HALO 2 - DUE OUT NOV 9, 2004!!!

[Adrian M]

Microsoft and Bungie have finally set the date for the Master Chief 's return to the Xbox, and will mark the occasion with a limited edition of the game.

After years of nebulous announcements, tentative releases dates, and the oft-repeated phrase "it will be ready when it's done," Microsoft and Bungie have finally nailed down the release date for Halo 2.

 

On November 9, 2004--almost exactly three years since Halo: Combat Evolved shipped--the most eagerly awaited sequel in Xbox history will arrive in stores, according to Aaron Greenberg, Xbox business and marketing manager. The news was officially unveiled at Microsoft's official E3 press briefing at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. As an added bonus, attendees were treated to the first-ever multiplayer footage from Halo 2, which will be fully Xbox Live enabled when it is released this fall.

 

"We're very excited," Greenberg told GameSpot, expressing a fraction of the enthusiasm many gamers are feeling at the announcement. "We not looking at it so much as a game launch as a cultural phenomenon," he said, promising massive marketing support for Halo 2.

 

It didn't take long to find out what Greenberg meant. Moments after revealing the game's official release date, Microsoft announced it will soon make available a limited edition of Halo 2. The two-disc Halo LE will come in a metal box, and will sport a bevy of extras, including the documentary "The Making of Halo 2: Behind the Scenes of Bungie Studios." Also included in the set will be a series of featurettes on Halo 2's game design, animation, and music, as well as a collection of cinematics and characters that were cut from the game. The Halo LE will also feature an art gallery and commentaries from the development team at Bungie.

 

To date, Halo remains the best-selling title on the Xbox platform. Since its release in November 2001, it has sold over 4.5 million units, and often re-enters the best-selling game charts. Besides being endorsed by the gaming public, Halo was also a critical favorite, and was included in GameSpot's own Top 10 First-Person Shooters of All Time.

 

For more details on Halo 2 and all other things E3, check back with GameSpot's continuing coverage of this year's expo.

 

[liveinabin]

how many release dates have they given now?

 

I gotta hand it to you, you've been really waiting for this one, I hope it's as good as it's supposed to be.

[Adrian M]

how many release dates have they given now?    

 

I gotta hand it to you, you've been really waiting for this one, I hope it's as good as it's supposed to be.

 

I have a feeling I will not be disappointed!

Halo was the first game I played on my XBOX when I bought it on launch day (Nov 15, 2001) along with Oddworld and Project Gotham. I never thought the sequel would take this long to manifest, but from what I'm hearing and seeing, the wait will more than be worth it!

 

One thing to keep in mind is that Halo 1 was a rushed product that almost didn't make it out in time for the XBOX launch. The team had so much more to implement, but they simply ran out of time, yet the game still managed to retain an almost "perfect" level of quality and immersiveness to it!

[jeepnut24]

Sweet, maybe this date will stick. Worth the wait if you ask me. Though I still HALO is over rated.

 

Do I have to turn in my XBOX now?

[Adrian M]

 

Do I have to turn in my XBOX now?  

 

No, we'll let it slide.

[liquidcross]

*makes jerk-off motions*

 

I hated the first one, and I hate it MORE now because that damn logo ruins the cool translucent green Xbox!

[NE146]

But wait! I have yet to even finish the first Halo!

 

These damn things come out too fast.. they just shit em out like diahreah

[jeepnut24]

But wait! I have yet to even finish the first Halo!  

 

These damn things come out too fast.. they just shit em out like diahreah  

 

??? Two years is too fast???

 

More like too slow.

[Adrian M]

Oh, and by zee way....I'll be getting the HALO2: Limited Edition set!

Hell, I've waited this long, might as well get teh premium set!

[liveinabin]

I still think this could be Bungie's 'difficult second album'.

Halo, because it was rushed, could contain only the elements that the game couldn't do without. That can often be a benefit.

Now they've had SO long to add stuff, it could stale the experience.

Not saying it will, of course, but it is a hazard. For an example of how art fails when you suddenly have unlimited resources and time, look at the difference between 'Star Wars' and 'The Phantom Menace'.

 

Bungie could be coding in their Jar Jar Binks as we speak

[jeepnut24]

I still think this could be Bungie's 'difficult second album'.  

Halo, because it was rushed, could contain only the elements that the game couldn't do without.  That can often be a benefit.

Now they've had SO long to add stuff, it could stale the experience.  

Not saying it will, of course, but it is a hazard.  For an example of how art fails when you suddenly have unlimited resources and time, look at the difference between 'Star Wars' and 'The Phantom Menace'.

 

Bungie could be coding in their Jar Jar Binks as we speak  

 

It really doesn't matter what they put out at this point. The weight from the hype is going to crush it anyway. The amount of hype for un released games is now out of hand.

[PuddWakkr]

wort wort wort!!!!

[Major Havoc 2049]

Master Cheif with Marine Hell Jumpers

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BTW, this is the first release date given by Microsoft, all the other release dates were made up by the video game stores, probably to get pre-order money.

 

Halo 2 will be epic, can't wait. Need to put in for vacation, Nov. 8 - Nov. 12.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I hope its nothing like the first one. I think its way overrated, and I got bored with it VERY quickly. Had more fun with the $15 serious sam than Halo. I just hope HL2 comes out before then.

[Fretwobbler]

Whenever it comes out, it better be good, because now we have Farcry theres a new boy in town in every sense of the word, and they are going to take some beating

 

The PC FPS genre is stretching graphics cards like theres no tomorrow.

 

Farcry has made my tongue salivate at what the future holds for these games. I hope Halo 2 does the same.

 

Is there any news on the PC version? With Halo they left it too long, understandably. With this version I dont think the Xbox needs the excluvitity as much as with Halo, I hope they bring it out for PC sooner rather than later.

[Major Havoc 2049]

No PC or Mac version is in the works for Halo 2.

[Adrian M]

No PC or Mac version is in the works for Halo 2.

 

And that's the way it SHOULD be!

[Fretwobbler]

Thats the way it might as well be if they dont bring it out within say 6 months of the Xbox version.

[ubersaurus]

Thats the way it might as well be if they dont bring it out within say 6 months of the Xbox version.

 

Bungie and Microsoft have already said Halo 2 will be xbox exclusive. The reason the first one came out on PC and Mac is because that was the original plan, and when they signed the contract making Halo 2 exclusive to xbox, they made sure they could still eventually release Halo on the computer platforms.

[Fretwobbler]

when they signed the contract making {game xyz} exclusive to {system xyz}

 

How many times have we heard that before

[Adrian M]

Two quick pics of the Limited Edition case artwork!

The PERFECT way to celebrate the long-awaited arrival of this epic title!!! Shiny, metallic XBOX goodness!!

 

 

[NE146]

No PC or Mac version is in the works for Halo 2.

 

And that's the way it SHOULD be!

 

We all know there's no way this is not coming out for the pc.. might take a couple o' years... but it's guaranteed it will.

 

Anyway, call me pessimistic but unless they poop it out for christmas I'm wondering if it's likely to be delayed until next year... given the standard "first release date announce is fake" and the extra standard 1-2 years of delays we usually see. At my most optimistic I'm betting it will be delayed in October.. to may 2005 or something like that. But we'll see..

[Adrian M]

No PC or Mac version is in the works for Halo 2.

 

And that's the way it SHOULD be!

 

 

 

Anyway, call me pessimistic but unless they poop it out for christmas I'm wondering if it's likely to be delayed until next year... given the standard "first release date announce is fake" and the extra standard 1-2 years of delays we usually see. At my most optimistic I'm betting it will be delayed in October.. to may 2005 or something like that. But we'll see..

 

Whether it comes out in Nov 2004 or Jan 2005, I don't care. I'm a patient guy and don't mind waiting until Bungie feels it is ready. Rather have a game worthy of near-perfect status than one that is merely sufficient just so they could meet a perceived deadline. Good things come to those who wait!

[Major Havoc 2049]

Good find Adrian M, that limited edition box looks awesome.

 

The November 9th date is a go. Bungie said that Halo 2 would be done when it is done and they wouldn't give out a release date until they knew that they could meet it. Back in January, Bungie said, "Autumn of 2004" and now we have an exact date. Microsoft also said that the date is, "set in stone". If you've read the weekly Halo 2 updates from Bungie, they have been having Halo 2 LAN tournaments for months now at the Bungie offices. It sounds like all that is going on now is optimizing, online code, play testing and tweaking, to make the game as perfect as possible.

[jeepnut24]

Good find Adrian M, that limited edition box looks awesome.  

 

The November 9th date is a go.  Bungie said that Halo 2 would be done when it is done and they wouldn't give out a release date until they knew that they could meet it.  Back in January, Bungie said, "Autumn of 2004" and now we have an exact date.  Microsoft also said that the date is, "set in stone".  If you've read the weekly Halo 2 updates from Bungie, they have been having Halo 2 LAN tournaments for months now at the Bungie offices.  It sounds like all that is going on now is optimizing, online code, play testing and tweaking, to make the game as perfect as possible.

 

What he said. Not to mention that MS is pretty hard and fast on the important dates. Though, I wouldn't be supprised if it ends up moving back a fews days for the aniversary date. Nov. 15