Halo 3 demo rumor resurfaces


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http://uk.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entr...amp;tag=nl.e513

Halo 3 date, demo news coming?

Source: A tease in the weekly newsletter of developer Bungie and the subsequent fallout from gaming message boards.

What we heard: Halo 3. Just say the game's name and rumors begin flying. However, this time around, the latest rumors have some serious legitimacy. Developer Bungie is notorious at keeping a tight lid on its projects, but every once in a while it unloads a megaton of information.

On the company's most recent Weekly What's Update, which is posted every Friday, community manager Frank O' Connor says the following: "A bunch of stuff is going down to celebrate the fifth anniversary of a little game we like to call Halo... Next year, Halo 3 will conclude the story arc begun all those years ago and next week, we'll take a long lingering look at the series to date. There will also be some pretty BIG surprises and maybe announcements. Who can say?"

Naturally, this sent fans of the flagship franchise into a tizzy, with many speculating that news of the game's release date and demo would soon surface. While Halo rumors usually aren't nearly as sticky as a well-placed plasma grenade, these could very well be legitimate--all one needs to do is look at recent and upcoming events.

The news is likely to break in this week's Weekly What's Update, which (surprise!) is also the day the PlayStation 3 launches in North America. The timing for some big news makes perfect sense, with Bungie and Microsoft dangling a carrot in front of disappointed gamers who leave electronics stores empty-handed this weekend.

So what will this big news be? Chances are it could answer one of the biggest questions about the game--its release date. It's probably that Bungie will announce a release window--that is, summer 2007 or Q4 2007. Currently, the game has only a vague "2007" release date, though conventional wisdom has the game launching in November like its two predecessors.

As for the chance of a demo announcement, it's more possible than one might think. In addition to last month's Halo 3 demo rumor, the game's multiplayer portion has already been played by people outside of Bungie, indicating that some content is ready to go.

On a more conservative route, the least Halo fans should expect are the first real details, screenshots, and hopefully, gameplay video.

The official story: Microsoft rep--"We have nothing to announce at this time."

Bogus or not bogus?: Big news is definitely coming, likely some art assets and a release date. As for a demo? We have our trigger-fingers crossed.

Bungie Weekly Update
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Page 90 of the new EGM-

"all part of a demo the developer will open to 10,000 Microsoft employees-turened-playtesters in about a month."

They did this with halo 2 as well. Had an XBL beta with only microsoft employees.

As far as a demo for the mass populous, I dont see much of one being released before the game itself is released. If so, it would be more than likely very short and not reveal anything too much beyond what has already been revealed to the public. Its still to early IMO in the development stage to be releasing any type of major demo for the game. But then again I can always be wrong.

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I highly doubt a demo as most of the game is still in pre-to-early alpha stages.

But I'm sure there will be major announcements cince Bungie did say BIG surprises and Bungie never underdelivers. I think it's safe to assume that a rough release date (Nov 2007), gameplay videos, behind the scenes, etc etc will all be available on the Marketplace on or around the PS3's launch.

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There will be NO Halo 3 demo before it's released. If there ever is a demo, it will come out some time, as in, quite a while, after the release. Did Halo and Halo 2 even HAVE demos? I do not remember there being any demo at either of those games to date.

Microsoft doesn't seem to like to release demos of their most highly-anticipated games so they can keep building up the momentum all the way to the release. Have there even been any first-party games that had demos before their release other than that crappy Sudeku RPG (however you spell it)?

Edited by CrimsonBlur
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Microsoft doesn't seem to like to release demos of their most highly-anticipated games so they can keep building up the momentum all the way to the release. Have there even been any first-party games that had demos before their release other than that crappy Sudeku RPG (however you spell it)?

I think this has more to do with the fact that these highly-anticipated games will sell very good anyway, with or without a demo, so why bother.. right?

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If they released a demo before launch for games with a lot of hype, a lot of people would hold out day one purchasing to 'test the water', I can see why they do it from a business point of view.

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no demo? there weren't demos for Halo 1 and Halo 2 because there was no system in place to download them like there is now. Im not saying that there will be a demo but it is stupid to assume that because old games didnt have it that this game wont have it.

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Test Drive unlimited had a very early release demo that put me right off, apparently the final game is much better, but I couldn't care less. Alpha/beta demo = bad idea.

Releasing a pre-alpha build on Marketplace will likely cause far more problems than it's worth.

Off topic a bit, but it seems to me that all the emphasis on Halo 3 so far from launch detracts from Gears of War as much, if not more, than PS3

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There will be NO Halo 3 demo before it's released. If there ever is a demo, it will come out some time, as in, quite a while, after the release. Did Halo and Halo 2 even HAVE demos? I do not remember there being any demo at either of those games to date.

Microsoft doesn't seem to like to release demos of their most highly-anticipated games so they can keep building up the momentum all the way to the release. Have there even been any first-party games that had demos before their release other than that crappy Sudeku RPG (however you spell it)?

I don't remember having the ability to download demos directly to your xbox via xbox live marketplace during release of halo and halo 2 :rolleyes:

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I guarantee you there will be no demo. It's just not Bungie's thing. There was a demo for Halo 1 - I believe it came on an OXM disc, and on select other discs...it was the SP Level Silent Cartographer. This didn't come out until well after the game was released. There is no demo for Halo 2.

Can't wait for the news though.

Oh, and unless the game is going to be released Q1 next year, Bungie probably does not have a release date to tell anyone about yet.

-Spenser

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Too late to edit last post, but this seems very plausible:

Allow us to add even more fuel to the fire. Tomorrow, as most of you are no doubt aware, is Wednesday. Wednesday typically marks the release of a new Xbox Live Arcade title. Could Bungie have an Xbox Live Arcade title lined up for the anniversary of Halo? If they do, what better way to celebrate Halo's birthday than by releasing its spiritual prequel, Marathon? So there you have it. If Bungie releases Marathon on XBLA tomorrow, you heard it here first. If they don't ... well then why the hell were you listening to us in the first place?
Xbox360Fanboy.com

Either Marathan or maybe they bought the rights to that Flash-based Halo 1 game that some kid did? :)

Anyway... what time do Wednesday Arcade games usually make it on to the marketplace?

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Heh, I actually asked Bungie that question for a BWU a while back

Spenser asks,

Marathon and XBLA: is it at all possible?

Of course it's possible, it's just not on any current agenda. If it's any consolation, many, many people think it's a good idea.

http://nikon.bungie.org/bwu/index.html?item=76

Could be they caved in and converted it, but I kinda doubt it. Would be cool though.

-Spenser

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That's definitely reassuring, I think it may be the big surprise. We'll see...

Another possibility: They may be releasing that 20 sec SP gameplay footage that they showed EGM Staff. EGM was very impressed, they felt it had some next-gen feel to it and a wow-factor. I'm willing to bet this same video will be on the marketplace as part of their big announcement(s).

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Bungie posted a nifty little story a few hours ago, prefaced with this:

In this, the week celebrating the fifth anniversary of the release of Halo for Xbox, we asked a few of our media chums what they think about Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3 – and what they’re most looking forward to in the next installment. Oh and tomorrow? Boxors will be Roxored.

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=9181

Woot!

-Spenser

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Too late to edit last post, but this seems very plausible:

Xbox360Fanboy.com

Either Marathan or maybe they bought the rights to that Flash-based Halo 1 game that some kid did? :)

Anyway... what time do Wednesday Arcade games usually make it on to the marketplace?

Could be, but the announcement should be totally separate from Marathon. Frankie/1UP specifically stated that it's Halo 3 news.

Oh and it looks as if it should be revealed at 2am. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/745/745686p1.html

Not sure whether PDT or EST though.

Edited by Giga
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