Welcome to the very first episode of the Average Joe Nerdcast! Nate kicks things off by taking a deep dive into the game that changed everything: Halo: Combat Evolved (2001).

From Bungie's scrappy indie beginnings with Gnop! and Marathon, to Steve Jobs unveiling Halo at Macworld, to the infamous "Duke" controller and latenight LAN parties, this episode explores how Halo didn't just launch the original Xbox, it redefined the entire FPS genre.

We cover:

Bungie's history before Halo (Pathways into Darkness, Marathon, Myth)

How Microsoft's acquisition saved the Xbox launch.

The "Golden Triangle" of gameplay: guns, grenades, melee.

Split-screen chaos, LAN parties, and the glory of Blood Gulch.

The Flood reveal, survival horror inside a sci-fi shooter.

Why Marty O'Donnell's Halo theme is burned into gamer DNA

Whether you grew up hauling CRTs into basements, or you're just discovering Halo's legacy today, this is the story of how one game built an empire.

Stick around for the end for a sneak peek at Episode 2, where we dive into Halo 2, Xbox Live, and one of the greatest marketing campaigns in gaming history.

If you love gaming history, Xbox nostalgia, Bungie lore, and Halo deep dives, hit follow-this is just the beginning!