15 years ago to this day, November 15th, Microsoft released it’s entry into console gaming, the Xbox. Along with the classic system came a little title called Halo. The Xbox was the first of a line of successful consoles, and Halo was the start of a successful first person shooter franchise. Many more awesome games would hit the console, such as Ninja Gaiden, Crimson Skies, and Dead or Alive. I could tell ya more, but Zac did an excellent job of summing up the Xbox in his Alphabet article. Microsoft is commemorating today with free Halo 5 and Forza Horizon 3 DLC. If you wanna learn more about the original Halo, check out this Lost Classic. Here is to 15 great years of Microsoft gaming.

This past week, Microsoft had a showing at Gamescom in Germany, showing off things you didn’t see at E3. Quantum Break (which had been shown since E3 2013), Crackdown (which had been hinted at since E3 2013) and Platinum Game’s Scalebound (which was shown off at last year’s E3) along with a few surprises. While most of the cool stuff isn’t coming out til 2016, there was plenty at the show for Xbox Owners to look forward too.
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Halo Spartan Assault is a top down shooter that takes place between Halo 3 and 4. Taking control of either solder Sarah Palmer or Spartan Davis, you fight back against a rogue sect of the Covenant that ignored the cease fire from Halo 3. Fighting through 25 single player missions, Spartan Assault contains all the action and weapons that Halo is famous for from an all new perspective. The controls are easy to get used to, and all your favorite weapons, vesicles, and enemies are here as well. Seeing as how this was originally a mobile game, it unfortunately contains micro-transactions. Thankfully, it isn’t pay-to-win. A recent update adds new missions, new achievements, and the ability to use XP to buy certain weapons rather than currency. Spartan Assault may not be a killer app for the Windows Phone, but Halo fans will love it, and it will tide them over until Master Chief’s newest adventure hits in 2015. BTW, if you have an Xbox One and a Gold membership, you have until the end of today to download this for free.

Before Bungie left Microsoft as a second party developer, the company gave us one last hurrah for the Halo franchise. Taking place shortly before the events of the original Halo, Reach follows the exploits of Noble Team, a group of Spartans fighting the covenant on the doomed planet Reach. If you read the novel ‘The Fall of Reach’, you’ll know that the planet is on borrowed time. Stepping in the shoes of Noble Six, you join the group and do what you can to battle the covenant. While you already know the tragic way it will end, you’ll enjoy getting there in the meantime.
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The Powetcast returns! Our ‘holiday schedule’ will release new episodes every other week, so look for the next show on December 20 and then January 3rd 2013.

This week we take a ride for a Jeep Creep in Halo 4, go racing with Sonic and the Sega All Stars, and relive the glory days of ECW.

In news we discuss the return of the elders to X-Men, another Wonder Woman reboot, Pacific Rim, and Young Justice returns… as a video game.

We also talk about Phil Bond being on Reddit.

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Direct Link:Powetcast 146: Mass Transit

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Captain Genius and Zac are sick and manage to get out of bed long enough to record a podcast.

This week Adam tries to classify pedophiles, Zero hates Skyfall, Zac only plays Halo, and Genius hates Miss Piggy.

For a fun game, try to figure out who is taking a bathroom break at various points during the show. Posts the times in the comments and you can win a No-prize.

Next Week: Wii U and Black Friday deals

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Direct Link:Powetcast 144: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

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Zac, Adam, Zero, and Genius roundtable old cartoon intros, the Halo 4 web series, and probably talk too long about Super Cosby 64.

Join the discussion! Leave a comment about what you think of cartoon intros and the lackluster toons that followed them. You don’t even have to listen to the podcast. Just say something!

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Direct Link:Powetcast 143: That Old Pair Of Jeans

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Much of the action in the footage focuses on a marine’s struggle in the academy, but when the shit hits the fan, he follows Master Chief into battle.

Series stars Tom Green as Thomas Lasky and Daniel Cudmore as Master Chief and is directed by Stewart Hendler

Here is the synposis from Halo Waypoint

Set against the backdrop of a UNSC military academy, a group of highborn cadets are training to be the next generation of soldiers in the UNSC’s ongoing war with insurrectionists in the outer colonial planets. Among these cadets, Thomas Lasky struggles with his doubts about this war, and with the burden of expectations he may not be able to carry. As Lasky comes to terms with his potential as a military leader, the terrifying alien alliance known as the Covenant arrives and turns his world upside down. Inspired by the Master Chief, he must decide what it means to be a hero.

You can also watch Behind The Scenes videos here and here. The series will launch October 5, 2012.