Monthly Archives: October 2021
Halo Infinite’s Craig Meme Gave 343 ‘More Time’ To Perfect the Brutes
The developers of Halo Infinite have discussed their “love-hate relationship” with the Brute that started the Craig meme. While the subject of ridicule, the character model ultimately granted the team at 343 Industries more time to bring Halo Infinite up to a better level of quality.
“While it was fun to see the community gravitate towards Craig, he unfortunately represented some content and systems that were not ready for prime time in that demo,” said Steve Dyck, Character & Combat Director on Halo Infinite, in a new Halo Insider post. “The positive outcome of Craig was that he was one of the factors in gaining some more time to finish work and get Brutes to a place where the team is happy with them. This is one of the many positive examples of 343 working with and aligning with the Halo community around expectations. Players who look hard enough will still be able to find some evidence of Craig in Halo Infinite, his spirit lives on!”
'Craig' is the name given by the community to a Brute that featured in Halo Infinite's first campaign reveal, which was the subject of ridicule and blowback due to the quality of the graphics, among other things.
While discussing the character designs of Halo Infinite, Dyck also noted that the team is looking back to the Bungie Halo games to influence its art direction. “In terms of which part of the legacy we looked to for inspiration, we settled most around the Halo 3 / Halo: Reach timeframe,” he explained.
“We wanted to get back to the legacy designs that made Halo characters iconic,” added Character Art Lead, Bryan Repka. “I will use the Elites as an example – in Halo 4 and Halo 5 the Elites were big and bulky. We ended up scaling them down a bit and giving them more of a sleek look.”
While Halo Infinite is looking to the past in the name of being a “spiritual reboot”, it also has several new enemy ideas of its own. One of those is the Skimmer, a new Covenant troop.
“One of the new enemies we just revealed in the Campaign Overview is the Skimmer,” said Dyck. “They are a mid-tier combatant, sort of on the level with the Jackals and higher tier Grunts. They aren’t full flying enemies but have hover packs to allow them to move around quickly and provide unique challenges and opportunities to the player while on foot or in a vehicle.”
The post also provided a little extra detail on the Spartan Killers, a group of Banished members who are equipped to hunt down Spartans. One can be seen in the Campaign Overview trailer - Jega 'Rdomnai - but they are just one of many.
“Each Spartan killer is unique and has its own story and battle trophies,” promised Repka.
For more on Halo Infinite, check out The Banished Rise trailer, Master Chief's new AI companion and outpost opportunities, and how Ray Tracing will be a priority for the PC version... after launch, at least.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Halo Infinite’s Craig Meme Gave 343 ‘More Time’ To Perfect the Brutes
The developers of Halo Infinite have discussed their “love-hate relationship” with the Brute that started the Craig meme. While the subject of ridicule, the character model ultimately granted the team at 343 Industries more time to bring Halo Infinite up to a better level of quality.
“While it was fun to see the community gravitate towards Craig, he unfortunately represented some content and systems that were not ready for prime time in that demo,” said Steve Dyck, Character & Combat Director on Halo Infinite, in a new Halo Insider post. “The positive outcome of Craig was that he was one of the factors in gaining some more time to finish work and get Brutes to a place where the team is happy with them. This is one of the many positive examples of 343 working with and aligning with the Halo community around expectations. Players who look hard enough will still be able to find some evidence of Craig in Halo Infinite, his spirit lives on!”
'Craig' is the name given by the community to a Brute that featured in Halo Infinite's first campaign reveal, which was the subject of ridicule and blowback due to the quality of the graphics, among other things.
While discussing the character designs of Halo Infinite, Dyck also noted that the team is looking back to the Bungie Halo games to influence its art direction. “In terms of which part of the legacy we looked to for inspiration, we settled most around the Halo 3 / Halo: Reach timeframe,” he explained.
“We wanted to get back to the legacy designs that made Halo characters iconic,” added Character Art Lead, Bryan Repka. “I will use the Elites as an example – in Halo 4 and Halo 5 the Elites were big and bulky. We ended up scaling them down a bit and giving them more of a sleek look.”
While Halo Infinite is looking to the past in the name of being a “spiritual reboot”, it also has several new enemy ideas of its own. One of those is the Skimmer, a new Covenant troop.
“One of the new enemies we just revealed in the Campaign Overview is the Skimmer,” said Dyck. “They are a mid-tier combatant, sort of on the level with the Jackals and higher tier Grunts. They aren’t full flying enemies but have hover packs to allow them to move around quickly and provide unique challenges and opportunities to the player while on foot or in a vehicle.”
The post also provided a little extra detail on the Spartan Killers, a group of Banished members who are equipped to hunt down Spartans. One can be seen in the Campaign Overview trailer - Jega 'Rdomnai - but they are just one of many.
“Each Spartan killer is unique and has its own story and battle trophies,” promised Repka.
For more on Halo Infinite, check out The Banished Rise trailer, Master Chief's new AI companion and outpost opportunities, and how Ray Tracing will be a priority for the PC version... after launch, at least.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Jon Hamm Is Starring In New Animated Detective Show Called Grimsburg
Jon Hamm is set to voice the lead character in a new animated detective series from Fox called Grimsburg.
As reported by Deadline, the series is set to launch in 2023. The Mad Men and Baby Driver star will play Detective Marvin Flute in the show, which marks the first pilot pickup and series order from writers Catlan McClelland and Matthew Schlissel.
Accompanying the announcement of his role in the show, Hamm spoke further in a press release about what the role means to him. “I am very excited to be involved in the Fox animation universe — a universe I have been actively watching since the early ’90s,” he said. “The opportunity to get to bring a project like Grimsburg to life that is so particular and unique, and to work with its incredibly imaginative and hilarious creators, is one I can’t wait to get started with.”
As well as starring as the show's lead, Hamm will also act as one of the show's executive producers alongside McClelland and Schlissel. Other executive producers on the show also include Chadd Gindin (The Cleveland Show), Connie Tavel (Judging Amy), Hend Baghdady, and the Jackal Group's Gail Berman.
While Grimsburg certainly presents a new opportunity for Hamm, the actor has plenty of experience to bring to the table when it comes to voicing characters in the past. Previously, Hamm has provided voice work in films such as Shrek Forever After (2010) and Minions (2015). The actor also worked as The Narrator on the FX series Legion (2018) and has made appearances in other similar animated series including Family Guy, American Dad, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers.
When the show does eventually air, it will follow the life of Detective Marvin Flute as he returns to the town of Grimsburg in the hopes of redeeming himself with his ex-wife. As part of a statement, President of Entertainment at Fox Michael Thorn described Hamm's character as "deeply troubled" with "very eclectic taste and opinions". Elsewhere in the statement, Thorne praised the show itself, saying that "Grimsburg's wildly funny, bizarre and inventive take on the crime genre makes it the perfect next-generation Fox comedy."
In other related news, Hamm recently played the role of Iron Man in Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. To find out more about the adult-animated show, make sure to check out our review.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
Jon Hamm Is Starring In New Animated Detective Show Called Grimsburg
Jon Hamm is set to voice the lead character in a new animated detective series from Fox called Grimsburg.
As reported by Deadline, the series is set to launch in 2023. The Mad Men and Baby Driver star will play Detective Marvin Flute in the show, which marks the first pilot pickup and series order from writers Catlan McClelland and Matthew Schlissel.
Accompanying the announcement of his role in the show, Hamm spoke further in a press release about what the role means to him. “I am very excited to be involved in the Fox animation universe — a universe I have been actively watching since the early ’90s,” he said. “The opportunity to get to bring a project like Grimsburg to life that is so particular and unique, and to work with its incredibly imaginative and hilarious creators, is one I can’t wait to get started with.”
As well as starring as the show's lead, Hamm will also act as one of the show's executive producers alongside McClelland and Schlissel. Other executive producers on the show also include Chadd Gindin (The Cleveland Show), Connie Tavel (Judging Amy), Hend Baghdady, and the Jackal Group's Gail Berman.
While Grimsburg certainly presents a new opportunity for Hamm, the actor has plenty of experience to bring to the table when it comes to voicing characters in the past. Previously, Hamm has provided voice work in films such as Shrek Forever After (2010) and Minions (2015). The actor also worked as The Narrator on the FX series Legion (2018) and has made appearances in other similar animated series including Family Guy, American Dad, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers.
When the show does eventually air, it will follow the life of Detective Marvin Flute as he returns to the town of Grimsburg in the hopes of redeeming himself with his ex-wife. As part of a statement, President of Entertainment at Fox Michael Thorn described Hamm's character as "deeply troubled" with "very eclectic taste and opinions". Elsewhere in the statement, Thorne praised the show itself, saying that "Grimsburg's wildly funny, bizarre and inventive take on the crime genre makes it the perfect next-generation Fox comedy."
In other related news, Hamm recently played the role of Iron Man in Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. To find out more about the adult-animated show, make sure to check out our review.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
Attack the Block 2 Planned To Go Into Production in 2022
Attack the Block director Joe Cornish has said that he hopes the sequel will go into production in 2022.
Talking to comedian Richard Herring on episode 351 of his Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, Cornish said “We’re gonna make it - I hope - next year.”
The topic came up after an audience member asked about what was happening with Attack the Block. Cornish offered no further details.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Cornish and Boyega were reuniting for Attack the Block 2. Cornish will once again write and direct, and Boyega will also produce this time alongside reprising his role as Moses.
Attack the Block is a brilliantly fun B-movie treat, effortlessly combining sci-fi, horror, and British working class stories together. It was highly praised in our review back in 2011. Starring a young John Boyega in the leading role, it’s also a showcase of Jodie Whitaker and Nick Frost’s talents.
For more fun horror, check out the best 90s horror movies you can stream right now. And if it’s fun sci-fi that floats your boat, then the trailer for upcoming Pixar film Lightyear might get you hyped.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Attack the Block 2 Planned To Go Into Production in 2022
Attack the Block director Joe Cornish has said that he hopes the sequel will go into production in 2022.
Talking to comedian Richard Herring on episode 351 of his Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, Cornish said “We’re gonna make it - I hope - next year.”
The topic came up after an audience member asked about what was happening with Attack the Block. Cornish offered no further details.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Cornish and Boyega were reuniting for Attack the Block 2. Cornish will once again write and direct, and Boyega will also produce this time alongside reprising his role as Moses.
Attack the Block is a brilliantly fun B-movie treat, effortlessly combining sci-fi, horror, and British working class stories together. It was highly praised in our review back in 2011. Starring a young John Boyega in the leading role, it’s also a showcase of Jodie Whitaker and Nick Frost’s talents.
For more fun horror, check out the best 90s horror movies you can stream right now. And if it’s fun sci-fi that floats your boat, then the trailer for upcoming Pixar film Lightyear might get you hyped.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Call of Duty Warzone’s New Pacific Map Has a Release Date
Call of Duty: Warzone's new Pacific map debuts on December 2, a little less than a month after Call of Duty: Vanguard launches on November 5.
Activision released Call of Duty's new content roadmap on Thursday, laying out the important dates that will lay the groundwork for transitioning players from Verdansk to the sandy shores of Caldera. Several new images of Caldera were also revealed.
It's all laid out in Call of Duty's colossal blog, but here are the highlights you need to know.
October 28 (console) and November 2 (PC): Call of Duty: Vanguard pre-loading begins. If you're worried that your hard drive will choke on yet another Call of Duty install, the good news is that Vanguard will be 30% to 50% smaller than previous games' install sizes. Still sounds like a good chunk of storage space, though.
November 5: Call of Duty: Vanguard launches on consoles and PC. That includes the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes. This is also when Call of Duty's new kernel-level anti-cheat program "Ricochet" will begin server-side implementation. Warzone's Ricochet implementation begins on December 2.
November 5 to December 2: Preseason in Vanguard. This includes a new Vanguard map on November 17.
November 18: Call of Duty: Warzone's Operation: Flashback event begins. This is described as an "encore" limited-time event that celebrates Verdansk's 18 months of service. Players can earn a unique emblem just for participating and an animated calling card for winning their match.
November 24: You can unlock the "secrets of the Pacific" and get intel on the Caldera map by completing Warzone and Vanguard multiplayer challenges.
November 30 and December 1: The "Last Hours of Verdansk" event. Activision is teasing the event saying "bombs away," suggesting we'll see a fairly destructive wiping of the slate before Caldera goes lives. Considering they've already nuked Verdansk once, one wonders how much bigger the bombs can get.
December 2: Call of Duty Season One begins in Vanguard and Warzone. Vanguard players will receive access to new multiplayer maps, 24 hours of exclusive access to Warzone, and Warzone launches the new Pacific map Caldera. Players will also be able to purchase a new battle pass and will receive two free "functional" weapons.
Vanguard will also see some integration in Call of Duty: Black Ops' and vice versa. All operators and calling cards from Black Ops Cold War and Modern Warfare will transfer to Warzone, including cross-progression and seasonal prestige.
Certain weapons from Black Ops and Modern Warfare will be integrated into certain Warzone playlists. This currently includes Rebirth Island playlists like Resurgence and Mini Royales, along with regular Battle Royale and Plunder modes. All of the 150+ weapons unlocked in previous seasons will integrate with Warzone Pacific as well.
A bevy of new images of Warzone Pacific's Caldera map was also revealed. Check out the gallery below for a look at the mountainous heights and sandy depths we'll be visiting for our next battle royale win. Activision says it'll feature more than 200 points of interest for players to discover.
Don't forget to check out our massive Call of Duty: Vanguard preview coverage. We recently got a behind-the-scenes look at Vanguard's campaign, plus a look at how God of War composer Bear McCreary is bringing his signature musical style to Call of Duty's firefights.
Edgar Wright Wants To Be Doctor Who’s 14th Doctor
Director Edgar Wright jokingly said he wants to play the next iteration of The Doctor on Doctor Who.
Speaking to Slash Film about if he would ever step behind the camera for an episode of the beloved sci-fi show, Wright said he was given a chance to direct an episode of the revived series back in the early 2000s. Then-showrunner Russell T. Davies gave Wright an offer to direct the pilot, but Wright was working on Shaun of the Dead at the time.
Now, with the huge news that Davies is returning to the showrunner role for the show's 60th anniversary, Wright has been asked if he hopes to direct an episode. While he couldn't say either way if that's going to become a reality, he did say, "Can I be The Doctor? If the headline is 'Edgar Wright Would Like to Play 14th Doctor', I'd go along with that." So here we are.
Update 10/28 4:27 pm PT: While Wright was clearly joking and presumably would not give up his day job of a critically-acclaimed director, he did say he would recommend Richard Ayoade for the role as The Doctor.
To be clear, I was kidding. But I nominate @RichardAyoade x https://t.co/ojW90344Xr
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) October 28, 2021
Wright is known for directing movies including Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver. His latest film, Last Night in Soho, stars Doctor Who alumn, Matt Smith.
Current Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall is leaving the show after 2022, along with the current Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. Davies, who was the showrunner for the revival's first 4 seasons starring Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, will return for the 60th anniversary episode and seasons beyond that, according to the BBC. We don't yet know who will succeed Whittaker as the Timelord.
For more on Doctor Who, check out our Doctor interviews with David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
Ubisoft Has Quietly Delayed Tom Clancy’s The Division Heartland
You'd be forgiven if, glancing through Ubisoft's earnings announcements today, you didn't immediately catch onto yet another game delay stealthily snuck in: it's Tom Clancy's The Division Heartland.
When free-to-play Heartland was first announced back in May of this year, it was given a broad release window of sometime either this year or next year. Just a few days later, Ubisoft clarified that a bit to fiscal 2021 - 2022, meaning the period from April 2021 running up to March 2022.
Heartland skipped E3 earlier this year, and Ubisoft seemed quiet on it during its last quarterly earnings, leaving some wondering if it wasn't about time to start showing the game off a bit more if it was indeed coming this fiscal year. Turns out, it is not. Ubisoft's latest quarterly earnings report stated that Heartland would join Prince of Persia and Rocksmith+ in the following fiscal year running from April 2022 to March of 2023.
Notably, both Prince of Persia and Rocksmith have, at last report, been scheduled for sometime in calendar 2022. We haven't heard specific word on whether these will edge back further into 2023, but Ubisoft does appear to be giving itself some wiggle room there.
Ubisoft does this kind of thing a lot. Rainbow Six Extraction, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, and Watch Dogs: Legion were all delayed back in 2019, and then Extraction was delayed again. Riders Republic, out today, underwent multiple delays, Far Cry 6 was pushed back, as was Avatar, Skull & Bones' has been delayed again and again since it was revealed in 2017, and when Ghost Recon Frontline was announced earlier this month, its beta was promptly delayed a week later.
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Ubisoft Has Quietly Delayed Tom Clancy’s The Division Heartland
You'd be forgiven if, glancing through Ubisoft's earnings announcements today, you didn't immediately catch onto yet another game delay stealthily snuck in: it's Tom Clancy's The Division Heartland.
When free-to-play Heartland was first announced back in May of this year, it was given a broad release window of sometime either this year or next year. Just a few days later, Ubisoft clarified that a bit to fiscal 2021 - 2022, meaning the period from April 2021 running up to March 2022.
Heartland skipped E3 earlier this year, and Ubisoft seemed quiet on it during its last quarterly earnings, leaving some wondering if it wasn't about time to start showing the game off a bit more if it was indeed coming this fiscal year. Turns out, it is not. Ubisoft's latest quarterly earnings report stated that Heartland would join Prince of Persia and Rocksmith+ in the following fiscal year running from April 2022 to March of 2023.
Notably, both Prince of Persia and Rocksmith have, at last report, been scheduled for sometime in calendar 2022. We haven't heard specific word on whether these will edge back further into 2023, but Ubisoft does appear to be giving itself some wiggle room there.
Ubisoft does this kind of thing a lot. Rainbow Six Extraction, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, and Watch Dogs: Legion were all delayed back in 2019, and then Extraction was delayed again. Riders Republic, out today, underwent multiple delays, Far Cry 6 was pushed back, as was Avatar, Skull & Bones' has been delayed again and again since it was revealed in 2017, and when Ghost Recon Frontline was announced earlier this month, its beta was promptly delayed a week later.
Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.