Word around the interwebs right now is that Halo 3 only runs at 640p and is scaled by the Xbox 360 to 720p and higher. Beyond3D forum member Quaz51 did some tests to show this.

He tested several edge images in the game using 1:1 mapping on his Samsung 1080p set to come up with his conclusion of 640p. The image above is the edge of a sniper rifle in the game. Quaz51 tested “approximately sixty X360 games (and lot of PS3 games too ), all are 720p except two 1080p (VT3 and NBA street), two 600p (PGR3 and Tomb Raider) and Two 640p (Perfect Dark and Halo3.” He’s very credible over there, so I’m going to believe his results.

So what does this mean? It might explain why some people don’t think the graphics in Halo 3 looks that great. I wonder if Bungie will confront this issue.

Stranglehold could not have picked a worse time to be released. Between BioShock and Halo 3 is almost certainly suicide. Nevertheless, this is one of Gamefly’s most rented games. Does it deserve to be considered a top title of 2007?

Presentation and Graphics: Stranglehold has some incredible detail when it comes to the faces of the characters. This is almost and exact replica of Chow Yun Fat. Shooting a man in the face from afar never seemed so real. The level design varies a little. Sometimes there is incredible detail as in the Mega restaurant and other times as in the outdoor sea town, they seem generic. The destructible environments are a blast and enemies cover their face when shrapnel is near. There is not much to the menus; the design is creative but there is not much to do besides play the game. There is some DVD content stuff if you are really into John Woo. The animations are a little bland though. Enemies fall the same way everytime it seems. The enemies are also cookie cutter which takes away some style points. 4 of 5

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I recently wrote an article in regards to Clive Barker’s Jericho getting a new demo for Xbox Live today and coming for PS3 on October 4th. I got this reply back:

From reader SixAxis:

Maybe i had a bad day. but im sick of waiting when good games/ demos will be released. Why not today. Why is it october 4th. i just want to know the reason. “PS3 owner don’t despare as the Sony clan will also be graced with a PSN demo on October 4th. So what are you waiting for? Go download now!”
what, are u f..ng kidding me “go download now”. only those words alone make me wanna throw my ps3 out of the god damn window. J just… cant see a single good game to be released before November, and i mean theres a long way to go. Pro Street,Uncharted, UT III, Army of two, Assassins creed, Half life 2,COD 4, Haze, Kane and Lynch etc. Maybe those companys could just cancel these games, then its like happy christmas ps3 owners.

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As someone who has played quite a bit of Halo, mostly Halo 2 multiplayer on the original Xbox I was interested in Halo 3. Not like some other gamers out there that flocked to retailers at midnight to get the first glimpses of the game, but still interested. I found it interesting that some retailers were pushing for consumers to pre-order Halo 3 and actually told people that they couldn’t sell the game opening day without pre-orders, this is ridiculous. I went in the day of the launch into a Best Buy and saw literally hundreds of copies sitting on the shelves and heard reports of more the same throughout the US.

I actually know people that got screwed because of pre-orders, they went in and the retailers system was having problems so they couldn’t get the game on launch day! That is insane, you make me pre-order because if not you won’t sell me a copy of a game you have tons of, so I do and then your computer screws me.

Anyone else run into these problems?

Well those of you that have been following Clive Barker’s Jericho know how scary the detail is in the game and can be pleased to hear that the Xbox 360 got a demo up now for you try out. If you are a PS3 owner don’t despare as the Sony clan will also be graced with a PSN demo on October 4th. So what are you waiting for? Go download now!

From the press release:

Prepare to confront evil and then blast its face off as Codemasters announces the release of the Clive Barker’s Jericho™ playable demo.
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Well everyone foretold of the coming of Halo 3 and we all saw the fierce campaigns and marketing strategies, looks like they paid off big. Halo 3 is now the big daddy of entertainment, kudos to MS and Bungie, they have de-throwned Spider Man and Harry Potter.

Halo 3 pulled in a record $170 million in 24 hours, now that is one impressive statistic and shows the reach that video games and gamers have now a days. Yesterday when I was on Halo3 there was an impressive 600,000 people playing at the same time and this does not count those people playing offline, just think that all those people made up only $36 million of that reported $170, so there are a lot of peripherals, consoles, controllers, etc. flying off the shelves.

From the press release:

Microsoft today announced that the Xbox 360 exclusive game “Halo 3” has officially become the biggest entertainment launch in history, garnering an estimated $170 million in sales in the United States alone in the first 24 hours. The Xbox 360 title beat previous records set by blockbuster theatrical releases like “Spider-man 3” and novels such as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
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As you well know, people love to talk smack. Especially when the person is not in the same room. You hear some of the funniest stuff in the exchanges people make in this game and I owe it to you guys to share it.

(After scoring a kill with Duel Wielded Spikers)

Gamer 1: Yeah bitch, how you like that double action?

Gamer 2: Just as much as your mother liked that double action dildo last night.

Gamer 3: Dorothy Mantooth was a saint!

Only on Xbox Live.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today the complete soundtrack for Need for Speed™ ProStreet, which is set for North American release November 14, 2007 on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ as well as the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PC and mobile. The soundtrack features over 35 songs from artists representing a volatile range of styles, along with an original score by internationally renowned DJ/Producer/Musician Junkie XL that captures the skill, risk and velocity of pro street racing culture.

“The Need for Speed franchise has set the worldwide standard for not only racing games, but their soundtracks as well,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Music Marketing at EA. “Now for the first time, Need for Speed ProStreet takes street racing from the underground to pro level with a music mix to match. We’ve brought together an unprecedented collection of artists that represents an international convergence of emerging Rock, aggressive Electro, UK Grime and much more, including a truly dangerous original score by our Artwerk artist Junkie XL. In a still-outlaw culture that demands complete authenticity, we have blended the ultimate audio racing fuel.”
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Now that it’s after 5pm on the right coast, many people are home from work and school and ready to Finish the Fight. It looks like the Xbox Live servers are taking a beating again as thousands, if not millions of users hop online to frag each other.

Currently, the My Xbox section seems to be going up and down, and my 360 doesn’t want to log into Xbox Live. Anyone else having trouble tonight?

I’m sure this will continue through the weekend as people take to their consoles for arguably the biggest game release of all time.

Microsoft slapped together a Halo fan’s wet dream. More Halo and Microsoft material than you can sink your teeth into. All of this is being bundled together as an auction for charity (Boys & Girls Clubs to be specific). Here’s what you can bid on:

• The ONLY Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo 3 console that has been personally signed by Bill Gates.
• The ONLY Limited Edition Halo 3 Zune 30 GB media player personally signed by J Allard.
• The entire Halo Trilogy: Two copies of Halo 3 (Legendary Edition and Standard Edition), plus the Halo Triple Pack for Xbox® (Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack)
• Xbox 360 HD DVD player.
• Rare special aluminum storage case with over $400 worth of accessories (two Limited Edition Halo 3 Wireless Controllers with an exclusive Todd McFarlane Collectable Figurine, Messenger Kit, HDMI AV cable, extra 120 GB hard drive, and a Halo 3 T-shirt).

At press time, the auction is going for $6,600. That’s a lot of cash to satisfy your Master Chief desires. It’s for a good cause, but damn. The auction ends October 4th, so if you have a hankering to get more Halo than you’ve ever had, get bidding.