Bungie Unveils Mongoose for Halo 3

[fitbabits]

No, not a new game, just a new vehicle for Halo 3.

Have at it, GameSpot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6164069.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6164069).

The brief, posted on Bungie.net, on the M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle (as it is formally known) is written as part of a Legends of Halo series, a faux military report on the "Machines, Materiel (sic) and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present." The hard details for gearheads see the two-man vehicle with a top speed of 60mph (96kph), a weight of 896 pounds (406 kilograms), and a "1000cc liquid-cooled, longitudinally mounted, four-stroke, hydrogen-injected ICE."

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2007/010/mgside3sm877_screen.jpg

As mentioned in previous reports, the Mongoose won't feature a mounted weapon ("The (M274) is definitely the most Buddhist land-based motive system in the UNSC's arsenal," harps one Marine). The vehicle is intended solely for reconnaissance or quick transport of infantry, but in a pinch, its speed makes a great escape pod for a flag carrier in a game of Capture the Flag. Though veteran drivers of Halo 2's Warthog should be fairly familiar with the Mongoose's handling, one Space Marine cautions that the vehicle is "unarmored, noisy, and prone to roll-over."
How much for one of those? I could have used it these past three weeks with all the snow and ice Denver got.

[TheSolidHair]

That's sexy. I might just have to buy a 360.

[Roc Ingersol]

It seems to me that they already promised us this once...

wake me when the game ships with it.

[Yeti2005]

I'm waiting for the people to break down the screenshot ;) "Look at the grass texture? What's up with wheels? etc"

Anyway, I'm stoked! Halo 2 multiplayer is awesome and I'm looking forward to taking a spin on the Mongoose. I think the Bungie guys joke that riding the Mongoose with two people is referred to as "Brokeback".

[Abednigo]

I might get accused of trolling here, but...

Wow, a new thread for a vehicle in a game.

Just...wow.

At least it's not as bad as the nonsense leading up to Halo 2. But I'm sure that's coming.

[Nimos]

That's nice and all, but should every new vehicle , enemy , or any little thing in Halo3 be at the front page ?

[Captain Awesome]

Love that thing. I remember them saying they pulled it from Halo 2 because they just couldn't fit it right.

I also remember that version of the jeep with the tank wheels.

[Gorvi]

That's nice and all, but should every new vehicle , enemy , or any little thing in Halo3 be at the front page ?

Zeal would say that's blasphemy for even posing that question. :p

[Koi]

Is Halo 3 made for Xbox360 (genuine question, haven't looked into the game at all)?

Is anyone else having trouble visually differentiating Halo 3 from say, Halo 2 for the regular Xbox?

[Grimmjow]

I'm waiting for the people to break down the screenshot ;) "Look at the grass texture? What's up with wheels? etc"

Anyway, I'm stoked! Halo 2 multiplayer is awesome and I'm looking forward to taking a spin on the Mongoose. I think the Bungie guys joke that riding the Mongoose with two people is referred to as "Brokeback".

that would be me...DING DING DING
but fa real, whasup with those tire/grass textures :)

[fitbabits]

I might get accused of trolling here, but...

Wow, a new thread for a vehicle in a game.

Just...wow.

At least it's not as bad as the nonsense leading up to Halo 2. But I'm sure that's coming.
No, you're not trolling. What you're doing, though, is feeding the trolls. The reason this is news (like I really need to explain it) is because this vehicle was yanked from Halo 2 and some people were miffed about it. Now it's promised for Halo 3, so those people who were miffed can now look forward to the Mongoose's inclusion.

[Codicier]

that would be me...DING DING DING
but fa real, whasup with those tire/grass textures :)

I think I read somewhere that a lot of textures and models in the Halo 3 stuff we've been seeing has been placeholder material while the game is still in development.

[Borthcollective]

I don't for the life of me understand why some people always bitch about what gets put on the front page. Does it hurt your scroll finger to bypass it?

[Gorvi]

No, you're not trolling. What you're doing, though, is feeding the trolls. The reason this is news (like I really need to explain it) is because this vehicle was yanked from Halo 2 and some people were miffed about it. Now it's promised for Halo 3, so those people who were miffed can now look forward to the Mongoose's inclusion.

From what I saw from the small time I played Halo 2 multiplayer, the maps wouldn't have really supported a vehicle like this. If this is an indication of larger maps where a vehicle like this would work well, that's a good sign if you ask me.

[MacD]

Looks like at least twelve poly's to the circumference of that wheel...that's actually pretty impressive :P

[Grimmjow]

I think I read somewhere that a lot of textures and models in the Halo 3 stuff we've been seeing has been placeholder material while the game is still in development.


ahh ok that would make since, well i guess thats better then releasing concept art of what there throwing into the game....right?

[lion2]

Is Halo 3 made for Xbox360 (genuine question, haven't looked into the game at all)?

Is anyone else having trouble visually differentiating Halo 3 from say, Halo 2 for the regular Xbox?

From the screenshots shown in Game Informer, Halo 3 looks exactly the same as Halo 2. I was never impressed with the Halo series graphically. Anyway, the graphics aren't why I like the game. I'm still excited about Halo 3 because Halo 2 has been one of the best online games I've ever played.

[51|RandoM]

They have ATVs in BF2:SF, they're fun to zip around on.

Single occupant vehicles are really a no-brainer for an FPS, if you think about it. They just reskin/remodel the player and then give him/her different movement characteristics/constraints.

The real work is mount/dismount animations and animations for different situations you can get into on that vehicle... which thinking about it is the same type of animations you'd have to do anyways for a new player model.

[Disgustipated]

What this baby needs is two 5 feet razorblades to come outta the side, ala UT2004's Scorpion. That would be HOT.

[DingBat]

Note to Gamespot: you should only use '(sic)' if you're absolutely sure of your spelling.

[Abednigo]

No, you're not trolling. What you're doing, though, is feeding the trolls. The reason this is news (like I really need to explain it) is because this vehicle was yanked from Halo 2 and some people were miffed about it. Now it's promised for Halo 3, so those people who were miffed can now look forward to the Mongoose's inclusion.

"I...I did not know that. Did you know that Ed?"
http://img.snlarc.jt.org/arc/imp/DaCa-Johnny%20Carson.jpg

"Yes..."
http://img.snlarc.jt.org/arc/imp/PhHa-Ed%20McMahon.jpg

[Venkman]

Looks like fun!

But Bungie is feeding the trolls, too. "Here's a screenshot. All the textures and models are placeholders." Why do this at all? To wow us when they upgrade it?

Who else DOES that? Silicon Knights got so tired of the bashing they took that they went quiet.

Doesn't bungie know how diffcult and whiny we are? ;)

[ldi222]

This is a very big deal to the "Halo Nation" as its become known. Any new vehicle that will be included in the game is news for sure. This takes me back to the early days of Xbox Connect and Gamespy Tunnel of HALO1 when a lot of the online community played Blood Gulch CTF Pro with "hogs only" settings. Ive since made a custom in HALO2 for Coag to duplicate that by allowing vehicle operation "on," starting with BR's (pistols as secondary for sentimental purposes) and putting two Hogs only on the map (no radar). What excites me most about the Goose is those same types of customs in HALO3 on Valhalla which is the "spiritual successor" to the Gulch and Coagulation.

In fact, Ill be running some customs of those tonight with my clan around 8pm EST. If anyone is interested in joining in the fun send THCPIMP a friend req.

[Mdot23]

i wonder how fast it is compared to the hog. bungie's site says it goes about 60mph. any idea what the warthog does? also, i'm assuming that adding the passenger on the back will slow it down, but i wonder how significantly.

[bakes73]

I need a weapon.

[fitbabits]

I need a weapon.
Your mind is the greatest weapon you will ever possess.

[Telefrog]

What this baby needs is two 5 feet razorblades to come outta the side, ala UT2004's Scorpion. That would be HOT.

Dude, that was exactly what I was thinking. There's nothing like mowing someone down in UT2004 with the Scorp. It's almost as good as chainsawing someone in Gears.

[dena miscreant]

If you guys want, I can post the now months old issue of EGM with the 17-page Halo 3 shindig. I think it focused on multiplayer, from what I recall.

The Mongoose has been known about for a while.

[ldi222]

Of course it has but not in this much detail...

[Mdot23]

If you guys want, I can post the now months old issue of EGM with the 17-page Halo 3 shindig. I think it focused on multiplayer, from what I recall.

The Mongoose has been known about for a while.

good article. i re-read it a couple of days ago.

[dirtystreetz]

Wouldn't it be great if there was downloadable content for the vehicles. Man that mongoose would be tight if it had some 20s. j/k bungie don't pay attention to that comment.

[Franjo]

Add some amps and 15 inch subs to this bitch Blizzard. Who needs radar, just listen for the bass drops on the maps, sense its direction and attack.

[fitbabits]

Add some amps and 15 inch subs to this bitch Blizzard. Who needs radar, just listen for the bass drops on the maps, sense its direction and attack.
Blizzard??? Methinks you need to lie down.

[Franjo]

lol, brain freeze, i just posted in the wow news post hence the confusion. Must drink more coffee or do more crack. Although I refuse to use the edit post button. That'd be as gay as the psp

[Disgustipated]

I just looked at that picture again and it looks like some 90's crappy CG rendered intro for a game, ala Fallout.

[silv]

Any vehicle that is "prone to roll-over" is a sure source of hilarity and battle-field antics.

[Rirath]

It looks like a big cat of some kind... like, I dunno... a puma. :D

[kurr]

It looks like a big cat of some kind... like, I dunno... a puma. :D

God damnit. I went through the whole thread, making sure no one said something like that, and right at the end. Way to ruin my fun. :(

[SaintArnold]

Single occupant vehicles are really a no-brainer for an FPS, if you think about it. They just reskin/remodel the player and then give him/her different movement characteristics/constraints.

The real work is mount/dismount animations and animations for different situations you can get into on that vehicle... which thinking about it is the same type of animations you'd have to do anyways for a new player model.

That is utter nonsense dude. You're saying all they have to do is redo model, texture, and animation for the player (in other words, all the work).

And keeping the player & vehicle as separate objects in the actual code is obviously simpler.

[Hemalin]

If you guys want, I can post the now months old issue of EGM with the 17-page Halo 3 shindig. I think it focused on multiplayer, from what I recall.

The Mongoose has been known about for a while.
I could post the now years old issue of EGM with the Halo 2 shindig. I find it had to get excited about Halo 3 considering all the features that didn't quite make it into Halo 2.

...can now look forward to the Mongoose's inclusion.
The ATV was practicly done for Halo 2. They just didn't include it for some reason. Perhaps Bungie shouldn't have rubbed it in our faces by showing it off in the bonus DVD?

[Rock Bandit]

Your mind is the greatest weapon you will ever possess.
So you're saying if I'm ever confronted by a 7 foot tall alien packing a rifle the size of a small child (the likeliest of scenarios, I know) I should try to think him to death?

[fitbabits]

So you're saying if I'm ever confronted by a 7 foot tall alien packing a rifle the size of a small child (the likeliest of scenarios, I know) I should try to think him to death?
That's EXACTLY what I'm saying. You'll win every time.

In other news, I'm just about as drunk as a skunk. :o

[Wasson_]

And the Ghost will still be the best ground vehicle in the game...

Also: The Mongooses, yeah, that's a cool team name, the Fighting Mongooses.

[phantomhitman]

I might get accused of trolling here, but...

Wow, a new thread for a vehicle in a game.

Just...wow.

At least it's not as bad as the nonsense leading up to Halo 2. But I'm sure that's coming.
I agree, HALO 3 HAS A FOUR WHEELER!!!
NEWS, SUMBIT, WEEEEEEE!!!!

[shnastybiznastic]

Looks cool. I hope it's as fun to drive as the warthog.