Is Halo Wars part of the Halo saga?
1205872#2
Strong sales of the games led to the franchise's expansion to other media; there are multiple best-selling novels, graphic novels, and other licensed products. "Halo Wars" took the franchise into new video game genre territory, as a real-time strategy game, while the rest of the games in the series are first-person shooters. Beyond the original trilogy, Bungie developed the expansion "", and a prequel, "Halo: Reach", their last project for the franchise. A high-definition remake of the first game, entitled "", was released on November 15, 2011, ten years after the release of the original. A new installment in a second series of games, "Halo 4", was released on November 6, 2012. "", a remastered compilation of the four primary "Halo" titles, was released for the Xbox One on November 11, 2014. In October 2015, "" was released. In February 2017, "Halo Wars 2" was released. In June 2018, the next main installment of the "Halo" series was announced as "Halo Infinite".
Halo (franchise)
1205872#61
The "Halo" franchise has been highly successful commercially and critically. During the two months following "Halo: Combat Evolved"s release, it sold alongside more than fifty percent of Xbox consoles and sold a million units by April 2002. "Halo 2"s sales generated US$125 million on its premiere day, making it the fastest selling United States media product in history up to that time. Combined with "Halo"s sales, the two games sold 14.8 million units before "Halo 3"s release.
GameSpot reported 4.2 million units of "Halo 3" were in retail outlets on September 24, 2007, a day before official release – a world record volume. "Halo 3" broke the previous record for the highest grossing opening day in entertainment history, making US$170 million in its first twenty-four hours. Worldwide, sales exceeded US$300 million the first week, helping to more than double the sales of the Xbox 360 when compared with the weekly average before the "Halo 3" launch. At the end of 2007, "Halo 2" and "Halo: Combat Evolved" were the number one and two best-selling Xbox titles, respectively, and "Halo 3" was the best-selling Xbox 360 title. "Halo Wars" was the best-selling RTS console game, selling more than one million units. The "Halo" series went on to sell more than 27 million copies by August 2009, and more than 34 million copies by May 2010. Tor Books reported that sales of all franchise materials are greater than $1.7 billion, and Bungie's games before "Reach" accounted for $1.5 billion in sales. The soundtracks to "Halo 2", "Halo 3", "ODST" and "Reach" all appeared on the Billboard 200 charts for at least one week. By May 2011, total gross of "Halo" merchandise was $2 billion, with 40 million copies of the games sold. The total amount climbed to $2.3 billion in July 2011, and $2.8 billion in January 2012. Total franchise grosses exceeded $4.6 billion by October 2015, with 25% of the figure from non-game-related merchandise.
Halo (franchise)
1205872#50
A collection of "Halo" short stories, "Halo: Evolutions", was simultaneously released in print and audiobook formats in November 2009. "Evolutions" includes original material by Nylund, Buckell, Karen Traviss and contributions from Bungie. Tor re-released the first three "Halo" novels with new content and cover art.
Science fiction author Greg Bear wrote a trilogy of books focusing on the Forerunners, called "The Forerunner Saga". The first book, entitled "", was released in January 2011, followed by "" in January 2012 and "" on March 19, 2013. Karen Traviss wrote the "Kilo-Five" trilogy, which takes place after the events of "Halo 3" and "Halo: Ghosts of Onyx". The first book, "Halo: Glasslands", came out October 2011, followed by "Halo: The Thursday War" on October 2, 2012, and "Halo: Mortal Dictata" on January 21, 2014. The fourteenth Halo book (the thirteenth novel) was released in November 2014: "Halo: Broken Circle" by John Shirley, the author of novels based on "BioShock", "Borderlands", and other games.
Halo (franchise)
37224739#0
Halo: Silentium is a military science fiction novel by Greg Bear, based on the "Halo" series of video games. The book was released in March 2013 and is the twelfth "Halo" book (the eleventh novel) and the last book in the trilogy of novels focusing on the Forerunners, called "The Forerunner Saga". "Silentium" was released in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook following 2012's "Halo: The Thursday War", the second book in the separate "Kilo-Five" trilogy. "Silentium" concludes the efforts of the Ur-Didact and the Librarian to stop the Flood from destroying the universe. The book reached number eight on the New York Times Bestseller List for Hardcover Fiction.
Halo: Silentium
1205872#19
The third part of the Reclaimer Saga, "Halo Infinite", was announced during E3 2018. "Halo: Infinite" will shift its focus back on to the Master Chief and will take place after the events of "Halo 5: Guardians".
Halo (franchise)
324415#4
In Book Three, the darkest part of the saga, ten years have elapsed and Halo has become a soldier serving in a Vietnam-style guerrilla interstellar war which has appeared as back-story in the previous two books, and is courted by a famous, fearsome-looking general, Luiz Cannibal. The series ends with the cessation of hostilities, after which Halo commandeers a spaceship and deserts, determined to take charge of her own fate.Other places she had visited or spent time in included Proxima IV, Vescue, Sirius, Skinner's World, and Popotoplec. Although it is mentioned that she met the famous historical figure Sally Quasa, this meeting does not take place in the first 3 books.
The Ballad of Halo Jones
33736052#1
On July 19, 2011, Tor Books revealed the cover, title, and release date of the second book in the Forerunner Saga. On October 12, 2011 the book was completed and submitted to the publisher. On December 28, 2011 the first chapter of the book was made available on the publishers website and chapters 2, 3, and part of 4 were made available on the Halo Waypoint website. Video game website Kotaku was given a five-minute audio clip of the book being read by Tim Dadabo, who voiced the character of 343 Guilty Spark in previous Halo games. At a Comic-Con panel on the Halo Universe, Frank O'Connor stated that the book would have "resonant connections" with Halo 4. Bear stated that the interactions of the humans and the Forerunners were some of his favorite parts of the Forerunner trilogy. On April 12, 2013 Tor Books ran a promotion giving away the entire book trilogy to one participant.
Halo: Primordium
32746312#0
Halo: Cryptum is a military science fiction novel by Greg Bear, based on the "Halo" series of video games. The book was released in January 2011 and is the eighth "Halo" book (the seventh novel) and the first in the trilogy of novels focusing on the Forerunners, called "The Forerunner Saga". "Cryptum" was released in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook following 2009's "", a collection of "Halo" short stories. It is succeeded by "", published in January 2012, and "", in March 2013. Bear was given little restriction on the story of the novel; the "Halo" universe had not yet been explored in that time period.
Halo: Cryptum
47429624#15
In 2009, Microsoft Studios launched "Halo Wars", a real-time strategy spin-off from the first-person shooter series "Halo". It was developed by Microsoft subsidiary Ensemble Studios. While "Halo Wars" was a commercial success, Ensemble Studios was shut down after development. Before its closure, the studio had started planning a story for a sequel. According to "Halo Wars" lead writer Graeme Devine, this script explored the history of the Forerunners and involved "Spirit of Fire" arriving at a Forerunner station tracked by Anders. In 2007, Microsoft formed an internal division, 343 Industries, to develop "Halo" products, and the studio searched for a developer to partner on a "Halo Wars" sequel. They viewed working with other developers and using external experience as key to maintaining quality across their projects.
Halo Wars 2
23775587#3
Following Bungie's departure from Microsoft in 2007, 343 Industries was eventually given complete control of the "Halo" franchise including servers and data on March 31, 2012. The studio's development of "Halo 4", which began in 2009, was completed ahead of schedule the same year in September. It was released on November 6, 2012, as the first title of a new "Halo" Reclaimer Trilogy which will include at least two more installments over the years. At E3 2013, Microsoft and 343i announced the next "Halo" installment set for release on the Xbox One. Shortly after the announcement, the Reclaimer Trilogy was confirmed by Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer to be expanded into a Reclaimer Saga. The following year at E3 2014, the official title was revealed as "Halo 5: Guardians" along with plans for its release on October 27, 2015. Microsoft, in a contract with Mega Bloks, is in conjunction with 343i to manufacture a new line of toys and other memorabilia for the upcoming "Halo" saga. "" was released on October 27, 2015, with semi-exclusive content to those who purchased select Mega Bloks sets. 343 Industries has since released free monthly content updates since Halo 5's launch.
343 Industries
21996185#33
In addition to the standard retail version, a Limited Collector's Edition of "Halo Wars" was made available. To attract "Halo 3"s player base, Microsoft bundled early access to the Mythic Map Pack, a collection of three "Halo 3" multiplayer maps, with the collector's edition. A 48-page, half-size hardcover graphic novel was also included; titled "Halo Wars: Genesis", it was created by Phil Noto, Graeme Devine, and Eric Nylund. It explores the background stories of Anders, the Arbiter, Forge and Cutter. Other bonuses included a unique in-game vehicle, trading cards, and a "Spirit of Fire" patch. Players who pre-ordered the game from certain retailers received a special in-game Warthog vehicle with flame decals. GameStop announced that on February 28, 2009, one thousand stores in the United States would hold "Halo Wars" tournaments, and two thousand GameStop stores held midnight releases for the game. European markets sold a "Best of "Halo"" bundle of "Halo Wars", "Halo 3" and an Xbox 360.
Halo Wars
13587263#22
"Halo 4" and "" were both officially announced on June 6, 2011, at the E3 2011. "Halo 4" is the first installment in the Reclaimer Saga of "Halo" games. The studio's creative team, which included nearly 200 people led by creative director Josh Holmes, started developing the game as early as 2009. Prior to the release of the game, Microsoft Studios Vice President Phil Spencer stated that the "Halo" franchise is the "most important entertainment product in the company" and that "Halo 4" was the most expensive game that Microsoft had made. A demonstration of the game's campaign was first shown at E3 2012. The developers described it as a pivotal moment in development, as it was the first time the game had been shown publicly. The positive reaction was a morale boost for the team, who were unsure how the public would react. On July 7, 2012, a pre-release build of "Halo 4"s Forge mode was showcased by 343 Industries and Certain Affinity at RTX which took place at the Austin Convention Center. On September 26, 2012, O'Connor announced that the game's development was complete.
Halo 4
1205872#17
Following Bungie's split from Microsoft, 343 Industries – a studio established by Microsoft in 2009 – took the helm of the "Halo" franchise. 343 had already co-developed the "Halo Legends" animated series and had overseen production of "" and "". The next game in the series, "Halo 4", was announced at E3 2011 as the first entry in what would be a new series of "Halo" games, also known as the "Reclaimer Trilogy". The game included many staples of previous games, such as new or redesigned weapon types, an improved map-editing tool and expanded multiplayer options and maps. "Halo 4" was released worldwide on November 6, 2012, achieving record sales for the franchise. In a new addition to the series, a story-driven multiplayer campaign entitled "Spartan Ops" was released over the weeks following "Halo 4"s release, telling what happened after the end of the main game.
Halo (franchise)
1205872#13
The games of the main "Halo" trilogy were developed by Bungie, and are first-person shooters in which the player experiences most action from the protagonist's perspective. The first title in the series is "" on Xbox, released on November 15, 2001. The game was initially intended to be released for Windows and Mac OS, until Microsoft's purchase of Bungie in 2000 led to the game becoming an Xbox launch title and delaying any release for personal computers for 2 years. "Halo: Combat Evolved" introduced many gameplay and plot themes common to the whole trilogy. Players battle various aliens on foot and in vehicles to complete objectives, while attempting to uncover the secrets of the eponymous Halo. One concept introduced in "Halo: Combat Evolved", is limiting the number of weapons players could carry to two, forcing them to carefully select their preferred armament. Players fight with ranged and melee attacks, as well as a limited number of grenades. Bungie refers to the "weapons-grenades-melee" format as the "Golden Triangle of "Halo"", which has remained fundamentally unchanged throughout the trilogy. In "Halo: Combat Evolved", the player's health is measured in both hit points and a continually recharging energy shield; the sequels forgo the hit point system, although it returns in spin-offs. A Windows and Mac OS X port was later developed by Gearbox Software, and released on September 30 and November 11, 2003, respectively. A stand-alone expansion, entitled "Halo: Custom Edition", was released as a Windows exclusive, and allowed players to create custom content for the game.
Halo (franchise)
1205872#16
At E3 2014, Microsoft and 343 Industries announced "", released on November 11, 2014, for the Xbox One. The game includes the full campaign and multiplayer modes of "Halo: Combat Evolved", "Halo 2", "Halo 3", and "Halo 4". The campaign of "Halo 3: ODST" was later released as downloadable content, and was free for those who bought "The Master Chief Collection" during late 2014.
Halo (franchise)
1205872#64
The main trilogy, particularly its protagonist, are considered iconic and a symbol of today's video games; a wax replica of l Master Chief was made by Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas, where Pete Wentz compared the character to notable characters from previous generations like Spider-Man, Frodo, and Luke Skywalker. "The Escapist" author Roger Travis compared "Halo"s story to Virgil's "Aeneid", saying the religious and political struggle described in the games relates to the modern epic tradition. "GamesTM" stated "Halo: Combat Evolved" "changed video game combat forever", and "Halo 2" showcased Xbox Live as a tool for communities. GameDaily noted "Halo 2"s launch was "easily comparable to the biggest in other sectors of the entertainment industry", marking the first time a video game launch has become a major cultural event in the United States. "Time" magazine included the franchise in the "2005 Time 100", highlighting that in the first ten weeks after the release of "Halo 2", players spent 91 million combined hours playing the game online. A "The New York Times" report noted the success of "Halo 3" was critical for Microsoft, persuading consumers to buy the Xbox 360 console which was experiencing waning sales compared with the Nintendo Wii, as well as helping restore the console's image. On September 25, 2007, the release date for "Halo 3", Microsoft's shares rose 1.7% based on sales expectations for the game. "Halo" has been described as a series that "has reinvented a genre that didn't know it needed to be reinvented", with aspects of the main trilogy being duplicated in other first-person shooter games multiple times.
Halo (franchise)