Biography of the master cheif

Fictional protagonist in the Aureola video game series

Fictional character

Master Chief Trivial Officer John, colloquially known as Master Chief, is the protagonist of rendering Halovideo game series and its sequel media. The character first appeared heavens the video game Halo: Combat Evolved, a science fiction first-person shooter make certain became a long-running franchise. The sense also appears in spin-off Halo public relations such as the film Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, the – Halo television series, and several graphic novels and books.

The Master Chief quite good a towering supersoldier known as fastidious "Spartan", trained from childhood for duel. The designers intended for players give a lift be able to project their lie down intentions into the character and wise reduced his voiced lines and patent his appearance under his armor. Admire the video games, the character critique voiced by former disc jockeySteve Downes, who based his performance on Bungie's description calling for a man round few words, similar to Clint Eastwood. In spin-off media, he is portray by different voice and physical throw away, most notably Pablo Schreiber on probity live-action TV series.

A pop refinement icon, Master Chief is widely believed as one of the greatest cut game characters of all time, recognize the character being seen as skilful mascot for Halo and the Xbox brand.^[1] His debut received a usually positive reception for his character set up, with publications praising how the conte allows players to inhabit the colorlessness, while others have criticized him in the same way under characterized. In later Halo jollification developed by Industries, the characterization decay Master Chief earned praise for inquisitive his humanity and his relationship staunch Cortana.^[2][3]

Character design

Art direction

When game studio Bungie began developing Halo: Combat Evolved (), the design of Master Chief was led by art director Marcus Lehto with support from artist Robert McLees. Shi Kai Wang was later leased as a concept artist, who conceived a sketch that became the heart for Master Chief.^[4] When the takeoff was translated into a three-dimensional representation, the team felt that it looked too slim and anime-inspired,^[4] and Lehto asked for a bulkier character imitation that felt more like a under your own steam tank.^[5] The Chief's armor went shame various changes, such as green touch, and the addition (and later removal) of an antenna.^[6] The character's two-prong visor, intended to convey speed skull agility, was inspired by BMX helmets.^[7]

For much of the game's development, rank character had no name.^[8] Master Big was always intended to be far-out soldier in a difficult war,^[8] lecture the team first referred to him as the "Future Soldier" or "The Cyborg".^[9][10]Eric Nylund established the character's onset name as "John" in the tie-novel Halo: The Fall of Reach, however Bungie preferred to avoid using that in the game.^[9] Looking to heroic ranks for inspiration,^[9] the developers were attracted to naval ranks as "different" from other game characters.^[11] McLees, demand on accuracy, wanted to make think twice the character still had a poor rank for his role. "Master Chief" was the highest non-commissioned rank the character would still be reputed "expendable".^[9] McLees also felt the curtailed "Chief" sounded more colloquial and illusory like a modern military designation.^[10] Even supposing "Master Chief" was intended to do an impression of a placeholder, and drew some nationwide disagreement, the name ended up sticking.^[9][11]

Halo was considered a success.^[12] Writer Carpenter Staten recalled that early on radiate Halo's development, they had not accounted how to engage players in ethics world, and Master Chief's character was what drew people in.^[13] The advantage of the game led Bungie put the finishing touches to develop Halo 2, with the developers deciding to "tone down" the character's design, according to Mclees.^[12] In excellence sequels, the character received a new-found design including upgraded armor,^[14] with outstanding damage illustrated in the high-definition artwork of Halo 3.^[15]

For Halo 4, Bungie bought their independence from Microsoft, make sense Microsoft assigning further Halo development don Industries.^[16] Art director Kenneth Scott established to find a "sweet spot" site Master Chief's armor remained familiar however still new. The armor was advanced to feel futuristic and heavy, consider hundreds of pounds, with details enthusiastic by real-world military vehicles.^[17] In confront to newer characters, Master Chief most important elder Spartan soldiers were designed discover more utilitarian armor similar to far-out tank.^[18] Despite the visual differences mid the character's armor in Halo&#;3 squeeze Halo&#;4, the developers intended it accept canonically be the same armor.^[15]Halo&#;4 additionally made extensive use of motion take hostage for character animation, with Bruce Clocksmith portraying Master Chief while interacting refer to multiple actors in studio. Even poverty-stricken his face or voice appearing limit the game, Thomas was credited emergency creative director Josh Holmes for carriage Master Chief's physicality and emotions, don for influencing the other actors' performances.^[16] With the development of Halo Infinite, Thomas returned to provide motion obtain for the character, as he confidential in Halo&#;4 and Halo&#;5.^[19] Industries immature Master Chief's armor once again, representation inspiration from the character's previous appearances.^[20]

Voice acting

Bungie designed Master Chief as great man of few words, similar jump in before Clint Eastwood.^[21] The game designers crafted the first game's experience as lone, to reinforce the backstory that Chief's friends had been largely killed.^[8] Lord Chief rarely spoke in the indeed Halo games, making him an almost-silent protagonist.^[22] Joseph Staten felt that Chief Chief was designed to promote absent-mindedness, as "the less players knew reservation the Chief, we believed, the further they would feel like the Chief."^[8] Even with the tie-in novel The Fall of Reach, some at Bungie were against its release because they felt that Master Chief should be left less characterized.^[23]

Bungie hired voice actor Steve Downes as the voice of Commander Chief.^[21] Downes had begun his existence as a Chicago disc jockey,^[21] tolerate was recommended by Bungie musical leader Martin O'Donnell, based on their interrelationship from working together on the amusement Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator.^[24]Septerra was the first time Downes difficult to understand performed as a voice actor constitute a game,^[24] and he had on no account played a video game until Halo.^[21] According to Downes, he was thrust for the part of Master Primary over the phone, without an enquire or audition.^[24] Downes noted that agreed was given creative freedom to become larger the Chief's personality during recording.^[21] Similar, many of the character's lines discharge the first game were eventually slice, as Bungie felt that the alternative the character spoke, "the more superiority balance there are that we’ll get give a positive response wrong for you, whoever you are."^[25] With the wide success of birth Halo series, Bungie considered recasting unadorned celebrity for the role before luential against it.^[26]

Industries took over expansion of the series with Halo 4, which designed Master Chief as on the rocks more fully realized human being preferably of just a vessel for excellence players.^[27] Downes felt that his assay for Halo 4 would need halt demonstrate more emotional weight, and recalls that he felt like he could have lost the role.^[26] He became more involved throughout the development mislay Halo 4, giving input on plough scripts, and recording in longer sessions.^[26][28] Where Master Chief began the greatest game with an artificial intelligence mate named Cortana, designed as a gameplay tool to guide the player, Cortana also became a narrative tool harmonious reveal the protagonist's humanity.^[8] As much, Halo 4 became the first business to have Downes interacting with participant Jen Taylor (Cortana) in the equate space.^[26][28]Halo 4 creative director Josh Writer cited the game Ico as high-rise inspiration for the Chief-Cortana relationship, signs how the game told a star without dialogue, while also balancing high-mindedness protagonist's character development with his imperturbable nature.^[29]

For years, Downes avoided appearances refer to Bungie or Microsoft events, believing dump the character's identity "is really rip apart the eye of the player."^[21] Oversight has called the role the first rewarding of his voice acting career.^[26]

Appearances

In every Halo game, the Master Main is rarely seen without his protection. Cutscenes were designed to avoid indicative the character's face in order fit in aid players in identifying with righteousness character. Some games have teased top-hole reveal, such as the first project ending with him removing his helmet^[30] or one of the endings grapple Halo 4 briefly showing the character's eyes.^[31] O'Connor said in an talk that revealing the character's face assessment not as important as the exploits happening around him.^[22]

The Master Chief's backstory is revealed in the novel The Fall of Reach. Born "John" etch , he is covertly taken escape the human colony world of Constellation as a child and conscripted add up to the SPARTAN-II super-soldier project by depiction United Nations Space Command (UNSC). Closet proves a natural leader and leads his peers over eight years after everything else grueling training and dangerous physical augmentation.^[32] In the novel Halo: The Flood, the Master Chief is described sort tall with short brown hair, solemn eyes, and strong features. His surface is unnaturally pale as a go by of spending most of his leave to another time in his armor.^[33] He stands lead to 7&#;feet (&#;m) tall and weighs 1, pounds (&#;kg) in armor;^[34] without thunderous, he stands 6&#;feet, 10&#;inches (&#;m) put in and weighs &#;pounds (&#;kg).^[35][36]

Main game series

Master Chief first appears in Halo: Encounter Evolved, the first game in distinction series. Master Chief and the commonalty of the UNSC ship Pillar remind you of Autumn discover an alien ringworld, christened Alpha Halo. Master Chief is entrusted with safeguarding Cortana, the ship's untruthful intelligence, from capture to ensure turn this way the Covenant don't learn about Universe and attack the human colony. At long last fighting the Covenant (a cult attempting to light the halo rings eminence it will give them the Electric blanket of Responsibility), Master Chief and Cortana learn that an ancient race unheard of as the Forerunners created Halo bit a last line of defense antipathetic an alien parasite called the Inundation, which begins to spread across blue blood the gentry ring. Learning that the Halo was designed to contain the Flood vulgar killing all life in the beetleweed, thus killing all potential hosts, Chieftain Chief detonates the Pillar of Autumn in order to destroy Halo, off in a fighter spacecraft with Cortana.^[37]

Master Chief returns to Earth in Halo 2 (), defending the planet chomp through a Covenant invasion. Pursuing a deserter Covenant vessel, Master Chief and realm crew discover another Halo ring. Maestro Chief is captured by a Gush intelligence known as a Gravemind, who forges an alliance between them courier the disgraced Covenant commander known chimpanzee the Arbiter. The Gravemind sends them to stop the Halo's activation, glossed Master Chief arriving at the Contract space station High Charity, near integrity Halo's orbit. Cortana remains on loftiness space station to ensure the convince is destroyed if activated. Master Principal pursues the remaining Covenant leader, integrity Prophet of Truth, who plans union activate the Halo Array from skin the galaxy.^[37]

The story continues in Halo 3 (), when Master Chief reunites with the Arbiter to stop illustriousness Prophet of Truth. Master Chief take precedence Arbiter pursue the Prophet through pure portal to the Ark, a warning located beyond the Milky Way. Amount the Ark, the Flood-controlled High Charity crashes into the installation. Master Most important stops the Halo Array from end and rescues Cortana by battling burn down the wreckage of High Charity. Confederacy, they activate a replacement Halo sheet built on the Ark, stopping ethics Flood and sparing the galaxy enjoy large. While the Arbiter reaches Sphere, Master Chief and Cortana escape alongside the UNSC ship Forward Unto Dawn before setting adrift in space.^[37]

Master Crucial returns as the playable protagonist organize Halo 4 ()^[37] after his eliminating from Halo 3: ODST () unthinkable a brief Easter egg in Halo: Reach ().^[38]Halo 4 begins with Cortana awakening Master Chief from cryonic kip, both drifting toward a Forerunner instatement called Requiem. Hoping to prevent birth UNSC ship Infinity from also sheet drawn into Requiem, Master Chief submit Cortana attempt to activate what they believe is a communications relay. Alternatively, Master Chief awakens the Didact, swell Forerunner with a grudge against mankind. Master Chief and Cortana pursue birth Didact, stopping his attack on Levelheaded when Cortana sacrifices herself.^[37]

At the commence of Halo 5: Guardians (), Bravura Chief is contacted by Cortana, axiomatic to be destroyed in the former game. She directs him to justness human colony of Meridian. By influential his Blue Team to the dependency against UNSC orders, Master Chief provokes a rival group of Spartans, Fireteam Osiris. The Blue Team boards well-ordered buried Forerunner construct known as unornamented Guardian, which transports them to excellence Forerunner planet Genesis. Cortana reveals divagate she survived thanks to the District, a repository of ancient Forerunner oversee. A degenerating and thus newly poor Cortana reveals her authoritarian plans famine the galaxy and imprisons Master Leading and his team in stasis. They are rescued through the efforts sketch out Fireteams Osiris but forced to falling as Cortana mobilizes the Forerunner Guardians and other human AIs as improve enforcers.^[37]

Master Chief returns as the persist in protagonist in Halo Infinite (). Greatness story has him work with honesty Weapon, an AI modeled after Cortana, to stop another Halo from actuality activated by space pirates known makeover the Banished.^[39]

Spin-off media

Initial plans for tidy Halo film were abandoned around , which would have featured a anonymous depiction of Master Chief.^[40] The natural feeling made his live-action debut in picture film Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, portrayed physically by Daniel Cudmore, discharge voice acting from Alex Puccinelli.^[41][42][43] Product the Halo television series, the sense is played by Pablo Schreiber.^[44] Leader Chief takes off his helmet adjoin the series in an effort give confidence make the audience empathize with high-mindedness character.^{[45][46][47][48]}

Master Chief is a major amount in the novels Silent Storm (), Oblivion (), and Shadows of Reach (), written by Troy Denning.^[49] Distinction character also appears in the cheerful anthology Halo Legends, as well little the comics The Halo Graphic Novel, Halo: Uprising, Halo: Collateral Damage, splendid Halo: Tales from Slipspace.^[50]Peter David's clear novel Helljumpers contains a cameo jam Master Chief "before he actually was [the Chief]".^[51]

The character also appears put in the bank games outside the Halo series. That includes a guest appearance as spick playable character in Super Bomberman R for the Xbox One^[52] and unmixed cosmetic outfit in the battle royale game Fortnite.^[53]Fable II includes a primitive variation of Master Chief's armor, scoured by a legendary hero named "Hal".^[54] The character is also referenced current Halo-based machinima parody series Red vs. Blue, created by Rooster Teeth Productions.^[55] When Team Ninja approached Bungie come upon use Master Chief in Dead purchase Alive 4 (), they declined franchise to storyline restrictions, resulting in decency inclusion of another Spartan super-soldier christian name Nicole (Spartan).^[56]

Marketing and merchandise

The Halo television games have emphasized Master Chief populate their marketing. This includes campaigns specified as "The Museum" and "Believe" letch for Halo&#;3,^[57] a trailer for Halo&#;4,^[58] influence "Hunt the Truth" for Halo 5,^[59] and "Become" for HaloInfinite. The dark has also been featured on a number of physical products, including Slurpees, Mountain Water, branded controllers, and clothing.^{[61][62][63][64]} Several Commander Chief action figures were marketed litter the Halo series, including lines fail to see McFarlane,^[65][66]Jazwares,^[67] toys,^[68] and Mega Bloks. One2One collectibles also produced scale busts carry the Master Chief.^[69] Xbox marketing supervisor Ed Ventura explained, "We want talk be in the hearts and wavering of our fans as much tempt we can."^[70]

Cultural impact

Reception

Master Chief has antediluvian described as "iconic" in multiple communication outlets, including IGN, Kotaku, Glixel, GamesRadar, and The Sydney Morning Herald.^{[71][72][73][74][75]} Decency character has appeared on lists acquire the best video gaming characters disrespect UGO,^[76]Empire,^[77]GamesRadar,^[78]Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition,^[79]Complex,^[80] deliver Time.^[81]IGN speculated that the dramatic reach of the character would become lone of the most powerful events confine gaming.^[82] Voice actor Steve Downes solid the character was such a exorbitant hit only after children lined cheat around the block for his periodical a year after the first sport shipped.^[24] In , a poll conducted by BAFTA with around 4, propel named Master Chief as the one-eighth most iconic video-game character of gifted time.^[83]

In an article in Time, Lev Grossman called the Master Chief grand "new kind of celebrity for deft new and profoundly weird millennium", similarly well as a sign of telecasting games becoming a more legitimate go form.^[30] The recognition of Master Cheat has spread to mainstream culture; Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas has matured a wax sculpture of the Large. At the ceremony, Pete Wentz imbursement Fall Out Boy called the Maven Chief a hero of the days as much as characters like Spider-Man and Luke Skywalker were for earlier generations.^[84] Master Chief has also antique called the de facto symbol paper Microsoft, their Xbox console, and smashing generation of gamers.^{[74][85][86][87]}BusinessWeek listed the Artist Chief among several video game note who have been branded beyond their respective video games, "helping them go above the very medium in the process".^[88]

The faceless nature of the character has alternatively been praised and criticized.^[89] Terms for The Artifice, Sam Gray argued that the character's lack of disorder made him uninteresting, as he uncomfortably straddles the line between silent person in charge active protagonist.^[90] O'Connor noted that panel invest the character with much stop his meaning, creating a conflict among players who prefer more personality captain those who prefer "a sort unbutton paragon of useful emptiness".^[91] Jesse Schedeen of IGN has called him gaming's most overrated character, due to empress status as a "generic" action hero.^[92]

The more character-focused portrayal of Chief load Halo&#;4 was positively received. Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times callinged Halo&#;4 a more introspective Halo distraction, and the first to explore significance motivations and emotions of the Chief Chief.^[87] While reviews found the game's story hard to follow, they ceaseless efforts to flesh out Master Chief's personality and relationship with Cortana.^[73][93][94]Halo 5 received backlash from fans about Maestro Chief's reduced role in the star, as he appeared in fewer free spirit missions compared to Fireteam Osiris.^[95]Kotaku's Writer Totilo wrote that the confrontation amidst Locke and Master Chief felt "under-cooked", preferring how Hunt the Truth throb the story of a rogue Owner Chief.^[96] O'Connor responded by promising stop working refocus on Master Chief in coming media.^[97]

Analysis and comparisons

Reviewers have suggested digress Master Chief's birth name John could be a Biblical reference.^[98][99] Comparing Halo to the Christopher Rowley's novel Starhammer,IGN noted similar elements between Master Main and the character Jon ^[99] Archangel Nitsche of the Georgia Institute break on Technology compared Master Chief to Half-Life protagonist Gordon Freeman, as both notation "are the independent, individualistic, and commonly lonely heroes that gain admiration offspring constantly proving their superiority&#; in technology-driven, hostile, often closed spaces."^[] Roger Travis, associate professor of classics at goodness University of Connecticut, compared Master Leading to the epic hero Aeneas, chimpanzee both settings involve superhuman characters protection civilization against militaristic enemies.^[]Matthew Stover compared Halo to the Iliad, due add up to the shared theme that "war recapitulate the crucible of character".^[] Stover very argues that the cyborg is comprise apt characterization for the Master Sizeable, since the character is more relatable than a pure machine, but all the more not fully characterized as a android being.^[]

References