Editing Halo 3: ODST

{{Status|RealWorld}}

{{disambig header|the video game|other articles including "ODST"|ODST (disambiguation)}}

{{Game infobox

|platform= [[Xbox 360]], [[PC]], [[Xbox One]]

|releasedate= *September 22, 2009 {{C|Original game}}

An official five-part prequel comic, ''[[Halo: Helljumper]]'', was released in the months leading up to and after the release of ''ODST'', starting in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 1|July]],<ref>[http://www.marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.1 Marvel.com Catalog - ''Halo: Helljumper'' #1]</ref> and ending in [[Halo: Helljumper Issue 5|November]].<ref>[http://marvel.com/catalog/HALO~colon~_HELLJUMPER.2009.5 Marvel.com Catalog - ''Halo: Helljumper'' #5]</ref> An [[Xbox LIVE]] invitation to the [[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|Multiplayer Beta]] of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'',<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#beta Bungie.net : Invitation to the ''Halo: Reach'' Beta]</ref> announced at E3 2009, was included with ''ODST'', and ran from May 3, 2010 through May 20, 2010.

On December 20, 2014, it was announced that ''Halo 3: ODST''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s campaign mode would be included in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' on [[Xbox One]] as a free content update to players who had played the collection between its release on November 11, 2014 and December 19, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT, serving as compensation to said fans who had experienced many bugs and glitches in the weeks following the collection's launch.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-the-master-chief-collection-thank-you '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''A Thank You to Our Fans from Bonnie Ross'']</ref> The ''Halo 3: ODST'' campaign was officially released as DLC for ''The Master Chief Collection'' on May 30, 2015. Players not eligible for the free DLC can purchase the ''ODST'' campaign add-on for $4.99 USD.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-the-master-chief-collection-thank-you-faq '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Halo: The Master Chief Collection - Remnant & ODST FAQ'']</ref> On June 10, [[2020]], it was announced that ODST's [[Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)|Firefight]] mode would be joining ''The Master Chief Collection'' in Summer 2020.<ref>''[[Halo 3: ODST Firefight Teaser]]''</ref> The release date was later announced for September 22, 2020 - eleven years to the day since the game's original launch.<ref>''[[Prepare To Drop (trailer)|Prepare to Drop]]''</ref> However, like ''Halo 3'' for PC, ''ODST'' was released a day early.<ref>[https://youtu.be/QAU0ZmQrgY0?t=402 '''Halo Canon''': ''ONI Archive Analysis - Halo 3: ODST'']</ref>{{Ref/Note|This article uses the [[Wikipedia:Pacific Time Zone|Pacific Time Zone]] to determine the release date.}}

[[File:The Squad.jpg|thumb|200px|The main cast of ''ODST''.]]

Taking place in the [[Kenya]]n port city of [[New Mombasa]], ''ODST'' follows [[Alpha-Nine|a squad]] of elite [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s during the [[Battle of Earth|Covenant invasion of Earth]] on [[2552#October|October 20th, 2552]].The ODSTs were knocked off course due to the [[Battle of Mombasa|Mombasa Slipspace Incident]], these five Marines led by an ONI officer fight through the waste-filled, destroyed streets in order to link up with each other, evade the Covenant, and execute a top secret mission.

{{Spoiler/begin}}

Shown after the copyright text and the [[Bungie]] and [[Wikipedia:Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]] logos, which is cut in the MCC version, and before the main menu, or the first cutscene in the MCC version, is an opening scroll.

{| class="darker" style="margin:0px auto; padding:1px; border-radius:.5em; background: #D8E9FC; text-align:center; color:#000;"

| style="border-radius:0 0 .5em .5em; background:#F2F5FD; font-style:italic;" | The year is 2552.

Teams of highly trained "Orbital Drop Shock Troopers" are ready to assault the carrier from Navy ships in low orbit.

[[File:H3 ODST - Buck Dare Argument.png|thumb|250px|Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Captain Dare arguing.]]

{{quote|no=three|[[Michael Crespo|Private First Class Michael Crespo]]|[[Taylor H. Miles|Corporal Taylor Miles]]|[[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo Agu]]|q1=The Navy put up a good fight.|q2='Course they did. It's Earth.|q3=Better late than never.|An exchange between PFC Michael Crespo, Cpl. Taylor Miles and LCpl. Kojo Agu prior to the drop.}}

The game begins at around 4:00pm, [[2552#October|October 20th, 2552]]. The majority of an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODST]] [[Buck's squad|squad]] are preparing for [[Operation: BUMRUSH|the mission]] on board the {{UNSCShip|Say My Name}} orbiting high above [[New Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]. They are grouped around a [[Holotank|holo-table]], which shows the [[Covenant]] [[Prophet of Regret]]'s [[Covenant assault carrier|assault carrier]], ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', hovering near the city's [[Mombasa Tether|space tether]]. [[Taylor H. Miles|Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles]], [[Kojo Agu|Lance Corporal Kojo "Romeo" Agu]], and [[Private First Class]] [[Michael Crespo|Michael "Mickey" Crespo]] are gathered around the holo-table. [[Rookie|Lance Corporal "Rookie"]] is asleep in his [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV drop pod]] at the back of the room.

Buck directs the Captain to her pod, where Romeo asks about her; obviously angry about the mission, Buck confronts the curious Lance Corporal, replying that she is their "new boss". He gives a short speech to his men to motivate them for the drop, and hands an [[Sniper Rifle System 99D-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99D Sniper Rifle]] to Romeo, drawing questions from the squad, who were anticipating a close range battle inside the Covenant assault carrier. While en route to his own drop pod, Romeo rudely awakens the Rookie, hitting him with the butt of his rifle (at which point the camera changes to a first-person view) while the Rookie lies asleep in his pod. Dutch pushes Romeo out of the way and hands the Rookie a [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun|silenced SMG]], telling the ODST to relax despite Romeo's obnoxious behavior; the Rookie's pod is then closed, spun around, and lowered into the launch bay to begin drop preparations along with the rest of the squad.

Marine forces are informed by Dare that the Covenant ground troops are massing beneath the assault carrier for an organized retreat. Dozens of ODSTs are launched into Earth's atmosphere in a coordinated drop to infiltrate and capture the Prophet of Regret aboard the assault carrier. They pass by a few destroyed [[UNSC frigate|Frigates]] slowly falling from orbit around the elevator and begin to enter cloud cover above the city. As they pass through it and approach the carrier, the Captain orders the squad to adjust their trajectory; sending the ODSTs "way off" of their intended course, in Mickey's words following the order.

Before the ODSTs are able to deploy their internal parachutes in preparation for landing, however, Dutch picks up a radiation alert in his pod, and the assault carrier proceeds to enter [[Slipstream space|slipspace]], closely followed by the UNSC frigate ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]''. The radiation and energy burst emitted by the slipspace rupture disables the drop pods before they are able to deploy their parachutes, sending them out of control; the ODSTs are scattered across New Mombasa. Dare's commandeered squad, farthest away from the slipspace rupture, manages to survive the fall, but the remaining ODSTs aiming for the carrier are killed in action. During the fall, the Rookie's pod collides with Mickey's pod, sending it out of control. The high-G forces caused by the impact knocks the Rookie unconscious.

{{Quote|no=four|GySgt. Buck|LCpl. Romeo|GySgt. Buck|LCpl. Romeo|q1=Hey, Rookie? You out there? Respond, that's an order.|q2=Give it up, Gunny. Even if he ain't dead, he's lost in that soup. Our comms can't cut through that.|q3=Oh, give up, huh? What if it were you down there?|q4=Just saying. I ain't dead.|An exchange between Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Lance Corporal Romeo.}}

Six hours after the drop (10:02pm), the Rookie awakens to the sound of two [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantoms]] flying nearby. He soon regains his situational awareness, discovering that his drop pod is lodged in a building at least twenty feet off the ground. With no choice, he jumps out of the pod, and falls to the street, slightly injuring himself when he hits the ground. After combing the area for medical supplies, he heads in to the city to find his squad.

Meanwhile, Dutch landed in the [[Uplift Nature Reserve]], where he led a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] charge in an effort to breach Covenant defenses and secure the long-departed carrier's landing zone. Mickey had landed nearby, and stumbled upon retreating Marines, along with a tank. Mickey used a [[M808B Main Battle Tank|Scorpion]] to bring the Marines to their rally point: the entrance to [[ONI Alpha Site (location)|ONI Alpha Site]]. There, he and Dutch regrouped and found a desperate [[new Mombasa Police Department|police]] officer, who was searching for an explosives expert. Mickey, who had originally hoped to dig in at the rally point and wait for backup, was pressed into service, and he and Dutch headed to the ONI Alpha Site with the police officer in tow.

Buck led the group to Kikowani Station, planning to use the tram system to escape the city, stabilizing Romeo with [[biofoam]] along the way. Upon arrival, however, the group discovered that the tram tunnels had been flooded. They proceeded to hijack a Phantom and escape the city, fighting their way past enemy Banshees and even a [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarab]] in the process. Along the way, they noticed several {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}s moving toward the crater left by the assault carrier's slipspace jump. After escaping the city proper, Buck realized where Dare was, and ordered Mickey to turn back and set him down.

[[File:ONI orbital facility.png|thumb|250px|Sergeant Johnson and Captain Dare arrive to interrogate the Huragok held in the facility.]]

[[File:H3ODST Campaign 1stPersonVISR02.jpg|250px|thumb|left|VISR Mode.]]  

''ODST'' has the main protagonist, the Rookie, searching for beacons across the city of New Mombasa.<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 3">''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 3</ref> It is up to the player on how to get to any specific location, giving an open-world feeling to the game; this is in contrast to the main trilogy, which has a more linear gameplay style. The "beacons" are various objects, each linked to a particular squad mate in some way. Finding one of these objects sends the player back in the game to find out what happened to one of his five squadmates ([[Edward Buck|Buck]], [[Veronica Dare|Dare]], [[Taylor H. Miles|Dutch]], [[Kojo Agu|Romeo]], and [[Michael Crespo|Mickey]]).<ref name = "Game Informer December '08 page 3"/> Once you go back in time for a short period, you will take control of the player for a single mission, and play the situations that the particular character went through. Unlike the overall game, these flashback scenes go along the path of the linear gameplay that has been common throughout the original trilogy of ''Halo''. Each level therefore consists of two halves, the first of which features the Rookie, and the second of which follows one of the other squad members.

Due to the fact the player is an [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]], the motion tracker and shielding featured in the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]] battle armor suit are not available and the player must instead rely on a more traditional health bar/medkit system. The shielding is replaced with stamina through breathing intervals but it can still take damage from falling down from heights naturally. Enemy fire on the player therefore causes actual injury and pain rather than shield damage as in most Halo games, although as with the shield, the injury appears to be healed after a period of time similar to how long it takes the shield to regenerate the shield in the other games, if the player stands still. On some levels, the player is able to receive energy shielding on top of their stamina and health bar if they are close enough to the [[Huragok]] [[Quick to Adjust|Vergil]], similar to ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' where Huragok provide the [[Sangheili]] extra shielding aside from their own energy shield. The Rookie and his squadmates are not able to dual-wield weapons, such as the [[M7/Caseless Submachine Gun]] and the {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}. They also cannot use the [[equipment|deployable equipment]] featured in ''Halo 3''.

On the other hand, the player receives a helmet-integrated data management system known as the [[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]] (or VISR), which includes a low-light vision mode which identifies allies and enemies through the HUD on his helmet's visor by illuminating and classifying objects; green outline for allies, red outline for enemies, blue for scavengable weapons, vehicles, ammo and grenades, and a thick yellow outline for important objects. Outlines of scenery and objects that will block weapons-fire have a thinner yellow outline. The VISR can also be used to manage waypoints, mission objectives, and information which will help the player. The squad has two new weapons, the [[M7S Caseless Submachine Gun|M7S Submachine Gun]] and the [[M6C/SOCOM]], which the protagonist and most of his comrades land with in Mombasa during the initial drop. Also, the grenade limit has been increased to 3 per grenade type. Crouching now causes the player's camera to slightly bob.

 

As stated by Bungie in the January 23 Weekly Update, the [[Sangheili]] do not appear as enemies in ''ODST''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16989 Bungie Weekly Update - 1/23/09]</ref> Although, several groups of [[Sangheili]] corpses are found throughout the campaign, apparently killed by Brutes. By December 2008, the game was "representational", meaning that players could experience the game from start to finish, albeit in an unfinished state. The entire Bungie staff was pulled from other duties to play through the game and offer feedback. Among the unfinished elements was the lack of finished dialogue delivered by voice actors; storywriter [[Joseph Staten]] filled in placeholder audio.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=16551 Bungie Weekly Update: 12/19/08]</ref> Bungie's audio director [[Martin O'Donnell]] contributes music for ''ODST'', as he has done for the previous ''Halo'' games. Due to ''ODST'''s shift to a new protagonist, O'Donnell created new music that was a homage to ''Halo'', though was taken in a new direction.<ref>[http://bpc.bungie.org/Bungie_Podcasts_Halloween_08.zip Bungie Podcast: 10/31/08]</ref>

#[[Prepare To Drop]] - ''"Start a new game, drop into the nighttime city."'' (Cinematic)

#[[Mombasa Streets]] - ''"Explore the city, find your ODST team."''

#[[Tayari Plaza]] - ''"Beat the Covenant to Dare's crash site."''

#[[Uplift Reserve]] - ''"Lead a Warthog charge, clear hostiles from the park."''

#[[Kizingo Boulevard]] - ''"Scorpion rampage through the heart of the city."''

#[[ONI Alpha Site]] - ''"Fall back, deny access to this vital facility."''

#[[NMPD HQ]] - ''"Pelican down. Keep your sniper rifle handy."''

#[[Kikowani Station]] - ''"Aerial combat in the flooded city."''

#[[Data Hive]] - ''"Find Dare, secure the Superintendent."''

#[[Coastal Highway]] - ''"Escort the asset out of the city."''

*[[Rally Point]]

'''[[Human]]'''

*[[Michael Crespo]]

'''[[San'Shyuum]]'''

**[[Yanme'e Captain|Captain]] {{1st}}

**[[Yanme'e Hiveward|Hiveward]] {{1st}}

*****[[Kenya]]

******[[New Mombasa]]

*******[[New Mombasa Data Center]] {{1st}}

*******[[Lumumba|Lumumba District]]

*******[[Mbaraki|Mbaraki District]] {{1st}}

*******[[Kikowani Station (location)|Kikowani Station]] {{1st}}

*******[[Kizingo]] {{1st}}

*******[[Kizingo Boulevard (location)|Kizingo Boulevard]] {{1st}}

*******[[Tanaga|Tanaga District]] {{1st}}

********[[NMPD headquarters]] {{1st}}

*******[[ONI Alpha Site (location)|ONI Alpha Site]]{{1st}}

*******[[Tayari Plaza (location)|Tayari Plaza]] {{1st}}

*******[[Uplift Nature Reserve]] {{1st}}

*******[[Mombasa Tether]]

***[[Quito Space Tether|Quito Tether]]

**[[Battle for Earth]]

*[[M168 Demolition Charge]] {{1st}} {{c|Gameplay-specific use only}}

*[[M247T machine gun]]

*[[M6C/SOCOM]] {{1st}}

*[[Beam rifle]]

*[[Class-2 directed energy cannon]]

**{{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}

*[[Spike grenade]]

**[[Jovokada Workshop spike grenade]]

*[[Gravity hammer (fiction)|Gravity hammer]]

**[[Akelus Workshop gravity hammer]]

*[[Firebomb]]

**[[Orgudam Workshop firebomb]]

*[[Fuel rod gun]]

*[[Needler]]

**[[Type-33 needler]]

*[[Plasma cannon]]

*[[Plasma pistol]]

*[[Plasma rifle]]

*[[Spiker]]

*[[Ukala Workshop mauler]]

*[[Energy projector]]

*[[Plasma mortar#Type-26 35cm Directed-Energy Mortar|Type-26 Directed-Energy Mortar]]

**[[M12 Chaingun Warthog]]

*[[M274 Mongoose]]

*[[D77H-TCI Pelican]]  

**[[D77C-NMPD Pelican]] {{1st}}

*[[F-99 Wombat]]

***{{UNSCShip|Chioglossa}} {{1st}}

**{{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}

***{{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}

*{{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}

**{{UNSCShip|Say My Name}}

**[[Genet|HuCiv Genet]] {{1st}}

**[[HuCiv HC1500]]  

*[[Chopper]]

**[[Barukaza Workshop Chopper]]

*[[Banshee]]

**{{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}

*[[Ghost]]

*{{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}}

*{{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}}

*[[Wraith]]

**{{Pattern|Ogab'd|anti-aircraft Wraith}}

*[[Scarab]]

*[[Phantom]]

;Armor

*[[Jiralhanae power armor]]

*[[Kig-Yar combat harness]]

*[[Kig-Yar targeting headgear]]

[[File:ODST Controller.jpg|250px|thumb|Controls for ''ODST'' gameplay.]]

{{main|Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)}}

Due to a technical issue, Firefight is relegated to an invite-only game, as opposed to a matchmaking system used by previous installments in the series.<ref>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/08/bungie-why-halo-3-odst-firefight-doesnt-support-matchmaking/ Kotaku.com Australia - Bungie: Why Halo 3: ODST Firefight doesn't support matchmaking]</ref> Fans who have spoken to Bungie employees on this matter have allegedly stated that the matchmaking function would have taken an additional six months to create for ''ODST''.<ref>[http://www.ethiopianreview.com/et/181 Ethiopian Review - Seven Things You May Not Know About Halo 3: ODST]</ref> Firefight mode returned in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', and Bungie have specifically confirmed that ''Reach'''s Firefight mode will feature matchmaking.

All map packs (''[[Heroic Map Pack|Heroic]]'', ''[[Legendary Map Pack|Legendary]]'', ''[[Mythic Map Pack|Mythic]] as well as [[Cold Storage]]'') are available for those who haven't already purchased them over Xbox LIVE Marketplace.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=17195 Bungie Weekly Update - 2/06/2009]</ref> In addition to the other map packs, an additional map pack is featured in the ''ODST'' package. These maps are ''[[Citadel]]'', ''[[Heretic]]'', and ''[[Longshore]]''.

While previously confirmed to only feature a Campaign element as the only gameplay mode, the second disc in the ''ODST'' box, [[Halo 3: Mythic]], contains all of the maps, which you can play directly from there, without having to download the maps to your Hard Drive and starting ''Halo 3''. {{clear}}

====Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation====

{{Main|Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation}}

On September 4, 2009, a website was released on Xbox.com, letting fans watch interviews of the main characters of ''ODST''.<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]'''</ref> These videos go into the background of each character, with Buck and various teammates talking about their past, military career, their education, and about the mission ahead. Clips directed by Rupert Sanders can be seen via a marker the Marines place on their right [[Wikipedia:Temple (anatomy)|temple]].

The second part to the trailer, released on the 8th of October, followed on from this - the Superintendent reinitialized itself, attempting to assess the catastrophic devastation and tries to identify the object that survived. Later, after a Covenant [[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom]] dropship has passed by, the object opens to reveal a lone surviving [[Rookie|Marine Shock Trooper]] to clamber out, wielding a modified M7S Caseless Submachine Gun. The Marine narrowly avoids a [[Jiralhanae]] patrol, before encountering messages from the [[Superintendent]], presumably leading him to safety.

Also shown are little clips of the flashback missions, namely, featuring Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Lance Corporal Agu on a landing platform at [[NMPD headquarters]], where a police Pelican dropship was extracting the two Marines, before getting chased off by two [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshees]].

A 2-minute live-action short made exclusively for the launch of ''Halo 3: ODST'' was released on September 7, 2009 on [[Wikipedia:Spike TV|Spike TV]] with a run-time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS252724+03-Sep-2009+PRN20090903 Reuters.com - Prepare To Drop! Spike TV Gears Up For 'Halo Month']</ref> This short is directed by Rupert Sanders, who previously directed the ''[[Believe|Halo 3: Believe]]'' series.

[[File:ODST tour vehicle.jpg|200px|thumb|A render mock-up of the tour truck.]]

To promote the release of the game, Bungie and Microsoft started an "ODST Tour", showcasing the game's Firefight mode to fans all across the [[United States of America|United States]].<ref>[http://gamerscoreblog.com/press/archive/2009/08/20/sc200.aspx Xbox Press.com - “Halo 3: ODST” Transport Vehicle embarks on a nationwide tour]</ref> Beginning August 22 in Redmond, Washington, this tour lasted for nearly a month, coinciding with the release of the game.

[[File:ODST Collector's Pack.jpg|200px|thumb|The Collector's Pack edition of ''ODST''.]]

[[McFarlane Toys]] released a 6-inch figurine replica of the Rookie as a part of their "Medal Edition" line of Series 6, released in October 2009.<ref>[http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=4020 '''SPAWN.com''' - ''Product page for The Rookie'']</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13588 '''SPAWN.com''' - ''First Look at 'The Rookie' ODST Action Figure'']</ref><ref>[http://www.spawn.com/news/news2.aspx?id=13590 '''SPAWN.com''' - ''Halo Series 6 'Medal Edition' Photography Revealed'']</ref>  

*The "''Road to Recon''" challenge, as named by Bungie, gives players the chance to unlock the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI/R variant|MJOLNIR Mk.VI "Recon"]] (simply referred to as "''Recon Armor''") for use in ''Halo 3'' multiplayer.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#recon Bungie.net : Road to Recon]</ref> This challenge requires unlocking the current [[Vidmaster Challenges]] from ''Halo 3'', and three more Vidmaster Challenges only available through purchasing ''ODST''.<ref>''Game Informer: December 2008'', page 4</ref>

*On November 25, 2008, Bungie LLC. renamed the in-development ''Halo 3: Recon'' to ''Halo 3: ODST''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/Blog.aspx?mode=news#cid16289 Bungie.net Blog - ''Halo 3: ODST'']</ref> The reasons to why the upcoming expansion was renamed is due to the player playing the character of an ODST in the game, and to focus attention off of the fact that players will be able to receive [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI/R variant|MJOLNIR Mark VI Reconnaissance Armor]].

*Copies of ''Halo 3: ODST'' were sold early in France, to which Microsoft responded by investigating and threatening to ban any players on Xbox LIVE playing ''ODST'' before its official release of September 22.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5346774/microsoft-taking-action-against-those-who-buy-and-play-halo-3-odst-early-%5Bupdate%5D Kotaku.com - Microsoft Taking Action Against Those Who Buy and Play Halo 3: ODST Early]</ref> Microsoft France lead manager Stephen Toulouse later stated that they would not ban legitimate buyers of the game.<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5347615/early-halo-odst-players-wont-be-banned-so-long-as-they-bought-a-copy Kotaku.com - Early Halo: ODST Players Won't Be Banned (So Long As They Bought A Copy)]</ref>

*As a bonus feature for those who pre-ordered ''Halo 3: ODST'' at select retailers (including such stores as GameStop and Amazon.com), a token to play as [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sergeant Major Avery Johnson]] in [[Firefight (Halo 3: ODST)|Firefight]] was included.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/features.aspx#johnson '''Bungie.net''' - ''PRE-ORDER BONUS: Brings Sgt. Johnson into the Firefight'']</ref>

*Players who have played this game with their current LIVE account can unlock the ODST [[Nameplates|nameplate]] in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=BWU_082010 '''Bungie.net''': ''Express Yourself'']</ref>

*A poster in the game shows Earth and what appears to be [[Luna|the Moon]] with the line "Destiny Awaits." This foreshadows Bungie's current game project, ''[[Destinypedia:Destiny|Destiny]]'', with the Moon actually being the [[Destinypedia:Traveler|Traveller]]. The ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]'' version of the game replaces the original poster with a [[Misriah Armory]] advertisement showing the Earth and the Moon with the text "For Her".

*''Halo 3: ODST'' is the first game in which [[Engineers]] are encountered in gameplay.

*The cover art for ''Halo 3: ODST'' depicts [[Rookie|The Rookie]] wearing a different, slightly modified variant of the ODST shoulder armor from ''Halo 3''.

{{Ref/Sources|3}}

==Related links==

*[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]

*[http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/ODST/default.aspx Official ''Official project page'' on '''Bungie.net''']

*[http://cdn.haloodst.xbox.com/odst/index.html Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]

{{Navbox/Media/Games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:3: ODST, Halo}}