Here's my free advice to Activision on how to proceed with Halo:
Step 1: Contact and request an audience with the following original Halo/Bungie devs: Jaime Griesemer, Chris Barrett, Marty O'Donnell, and Marcus Lehto.
The goal of the conversations should be to answer the following questions: "How and why did the 343 Halo games not live up to the Bungie Halo games? How can future Halo games do better in this regard?"
Have those discussions. See if you can find a common understanding. Beyond that, the franchise is Activision's to find success or failure. But perform this necessary due diligence immediately.
Let me use a hypothetical to help make the point:
Let's say that I was given the game director role on the next Half-Life game. And then I was asked, "Hey, would you like to meet and chat with some of the original devs from Half-Life1/2? They would be happy to share their knowledge." My answer would be "Yes, of course. Only a fucking idiot would choose NOT to talk w the original devs."
It would seem that 343/Halo Studios didn't see this as an important part of the process.. and we all know how that ended.
I hope Activision doesn't make the same mistake.
🇺🇸 A massive wildfire is ravaging forests in Florida, USA
The flames have already consumed more than 20,000 acres and are rapidly approaching residential areas. Firefighters have not yet contained the blaze and have deployed aviation to fight the fire.
Josh Richardson on Erik Spoelstra making him shoot 100 3s in practice:
“I came in the league — I could not shoot, I was straight athlete/defender. I go in the gym on an off day and there’s literally no one in there…so I’m shooting 3s…I look over and I see Spo walk in…he’s like ‘here keep going, get in the corner 100 3s’ and I’m like ‘damn coach I was already done’…I make 60/100 which is awful wide open…Spo’s like ‘do it again, you gotta make 70 before you get out of here’…I’m like ‘coach I’m finna pass out’…I was 69/99 and clanked the last one…I’m saying every world you can think of…I finally made 70 and Spo’s like ‘this is how you gotta approach it…’
(via @theOGsShow)
Jorge Masvidal on making amends with Ben Askren
"I was more than humbled... I just never thought in a million years I'd look at Ben for inspiration. That really opened up my eyes to what life is about, so thank you Ben."
Colin Cowherd on the criticism Bam is receiving for scoring 83 points:
“Bam Adebayo scored 83 points last night. Everybody is attacking him. This is what we do in America. The minute there’s success we have to tear everybody down. 83 is 83. He’s an excellent basketball player. When Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points his team was fouling the Knicks to get extra possessions. When Kobe scored 81 against an awful Raptors team, the Lakers led by 15 with 4:30 left and Kobe scored another 11. Bam had 31 in the 1st! 62 after 3 quarters! It was totally legitimate! Every star in this league has had the chance to play the Wizards and they don’t score 83!”
(Via @TheHerd)
JUST IN: Tim Tebow shows senators a map of the United States showing every single location where someone is downloading, sharing, or distributing CSAM.
“We are losing the battle, and we are losing the war, and boys and girls are suffering for it…”
“Every red dot that is on there is someone that is downloading, sharing, or distributing [CSAM].”
“55% to 85% of them are also hands-on offenders, and we know that your average offender has thirteen victims in their lifetime.”
“The scale of harm right here in America is, to a certain extent, hard to comprehend, but that's why we're here.”