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Halo 3 - Mixed Feelings (A response!)
Robert Khoo
Registered User, ClubPA staff
Registered User, ClubPA staff
I know we're supposed to reply to a thread if it already exists, but I wanted to make sure everyone saw this, so consider it an abuse of power. 
The thread I'm referring to is this one:
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=33714
First and foremost, Bungie/Microsoft did NOT pay us for this. In fact, it was an "inside-job" between Frankie and I, and the Microsoft peeps didn't even know about it. Second, WE approached THEM. Penny Arcade pretty much shut down for 3 weeks during the Beta, and I wasn't surprised when Mike and Jerry came to me saying they wanted Halo 3 to be the final round for the Omegathon, and proceeeded to describe to me in ridiculous detail what would be the insane-o intro you saw. I jumped on the phone with Frankie and we hashed out the details of how it might play out and what i would need from them to get it to work (2 debug kits, copies of the game and their cooperation in helping choose maps etc). They've always been supportive of our show (remember in 2004 when they decided to show up with early builds of Halo 2?), so he jumped on the idea.
I immediately called up Aaron from the minibosses and asked him if he would be interested, to which he said "hell yes," and in a couple of hours he had an mp3 of an early cut to the Halo 3 theme. Brad (our enforcer that runs the theatre) started to coordinate with both Aaron and Travis (our chief Omegatech... the enforcer team that runs the Omegathon) regarding timing, etc., and Travis had a friend of his start to put together the intro video craziness you saw.
Everything finally came together a few days before the actual show, with plans for the lighting, sound and totally sweet smoke effects... when we started doing dry runs of the thing that morning we were just floored ... and incredibly proud of what we had put together in just ten days.
So Torgie, to answer your question that you really didn't ask, no, we didn't sell out. No. It wasn't an advertisement for Bungie/Halo/Microsoft. No. It wasn't an indication of PAX becoming E3.
Mike and Jerry wanted this to be the most amazing final round ever, showing a game that a TON of people are excited for and that we personally could say, "Hell yeah I'd want to see that" to. We thought people would really appreciate being shown shit that NO ONE has ever seen. It was a labor of love, and I'm sad that you didn't enjoy it as much as we did, but I'm really disappointed that you wouldn't ask us personally, especially given your access to all of us.
Anyway! I've said what I have to say. Everyone, thanks for coming to PAX... i have no idea how we're going to top this year.
-Robert
The thread I'm referring to is this one:
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=33714
First and foremost, Bungie/Microsoft did NOT pay us for this. In fact, it was an "inside-job" between Frankie and I, and the Microsoft peeps didn't even know about it. Second, WE approached THEM. Penny Arcade pretty much shut down for 3 weeks during the Beta, and I wasn't surprised when Mike and Jerry came to me saying they wanted Halo 3 to be the final round for the Omegathon, and proceeeded to describe to me in ridiculous detail what would be the insane-o intro you saw. I jumped on the phone with Frankie and we hashed out the details of how it might play out and what i would need from them to get it to work (2 debug kits, copies of the game and their cooperation in helping choose maps etc). They've always been supportive of our show (remember in 2004 when they decided to show up with early builds of Halo 2?), so he jumped on the idea.
I immediately called up Aaron from the minibosses and asked him if he would be interested, to which he said "hell yes," and in a couple of hours he had an mp3 of an early cut to the Halo 3 theme. Brad (our enforcer that runs the theatre) started to coordinate with both Aaron and Travis (our chief Omegatech... the enforcer team that runs the Omegathon) regarding timing, etc., and Travis had a friend of his start to put together the intro video craziness you saw.
Everything finally came together a few days before the actual show, with plans for the lighting, sound and totally sweet smoke effects... when we started doing dry runs of the thing that morning we were just floored ... and incredibly proud of what we had put together in just ten days.
So Torgie, to answer your question that you really didn't ask, no, we didn't sell out. No. It wasn't an advertisement for Bungie/Halo/Microsoft. No. It wasn't an indication of PAX becoming E3.
Mike and Jerry wanted this to be the most amazing final round ever, showing a game that a TON of people are excited for and that we personally could say, "Hell yeah I'd want to see that" to. We thought people would really appreciate being shown shit that NO ONE has ever seen. It was a labor of love, and I'm sad that you didn't enjoy it as much as we did, but I'm really disappointed that you wouldn't ask us personally, especially given your access to all of us.
Anyway! I've said what I have to say. Everyone, thanks for coming to PAX... i have no idea how we're going to top this year.
-Robert
Some guy.
Robert Khoo on
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Fourth and finally, I can see why some people would be irked by Halo 3 being the final Omegathon round, but I found it incredibly amusing, and the whole setup (the Minibosses, the video, etc.) incredibly entertaining, and the events following it stand out as one of the most memorable of PAX. Where else could someone hear thousands of people cheer for the simple act of picking up an energy sword? It may not have been a classic game a la Tetris or Pong, but Halo's influence and popularity is not to be shrugged off and frankly, I don't see how any other game could've produced an equal response. But then again, I had no idea what to expect.
Also, a coda; hearing the crowd at one point during the Gabe v Tycho in H3 splinter off with part of it cheering for Gabe and part of it cheering for Tycho was an incredible moment of zen for me. Oh, and I cheered for Gabe - Tycho had it coming. Hoho!
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Great work, Khoo. Awesome final round, and big kudos to the Omeganauts and Minibosses.
I can't see how the DVD would NOT include it. Essentially, the lights in the theater went off and the Halo 3 trailer played - the Cortana part, at least, it was very loud and satisfying. Then the curtains open, a literal wall of smoke emerged, and the Minibossess did an amazing cover of the Halo theme. Then heads began imploding from awesome.
It looks like bungie did the right thing. While they didn't change the core gameplay, they made sure to add a lot of new content in the form of maps and weapons. Halo 1 to 2 was kind of a big jump in that they added not only dual-wielding, but also incorporated the new health system of shields only. The two new types of grenades were a surprise for me, as Halo 2 had remained frag and plasma grenade only. The levels look wonderfully designed as only bungie can do, as opposed to churning out vast amounts of content to try to compensate for lower-quality gameplay.
Although the omeganauts weren't the best halo players ever, the two rounds were quite intense. Both players went for the sneakier, stalking approach, making it all the more suspenseful. As much as I think T bagging is always in poor taste, Accalon's timing couldn't have been better, and it got such a response from the crowd I'd say it was worth it.
TrainwreckX: check out this thread: http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=33712
Entire game list (more than likely to be out of date)
--Doppelgamer
Khoo, I really hope pax has a halo 3 tournament next year. (I don't see how it couldn't happen)
Oh, I just hated how pax had me double booked on events I wanted to see/do. Omegathon or chance at a rare signed 360 elite? GRRR.
PAX is too short for all the awesome thats packed into it
I find the lack of faith in people (Gabe, Tycho, Khoo, Feh, PRD, etc.) who have been nothing but sincere and good to everybody's interest absolutely appalling.
If anything, this is something that sets PAX apart from E3. E3 would have never done something like this for a group of people who didn't have advertising companies or millions of dollars to offer. The attendees of E3 would critique the game plank-faced. The amazing cheers and support would never have happened at E3. This Expo is far superior to that extinct gaming commercial, and thinking about it too hard seems like a waste of time.
Thanks for another great year, guys. And well-played, Khoo.
Top notch, that opening really got me psyched up also. I can see how people might think they sold out or something but I think halo 3 was the right choice. If they did this every year with the next big game coming out then yeah I think that might be more akin to selling out but I think timing and everything was perfect!
10/10 from me.
That being said... It was fucking amazing to watch. I was right under the right screen and I admit, it was kinda hot to see the spartan dual-weilding pistols that were bigger than my body. From a climactic performance perspective, I don't think it could be topped. I wouldn't have traded the experience, but I remain a sucker for nostalgia.
Also these smileys are pretty slick. Yeehaw!:whistle:
NES or Atari Football was my second guess or maybe that Robot Baseball game for NES. My first guess was Rad Racer for NES. Just because a classic racing or sports game would be interesting. Duck Hunter would be fun to watch too.
When I heard Cortana speak the only other thing I could have wished for was it was part of IRIS. Alone it was more then adequate. Shit it was great and the Flame thrower was too damn sweet, let alone Gabe getting his win
Because I was actually quite concerned.
You know that surreal sinking feeling you get when something offbeat starts going commercial? I got this the first time I saw a Teenage Mutant Turtle sell merchandise, heard that Ice Cube was starring in a family comedy, and when Metallica released the Black album.
I got that same vibe when I saw this round of the Omegathon. I was expecting the culmination to be some ridiculously old school game fought for blood, and instead got a Halo love-in.
Bungie -- in spite of their brilliant games, promotions (and Lord did I enjoy ilovebees), and blessing Red vs. Blue -- have been used as an exploitive tool. There is no technological reason for Halo 2 to be Vista only. It is that way to move merchandise. Halo 3 is an Xbox360 exclusive in an age when fewer and fewer titles limit themselves to one platform. Being Microsoft's flagship title, of course this is understandable, but Bungie is clearly the fluttering familiar on the cowled shoulder of a monolithic corporation.
Whether you see this as a fun and awesome familiar or yet another imp depends on whether or not you own an Xbox.
But at the end of the day, I'm comfortable with Mike and Jerry's cynicism and mistrust of whiz-bang promotions. They haven't steered me wrong in the games they endorse and have kept me from wasting my time and money on seriously stupid shit in shiny packages. The fact that they courted Bungie to bring us a unique experience at the conclusion of PAX makes it much better. The sinking feeling has subsided.
Thanks for feeling the need and taking the time to post that, Mr. Khoo. Happy hunting for PAX08.
I enjoyed the whole thing and didn't once feel like it was a sellout. It was a great showing of Halo 3 during the final round and it was amazing to see. I love seeing that they money made from badge/entrance fee goes into something so many people can enjoy.
Keep it up. It was awesome.
Seriously. It boggled my mind to see that the Omegathon's first round was at the same time as the keynote.
Anyway, thanks Khoo for the explanation. Anyone who thinks that PA is selling out obviously doesn't know what they're talking about.
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When the music kicked in, and the curtains opened with the Minibosses cranking out the Halo 3 theme, and lights and smoke everywhere, I couldn't maintain any form of cynicism. The presentation brought a tear to my eye. Astounding.
I immediately thought of The Wizard and how the Mario 3 unveiling had been out done.
All it needed was that weird guy in the 80's suit...
ever
I think the best was where the one guy ran towards the other guy headon, jumped over the hail of bullets avoiding any hits, sorta floated in the air (I guess that's just Halo physics at play) and landed with perfect timing smacking the guy in the face with the energy sword and killing him.
I will say that I wish the retro theme had stayed, especially since it was my first PAX, but whatever. I had fun watching the intro and the match.
Also, this just makes the final Omegathon rounds of the future more mysterious: Will they go retro? Or will they pull a Wizard again?