Happy Halo Day

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the release of the manliest console ever released, the Microsoft Xbox. It was so incredibly manly, it launched with a manly giant controller, came in all black (the manliest color), and shooter called Halo. The manliness of this game was diminished upon the release of the sequel 3 years later, when online play revealed the vast majority of players to be terribly immature pre-teens with a penchant for inappropriate language.
Blah Blah Blah started on Apple, Blah Blah Blah Xbox Live, Blah Blah Blah Halo 3. There, now you know the history.

Anyway, here is the important news: Bungie.net has announced a Halo 2 will get 2 new mulitplayer maps in the spring, available exclusively through Xbox Live Marketplace on Xbox 360. Now might be the time to upgrade, kids. I’m going to go out on a limb that they’re both maps that will show up in Halo 3 as well, as the idea of them building new maps 2 and a half years after the game’s release and so soon before the sequel borders on lunacy unless they were going for both.

Additionally, a PUBLIC BETA has been announced for Halo 3 Multiplayer. Why in the world would they do this? The complaints about Halo 2 were mostly fanboy whining. I certainly hope that comments don’t derail weapon balance and its instead used to test features rather than gameplay.

EGM’s 3 week Halo 3 Blowout is nearly over. I still haven’t gotten my subscriber copy. What gives Ziff-Davis Publishing? Mail it NOW.

thanks Max Con!

Update! 1up has posted a large screen gallery of hi res captures from the EGM issue. Halo 3 Mutiplayer screens.