[CLASSIFIED]

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DISCLAIMER The following story involves REAL people and REAL events that took place 6 years ago in Halo 3. Please Enjoy!!

  • Late Spring, 2008.
    (Shortly after the release of the Legendary Map Pack)

There I was for the umpteenth time; Playing Team Slayer by myself, hoping to rank up like the other 80,000 players in that playlist at that time. It had only been a few months since I joined Xbox LIVE and, unfortunately, did not have my own group of friends (yet) to play Halo 3 with other than one friend from school who was mediocre at best. My other friend from school was much more of a Call of Duty 4 player with his own group of Xbox LIVE friends whom, mostly, played Call of Duty 4 as well. Therefore, I never had an issue with finding people to play Call of Duty 4 with. Unfortunately, when it came to Halo 3, I’d be out of luck.

Anyways, on this particular day, I went about my usual Halo 3 routine at the time; playing in nothing but Ranked playlists (I used to be very competitive at Halo 3 but have mellowed over the years). After a few stressful games of Lone Wolves, I decided to take a break from playing Ranked matches and take part in the Double EXP Weekend Playlist instead. I entered a pregame lobby for Brawl Slayer on Ghost Town. Although I wasn’t too fond of the map, I was still relieved knowing that I didn’t have to take this game as serious as I usually would. The sound of the famous beeping noises, that Halo is known for, signaled the end of the countdown and we were all ready to play! I noticed that a couple players in the game were have a little chat with each other. Right as I was about to mute them, since I rarely spoke with anyone despite constantly having a microphone plugged in, I refrained from doing so as they began talking about something that highly interested me. They both furthered their discussion about a special armor set in Halo 3 that was extremely difficult to obtain. As I listened closely to their conversation, I remembered seeing a certain screenshot of a group of red Spartans on the map, Valhalla, all facing the same direction while taking a battle-ready pose. What made this screenshot different from those I’ve already seen was that most of the Spartans were wearing a helmet that I’ve never seen before. Could this be the armor set that my teammates spoke of? It was at that moment when I recalled the name of this armor set from their discussion; Recon Armor.

I just had to figure out how to get my virtual hands on this armor set, so I decided to step out of my comfort zone and send a voice message to everyone in my recent players list asking a very simple question. A question that may have been asked a million times over but, in my case, would set the stage for an extremely impactful and unforgettable turn of events:

“Does anyone know how to get Recon Armor?”

I only received three responses. To no surprise, two out of the three responses were from the same two players who were discussing Recon Armor in the match I had just finished. They both sent me voice messages. One of them said that it is extremely hard to get the armor set, without further explaining himself, while the other just said that it is flat-out impossible. However, the third response came from someone whose gamertag I still remember to this day; OutermostBubble. He, too, sent me a voice message. However, this message contained a very different response:

“Join my game. I’ll show you how to get Recon Armor.”

Of course, many would have assumed that this guy would be some sort of scammer or troll who could have possibly told me to do many obscure deeds within the game (GoodGriefing) or ask for my account information, thus, forcing me to make a new account not even half a year after joining Xbox LIVE. However, being the naïve 14 year old boy that I was, I accepted this person’s gesture without thinking at all let alone thinking twice. He invited me to his game and, in a few seconds, it was just him and I sitting in a Custom Games lobby. He explained to me that Bungie created an extremely challenging obstacle course on Foundry known as MILES. If a player managed to complete the obstacle course, record themselves doing so in Theater Mode, and send the film to Bungie, that player will be rewarded with Recon Armor. He mentioned that he has been trying to complete the course but to no avail. Therefore, since this greatly intrigued me, I agreed to accommodate this seemingly down-to-earth fellow on his quest to complete this trial which had now become my quest as well. I must have spent a solid hour just figuring out how to pass the first obstacle which required a precise crouch-jump; a simple trick that I wasn’t familiar with but would soon learn to use in, almost, every future match I’d play in Halo. After I acquired a better understanding of what the obstacle course had to offer, OutermostBubble threw another curve ball at me and told me that he is friends with a Bungie employee whom we would be able to show proof of us completing the obstacle course to. He took a second to check his friends list and it just so happened that this employee was online at that time. Therefore, we decided to take a break from stressing over the obstacle course so that he could introduce me to his friend.

We joined a new lobby which also happened to be another Custom Games lobby. I immediately noticed that all of the players in the lobby were little kids except for one. This older player, whom was more towards my age, was the Bungie employee that OutermostBubble spoke of whose gamertag will forever be embedded in my mind; [CLASSIFIED]. He didn’t really say much when we joined his lobby mostly because of all of the kids harping on him over the same reason which I had joined for:

[REDACTED]

I was amazed to see all of these pre-pubescent kids praise and worship him like a god just so they can get an armor permutation. As they continued to obnoxiously bombard him with the same questions, I asked myself, “Is this guy for real?” To me, he didn’t seem like a Bungie employee for reasons I couldn’t think of, but I still chose to take OutermostBubble’s word for it that he, in fact, was. The amount of players in the lobby started to dwindle, after each kid realized that they weren’t making any progress with [CLASSIFIED], until it was just [CLASSIFIED], OutermostBubble, and I. OutermostBubble introduced me to [CLASSIFIED], which was pretty awkward considering that I’ve never truly acquainted myself with people over the internet before, and explained to him that I was also interested in completing Bungie’s obstacle course. I assumed that he would think that I w

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This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not call out individuals. This includes forum members, moderators, administrators, and non-forum members.

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For the entire month of June, [CLASSIFIED] would occasionally chat with OutermostBubble and I while we would occasionally try to complete the obstacle course. Aside from that, he would also chat with me while I played in Forge Mode with my two friends from school, as well as playing Rocket Race and Grifball with my cousin and/or OutermostBubble considering what Double EXP Weekend those gametypes fell on. It was a very nice change of pace for me considering that I’ve never really conversed with many people over Xbox LIVE and, for each passing day, I was slowly losing interest in the Bungie’s obstacle course as a result.

[CLASSIFIED] and I had become pretty good friends. We didn’t play a whole lot of matchmaking together, but we still hung out in custom games lobbies with some of his other friends. I couldn’t help but to notice that OutermostBubble hadn’t been online in quite some time. I sent him a message asking if he’d ever be online soon. He replied by saying that he would, although he never did and I never heard from him since then. Not only was that but there also something that I didn’t understand about [CLASSIFIED] ever since I met him. He always seemed to be busy with something, aside form “working” for Bungie, and I couldn’t put my finger on what that could have been. However, it wasn’t long before he told me what one of his most favorite interests was aside from playing Halo 3 in general. He told me that he had always been interested in machinimas. At that time, I had no clue what a machinima, but listened in interest as [CLASSIFIED] further explained that he has been helping out some of his friends make machinimas and that he would like to make one of his own. I guess that’s why he always had to leave our previous game lobbies in order to work on, what he called, “projects”. He asked me if I wanted to join him in helping one of his friends work on a machinima on that same day. I declined simply because I still wasn’t too familiar with the concept and didn’t want to be a part of one just yet, but I told him that I would help him next time. At that moment, this friend of his joined our lobby but didn’t speak a word. All I remember was that his gamertag was DigitalPh33r and, before I knew it, they both left the lobby and changed their online status’ to appear offline.

About a week later, [CLASSIFIED] approached me, yet again, and said that he was finally ready to start working on his own Machinima Series and really wanted me to help out with it this time. I had no choice considering that I gave him a rain check a week ago. However, I was slowly becoming excited to work on such a project knowing that I was good friends with the creator of it. He had already compiled a cast consisting of some of his other online friends; 6 body actors including [CLASSIFIED] and I, and one camerawoman. As we brainstormed for ideas as to what sort of content the series would include (story, characters, setting, plot, etc.), [CLASSIFIED], first, made the initial decision to base his series off of a television show that he used to watch as a child; The Power Rangers. It seemed odd to me, at first, but I went along with the idea regardless. After making said decision, he pretty much improvised the remaining content by himself without any help. After less than a week of production, the first episode of [CLASSIFIED] Machinima Series was released as Power Rangers H3. Not only was this the first YouTube video I had ever been in, but also the first and only Machinima episode I had ever taken part in as well. When I first watched the video, I truly thought it was pretty good despite not using any current Machinima Series as a point of reference, not having any experience with acting and choreography, and the simple lack of a script. I was very happy to be a part of a form of entertainment that was new to me at the time. But there was one thing that didn’t seem right. SKULWOLF, the girl in charge of recording the in-game footage, left quite a harsh message in the video description of the episode. It was, in no way, synonymous with how I felt regarding it, which is how it caught my attention. After reading it a couple times, I reflected on the making of [CLASSIFIED] Machinima as well as the other times I hung out with him before that. Just because I was on good terms with the guy, didn’t mean that everyone was. At that moment, the gears in my head finally began turning.

Since SKULWOLF didn’t want anything to do with [CLASSIFIED] anymore, the Power Rangers H3 series was cancelled. Those who also took part in Power Rangers H3 opted out from helping him with anything else too. Although I slowly began to question whether or not I should do the same, I still choose to stay with him in hopes that our luck would soon change. It was at that time when he came up with yet another idea for a Machinima project. Only, this time, he wanted this next Machinima to be a music video. It was obvious to me that he had a knack for basing his work off of his own personal interests because he wanted this music video be played in the style of the Backstreet Boys. Once again, I thought it was odd. Once again, I still went along with it. Instead of compiling another cast like he did before, he held an in-game singing contest to decide who would be casted. That’s right. He held a singing contest. Take a moment to wrap your head around that. He actually forged a competition stage within Foundry in which he would stand on top of a hanging platform while he would judge each contestant one by one as they took to the stage. They couldn’t even sing whatever they wanted. They had to sing a line from “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. This whole concept seemed too obscure for me to take part in. I told him that I would join his session only to watch each person try and make the cut. As each contestant failed to meet [CLASSIFIED] expectation, I slowly began to feel sorry for him since he wouldn’t have enough people to be a part of the video. Therefore, out of pity, I walked to the back of the line as there were only a couple more contestants left in front of me. When it was my turn, I walked on [CLASSIFIED] stage, stood before him, set aside all of my priorities, and sang to the best of my ability. I actually tried to sing. Of course, I was the only one he picked to be in the video and, thus, the singing competition made absolutely no progress.

A few days later, after I chalked up another failed attempt at making a Machinima, [CLASSIFIED] wanted him and I to join a lobby filled with random players. I thought that we were joining this lobby just to play some Custom Games but, instead, ended up singing in order to drown out the conversation in which these people were having. We must have sung within a few more lobbies until we both called it quits. I, then, assumed that the players in those lobbies must have annoyed [CLASSIFIED] in one way or another which lead him to retaliate and used me to help him do so. I was starting to get fed up with this sort of nonsense. I wanted to keep hanging out with this guy, but not at the expense of my own morality.

(next post >)

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This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not call out individuals. This includes forum members, moderators, administrators, and non-forum members.

*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

was at it again with another Machinima idea the next day and I believe it was still related to his failed Backstreet Boys project. He said that he was going to round up some other people to help him this time instead of just rely on me. At this point, I didn’t care anymore. I was so sick of hearing the same old lines from him as well acting like someone I’m not just for him to accept me, along with my conscience constantly screaming at me in the background. As was explaining what he had planned for me to do, it didn’t matter because I had already made up my mind. It wasn’t easy, but when asked if I was ready start working on this next project, I simply said that I didn’t want to anymore. I, then, learned that was the kind of person who did not take “no” for an answer. At first, he was very confused and kept asking me “why?” I explained that I just didn’t feel up to working on his Machinimas anymore and left it at that. Unfortunately, that answer still wasn’t good enough. However, our “conversation” began to take a turn for the worst when he went from questioning my reason for dropping out, to questioning my religious beliefs. Not only did I learn that he did not take “no” for an answer, but that he was also a hardcore atheist. I still have no idea of what made him change the subject since I never even mentioned religion once, but he was determined to get me to believe that God doesn’t exist even though I never told him my beliefs in the first place. As he began quoting from a certain YouTube video that explains how prayer doesn’t work, I recalled the harsh video response that SKULWOLF directed towards him. I finally understood why she was so upset. She must have dealt with similar nonsense from him just as I did. For once, I saw for who, I believed, he truly was; a completely insensitive and egotistical human being. Although, I could have left the lobby in a heartbeat, I felt that I needed to let others know of what was going down. I ended up inviting a couple of friends and a couple of my friends in order for them to see his true colors as well. A massive Yoink-storm ensued which consisted of one of my friends cussing out with random profanity while my other friend harassed him via his Arnold Schwarzenegger soundboard. friends were mostly silent but occasionally raised their voices in order to talk over . In the midst of this conflict, I even went as far as setting up a game of Grifball in which was alone on the opposite team.
I may have taken it a little bit too far by doing so, but I was in the heat of the moment and also knew that I wasn’t alone either. As the argument winded down, the lobby had already disbanded and all that remained was and I sending voice messages back and forth to each other. All I can remember, from that moment, was the last message I sent him and what followed. I told him that he had to give people a chance to think for themselves and try to understand why people make certain decisions. But he still chose to respond by making random insults instead. Since it was clear that he wasn’t going to listen to reason, I had to make a decision. Either I continue this senseless back-and-forth argument, or cut off any connection I ever had with . I knew what the right the decision was. Before he was able throw another insult at me, I had already removed him from my friends list. It was finally over.

I’ll admit that I was sad knowing that he wouldn’t allow me to give him a second chance. However, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I could finally enjoy playing online without having to deal with such nonsense anymore. I didn’t have to be a part of senseless arguments nor watch anyone’s feelings be hurt. Things were starting to look up. That is, until my Xbox got the Red Ring of Death shortly afterwards. You’ve got to be kidding me.

After waiting for what seemed to be an eternity, I finally received a new Xbox on that following Christmas. I didn’t expect much to change in 4 months, but that idea was immediately shot down once I turned on the console and saw a brand new dashboard along with a bunch of new features, including Party Chat. (I still prefer the original dashboard). Despite playing on the same console, I was still off to a fresh new start.

Aside from all of the new games that had been released and changes made to Xbox LIVE, there was one thing that didn’t change; the Halo community. It was still strong as ever. I enjoyed playing Halo 3 no differently than I did a year ago. But my online career got even better when I joined a clan through the same friend from school whom I mentioned before. It wasn’t an extremely competitive clan but more of a hang out. We took part in everything Halo 3 had to offer. Playing online had never been more fun for me since then. There was, however, one small interruption.

I received a voice message from someone whose gamertag was nothing but randomly mixed numbers and letters:

“Hey man. It’s . What’s up?”=

I didn’t know whether I should ignore him or not. On top of that, I was pretty amazed to see this person still have some sort of fascination with me despite not talking to me in a year. But being the good person I was (and still am), I replied back and ended up giving him a second chance. This time around, we played much more in Matchmaking than we did in Custom Games. But there was one big difference that stood out above the rest. When I thought that we had both put the past behind us, he brought up that huge conflict that happened a year ago.

“I acted like a complete -Yoink!- back then, huh?

I was beyond shocked to hear this. At last, he had changed for the better! At last, I could finally become good friends with this person! Things just kept getting better and better! But such good things don’t always last.

The next day, I was playing in a Custom Games lobby with my friend from school, a couple of friends in our clan, and some recent players as well. It was just an average day on Halo 3. That is, until joined our session. My friend from school immediately remembered who he was.

History was about to repeat itself. The cyber space, in which we inhabited, was ripe with profanity after that. As mad as I was at my friend for starting this argument, a part of me was glad. I started to become more annoyed with as he started to blurt out the same anti-religious slurs at my friends just as he did with me. I began to question whether or not he changed. The next day, I was hanging out with even more friends from my clan within Party Chat when, all of a sudden, someone joined the chat with a gamertag that simply said; G0D Is Not Real. I immediately called out this mystery person as being none other than which actually surprised him. This further infuriated me to see how persistent he was. I was wrong to think that he had changed after all and I wasn’t going to let him do this anymore, not while around me and, especially, my new group of friends. I had enough. Without warning, I removed him from my friends list yet again, and blocked all communications. I never heard from him again.

(next p

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To think that all of this started just because I wanted to know how to get Recon Armor.

So what’s the point of my story, you ask? Well, since I’ve been reminiscing about all of the great times I’ve had while playing Xbox lately, I thought it would be nice to share, what I believe was, an important turning point throughout the 6 years I’ve been a part of Xbox LIVE. From this specific scenario, I learned two important lessons:

  1. People aren’t always who they seem to be.
  2. People don’t change.

I know that I could have learned these lessons anywhere else, but I’m glad to have learned them while playing Halo 3. It goes to show you that this community is so much more than just a group of people who like playing video games. It’s a group of people with brilliant ideas and amazing talent. Sure, there are some bad eggs thrown into the mix, but it helps to keep the community interesting when the good eggs overcome them. As for me, for trying to complete an obstacle course that wasn’t even legitimate, to meeting a famous Machinima director without even realizing who he was, playing against the #1 Halo 3 player in the world at the time, and even organizing a Repopulation Revolution, I couldn’t have been more satisfied with being a part of this community and I know that there are many others who feel the same way.

On that note, I know that I’m going speak for an extremely large group of people when I say: From the people we’ve met, and experiences we’ve shared, these memories shall always remain untouched and Unforgotten.

Thanks for reading. :slight_smile:

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Wow… read the entire thing. The people you can meet on the internet. Some of them can be some of your greatest friends, the others can be manipulative jerks. It’'s a crazy place, this world we live in. And it’s even crazier online.

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Such a thing reminds me of a parable about crops and weeds. I won’t get into much detail, but among us, there are some bad eggs and good ones as well. No one can remove the bad ones without removing some good ones(vice versa). This means that in this life, we will always meet obstacles and such characters can appear everywhere until the end of time. Our duties as men and women are to give way to the ‘good eggs’ and be such examples ourselves, no matter the cost.
One day for sure, justice will prevail. - My own family’s morals

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> Such a thing reminds me of a parable about crops and weeds. I won’t get into much detail, but among us, there are some bad eggs and good ones as well. No one can remove the bad ones without removing some good ones(vice versa). This means that in this life, we will always meet obstacles and such characters can appear everywhere until the end of time. Our duties as men and women are to give way to the ‘good eggs’ and be such examples ourselves, no matter the cost.
> One day for sure, justice will prevail. - My own family’s morals

Very inspiring.

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I’ll admit, nostalgia hit me like a train while reading this. It makes me miss the older days of Halo when it used to be much more simple. It’s sad to say the words “older days” when it feels like it was only yesterday when I too played Halo 3. Man I feel old lol. Aside from that, you never know who you’re going to meet and what you’re going to witness while being a part of an online community. It’s a very interesting world as you’ve mentioned.

All in all, great story.

(BTW, are you sure that was the real DigitalPh33r/Jon CJG? I’m just curious.)

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Hey Dude, it’s Grim.

I just wanted to remind you, that god is not real. It’s just something mankind made up.

Best,
Grim