Halo art by Entransing

Halo: Reach art by Entransing

Halo ships by Entransing

Community

Community Spotlight

The Community Corner returns for another monthly issue where we spotlight and interview individuals about their amazing contributions to the Halo community—art, cosplay, animation, streaming, Forge, and so on.



Last time, we were joined by artist Will Clements to learn more about how Halo has inspired him as an artist.



Today, we’re joined by Samantha (“Entransing”) to learn about her journey with Halo and the stunning artwork she has produced of its characters, worlds, ships, and more!



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Welcome, Samantha! Thank you for joining us for this month’s issue of the Community Corner. Tell us a bit about yourself—who are you, what do you do as part of the Halo community, and where can we find you?



Hello! I’m Samantha and I’m a Sydney-based freelance artist specializing in traditionally drawn art. I’ve done hundreds of Halo artworks over the past few years in a variety of mediums—from ballpoint pen to oil paints.



You can find my work <a href="https://www.instagram.com/entransing_/">on Instagram at @entransing_</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/entransing">on Twitter at @entransing</a>, where I’m always updating it and creating new works!





What’s your Halo origin story?



At the start of 2013, my parents gave me the choice between an iPad or an Xbox 360 as a high school starting gift. The choice was obvious for me, and I soon had an Xbox along with some great titles—Skyrim, GTA IV, and of course Halo 4, which I was immediately drawn to.



From there, I basically played the game nonstop, starting with the campaign, then jumping into multiplayer, before going back and playing all the previous titles. From this journey, I made great friends, great memories, and a love for Halo that’s stuck ever since.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/entransing/status/1659305034604224513?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing35.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77049" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing35.jpg 1440w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing35-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing35-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing35-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></figure>



Are there any particular areas of the series that you find yourself gravitating towards—are you drawn towards campaign, multiplayer, Forge, expanded universe stuff, or a mix of various things?



Over the years, I’ve been drawn to different aspects of Halo. In the beginning, multiplayer was my main interest, as I could spend hours having fun with friends in matchmaking and custom playlists. Ranked playlists and playing in tournaments was also an interest of mine, so a lot of my time went into the multiplayer aspect of Halo.



However as of recently, time has become scarcer, so I’ve dedicated less time to multiplayer, instead opting to go co-op through the Halo campaigns, introducing the series to friends and making more memories along the way.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/entransing/status/1377027448949284868?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1440" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing34.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77035" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing34.jpg 1440w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing34-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing34-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing34-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing34-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></a></figure>



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



My favorite Halo media pieces that I’m currently collecting are any kind of Halo book, whether it be the novels or the art books and visual guides. These are a major source of inspiration for me, and I love discovering little bits of lore here and there that I wouldn’t have learnt from the games alone.



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



I’m going to have to cheat a little and say my favorite Halo characters are the six members of Noble Team.



Halo: Reach is my favorite title of the whole series and drawing them always brings back memories of first playing through the campaign, discovering their fates and the fate of Reach. But… if I had to pick one member from the team, it would be Kat-B320.





Tell us your origin story as an artist—how did you discover your love for it and what are some of your major inspirations?



Art has always been a major part of my life; I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil.



However, video games really opened my eyes to a whole new means of artistic expression and a way of discovering new and creative ideas and worlds.



Destiny was one of my first major artistic inspirations, where I picked up my first game art book: The Art of Destiny. From there, I discovered my love for science fiction art, where I analyzed and drew virtually every page from the book. If you scroll down far enough on my Instagram, you’ll find my very first pen illustrations, which is where it all began!



As I’ve considered pursuing art, other inspirations have arisen to help me develop my own style. I’ve recently fallen in love with the Berserk manga and take a lot of inspiration from Kentaro Miura’s linework. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many artists at conventions as well, whose own art and stories also inspire me further.



Where do you start from when you begin working on a new piece of artwork and how does your process go from there?



To even begin to put pencil on paper, I need ideas, which can come at any time of the day. Whether it’s through suggestions from others or my own inspiration, I have a folder of thousands of reference pictures ready to go when an idea comes my way.



I keep my sketches pretty rough most of the time, making sure to just get the key details and proportions in. The next steps change according to how I’m lining or shading the piece. It could be in ballpoint pen, fine liner, brush pen or watercolor.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/entransing/status/1688666468144369665?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77007" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entransing32-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></a></figure>



You’ve done some absolutely incredible illustrations of various Halo characters, and I see you’ve recently been doing some ships—the Pillar of Autumn, Spirit of Fire, Infinity, etc—and landscapes as well. Do you vary your approach based on the subject?



My recent UNSC ship series has been so much fun to work on as yes, it required a different process to my usual routine.



Given the highly detailed nature and blueprint look of these drawings, I had to take a much more careful and precise approach towards the work. I had to break out the ruler, do measurements and line each stroke up to make the work as precise as possible.



However, with my oil painted landscapes, the process behind these was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Painting these landscapes is always such a therapeutic and calming process for me, as I can let loose, focus on brushwork and blending, rather than precision.



It’s really these differences in my practice that allow me to continuously stay inspired, even if I’m drawing the same subject over and over. There’s just so many different ways I can approach the same landscape or same character. I can never get bored of it!





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



Music is a must for me, and I love to match what I’m drawing with its respective Halo soundtrack. My favorite soundtrack has to be that of Halo: Reach, but some of my favorite individual tracks are The Rookie, A Spartan Rises, and Ghosts and Glass.



How would you describe your style of art? Do you have a favorite medium to work with?



I would describe my art as my approach towards realism, with a touch of comic-book style linework and shading in my pen pieces.



I’m strict on my palette being mainly black-and-white with a dash of color for emphasis. However, since I do cover a lot of mediums in my art—pen, graphite pencil, oil paint, watercolors—my art style is also very dynamic. My favorite medium of all has got to be the standard Bic ballpoint pen, as it really tests my skills as an artist and is so fun to use!



How do you think your art has evolved over time? And how would you like to see it develop further?



I often look back at the artwork I’ve made over the past few years, and with each new piece I create, the evolution of my art only becomes more and more apparent.



My technical skills are always changing and developing as I learn from past mistakes or change directions in my art style. I am blessed to have so many opportunities to explore new ideas in my art, and I would love to continue with more creative and more ambitious pieces of work that test my skills further.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/entransing/status/1646272455315697664?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76741" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13-768x768.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing13-1568x1568.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></a></figure>



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



Art is all about consistency—put in the hours and you’ll see results!



Don’t be afraid to share your art with others, whether it be friends or fellow artists. You can learn a lot about where you can improve, and where your strengths are as well.



And most importantly, enjoy the process. Your best art is made when it comes from a place of love and passion!



What’s your favorite piece of Halo artwork?



It’s really hard for me to choose a single favorite piece, but I really love the cover art of the Halo novels, as well as Halo’s environmental concept art.



I really love the cover art of <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Shadows-of-Reach/Troy-Denning/Halo/9781982143619">Halo: Shadows of Reach</a> and <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Outcasts/Troy-Denning/Halo/9781668003282">Halo: Outcasts</a>.



What’s are some of your favorite pieces of artwork that you’ve done? And is there something Halo-related you might be excited to draw in the future?



I’m always super proud of the Halo oil paintings I do, and they always receive a lot of love as well. This piece (the top of the one pictured below), based off an artwork for Halo: CE, is one of my favorites and was quick to find a home with a fellow fan.



I also love the Noble Team series I did for a friend of mine, all in ballpoint pen with a touch of watercolor.



While I’m mixing things up a bit more in terms of my art, I always have Halo artwork ideas on the backburner. My next plan is to do an epic Blue Team piece, so stay tuned for that!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/entransing/status/1627214469624651777?s=20"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1536" height="2048" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing17.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-76797" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing17.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing17-225x300.jpg 225w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing17-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/08/entrasing17-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /></a></figure>



Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.



Whilst I’m mainly an artist by trade, I’m also a graphic designer, designing and illustrating for books and websites.



Thank you so much again for joining us, Samantha! Do you have any parting words to share?



It’s a dream come true to be featured here and to be able to express my love for Halo with thousands of fellow fans! I want to say a big thank you for having me, and great work with keeping Halo’s spark alive!



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Don’t forget to go and follow Entransing on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/entransing_/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/entransing">Twitter</a> to keep up with all her latest and greatest art pieces!

Alex Wakeford

Issue 009

Community Corner: Entransing

Petals and Power Armor

Cultured Cosplay

Framed Figures

Chibi Champions

Tenrai Triumphs

Spotlight: July 25, 2023

The Community Corner is back with a new guest to talk about all things Halo!



In the Community Corner, we spotlight and interview individual members of the Halo community about the cool stuff they do (whether that’s art, cosplay, Forge, animation, streaming, and so on) and their personal history with the series.



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-moto">Last time, we were joined by Moto Streams to talk about her journey with Halo over the years in streaming and podcasting, and how she cultivated one of the most wholesome communities out there.</a>



Today, we’re joined by artist Will Clements to discuss fan art, art advice, custom game nights, and more.



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Welcome, Will! Thank you very much for joining us for this month’s Community Corner. Introduce yourself—who are you, what do you do as part of the Halo community, and where can we find you?



Hi there! I’m a digital character artist and fan artist, and within the Halo community I have the pleasure of drawing other peoples’ Spartans!



You can find me on <a href="https://twitter.com/willclementsart">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/willclementsart/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://willclementsart.weebly.com/gallery.html">over on my website.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://willclementsart.weebly.com/gallery.html"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2400" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1.jpg" alt="Master Chief art by Will Clements" class="wp-image-70576" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1.jpg 2000w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1-250x300.jpg 250w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1-768x922.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1-1280x1536.jpg 1280w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1-1707x2048.jpg 1707w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will1-1568x1882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a></figure>



What’s your Halo origin story? How did you get started on the path of the Great Journey?



I started playing Halo when I was around ten or eleven with the original trilogy. Whilst Halo 2 was my first Halo that I played, I’d say my Great Journey properly started with after-school Halo 3.



I can vividly remember visiting my friends and playing couch co-op, hopping on the Xbox in the evenings to play Garbage Man, Duck Hunt, and all the other customs that so many of us lost countless hours to.



I’ve loved Halo multiplayer ever since I first played it, but once the social side of this series grabbed me it has never let me go. Even now, I will always say yes to a custom games evening.



(Special mention goes to the Halo: CE lunchtime sessions on Boarding Action!)



What areas of the series do you find yourself gravitating towards—or would you describe yourself as something of an all-rounder when it comes to things like campaign and story, multiplayer, Forge, etc?



I’m for sure an all-rounder when it comes to Halo. I love a bit of everything.



Replaying a campaign, hopping into multiplayer with friends, or trying to recreate Alien: Isolation in Forge—it all depends on my mood for the day.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/willclementsart"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2400" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4.jpg" alt="Art of a Spartan on Zeta Halo by Will Clements" class="wp-image-70618" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4.jpg 2000w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4-250x300.jpg 250w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4-768x922.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4-1280x1536.jpg 1280w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4-1707x2048.jpg 1707w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will4-1568x1882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a></figure>



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



The Forerunner Saga written by Greg Bear.



I don’t know what I can say about this trilogy that hasn’t been said already, but I was so excited knowing we’d learn more about the Forerunners and these books did not disappoint.



Anything involving the Didact is a win for me, so I’m also very excited for Halo: Epitaph.



I wish I could pick a favorite soundtrack from this series to include here as well, but I don’t think I can…



What’s your origin story as an artist? How did you discover your love for it, and what are some of your major inspirations—be it from Halo or other sources?



I was drawing dinosaurs, sharks, and pirate ships from as early as five years old! A year later I watched Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man for the first time and I became obsessed with the character—my mum still keeps a binder of my earliest drawings and most of them are related to the wall-crawler.



From there I progressed into reading comics, and they quickly became my biggest inspiration (and still are, even now). I’ve never stopped appreciating the artistry that goes into making them.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/willclementsart/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2327" height="2560" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-scaled.jpg" alt="Art of a Spartan on Oasis by Will Clements" class="wp-image-70604" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-scaled.jpg 2327w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-273x300.jpg 273w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-931x1024.jpg 931w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-768x845.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-1396x1536.jpg 1396w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-1862x2048.jpg 1862w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will3-1568x1725.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2327px) 100vw, 2327px" /></a></figure>



Where do you start from when you begin working on a new piece of artwork and how does your process go from there?



My process always starts with collecting as much reference as I can before I put pen to tablet. As soon as I’m comfortable with my reference library I start to sketch, slowly learning the individual shapes and working on the details.



Once I’ve finished sketching it all becomes a bit of a blur, and suddenly a finished piece of art emerges, with color and a background.



I’m joking about that last bit… sort of.



Do you listen to music when you go into artist mode? What Halo tracks get you in the zone for maximum inspiration and productivity?



Absolutely! I’m usually listening to a curated playlist, but sometimes I’m happy to let shuffle do its thing.



Halo tracks I’m always happy to hear when working are Impend/Impart from Halo 2, Covenant Dance from Halo: CE (because OF COURSE!), and more recently Riven’s Gate and Through the Trees from Infinite.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://twitter.com/willclementsart"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="2400" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5.jpg" alt="Art of a Spartan on Zeta Halo by Will Clements" class="wp-image-70632" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5.jpg 2000w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5-250x300.jpg 250w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5-853x1024.jpg 853w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5-768x922.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5-1280x1536.jpg 1280w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5-1707x2048.jpg 1707w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will5-1568x1882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></a></figure>



How do you think your art has evolved over time?



Oh, this question is always so hard to answer, but recently I’ve noticed my color rendering more than anything else.



Over the last few years, I’ve made a conscious effort to improve my approach to color, light, and shadow, and I’m really pleased with my progress.



Sometimes you have to go looking for the changes to finally see them!



Do you have any words of wisdom to share with other artists out there looking to get started?



Know when to walk away. It sounds counter-productive but trust me it’s incredibly helpful for noticing problems with your sketch.



Get up, stretch, do anything else but draw for an hour or two, and when you return to the tablet/page you’ll likely notice what’s been bugging you.



Oh, and digital artists, don’t forget to flip your canvas!



What’s your favorite piece of Halo artwork?



The twentieth anniversary artwork. It’s perfect. ‘Nuff said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-scaled.jpg" alt="20 years of Halo official artwork" class="wp-image-19338" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-300x169.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-768x432.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2021/11/Lassen_KeyArt_Flat_NoLogo-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption>(AW NOTE: No disagreement here!)</figcaption></figure>



Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.



I can do a fairly decent Escharum impression. I doubt you’ll ever hear it!



(AW NOTE: It is, of course, only natural for Halo fans to spend time in the shower reciting lines from the series in characters’ voices.)



Thank you again for joining us for this issue, Will! Do you have any parting words to share?



Halo 2‘s story is the GOAT, and thanks for having me!



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



You can follow Will Clements on <a href="https://twitter.com/willclementsart">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/willclementsart/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://willclementsart.weebly.com/gallery.html">check out his website!</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://willclementsart.weebly.com/gallery.html"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1100" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will2.jpg" alt="Art of the Master Chief and Zeta Halo by Will Clements" class="wp-image-70590" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will2.jpg 1100w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will2-229x300.jpg 229w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will2-782x1024.jpg 782w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/06/Will2-768x1005.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px" /></a></figure>

Issue 008

Community Corner: Will Clements

Games

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Modtacular 002

Halo: MCC | Mod Spotlight: May 2023

Welcome back to the Community Corner!



In this series, we spotlight and interview individual members of the Halo community about the cool stuff they do, their personal history with the Halo franchise and universe, and more.



<a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/community-corner-dagger">Last time, we spoke to Dagger about their journey as an artist and animator, and about Halo fan art in particular.</a>



Today, we’re joined by Moto Streams to learn about her history with Halo over the years and how she cultivated one of the most wholesome streaming communities out there.



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Welcome to the Community Corner, Moto! Thank you very much for joining us. Go ahead and introduce yourself—who are you, what do you do in the community, and where can we find you?



I am a gaming content creator with a focus on Halo, FPS titles, and survival games. I just love games as a whole, so I have quite a bit of variety, but my hook is always Halo. <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto">I stream on Twitch</a> and I’m also on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@motostreams">TikTok</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MotoStreams">YouTube</a>, where I mostly do Xbox-related news and tips videos.



Tell us your Halo origin story. How did you get started on this great journey?



The year after Halo: Combat Evolved launched, I went to a friend’s house, and he was hosting a LAN party. He had four OG Xbox consoles and four of those huge CRT TVs set up. We played split-screen Halo multiplayer all night long and into the morning.



I didn’t know it then, but that moment literally changed my life and the path that I would soon be on. Needless to say, shortly afterwards I got an Xbox of my own and the first game I bought was Halo: CE.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="892" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto343.jpg" alt="Image of Moto in front of 343 Industries sign" class="wp-image-66894" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto343.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto343-300x248.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto343-1024x846.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto343-768x634.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>



What’s your favorite Halo game and why? And if that’s too cruel, I’ll let you have a top three…



I think all Halo fans can agree this can be a tough question! Halo: CE will forever have a special place in my heart, and it is definitely my favorite campaign to replay. However, Halo 2 wins for my favorite multiplayer.



This is where I started getting involved with the Halo community. I co-founded a womens’ Halo 2 clan with my friend Zen (who I met in-game). We had an amazing group and some of us keep in touch all these years later. This is also where I met my wife!



Would you describe yourself as a campaign person, or are multiplayer and custom games more your thing, maybe you prefer the more creative side with Forge—or maybe it’s a mix of everything. What are some of the areas of Halo you find yourself gravitating towards?



I enjoy revisiting the campaigns randomly to just relax. However, I classify myself as sort of a super hardcore casual Halo multiplayer fan. I love Halo multiplayer so much, but I am in my upper 40s now which means I am not as good. Of course, I love to win, but I mostly just play for fun. One of my favorite modes has been Escalation, I can’t seem to get enough of it!



Tell us all about your journey as a streamer. How did you get started? What sort of things do you like covering? Did you go into it with any particular goals in mind?



Originally, I started streaming to help raise money for a charity that our clan and podcast at the time was raising money for. Then I started to get the bug for streaming. I am an incredibly shy person and streaming has helped me break out of my shell.



On the streaming side, Halo is my one franchise that I always default back to. I also love covering new games that have caught my interest. I have this strange love of zombies, so I often end up playing a lot of post-apocalyptic open world games.



When I started streaming, my main goal was to connect more with our clan and podcast listeners. Later, I had goals like getting partnered on Mixer, working with a particular brand, and to hopefully someday work with Halo in some capacity. Fast forward nine years, and my goals are to make content that I love and having fun while building and growing my community.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1744" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan.jpg" alt="Halo Infinite screenshot of Moto's Spartan" class="wp-image-66908" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan-300x255.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan-1024x872.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan-768x654.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan-1536x1308.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/MotoSpartan-1568x1335.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></a></figure>



What are some of the things you love most about streaming? Do you have any personal highlights from over the years?



What I love most about streaming is one hundred percent my community. The Sidecar Crew is legit one of the most welcoming and friendly groups out there. They make my days fun, and without them, I wouldn’t be doing any of this.



A streaming highlight that stands out was the time I got to host one of the Halo Community Playdate streams on my channel. We played a ton of Big Team Battle in Halo 5 and had a blast. It was also a huge honor to take over the Xbox Twitch channel last year for Women’s History Month—we played Halo Infinite and had a great time.



I know that you’ve done quite a bit of podcasting as well over the years. There’s really nothing better than just chatting about games, is there?



My friend Zen, who co-founded the Halo 2 clan with me, and I branched off into podcasting for seven years. Our podcast had a couple of name changes over the years, but we landed on Adrift Gamer. The “Adrift” fit both our randomness in gaming and it’s the name of a Halo 4 map.



We were both terrified to launch that first episode. It literally took us two years to get up the courage to start. But I am fully agreed that there is nothing better than sitting down once a week with one of your best friends to chat about the latest in games, and we seemed to always end up talking about space, robots and zombies. The show came to an end in 2021. We had so many amazing moments together that I will never forget.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1440" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto.jpg" alt="Image of Moto" class="wp-image-66880" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto.jpg 1920w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto-300x225.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto-768x576.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/Moto-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></a></figure>



Do you have any advice for folks out there who might be looking to get into streaming or podcasting and are finding their feet?



My biggest piece of advice is to sit down and do a little planning and ask yourself some questions. I know this part isn’t super fun, but I promise it is worth it.



These are questions that I often come back to and ask myself:



<ul><li>What do you want to cover?</li><li>What are your passions?</li><li>What things about you or your content are unique?</li><li>Who do you want to reach?</li><li>How much time a week do you realistically have to work on this?</li><li>Who can you reach out to for help and advice?</li><li>What are your short-term and long-term goals? Be realistic and specific.</li></ul>



Content creation is a lot of work, and it can take a while to start building a community. That’s why it’s so important to focus on what you love and are passionate about. It will help fuel you when you are first starting. Also, don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just improve and add things as you go.



On the topic of advice, it really must be asked… how have you fostered such a wonderfully wholesome community over the years?



That is super kind of you to say! The reason we started that Halo 2 clan back in the day was to create a space where we felt like we belonged. That is basically what I did with my community. My plan was to foster a space that is inclusive and welcoming for everyone.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="865" height="1080" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/ForerunnerTrophy.jpg" alt="Image of Forerunner trophy" class="wp-image-66866" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/ForerunnerTrophy.jpg 865w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/ForerunnerTrophy-240x300.jpg 240w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/ForerunnerTrophy-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/ForerunnerTrophy-768x959.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" /></a></figure>



Do you have a favorite piece of Halo merch on your shelf?



Without a doubt my favorite piece of Halo merch on my shelf is the Forerunner statue. I have been a member of the Forerunner Council since 2019 where we were part of Halo Infinite’s development. That was the biggest secret that I have ever had to keep. I can’t convey how much it has meant to be a part of this group.



I just think back to that first Halo: CE LAN party. That girl had no idea where she would be two decades later.



Tell us an interesting fact about yourself!



Outside of games and content creation, the bulk of my free time is spent spoiling my two doggos. One of my favorite things in Halo: CE is when Foehammer rolls in with the Pelican Echo 419. My oldest dog was born April 2019 (419), so we named her “Echo 419 Foe Hammer.” Obviously, we call her Echo for short.



My other dog, Ember, is 9 months old. They are both Whippets and love zoomies, stealing paper towels and snoozing on the couch.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1618" height="1078" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber.jpg" alt="Images of very good doggos Echo and Ember" class="wp-image-66852" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber.jpg 1618w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber-300x200.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber-768x512.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2023/05/EchoEmber-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1618px) 100vw, 1618px" /></a></figure>



Thank you so much again for giving us some of your time to chat, Moto! Do you have any parting words or shoutouts?



If you are looking for a welcoming group to play some Halo with, feel free to stop by and join in during my Twitch streams! I almost always roll with open lobbies and good vibes.



If you need any help getting going with content creation, <a href="https://discord.gg/moto">you are more than welcome to join my Discord</a>. I have an area where you can ask questions and get some extra help from myself and others in the community.



Thank you so much for this opportunity! I have been a fan of this franchise for almost twenty-one years, and being invited to do this meant so much.



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You can follow Moto on <a href="https://twitter.com/MotoStreams">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/motostreams/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@motostreams">TikTok</a>, check out her streams on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/Moto">Twitch</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MotoStreams">YouTube</a>, join her community on <a href="https://discord.gg/moto">Discord</a>.

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