The Master Chief Collection, enhanced versions of the popular Halo series of Xbox video game, is finally arriving on PCs. "Halo: Reach," a prequel to the original 2001 "Halo: Combat Evolved," a game that helped drive the success of the original Xbox console, will be released Dec. 3 for PCs and Xbox One. It can be purchased as part of "Halo: The Master Chief Collection" ($39.99) or individually for $9.99 on PCs or Xbox One. The game is also available on Xbox Game Pass (special offer of first three months for $1, then $4.99 monthly for PCs and $9.99-up for Xbox One). "Halo: Reach" will be the fifth game in the Halo series to be optimized for Xbox One and improved PCs with up to 4K Ultra HD video and support for high dynamic range (HDR) for improved contrast, colors and details.

It's time we return to the Halo franchise with Bungie's 2007 release Halo 3. One of the earliest entries in AI and Games was an overview of the behaviour tree AI in Halo 2 and how it accommodated for a variety of combat situations. This time around we're looking at how new combat systems were built atop this framework to better control and manage the AI characters seen in Halo 3's large-scale encounters. Behaviour Tree's adopt a trickle-down approach to decision making where a tree comprised of all possible behaviours for a given character is constructed with conditions that dictate when to execute them. Based upon the current circumstances within the game, a particular sub-section of the tree will then be executed. This was ideal given the range of circumstances both ally and enemy AI characters could find themselves in, from Halo's variation in combat arena size to the ability for characters to jump in and out of vehicles at any time.

The National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York announced the four titles it's inducting into the World Video Game Hall of Fame this year, and they're all pinnacles in the industry: Donkey Kong, Halo: Combat Evolved, Pokémon Red and Blue and Street Fighter II. But if you think they were all shoe-ins compared to the competition, prepare to get your nerd hackles raised. The games that didn't make the cut this year include Final Fantasy VII, Myst, Portal, Resident Evil and Microsoft Windows Solitaire. Which doesn't mean they won't make it in later: immortal classics Sonic the Hedgehog and The Legend of Zelda were passed over in the Hall of Fame's inaugural set in 2015, but then were inducted the next year. The latest collection spanned 30 years between the releases of Donkey Kong in 1981 and Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001, following the Hall of Fame's tradition to include games that "enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general." Q*bert fans, you might have to wait before more deserving games get welcomed in, but hey -- don't let us tell you what to nominate.

Twelve video games were announced as finalists to be inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. The 2017 inductees into World Video Game Hall of Fame are from top left, "Pokemon Red and Green," "Street Fighter II," "Donkey Kong" and "Halo: Combat Evolved." The inductees were announced Thursday, May 4, 2017, at The Strong museum in Rochester, N.Y. The inductees were announced Thursday at The Strong museum. They were selected from 12 finalists that were announced in March.

In this March 16, 2017 photo provided by The Strong museum, the 12 finalists for induction this year into The Strong museum's World Video Game Hall of Fame are pictured at the museum in Rochester, New York. The finalists, from left, are: top row, "Microsoft Windows Solitaire," "Myst," "Mortal Kombat," "Donkey Kong,'' center, "Final Fantasy VII,'' "Street Fighter II," bottom row, ''Halo: Combat Evolved,'' "Resident Evil," "Portal," "Pokemon Red and Green," "Wii Sports" and "Tomb Raider." The 2017 class will be announced May 4. (Bethany Mosher/The Strong via AP In this March 16, 2017 photo provided by The Strong museum, the 12 finalists for induction this year into The Strong museum's World Video Game Hall of Fame are pictured at the museum in Rochester, New York. The finalists, from left, are: top row, "Microsoft Windows Solitaire," "Myst," "Mortal Kombat," "Donkey Kong,'' center, "Final Fantasy VII,'' "Street Fighter II," bottom row, ''Halo: Combat Evolved,'' "Resident Evil," "Portal," "Pokemon Red and Green," "Wii Sports" and "Tomb Raider." The 2017 class will be announced May 4. (Bethany Mosher/The Strong via AP The hall of fame at The Strong museum in Rochester said Tuesday that 12 video games are under consideration for induction in May.