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Software Halo 3 Public Beta in Spring '07
Brandon Hill (Blog) - November 15, 2006 11:18 AM
Print 32 comment(s) - last by valkator.. on Nov 16 at 2:49 PM
Bungie has some goodies in store for Halo fans

Bungie unleashed some fresh Halo news early this morning and there are some interesting items for both Halo 2 players and anxious Halo 3 fans. For the Halo 2 players out there, Bungie has announced that it will provide new multiplayer maps in the spring of 2007 via the Xbox Live Marketplace. The maps will only be available to Xbox 360 owners and they will not be provided for free -- original Xbox owners are left out of the loop on this one.

Bungie also announced that it would be debuting a world exclusive Halo 3 TV commercial during Monday Night Football on December 4. After the commercial makes its debut on MNF, it will be available from Xbox Live Marketplace in 720p (with Gold members no doubt getting preferential treatment). The commercial will not feature any actual in-game footage using the Halo 3 engine, but will instead feature CGI scenes:

Now don’t get me wrong -- just because this ad isn’t gameplay doesn’t mean it’s not really cool. In fact, we provided the folks at Digital Domain with all of our new in-game models and assets. They then polished them up to movie CGI standards, animated them and rendered them to a degree of stunning beauty. There will be a lot to like in this ad and we’re happy with how it’s turning out. Just because you’re seeing a kind of "real-life" representation of Halo 3 doesn’t mean you aren’t seeing real gameplay elements from Halo 3.

And last, but certainly not least, Bungie revealed their plans to make a public beta of Halo 3 available in the spring of 2007. Gamers will be able to play multiplayer maps of Halo 3 over Xbox Live long before the title's fall '07 release. Bungie is being rather tight-lipped about further details, but it promises to shed more light on the beta program in the coming weeks.

So while Bungie has announced some rather interesting stuff for Halo fans, there isn't anything really tangible to enjoy until at least spring of next year. In the mean time, the rest of us will be enjoying Gears or War.

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Way to Gouge your customers
By othercents on 11/15/2006 11:35:47 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
The maps will only be available to Xbox 360 owners and they will not be provided for free

I would have rather seen these maps for free especially since owners are waiting on Halo 3. I'm not sure how successful they are going to be at selling Halo 2 maps this close to Halo 3 release.

Other




RE: Way to Gouge your customers
By Aikouka on 11/15/2006 12:04:48 PM , Rating: 2
Other, typically map packs are not free. I think the only map pack that I've seen for free on XBOX Live was Perfect Dark Zero's Map Pack 2, which was pretty skimpy/small compared to Perfect Dark Zero's Map Pack 1. Also, I don't recall it being very expensive either... I think it was around $5? Just because you're waiting for the final "episode" of the trilogy doesn't mean it has to be free :P.

I'm wondering if the demo will also be given out to XBOX Live Gold members before Silver... if so, it's a good thing I still have many many months left on my subscription and I know my brother will want to check it out as he's one of them Halo junkies.

Bungie also mentioned about them taking player feedback from the multiplayer beta, so I think this will work out well for players overall. Especially since this is the 3rd in the series, players have desires of what they'd like to see "fixed" from previous releases and now Bungie has the method to hear those cries before the game even gets into their grubby paws.


RE: Way to Gouge your customers
By Aikouka on 11/15/2006 12:06:22 PM , Rating: 1
Just as a clarification, my first statement refers to map packs on XBOX Live . We all know that lots of PC developers give out free map packs (especially when you look at Unreal Tournament... that game has a ton of map packs from the developers out).


RE: Way to Gouge your customers
By encryptkeeper on 11/15/06, Rating: 0
RE: Way to Gouge your customers
By dever on 11/16/2006 10:29:19 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure where people get this attitude of entitlement. I was one of those happy to pay for the game. Being the best selling game series of all time, this indicates, if anything, that they could've charged much more for the game than they originally did. It also indicates that there is more money to be made from additional content such as new maps. Simple economics. Businesses are not charities.

It may or may not have been a better business decision to give away upgrades to Halo 2 as marketing hype for #3. But it was just that, a business/marketing decision. Unless they're shipping something different than what they're advertising, then I don't understand how it could be considered "gouging" in a free market. Am I mistaken? Do we live in a communist state? What are you being taught in school?


RE: Way to Gouge your customers
By Circle T on 11/15/2006 1:35:40 PM , Rating: 2
"I'm wondering if the demo will also be given out to XBOX Live Gold members before Silver..."

Well, you have to be a Gold member to play games online, so I think that automatically means that Silver members are out. Unless they change the rules, because this will be a "beta test" situation, I think Silver members won't be gaming online with everyone else, as usual.


By slashbinslashbash on 11/15/2006 3:45:30 PM , Rating: 2
The first set of additional Halo 2 maps came out non-free for a few months and then free after that. I thought that was a good compromise.

What really sucks that regular Xbox (i.e., non-360) owners won't get them at all!


RE: Way to Gouge your customers
By tuteja1986 on 11/15/2006 9:41:59 PM , Rating: 2
That was the big announcement , err nothing is actually coming out PS3 launch. Here i thought they would release something cool and exciting on Friday 17th. This as wores as Gears of War announcement , got everyone hyped up to only find out the release date.


Halo...meh
By encryptkeeper on 11/15/2006 11:59:12 AM , Rating: 2
When I finally played Halo I just wasn't impressed. I guess I just hate using analog sticks for aiming. I love KB/M and hope to love the new Wii interface. But I will say that there are some Halo addicts out there and they are SCARY obsessed with Halo.




RE: Halo...meh
By Moishe on 11/15/2006 12:06:00 PM , Rating: 3
I agree about KB/M. I don't understand why the consoles don't release a special gaming kb + mouse controller set. They'd make a fortune and the devs would probably easily and gladly support those control schemes since they are so close to PC schemes.

Lets face it. A game pad is ideal for some games, while a kb+m is ideal for others (RTS, FPS). There should be a choice. This is one of the issues that has prevented me from buying a console. I HATE playing a FPS with a game pad.


RE: Halo...meh
By therealnickdanger on 11/15/2006 2:58:00 PM , Rating: 2
I've always considered myself well-rounded when it comes to FPSs. I started out with Wolfenstein, Doom, Quake in the PC days, then became crazy obsessed with GoldenEye on N64 with plenty of UT and CS for PC in the mix. Then I went back to the N64 for Perfect Dark (best sequel that wasn't a sequel ever). HaloCE (Combat Evolved, not Custom Edition) is something special to me, its combat is just so uncluttered and simple, but requires intense dedication to master. Some don't agree, but HaloCE was a masterpiece.

When Halo came out on PC, it was really the best of both worlds for me. I got the game I loved with M+K controls and new weapons/maps. Despite its poor conversion and weak net code, I still play HaloPC frequently today. I have all the Source games and BF2 and so forth, but I keep coming back to Halo!

Halo 3 frightens me... I hated Halo 2 - HATED - with a passion. Bungie wrecked basically everything that made Halo unique and exciting for me. To this day, there's still a decent rift in the Halo fanbase - I just hope Bungie isn't still too focused on how "l337" they are to focus on making a quality game this time.

A Halo 3 beta is EXACTLY what I was hoping for. It was a travesty that Microsoft didn't release a Halo 2 demo. If they had, perhaps it would have preserved the majority of HaloCE's awesome game elements after massive community backlash. In the end, Microsoft succeeded in producing the hottest selling media in history, so perhaps they knew a demo would have hurt sales?

I will download this beta and I will play it relentlessly in the hope of capturing the essence of HaloCE, but I'm so jaded by Halo 2 that I'm not sure Bungie can ever pull me back in...

BTW, I'll bet that the Xbox360 Halo 2 maps run in 720p and look flipping awesome...


RE: Halo...meh
By InsaneScientist on 11/15/2006 11:58:28 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Halo 3 frightens me... I hated Halo 2 - HATED - with a passion. Bungie wrecked basically everything that made Halo unique and exciting for me. To this day, there's still a decent rift in the Halo fanbase - I just hope Bungie isn't still too focused on how "l337" they are to focus on making a quality game this time.

A Halo 3 beta is EXACTLY what I was hoping for. It was a travesty that Microsoft didn't release a Halo 2 demo. If they had, perhaps it would have preserved the majority of HaloCE's awesome game elements after massive community backlash. In the end, Microsoft succeeded in producing the hottest selling media in history, so perhaps they knew a demo would have hurt sales?

I will download this beta and I will play it relentlessly in the hope of capturing the essence of HaloCE, but I'm so jaded by Halo 2 that I'm not sure Bungie can ever pull me back in...


I'm the same way.
I was MAD when Halo 2 came out.

I'm willing to give Bungie another shot when they release Halo 2 for Vista next year.
There's only so much they can change, due to the fact that they've already set the storyline, but since there will be no connectivity between Xbox live and the PC online service, they have the option to fix some of those gameplay elements that they messed up (and God knows they've had long enough to do it... sheesh...)

Can they recapture the spirit of HaloCE with Halo 2 for Vista and Halo 3?

I dunno, but I sure hope so.


cgi trailer?
By lwright84 on 11/15/2006 12:09:46 PM , Rating: 1
but, but, but... but... sony uses CGI in their trailers and they're the devil!




RE: cgi trailer?
By DCstewieG on 11/15/2006 12:24:05 PM , Rating: 2
First off I'll say I am disappointed that this won't be in-game footage. Second, Sony tries to pass off CG as gameplay. But they're not the only guilty ones.


RE: cgi trailer?
By freon on 11/15/2006 12:45:30 PM , Rating: 2
Nothing against Sony, but there is a major difference here. Bungie is telling us now, 3 weeks before we even see the thing, that it's CGI.
Sony, on the other hand was still in denial for a few days AFTER their demonstration, even though you could clearly see within seconds it was studio created.


Oh wonderful...
By BBQmyNUTZ on 11/15/2006 12:52:27 PM , Rating: 3
...another uninspired turd fest.

I'll pass, and go play one of the 8,000+ FPS titles available for the PC *now*.




RE: Oh wonderful...
By IceTron on 11/15/2006 10:45:01 PM , Rating: 2
7,900 of which suck total ass.

Have fun.


MNF?
By MonkeyPaw on 11/15/2006 5:55:44 PM , Rating: 2
Anyone else find it odd that they are debuting the commercial on Monday Night Football? It's not like Halo3 is a sports game, and MNF was moved to ESPN because of slumping ratings. I would think that SNF on NBC would have more exposure. I guess they did their marketing homework, but it just seems strange to me.




RE: MNF?
By IceTron on 11/15/2006 10:47:16 PM , Rating: 1
You don't know how many American's watch NFL nightly nightly do you?


Alot, and the commercials are remembered by thousands if not millions of fans, ala Super Bowl Style. Bingo, advertising/marketing at its finest.



RE: MNF?
By valkator on 11/16/2006 2:49:39 PM , Rating: 2
Huh? Commercials from MNF? Hell I dont remember ANY commericals from MNF? I even asked around to see who remembered last weeks MNF commericals... yea I got nothing back FYI. Now having stated that, it is still good to advertise on a highly watched event if it was a vibrator to Halo 3 because someone is going to see it that is a geeky, hey i like to play FPS games with a controller durr, fan and will probably jizz himself in his pants seeing the commerical. SO good move by MS to put it on MNF


wow...
By ixelion on 11/15/2006 12:02:46 PM , Rating: 2
I think its absolutly retarded that they are charging people for multiplayer maps, I remember when developers released whole map packs for owners of the game free of charge.

Anyone who pays for maps as his head up his butt.




RE: wow...
By ajfink on 11/15/2006 3:05:38 PM , Rating: 2
Some of us are willing to pay for them to play in them.


Sheesh..
By Enoch2001 on 11/15/2006 12:10:52 PM , Rating: 2
Anyone need cheese with their whine? ;-)

What's the big deal about putting up a few bucks for some new kick arse maps? I'd rather pay for quality than get crap for free.




RE: Sheesh..
By therealnickdanger on 11/16/2006 8:45:43 AM , Rating: 2
Besides, it will be free after a month anyway. That's what Microsoft has done thus far with Halo 2 map packs. The "hardcore" pay to play right away, then the "casual" get it for free later... but now with the success of their little microtransaction system, there's really no telling what they'll do...

I'll tell you what I would pay over $100 for: HaloCE re-released with Xbox Live support. Actually, I would be willing to pay any amount of money for that. To be able to play on a network as smooth as XBL with voice and all the new features of HaloPC. I would never bathe or leave the house again.


boooo cgi!
By Lazarus Dark on 11/15/06, Rating: 0
RE: boooo cgi!
By WileECoyote on 11/15/2006 1:00:15 PM , Rating: 2
I don't think it is a matter of the quality of the in game engine but of the readiness of it to make a demo/trailer with.


RE: boooo cgi!
By therealnickdanger on 11/15/2006 4:14:29 PM , Rating: 2
I think using CGI for the commercials is just Microsoft's way of competing with Sony. Have you seen the FFXII commercial for PS2? How about the Killzone 2 trailer? The PS3 would be lucky to produce graphics that elegant! I've played FFXII on a gorgeous DLP and it looks nothing like the commercial.

Since the marketing battle between Xbox360 and PS3 is all about "high definition", they can't miss a beat in their advertisments.


Ummm,...who cares?
By Kanti on 11/15/06, Rating: -1
RE: Ummm,...who cares?
By michal1980 on 11/15/06, Rating: -1
RE: Ummm,...who cares?
By milomnderbnder21 on 11/15/2006 4:16:00 PM , Rating: 3
I wouldn't be so certain. Bungie is pretty picky about what they reveal regarding their works in progress. I wouldn't expect them to release a beta until they are pretty confident in its quality...ie, once the game has come along quite a bit.

And the only one who said that it would come out to counter the PS3 launch was Bill Gates, and he was pretty much pulling that out of thin air. He admitted it.

Now, the line is: "We hope a taste of advance Halo 3 gameplay satisfies some of their appetite as we count down to the game's launch later in 2007."

While I wouldn't say that is written in stone, it's a bit more official.

And every time I see someone use the '$' sign in MS, I wonder why no one ever uses it for "$ony." I can think of no good reason why it is less applicable.


RE: Ummm,...who cares?
By milomnderbnder21 on 11/15/2006 4:10:47 PM , Rating: 2
Right, just because you say that Halo was only an average game clearly makes it true. Just forget the fact that more people loved it more than just about any other game ever to come out for a console in this country. And that it was overwhelmingly critically acclaimed.

They were all just lying, because you said so.

Now let's be realistic. Halo is quite possibly the hottest franchise in the United States when it comes to video games. If it weren't for Halo, there very well may not have been an Xbox 360. This game means quite a bit to quite a few people, whether you want to admit it or not. It is certainly worth this little news article.


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