I Am THE Halo 3 Supergeek
A few months ago I shared that I had entered the “WIRED Magazine Halo 3 Supergeek Contest”. I was lucky enough to be the Grand Prize Winner of the contest!! Since we already have one 360 and the blanket was hand made by my wife the new Halo 3 edition Xbox 360 is essentially hers though it will get use by both of us. I am already putting the awesome headset to use and charging up the controllers. We were both really excited to see this especially after the hard work she put into the blanket which we share. The award also mentions the study I performed on Halo 2 profanity on Xbox live which has been featured in Electronic Gaming Monthly.
From the winners announcement:
Josh Smith — the ultimate Halo 3 Supergeek. When he’s not valiantly defending his state of Ohio from towering Hunters and lumbering Brutes, studying online Halo profanity or diverting traffic to this very contest, you can find him wrapped up in his entry, the gorgeous, handcrafted, bright orange Master Chief Fleece Blanket shown at right.
Yes, that’s correct: Master Chief keeps him warm at night. While we won’t delve into the implications of that statement too deeply, the thought alone makes him our Grand Prize Winner.
You can check out unboxing pictures below!
A Mysterious Package
Amber with our new Halo 3 Xbox 360
The “Loot” spread out on our Master Chief Blanket.
We are both excited and are already making use of our prizes!
Halo 3 Supergeek Contest at WIRED
Halo 3 Supergeek Contest at WIRED
WIRED is having a Halo 3 Supergeek contest right now and as you may have guessed I have entered. The contest has some sweet prizes and runs through late October.
- Grand Prize: one Halo 3 Special Edition Xbox 360 Game Console, one limited edition Xbox 360 controller, one limited edition Halo 3 wireless headset, and one Xbox Live gold 12 month subscription card.
- First Runner Up: one limited edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 wireless controller, one Xbox Live 1600 point card, one Xbox Live Gold 12 month subscription, and one Army-style MRE.
- Second Runner Up: One Xbox Live 1600 point card, one Mini first aid kit, and one Army-style MRE.
My entry revolves around my Master Chief Fleece Blanket, which was hand made by my wife for Christmas ‘05.
Unfortunately I couldn’t fit a link to my NSFW Halo 2 Profanity Study in the description field in the form which despite its 500 character note is actually limited to 100.
Though the survey has user voting (VOTE FOR ME! /subliminal) the actual contest is voted on by, “a panel of judges comprised of Wired editors. The judges will score entries based on the following criteria: geekiness (50%) and creativity (50%). The entry with the highest overall score will be declared the potential winner.”. I am worried my blanket will falter on the geekiness factor, which is why I hoped to include info on my Xbox Live Profanity Study and the Actionclix and action figures I have. Admit it you read that last sentence and thought, “Damn thats Geeky!”
Bungie and Microsoft Break Up…Stay Friends
Well much like the romantic relationships of your youth the Bungie/Microsoft ownership has come to an end. Thankfully for gamers they have promised to remain friends. Bungie broke the news in their What’s up Weekly Update and assure fans that they will be continuing to both parter with Microsoft and continue work for the 360 and the Halo franchise. The Bungie summation is below with the whole press release after the jump.
As you have no doubt read on the web today, Microsoft Corp. and Bungie Studios, have reached an unprecedented and exciting agreement – starting immediately, Bungie will become an independent company and will retain a long-term publishing agreement with Microsoft Game Studios for “Halo” titles. The new structure became effective on Oct. 1, 2007. The official blurb follows, but since you’re a valuable part of our community, we thought we’d sum it up simply and concisely.
Bungie has long been built on creativity, originality and the freedom to pursue ideas. Microsoft agreed, and rather than stifle our imagination, they decided it was in both our best interests to unleash it. We’ll continue to make Xbox 360 games, and we’ll continue to make amazing games for MGS. In that regard, nothing has changed. All that has changed is that now Bungie Studios is once again, the property of the folks of Bungie Studios. Microsoft is and will continue to be, a brilliant, inventive and creatively collaborative publishing partner. Practically speaking, nothing has changed and you guys won’t see much, if any difference, for a while unless you come to work for us, that is – we’re hiring at http://www.bungie.net/inside/jobs.aspx
Many gamers will be conforted that this won’t disrupt the Halo 3 experience and the reins of Master Chief et al will stay with Bungie at the driver seat, even if the carriage and buggy is owned by Microsoft.
Previously: If MS and Bungie Break Up, Who Gets the Dog?
Check Out the Master Chief Legos
So officially they are Kubricks, but they look sweet. 4 of these in various colors including active camo run $18 through an importer such as Comics Infinity. These look pretty slick and would make a fine addition to any office or dorm desk.
Master Chief Blanket Spotting
Judging from Google Analytics I have a few readers who reside in the UK and I would like to call in a favor. Back around Christmas my wife made me a Master Chief blanket which we were interviewed about in March by a writer who was putting together a piece for Gamesmaster magazine. I have been waiting for a copy but I am not sure if the article didn’t make the cut or my issue just got lost, but I haven’t heard back from the writer yet. So, anyone in the UK know if my blanket made it into the magazine? With lead time it should be in one of the most recent issues, at latest next months.
Thanks for looking!
Halo 3 Announced, Release in 07
Halo 3 was just announced at E3 and is also announced on the front page over at bungie.net
Direct link to more info on Halo 3 at Bungie
The Halo 3 trailer is available in Quicktime and Windows Media Formats in both Small and Large versions and in HD on the Xbox 360.
Note the game was absent of a Forerunner add on to the title.
Check out my Halo 2 Profanity study
The Halo 2 Blanket
Christmas time has come and Amber has gone above and beyond raising the bar for wives and women across the nation.
Amber spent the past month and a half making me a Master Chief Blanket. The blanket is freakin’ Amazing. Photos cannot really do it justice. I present the one of a kind Halo 2 blanket, in fact most likely the worlds first. Bungie, Wanna come over and play a round and sign the blanket?
Check out the blanket:
And the Unveiling:
Check out more pics of the building process on Flickr HERE
PS Amber plays Halo and has recently hit her first Killing Spree!
The Master Chief figure started as the MC in the instruction booklet that shipped with the Halo 2 LE, and was transformed into a 3 foot Master chief
Josh Smith is a blogger, database manager and adjunct professor of business and technology. 
