The next huge adventure in the Halo universe takes gamers into the boots of a UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, or ODST, to battle the Covenant’s invading forces. Halo 3: ODST, set for release on September 22, 2009, but last week, the Halo 3: ODST team set out on a nationwide tour to bring this title straight to gamers.

Yesterday, the ODST team made their way to Pasadena, California, where the temperatures were flaring, and wildfires were raging. But despite the harsh conditions, gamers flocked to the Pasadena Gamestop, driving as much as two hours to get there.

When I arrived at the tour stop, the ODST truck was parked in the middle of the parking lot. Its massive size and black paint job created an imposing site that drew even non-gamers to check out what looked to many like a military command center.

Indeed, when I spoke with Team Lead, Patrick Hand, the non-gamer onlookers were right! The over-sized truck, which was only recently painted black from its original olive drab paint job, used to be a vehicle which was typically used as a mobile command center. The truck had all of the amenities, power outlets, air-conditioning, and even bullet-proof plating.

In its new life, the ODST truck, when deployed, expands and widens (with manual cranks), bringing the walls of the truck out, and creating plenty of room inside for eight gaming stations, and additional seats for those next in line to get their hands-on the game. Each of the gaming stations and seats were custom-designed to efficiently pack up for travel.

Once inside the truck and at their stations, gamers were given a five-minute introduction, and a paltry ten-minutes of gameplay. But according to most of the hardcore Halo fans that showed up, even an hour’s worth of gaming wouldn’t be enough time with ODST.  Top players in each four-person team were rewarded with some rather awesome swag, including Halo Wars figures, and car license plate frames that read, “My other car is a Warthog.”

Hand said that the turnout so far in the ODST tour had been great. And Pasadena was no exception, as it looked like Hand and his team had no time to rest, constantly checking on the lines of eager, but heat-battered fans. In fact, with the grueling schedule of the tour, the ODST team would have little rest between stops as they haul the truck from town to town.

Still, Hand was quite proud of the ODST truck, his team, and mostly, of the diehard fans that braved weather, fire, and traffic to pay homage to Halo 3: ODST.

To find out where the ODST truck is headed next, click here: ODST TOUR DATES

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

written by Rick Kim