Halo: Outpost Discovery fan event launches
Halo: Outpost Discovery, a fan touring event, is making its world debut this weekend, and Orlando is the first stop.
“We’re looking for places where families are looking for fun things to do. Orlando is kind of the capital of that,” said John Friend, head of Halo Consumer Products.
The event brings to life the military science-fiction video game franchise that started in 2001. Joining forces for Outpost Discovery are 343 Industries, developer of the Halo video games, and Herschend Live, experts in creating live interactive experiences. They wanted to start the event in places where gamers and Halo fans are concentrated, Friend said.
Halo: Outpost Discovery, which covers more than 250,000 square feet, is being set up this week at the Orange County Convention Center. The event opens today and runs through Sunday.
“For the first launch, frankly we’re building a lot of the experiences,” Friend said. “The majority of our key creative partners are Orlando-based. That’s where the expertise is. We wanted to do it there with them first.”
Three of the five partners are in Central Florida: Falcon’s Creative Group of Orlando, Parker Brothers Concepts of Port Canaveral and Studio 41b of Lake Wales.
“We are laser-focused on the customer experience,” Friend said. “We can do the parts, but to do the whole, we have to make sure to we’re ready for Friday afternoon, when people come streaming in.”
Although one portion, Training Ground VR [Virtual Reality], is age-rated for 12 and older, Friend stresses that Outpost Discovery is for all ages.
“The goal here was to create a place for gamers and Halo fans to share something you love with the people you love,” he said. “We have a lot of fans who are sharing with their kids. We want this to be place they can bring them.”
The Hall of History is the centerpiece that ushers fans in and explains key characters. “The concept of this whole event is anchored in the idea of an outpost,” Friend said. “We’re immersing you in our universe. The UNSC [United Nations Space
Command] has sent an outpost to Earth.”
The hall feeds into the Ring Experience, a multimedia, domed portion about the Halo rings. “Inside the dome, it feels like you’re flying above and through and around the Halo rings,” Friend said. “If you like science fiction or rides like Soarin’ at Disney, I think you’re going to love this.”
A lot of Outpost Discovery is about coming to play. Laser tag Combat Deck, for two teams of up to 20, allows fans to play Halo in real life.
Training Ground is a virtual reality experience for teams of three. “You’re not tethered, you’re not wired to a wall or sitting in a chair waving your arms around,” Friend said. “You’re moving around in the Halo universe and battling other players.”
There are a couple of escape room-like experiences. Fans get to sit in the Pelican, one of Halo’s most famous aircraft, and take on challenges. Another is the Covenant Escape, part of one of Halo’s alien ships.
Friend praised each of the Central Florida partners. Falcon’s Creative Group provides story development, computer-generated animation, visual effects and live-action film through the event.
Studio 41b, the primary fabricators, are experts at escape rooms and have contributed larger-than-life artifacts, he said. “We’ve got a statue of Master Chief, who’s our primary hero,” Friend said. “For first time ever, we’ve got a statue of an Elite, one of the major alien races of the Covenant.”
Parker Brothers Concepts is working on a Warthog, the UNSC’s primary ground transportation vehicle, that is new and exclusive to the event.
Halo: Outpost Discovery is headed July 19-21 to Philadelphia; Aug. 2-4 to Chicago; Aug. 16-18 to Houston; and Aug. 30-Sept. 1 to Anaheim, Calif.
“When we started this, our fundamental thesis was how do we bring the excitement of these gaming events to where our fans are,” Friend said. “Year one, we’ve got to launch, we’ve got a lot to learn. But by year two, we’re talking about expanding.”