Inside 'Halo's' universal aspirations

Inside an annex just beyond the entrance to Microsoft's 343 Industries there is a shrine. There's a Halo laser tag kit, salt and pepper shakers and a metal, fan-made 100-pound-plus gravity hammer that members of the Seattle Seahawks once used for an impromptu test of strength during a visit. A Swarovski crystal shaped to the likeness of Master Chief's iconic helmet gleams under a spotlight like the Hope Diamond. Hulking, life-size statues of aliens and stoic, faceless Spartan soldiers stand vigil over the treasures, highlighted by a true-to-lore, 7-foot-2 recreation of the Chief himself.