343 Industries was founded in 2007 after cooperation with Bungie over additions to Halo: Reach and the beginning of the new head of the franchise – Reclaimer Saga. The name of the studio refers to the character of the 343 Guilty Spark series. The main task of 343 Industries was the control of the Halo franchise after Bungie.
One of the key people who contributed to this transition was Frank O’Connor, a former Bungie employee, who moved to 343 Industries to the position of director of the franchise. Under the leadership of the head of the studio Bonnie Ross, the visionary approach to the future series impressed Kiki Wulfkill, who joined the team as the head of the studio.
The first projects 343 Industries included participation in the creation of Halo 3: Odst and Halo: Reach, as well as the release of the Halo Legends anime series in 2009, which expanded the game universe. In the same year, the studio launched Halo Waypoint – an application for tracking the achievements of players in the games of the series. An important stage for the studio was the creation of an updated version of the original game-Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, released in 2011 in honor of the 10th anniversary of the series.
Halo Legends cover
Anime screenshot Halo Legends
In 2008, when 343 Industries were still in the process of formation, Microsoft turned to Starlight Runner Entertainment with a request to help create the so -called “Halo Bible”. Starlight Runner is a New York company specializing in creating and supporting transmedia franchises. Their task was to analyze the entire content of the Halo universe, to eliminate contradictions and make the storyline consistent and understandable for those who are developing games and media-franchise associated with Halo. Frank O’Connor, Bungie, who later moved to 343 Industries, took an active part in the creation of this “Bible”.
Halo 4 and the beginning of the new saga
Example of gameplay Halo 4
Unlike the original trilogy, the plot Halo 4 was conceived as part of a large -scale arch covering several games. The story written Christopher Schlerf And Josh Holmes, connected the game with the saga about the forerunners and novels of the trilogy Kilo-Five. Halo 4 became the first game in the new Reclaimer saga.
The development of the game began in 2009. The studio that started with a dozen employees quickly grown to the team in 200 people, including former employees more 25 AAA-Studio. However, the process of creating a game was faced with problems due to the rapid growth and hiring of employees with various experience. This complicated the process of integration and creating a single culture in the team. Kiki Wulfkill admitted that the team had to face the “necessary mistakes”, and nine months before the release, the studio was forced to restructure the production process to improve the development of development.
Plot Halo 4 Focus on Master Chif And Cortane, which return as the main characters after three games, where attention was focused on other characters. The game takes place five years after the events Halo 3. Master Chif And Cortana drift in fragments of frigate Kon "going to dawn", standing next to the planet Requiem -The world-wing-growing forerunner, which was first shown in the end Halo 3.
Story Halo 4 It differs from previous games with its accent on research, discoveries and interaction with the technological heritage Forerunner. Humanity after the war with Covenant It begins to integrate technology Forerunner to its military devices, which allows you to make a significant technological leap, but also opens up new threats to people.
Development process
Creation process Halo 4 was difficult because the studio faced internal problems due to the integration of new employees. It was difficult for developers to find a balance between traditional elements Halo and the innovations that they wanted to bring to the series. At the early stage of development, the team created a prototype, which was very similar to the traditional games of the series Halo, but he was rejected as too conservative. This was an important point in the realization that the team should strive for innovation.
The changes in the design concerned both the game itself and the characters. Master Chif received new armor, which became more massive and weighed around 800 pounds (360 kg), to convey his impressive power and power. The design was also processed Cortans, and these changes were associated both with graphic improvement and the development of the plot.
Announcement and release
Halo 4 was officially announced June 6, 2011 on E3 and became the first game in the new saga Reclaimer. Development was conducted under the guidance of a creative director Josh Holmes, and by the time the work was completed, the team has invested significant efforts in creating a game. Before the release of the game, vice president Microsoft Studios Phil Spencer He said that Halo is the "most important entertainment product" of the company, and Halo 4 became the most expensive game created Microsoft At that time.
The first demonstration of the game campaign took place on E3 2012, and the reaction of the public raised the morale of the team, which was not sure how the game would be perceived. July 7, 2012 preliminary assembly of the regime was presented Forge, A September 26, 2012 Frank O’Connor announced that the development of the game was completed.
Halo 4 campaign consists of https://seven-casino-it.org/mobile-app/ 10 levels, 8 of which are game.
Prologue – "Interrogation of Catherine Halsey in the depths of the secret CVR secret complex."(KAT-scene)
Introductory Kat-scene, where the interrogation of Katherine Halsey, a scientist who created the Spartan project, is carried out in the secret complex of the SVR (military intelligence service). During the interrogation, philosophical and moral issues about the nature of the Spartans and their purpose are discussed. This Kat-scene sets the tone for the whole game, hinting at conflicts and difficulties that are waiting ahead.
Dawn-"Four years after the drift in space, Cortana awakens the master master to investigate anxiety on" going to dawn "."
After the four years of the drift in space on board the ship "going to dawn", Cortana awakens the master of Chif to explore the cause of anxiety on the ship. The player will have to fight with the forces of the carpet that captured the ship. This is a stressful introduction, where the player meets the key mechanics of the game and begins a new chapter in the struggle of Chif and Cortana.
Requiem-"Having survived the destruction of" Dawn ", the Master Starshin and Cortan are looking for a way to get out of the mysterious planet Forerunner."
Master Chief and Cortan find themselves on the mysterious planet a forerunner called Requiem after the destruction of the ship "going to dawn". Their goal is to find a way to get out of the planet, faced with new enemies – Prometheians. In this level, the player explores complex ancient structures and fights with the hostile forces of the forerunner, gradually revealing the history of this mysterious planet.
Forerunner-"Master Starshin monitors the" Infinity "signal to the nucleus of the Requiem in the hope of returning the Cortan to the ground to cure its frenzy."
Master Chief and Cortan monitor the signal from the ship "Infinity", which was on the planet Requiene. They descend into the heart of the planet in the hope of finding a way to return to the Earth and stop the Cortana, which suffers from the degradation of AI (frenzy). The player will face the powerful forces of Prometes and Kovenant in technologically advanced locations.
Infinity – "Following a mentor to the place of crash, the foreman and Cortan descend into the surrounding swamps to save the surviving kkon."
Following the new enemy, mentor (didact), master Chif and Cortan find the crash of "infinity" and descend into the surrounding swamps to save the survivors. In this level, the player participates in intensive hostilities involving infantry and vehicles, trying to protect the surviving members of the Infinity team from Prometheians and Kovenant.
The restorer-"Infinity" directs the master-senior and company "Gypsies" to eliminate the gravitational well, holding them on Requiemes."
Kon instructs the master Chif and the Gypsy detachment to destroy the gravitational well, which holds the "infinity" on the planet Requiene. The player drives transport and participates in large -scale hostilities, breaking through the forces of the Covenant and Prometes to complete the task. This level is characterized by large open battles and coordination of command actions.
Disabling-"with the departure of" infinity "from the requiem and the deterioration of the frenzy of Kortan, the master Starshin continues to fight in order to prevent the mentor in his search for the composer."
Despite the deterioration of the state of Cortana, the master of Chief continues to struggle to prevent the mentor in his attempts to activate the composer – a device that can destroy entire civilizations. At this level, the player makes his way through the bases of the Covenant and Prometes, trying to prevent the plans of didact and ensure evacuation from the requiem.
Composer-"Master Starshina pursues a mentor, which leads him to a scientific station located in orbit of installation 03."
Master Chif is pursuing a mentor who is trying to use the composer to destroy the earth. Their battle leads to a scientific station in the orbit of installation 03, where a fierce battle unfolds. The player will have to fight with the forces of Prometes and the Covenant to prevent the activation of the composer.
Midnight-"now that the composer is in the hands of the mentor, the master-starter and Cortan must destroy the device before it is directed to the next goal."
The mentor activates the composer and intends to destroy the land. Master Chif and Cortana penetrate the ship of didact to stop the device. The player participates in the last epic battle, making his way through hostile forces and activating the explosive device to destroy the composer. The final of the mission is culminated in the emotional scene of farewell to Cortana.
Epilogue-"After the ruin of the new Phoenix and the death of Cortan, the master serviceer must continue his path."
After the destruction of the new Phoenix and the death of Cortans, the master of Chief remains alone, but continues to fulfill his duties. In the epilogue, the player sees how Chief puts on his armor again, preparing for new trials.
On January 19, 2012, McFarlane Toys announced the creation of a series of figures based on Halo 4, who represented fans of new characters, weapons and vehicles from the game. CEO and founder of the company, Todd McFarlein, expressed his enthusiasm for cooperation with the 343 Industries team, noting that this is a great honor for his company.
In addition to collectors, 343 Industries and Microsoft released an artbook called AWAKENING: The Art of Halo 4, which was published by Titan Books and was released on November 6, 2012. This artbook is a collection of concept arts and sketches with comments from artists from 343 Industries, allowing fans of the game to plunge deeper into the process of visual creation of the world Halo 4.
Game Halo 4 was released November 6, 2012 In all countries, except Japan, where it appeared November 8. Microsoft I presented the game in two editions: Standard And Limited. The limited edition included digital items for avatars Xbox 360, Intra -game elements for Spartan-IV, Access to three future cards sets for a multi-user game (only nine cards), as well as a 90-minute expanded version of the digital series with living actors Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn And a package of briefings UNSC Infinity.
At the time of launch, the players were available two specializations, and the owners Limited Edition gained access to all eight specializations. Later 343 Industries provided early access to players from some countries who participated in multi -user matches during the first two weeks after the release, and for the rest of the specialization players, they were gradually unlocked for several months.
Together with the game was released The limited set of the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 4 console, which included two controllers with a unique design, a standard version of the game, a headset, exclusive content and a console with a hard drive on 320 GB. A separate wireless controller was also presented Halo 4 Limited Edition with a unique design, different from controllers, which were included in the console set.
Sales and reception
At the time of launch Halo 4 Collected $ 220 million On the first day and 300 million dollars In the first week, having broken a record Halo: Reach (200 million dollars on the first day). More A million people played the game on Xbox Live the first 24 hours after the release. IN Great Britain The game made their debut at the top of the chart video game, but could not surpass sales records Halo 3 And Halo: Reach. According to data NPD, Halo 4 became the second in sales by the game in November 2012, the third in December and the third in the year.
Halo 4 I received mostly positive reviews of critics, with a rating 87/100 on Metacritic Based on 87 reviews. Many reviewers noted a successful debut 343 Industries And they considered the game a worthy continuation of the series Halo.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection, released in November 2014 for Xbox One, became an important event for the series, combining all the key franchise games, starting with Halo: Combat Evolved to Halo 4. The reprint was intended to return the series to its origins, offering updated graphics and improved opportunities for modern consoles. Particular attention was paid to Halo 2 Anniversary, which received full remastaring with new cinematic screensavers and processed levels.
Master Chief Collection has given the opportunity to test classic games with improved performance and support for multiplayer through Xbox Live both new and old fans of the series. Despite the problems at the start associated with malfunctions in 343 Industries online actively issued updates that correct the bugs and improve the gameplay. The reprint continues to expand and be supported for many years, which has helped maintain interest in the franchise.