quick run down:
The new halo campaign (it will be another full length feature) that will appear as an exansion, has you playing as an O.D.S.T. (orbital drop shock trooper/hell jumper) - the guys in halo 2/3 who have black armor. These soliders are the inbetween of a Spartan (master chief being the head spartan) and marines (weak ass punks in camo). They are the S.A.S. to the UNSC, dropping into battle in small numbers in 'drop pods' (hence hell jumpers - the base of the pod heats up so there moto is 'into hell feet first')
special forces basicly.
From what the bungie updates have said so far, the button layout most definately will be different, i doubt you will have the same strength shield (if any) weapons are different (more human friendly - Jhon 117 has extra strength because of his spartan suit) and some other changes too.
The game starts on the timeline between halo 2 and 3, if anyone knows the halo 2 campaign well its when Regret slips into a time space continum in the city of Mombassa (basicly half way thru halo 2) here is a video i made jokingly about the new game which in the middle mixes story board animation from halo two with the advertisement for the new game O.D.S.T. (they were calling it 'Recon' when it frist came out) here it is:
please comment and subscribe, i want this video to hit 100,000
oh yeah, the main reason im guessing your weapons are silienced is because you will be avoiding 'running and gunning' as much as possible, mark my words, this game will be interesting.
so this thread will continue to dominate the digital underground untill i see fit :)
PEACE!!
for the other stans out there go to www.bungie.net to get your info, they update almost daily - best online gaming community - EVER.