Xbox 360 takes over London skies to launch "Halo 4"

On the eve of the one of the most highly anticipated blockbuster launches of 2012, Xbox 360 celebrated the release of “Halo 4” with a ground breaking aerial lighting performance visible for miles over London. The “Halo 4” Glyph symbol is one of the largest and brightest man-made structures to ever fly over a capital city and measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs over three tons.

Super fans and spectators were treated to an epic aeronautical show as the Glyph flew over the River Thames past some of the world’s most iconic landmarks. Dynamic effects wowed crowds as they enjoyed the spectacle of one of the largest lighting art performances ever flown under a helicopter.

“”Halo” launches are renowned for being entertainment game-changers and we are back with our most ambitious projects to date,” said Chris Lewis, Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft EMEA.  “Last week we created a replica of the “Halo” universe within the heart of Europe. This week we have one of the worlds’ largest and brightest performance art objects being flown over London.”

“The Glyph flyover makes the seemingly impossible world of science fiction a reality, a 50 foot symbol of the Didact hovering in the skies of a major capital city, seems a fitting way to herald the next chapter of this phenomenal blockbuster franchise.”

“Halo 4” is the start of a new saga in the “Halo” story which is set to cause a sensation when it hits stores today on Tuesday 6th November 2012.  Acclaimed film director David Fincher, the creative visionary behind Hollywood thrillers such as "Fight Club" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", produced an action-packed launch trailer for the game and American talk show host Conan O’Brien and actor Andy Richter are voicing two of the game’s characters.  The “Halo 4” Original Soundtrack was composed by award-winning producer and composer Neil Davidge, long-term co-writer and collaborator for music production outfit Massive Attack.

Key Glyph Facts

The Glyph measures 50 feet in diameter and weighs 3.2 tons
This is one of the largest and brightest man-made flying structures to ever be flown by helicopter.
A team of over 50 designers, engineers and fabricators created the Glyph.
It took approximately 8 weeks to design and construct: 2 weeks to design with the engineers, 4 weeks to build the aluminum structure and 2 weeks to apply the LED lighting.
There are 455 LED light strips mounted onto 37 panels and a total of 113,096 LEDs of a pure orange color consuming 20 KW of power! 
The dynamic lighting effects are all powered and controlled from an onboard electrical and computer system, which was remote controlled from a boat following the Glyph.
The helicopter flew at a height of 600 feet with the Glyph suspended 350 feet above the River Thames.
Developed by 343 Industries exclusively for Xbox 360, “Halo 4” ushers in the return of its hero, Master Chief, in a newly envisioned sci-fi adventure.  Set nearly five years after the events of “Halo 3,” “Halo 4” follows the Master Chief as he ventures into a mysterious new world and discovers an overpowering ancient evil that threatens to annihilate mankind.