Halo 4 Pre-order Plus $10 Amazon Instant Video Credit and Exclusive Pre-order Bonus

Pre-order Halo 4 and get a $10 Amazon Instant Video credit. Plus, you'll get to suit up in Halo Infinity Multiplayer with the Amazon exclusive customizable "Web" armor skin. The colors of the armor skin can be customized to fit your personality, but Halo Infinity Multiplayer will revert players to default colors in some competitive modes.

Your Amazon Instant Video credit will be automatically applied to your account when your order has shipped. Your bonus code will be e-mailed within two business days after the product ships. Offer valid when shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Limit one per household. This offer will be extended to existing pre-orders. Amazon reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time.

To get Halo 4 Pre-order Plus $10 Amazon Instant Video Credit and Exclusive Pre-order Bonus click the widget below:

Halo 4 $10 Amazon Instant Video Credit and Exclusive Pre-order Bonus

Halo 4 seven minute live-action trailer teased

The live-action Halo 4 launch trailer debuted last week with a flashback of Master Chief's life as he is confronted by a mysterious Promethean enemy. The David Fincher produced trailer is already getting cut down to minute-long bites for commercials but a potentially longer trailer could be coming according to an update on the Australian Xbox Facebook page spotted Sunday.

According to the Aussie Xbox Facebook page, a "7 minute live action trailer for Halo 4" is "coming soon."

While the Halo 4 "Scanned" trailer did give us a proper glimpse at what the Halo universe may look like, it also felt somewhat limited in scope due to the two-minute constraint. What could Fincher and director Tim Miller have in store with an additional five minutes of footage?

Seven minutes moves away from the typical trailer definition and more towards a short film. Would we see more of Master Chief's past from the Halo: Fall of Reach novel or something more from the Halo 4 setting?

The launch trailer for Halo 4 debuted on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night bringing the Master Chief to the realm of live-action and a look at his origins.

Here is the official description of the trailer from Microsoft and 343 Industries.

Titled “Scanned,” the trailer is an action-packed cinematic production that offers a captivating look at the backstory of Master Chief, and provides a glimpse of the new threat he will encounter in “Halo 4.” Filmed in Prague, “Scanned” continues the franchise’s tradition of expanding the universe through award-winning live-action stories, adding to the lore and anticipation for the next chapter in the landmark franchise that has sold more than 43 million game copies worldwide and generated more than $3 billion in franchise sales.

Those familiar with the Halo: Fall of Reach novel will immediately recognize the backstory elements as well as some of the other Spartans shown. There's also a reference to the Karen Travis novels Halo: Glasslands and Halo: The Thursday War for those that have read them.

The trailer was produced by David Fincher who directed “Fight Club,” “The Social Network” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" with “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” visual effect lead Tim Miller taking a shot at the directorial duties.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to direct the ‘Halo 4’ launch trailer in creative partnership with 343 Industries and David Fincher,” said Miller, who also collaborated with Fincher to create the title sequence for the Academy award-winning 2011 film, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” “‘Halo is one of the most iconic sci-fi universes, with a depth that allows for amazingly cinematic and emotionally riveting stories. The chance to tell a story that explores never-before-seen facets of Master Chief’s journey is an honor. Our goal is to deliver a blockbuster, Hollywood-quality trailer that raises the bar for the award-winning legacy of live-action ‘Halo’ storytelling and gets fans stoked for the return of Master Chief.”

Halo 4 Leaks 3 Weeks Before Games Release

Unfortunately for Halo fans and the enormous community that goes with it have to worry about spoilers when they visit Waypoint for the next three weeks because of, well, other Halo fans. It seems that production copies of Halo 4 have made the rounds and fans on Waypoint have been getting PM’d with key story spoilers from the game. Videos posted on YouTube have been posted and promptly pulled down, and torrent sites have pirated copies available.

A spokesperson for Microsoft told Game Informer, “We have seen the reports of Halo 4 content being propped on the Web and are working closely with our security teams and law enforcement to address the situation,” but declined to confirm whether or not the game had leaked when asked directly.

And Josh Holmes, creative director of Halo 4, had this to say about possible spoilers:

“I’ve worked for over 3 years making Halo 4,” Holmes tweeted. “Please avoid spoilers and leaks from thieves for 3 more weeks until the game is out. Thank you.”

Courtesy of The Escapist came this update on Halo Waypoint:

“Halo 4 launches in less than 25 days. The good news is that you are that much closer to having the game in your hands. The bad news is that as discs are being made and distributed, you may start to see leaks. The internet is an awesome place… until it’s no longer an awesome place.

We are working closely with our security teams and law enforcement to address the situation. Piracy is illegal and we are taking vigorous action against it. We have poured our blood, sweat, and tears into Halo 4, and we want you to have the best possible experience with our game, come November 6. If you’re interested in staying spoiler-free, we encourage you to exercise caution when visiting various websites, social networking services, and forums.”

Without saying, “Hey this game leaked” explicitly, it seems pretty clear that it has and Microsoft and 343 are understandably unhappy about it. So tread lightly on those Halo forums and blogs Commander Chief fans.

Editors Note: If you do happen to get your hands on Halo 4 before its release, we strongly advise you not to play it. Doing so will get your Xbox 360 and your Xbox Live account permanently banned. Microsoft is not taking this situation lightly and they are looking to prosecute whomever is responsible for this leak. Player beware.

Halo 4 Reportedly Leaked, Ready To Free Download?

Halo 4 has been leaked weeks ahead of its November 6 release, according to multiple online sources. Images of discs and photos of Xbox dashboards displaying the game name have been posted online. While their validity can be easy debated, the claims are further supported by numerous Xbox Live profiles which have been spotted on the official Xbox site listing Halo 4 as the game currently being played.

Examiner also reports that multiple gameplay videos were posted on YouTube Thursday night, and there are claims of profiles associated with playing Halo 4 being banned for "illegitimate prerelease title play".

While it's unclear if official discs have been sold early or if a pre-release review disc has found its way online, Microsoft has told Examiner that it's investigating the reported leaks.

"We have seen the reports of Halo 4 content being propped on the Web and are working closely with our security teams and law enforcement to address the situation," said a Microsoft spokesperson.

This is bad news for 343 Industries considering the game's official release is still more than three weeks away. Unfortunately, the Halo series is no stranger to leaks; both Halo 2 and Halo 3 made their way onto the 'net before they hit shelves, as did Halo 3: ODST and Halo Reach.
Source

Halo 4 Preview Event Recap, by Community Customs

Halo 4 Preview Event Recap: Nomis78, one of the Community Customs staff members, managed to win himself an invite to the first UK hands-on event with Halo 4. In this article, he details his thoughts on everything from the gameplay to the GUI and the weapons to the visuals. If you're itching for more information on Halo 4 from fellow gamers and not just the press, then give this a read.

Legendary Halo Tattoo

(Credit: bungie.net)

Legendary Halo Tattoo: Some people show their love for Halo by playing the games. Others get a relevant image permanently placed upon their body. Enjoy this particular example of a Halo-related body modification, and if you have a picture you'd like to submit for possible future inclusion, send it to bsangel[at]halowaypoint.com!

(Credit: xbox.com)

Best Deals Compared Pre-Order Halo 4 Limited Edition

With the official release of Halo 4 just around the corner (Tuesday November 6th) pre-orders are a hot item if you want the bonuses. So whats included in the pre-orders and who has the best deals when you pre-order Halo 4? we have compared the major retailers in the USA to bring you this exclusive report on where to get the best deal for Halo 4 “Limited Edition” pre-order, whats included and how much you can save at each retailer. 

Also as you may already know “Limited Edition” really means limited, a lot of the retailers are already sold out of this pre-order so if your thinking of picking it up now is the time to do it.

For all Halo 4 Limited edition purchases the basic set comes with the following as per Microsofts site:

• War Games Map Packs: The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps—three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE
• Specializations: Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE, and use them, one at a time, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options
• The Special Edition of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, a 90-minute extended version of the live-action digital series which will take fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel ever: the UNSC Infinity

Halo 4 Amazon

• Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 4 Bundle will released on November 6, 2012. Now Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 4 Bundle Pre-Order Available from Amazon.
• According to Amazon, you can Pre-order Xbox 360 Halo 4 and get a $10 Amazon Instant Video credit. Plus, you'll get to suit up in Halo Infinity Multiplayer with the Amazon exclusive customizable "Web" armor skin.
• The colors of the armor skin can be customized to fit your personality, but Halo Infinity Multiplayer will revert players to default colors in some competitive modes. Your Amazon Instant Video credit will be automatically applied to your account when your order has shipped. Your bonus code will be e-mailed within two business days after the product ships. 
• More info: Halo 4 Amazon Limited Edition

Halo 4 Best Buy:

Bestbuy does it again with the best deal all around for pre-ordering games, the others give similar digital download offers but the bestbuy points combined with 15% off your next pre-order and a free Halo 4 poster seals the deal for us.

• Halo 4 Venator Raptor Preorder Bonus
• Halo 4 Deadeye Helmet Preorder Bonus
• Free Halo 4 Poster: Find Out How
• 15% Off Game Guide: Find Out How
• $20 Reward Zone Certificates: See How
• Free Shipping

Halo 4 Game Stop

No where near what bestbuy is giving away but at least you get a digital download:

“Forest” armor skin

Halo 4 Wal-Mart

By far the cheapest place to pre-order Halo 4, if your on a budget and are really pinching your pennies you can get it here for $99.96, a steep discount from the $99.99 that everyone else is charging.

Halo 4 Microsoft Store

Sold out here and the page to pre-order has been disabled. I dont recall what you get for pre-ordering from the Microsoft store so if anyone knows please leave a comment below. However if you buy the regular edition Halo pre order you get the following:

Get $25 off your next purchase** when you pre-order Halo 4

Pre-order Halo 4 today and receive the customizable “Pulse” armor skin!***

Halo 4 Target

You dont get anything for pre-ordering here, but at this very moment it seems to be the only place you can pre-order online that is NOT sold out (sorry guys.. took me a while to write this post and by that time everywhere else was sold out)

‘Halo 4 Limited Edition’ already selling out, Amazon the first to go dry

It’s October, over the next few months all of the titles that gamers have been waiting for will finally arrive. On the top of that list for many Xbox 360 players is the FPS title ‘Halo 4′.

With just over a month to go before the release of ‘Halo 4′, 343 Industries and Microsoft are gearing up for one of the biggest launches of this year. The ‘Limited Edition’ of Halo 4 was announced earlier in the year, and Amazon seems to have already run out of their initial stock. The MSRP of the edition is $99.99 and it comes with very fancy extras and free DLC to make your Halo experience complete.

The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps in total, three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE.

The bonus digital content that will be available through Xbox LIVE includes; Unique in-game Spartan IV armor skin, unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle, an exclusive in-game emblem, Xbox LIVE Avatar prop, and Xbox LIVE Avatar Spartan IV armor set (requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership that is sold separately).

As for Specializations, players will Receive early access to six Specializations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE, and use them, one at a time, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options.

Also included is ‘The Special Edition of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn’, which is a 90-minute extended version of the live-action digital series which will take fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel ever: the UNSC Infinity.

The UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet includes a Spartan armor customization schematic, information about UNSC weapons, and an introduction to the massive ship UNSC Infinity.

Other retailers still have the Limited Edition (as of when this article was posted) but you may not want to wait for the last minute before securing yours. 

Visit Halo 4 Limited Edition on Amazon

New Halo 4 Vehicle & Map Footage (Video)

This is why we can't have good things! 343 Industries has announced a new vehicle for Halo 4, rather a mech that basically can destroy everything, rather it can just step up on you and you'll die.

This will be the type of vehicle that people don't allow in matches, like the tank for example! Either way, the Mantis vehicle looks pretty awesome. Also, you'll notice the map looks similar to Valhalla, but rather this time around it'll be Ragnarok. But to top it all off, you can teabag people in the Mantis.

New Halo 4 Vehicle & Map Footage (Video)

Halo 4 double XP coming to Mountain Dew and Doritos

Mountain Dew and double XP. Two great tastes that taste great together. PepsiCo has announced that it is continuing its annual promotion, this time pairing the colorful flavors of Mountain Dew and Doritos with Halo 4.

Starting today, players can create an account on either DewXP.com or DoritosXP.com to "accelerate" Halo 4 specializations, reveal new gear and weapons, and preselect and customize armor and an arsenal.

Once registered, you'll have to pick up specially-marked packages of Mountain Dew and Doritos in order to enter unique codes. These codes will unlock double XP matches for you to play once Halo 4 releases on November 6.

"Mega XP" packs will be available at Walmart on specially-marked 24 packs of Mountain Dew and 10+ ounce bags of Doritos. Pairing a "Mega" code from the soda and chips will unlock additional double XP matches (and other possible side-effects).

Additional "Halo 4 game content" will be available to unlock via the "King of the Hill" mobile app that will release in late October.

Halo 4 games done, game now headed to Microsoft certification

Franchise director Frank O'Connor says development on upcoming sci-fi shooter is finished, game now headed to Microsoft certification.

New Halo developer 343 Industries has completed its first original Halo game. Halo franchise director Frank O'Connor said today during a press event in London (attended by Videogamer) that development on Halo 4 has been completed ahead of the game's launch exclusively on Xbox 360 November 6.

"We had a big piece of news yesterday back in the office, which is that the game is literally finished at this point," he said. "They are handing it off through the various certification processes and that, and we're done. It's been three years of incredibly hard work by about 300 people."

At a North America press event two weeks ago, O'Connor said Halo 4 was 99 percent complete, adding that the team was cleaning out the game's remaining bugs.

Halo 4 is the first numbered entry in the series developed outside of Bungie Studios, which officially handed the franchise reigns to 343 Industries on March 31, 2012. It is a direct sequel to 2007's Halo 3, picking up four years after the events of that game.

At least two more core installments--Halo 5 and Halo 6--will follow as part of the new Reclaimer Trilogy. It is rumored that the next Halo game will arrive on a future Microsoft platform, as the company is openly hiring staffers to create next-generation visuals and infrastructure to "drive the future of Halo."