Halo 3 denies mass market, won't move consoles?

Roger Ehrenberg of Information Arbitrage doesn't believe in the power of Halo 3. Speaking to Reuters, Ehrenberg expresses his belief that Halo 3 will not help the Xbox 360 bridge the gap between its hardcore-only audience and the mass market. We can't help but agree with Ehrenberg on this point as we discussed in the latest episode of the Fancast says the Xbox 360 Fanboy website.

[Boink]

I'll approve this, although I think he's way off.

halo, especially after halo 2's multiplayer has become a part of pop culture, much like GTA has. so people will want to play it just because everyone else is.

halo 3 will move consoles, and combined with the casual games out there for the 360, I think will give people reason to buy the 360.

[gta_cb]

i already know some people that are waiting for an Xbox 360 but wont get one til Halo 3 is released... oh does this mean hes wrong?... lol yeh i agree with you Boink he IS WAY off!

[omansteveo]

This guy has been living in a cave the last 5 years

[Blackmoses]

I have no desire what so ever to play this game....
I seriously doubt millions of people will buy the console just to play it, because everybody else is. In America at least, people are more intrseted into being individualist rather than follow the crowd. But even that has turned out to be a fad as well. I could be wrong I mean look at those god awful "CROCS" sandle/shoes everybody is wearing. I can't understand why anybody would want to wear those things, ecspecially a guy. Who knows....
Just won't see me playing it, I just don't see the appeal but more power to ya.

[P4KY B]

Every 360 owner will know someone whos waiting for this game before buying an Xbox 360.

[ben hates you]

yes i do know someone waiting

[Lyberator]

Theres at least 82 in my school. "Buying a 360 when halo 3 comes out."

[clownfacemcgee]

I'll have to disagree there, because Halo was the game that turned me towards hardcore gaming and made me buy an Xbox. I mean my friends and I were all total Pokemon addicts before, but that wasn't really a hardcore game, it was more mainstream really. I bought Halo because all my friends had Halo and played Halo, and I don't want to be the oddball non-conformist.and we all had massive LAN parties and lots of fun with it.

But this time is really different because Halo 3 is so hyped that anyone who's really interested in the game already has a 360. I think it looks awesome, but I don' have $400 plus $50 a year to throw down for a 360, just for 1 game. I did pay $600 for a PS3 and if you want to hear my spiel on why, pm me, but $400 plus $50 per year is a lot for 1 game, even if it looks pretty kool. Anyways, back to my point. Halo 3 is soooooooo hyped, OVER 24000 DEGREES!!! that people that are would buy a 360 for Halo 3, would've already bought one.

Back to me, I want to wait until 2 things happen for me to buy a 360. One is that they MUST fix the hardware problems. Even if it's really only 3% rate like Microsoft says, that's returns only I'd guess and so there'd be soem more people that passed the 1 year warranty, although not a lot for 1.5 years on the market. Also that probably doesn't include all the people that have their 360 freeze on them, but not actually red ring. That problem will hopefully be fixed with the new 65nm processors coming in the fall. And two is that they must drop the monthly fee for their live service, or drop the cost by enough to compensate for the money I'd lose through Xbox live. Also I'd want a $50-$75 drop for every year since launch (larger drops for the early years and smaller drops thereafter), since it has a shorter lifespan. Not really that unreasonable to want a it to be cheaper if it's been on the market longer or to want an online service at a competitive price (effectively zero, but maybe a $.50-$1 a month if they release competitive features, such as a home rival). I don't really consider the $200 cheaper price tag an advantage as it has less hardware, therefor less value.

Give me feedback or pm me if you want the spiel on why I gladly forked over $600 for a PS3.

[clownfacemcgee]

Sorry duplicate post, my internet sux atm. DAMN YOU QWEST!

[clownfacemcgee]

Duplicate post sorry, my internet sux atm, DAMN YOU QWEST!

[power of Green]

Halo turned casual gamers hardcore.

#4 i'm going to dissagree with #3

[Schmitty07]

I was never into videogames until I got an Xbox and Halo 2.

[IQUITN4G]

"In America at least, people are more intrseted into being individualist rather than follow the crowd"

I don't live in America but i somehow doubt this.

[clownfacemcgee]

I live in America and we are the biggest F***ing followers on the planet. YOU HAVE NO INDIVIDUALISM!!! I follow fads and stuff like myspace or HALO for instance. I wear jeans, not because they're comfortable, but because everyone else does. Almost everyone does all that crap, and it's normal to. I don't know about the rest of the world, but I would have an EXTREMELY hard time believing you're all individualistic. I'll guess I'll try to figure out about Europe on my first trip there this summer. =)

[drtysouf21]

from gamefly before i decide to buy them or not. I'm sure their are alot of people out there that do that also.

[B Man]

This game is hardly going to move consoles. Most halo fans already have a 360 because it's been a well known fact that it was coming eventually. It's also definately not a game catering to casual gamers. Sure they will want to check it out at their friends house, but who wants to buy a game for the multiplayer when they know they'll never play it enough to get better than their friends?

After Halo 2 I grew a strong hate for this series, the first one was great but it is a completely new game now. This 360 owner will be passing on Halo 3 and using that money for the much more original looking Assasin's Creed.

[Saint Sony]

If there is like 4 million preorders in America alone? I'm pretty sure some people will buy 360 just because of this one title.

Though, we have to remember all who are buying 360 also knows there will be many other great titles in the end of the year, including Bioshock to name one.

It is the total goodies that will move the most 360s but I'm sure Halo3 has a big part in it.

[Rockstar]

I've not been too impressed with Halo 3 thus far I do have a few friends that are buying a 360 just for halo 3.

I imagine there are a hell of a lot of people who are doing the same thing.

whether they will be disappointed or not remains to be seen.

[drtysouf21]

to see just how many copies it sells and also how many 360's are sold because of it.

[sumfood4u]

This guy is off his rocker if he doubt no new 360 will be brought on Sept. 25th. HALO=XBOX Cash Cow. This guy either lives in the Twilight Zone or in Mr.Rogers Neighborhood!

[alsef07]

i THINK HES ON CRACK

[carlman23]

I'm still pretty excited about the title. In 1up's latest 'Up Yours' podcast, they talked about how Halo 3 was going to have a new handicap multiplayer mode so that people can learn the mechanics of the game. People who consistently score better will be handicapped while the worst players will be given advantages. At least it's an idea to get people learning the ropes...

[Maddens Raiders]

but believing a fatcatting Wall Streeter's point of view on a "video-game", is not a trap in which I'll easily fall. Roger Ehrenberg? GMAFB. I mean isn't he supposed to be covering wars, or politics, or Paris Hilton or something? Leave the "analysis" to gamers buddy.

On video games: Analysts please go away.

Cheers

[omansteveo]

How do you get his Job...he gets paid to guess i wanna do that.

[Maddens Raiders]

say that this guy probably had pretty heavy connections to the publishing world being on the floor at Wall and Broad and shmoozing with NYC l33ts. To be honest he probably wasn't that good at trading and is doing the hardest thing to make easy money: talking about something which he obviously knows nothing about. People will pay for anything these days.

[solidt12]

Halo attracts very few casual gamers. It is mostly for the hardcore audience but the hype pulls in a few casual gamers who are curious, but once they play it they go back to whatever they usual play. Played the beta this weekend and wasn't too impressed but do enjoy playing it. I do have more fun playing resistance but that really isn't a fair assumption since this is just a beta. We will see when the final version come out. Either way I will be buying it.

[mcintosh233]

i know at least one mate who was a big halo fan and he'll be getting a 360 for it and it seems everyone else knows someone too so i gonna call bulls**t on this ANALyst guy.
get a butt plug you spoon

It kinda annoys me all these guys who think because they are more "financially educated" thus have a higher opinion than everyone else. I went to uni to do Business and i'd say the bollocks i talk is the same bollocks as before. As in just as much a random guess as anyones when it comes to essentially pub talk, which this guy is making a career out of.

[Odion]

wait wait wait

Wouldn't this mean that both MGS4 AND FFXIII aren't going to move consoles cause

A) there not built for casual gamers

and

B) PS3 owners knew about these games since 2005 so everyone who wants it must already have a PS3.

that writers logic is flawless!

[gnothe1]

this guy saying Halo 3 wont move console is just as bad as saying that MGS4 wont move consoles. people like this should just stick to reporting news or something an leave videogames to videogamers.he doesnt have a clue!

[Douglasp]

1 brother and 2 other relatives from my wife side that are getting a 360 when Halo 3 comes out. Those same guys still play Halo2 multiplayer to this day. And yes they are casual gamers cause all they play are sports and halo only. So yes Halo 3 will sell some systems and for those who dont like Halo 3 their will be GTA a month later and if x360 drops in price by the fall they will sell even more. Nuff said.

[omansteveo]

I work at a gamestop and i here it all the time "I'm buying a 360 when Halo 3 comes out."...people bought 360's just to play gears of war..this guy doesnt have a clue seriously.

[One]

there are a lot of halo fans out there
that already bought a 360 just for halo 3
but there are also still a lot of
halo fans waiting till it comes out to buy
a 360. and knowing how popular halo is,
when its released its going to be massively
advertised and people that dont have 360s will
see a commercial or something and be interested
enough to buy a 360. so no matter what its going
to sell some 360s
1

[rusgreim]

... because he underestimates the power of the trilogy. While countless players play Halo simply for its multi-player awesomeness, an equal number of players froth at the mouth for the stimulating and engaging single player. Players who enjoy that aspect will likely shell out at least the $299 to see how the chief finishes the fight.

[WILLdaBEAST321]

because I know a ton of people that still play only Halo 2. They didn't see a reason to purchase a 360 because all they wanted to do was play that. Now that Halo 3 is 360 only, they will be forced to switch over

[Balance]

me too, i know 3 people i work with who are waiting for halo 3 to buy a 360.

[BitbyDeath]

meh ignore this

[Contra26]

Nex Gen gaming.

Halo 3
Gears of War 2
Forza 2
Mass Effect

Xbox Live.

This is next Gen gaming

[BIadestarX]

This is like saying that Metal Gear will not help sell PS3 consoles.
If games don't sell consoles then what does?

[LoydX-mas]

Look at the Wii and the PS2

[Maddens Raiders]

I must say that you're avatar makes me LOL everytime I see it. Superb. Keep posting.

Cheers

[The BS Police]

Let me point out that Halo is a game for both hardcore and casual gamers.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

And with only half of them playing on the 360, yeah I think this guy smokes to much weed. Killer apps = system sellers always have and always will.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Well throw away those darn 4 million reservations that was anounced last month.

[LoydX-mas]

-That predicted the PS3 would outsell all it's competitors

-The Wii won't sell anything:)

[Uganda64]

"Millions of Halo fans can't be wrong"
Well millions of people thought the world was flat too.
"4 million pre-orders"
No...that was never confirmed, and would be ridiculous. This person would at least take that into consideration, no matter how stupid we make him out to be.
"Halo is a part of pop culture"
Really doubt it. It has almost zero appeal outside of America, unlike other killer apps such as GTA, Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid.

HOWEVER.
He's wrong. Halo is one of the few Xbox games with huge mass market appeal in America. It won't make 360 into a casual console. IMO nothing will, that's the reputation it has. Halo will sell millions and will move hundreds of thousands of consoles like Halo 2.

[BitbyDeath]

I couldn't have put it better myself

Bubble for you

[WilliamRLBaker]

Only millions thought the world was flat? um...yeah i'm pretty sure back when they thought the world was still flat...there was atleast a billion or more people in the world, and most of them thought it was flat.

Halo 3 isn't part of pop culture? so you mean because it doesn't appeal to other countries (its big in europe like america) doesn't mean its not part of pop culture? If its big in america then its part of American pop culture, and if its big on europe then its part of pop culture there too.

Just because it doesn't appeal to the entire world doesn't mean its not part of pop culture, I mean Celeberty watching is big in america and its part of pop culture, yet its not big in other countries.

Jumping off a wooden tower with vines stapped to your legs is part of the culture of one tribe, so because its not big in the rest of the world its not part of culture?

Pop culture is culture when it comes down to it.

[chrno6]

Halo3 is soooo overated seriously. While it is good, it's just not that GREAT of a game. Well, I guess Americans really like their fps, considering that this game doesn't appeal to asians and possibly Europeans

[The BS Police]

Seriously, Halo is not huge in Japan... but to say it doesn't appeal to asian people is boardering racism in my view.

[bootsielon]

is not rated M for Mature. Halo is also an FPS, which is less popular than RPGs and 3rd person action games are for the mainstream. Sure, Halo is still popular, but if FPS were all that, the first Xbox would have had the installed base of the PS2.

Halo 3 will move consoles because a lot of fans have been waiting for that game, but it won't be a PS3 killer, and it won't be the sole factor Xbox 360 sells; there's the arcade, VOD, GTA4, and a few other extremely hardcore games.

For a PS3 killer, you need way more than a Halo; you need a brand killer (impossible to kill Sony on that one), you need a Blu-ray killer (too hard for HD-DVD, EVD, or VOD to do it right now), a cell-killer, and a diverse line-up; all that against Sony having almost nothing. You need all odds in favor of the 360, and against the PS3, which is unlikely.

[mcintosh233]

sony is doing that themselves with such a ludicrus price

[Shadow Flare]

Halo 1 & 2 didn't move enough consoles. And Halo 3 is too similar to Halo 2. Sure Halo 3 is fun. It's fun because its Halo 2. With a slight lick of paint and a handful of new equipment

If Halo 3 doesn't look like MS's 'Starry Night' CGI trailer then im gonna be very disappointed. At least sony's games look close to their trailers

[WilliamRLBaker]

Really and your pulling that idea out of where? let alone halo 1 and 2 we're both major contributing reasons for xbox to get 2nd place last gen instead of last, Halo 2 ranked up with most popular MMOrpgs in terms of multiplayer hours and games played.

[The True Gamer]

I mean come on, the 360 is going to sell more systems this fall, regardless. GTA IV anybody, I mean people do not realize the importance of Microsoft getting GTA IV. Let me shed some light. Most African Americans I know exspecially in the urban communities like sports games, Racing, and Shooting. And they love GTA games. When it comes out this fall, they are going to want it by any means. They can get it for $360, $460 or $660 to play it. There not going care about blue ray, or HDTV, or even online stuff. They are going to want to play GTA IV. That when those 360's are going to be flying of the self. Plus there are a ton of other games that are coming out this fall that will sale 360's. Trust me it going to be a good Fall for Microsoft.

[Odion]

Ok now t retort a lot of the banter.

1. Halo is apart of pop culture there are hundreds of flash movies about it, its in shows, the news had like a 1 week blitz on the release of Halo 2, and CNN already has stuff on the BETA.

2. The rating of the game has NOTHING to do with how mass market it is look at GTA.

3. Halo 1 and 2 moved a ton of consoles halo 1 was called the 400 dollar game because people were buying Xbox's just to play it.

4. You don't need a Blue Ray killer because the public has spoken and they don't care for either next gen player.
The Cell is not a mass market selling point so throw that out the window, and this fall the 360 has an amazing lineup of games from almost every genre.

[pilotpistolpete]

OK, there are a few things here

a) Its some guy's opinion. He is entitled to think what he wants.

b) Yes, many are holding out for H3 before buying a 360. Thats a fact. The question is : How many?

and finally

c) The 360 already has a large lineup of fps that appeal to h3 "type" players. Maybe if Gears of War and others didnt come out, then the 360+H3 combo would be more significant. But if you are a h3 fan, you probably are a gears of war fan, and thus bought the console with it. Now dont get on my case about the finer points between Halo and Gears of War: they are both action shooters in which you are a mighty military man fighting invading aliens. Sure the game play is different, but the fact still remains that a halo fan is probably a gears of war fan.