Halo is the game that shows no signs of ending
It has been almost a year since the highly anticipated and
extravagantly successful Xbox game "Halo 2" was
released by Microsoft Game Studios. Today , 6.5 million copies
later, the game has received reviews and awards that would and
did make any die-hard gamer drop everything they were doing,
even work, to rush right out and buy one, and "Halo 2"
is now offering a little something more to its very loyal fans.
November 9, 2004, is a day that will be remembered fondly by
those who fought the midnight crowds to get their hands on what
would become the most popular Microsoft Xbox game ever
distributed, and a day that would be forever resented by those
who camped out and came away empty handed. On this great day in
gaming history, a little more than 6,500 well-known retailers
opened their doors at midnight in what would become the greatest
shopping frenzy in gaming history.
The frenzy was so great, that employers reported that there
were quite a few sick days taken on November 10. Some say it was
due to the "Halo 2" flu. Well the "Halo 2"
flu season is again in full swing as Microsoft recently
announced the release of its greatly anticipated "Halo
2" Multiplayer Map Pack on June 28.
The multiplayer expansion pack, which is the first of its
kind for a console title, contains nine new multiplayer maps to
push gamers' skills to their limits and will be available in
both retail outlets and via Xbox Live™. The retail package
also features two new videos: an animated short from the
single-player story in New Mombasa and a mini-documentary that
includes interviews with the map designers, combat strategies,
and fly-throughs of the new maps. The
retail pack also allows gamers who prefer offline play via
System Link and split-screen to upgrade their Halo 2 experience
with new maps.
As a special bonus and thank you, Xbox Live subscribers got
an early chance to check out four maps from the Halo 2
Multiplayer Map Pack in late April. Two maps, Containment and
Warlock, were presented by Mountain Dew at no cost to Xbox Live
subscribers. Two additional maps, Sanctuary and Turf, were
available for purchase via Xbox Live. The final five maps became
available on June 28.
Set in a Forerunner environment on Delta Halo, Containment is
a massive, icy, outdoor environment suitable for vehicle combat
and large team objective games such as Capture the Flag.
Warlock, a small to midsized indoor arena set in ancient
Forerunner ruins, offers ample opportunities for a variety of
game types such as Territories, Slayer, Team Slayer, and more.
Located in the streets of Old Mombasa near the wreckage of a
downed Covenant Scarab, Turf is a midsized asymmetrical urban
combat environment with narrow streets, dark alleyways, and
easily defendable buildings. The sunlit remains of an ancient
Forerunner temple, Sanctuary is a medium-sized symmetrical
environment excellent for Capture the Flag, Assault,
Territories, and Slayer games.
As you can see, if you're not one of the many that has been
infected by the "Halo 2" flu, you may be missing out
on a great deal of gaming fun. Is it possible that I can see a
sick day in your immediate future as you catch up on lost time?
About the Author
By Adam Lenk
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