EtherealEOD's Five Favorites

Community

Community Spotlight

Alex Wakeford

Issue 015

Community Corner: EtherealEOD

Forge Features

Games

Halo Infinite

Welcome back to Forge Features!



It’s been a hot minute, but we’re back to showcase some awesome new community-created maps for you to bookmark and play. Let’s take a look…



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/65b5d2a2-871f-4eb3-b99d-03f347d47932">THE PILLAR OF AUTUMN</a> Credits: HMkiller05, Nikos, xXBarthXx Bookmark: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/65b5d2a2-871f-4eb3-b99d-03f347d47932">MAP</a> | MODE (<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/e3026186-ecf0-49d4-91dd-204d77f08887">Easy</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/6173030a-e351-406b-9f82-686811c07449">Normal</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/0a6907e3-c250-449f-97de-4730dde5e3eb">Heroic</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/8b3d4874-3e71-4207-90d6-66a5486e2bc4">Legendary</a>)



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo Infinite: The Pillar of Autumn - Release Trailer" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JlsVl1vHf-o?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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From the folks that brought you The Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room recreated in Halo Infinite’s Forge comes another Halo: CE level—The Pillar of Autumn.



Get your targeting diagnostics and energy shields tested because you’re gonna need all the help you can get to repel enemy boarding parties, protect your fellow soldiers, and get to the escape pods to make ringfall! The placement of the enemies, the winding corridors, even some of the additional details from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is all here, and it’s a delight to see just how much love was put into this experience.



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/9bd5390a-78d1-40f5-90d8-9be075417895">PURGATORY</a> Credits: VidGamesPete, Dellsoto, ShredderMcgenty, Trignate, Yung Mithos, thesilencebrokn, Zaddy Hammer, I KAMIKAZE II, Le Frenchys <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/9bd5390a-78d1-40f5-90d8-9be075417895">Bookmark</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/9bd5390a-78d1-40f5-90d8-9be075417895"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Forge map Purgatory" class="wp-image-100485" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Purgatory-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Things will never be the same for fans of Halo 2’s gondolas, as Purgatory is heavily inspired by the aesthetic and gameplay experience of those missions.



A particularly cool detail is that the walls around you are perpetually moving upwards, making it feel like you really are descending into the substructural belly of the beast.



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/317965fe-1e78-4a00-b1bf-0bfd102cef9a">DAWNBREAKER</a> Credits: Anvil Prime 52, Cousin Tim, Squally DaBeanz, I Crush ALL, Galaxytivity, IKYLEIZBEASTLY <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/317965fe-1e78-4a00-b1bf-0bfd102cef9a">Bookmark</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/317965fe-1e78-4a00-b1bf-0bfd102cef9a"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Forge map Dawnbreaker" class="wp-image-100415" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Dawnbreaker-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



This BTB map features a Forerunner beam emitter on one side, a Banished base on the other, and a network of caves mixed with open, grassy terrain for you to navigate.



This map looks stunning, providing a great visual juxtaposition between the sleek, advanced look of Forerunner technology and with the dark, foreboding presence of a Banished tower.



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/d2c7916a-9769-4e3f-b8f9-52912bda06e3">OLD SALT</a> Credits: Sikamikanico, Lahont, CertifiedChamp, WhosBlaze, Okom1 <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/d2c7916a-9769-4e3f-b8f9-52912bda06e3">Bookmark</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/d2c7916a-9769-4e3f-b8f9-52912bda06e3"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Forge map Old Salt" class="wp-image-100457" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/OldSalt-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



I like big boats, I cannot lie.



Man the cannons, hoist the sails, sing a sea shanty, and ready your muskets for a battle that can only be described as historic!



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/06306375-bf41-4fe9-b94b-42bea9c7eb9c">FIREFIGHT – CORVETTE OUTPOST</a> Credits: GlizzyGod420496 Bookmark: <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/06306375-bf41-4fe9-b94b-42bea9c7eb9c">MAP</a> | <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/modes/d2a81b20-8930-444a-b5eb-cb6db14511f6">MODE</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/06306375-bf41-4fe9-b94b-42bea9c7eb9c"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Forge map Firefight Corvette Outpost" class="wp-image-100443" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/FirefightCorvetteOutpost-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Welcome to the Corvette Outpost. Weather conditions are chilly, lives are limited, and the Banished are on their way. Lock ‘n’ load, Spartan—you know what to do!



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/c1e62bb4-2037-4b87-9066-cd31fa207681">THE GULCH</a> Credits: daomum, ElphCrimLester <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/c1e62bb4-2037-4b87-9066-cd31fa207681">Bookmark</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/c1e62bb4-2037-4b87-9066-cd31fa207681"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Forge map The Gulch" class="wp-image-100499" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/TheGulch-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



The quick and the dead. One can simply never tire of Blood Gulch remakes, and this one is heavily inspired by the visual direction of Zeta Halo’s landscapes in Halo Infinite’s campaign.



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<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bf52ca2e-3775-4c0b-bff0-6cde383c6bab">PIRTH</a> Credits: DEATH WEAPONxx <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bf52ca2e-3775-4c0b-bff0-6cde383c6bab">Bookmark</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/halo-infinite/ugc/maps/bf52ca2e-3775-4c0b-bff0-6cde383c6bab"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of the Forge map Pirth" class="wp-image-100471" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/03/Pirth-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



I could tell you lots of cool things about this map, but my neurons started firing with excitement at a great recreation of a damaged Locust from Halo Wars in the city streets along with a Scarab. That alone is worth a bookmark!



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That closes us out for this issue of Forge Features. Thank you for joining us for this showcase, and for your incredible creativity in the making of these maps and experiences.



We’ll see you in April for our next issue!

Community Cartography 025

Forge Features: March 21, 2024

Jloughlenart

ZoinksLord

RiteshKMondal art

Urihell343 art

Spotlight: March 13, 2024

Issue 014

Community Corner: Katarn343

Community Update

Sundered Showdown

Fiction

343 INDUSTRIES

Women’s History Month 2024

Endurance-of-Will by Eva

Art by Eva

Welcome back to the Community Corner, the series where we spotlight and interview individuals in the Halo community about all things to do with (you guessed it) Halo—and their specific niches as creators.



Last month, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-alyek">we were joined by Halo Grassroots member and streamer Alyek</a> to learn about her journey with Halo over the years and reminisce about memorable moments at HCS.



This month, as we’re less than two short weeks away from the release of Halo: Epitaph, the next novel by Kelly Gay that will see the return of the Didact, it seemed only fitting to speak with an artist who is well known for her stunning illustrations of the Forerunner era, and shares a similar handle with a beloved character within that mythos: Isodidacta.



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Welcome, Eva! Thank you for taking the time to talk with us about all things Halo. But first of all, introduce yourself—who are you, what do you do as part of the Halo community, and where can we find you online?



Hello, I like to go by Eva on social media. I make fanart in my free time. Halo has many facets that have yet to be explored visually—those areas of ambiguity are where a majority of my inspiration thrives.



Currently my fan art can be found on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/isodidacta">Tumblr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/iso_didacta">Twitter</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://x.com/iso_didacta/status/1683921683667894274?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1254" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10.jpg" alt="Art by iso_didacta of the Primordial with the Didact next to him for scale" class="wp-image-95063" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10-300x196.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10-768x502.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10-1536x1003.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt10-1568x1024.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



How did your great journey with Halo begin?



I was introduced to Halo 2 at the age of eight. After a long day of running across the desert with my friend and sibling, we came back into my friend’s trailer to cool off… where her mother was playing Halo 2 on the couch in their living room. In silent awe, we all watched her play.



Finally, she let us take turns playing Slayer. We spent the next hour taking turns shooting at each other poorly. I left their home completely enamored by Halo.



Later that year, my father bought us the console and game for Christmas. That’s where everything began for me.



I have a feeling that I might know the answer to this, but are there any specific areas of the series that you really gravitate towards—campaign and story, multiplayer, the expanded universe, Forge, etc?



Haha, yes. Although I love all of these aspects, the story and campaign are where I mostly gravitate towards. Halo is incredibly rich with storytelling.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://x.com/iso_didacta/status/1683846521064951809?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2058" height="2560" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-scaled.jpg" alt="Art by iso_didacta of Bornstellar-Makes-Eternal-Lasting" class="wp-image-94979" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-scaled.jpg 2058w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-241x300.jpg 241w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-823x1024.jpg 823w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-768x955.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-1235x1536.jpg 1235w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-1647x2048.jpg 1647w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt5-1568x1950.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2058px) 100vw, 2058px" /></a></figure>



What are some of the things that really draws you into the Forerunner elements of the Halo universe?



Greg Bear’s writing drew me in. I had always loved Halo, but his work brought an entirely new perspective to the Halo universe for me.



What are some of your favorite pieces of Halo media and why?



Silentium is currently my favorite book, while Halo 2 is my favorite game.



Silentium has a magnificent sense of scale. Reading through the various perspectives of those final events was horrifying. How this book concludes the trilogy is compelling.



Halo 2 was my first experience with a Halo game. The storytelling was impressive, following the Arbiter through his story was a pivotal experience for me as a child.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://x.com/iso_didacta/status/1736273321799602273?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="979" height="1340" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt6.jpg" alt="Art by iso_didacta of Chant-to-Green" class="wp-image-94993" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt6.jpg 979w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt6-219x300.jpg 219w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt6-748x1024.jpg 748w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt6-768x1051.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px" /></a></figure>



Do you have a favorite Halo character—both in general and a favorite character to draw?



Many characters in Halo have left impressions on me for different reasons, but my favorite to draw are the characters who don’t have a current presence in the games. I want to flesh them out and help bring a face to them for others. I enjoy trying to capture their personality. There is a lot of artistic freedom in the fringes of Halo lore!



Tell us a bit about your journey as an artist—how did you discover your love for it and what are some of your major inspirations?



I have been drawing my entire life, but my parents are responsible for encouraging my passion. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without them.



A majority of my early inspiration came directly from concept art. How much thought and effort is put behind every design we see in the final product.



<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/47857688@N08/sets/72157629321027031/">Adam Adamowicz</a> and his work on The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles made a huge impression on me at a young age. Currently there are too many sources of inspiration I draw from to list specifically!





Do you listen to music when you go into “artist mode”? What Halo tracks are on the drawing playlist?



I listen to a lot of music, but game soundtracks work wonders for staying focused. Some of my favorite Halo tracks are:



Requiem, Nemesis, Legacy, Awakening, Warrior World, The Beauty of Cortana, Deference for Darkness, Neon Night, Impart, and A Spartan Rises.



Do you have a favorite medium to work with—and one you’re eager to explore working with more? For instance, you’ve done some amazing short animations for some of your Bornstellar pieces!



Thank you. Animation is an incredibly useful skill to have, and one I am still learning.



Currently, digital art is the dominant medium for me. A few paintings do begin as small pencil sketches, before they’re painted over in Photoshop.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">“Do you witness?” <a href="https://t.co/514vS0VtxD">pic.twitter.com/514vS0VtxD</a>— Eva (@iso_didacta) <a href="https://twitter.com/iso_didacta/status/1690265679130427392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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How do you think your art has evolved over time?



My art has evolved a lot over time. I had no experience with digital art until I was 18, when I was given my first laptop and tablet. It was after the artbook for Destiny released in 2014. I knew I wanted to pursue game design as a career and those tools where critical for that path—gaining access to this new medium it was incredibly freeing for me.





Do you have any words of wisdom to share with other artists out there who might just be getting started?



I have many, too many to fit here.



There’s an abundance of free resources available online to explore. Tutorials, programs, and even mentoring from senior artists. You do not need a secondary education to pursue a creative career in the game industry.



I had the pleasure of meeting you at the Halo World Championship event back in October after having shared around some of your artwork internally and making it our mission to tell you how much we loved it! What was the experience of being in the same hall as Keith David like?



It was a pleasure to meet you as well! And thank you, I do appreciate that.



It was great to see Keith, Jen, and Steve on-stage. Their skill is phenomenal. Sunrise on Sanghelios was one of the highlights of that event for me. I’m grateful to have seen it in person.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo: Sunrise on Sanghelios | HaloWC 2023 Community Stage" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/heeAkDRuf5g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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What are some of your favorite pieces of Halo artwork?



All work done by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/sparth">Sparth</a>, <a href="https://conceptartworld.com/news/halo-4-concept-art-by-paul-richards/">Paul Richards</a>, <a href="https://www.artstation.com/robogabo">Gabo Garza</a>, and <a href="https://www.daniolart.com/#/work/">Daniel Chavez</a>. Their expertise and instinct have left Halo with a library of remarkable art.



What’s are some of your favorite pieces of artwork that you’ve done (be it from Halo or something else)? 



My current favorite Halo piece has to be the first-person perspective of Bronstellar’s hand. It was incredibly rushed, but I’m pleased with the result. It’s simple and efficient. The early chapters of Cryptum will always elicit a bittersweet feeling for me.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://x.com/iso_didacta/status/1682485014410452993?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1582" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-scaled.jpg" alt="Art by iso_didacta of Bornstellar's hand reaching towards the Didact's Cryptum" class="wp-image-95035" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-300x185.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-1024x633.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-768x475.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-1536x949.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-2048x1266.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/02/EvaArt9-1568x969.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a></figure>



Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.



I think people who aren’t familiar with me could find this interesting? For the last five years I’ve worked in the gaming industry as a concept artist which practically dominates my life day-to-day and makes drawing in my free time inconvenient. All the fanart I’ve made has come from a stubborn passion!



Thank you so much again for joining us here by the calm shores of Djamonkin Augh, Eva! Before we let you fade back into the Domain, do you have any parting words to share?



Thank you for having me, I’m so happy to have the chance to be featured here. I’m excited to finally get my hands on Epitaph in the near future.



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Be sure to check out Eva’s artwork on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/isodidacta">Tumblr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/iso_didacta">Twitter</a>!



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">simple animation <a href="https://t.co/QhEkdBQAUD">pic.twitter.com/QhEkdBQAUD</a>— Eva (@iso_didacta) <a href="https://twitter.com/iso_didacta/status/1682591051360632832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Issue 013

Community Corner: Isodidacta

IdealRonyL

SovietDuckz

Halofeed

Spotlight: February 12, 2024

Fireteam February

Alyek Cosplay

It’s January 2024, which must mean that it’s time for a new issue of the Community Corner—the blog series where we spotlight and interview some of the fine folks in the Halo community.



Last time, <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-aimee-saturne">we had a fireside chat with GCustomsCreations</a> about the incredible custom, hand-sculpted Halo figures he makes.



Kicking off this year, we’re joined by Halo Grassroots member and streamer Alyek to learn about her personal journey with the Halo series and memorable moments at community events.



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Welcome, Alyek! Thank you very much for taking the time to kick off 2024’s first issue of the Community Corner with us. For those who may not know you, please introduce yourself—who are you, what do you do as part of the Halo community, and where can we find you online?



Exciting, thank you for having me! Hi I’m Alyek, I’m a full-time content creator on Twitch and I love Halo.



I’m currently part of the Halo Grassroots Program so you’ll see me on multiple playdates. You can also find me honing my hosting skills with LVT during Halo events, and when on my own stream I love running matchmaking with the community. We’ve been loving the Squad Battles and Halo 3 Refueled playlists a lot, but I always set some time down for ranked. Although, I often mix it up and play a variety of games too.



Oh and you can find me on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/alyek">twitch.tv/alyek</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/alyekly">@alyekly</a> on all socials.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1938" height="1443" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2.jpg" alt="Photograph of Alyek at the Halo World Championship" class="wp-image-90605" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2.jpg 1938w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2-300x223.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2-768x572.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2-1536x1144.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC2-1568x1168.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1938px) 100vw, 1938px" /></figure>



How did your great journey with Halo begin?



It all started when my mom randomly walked into our living room with the Halo: Combat Evolved box because some guy at a store said it was really good and she wanted to play with my brothers and I (yes, my mom is a gamer too!)



I remember thinking the green guy on the box was weird and thought I wasn’t going to like it, and man… was I in for a treat! After that, I’ve never really stopped playing. There are a lot of core family memories thanks to Halo.



Are there any specific areas of the series that you really gravitate towards—campaign and story, multiplayer, expanded universe stuff, Forge, etc?



I love both campaign and multiplayer experiences! I’m a huge fan of the old campaigns and right now I’m definitely more of a matchmaking kid—I crave winning games in ranked and just messing around in social and/or customs with people and friends.



I know you like to dabble in cosplay as well. Which Halo characters have you cosplayed and who would you love to suit up as in the future?



Yes! I love making characters come to life! I cosplayed Cortana for the Halo Infinite launch and Miranda Keyes just recently at the Halo Worlds Championship 2023 for the Halo-ween Showdown.



In the future I’d love to cosplay the Weapon and play around with her fun, youthful energy. Hoping I get to see myself in a Spartan suit one day.





Who are some of your favorite Halo characters and why? (I know that we both share a lot of love for the underappreciated Miranda Keyes!)



Were it so easy. Yes, Miranda Keyes is so cool, plus I find her voice very iconic to Halo. I really wish her story would’ve continued.



My favorite character though is definitely the Arbiter. I loved being able to watch his arc in the early campaigns. I loved the idea of humans and “aliens” (the Covenant) being enemies, but end up working together. I also found his eventual friendship with Master Chief so awkward, unique, and hilarious at times.



What’s your favorite helmet in Halo and why?



My favorite helmet is probably the Halo 3 Recon helmet. It’s what my spartan would be wearing right now in Halo Infinite if I could.



I also love the ODST helmet, I can’t look at it without hearing the glorious Halo 3: ODST music…



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon.jpg" alt="Halo 3 screenshot of a Spartan with the Recon helmet on Guardian" class="wp-image-90661" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/recon-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></figure>



I had the pleasure of meeting you at the Halo World Championship last October—hard to believe that was already two months ago! What does the esports side of Halo mean to you?



Wow yes, time does fly by! I grew up with Halo as my competitive shooter. It was also the game that made me discover esports even existed.



Once upon a time, I desired to compete, followed MLG, and I did play in local LANs at the time, but now I just enjoy watching Halo and learning from the pros for fun. There’s nothing like watching Halo. I’d love to continue to combine my passion for entertainment and Halo in a professional setting; I’ve been loving hosting on LVT broadcasts recently and want to continue evolving this new skill, it’s been pretty addictive!



Halo has fans all over the world, with talents ranging across the creative spectrum. As a member of the LATAM community as well, are there any fellow Spartans you’d want to highlight here?



Yes! The LATAM community has so many content creator gems I’d love for you all to check out. <a href="https://twitter.com/Extremebreaker1">ExtremeBreaker</a>, the funniest Spanish-speaking stream I’ve ever tuned into. <a href="https://twitter.com/lBlodreina">iBlodreina</a> is insanely good at Halo. She even got Top 4 placement in the MX HCS region! She’s super fun, genuine and so competitive. I have so much to learn from her! <a href="https://twitter.com/ArturBloodshot">ArturBlodshot</a>, part of the Forge Council and LATAM Community Ambassador. And let’s not forget, <a href="https://twitter.com/Beautoriaa">Beautoria</a>! She’s so good at Halo and is so fun to hangout with on stream. She received Twitch Partner last year, and also shares my love for DragonBall Z! Others to check out: <a href="https://twitter.com/MatafiedGaming">MATAFIED Gaming</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/nobleprimado">NoblePrimado</a>, but there’s so many more I’m definitely forgetting and so many more I still need to meet!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1535" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community.jpg" alt="Photograph of Alyek with community members at the Halo World Championship" class="wp-image-90507" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community.jpg 1535w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community-225x300.jpg 225w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community-768x1025.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community-1151x1536.jpg 1151w" sizes="(max-width: 1535px) 100vw, 1535px" /></figure>



What are some personal highlights you’ve had over the years as a member of the Halo community? Between the creators’ panel and meeting Keith David, I imagine last year had its share of memorable moments.



Honestly, standing on the mainstage and playing at the Halo World Championship surrounded by amazingly talented hosts, casters, and creators was so crazy to me. As a kid that grew up watching Halo events, talk about full circle! I loved it so much and felt so ready for that moment!



Also, meeting the voices of the Master Chief, Cortana, and the Arbiter all in the same room backstage had my little girl self dying inside (I maintained my composure as best I could… I think). Being a part of the Creator Panels is so special to me, I love being able to teach and share what I’ve learned on my wild ride as content creator so far. I’d also love to stand on that stage as a host one day.



Tell us a bit about your journey as a streamer over the years. How did you get started and how have things evolved for you over the years?



I landed a full-time job as an entertainer before I started streaming, it was one of my first auditions ever. I quickly fell in love with it and decided to combine my passion for entertainment and acting with my love for gaming.



I hadn’t played video games for a few years and missed the gaming community so much at the time. I started with chill games like Stardew Valley, then Warframe came along and that community adopted me so quickly—the team at Digital Extremes and the Warframe community hold a special place in my heart.



I always knew I wanted to play Halo again in the future, so when Halo Infinite came out I fully made the switch.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1636" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2.jpg" alt="Photograph of Alyek with three big fans of hers on the Halo World Championship's Community Stage (HiddenXperia, Oath, and UberNick)" class="wp-image-90521" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2.jpg 1636w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2-240x300.jpg 240w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2-818x1024.jpg 818w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2-768x961.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2-1227x1536.jpg 1227w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_Community2-1568x1963.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1636px) 100vw, 1636px" /></figure>



What advice would you give to folks out there who may be starting their own journey with content creation?



Streaming and content creation is such a rollercoaster career. One minute you’re having the most amazing day of your life… and then the worst financial month of your career the next! You learn to work through it because you love it.



Starting and maintaining consistency is always the hardest though. Make a schedule, stick to it, but also try to be creative with the time you spend live. It can get easily tiring to do the same thing every day. The content creation space changes quickly, so it’s always important to be flexible and adapt new trends to yourself and your content. If you want to stand out, recreate trends that inspire you with your own unique voice and creativity. Oh man, I could go on. I’ll just leave this for now. On a future panel, ask me everything you want haha.



What’s your favorite Halo game in the series?



Halo 2 for campaign. Halo 3 multiplayer. And I think Halo Infinite is the best since Halo 3 and Reach.



Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.



I love languages and daydream about doing food and lifestyle travel content. I’m fluent in English and Spanish, and I taught myself to read and write Korean. I also took Mandarin, Japanese, and Italian in school, but don’t ask me to speak them because I already forgot…



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1776" height="1310" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1.jpg" alt="Photo of Alyek at the Halo World Championship" class="wp-image-90591" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1.jpg 1776w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1-300x221.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1-1024x755.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1-768x566.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1-1536x1133.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2024/01/Alyek_HWC1-1568x1157.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1776px) 100vw, 1776px" /></figure>



Thank you again for giving us some of your time to chat, Alyek! Do you have any parting words to share?



Honored that you thought of me for this interview! Thank you and the Halo community for being so supportive of me in my adventure as a content creator and entertainer, I’ve seen all your comments in the chats.



I’m so excited to keep growing as a creator and hope you all join me for it. Excited to meet and say hi to any new peeps who read this blog!



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You can find Alyek on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/alyek">Twitch</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/alyekly">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/alyek">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alyekly/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@alyekly">TikTok</a>—go and give her a follow!

Issue 012

Community Corner: Alyek