Thumb's blog

I am rather new to this site and I currently blog on different site gearheadsofwar.com We have a very close knit community of gamers that I really enjoy playing with. We get together every weekend and play GOW, HALO3 and now TF2.

But, I would very much like to be able to game with others on this site. I was curious if there is a page i was unable to find with a list of user's gamertags or if anyone could just post theirs below.

I really mainly play GOW and Halo 3. So if neither are your cup of tea, you might not want me on your friend's list. Thanks to all and I look forward to gaming with you.

PS - I know I can click on a users name to find out their tag but that would be quite a bit of clicking and writing. Not to mention that not everyone has their tag listed on their profile.

So I'm a Halo freak. I've now read all of the novels of the games, including the graphic novel.

I like to dissect things about Halo and I've become fully immersed in the Halo mythos. I think the story is a lot more complex and layered than people believe or want to acknowledge. On 1up Yours two weeks ago, they said that they felt like the Halo mythology was more a product of Microsoft marketing than anything. But I don't believe that. Bungie crafted a story long before the Microsoft machine ever got involved. MS did take it the next level with the marketing and the other viral stuff surrounding the game.

But the recent commercials caused me to pause and start to think about the imagery involved in the recent Believe ads. The Christ-like resurrection pose at the end and the Tribute to John 117 made me start to do a little digging. I thought that those wacky Bungie guys might've chosen the "real" name and Spartan number for Master Chief for a purpose. What if the "Halo Bible" that Bungie has always discussed was nothing more than the Bible itself?

I'm not exactly a Bible expert and hell, I'm not exactly religious, but I knew that there was a chapter written by John. I quickly looked up John, Chapter 11, Verse 7.

That line, depending on which version of the Bible you look at, reads:

Then, after the two days, Jesus said onto his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea."
To me, that seems much like the ending of Halo 2 when he talks of going back to Earth to finish this fight. But I'm probably reaching on that one.

As for the chapter itself, it is all about the Death and Resurrection of Lazarus, who is the brother of Mary and Martha. Interestingly though, the chapter uses the word "believe" eight times by my count. Coincidence? Yeah, I don't think so either.

Okay I heard about this on the radio and did a little digging. It is %100 legit. I cant say much that isnt in this article but I think it is sweet.

Here is the article

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2007/10/07/halo1007.html

But with Halo's biblical feel this is so ironic that it is almost not even funny. Halo is touching more than the millions of gamers who've bought it...its touching the faith of thousands more.

Some quotes...

"First the percussive sounds of sniper fire and the thrill of the kill. Then the gospel of peace."

"leaders at churches and youth centers across Protestant denominations, including evangelical churches that have cautioned against violent entertainment, from holding heavily attended "Halo" nights and stocking their centers with multiple game consoles so dozens of teenagers can flock around big-screen televisions and shoot it out."

"Church leaders who support "Halo" --- despite its "thou shalt kill" credo --- say it has become crucial to evangelistic efforts to reach their most elusive audience, boys and young men, on their home turf."

"Baptist denomination takes a more cautious approach. The organization recently sent e-mail messages to 50,000 young people about how to share their faith using "Halo 3." Among the tips: Use the game's themes as the basis for a discussion about good and evil."

Now, I'm not even religous but this is brilliant from a religon standpoint.

Your thoughts?