Halo Deluxe Edition

**Michael Bluth** · 11-12-2003, 01:58 PM

Halo Deluxe - Microsoft's secret weapon for Christmas?
by GamesIndustry.biz

Speculation over a major announcement which Microsoft has pledged to make on November 15th, the second anniversary of the Xbox launch date, points to the launch of a new version of Halo with Xbox Live support.

A number of different rumours have circulated regarding the announcement, including the rather unlikely possibility that the launch of Halo 2 - currently scheduled for 2004 - might actually be pulled forward to Christmas.

However, a member of the Bungie development team moved to quash such rumours, stating that "I can confirm with absolute certainty that Halo 2 is NOT coming out in 2003," going on to question what "possible benefit" there would be in a launch shrouded in such secrecy.

What does seem entirely possible, however, is another rumour circulating about the announcement - namely that on November 15th Microsoft will roll out a new version of Halo, branded as Halo Deluxe Edition, which will feature online multiplayer capabilities over Xbox Live for the first time.

This speculation gains credibility from the appearance of a Prima Official Strategy Guide for Halo Deluxe Edition on the publishing company's website, with a launch date of December 2003 - an embarrassing mistake by Prima if they turn out to have blown Microsoft's surprise, but surely a pointer that MS has something Halo-related in the works.

An online version of Halo would make sense. The game already enjoys significant popularity online through the unofficial Xbox Connect tunnelling software, which fools Halo into believing that other systems on the Internet are actually on a LAN with it, but this connection can be unreliable and laggy at times. The launch of Deluxe Edition - which would presumably arrive at a budget price point - would also be a perfect opportunity for Microsoft to bundle a demo of Halo 2, building anticipation of its biggest 2004 title even further.

We'll know for sure in three days when Xbox celebrates its second birthday in the USA.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=53739

Link to Prima's strategy guide: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/d...=0-7615-4521-2

And on EBGames.com: http://ebgames.com/ebx/product/240221.asp

TEH MEGATON!1!1!!!!11!

***Dorbin*** · 11-12-2003, 04:21 PM

That would rock hard, if only I had a broadband connection at the house. Screw my stupid parents.

**japand00d** · 11-12-2003, 07:46 PM

So what exactly is it?

Oh wait wouldn't this be like "Halo 1.5" that they said wasn't going to come out?

**Gunpei** · 11-12-2003, 07:52 PM

I hope they release an expansion pack for Halo PC.

**Haris** · 11-12-2003, 09:08 PM

^ Why would they do that? Halo PC was an expansion of Halo Xbox.

And this sounds good. But I'm not going to buy another Halo.

**C.J.** · 11-12-2003, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by Ixion

And this sounds good. But I'm not going to buy another Halo.

Bingo. I don't even play Halo on XBConnect, so screw shellin' out another $50 for just a possible demo, which I could rake up off of Ebay or one of my sucker friends.

**speed stick** · 11-12-2003, 10:48 PM

If I had an xbox, I would still not get this. I hate that how you have to pay for live.

***Dorbin*** · 11-13-2003, 12:04 AM

$50 for a year of unlimited online play for all games is cheap.

Also, Halo Deluxe would be at a budget price point...did you guys read the article? That means $19.99 more than likely.

**Notedog** · 11-13-2003, 12:08 AM

Like I said before, the second I see a price drop, I'll grab the Xbox in a second.

***Dorbin*** · 11-13-2003, 12:17 AM

Good move. Very good move.

**Michael Bluth** · 11-13-2003, 12:31 AM

I'd say $29.99 would be more realistic, and sell all the current stock of original Halo's for $19.99.

**Shayde** · 11-13-2003, 12:39 AM

That game bundled with a 6-month subscription Live would be awesome. I'd buy it for $50. Also, once the 6 months runs out, Halo 2 will be released/near release so it will make people want to subscribe again.

**Haris** · 11-13-2003, 01:30 AM

Maybe GameStop or EB will have a trade in deal when/if it comes out...

**DLX** · 11-13-2003, 02:01 AM

It could still be some guy just trying to make up a reason why people should stop thinking Halo 2 will come out just to make it a surprise again.

**Dahg** · 11-13-2003, 02:28 AM

Hey, I bought a PS2 for one game, and I'll buy an Xbox for one game.

Once that one game is announced, I'll let you know.

***Dorbin*** · 11-13-2003, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dahg

Hey, I bought a PS2 for one game, and I'll buy an Xbox for one game.

Once that one game is announced, I'll let you know.

And what game was that (for the PS2)?

**Michael Bluth** · 11-13-2003, 06:28 PM

Sorry to crush your dreams Halo fans, but don't kill me -- I'm just the news bearer, albeit of bad news...

Just the other day, reports had been running rampant about a possible re-release of Halo with Xbox Live support called Halo Deluxe. Today Microsoft flat-out denied that a newly revised edition of Halo is coming, thereby crushing the hopes of tons of Halo addicts across the U.S.

One of the main factors that contributed to this rumor was the discovery of a pre-release announcement for a Prima strategy guide entitled "Halo Deluxe Edition," which as it turns out is simply nothing more than a revised Halo guide that includes new content and a DVD featuring Halo 2 footage and concept art.

So now that you're thoroughly disappointed, possibly even enraged, you still don't know what is going to happen on November 15th now do you? Well, according to retail sources Microsoft intends to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Xbox console by doing something on November 15th, and that Halo got caught up in these rumors because MS finally plans on making its best-seller featuring Master Chief a Platinum Hit, meaning it will sell for only $20 (some warehouses even cleared out original Halo stock to prepare).

However, this isn't necessarily the real answer to the November 15th puzzle. What is then? Apparently many sources are pointing to the announcement being nothing more than a new bundle for the U.S. A bit disappointing, eh?

http://microsoft.gamerfeed.com/gf/news/4719/

Hopefully they're just pulling the wool over our eyes....

**japand00d** · 11-13-2003, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Dorbin

$50 for a year of unlimited online play for all games is cheap.

Also, Halo Deluxe would be at a budget price point...did you guys read the article? That means $19.99 more than likely.

Dood XBL only comes with a year of online play, it costs money after that...