The Stuff of Legend

Everything Legendary.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

I'm finally starting to recover from the initial shock of Halo 3's release. And by recover, I mean sleep more than 2 hours a night and occasionally leave the house.

Everyone's been asking me what I think of the game, but I'm at a loss for words. I want to send Bungie an overly sentimental and sincere Hallmark card, thanking them for doing such a good job on this game. I love it like I love a great record, which I believe is a testament to Bungie's love for their project. It's more than a product to them, and it really shows, especially in Campaign mode, where Halo 2 seemed a bit lacking.

I'm no game designer, so it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what Bungie did (although Wired took a crack at explaining it), but Halo 3 recaptures the feeling that made the first installment so, well... Legendary. I lol'd when I was killed, I pumped my fist with excitement during cinematics, and I felt the same bittersweet love at the end that I felt when The Return of the King faded to black (for the final time). What I'm trying to say is, the third part has cemented this trilogy's status as an all-time great. If it could, it would surely win 10 Oscars.

While there is no game award prestigious enough to honor a game like Halo 3, Bungie might take consolation in the fact that their game smashed media sales records in its first day of release. That's across all mediums, mind you. Films, records, books... you name it. Halo beat them all, including the highest grossing film, Spiderman 3, and even mother-fucking Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. It crushed them. And keep in mind, only American sales have been tallied. When the worldwide numbers are in, first-day sales are expected to exceed $300 million. First. Day. Sales.

To everyone that's going to rip on me for this entry: have you considered that, just maybe, you've been missing out?

It's Halo-Eve.

Well, folks, the evening has arrived. I'll be heading to Gamestop tonight at midnight to pick up my copy of Halo 3 (Legendary Edition of course, MSRP $130.00). I even took a day off of work to play the game, although due to a minor confusion, I took Wednesday, not Tuesday. So tomorrow I might be a bit grumpy at work.

When I was in Michigan a few weeks ago, Ian showed me this commercial. I thought it was funny at first, but as we near the launch of Halo 3, the more genuinely emotional it seems to me. To go extreme dork on ya'll, I have to admit: I'm getting a bit sentimental at the thought of retiring my good ol' Halo 2 disc. It brought some good times: extreme laughter and extreme anger. And that's what games are all about.

Modeling Ricky-wear.

Modeling Ricky-wear.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

My excitement for the launch of Halo 3 is almost palpable in this photo. Not necessarily in my face, or my posture, or general presence; but in the hoodie I'm wearing, which I lovingly screened with our clan icon. I made some hoodies like this for my brothers last X-mas, but those were just the prototypes. Expect a full line of this hotness in the near future. Being dorky never looked so good.

More fame and fortune via Flickr

Yay, I'm featured on Chicagoist again. Thanks to Jeff Cagle for letting me know.

Guardian of Leavitt

Home Security System.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

The other day Jackie and I were discussing the terrifying bug populace of Florida. I didn't really need another reason to avoid the south, but she gave me one, in the form of Banana Spiders. As some of you know, I already have plenty of issues with arachnids.

In talking shit about Florida, I got a little cocky about Chicago's moderate bug diversity, only to find this asshole on my front gate this morning. Meh, at least he's not the size of my hand.

Are you simple?

This was on my myspace for a bit. I think it deserves a chance to strut its stuff over here as well.