Not to often does something that is considered a hobby by some, a kids toy by others that captivates and even changes a person’s life for 10 years. Halo has certainly done that. Before it, there was Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda but nothing in nearly 15 years came along that could create such a movement. When Halo: Combat Evolved was released 10 years ago, I was a skeptic. That is until my friend talked me into playing it with him. I was immediately hooked and found myself purchasing the giant black box called an Xbox.
However, by the time Halo 2 was released I was wrapping up my college career and focusing on getting ready to enter the real world. Eventually, I got a job, moved out of my parents house, and met my future wife while my video game consoles began to collect dust. I would still go out and buy an Xbox 360 but just to play a game once in a while during periods of boredom. In 2009, I was at a local video game speciality store just browsing the titles when I came across Halo 3. Remembering that I loved Combat Evolved and reading on the Internet how this was one of the greatest games of all time, I decided to buy a used copy and give it a try. The second I saw Master Chief crash land, I was reawakened to my love of gaming and Halo. After completing the campaign and playing some Multiplayer, I went out to get the game I had missed, Halo 2. After that, I was always in line for new Halo releases and eagerly looking for new news on my favorite video game series.
I am by no means a good Halo player, but that does not deter me like with other games as Halo has such a diverse and fantastic community that even if you are not skilled you can find people to have fun with. So thank you to all who have helped to make Halo the series it is, and the series I know it will continue to be. I would like to give special thanks to the following:
To Firestream and all the administrators of HaloCharts. For the longest time, I was playing Halo alone and playing Matchmaking with random people. HaloCharts introduced me to thousands of other Halo fans and thanks to it I can go online to any game of Halo and find someone their to play with. Many of the players there that I game with have also become great friends of mine. HaloCharts also has such an extensive array of stats and rankings that it takes days to go through it all.
To Rooster Teeth. Thank you for creating Red vs. Blue, perhaps my favorite online series and always keeps me entertained. Also have to show love for the group that created my favorite playlist, Grifball.
To GrifballHub and Grifball.com. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication you all show towards the greatest game within a game. The Grifball leagues have grown from just a few teams playing against one another to hundreds and it keeps growing with each new season.
And of course to Bungie and 343 Industries. Not only for creating one of the greatest video game series of all time but for involving the community as much as you do. With most video game developers, we feel like they could care less about our opinion and ideas, not the case with Bungie. I firmly believe one of the reasons for the great success of the Halo series is the communities involvement. As for 343, I know they have big shoes to fill, but they have already impressed me with some of the work they have done with Halo Waypoint and the future looks bright for Master Chief and the Halo universe.
-HC Jules
