Mythic Map Pack: Drops 2009

[D_Litch]

Unreal Tournament has the blessing of user-created content and mods. Halo's only life-extender is map packs. I was mainly addressing your point of saying they were milking the franchise, and trying to point out the difference between milking and fan support. The fans will get bored of the same maps over and over, but Bungie doesn't have the luxury of user-created content, so the job of extending lasting appeal is purely their job.

Ninja Gaiden Mission Mode is milking money from people, Halo 3 map packs are simply support for the Halo fans.

[KEEZY]

This game has nipples, Greg. Can you milk it?

[Wondermonkey]

I've never understood why people feel forced to buy map packs, or why they believe the term "milking" fits that practice. But anyone who thinks that these maps were any more than thoughts in Bungie's mind at Halo 3's launch clearly doesn't understand the development process.

Having the chance to play Assembly (even in its early stage) just reminds me how exciting new Halo 3 maps are. I'm all for them, obviously, but no one is forced to purchase map packs. Your online gaming experience will be the same even if you don't buy them.

[Quo]

Here's my thought:

If gameplay is broken (like, say, thousands of grenades being lobbed into spawnpoints from across a map a la CoD4, or not being able to form a reasonable party BF2:MC) no map pack is going to be4 worth any additional cost. However, if you've created a great product that people enjoy, there's nothing wrong with charging for additional content.

Halo 3 isn't perfect. But it's darn good. I'll pay for new maps. I mean it'd be great if they were free... but I'm still enjoying the original game I paid $60 for a year ago. When you talk about bang for buck, no other game comes close really. The only one I can think of is Rb6:V2. But when you consider that Rb6:V2 is essentially a dressed up Rb6:V1 from a year earlier, dressed up... who's milking?

[Thornes70]

I never bought any of the other Halo maps, and I've had fun with what I have. Granted, I'm not a Halo fanatic like some of you, but I can see the value of extra maps. Like Quoglo pointed out, it's all about the value you get out of them. For me, it's GRAW2 maps. I still get plenty of satisfaction out of the extra maps and gametypes the extra dlc content brings to the game.

[WILTRON]

For the reasons identified by Dlitch and WMonkey, Bungie would be doing their millions of fans a disservice by NOT providing new maps once in a while. Why people are bothered by it is beyond me.

If you don't play Halo enough to warrrant purchasing the maps, why would you care? If you do play Halo enough, you should be happy about it.

I honestly don't understand the people that think they all should be free. You bought what was on the H3 disk for $60. Additional content for $7-$10 bucks a pop every few months is a bargain considering the talent and resources involved in creating and integrating them into the matchmaking system.

[Peench]

To put this into old school gaming perspective - didn't expansion packs in PC games cost about the same price as a new game - or maybe $30 or so? I understand perhaps they were perhaps more extensive and added more SP to the game, but adding to games has been around forever. The pricing is the only thing to have changed and it seems to have gone down.

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by Peench

To put this into old school gaming perspective - didn't expansion packs in PC games cost about the same price as a new game - or maybe $30 or so? I understand perhaps they were perhaps more extensive and added more SP to the game, but adding to games has been around forever. The pricing is the only thing to have changed and it seems to have gone down.

We paid roughly $423 American Dollars for the first Pong Map Pack. But it was worth it.

[Peench]

I love costs adjusted for inflation.

[KEEZY]

Ya know, I was thinking about these Mythic maps. Are we sure all 6 of them will hit in the same pack? Also, I wonder if they'll also be included on the Recon disc... and what other maps will be included. If they include them on the Recon disc, that would be a way of doing what Bungie has historically done; have maps for pay early, and then give them away for free later. Coming on the disk would make them "free", no?

[KEEZY]

Via this week's Weekly Update Q/A:

FordCalvin asks:
Will the mythic map pack be prised higher due to it having 6 maps?

Why make so many assumptions, it only makes an…

Now that really makes me think there may not be 6 maps at once. His question is the price of the map pack, with the assumption that it has 6 maps. They could just be dicking with us.

Six at once would be hectic. A sweet, sweet hectic, but hectic nonetheless.

[Steelhead]

Originally Posted by Quo

Here's my thought:

If gameplay is broken (like, say, thousands of grenades being lobbed into spawnpoints from across a map a la CoD4, or not being able to form a reasonable party BF2:MC) no map pack is going to be4 worth any additional cost. However, if you've created a great product that people enjoy, there's nothing wrong with charging for additional content.

Halo 3 isn't perfect. But it's darn good. I'll pay for new maps. I mean it'd be great if they were free... but I'm still enjoying the original game I paid $60 for a year ago. When you talk about bang for buck, no other game comes close really. The only one I can think of is Rb6:V2. But when you consider that Rb6:V2 is essentially a dressed up Rb6:V1 from a year earlier, dressed up... who's milking?

I agree with all of that. There have been a lot of great games released for the 360 but this is the one that truly keeps me coming back, so I'm definitely willing to continue paying for fresh maps.

[kol kavs]

I was able to get this directly off of Bungie.net. Figured it would be the best way to answer your questions.

Is there a multiplayer component to Halo 3: Recon?

There are multiplayer maps that will appear as a part of the Halo 3: Recon package. This includes the aforementioned Mythic Map Pack in addition to a few others. You can also experience the entire Recon campaign cooperatively with up to 4 players.

Will we get to play as ODSTs in multiplayer now?

No. The multiplayer maps included with the retail package are straight up Halo 3 multiplayer maps. The ODST and other components that make up the Recon campaign are in a separate bucket and not crossing over into the competitive multiplayer realm. Think of it as two games in one.

Will the Halo 3 : Recon multiplayer maps work with "regular" copies of Halo 3?

If you purchase the Mythic Map Pack early next year via Marketplace and your friend waits and gets them with the Halo 3 : Recon retail package next Fall, you can still play together. The multiplayer maps are all part of the Halo 3 "title ID" family, regardless of where or how you get them

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by KEEZY

Via this week's Weekly Update Q/A:



Now that really makes me think there may not be 6 maps at once. His question is the price of the map pack, with the assumption that it has 6 maps. They could just be dicking with us.

Six at once would be hectic. A sweet, sweet hectic, but hectic nonetheless.

Bungie has a history of releasing maps by the threes, it maybe better to assume that is what is going to happen. It may be in stages, or it may be three pay, three free. Who knows. We'll have to wait and see. I'm excited to have new ones though, that's for damn sure.

[KEEZY]

Good call on the 3 free. That would certainly settle the rage of the internets. Free remakes would be more than acceptable.

After re-reading what kavs posted, it seems like you could potentially "save" by waiting for Recon to drop, since it appears it will include the new map packs. Crazy. This is all ****ing crazy!