Halo: Reach beta will sell ODST, says Microsoft

Entertainment boss Stephen McGill says early access to 2010 release will draw fans to this year's iteration

[sinncross]

So MS clearly lacks the confidence in ODST to be able to sell by itself.

[D4RkNIKON]

One way or another, we will sell this game - MS

[MisterNiwa]

Oh dear...

[kalebgray92]

microsoft got something right

[deadreckoning666]

Yep, M$ knows ODST can't sell itself, so they put the Reach beta in. Very...very smart move.

[leila01]

Infamous.
But it's ok. I'll leave you guys to your usual bickering and trolling.

[Godmars290]

At $60? Of course not.

Though just imagine if they had tacked on the Reach beta while offering it at $40?

[Game13a13y]

well, they got to do something after many reviewers gave it a mediocre score. note to MS, hey, instead of all this marketing tricks, why don't you just focus on huh.. i don't know... like making the game good on itself? you don't see games like COD and Killzone 2 and Crysis and many other big titles do this, right?

[Tinted Eyes]

Guess that speaks wonders for the quality of ODST.

[JonnyBigBoss]

Agreed.

[SupaPlaya]

that people will buy ODST just for the Reach beta alone if they don't want the game. It's just icing on the cake.

However, you MAY be right if you say that they put the beta in there to justify for the full $60 price tag for what originally was intended as a DLC. May be a better statement is: "Halo:Reach beta adds value to the Halo ODST package."

I'm interested to see the graphical improvements in Reach from using a new engine for the Halo.

[darthv72]

I mean honestly, I hadnt even thought about the Reach beta when I preordered. I am really curious if every copy of the game comes with the beta invite or if it is a limited run?

Wasnt it crackdown that came with a limited run of the halo 3 beta? I just cant remember.

I am getting ODST because of the noir style story line and gameplay differences. Plus it is cool to see what happens to New Mombasa after chief left to go fight on the Delta Halo.

Kind of like in half life opposing force and blueshift. You got to play more of the same timeline but in different parts of the facility from different points of views. I always liked how they did that. I always wanted to know what happened elsewhere in the black mesa research facility while gordon was doing his thing. Glad that valve gave gamers the opportunity to play from different angles instead of just one.

This game looks to offer a similar experience. Reach beta is just a bonus for me.

[BlackTar187]

if you think ODST wont sell on its own . Got my copy preordered and i dont like halo well since halo 1 was so damn good i ws let down after but the Coop=Dynamite. It will be good people just look to hard. A 7 is good to me some of the best games i ever played weren't 9 or 10's and 10's anyways is a joke now

[Dark Collosis]

You sony fans come in here to complain that $60 is too much for this game. Yet you rant and rave about sony trying to sell you GOW1 & 2 on a blueray disc so you can play it on your PS3? At least MS is selling us 7-8 hours of new single player content not to mention anything else.. ODST is already preordered and will pick it up on DAY 1 of release. Halo 3 is still in the top 50 sold games in the world EVERY MONTH and i will gladly buy a HUGE expansion to one of the best FPS games made this generation.

[Tinted Eyes]

Sony putting 2 critically acclaimed games on one disc with updated graphics (720p/60 frames) on one disc for 40 bucks is bad? Whoa. You're Hilarious.

[etownone]

if only Sony had a mega-juggernaut exclusive franchise like Halo that completely destroys everything in it's path.

Bungie has millions of fans that will gladly support them and buy this game based on their past record of AAA Halo games and their continuing support to their games. No other developer does the kind of fan service Bungie does.

[JokesOnYou]

Halo Sucks, OK, OK, OK we get it....you win SDF, you're right and we're wrong, theres no reason on Earth to buy ODST, the SDF is just looking out for Halo fans best interest....I mean what the hell were we thinking, ODST will not be fun, we should buy the games that are *supposedly so much better, even if we *personally would have more fun playing ODST, who needs fun anyway, games are serious business, we've finally seen the light, you can stop hating, err I mean educating us now, nobody's going to buy ODST. phew[That should hold them off for awhile, I hope].

Yeah OK whatever last time I checked offering more in one package to make a game worth $60 was a good thing. PS3 fanboys downplayed Crackdown for the same reason yet that turned out to be a great game, well worth its price but lets face it Halo fans want to play more of the Halo3 storyline, ODST would sell for that reason alone, so adding more incentive is just good PR for the true fans to know they will also be able to get first crack at Halo Reach. The haters would still be hating ODST had micro added a beta invite or not, just like they will hate on Halo Reach, just like they hate on Natal for any reason, just like they hate on the 360 bundle news, just like they hate on anything to do with micro....jealousy is all. Sucks to be them.

-I wonder why a game like GI Joe which for alot folks isn't worth $10 doesn't get the same kind of hate? Wheres are the "Is GI Joe worth it?" articles with this much attention from the SDF trying to save people from waisting their money?

JOY

[Tinted Eyes]

lol Look at JOY go, He really takes these things to heart lol
Reviews will be fun though. :)

Anyone else notice how quickly agrees come for cooliris? lol

[blackpanther25]

yeah Crackdown came with the HALO 3 multiplayer Demo (that why i bought it lol). I thought crackdown was going to suck, but it was actually good

[likedamaster]

Guys? This is Halo we're talking about. It prints money.

Not even the juggernaut Call of Duty 4 could sell as much copies on one platform.

[BlackTar187]

infamous didnt sell the best but was one hella of a game so if all uyou care about is sales i feel sorry for you. Flop is a word i use for games that get hype and suck infamous i don't really remember to much hype aside from the prototype hype so to me infamous is not a flop and should never be uttered in the same sentence sales are sales thats all the game was fricken sweet so please use a gamers pref. and logic when declaring flops please be a gamer first a sales puppet second and as far as im concerned ODST and infamous are both good games we wont know if ODST is great till we play it but ive only heard one person tell me infamous wasn't great and it was for me.

I just cant stand people who call themselves gamers but pledge there devotion to one console sure pick one you like better but dont hate on good games it make you look like a newb who's first console was a ps3 or 360 be a gamer goddamit please both sides support these devs for there effort not for the system of choice.

Talk about backward thinking

[Max Power]

I was content just reading everyones stupid comments, but I had to say something about yours. Sony has Gran Turismo, and if I am not mistaken has sold more than Halo.

[TK421]

PS3 "fanboys" didn't say Halo Reach would sell Halo ODST Stephen McGill of Microsoft said so.

[morganfell]

That is the problem Microsoft. You don't get it. ODST SHOULD SELL ODST.

It's really nice when Microsoft admits to the public the game doesn't have enough sand in it's pants to float it's own boat. Good job MS.

[cereal_killa]

Gran Turismo Says hello if only M$ had an mega-juggernaut "Exclusive Franchise" that's not also on the PC like Gran Turismo that completely destroys everything in it's path. There fixed it for you....

[randomwiz]

It doesn't need Halo Reach beta to sell. No one is going to buy this game just for halo reach. Obviously, if they want Halo Reach beta, they also want to play this game.

Although I don't think this game will sell as well as Halo 3. I know lots of people who bought a 360 just for Halo, and those same people don't know that ODST is coming out.

[cmrbe]

If they said. Halo reach beat is an added incentive for people to buy ODST it would have been better for them.

Truth is. Brand name and ODST movie ad marketing campaign budget will sell this game.

[ReservoirDog316]

Well, that and the word Halo on the box. I would truly be surprised if this sells badly, cause well, that's the world we live in.

[Witty Comment]

a lot of Halo and MS hate here. It's not like they're charging 40 bucks for a demo. ;)

Just playing guys, just playing.

[ID IR A G 0 N]

thats why i bought it

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

This only confirms that ODST isn't significant enough to sell itself. There you have it folks, straight from the horses mouth.

[Evoluti0n]

'they got to do something after many reviewers gave it a mediocre score.'

What are you talking about?

Two reviews from two sites who have yet to play a legal version of a game, since its still uhhh...how do you say it...under embargo?

Your stupidity amazes me.

[JsonHenry]

I really don't care for the Halo series myself, but this game could totally sell itself because of all the rabid Halo fans out there can't wait for the next Halo installment.

[MetalGearRising]

Not exactly i'm getting the game because its Halo......Halo Reach is just extra toppings.

[D4RkNIKON]

Seems like you would buy a turd in a box as long as it says Halo.

[chidori666]

lmao...

halo sdtv in 2009

halo gayreach in 2010...

2 games in space of 1 year pffff hahhahaha..

http://www.itndistribution....

[kevinx1000]

helgan is HILARIOUS!

[topdawg122]

Overrated!!! *clap clap clap clapclapclap* Overrated!!!

[jamesrocks3147]

it says everything the latest reviews proves this halo will flop

[Perjoss]

you obviously didn't see the pre order numbers.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

The latest reviews? What reviews?

Metacritic:

1. Xbox 360: Halo 3: ODST (2009) xx

No Reviews.

[aldesko]

Doesn't the game come out in less than a week? Why is there an embargo until Sunday?

[Evoluti0n]

Good call.

[KingKionic]

Ofcourse .

[ShabzS]

are from people without any extended info on reach... imagine if they actually show what reach is like to generate even more excitement...

if they show some sort of footage at tgs or something like that it would be insane ...

coz right now for me odst's selling star is the 30$ worth of halo 3 map packs and new campaign right outta the box

[Omega4]

Really? I thought the Halo name would be enough, im not really to bothered about the beta and knowing MS i doubt ODST will be the only means of getting into it.

And funnily enough Crackdown 2 coming out next year......

[Panthers]

Well I think Crackdown 2 is a legit title worthy of selling a lot. But this Halo ODST just seems like a quick cash in my M$. I mean how much could dev costs have been on this title to justify the $60 price?

[aldesko]

"And funnily enough Crackdown 2 coming out next year..."

lol, never thought of that. I'd like to play the beta, but I'm not going to spend $60 on it. I'll be getting Crackdown 2 day one, so hopefully they'll include another beta in it =D

[divideby0]

MS...lol....plenty of confidence...looking for a beta opportunity to sell a game.....
ODST = low 8s...from what I have seen

[ukilnme]

Halo selling Halo. Great combo.

[SupaPlaya]

standing punch,
Hadoken!!

[Godmars290]

Pointless combo you mean.

[ukilnme]

^^^
Fear is not a good umbrella. Put it away.

[Another One]

but I read that as saying Reach will add extra incentive to buy ODST. Extra content is always extra incentive. He never said that the beta alone will sell ODST or that it needs the beta to sell. Interpretation fail for most of you.

Only Halo is bashed for adding extra content to a game. How in the hell is adding access to the Reach beta a bad thing? More content in any game would be a good thing. I don't care what game it is. If KZ2 or UC2 came with a beta to another anticipated game, would that be bad? I think not.

[corywebb93]

HAlo mania has begun my friends reserve your copy today and be part off history

just a few more weeks before halo arrives and guides uss xbox 360 owners to the promise land and help uss destroy the ps3 and send it back junkyard

when halo comes crashing down ps3 owners will be hurt inside
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[54percent]

I want the same thing you're smokiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinn nn'

[meatnormous]

I own an xbox and there is no way in hell I am even gonna rent this game. My buddy gave me his copy of halo 3 after his 360 bricked and I just cannot see whats the big deal with the halo series.

[JonnyBadfinger]

the good thing about coryweb is he is excellent for working out the xbot to droid ratio on this site and in xbox related articles.

as it stands the droids out number the xbots 25:4.........Achievement Unlocked!

Its is now confirmed that the PS3 pony club members are the official trolls of the internet.

And you guys do realise you droids spend more time here in the 360 land, dont you? i always thought the grass was supposedly greener on the PS3 side.........guess that aint true either......

Isn't N4G great, ive made a second account that is a proposed PS3 fanboy and the droids have given me 3 bubble in 2 weeks, for me doing mindless 360 trashing and you girls LOVE IT!

seriously the PS3 community is scum of the earth, and are the skid marks on the underpants of society.

[MGOelite]

nah it wont microsoft has barly advertised the fact so not many normal gamers will know about it.

[jackdoe]

Stephen McGill should definitely shut up cause he's a freaking idiot.

Very, very few people will pay $60 just for access to a beta (a game that may or may not work correctly).

The Halo name brand and the inclusion of all the Halo map packs are what will sell ODST. I personally do not want to pay for all those map packs just to play ranked Halo 3 multiplayer which makes ODST a good deal for me.

[Halo_Reach]

Reach to be the best FPS ever!

Gears 3 the best TPS!

[-GoldenTimeLover-]

Typical 12 year-old xbot comment.

[Socomer 1979]

My turn:

You will do as I say when I say & there is only 2 things you can do about it.
Nothing & Like it.

Xboxlive must have alot of blinking lights that puts people into a trance &
Makes em buy crap.

I just saw the movie Gamer yesterday.
Alot of hidden messages in that movie.

"I have no strings on me".

[food86]

halo game promoting another halo game how original,

im renting odst for my xbox, not interested in teh beta.

although I will be interested in the full game of halo reach when it comes out lol. i guess im burned out on betas. i just got mag beta this week, last month i had uncharted, ive been in generally everybeta, like cod5 for xbox beta, lbp, beta, socom beta,killzone 2,
and mgs beta. I guess thats why im tired of them lol.......
oh and i bough lbp goty edition so i got modnation racers beta also in line lol.....

[mythamp]

Does anyone here actually know what Halo Reach is? Will it continue Master Chiefs story? What is it all about?

[Evoluti0n]

I do believe, it's been awhile since I read the book.

Ok, so it takes place before Halo CE, takes place "during 'Halo: The Fall Of Reach' and at the beginning of 'Halo: First Strike."

Both were books written back in 2001/2003.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

There's the links.

[Fishy Fingers]

The idea of a beta is to improve upon your game, and there for hopefully improve the reception (sales) said game receives. It's not meant to bait money out of peoples pockets.

This console gen may have the best games but it certainly has the worst etiquette.

[Panthers]

For M$ it is. They know Halo fanboys will pay anything for a chance to play Reach early. They use Halo betas as a selling point, not a test phase.

[aldesko]

Anyone who likes Halo enough to want the beta will probably be interested in ODST. I'm interested in the it, but no way in hell am I spending $60 on it.

The only additional sales I think MS are going to get are people who really like Halo and want to play the beta, but were planning on renting ODST or buying it used since it's such a rip-off.

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

Halo Wars + Halo 3:ODST + Halo:Reach beta??? All in 1 year??? ;-D

Talk about MILKING A...

http://thinklings.org/b2/im...

;-D

[Panthers]

Whatever helps you feel better about paying for a $60 add on.

[SupaPlaya]

if it really does help them feel better.

Fact is people will pay it if they want it. They 'll wait and buy it cheaper or not buy it at all if they don't. They're not forced to buy it as they can wait and buy it later.

I bought my 1st PS at $399, and bought a slim at $271 after tax and gave my first one to my little cousin. I didn't want to pay $599 for one when it first came out. But there are people who paid $599 and feel it is their best investment. So point here is to each their own, but to attack other people's decision to get what they want is wrong.

[MetalGearRising]

I wish we had Halo on ps3.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

I wish we had MGS4 on 360 :(

[kevinx1000]

MGS 4. the halo killer?

[Tinted Eyes]

I dont think it was really touted as the Halo killer, but reguardless its more critically acclaimed.

[kaz-hirai]

I wish we had killzone 2 on 360

;-D !!!

[Socomer 1979]

It's a work in progress.
It's not guaranteed to work right & it's your duty to report problems.
You are paying to be a beta tester. You have to pay for xbox live.

I make alot of jokes but alot of you guys are having my jokes fly right over your head.
Hello?! Is anybody there? Are people really this stupid or is mind control normal for Americans?

[artsaber]

Webster's definition of the word "stupid":

1 a : slow of mind : obtuse b : given to unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner c : lacking intelligence or reason : brutish
2 : dulled in feeling or sensation : torpid <still stupid from the sedative>
3 : marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting : senseless <a stupid decision>

4: You are paying to be a beta tester.

[Another One]

a 6-8 (maybe longer looking for audio logs) campaign, Firefight and three new maps (only 3 new for me; $10 value) for H3 multiplayer. Reach and anything else is just icing on the cake.

Bioshock- longer campaign, strictly single player (new engine) = 60 bucks

Uncharted- longer campaign and single player (new engine)= 60 bucks

ODST- Co-op campaign, co-op mode Firefight, extra content (H3 engine) = 60 bucks

ODST has more content and the others are built from new tech with less content. None of those are bad deals if you ask me. Then again, I'm not an asshole fanboy.

[Roper316]

that is pretty sad when you rely on a beta for a different game to sell a game in your consoles top franchise.

[Unicron]

Kind of insulting to Bungie, who deserves better. Shouldn't the fact that ODST is a good game in a solid franchise be enough? Way to show faith in the title MS.

Kinda supports the argument that the Halo name is more important than the product itself, like Star Wars.

[I am Legend]

What wrong with that ?

[Unicron]

They compare it to Crackdown... which ended up on store shelves pretty fast as trade ins. Which sucks, because Crackdown was good. I just think it's a tad insulting, especially considering that ODST was itself born as an expansion to extend the life of Halo 3's MP.

I just think the game should stand on its own merits and be credited for that, not based on some beta.

[I am Legend]

SO it's insulting for the game to last longer. They're offering the beta to make the overall package that much more appealing to both the fans and newcomers. I don't know where it says that the beta alone will sell ODST. The game by itself will stand on it's own merits. Bungie always makes good games.

I think it's the title.

Halo Reach beta WILL SELL ODST << makes it sound like they're just relying on that..

but they really said this...

"“The only way to access this beta will be through the Halo 3: ODST disc, so we feel there’s another extremely compelling reason for both fans and newcomers to the franchise to experience Halo 3: ODST."

[Unicron]

Very true. I just dislike it when good games are overlooked simply for access to some far off "big name" title.

[I am Legend]

the title of this article was made exactly for that purpose. I understand.

[Socomer 1979]

Too bad you can't add that to a real beta testers resume.
Beta testing is a job you are supposed to get paid for LOL.
You have to pay to use xbox live too! Ha ha ha ha!
I love it! I love how stupid microsoft makes people look.

Betabox!

Betas aren't demos retards.
It's not worth anything.

You are in a halo bubble. Don't let socomer 1979 pop it.
You have to keep believing that you're not a tool.

[SiteNblog Defender]

Smart business move.

[ApocalypseShadow]

first it was DLC with a lower price.

then they turned it to a full priced disc release.

the "GAME??" was already finished back in may which is unheard of being that "GAMES" usually go down to the wire before hitting disc and releasing to the public.

it has a beta to bait gamers into buying this "GAME???" like they did with crackdown.

just don't know what to say.it will obviously sell.but it's sad that it will under these circumstances.

does microsoft have any "GAMES" instead of releasing DLC like odst and gay tony but calling them games?what's going on over at microsoft?

[KingKionic]

Shadow...

In the article it Microsoft dint just`s say :

Halo Reach beta will sell odst "

Microsoft said :

“We saw the success of this mechanic with the Halo 3 multiplayer beta that came on the Crackdown game disc and the continued sales momentum and excitement generated around that title throughout its lifecycle, and we fully expect Halo 3: ODST to exceed that achievement

[Another One]

reading the misleading title is easier than actually reading what was said.

[DirtyLary]

all I gotta say is DUH.

Of course the beta is what's selling this game. Not 3 new maps plus everything kids already have with HALO3 map packs.

no one cares about single palyer Halo, it's all about he obsession with lvl 50 and the armour.

[I am Legend]

Yup !! Since you said it is fact !

LOL

[Mogabu]

But it's tough to take anything related to this seriously coming from someone with a friggin Halo helmet as their avatar and a related username. I smell a bit of SERIOUS fanboyism and in turn, wide eyed bias. As in, Halo and MS can do no wrong, ever ever, let me show how much I love them by using their avatar and making my name after them. Do you also wear the Halo Underoos and have the Tattoo?

[Another One]

Having a Halo avatar doesn't mean he's wrong. The guy he's talking to is a complete idiot. To say no one cares about the single player just shows how dumb this guy is. Everyone I know who is buying this game is buying it for the story and the new direction it's taking. I think the open city and the flashback way of telling the story is intriguing.

Firefight will also hold countless hours of fun. Anyone who think this game is only being bought for the Reach beta and the maps is lying to themselves. It's sad and a little bit funny.

And now I'm done commenting since you have to be a fanboy to have more than 4-5 bubbles.

[tha_meat_beater]

M$: "as a reward for catching the halo oSTD virus from the various forms of abuse we give you guys via turd tunnel($100 wi-fi,disc scratch,lost halo wars stats RROD....), we will be courteous and give you all a reach around.

Bots:"booooo that sucks"

M$:"ahem, sorry, a HALO REACH AROUND"

Bots:" yippie yeah your the, best M$"

[tudors]

are the ones who never played Halo and have no intention of ever buying an Xbox.

Quick question:

If a new game comes out on the PS3 that gives access to a Killzone 3 beta how many of you PS3 guys and Gals would openly come out and say they would not buy the game for it?

So you mean to tell me that Halo 3 ODST/All the Halo 3 maps/access to the Halo Reach Beta is not a good deal?

[bjornbear]

Anyone who wouldn't is silly. Who buys a game for a beta code? Get real.

Infamous is an AMAZING game...so yea

And i played Halo: Combat Evolved and...it was underwhelming, so =/ hey not everyone likes the same stuff.

[kingme71]

Bungie: "Yeah, we have this great idea for an add on to Halo 3, you know, just something to tide gamers over until Reach comes out. Maybe 3 or 4 hours, we can offer it as DLC and sell it for maybe $30.00"

MS: "What? This is Halo. Our bonuses depend on Halo!!! Toss in a few more levels, have them backtrack over some levels, bump it up to 6 or 7 hours of gameplay"

Bungie: "Ok, will that be enough"

MS: "Ummm... I got it, throw in the Halo 3 map packs too"

Bungie: "But don't Halo fans already own that?"

MS: "Who cares, we can sell 360 fans anything we want over again, look how many times they buy new 360's. Oh, Epic did that Horde mode thingie, do something like that too. Kids eat that stuff up."

Bungie: "Ok, but so then how much are we selling it for, $40.00...$50.00?"

MS: "Didn't you hear about the bonus part?!?! I got it. You need testers for Halo:Reach right? Make the gamers test it. Heck we'll toss that in the mix and charge full price. Holy smokes, forget the Bahamas, I'm going to Hawaii with this bonus."

Bungie: "Is it too late to work for Sony"

[BigKev45]

Halo FTW!

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

a Halo beta to help sell a Halo game why does it make me worried Halo 3 ODST what could possibly be the best Halo game ( Master Chief SUCKS.......... at Halo 3 ) be a disappointing game also corry fvck you you piss of sh!t f@gget @ss motherfvcker for using 1 of the greatest wrestler in wrestling history as part of your racist console war fanboism someone ban this sh!t eating motherfvcker. @ Halo Reach yeah right keep telling yourself that you retard

[mrblacknut]

Infamous says hello. Funny how contradicting people act when Sony tried this with a new IP vs an established series. Halo ODST would sale without the beta. The beta is just somthing extra icing on the cake with the new campaign from the ODST perspective and Firefight.

Haters gonna Hate.

[bjornbear]

Stands on its two feet w/ or w/o beta.

Hell, i got infamous n got no beta, made no difference to me =)

[kenpachi]

60 quid for a beta i got my Uncharted beta free..... and i cant believe corywebb spelt" US" wrong i thought you were religious you re suppose to love everyone you smelly hippy

[bjornbear]

Thats not something to be proud of =P

Hello Crack Down....deperate situations demand desperate acts =)

[Rowsdower]

and I really enjoyed that game and would have with or without the Halo 3 multiplayer beta. I'm currently in the Uncharted 2 preorder demo and that game is awesome, I really enjoy it. I just dont understand people putting others down for something they enjoy. Its a bit pathetic. One question about Halo Reach is it on a new engine?

[I am Legend]

It's the way people read the title. Some "people" like to make MS look like greedy fu*ks (which they really can be)...so when they read the title they'll say that MS is charging 60 bucks for the beta only and downplaying the game by itself. When in reality they're just saying it's another reason to own ODST.

"“The only way to access this beta will be through the Halo 3: ODST disc, so we feel there’s another extremely compelling reason for both fans and newcomers to the franchise to experience Halo 3: ODST."

Ohhh....From what I heard...Reach is being built from the ground up. ODST was built on top of the HALO 3 foundation.

[ShabzS]

http://www.gameguru.in/firs...

http://www.gameguru.in/firs...

and my personal favorite: http://haloreachinfo.com/mo...

[Mogabu]

No such thing as a "AAA Engine".. It's a AAA Game.. Engine. Get it? They are calling the title a AAA title before reviewers and the fanbase has declared it so. It's like a movie coming out claiming to be an Oscar winner before the Oscars have even come about. No such thing as a AAA engine though. It's nothing but marketing talk.

[Malebaria]

It´s kinda sad to see the industry going this way,well atleast for Microsoft´s part. Why can´t they just try and push Bungie to develop the best game they can?

[historianstonight13x]

Seems pretty sad that MS is relying on gimmicks to sell their games.

[Midgard228]

finish infamous and chuck it?

first off how bout just chuck the whole 2nd disc of odst since its maps that u already have if ur a halo fan with exceptionn of 3, even if u never bought theem they are all free now anyway. and IF u didnt have them then once u install new maps u chuck the disc

2nd u cud say same for odst's 1st disc, after getting bored of firefight unless they support it like nazi zombies.

sorry but if i cud i wud chuck all of halo 3's single player once i beat it just cuz it sucked IMO, 1st was the best.

u can say u like halo but u dont have to bash another game, u must be one of those people who only believe a game is good only if it has online.

so u think u shud trash ninja gaiden, ico, shadow of colossus, any jrpg, god of war, or fable because they r single player games, tsk tsk

[EastCoastSB]

You're right, there isn't anything wrong with that. Except the fact that you are PAYING just to test out a game.

[Halo_Reach]

UnCharted 2 - 10k

[Gun_Senshi]

Aion on PC has 3mil+ Pre Orders in USA, its coming same day as Halo

[Mo0eY]

ODST - 6.4/10
Uncharted 2 - 21/20

[FantasyStar]

Well I bought Halo 3 ODST (playing leaked copy: pre-ordered legitimate copy) and I believe Bungie should be supported. It may be an expansion, but for what I'm getting, (4-6 hour campaign, Firefight, 4 Player Co-op, All Halo 3 MP +DLC), I think I'm getting a good deal. I cannot remember how many times I replayed Halo 3's campaign over and over again, I feel like ODST will give me the same replay value, so I bought it.

Things like the Halo: Reach beta to me is just icing on the cake. Although I do understand how people can think of this as a "dirty MS move". I'm just glad I enjoy Halo 3 ODST enough, so I don't have to think like that.

[MetalGearRising]

I am quite sure if we had Halo for ps3 we wouldn't be in 3rd place because i'm still waiting for a game which will take our sorry asses out of 3rd place.........I'm fed up of being 3rd.

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

well buy a Wii than you retard

[Nintendo Wii]

WII IS BEAST!!!!
#1!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Midgard228]

MS admitted it haha.

im not paying for a demo, one that only last a few weeks, i'll wait for reach like everyone else, F u MS

[clintagious650]

The thing that ticks me off is how we seen a few early reviews that gave halo odst pretty low scores & if odst does turn out to be mediocre as early reviews are saying, wouldnt that really suck to pay $60 for an add on that is getting bad reviews?

As for tudors & leila about sony doing the same thing with killzone 3 or infamous. Theres a difference. First off infamous is a triple a game & uncharted 2 beta access was just an awesome bonus for buying a game that is already worth $60. The difference is UC2 isnt a big seller like any halo game & sony isnt trying to milk us with their best selling franchise like microsoft is doing with halo odst. Sad thing is halo odst will prolly go on to sell 8 to 9 million + copies & uncharted 2 will prolly sell 4 million at most & uncharted 2 will win all kind of awards & bring alot more to the table then halo odst but oodst will sell way more at the same price and offers way more less content & no awards. 360 only owners do yaself a favor & buy a ps3 aswell.

[BlackIceJoe]

I do think the Reach Beta will help sell ODST. But from what I have seen of ODST. I think the game looks great. I for one really hope ODST becomes its own series. Because it looks that good. The Halo Universe is a rich one. I for one really hope there will be another ODST version during the time frame of Reach. Plus to me ODST look like it should have a good story. So I for one can't wait to play the game and really hope there will be another ODST version some day.

[xb0x_trashie]

betabox360 always get the unfinished glitchy betas

beta test in.

[Father Murder X]

ODST would sell more than any SOny exclusive. I will reach Killzone 2 lifetime sales that day it is released!!

[TwistedMetal]

I cant believe they actually need a beta to get more sells for this title. this is telling you how far the halo franchis has fallen with the same gameplay and graphics as halo 1234, 1million. I never thought I would see the day when a non new ip with a big fan fallowing needs a beta to sell it. So everyone on x360 is gonna be in the beta lol. its gonna be the same gameplay as odst and halo 3 multi lol.

also who cares about sells when its for games that push no limits and have last gen graphics? I mean wii fit and sports sold double and triple what halo did lol. dont come in here with sells unless the game is pushing this gen limits.

[IQUITN4G]

These are exactly the same stupid arguments Crackdown had leveled at it and that turned out to be an excellent game

Don't some of you even think before commenting this rubbish

[Corepred4]

its sad to see all these people in here saying that ODST and Reach will sell just because of the Halo name. I remember when games would sell because they were good not just because of a name. I know its not all halo fans that say this but a lot of posts on here have said it. Just gives advantage to the developers to make a mediocre to good game and sell it for full price when they could have made an excellent game and sell it not just because of the title.

[tudors]

is not a AAA title yet?

[Mogabu]

Microsoft has announced their next system will be simply called the HaloBox. Halo, halo, halo! Plays nothing but Halo! Looks like a Halo! Smells like a Halo! Can't get enough Halo! Let's drive Halo straight into the ground! Buy one crappy Halo game, get a beta of another overhyped, crappy Halo game for FREE! We've got more Halo than you can shake a waggle stick at!

Seriously, isn't it about time to expand the 1st party library of the 360 a bit beyond the focus on one mediocre shooter? My mistake. Make that two mediocre shooters, I forgot about Gears of Snore. zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[Mogabu]

You guys still enjoying that RTS Halo game, Halo Wars? Yeah.. That's really eating up the charts. :/

Cmon face it, the 360 has little to nothing going on. Call a spade a spade for once.

[callahan09]

Well that seems a rather stupid thing to say. Nobody knows anything about Halo Reach. As far as we're concerned, ODST is the new and next Halo game. Reach is just some far-gone idea at this point, not very tangible at all. Why am I excited for Reach if I'm not excited for ODST? I don't think anybody is buying ODST just for the Reach beta.

[DraconicPanda]

LET HALO DIE ALREADY!!!!! PLEASE!!! all it is now is a after-school hang out for 12 year olds.

[m1ndz]

m$ knows their users are dumb enough to pay 60$ for a expansion pack and a beta "THAT SHOULD BE FREE" :)

[artsaber]

You are getting upset with PS3 fans for something that Microsoft is stating. How dumb can people be? I would've rather had Crackdown 2 instead of ODST. Crackdown is a hell of a game. If you need Halo Reach BETA to sell (supposedly full game) Halo ODST, then you may as well put a "Lame" sticker on the box.

Imagine a demo of GT5 on a GTP disc.... duh?! The funny thing is, many idiots will pay $60, not for ODST, just for access to the Reach Beta.

Are you guys TIRED of getting done dirty? I bet these are the only folks who will have Beta access... disclaimer changed to "Halo Reach Beta - ODST Purchase Required"

[BX81]

Look at all the droids hating! I guess some people forgot that Uncharted was put into Infamous. Plus InFamous wasn't that great of a game. Don't get me wrong it was pretty good over all and a good change of pace but it wasn't the bee's knees.

[Kakihara]

Microsoft is a fat Elvis waddling towards a toilet to take it's final dump.

[artsaber]

They still haven't got THAT right... so run out and get the MW2 special edition while they are still $400! Black and grey goes well with flashing red lights.

[Figboy]

technically, Beta's aren't supposed to be used as marketing tools, but things are the way they are.

what's silly is that, i'm sure people buying Halo don't need a Halo beta to sell them Halo.

if it was a beta for something ELSE, like, say Crackdown 2, or Mass Effect 2, or some other game like Alan Wake, maybe it would make a bit more sense.

the way it works is, you piggyback a known franchise's demo/beta to a "weak" title or new IP, and get sales that way.

Crackdown had the Halo 3 beta (for the record, i bought Crackdown for Crackdown, because it looked great. i never played the Halo 3 beta).

inFAMOUS had the Uncharted 2 beta (again, i bought inFAMOUS for inFAMOUS. my copy of the game didn't even COME with the Uncharted 2 beta. i ended up getting into the U2 beta a few months later by chance).

if anything, they should piggyback the Halo Reach beta with Alan Wake next year, or some such new IP that needs to get some attention.

piggybacking Halo Reach beta with, um, Halo 3: ODST seems extremely silly.

people are going to buy Halo 3: ODST because it's a new FPS Halo, and not a RTS. it doesn't need an infusion of more Halo to sell.

this generation will go down as one of the most backwards, retarded generations in all of gaming. the tactics, PR speak, and shenanigans are on a level i've NEVER seen in all my 30 years.

[Henry Cain]

Bull$h!t article M$ making a handheld they better make sure it works. I can imagine how big and noisy it would be. Hell M$ had problems with the Zune plus it looks like the first pager to come out in the 80's

[devilhunterx]

M$: We need HELL-O to sell HELL-O

[Neo604]

your kind is what make america the most hated country in the world.

this is america:
don't use nuke yet they are the only one in history use "atomic bomb"
on Japan. now they call it "dirty bomb" on CNN.

no biological and chemical weapon yet they use "agent orange" to poison the water in Vietnam.

that's your great honorable american.

[EVILDEAD360]

LMAO @ another Halo:ODST article driving PS3 trollicious fans absolutely bananas.

Anybody pretending that Reach is the reason that close to 2 million people will be playing ODST day one is in denial.

This ain't Infamous or even Crackdown this had blockbuster written all over it the day Bungie announced it.

The point the Halo haters missed by the Microsoft comment was that not only has this formula worked in the past, the inclusion of Reach adds additional marketing power around ODST deep into 2010.

Downplay it all you want, but the impending REACH beta will be a huge event next year.

But, just like I've said time and time again ODST is getting the amazing response I knew it would get from Halo fans around the world. Xbox Live will be on fire next week. Wait till the numbers come in, the trolls will be going beserk.

Life is good.

Evil

[Eamon]

But there are many other reasons too.
ODST campaign
Firefight
"Complete" Multiplayer

Sure, the price tag might not justify it but I don't mind so much since i know I will be fully enjoying this game.

[richie007bond]

Halo ODST IS A MUST BUY, day 1 for me. Its selling for £29 here in the UK, a bargain if you ask me..i spend more than that on the first hour of a good night out, then i wake up in the morning with a fooking thirst like the desert sands and a banging headache with nothing to show for it, so yeah £29 is pocket change for hours of Halo Maddness..bring it

[cheapndirty]

Even with out the Reach Beta I want it. I like the Halo story and want to see what happends to New Mombasa after Master Chief leaves. I always wondered what what so special about the guys in the all black suits and now I can see. Firefight will be alot of fun and it will be nice to have all of the maps for Halo 3 on one disk instead of my HDD.

I own about 500 games and feel comfortable saying that there are very few titles that are worth the 60.00 (comparatively). The controls will be top notch and the game is still pretty nice even with out precident setting graphics.

[Hiruu]

This is what was said:

"The only way to access this beta will be through the Halo 3: ODST disc, so we feel there’s another extremely compelling reason for both fans and newcomers to the franchise to experience Halo 3: ODST"

ANOTHER compelling reason...ANOTHER...if you're a fan of Halo and would like to get in on Halo Reach beta...get ODST. If you're not a fan of the Halo series...why would you get this game???

[IQUITN4G]

richie007bond

Exactly

The nature of ODST's design is going to provide a lot of fun over and over so yes just 30 quid is an absolute bargain

Like you say, it's better than p!ssing it away on some drunken night you can hardly remember anyway

I think it says a lot about how old most of you guys are that complain over ODST's price - 2 months pocket money for some i guess

Some people on here want just too much and moan when they actually have a perfectly great value game like we have in ODST

[IQUITN4G]

Look at all the disagrees flooding in on pro Halo comments, guys you really are f*cking hilarious

Sad but it does at least make it that much more obvious what the age group is

I really am too old though to even be commenting here and should know better what sort of mentality N4G attracts by now

[Another One]

Not only disagrees but taking bubbles from the pro Halo comments...in a Halo related article. Who would've ever thought there would be people who like Halo here, of all places.

There should be an older guy zone we can post in. It might be a little better. I'm only in the open zone because my 4 bubbles don't get me far. (I gotta stop trying to stop the fanboys, that's what happened to my bubbles)

[ps12&3lover]

SO THEY ARE USING HALO REACH TO SELL ANOTHER HALO GAME..IF A GAME IS GREAT THAN IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELL IT'S SELF..HOW MANY BULL SHYT GALO GAMES ARE COMING OUT?? DON'T YOU BOTS GET TIRED OF THE SAME SHYT YEAR AFTER YEAR..TALK ABOUT LACK OF VARIETY

[DelbertGrady]

Foot in mouth confirmed! lol! What a stupid thing to say. Makes me not want to get it out of spite.

[Goomba12]

Don't know about this one. My friends and I are going to try this one out but we are really waiting for Reach. ODST is just basically for sales this holiday as we HAVE to wait for the real next instalment.

[CAPT IRISH]

i dont think odst needs the reach beta to sell

[DuneBuggy]

I dont think so either,but its the perfect place to "advertise" the next big Halo game.
The headline is misleading from the actual article IMO.
Its implying a situation like the people who went to see some movie in the theaters a while back, JUST to watch a Harry Potter trailer and then leave.