2008 Woodie Awards
Success with a cord: a Bungie cord
The Xbox doesn't call for a hero; it calls for a savior in Halo II
Paul Davis
Issue date: 10/21/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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November 9, 2004. The very date gives many gamers chills as they remember splattering blood upon walls. Others look in confusion, unaware that the males they hold dear to their hearts are about to disappear. Peter Moore, the head of Xbox Game Studios, got a tattoo because of this date. It's the release date of one of the most anticipated video game sequels: Halo II.
Halo, developed by Bungie Software, was based on a war in the far off future. The humans discovered an alien life form known as the Covenant, alien religious fanatics that believe humans go against their dogma. Humans, just before the first meeting with the Covenant, created super-soldiers called Spartan IIs. After earth outfitted the soldiers for the new threat, the Spartan IIs obliterated the alien race. However, the Covenant still pushed the humans back almost to earth. This is where the game begins.
Master Chief is the name given to you as you run around a beautifully mapped environment, with beautiful controls, and beautiful enemies. You almost find yourself admiring the corpses as you wade through them. Still, Halo II is bound to make the AI, graphics, plot, and overall game of Halo look like another memory on Bungie's incredible record of first person shooters.
Within the last month, Electronics Boutique (EB) had sold more copies of one game, Fable, than any other game ever. In fact, in its release week it grossed more than the number one box office hit, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Fable's got nothing on Bungie's gravy train.
The game is already nearing the point where all available copies are reserved. With Xbox releasing such horrible games in the past, and with the system being a loss for Microsoft thus far, financially, this game is very much needed to jump start the dying pulse of the Xbox.
The madness doesn't stop there. There is a special edition set for the hardcore fans. Halo II is being released in a metal container complete with DVD bonus footage and some concept art for an extra five dollars, added to the already $50 cost.
Halo, developed by Bungie Software, was based on a war in the far off future. The humans discovered an alien life form known as the Covenant, alien religious fanatics that believe humans go against their dogma. Humans, just before the first meeting with the Covenant, created super-soldiers called Spartan IIs. After earth outfitted the soldiers for the new threat, the Spartan IIs obliterated the alien race. However, the Covenant still pushed the humans back almost to earth. This is where the game begins.
Master Chief is the name given to you as you run around a beautifully mapped environment, with beautiful controls, and beautiful enemies. You almost find yourself admiring the corpses as you wade through them. Still, Halo II is bound to make the AI, graphics, plot, and overall game of Halo look like another memory on Bungie's incredible record of first person shooters.
Within the last month, Electronics Boutique (EB) had sold more copies of one game, Fable, than any other game ever. In fact, in its release week it grossed more than the number one box office hit, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Fable's got nothing on Bungie's gravy train.
The game is already nearing the point where all available copies are reserved. With Xbox releasing such horrible games in the past, and with the system being a loss for Microsoft thus far, financially, this game is very much needed to jump start the dying pulse of the Xbox.
The madness doesn't stop there. There is a special edition set for the hardcore fans. Halo II is being released in a metal container complete with DVD bonus footage and some concept art for an extra five dollars, added to the already $50 cost.