Halo's ATLAS app drops onto iOS, Android, and WP7 tomorrow

All the rage with shooters these days is having the ability to have in-depth insight on it, i.e., having stats and strategies in the palm of your hand. Call of Duty Elite will have an application for mobile devices, and starting tomorrow, Halo will too.

ATLAS, or Assisted Tactical Assault System, is a "companion" app that will deliver "near-real-time" tactical data to help you on the multiplayer frontlines. Co-developed with Brady Games, you'll be able to study map design and layout while on the go and while you play, in addition to viewing: weapon and vehicle spawn locations for multiplayer and "Firefight," health-pack locations, near-real-time weapon and vehicle locations in custom games, the location of yourself and your team on the map, and current scores for each team. 

You can also enable "Follow me" to track your movements. Near-real-time movement data can also be accessed in matchmaking in Halo: Reach.

This will also mark the first time Waypoint is available on iOS and Android devices. Waypoint will be free across all three platforms, though iOS and Android users will have to shell out $4.99 for ATLAS, while Windows Phone users get it for free.

Halo: Anniversary maps arrive as DLC next week

Not planning on picking up Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary? No worries, Reach fans, as the Halo: Anniversary maps will be available as a DLC pack on November 15 for 1200 MS Points. It includes the six multiplayer maps and the one "Firefight" map found on the Anniversary disc.

Outdo DMRs with your Magnum on the "Battle Canyon," "Breakneck," "High Noon," "Solitary," "Ridgeline," and "Penance" multiplayer maps, and wish Grunts a happy birthday in "Firefight" on "Installation 04."

Anniversary playlists go live on November 14.

250GB Xbox 360 bundle features Halo: Reach, Fable III

Major Nelson announced on his blog today two Xbox 360 holiday bundles--both featuring a 250GB HDD, two games, and a three-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold. Game-wise, one of the bundles is less than exciting, packing-in Kinect Adventures and Carnival Games: Monkey See, Monkey Do, though it does also include a Kinect. The other bundle is a bit more explosive, and...heroic, packing-in Halo: Reach and Fable III. 

The Kinect bundle will retail for $399, and the Reach bundle will retail for $299, both of which are now shipping to retailers and will be around for the holiday season. 

Halo: Reach DLC on the cheap this week

Both of Halo: Reach's downloadable map packs--"Noble," and "Defiant"--are on sale this week on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 MS Points each, a savings of 50%. They highlight this week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week, along with a sale on Dead Rising content. You can queue up each map pack by clicking the appropriate links up top. 

Halo 2's Headlong added to Anniversary Edition, Title Update...updates

If you dug duking it out in Halo 2's futuristic construction site, Headlong, you'll be happy to hear that it will accompany the other confirmed maps in the upcoming Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. Now called "Breakneck," this classic map is still based around vehicular combat and Objective-based gametypes, but now features some additional cover added in some spots, and the old fashioned teleporters (that's so 2004) have now been replaced by man-cannons.

In addition to that, 343 Industries shed some light on the upcoming Halo: Reach Title Update, which is slated to drop on September 21. At first, you'll be unaffected by the patch, but on October 4 you'll see a "brand spankin' new playlist"--Beta Hopper--where all the changes will be featured. The playlist will feature 4v4 Slayer and Objective gametypes, DMR starts, and 85% bloom.

For a complete rundown of the beta playlists, head on over to the official site.

Upcoming Halo: Reach title update features configurable reticule bloom, refined armor abilities

An upcoming title update for Halo: Reach addresses many of the issues the community has brought up, including refinements in the game's new armor abilities. First up, the fan-favorite Armor Lock has been nerfed a bit, and will take a certain amount of damage based on the amount of energy a player has left. Active Camo has also been tweaked, and will have a reduced duration period.

One of the new mechanics brought into the Halo series with Reach was reticule bloom, or, a state in battle where one's crosshair expanded with each subsequent shot fired, thus making the art of shooting a bit more tactical. This too will be adjusted in the update, and will be configurable, "delivering increased accuracy when firing in rapid succession." You may remember we mentioned this in a recent post, where a YouTube video demonstrated a more accurate DMR crosshair.

Other bullet-points are on the update's list as well, including the addition of the true Combat Evolved magnum in specific playlists for both Halo: Reach and Anniversary multiplayer, as well as allowing those 4GB console owners out there to finally utilize campaign and "Firefight" matchmaking.

[Major Nelson]

Think Halo: Reach is too slow? Here's "Speed Halo"

Some people think that Halo games play a bit on the slow side, and that's completely understandable. I love the series, and even I at times want something with more "oomph." Well, that can all change with this custom gametype and map made by the duo of DBC MAK3R COM3 and Darth Human called "Speed Halo."

Words can not do it justice...

[via Destructoid]

I've come into the Pawn Shop today to sell my MJOLNIR armor

Recently I've found myself quite addicted to the History Channel show Pawn Stars. As shop owner Rick Harrison says in the opening of every episode, "you never know what's gonna come through that door." Well, I bet his son Corey and co-worker Chumlee never would have thought that somebody would come through the door looking to sell a custom set of Halo MJOLNIR armor for $2,000. Let's see what the guys at the Pawn Shop think about that offer.

[GameInformer via Joystiq]

Bungie Gives Thanks with Flaming-Blue Helmets

As a token of their appreciation, and to celebrate ten years of Halo, Bungie is giving away Halo: Reach helmets engulfed in blue flames and the Bungie nameplate--both once symbols of Bungie employees--to anyone who registers on Bungie.net or downloads the Bungie Mobile iOS app. This promotion runs until the end of Bungie Day, July 7.

Simple enough, no?

Save $20 on Halo: Reach, Bulletstorm at Best Buy

Best Buy has got the solution to your trigger-finger itch this week, because they've discounted Halo: Reach and the foul-mouthed Bulletstorm by $20 each, making both titles discounted to $39.99 each.

Also, don't forget that Brink is available this week, and the Best Buy "exclusive" content is Fallout-themed in-game items.

Check out the other deals in the Best Buy weekly ad.

The Voice of Halo Multiplayer In Real Life: Cheneymania!!!

The man behind all of your killstreak announcements in Halo multiplayer is now in human form, and the YouTube video below (uploaded by one of his family members) shows him doing the voice live. You can also hear one of the killstreak calls that ended up on the cutting-room floor. After hearing it, we wish it didn't.

Xbox System Update Preview Announced; New Disc Format

According to Xbox Rep Major Nelson, a new system update preview is being planned and anyone living in the US with a 360 can sign up for it. If you're accepted into the program, you will receive a copy of Halo Reach, which seems to be what they will be using to test the new disc format with.

Halo: Reach, Bulletstorm, Black Ops, and More on Sale This Week (3/27-4/2)

Best Buy is not only hosting a bevy of 3DS sales, but also has sales for us console shooter fans as well. With the games listed below, you can save anywhere between $10-$30, a nice chunk o' change, huh?

Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack Now Available

While you are out fighting the noble fight, we'd like to let you know that the newest map pack for Halo: Reach is now available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 MS Points, or $9.99.

The Defiant Map Pack adds three new maps to the fray, one of which is a brand new firefight mission that comes packed with three new achievements for a whopping new 150 Gamerscore.

...enticing?