Hard to say Goodbye to Halo 2
Its not personal here, strictly business a business decision and a move that was bound to come someday. At least we have about 10 weeks notice, before things will finally shut down. For HaloFan boys, its still shocking news for some of us hear… to know that on April 15th 2010, the Xbox Live services for Original Xbox consoles, Xbox v1 Games & their Original On Demand titles, and those that are playable on the Xbox 360 will be no more.
My first time on Xbox Live came from borrowing my friends Original Halo edition Xbox Console and the first game I played on Live was none other than Halo 2. For the months to follow, that’s all I would play until I purchased my Xbox 360 Elite and would the have a chance to try out some other games. Even still, I would play more an more Halo 2 until the launch of Halo 3 would come. I’ve only returned once really since to Halo 2, but now over the next few weeks I plan to return a few more times.
This marks the end of a milestone for Halo 2, Xbox Live, and for Bungie as the decision to end one of the most popular online Xbox titles approaches. Its hard to think that a number of people might only have an original console to play online, but that very well is the case. Some might own both and still enjoy playing these old titles or the console still. I can say from my experience I was really surprised at how well that old console worked and really enjoyed those first experiences on Xbox Live.
So when I first heard the news I was shocked and thought that it couldn’t include those games you play on the Xbox 360 and Halo 2 would be safe still. The shock lead only to deeper shock to see that Halo 2 would not survive the chopping block after all here. You’ll still be able to pick the old games and play through their campaigns and do some split screen action, but going online and playing friends around the world will be no more sadly.
Bungie is already planing on some big game action for April 14th and for one last send off to their title that really launched Xbox Live and made it what it is today. If you have a copy of the game, then dust it off and head on back to make some lasting memories while you can. This also goes for the other original Xbox titles as well. If your an original Xbox console gamer only, we really hope to see you move on up to an Xbox 360 soon.
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Well I just don’t understand why would gamers would be still be playing Halo 2 while Halo 3 is a much better game?!?! Come on gamers move on!!!
“The ends justify the means” Niccolò Machiavelli
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ends_justify_the_means
Personally this comes to a loss for me because the only reason I have my remainder Original Xbox Games is for occasional private matches online. It’s sad I’ll never be able to enjoy Steel Battalions, if I were to have ever tried to. Though Microsoft must see that there is an extreme lack of online activity with original Xbox Games. It’s a way to cut the budget at little to no loss. As for my views on Halo and the community it had created online, I think we’re better off, even if slightly. Whether you’re a fan of Halo or not, you can not deny that the online community it has bred is nothing we couldn’t do without. A good majority of my online gaming was on Halo 2 and Halo 3, and immaturity as well as intolerance are a major force keeping that community rolling. I could be looking at it wrong and the real truth is that every ass in online social gaming found an environment to thrive in and that environment was sadly Halo’s online community. Regardless, it’s without a doubt that somebody will be profiting off of the death of Halo 2.
Pimp you are correct that H3 is where its at, as well as ODST and soon to be Reach. Still its a tad sad for a game that is playable of the 360 to get the axe. Its clearly the lack of numbers for these titles. Just to make a point, I fired up H2 over the weekend and could barely find any matches to get into. Its clear they can take the resourse sittin for H2 servers and use these for Reach more and likely.
Thy, its a negative for sure when some people act the way they do. Its one of the reason I prefer to play with friends I know. Just the same I have to take a bit of the bad to find and meet new friends. In truth lately my experiences with H3 show more an more people with out headsets or in Party Chats, so pick up games are not as fun in that respect. I’m not about to say scrap all of Live because people can’t control the tounges and use their brains. Instead I’m happy when I find that next cool gamer who likes to have fun and is not trying to see who can shoot farther, if you get where I’m going here. Sorry to hear you’re loosing access to some of the games you’ve loved.
As sad as i am to see this happen, and as much as h2 was one of my favorite games of all time, I think that it needs to happen, especially with all the other halo titles out there have large online communities to begin with.