Microsoft source: ‘Halo 2 is ready – withheld for Xbox Live subscriptions’
Twin Snakes to take on Halo 2 as faux-slippages dishearten gamers.
According to one Microsoft Game Studios source, Halo 2 is in a stage “...more advanced than Halo was when it was released”, but is being held up in order to scoop Xbox Live repeat subscriptions.
Speaking to us yesterday, we were assured that “...the game is almost complete. Let’s just say that it could definitely be out for Christmas but may not meet the November 15th date to capture American re-subscriptions and may hit as late as mid-December.”
So what would the problem be with that, we asked.
“A month is seen as too long and may miss the frenzy anticipated for the game. They think it’s better to wait until the European first-round subs are up for renewal. There is a general feeling that European gamers need more coaxing to either subscribe to [Xbox Live] or refresh their orders, whereas Americans will just carry on whatever happens.”
We are by no means staking anything on this being true. We were told this yesterday and decided to share it with you, given the source of the claim.
However, it does make a certain amount of sense. If you are an early adopter of Live, you’d get four months of fresh play on Halo 2 online before your subscription was up for renewal. And when you’ve hammered it for four months, and you have to make the decision, what massive online game will Microsoft be able to pull out for the bag to tempt you? You’ve already had Halo 2, and more than likely played it to death… Again, it makes sense…
In other news breaking today, several US retail sources are pointing towards Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes being pushed right back to March 5, 2004. This would cannily pre-empt the March 26 date set for Halo 2 and spawn a must-have, hardware sales-accelerating title into the market at a crucial point.
Perhaps we’re paranoid. But just because we know we’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not up to no good, making plans that we don't know about, eh? Eh!?
No matter. We hope to bring you direct clarification of this matter when we sit down exclusively with both J Allard and Ed Fries of Microsoft next week. Stay tuned.
Speaking to us yesterday, we were assured that “...the game is almost complete. Let’s just say that it could definitely be out for Christmas but may not meet the November 15th date to capture American re-subscriptions and may hit as late as mid-December.”
So what would the problem be with that, we asked.
“A month is seen as too long and may miss the frenzy anticipated for the game. They think it’s better to wait until the European first-round subs are up for renewal. There is a general feeling that European gamers need more coaxing to either subscribe to [Xbox Live] or refresh their orders, whereas Americans will just carry on whatever happens.”
We are by no means staking anything on this being true. We were told this yesterday and decided to share it with you, given the source of the claim.
However, it does make a certain amount of sense. If you are an early adopter of Live, you’d get four months of fresh play on Halo 2 online before your subscription was up for renewal. And when you’ve hammered it for four months, and you have to make the decision, what massive online game will Microsoft be able to pull out for the bag to tempt you? You’ve already had Halo 2, and more than likely played it to death… Again, it makes sense…
In other news breaking today, several US retail sources are pointing towards Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes being pushed right back to March 5, 2004. This would cannily pre-empt the March 26 date set for Halo 2 and spawn a must-have, hardware sales-accelerating title into the market at a crucial point.
Perhaps we’re paranoid. But just because we know we’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not up to no good, making plans that we don't know about, eh? Eh!?
No matter. We hope to bring you direct clarification of this matter when we sit down exclusively with both J Allard and Ed Fries of Microsoft next week. Stay tuned.
Games:
Halo 2
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