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[GhaleonEB]

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/256424.asp

The Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack is a collection of nine multiplayer maps, as well as non-playable video content (a cinematic and a mini-documentary). Delivered on a standard Xbox DVD disc, the multiplayer content can be used by gamers on Xbox Live as well as those who play multiplayer via System Link or via Split-screen (on one Xbox).

Price: $19.99

Bungie's official announcement comes this week, presumably Friday with their regular update. As a hard-core Halo 2 fan, I'm really hoping this is wrong....

(sorry if old - didn't spot it)

 

[Sanjuro]

Sigh....I seriously hope this is just for people w/o XBOX Live...even still that wouldnt make much sense.

 

[sonycowboy]

It's also in Gamecrazy and TRU's systems @ $19.99 as well.

 

[Outcast2004]

If I have to pay for this shit THEY PROMISED FOR FREE i will be one highly upset man.

This is kind of the reason I HAVE Xbox Live. Is to play online and the hope of getting DLC in the future.

I already pay $50 a year for it.. don't charge me more now.

 

[Andy787]

Wow. If that isn't available for free as downloadable content all available at the same time, that is the most hilarious and sad ass ramming I have seen a company give it's fans since, well, pick a spot in Sega's history.

 

[Doom_Bringer]

 

[GhaleonEB]

Okay, mini-rant.

If this package is true, it stinks to high-heaven. I can see the rationale now: the extra video content on the disc is the perk for having to pay for it (presumably, XBox Live players get it for free). This just plain smacks of a marketing move to leverage XBox Live - "if you have live, it's free...."

What I was hoping they would do is put together a one-level demo of Halo 2 (Outskirts would be good one) and add the extra content to that. Distribute the disc for free at retailers. That way there is a double incentive to pick up the game - if players like the game, it sells. Plus, there's all the extra content just waiting to be played right on the disc...if you buy the full version. With the hints in the past about a demo coming out in the same timeframe as the first Halo relative to it's release (about six months after), I thought this is the way they would go.

I'm waiting for the official announcement, but the speculator in me is pessimistic.

 

[Suikoguy]

If I have to pay for this shit THEY PROMISED FOR FREE i will be one highly upset man.

This is kind of the reason I HAVE Xbox Live. Is to play online and the hope of getting DLC in the future.

I already pay $50 a year for it.. don't charge me more now.

I've always said xbox live was just a glorfied unified name with stat tracking. Something that should be around 12 - 20 dollars a year...

 

[BuddyC]

I really hope the cost of the disc is just to cover the non-Live users.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I've always said xbox live was just a glorfied unified name with stat tracking. Something that should be around 12 - 20 dollars a year...

1) Wrong.
2) That's a different subject altogether.

 

[Geek]

From David Fries web log:

Doing a little arithmetic, we can see that 6.4 million copies of Halo 2 minus 1.4 million XBox subscribers means that there are 5 million people out there who own Halo 2, but aren't playing it on Live. C'mon folks, what are you waiting for?!

Seems like a smart move to release this, even if they provide the maps for free on Live. Settle!

 

[rocksolidaudio]

The thing is, every nightly Halo 2 player such as myself will shell out the money for it on day one if they're not all immediately available over Live. It sucks, but hey, more maps.

 

[sonycowboy]

Well,

I know what my prediction for the number one seller in May is going to be

 

[sonycowboy]

I really hope the cost of the disc is just to cover the non-Live users.

It's only Multiplayer maps. How many people do you think play LAN games, but don't have LIVE?

 

[Solid]

C'mon Bungie, make my Starter Kit seem worth it.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Bungie releases a statment over the past few days that basically said "Hold On". Everything will be made clear soon. They said it was in the hands of the marketing people at this point, and they were exploring the ways to get the maps out to the most number of people in the best ways they could. I got the impression that they were saying that the X-pack would be at retail for those who didn't have Xbox Live, and that they would be available on Xbox Live for free. They didn't say that, but that was the impression I got from their statment. Lets all wait until there is an offical announcment before we condemn them.

Oh, and if you think Xbox Live is just for stats tracking, you don't know what you're talking about. MS has done an excellent job of building an online service that is above and beyond anything else out there right now. The friends lists, messaging system, Live Aware games, etc. are all aweseome elements that go far beyond just stats tracking. Price is a different matter.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

So....I won't have to have the disc in my machine to play, correct? I see a giant pass-around party starting here.

 

[PhatSaqs]

The majority of H2 owners dont own Live so I dont see what the big crying fest is about (assuming it's free for Live subscribers of course).

 

[sol5377]

I don't see what the big deal is about them charging for the disc. I'm sure on Live you'll be able to download 2 maps per month or whatever for free. Plus, if you're not into multiplayer to begin with, this shouldn't even register on your radar.

I for one am not going to get it unless I can download it for free over live and even then, I don't see myself playing it for much.

 

[IJoel]

I don't really think 9 maps is worth $20. A couple of maps more would be enough though. This is, of course, from an Expansion Pack perspective, and in comparison to PC expansion packs.

I can't say this doesn't annoy me. It's obvious they are milking this as much as they can, since they can always use OXM to distribute content. Can't say it doesn't make sense, from a publisher perspective.

Most important of all, I wish they'd stop all this annoying secrecy regarding downloadable content. How easy it would've been to say 2 months ago "Later during the 2nd quarter of this year, we expect to release a compilation of new maps both over Xbox Live and retailer channels." Simple and effective.

But hey, Phantom Dust is here. Best online game right now.

BTW, if you're considering getting this, I'd suggest Phantom Dust instead. A full single player game with incredible gameplay, online and offline, fantastic graphics and destructible environments, and all for the same price ($19.99.)

 

[The Faceless Master]

i think i'll wait to see if the Live download is free or not before i bitch...

 

[Ramirez]

Considering how well thought out most of Bungie's maps are (as long as there are no Coag/Waterworks on the disc!) I have no problem payin 20 bucks for NINE maps,thats a pretty good load,IMO.But I'll wait for official word...

 

[Geek]

Considering how well thought out most of Bungie's maps are (as long as there are no Coag/Waterworks on the disc!) I have no problem payin 20 bucks for NINE maps,thats a pretty good load,IMO.But I'll wait for official word...

Right! These are practically microtransactions!

 

[Redbeard]

It's not like this is unheard of, even though it still sucks. Ubisoft released 2 SC maps for $5. I think MS did the same for MA.

 

[Ghost]

Id say it is worth $20 if you have live, i mean 9 maps for $20, thats only like $2.20 a map, if they are good they are easily worth that...but how many people who DONT have live are gonna want 9 new multiplayer maps? Not a hell of a lot i'd bet.


Im guessing as well that its just a download to your harddrive when you put in the disc, so presumably you can buy it, then just pass it around to all your mates....


Cant see MS making a lot of money out of this..but then if they are giving it away on live for nothing i suppose it will sell a few starter packs.

 

[sol5377]

Live users will probably get this for free (immediately of in installments) or will have to pay $10 at most. I don't think lending out the hard DVD copy to a friend will work, either.

 

[Ironclad]

I don't see myself paying for these maps. First of all, I have more or less moved on to Phantom Dust, and the contents of the disc just don't seem worth it. Sure, there are nine maps but I am beginning to doubt their quality. Seems like an EA caliber move in my eyes, but oh well.

 

[Ramirez]

Wow,so you already know the quality of the maps Iron? :lol

It's prolly best you stick to PD

 

[Deku Tree]

If I have to pay for this shit THEY PROMISED FOR FREE i will be one highly upset man.

When did they do that?

 

[Sai]

Several times before the launch of the game.

We better get all the maps, all the fixes, all at once, or I'll be kinda sore. :l

 

[wobedraggled]

M$ and Bungie love you, they really do.

 

[Ramirez]

I never remember them saying DLC content would be free,MarkMacD was asking for that quote in the other thread and no one ever produced it... :lol

 

[BuddyC]

It's only Multiplayer maps. How many people do you think play LAN games, but don't have LIVE?

I don't know, but that's the only way I can see Bungie avoiding hypocrisy here. Didn't they speak out against this very sort of thing when discussing Halo 1.5? The only saving grace they have is to say this is for the kids who can't use Xbox Live for whatever reason.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

I don't care about the $20. My friends and I will split the difference. I'm sure the maps will be on Live but in staggered release, and we all know that won't cut it.

My main concern is WHEN. I am so tired of waiting for fixes/maps. It better not be more than a month.

 

[Borys]

Xbox hater here:

how's that milking? It's just an expanison for a superpopular game. Basically - free money for MS/Bungie.

Milking = Mario games NOT Halo 2 XP !!!

 

[Bristow]

 

[SyNapSe]

:lol :lol i missed that PA somehow.

 

[temp]

I want it, but I don't support it. But I'll buy it.

 

[LukeSmith]

I don't see myself paying for these maps. First of all, I have more or less moved on to Phantom Dust, and the contents of the disc just don't seem worth it. Sure, there are nine maps but I am beginning to doubt their quality. Seems like an EA caliber move in my eyes, but oh well.

An EA quality move? This sounds like someone who has no clue what they are talking about using a "GAF" buzzword or scapegoat (EA) to make a point that doesn't seem to exist in the post. Because often EA provides tons of additional content at a bargain price? Or attempts to make their roster downloads available to users who don't have Live so that Ricky Williams isn't perpetually on the Dolphins in default roster modes.

And you are doubting their quality because why? I'd wager they are a combination of old and new maps, period. Had Bungie released rehashes of all of the H1 maps with the game originally they would've gotten raped by game journalists and fans alike and the amount of GAF crying would be even worse.


Keep your tired, sniveling, whining to yourself. Seriously.
But, I still love you, kiddo.

 

[Deku Tree]

I never remember them saying DLC content would be free,MarkMacD was asking for that quote in the other thread and no one ever produced it... :lol

So they never said it?

 

[gunstarhero]

They should charge the 19.99 to people who need to buy the disc (non-Live users) and give the Live subscribers the content for "free" since they pay a yearly fee. Sounds fair to me... but aint gonna happen.

 

[LukeSmith]

They should charge the 19.99 to people who need to buy the disc (non-Live users) and give the Live subscribers the content for "free" since they pay a yearly fee. Sounds fair to me... but aint gonna happen.

Perhaps you'll be surprised.

Original link was dead when I checked it a second ago.

 

[Ramirez]

Ironclad pwned!

 

[Dr Zhivago]

Random speculation time: What's this 'cinematic' going to be? The ending?

 

[ToyMachine228]

Come on...Make the freakin announcement already. When does Microsoft usually put out their press releases?

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

I'll wait til Friday before going off the deep end, but seriously, it's one of the best selling games ever, why shouldn't they be able to put these on Live for free?

 

[Ramirez]

1)Maybe they are
2)Do you even play Halo 2 on Live?

 

[Prine]

Ironclad comparing Bungie to EA??

You've been hitting taht hentai pretty hard dude, you're not thinking right.

 

[radrelic]

Screw the maps, give me the patch

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

1)Maybe they are
2)Do you even play Halo 2 on Live?

1. Like I said before, I'm not jumping to conclusions, I'm waiting for friday's update. I just hope they're doing it.
2. Yes.