Halo 2 - The Expansion?

[Romier S]

Ran across a big old thread on the IGN forums concerning the possible release of a Halo 2 expansion disc for 14.95-19.95. There are several pieces of evidence showing this to a be a very real release though nothing has yet to be officially confirmed. If you take a look at this site:

 

Halo 2 expansion

 

The translation mentions 8 new maps for Bungies Xbox shooter. Gamers can buy all 8 maps right on the expansion disc or apparently wait for Bungie to release two maps a month for free.

 

Microsoft's own Korean Xbox release site has a listing for the Halo 2 expansion that you can take a look at here:

 

Release list

 

Considering I don't really play Halo 2 online, I have no interest in buying an expansion (if it included single player levels I may rethink that stance but even then I'm leary of supporting it). What do you guys think?

[Jeff W]

I already paid $55 now they want to bend me over for $20 more? :mad:

I'll wait for the 2 a month free deal, to be honest though I think I've played Halo 2 once in the last month.

[Romier S]

Gamespot has a new story up on the X-pack including a slant on the single player side possibly hinting that the pack will also include single player levels (though they know even less than we do at the moment.). You can read the report here .

 

However, of considerably more interest to Halo fans is the entry for one "Halo 2 X-Pack (Expansion Pack)." The one-line listing had no other description or firm date. That said, its presence on an official Microsoft site added credence to the theory that Microsoft cut Halo 2 short so it could roll out a large expansion akin to the Ninja Gaiden Hurricane Pack at a later date via Xbox Live--for a price. Such a Halo 2 expansion could be a twofold boon for Microsoft, adding another incentive for gamers to join its online service, and squeezing further dollars from the nearly seven million gamers who already have Halo 2.

 

So is the Halo 2 X-Pack listing proof positive of the paid expansion-pack theory? Or could it be possible that the expansion will be free, like the Hurricane Pack was? It's hard to say definitively, since Microsoft had not commented as of press time.

[JFo]

If the game included more single-player levels, which actually brought forth a resolution to the story, I wouldn't think twice about shelling out an additional $20. However, I would want at least five more levels to justify the price.

 

Otherwise, the idea of spending more money to pay for new maps when I can just wait to download them for free on Xbox Live is not that appealing.

[Dan B.]

I've got no interest in buying the multi-player maps either, but I'd pay for more single player content for sure.

[Camp]

I'd buy it -no questions asked.

[dogbert]

From this week's Bungie update:

 

What's up with the listing on Xbox.com in Korea that says the downloadable content is coming out as a retail game release??

 

Next week, we?re going to have a major announcement about the details of our new maps. Right now, there are some dates, details and ideas out there that are actually wrong, so please take everything you read between now and then with a grain of salt. We can't talk about how and when the new maps will be released, we'll leave that to the smart folks who actually do all the logistical work for this stuff ? marketing and PR, but we can tell you this much - our entire plan is designed to make new content available for everybody, those with Xbox Live and those without Xbox Live. We hope in the end, everyone will be satisfied.

 

So that'll be yes, there's some kind of expansion coming. With the comment about 'live & without live', I suspect there's going to be an option to buy it & get a disc, or buy it & download it to cater to both markets.

 

I've seen people suggest this is "Halo 2.5", I don't think that's the case - Bungie have always planned for downloadable maps for the multiplayer.

[Derrik Draven]

Count me in as a "yes", if the bulk of this is single player. I want the damn story finished, on this middle game, before the finale with Halo 3.

 

Could care less about multiplayer...

[dogbert]

if the bulk of this is single player.

 

Haven't Bungie said before they won't be releasing any single player 'add ons' for Halo 2, that all content will be for multiplayer?

[foogledricks]

There will be no single player anything. Bungie has clearly said they cannot achieve that technically, and have no intentions to. They have admitted only that they are working on several multiplayer maps, including a couple from Halo 1 (Wizard, Hang Em High). They have also said that they are considering options for getting these maps to people who don't have XBlive. I always assumed that they would simply release it as an OXM disc... however, not everyone has a subscription to OXM. So the most logical and fair thing to do would be to release a disc in stores, but they'd have to charge for that, because it costs money to do something like that.

 

My prediction: Maps will be free for XBlive subscribers. Whether they come all at once, or incrementally, one cannot complain about free content. I doubt they'll release the maps ALL AT ONCE on disc and in increments on XBlive. They would segment their userbase that way, and they have continually avoided that, and made a big deal of that.

[foogledricks]

Here is the official line from bungie:

Next week, we?re going to have a major announcement about the details of our new maps. Right now, there are some dates, details and ideas out there that are actually wrong, so please take everything you read between now and then with a grain of salt. We can't talk about how and when the new maps will be released, we'll leave that to the smart folks who actually do all the logistical work for this stuff ? marketing and PR, but we can tell you this much - our entire plan is designed to make new content available for everybody, those with Xbox Live and those without Xbox Live. We hope in the end, everyone will be satisfied.

[HoolieMan]

Personally, I could care less about the single player stuff. I got bored of it early on. Plus, I tend to agree with Keith in saying there won't ever be any one player add ons.

 

As for the online stuff, I am so there. Even if I have to pay. I figure that with all the money I am saving by not buying any new games (I have only purchased one since Halo 2 took over my life), I can afford to buy an add on.

[Derrik Draven]

Eh, no big deal about this then. I could care less about online stats...

[Starhawk]

Hell yeah, I'd pay $20 for 8 new multiplayer maps, without a doubt.

[EnemaEms]

Single player stuff I would buy in a heart beat. Never got into the Multiplayer. It was actually a bit of a let down. Typical online Run and Gun FPS.

 

-Dean-

[Chris F]

Single player stuff I would buy in a heart beat. Never got into the Multiplayer. It was actually a bit of a let down. Typical online Run and Gun FPS.

 

-Dean-

Can't say I agree with "typical", as most typical games don't offer the sheer amount of fun, vehicles & options Halo 2 does, especially on Xbox.

 

My biggest problems with Halo 2 MP is the lack of maps, and the sheer burnout I got playing that game for an entire week. Will I ante up for an X-Pack? Yeah, I probably will.

[Camp]

The amount of negativity toward Halo multiplayer really surprises me. Perhaps some of us are a bit burnt out on Halo but it's still the best console multiplayer game ever, IMO. Any addition to that (new maps, etc.) ought to be embraced.

[JoeyN]

I played Halo a couple of times before 2 came out and to tell you the truth i was expecting a lot more out of Halo 2's multiplayer. Is it a excellent game? Yes. I love the stats stuff, the matchmaking and so forth. However after playing a while, Id rather play R6 or GR. Will I play Halo 2 again? Im sure ill get the urge to hop on with you guys again.

 

capt

[Calvin]

Well,whether its single player stuff or multiplayer stuff, I would get this.Maybe not right away,But I'd get it. It would all depend on exactly what is in the package.

 

I also don't agree with the "typical" comment either.Finally there is a game out where I can keep playing online without getting bored (or some of my friends for that matter) Haven't been able to say that since RTCW.

 

For that matter,I haven't seen many people on my friends list stick to one game in a long,long time.

 

Maybe Doom 3 and/or SC:CT will change that...

[JoeyN]

For that matter,I haven't seen many people on my friends list stick to one game in a long,long time.

 

Hell i havent seen anyone from lcvg on anything at all. Except for a few people on Halo 2, the occasional MVP baseball game i play , and the nights romier, dean , and myself play DOA or Commando.

[Covak]

Hell i havent seen anyone from lcvg on anything at all. Except for a few people on Halo 2, the occasional MVP baseball game i play , and the nights romier, dean , and myself play DOA or Commando.

 

I'm still playing SC: PT a few nights a week

 

If SC: CT wasn't right around the corner I'd pay for a bunch of new Halo 2 multiplayer maps, easy, but now I don't think so.

 

Heck, if they fix BIA's Live play I don't know if I'd even bother with free Halo 2 maps.

 

Of course, if the maps are all like, really kick-ass, that could change my mind.

[Romier S]

Which is why I like to keep scheduling our Monday night games with regularity. I wish more people would have given Republic Commando a try since it's been a blast to play online and we regularly have 6-7 people playing together along with a full room of folks from outside of LCVG. Fun stuff. Brothers in Arms is another game that I enjoy playing online but the technical issues have really turned folks off of it.

 

Phantom Dust is the latest game I hope that people give a chance too. Chris (ruffneck) and I played it last night and had a blast despite the fact that many of the skills we used were new to us. I can see some good 4-player action happening in that game but I doubt many here will buy it.

[Cyberwoo]

My interest in Halo2 has all but vanished. Great game but I've pretty much experienced all the game has to offer and then some. It can still be fun in spirts but after about 30min to an hour I start getting bored pretty quickly. Maybe these new maps will inject some new life into the H2 multiplayer scene. I'll take a wait and see approach I guess. With SC:CT coming out soon and my current addiction to the fabulous racing game GTR I dont see myself puting much time if any into Halo2 multi in the near future (unless I start seeing a bunch of my XBL friends playing it again). Shame these maps didn't come out sooner though.

[EnemaEms]

I don't know if I could call Halo 2 the best console multiplayer game ever. I liked Pandora Tomorrow 100 times more. That game was innovative and tons of fun. Halo 2 is Deathmatch with lots of stats and game tweaking. I'm sure I'll play it again ( I am not getting rid of it), but to be honest, I'd rather play Republic Commando's cookie cutter deathmatch.

 

-Dean-

[Romier S]

It can still be fun in spirts but after about 30min to an hour I start getting bored pretty quickly

 

Yep, that's me right there when it comes to Halo 2. I can play it for about 30 minutes and then I start to get bored with it. The team aspects of the game in matches like CTF are always more enjoyable to me but I rarely come upon anyone actually playing like a team so I don't bother much with it.

 

It's kind of wierd though because like Dean, I enjoy Republic Commando's utterly straightforward deathmatch modes more. It's all fairly brainless but some of the maps are just far more enjoyable to me. I'm also a big fan of Pandora Tommorrow's online mode and I very much look forward to Chaos Theory. Hopefully, this time around folks don't give up on it due to it's higher than normal learning curve.