Gaming Signal: Halo Hype

Halo Hype

Let me start by saying I am a Halo h8a (thats hater for those not in the know). I have always felt that this series which had some interesting ideas when it was originally announced years ago. Now, it is the cornerstone game for the Xbox and I remember when it was called Unreal Tournament, and that is where I start to get irritated. I am well aware that for the Xbox there is a lack of real multiplayer games and Halo and Halo 2 filled that void, but after playing it on the PC - I felt is was derivative and not all that unique, but it is still on the top ten list on the Xbox Live playlist. Now, comes the third installment in the series and the hype-meter is cranked up to 11. In what is probably marketing genius, Crackdown will include a beta spot in each copy of the game it sells at its launch. The problem I am having is that folks are looking at it just like the picture from that page over at Xbox360Fanboy in that you are paying for access to the Halo 3 beta and get the game Crackdown for free. That just makes me a little crazy.

Now this "beta" is not a beta as seen in most other software areas, it is the small taste of the game that is often used by MMO games to help ensure sales at launch. This is nothing more than a vehicle to keep the minds and hearts of the fanboys satiated while they wait for a native Xbox360 version of the game. The 360 has a pretty good set of titles out now and it will continue to get better. Crackdown is pretty high on my list to acquire when it comes out, but unfortunately it will get thrown by the wayside so we can all play the Halo 3 multiplayer beta - meh!!!

If I manage to get a copy of Crackdown at launch, I will be giving away my access code. We will do some sort of contest or something since I really have no desire to play that game.

The Halo games in single player mode are "standard fare" for a console FPS. It is the multiplayer modes and matchmaking system that really make it slightly better than other console FPS games.

I have never really been a big fan of the IP either but I do recognize what Halo 1/2 did for console multiplayer games.

Posted by Trent on Thursday January 25, 2007 at 10:34 AM

I agree Tim - Halo just took Doom and repackaged it for the console. They did a nice job of it, but it isn't anything new nor did I find the first game particularly fun (the level design is quite poor, imo.)

I can understand everybody looking forward to it - just like the PC FPS crowd was gaga over Quake.

Posted by Scott on Sunday January 28, 2007 at 1:04 AM