Death by intelligence.
Downloadable Demos On Xbox 2?
Spong, featuring a new Googlified logo, put up a story late last night (so it's not an April Fool's joke, at least not a fair one) that says the Xbox 2 will have downloadable demo content right at launch.
In other news:
- rapture at cooked gamers wonders if these are Halo 3 screenshots...
- HBO is hosting Mat "shunji" Noguchi's GDC talk on Bungie's tag system as used in Halo and Halo 2.
- Blackstar documents vehicle warping in real life.
- Team Tabula Rasa has put up its first two strategy columns: Making of a Spartan by Furiont and Sententia per Antiquus by Faewraith113.
Another big fan art update over at Halo Babies. Thanks mrsmiley.
Major Nelson Denies Xbox Retail Pull Rumor
SPOnG has a story that claims retail channels are being told that current Xbox hardware is being phased out; Major Nelson denies this in his blog, saying that shortages of Xbox hardware in the retail channel are due to the popularity of the console.
Personalize Your Xbox 2?
Eurogamer has a story that indicates it may be possible to "customize" your Xbox 2-- or at least for Microsoft to custom-tailor the console different geographical regions:
"We have ways, we have ideas. Look at cell phones," Microsoft VP J Allard told trade publication MCV. "You can have snap-on faceplates, you can change the skin and the batteries, and you can change the ringtones. I think we need to have a global foundation, and then personalise within region."
The story also claims that Microsoft is promising to ship 1 million of the next-generation console before Christmas.
In other news:
- dementedpuppy dot com notes that Halomaps.co.uk will not be reopening. The announcement came in the Gearbox Forum.
- Major League Gaming has info about their upcoming Orlando event, as well as an interview with Foulacy of Str8 Rippin.
New Halo 2 Game Types Also On Tap?
Joystiq links to a story at gamenews.botros.net saying that the latest OXM demo disc contained an update with five new game types for Halo 2. They are:
- Peacemakers
- Covie Gulch
- Classic CTF Tank
- Swords w/o Radar
- Golden Showers
Bungie Brings Shame And Dishonor To America
The pistol-whipping delivered to Bungie in last week's Humpday Challenge came from the land of the rising sun, in the form of the GunShin clan. The match was arranged by Microsoft's Japanese office, who was apparently asked to find a "group of typical Japanese players". Bungie lost all three games. After a tentative 1-0 flag win on Headlong, GunShin capped off the victory with a 3-0 flag win on Coagulation in which Frankie admits Bungie never managed to get out of their own base and a stunning 100-35 Slayer win on Colossus where GunShin apparently deployed an odd variation of the plasma pistol - battle rifle combo, where the weapons were wielded by different players. (Now that's teamwork--Ed.)
MLG Online League Filling Up
dolbex writes that Major League Gaming's new online leagues are starting to fill up-- go check out the site for details on how to register your team!
New Content Plans Are Uncommon Sense
The latest Narc's Retort is Bordering On Common Sense, about Bungie's downloadable content plans.
Bordering On Common Sense
It's rather difficult for me to get a handle on exactly how I feel about the recently announced plans for new Halo 2 maps. Part of that is because of my own personal situation-- having been without decent DSL since before Halo 2's release, I'm only just now getting the hang of the multiplayer maps that shipped with the game; and even then, my higher-than-average ping and utter lack of skill or practice is still getting me massacred daily on maps I barely know and already paid for, to say nothing of maps that are yet to come.
Bungie Reveals Halo 2 Map Expansion Plans
[image:9163 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]Xbox.com and Bungie.net have news on Bungie's map expansion and downloadable content (DLC) plans for Halo 2.
At the end of next month, there will be two maps available for free to Xbox Live subscribers, and an additional two maps available for $5.99.
[image:9162 align=right hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]On June 28, the entire collection of nine maps, plus additional materials including a documentary and a cinematic, will be available for sale in stores for $19.99; this is the item that EB Games characteristically revealed too early. On that same date, the final five maps not released on Xbox Live will be available for $11.99.
At some unspecified date at the end of the summer, all the maps will be free to Xbox Live subscribers.
[image:9165 align=left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]The first four maps are: Containment and Warlock, which will be free to XBL users, and Sanctuary and Turf, which will be for sale. The remaining five maps are called Terminal, Relic, Elongation, Gemini and Backwash.
Several sites have been carrying the news in addition to the official ones: Major Nelson linked from his blog, Major League Gaming has the press release, Joystiq has the announcement. Halo Planet, demented puppy dot com, Sector 7, and, of course, HBO all have coverage.
[image:9164 align=right hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]Bungie has also placed screenshots, one of each of the first four maps, into their screenshot section. We've also added them to our Halo 2 screenshot gallery.
Sergeant A.J. Johnson
Has anyone else noticed or does Sergeant Johnson appear to be more of a badass than the Master Chief? Note the following:
1. He survived the fall of Reach
2. He survived Halo
3. He was attacked by Infection Stage Flood spores and lived.
4. He helped the Master Chief commandeer the Covenant cruiser, Ascendant Justice, and lived through that.
5. He survived Delta Halo (that can be argured of course)
6. He survived being on the Covenant homeworld.
7. He is just a hardcore Marine, who is a whole lot tougher than those ODST troopers.
But of this is just my opinion.
When Xboxes Are Free, Halo Movies Will Be Art
Prometheus addresses the concern that so many bad Halo machinimas may end up being made that no one will pay attention anymore. However, he thinks that original writing and high production values will keep the wheat and the chaff sufficiently separated that this won't happen. However, I think another barrier was not addressed: the fact that Halo is used by Halo fans who want to make movies, rather than movie makers looking for tools to tell stories.
Will There Be Too Many Halo Movies?
Prometheus writes in his blog that he believes that originality will be the quality that separates wortwhile Halo machinima from the rest, and will prevent the market from being flooded with so much low-quality work that no one will pay any attention to Halo machinima at all.
Xbox Availability Constrained?
Voodoo Extreme wonders whether Xbox demand is really as high as Microsoft says, or whether supply is being restrained in anticipation of the sequel's release. Only the Shadow knows.
2005 Video Gamers League Schedule To Include Halo 2
Jeff Gross of the Video Gamers League writes that they have recently announced a $20,000 gaming tournament that will include Halo 2. VGL is entering its fifth season, and the schedule for this year includes events in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, San Francisco and Chicago. More information is available from VGL's website.