolving, and hopefully for the better. This evolution of downloadable content is one of the most exciting events to happen this generation. That said, I am incredibly excited for Spartan Ops Season 2.

Incredible ‘Destiny’ Concept Art Surfaces!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Wow.

 

Yesterday Halo creators Bungie Studios released a first look at their upcoming game, Destiny. The title looks like an unbelievably ambitious, insanely polished first person adventure that absolutely everyone needs to experience. You really need to experience the video to believe it, but even a day later I’m still thinking about what Destiny has in store for us.

 

Today the company released some absolutely incredible concept art to follow-up the video. The images are titled Citadel, Fireteam, and Traveler’s Rest, respectively, and certainly paint of vivid picture of the things we may see in the game.

 

Check out the images below, and let us know what you think!

 

citadelsmall fireteamsmall traveler's rest small

 

Unfortunately, Destiny doesn’t have a release date at this time; as soon as we learn when it comes out, so will you!

Take A First Look At ‘Destiny’, The Next Game From Bungie Studios

by Derek Kraneveldt

Bungie Studios, creators of Halo, Marathon, Oni, and more, today released a first look into their next title, Destiny. From this quick two-minute video, it’s crystal clear that Destiny is going to be something very special.

 

Take a peek at Destiny below, and let us know what you think!

 

 

“Everything changed with the arrival of the Traveler. It sparked a Golden Age when our civilization spanned the solar system, but it didn’t last. Something hit us, knocked us down. The survivors built a city beneath the Traveler, and have begun to explore our old worlds, only to find them filled with deadly foes.
 
You are a Guardian of the last safe city on Earth, able to wield incredible power. Defend the City. Defeat our enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost. Be brave.”

 

There looks to be some really groundbreaking stuff in here; smart phones and computers keep you in the game ever when you’re away from your console, and even from this early footage the game looks and sounds just beautiful.

 

I’m already sold, how about you? Destiny is yet to have a release date, but as soon as we know, so will you.

Halo 4’s Newest Map Pack ‘Crimson’ Gets A Trailer & Pricing

by Shane O'Hare

The first of three planned maps for the online portion of Halo 4 just got a release trailer. Check out what you can expect in the “Crimson Map Pack” below.

I am actually not very impressed. These all feel very very similar to existing maps, nothing screams “BUY ME”. If you want to enjoy Crimson you can for 800 MS points on December 10th.

Bungie’s Newest Game ‘Destiny’ Has Details Leaked! This Looks Huge!

by Shane O'Hare

An intrepid reader, someone on the inside most likely at Bungie, leaked a STACK of pics and details to our friends over at IGN. What follows is an intriguing series of photos with a few bites of delicious hickory smoked info.

Destiny is the first game from the famed Halo developer since their departure from the franchise. It is still a very sci-fi (SyFy)  heavy game. From the document leaked to IGN:

Our story begins seven hundred years from now in the Last City on Earth, in a Solar System littered with the ruins of man’s Golden Age. A massive, mysterious alien ship hangs overhead like a second Moon. No one knows where it came from or what it’s here for, but only that it’s our protector. Meanwhile, strange, alien monsters creep in from the edge of the universe, determined to take Earth and the Last City. We are young ‘knights’ tasked with defending the remains of humanity, discovering the source of these monsters and – eventually – overcoming it.

IGN hasn’t shared the entire uncut document, but they have pointed out some interesting points. The leak says Destiny is geared to a diverse audience, specifically stating they want make it accessible to everyone, like the Star Wars universe. It also says that there is a large social aspect to the game, where players will explore the universe with friends.

When the story was posted Bungie responded by posting an image on their website, which has filled me with glee.

That is one BADASS piece of concept art. I personally love universes that look like this. Dirty, electronic, scary and full of that hard sci-fi flavor I love. No other details have been announced, but you can be guaranteed the Geekscape Gamer Guys and Gals will keep you updated as more info is released.

Be sure to head over to IGN for the full writeup, but in the meantime check out all of the collected art that has been released.

 

Geekscape Reviews The Red vs. Blue X 14 Disc Box-Set!

by jake108

It was in April 2003 when we first got a dose of Rooster Teeth’s Red vs. Blue. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long and it’s been an amazing run so far. Red vs. Blue X helps commemorate the awesomeness that is Red vs. Blue in this 14-disc set that packs over 18 hours of footage and remastered 5.1 surround sound. Just take a look at it for yourself!

I’ll reserve any comments I have about the actual episodes and story of the Red vs. Blue saga, mainly because we all know how awesome it is already, and instead will focus on the presentation and packaging of the set. Firstly, the packaging:

The box folds out twice revealing the majority of the discs. The others are located on the other side of the second fold. Each disc is securely in place and owners won’t have to worry about any disc slipping out and developing scratches over time.

If you haven’t seen a Red vs Blue Menu yet, know that they are just as humorous as the show itself.  The 14-Disc DVD Pack is amazing, and Blu-Ray makes it that much better. Special features include a collectible booklet, miniseries, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage that totals an additional eight hours to runtime. Rooster Teeth couldn’t have picked a better time to release this box set. I can see it now: Thanksgiving hangover accompanied by a flashback to start of the Blood Gulch Chronicles. Bliss.

If you’re thinking about buying this set and are a fan of Red vs. Blue and Halo, you should make the purchase. Even if you were once a fan and fell off the wagon, use this opportunity to catch up, because honestly, there’s no better way to watch these episodes than on your HDTV. And if you don’t have an HDTV, the Holiday Season is upon us and it’s 2012.

Red vs. Blue X – DVD

Red vs Blue X – Blu-Ray

Geekscape’s Definitive Review of Halo 4!

by jake108

Let’s get something straight. Bungie created a hell of a universe with great characters to populate them. In conjunction with 343 Industries, the universe has expanded to a size impossible for anyone to predict eleven years ago. This, above all else, deserves the highest of praise. Halo 4 is the first step into a new trilogy spearheaded by the folks at 343i, and I can safely say I couldn’t be more excited.

STORY

Right off the bat, the emotion involved with Halo 4‘s campaign takes off right where we left off in Halo 3, and then takes it to the next level.

It wasn’t far into campaign when I realized the ties I’ve developed with Cortana and Master Chief after starting my Halo career ten years ago. Halo 4‘s innovation and ambition skyrockets when 343i incorporates A LOT of information and events that took place in novels released in between Halo’s 3 and 4. Now, when I say A LOT, I mean A LOT. Many reviewers have already commented on this and listed it as a negative. The fact that they did this, and I won’t mention any names, astounds me. Halo isn’t just a video game anymore. I know it, you should know it, and every gaming journalist out there should know it too. Halo 4‘s story is the story fans deserve.

Halo 4 isn’t just the next big FPS. When I think Halo, I think story. I think universe. Fans have hundreds of thousands of years to play in. We are able to find canonical information in past campaigns, terminals found in Halo 4 and Halo: CEA, novels, comics, short stories, animations, and other media forms. Halo is at the forefront of transmedia and a universe so dense and emotional such as Halo should have fans of video games clamoring for more universes like it from both developers and studios. The Halo franchise has achieved the gold standard for video games, and should be looked upon as so, starting with Halo 4.

MULTIPLAYER

It’s not the same ‘ol, same ‘ol. Halo 4’s multiplayer is beauty coupled with an extreme amount of fun. It’s faster-paced than Halo: Reach and fills the void many had missed with Bungie’s last installment. My memory may be hazy, but Halo 4 doesn’t exactly harken back to Halo 2’s multiplayer, which is totally a good thing. 343i has come and established itself as a AAA studio with its first title.

Just as the gameplay, every vehicle you thought you knew is also different for the better. Trust me, you’ll have a blast.

Weapons, especially the ones that belong in the Forerunner arsenal, look amazing. I’m sure you’ve all seen a Forerunner weapon form before your eyes already!

While I haven’t picked a favorite map yet, it doesn’t mean they’re all bad. I often finding myself playing Big Team Battle Slayer more than the regular 4v4 Slayer’s, which tend to feature smaller to mid-range maps.

 

There are a wide variety of matchmaking gametypes. While some old favorites may be missing, there’s no question that 343i will be injecting more than a few matchmaking updates, starting as soon as next week. Rest assured we won’t be playing the same ‘ol games forever.

SOUND & MUSIC

The games sound, and this goes for all modes, is something every video game fan should demand from all developers. The first thing I noticed was the thumping of Master Chief’s boots hitting the ground as I walked in the first campaign mission.

I was just in theater mode taking a screenshot of a sniper rifle. To my amazement, the shell casing of a sniper rifle round made several “ding” sounds as it bounced down a rock. I admit, when playing, I didn’t hear a thing due to being in the moment.

It’s also extremely important to note that 343i went above and beyond to create unique sounds to every weapon in the game. Watch the sounds of Human and Covie weapons below!

 

 

The great Marty O’Donnel may be gone, but Composer Neil Davidge has made his fantastic debut into the Halo universe. Fans should rejoice that the soundtrack sounds like Halo while including atmospheric tones and themes in conjunction with what we’re experiencing in Halo 4.

 

SPARTAN OPS

Yet another ambitious move to further Halo 4’s replay value, like it needed any. Spartan Ops is ambitious in the sense that it will advance the Halo cannon while providing new missions in weekly episodes. Each episode is meant to be played with friends. I recommend everyone play on Heroic or Legendary to get the full experience, otherwise you may blow through each chapter quicker than you’d like. Still, while on Legendary with three friends, Episode 1 lasted about one hour. Check out the trailer below!

 

The best part of Spartan Ops? It’s free.

Halo 4 has arrived and should be a milestone among video games. Halo 4 is a game for Halo fans and fans of FPS alike.

‘Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn’ – Episode 3 Recap And Analysis

by jake108

In case you missed last week’s awesome recap, catch it here! ‘Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn’ – Episode 2 Recap And Analysis

Never have sixteen minutes gone by in such a flash. ‘Forward Unto Dawn’ is shaping up to be everything we ever wanted from a live-action series based in our beloved Halo universe.

Cortana’s rampancy is becoming more apparent with each episode.

When it gets down to it, we may be faced with the predicament of trusting her during Halo 4’s campaign. Still, she said she was sorry.

Soon after learning of Lasky’s medical condition, caused by injections to prevent ice from forming on muscles during cryo sleep, Sully finally pieced all of the ONI footage together.

What I didn’t notice before was the height of the POV we were observing, a striking trait among Spartans.

After the Insurrectionists surrender to the Marines and Spartans, the Innies quickly turn around, scared, and run behind the Spartans while firing at what we now know was the Covenant. Sully pauses it on our first glimpse of a Spartan, though, the keen eye would see that this isn’t just any Spartan.

Frederic – 104 is a Spartan II, one of the highest rankings second only to Kurt, and a commando. At this point in time, it’s safe to say Fred is with Master Chief on this mission and I would also go as far to say that we may be watching Master Chief’s helmet cam. In the novels, Fred was described as being slightly shorter than John, an attribute that seems to be seen above. You can read more about Fred here, but beware the spoilers that litter the text for those who haven’t read the novels.

Later, Sully goes into Lasky’s room to show him a detail overlooked by the squad.

Since we are unable to see their jaws, this particular Elite could be a Ranger or SpecOps class.

Most of the action takes place in the last five minutes of this episode. I would say things didn’t become serious until the cadets looked up to see ODST drop pods falling.

Since there are no Pelicans heading to the surface, it’s likely to assume there is a battle taking place just above the planet as well in the skies above. The Covies breaking through the planet’s defenses means the Humans are losing or have already lost.

Covenant Frigates aren’t the kinds of ships that confront planetary defenses or go toe-to-toe with UNSC Capital Ships. Covie Frigates are usually used for support. That doesn’t mean they aren’t harmless. These frigates are equipped with shields, plasma turrets, and torpedoes. It’s also important to note that these frigates can house a few thousand Covies each.

And finally, a Covenant Frigate did what I had been waiting to see for three weeks now: Destroy the Orbital Space Elevator.

It’s destruction was, of course, complimented by a sprinkling of cadets.

I must say, hearing the thumps of the Elite’s footsteps added to the menacing introduction. After cutting down the statue of Corbulo, the glow of the Elite’s energy sword showed his the color of his armor:

That looks a lot like the SpecOps Elites we saw in Halo: Combat Evolved. The dark armor and armed only with an energy sword seems fitting for an Elite of this class. You can read more about SpecOps Elites here.

That’s it for this week. Did I miss anything? Comment below and I’ll be sure to add to next week’s recap and give you credit! Thanks for reading!

Watch Halo 4’s New Live Action Teaser… Produced by David Fincher!

by jake108

Produced by David Fincher and directed by Tom Miller (SFX Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), 343i starts building hype with this new live action short:

Official Halo 4 Launch Trailer ‘Scanned’:

 

Seeing John’s progression to becoming a Spartan II featured everything we read about. As far as easter eggs go, I didn’t catch any other than the Ancient Evil that is approaching John. My guess is that we just saw a live-action representation of a Didact. Sound-off below!