Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Maps
While I could regale you with tales of my glorious Timesplitters: Future Perfect experiences thus far, or talk about the unopened Jade Empire demo on my bed, I've chosen something even more dear to my heart: Halo 2, the game I still spend a few hours a night, several days a week with. More specifically, this:
...which was pulled from EB's site mere hours after being posted. As was the case with dozens of other retailers, including xbox.com. So, despite the fact that Bungie has yet to officially say anything besides "we're looking into making the new maps available for everyone, including those without Live" (I expect them to make a proper announcement tomorrow), it looks like this is really happening. Which I'm fine with, as long as all the maps are all simultaneously released via free download on Live as well. The current rumor is that you can either buy the disc, or wait and receive the maps for free, two per month. If THAT is the case, then this is bullshit.
I understand Microsoft releasing the maps as a retail package - it's a brilliant move that will net them a ton of money and make those without Live very happy. And there are a lot of Halo 2 owners without Live (roughly 5 million out of 6.4 million, actually). So the fact that those people are being hooked up, per se, is very nice. Plus, it seems they'll also be getting an epilogue video of sorts (come on, what else could the extra 'cinematic' be?). But if they're looking to make an extra buck off of us current Live subscribers who have waited almost five months for some real content, well, damn, they will I guess. They know full well that every red-blooded Halo player will drop the Jackson on day one if it means playing a single map a day sooner. We're like wolves we are - hungry, ravenous, sexy wolves. Hopefully Microsoft wouldn't do anything that stupid and completely contradict what Bungie has been saying for a good year now, but who knows. New maps are new maps.
UPDATE: As usual, the rumors were true.
...which was pulled from EB's site mere hours after being posted. As was the case with dozens of other retailers, including xbox.com. So, despite the fact that Bungie has yet to officially say anything besides "we're looking into making the new maps available for everyone, including those without Live" (I expect them to make a proper announcement tomorrow), it looks like this is really happening. Which I'm fine with, as long as all the maps are all simultaneously released via free download on Live as well. The current rumor is that you can either buy the disc, or wait and receive the maps for free, two per month. If THAT is the case, then this is bullshit.
I understand Microsoft releasing the maps as a retail package - it's a brilliant move that will net them a ton of money and make those without Live very happy. And there are a lot of Halo 2 owners without Live (roughly 5 million out of 6.4 million, actually). So the fact that those people are being hooked up, per se, is very nice. Plus, it seems they'll also be getting an epilogue video of sorts (come on, what else could the extra 'cinematic' be?). But if they're looking to make an extra buck off of us current Live subscribers who have waited almost five months for some real content, well, damn, they will I guess. They know full well that every red-blooded Halo player will drop the Jackson on day one if it means playing a single map a day sooner. We're like wolves we are - hungry, ravenous, sexy wolves. Hopefully Microsoft wouldn't do anything that stupid and completely contradict what Bungie has been saying for a good year now, but who knows. New maps are new maps.
UPDATE: As usual, the rumors were true.
// posted by Nick @ 10:59 PM 
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