unforum

[drseuss90]

[SuperJerms]

Looking at the latest update from bungie.net, there is to be an announcement next week about the bug fixes and map add-ons for H2. We already know that it shall include multiplayer maps, but there is a more interesting speculation going on lately.

IGN and Gamespot both have articles speculating that the update will include an ending to the game. The story is basically that the Xbox Korea site accidentally uploaded a Halo 2 expansion pack to their "coming soon" catalogue. When the press got wind of the story, they immediately removed it from the Korean site, but the damage is done. Bungie has maintained that nobody is working on a new halo title ever since H2's release. Bungie will most likely announce what it was all about next week on Friday afternoon (in the weekly "what's update").

I can't say that the implications here are good. Korea adding an expansion to the catalogue means something is officially coming. We know that Bungie is wanting to make the update widely available, so this is hopefully to just be a very low-cost disk with the bugfixes and free content (for those who can't access Xbox LIVE! somehow for the update).

With the words expansion pack in the title, though...it seems more likely that the disc will be premium content (that is, MS will charge for everything but the bugfixes). After all, they will want to squeeze more money out of the six million who bought this game if possible (and H2 was MS's biggest profit maker in 2004).

Now, there is no official word yet, so YMMV. Still, what could such premium content be? What do you think? Would you be willing to pay $20 for a new maps, weapons, and gametypes (although, Bungie has said already that the main code can't really be changed to allow for a gametype like Zombies or Freeze Tag)? What if that disc had the final two or four chapters of Halo2?

What a pickle...if they tried to sell the ending separately. You'd absolutely HATE to pay for it, but you'd hate to miss it, too. Thoughts?

[Fenwicked]

I dunno. I could see them charging us for the content just to squeeze out more money. But I could also see it being free for Live users, and them charging non Live-users for it. After all, DLC is one of the major selling points of XBL, and we are already paying them to have access to that feature. Who knows...

[thunderclap8]

I'd feel somehow cheated if they demanded more money for access to the updates. Downloadable content was sort of assumed when the game was released, and I'm sure factored into some purchasing decisions. That being said, I know I'd still break down and pay for it.

[ubersaurus]

I'm assuming this Halo 2 expansion is just Halo 2 with the DC maps and bugfixes already in it. There's not much else for them to do here-they already said Halo 2 ended where they wanted it to, and even if no one likes the ending, that's the one they picked.

That said, I want to hear these details on new maps, like, now.

[ROBOGriff]

Bungie pretty much confirmed that they couldn't add additional single player maps unless they tried really, really, really, hard (which they won't do). So I'm thinking they are going to port the original Halo 1 maps, maybe throw in a few of the best maps from Halo PC, and top it off with brand new multiplayer maps that are designed for specific gametypes (think Zanzibar).

That said, I have a feeling each section will cost us since this is alot of work to expect something for free. I wouldn't mind paying for the new maps, but the old ones should be free (or REALLY cheap). I hate the idea of paying $5 for 2 maps (/me looks at UBIsoft).

[weephun]

Hmmm. $19.99???

[vector]

As reported on the front page of HBO, EBgames.com has the preorder for the Halo 2 expansion Pack up. check here its 19.99. although I am still hopefull that it will be available for download and this is just how Bungie is gonig to get the maps to the people who have not paid for xbox live expecting to have downloadable content. The disk has 9 new multiplayer maps (which really is pretty cool) a cinimatic, and a documentary. now i dont belive that the documentary or cinimatic will be up for download, but if the maps were not then how many of us would pay for it right away? there would be fewer gamers to be matched up with for quite a while, and we would have huge problems with clan matches and bringing in groups of people to matchmakeing. So I belive that the maps will be downloadable.

(i hope i hope i hope)

::edit
weephun, you rat bastard. Beating me to it...

[CoffeeJedi]

will it copy the new multiplayer maps onto the hard drive, and then you use the standard Halo2 disc to play? or will you need put in this disc to play the new maps?

[ubercado]

It should load to the HD just like the other games with DL content. Now, I would like to see them offer the maps and bug fixes over XBL for free but, I must concur to the spec that M$ will probably charge for the new maps. Going on past experiences, they might charge 5 dollars for the maps and nothing for the fixes. That is what i belive they did for the first MechAssault game.

[vector]

[Grifter_7]

May 24???? What a crock of (explitive deleted)! Release it now!! Why wait until AFTER E3?? (This is a thought provoking, discussion building comment )

[ubercado]

We don't know any of the particulars yet. XBL might get the maps eariler and then the DVD might come out on May 24th or so for everyone who doesn't have XBL.

Of course on the other hand, I might throw on a kilt, put on a pair of Ronald MacDonald shoes, dye my hair pink, run around a church screaming "the sky is falling" in russian while holding a poodle under one arm and a two-foot salami under the other. But, I digress...

Bungie is going to announce something on this this week according to Frankie so, lets wait a few days and see what Bungie has to say.

[vector]

[thunderclap8]

Heh looks like EB slipped up, its not there anymore.