MS defends full-price for Halo: ODST

By Robert Purchese Published 12 June, 2009

It's now "much more than an expansion".

Microsoft has defended the decision to charge top whack for Halo 3: ODST, despite Bungie originally promising a cheaper price to offset a short story campaign.

"At the time of those statements, the overall scope of Halo 3: ODST was not yet finalised, and since then the project has grown increasingly more ambitious. We believe this standalone experience is much more than just an expansion," Microsoft told Joystiq.

"Halo 3: ODST provides a new campaign from the point of view of an entirely new character. Combine that with three new multiplayer maps, the entirely new cooperative mode called Firefight, and the complete Halo 3 multiplayer collection on a standalone disc, we feel this is a good value and tremendous addition to the Halo franchise."

We've asked Bungie for comment.

Halo 3: ODST arrives on 22nd September exclusively for Xbox 360. Bungie was on hand at E3 to show the game, demonstrating an early portion of the campaign on-stage at Microsoft's platform holder keynote address.

There, Bungie and Microsoft also revealed Halo: Reach, a top-secret first-person shooter project for release during autumn 2010.

Head over to our E3 hands-on impressions of Halo 3: ODST to see what's in store.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 3 years ago

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  • Bitkari #1 3 years ago

    Translation:

    It's more Halo. We can probably get away with charging full price on this one.

  • Eraysor #2 3 years ago

    +1 to Bitkari.

    Significantly less likely to purchase this one now, at least until the price drops. I don't have the map packs that have already been released, but if I did it would be even worse value for money.

  • nickfernando #3 3 years ago

    Hmmm... The HALO campaigns were always quite short. If this has got the same quality of previous releases then I suppose it's fair enough. I believe that what's going to make this a tougher ship to sail is that they initially announced it was an expansion and apart from putting in the new mode and all the previous mp maps (that probably most day 1 purchase fans will no doubt have) I can't see how the scope has changed significantly. Even the two new weapons are silenced versions of existing weapons? Then again a lot of follow ups tend to be more of the same no?

    Hope they haven't forgotten that they sold so many HALO 2 and 3 games because of the effort they put into advertising. If they don't do that then I can't see them selling amounts remotely close to HALO 3. Thoughts?

  • BartonFink #4 3 years ago

    Thoughts?

    It will sell by the bucket load it's a very strong franchise. A pity they didn't go with Bungie on the pricing though.

  • asphaltcowboy #5 3 years ago

    Well, I haven't bought any of the map packs yet, so it still decent enough value. Doubt I'll be buying straight away anyway!

  • TheMoonRat #6 3 years ago

    Seems Microsoft do a lot of undermining what Bungie do; from different pricing to not letting them announce the game in the first place....

  • DFawkes #7 3 years ago

    I dodn't mind. I dod want more Halo, especially given the trailers of this showing it'll be just different enough to make it interesting. They really shouldn't talk about price early one though, it never ends with them keeping their word (just like the Burnout Islands being supposedly free).

    The best time to announce price is when you've finished the game, that'd avoid this kind of backpeddling. Bitkari is probably right though.

  • Avaloner #8 3 years ago

    The fact that they have not said that the single player experience is comparable in length to the one found in Halo 3 means that it is shorter. Now Halo 3 was not a very long game. It was ok-ish. Shorter than that and its short. Considering this is targeted at Halo 3 fans who most likely already bought the game and have access to the online component (which appears to be the big selling point here) and considering one can get the original Halo 3 plus extra maps for less than full price, then this definitely loses out on the value front. Its for those who want more no matter how much it will cost them.

  • AphoticCosmos #9 3 years ago

    With the exception of Halo 1 [which is about as long as the other two combined], the other two Halo games, and if you want to include it - Halo Wars, are both fairly short on the campaign side and rely more on their multiplayer.

    I don't care much about the price though - I've still got a pre-order in.

  • MBar #10 3 years ago

    This sounds half way between expansion pack and full game. I'm slightly annoyed that they think "the complete Halo 3 multiplayer collection on a standalone disc" is worth charging the extra money for. Haven't I paid for this at least once already?

    I'll still buy it anyway of course.
    Edited by 1 at 12/06/09 @ 09:10

  • bluem4gic #11 3 years ago

    COD MW2 IT IS THEN

  • Mr_Dodger #12 3 years ago

    Here's an idea. An awful lot of potential ODST buyers will already have Halo 3. So why not make a cheaper version also without the bullet-pointed standalone H3 multiplayer. They've already got that.

    Oh yes, I forgot. Money.

  • woodnotes #13 3 years ago

    "Seems Microsoft do a lot of undermining what Bungie do; from different pricing to not letting them announce the game in the first place...."

    They're their publisher! If Activision or EA were publishing the game, it'd be exactly the same! Bungie is just going to have to get used to it.

  • Xerx3s #14 3 years ago

    "Halo 3: ODST provides a new campaign from the point of view of an entirely new character. Combine that with three new multiplayer maps, the entirely new cooperative mode called Firefight, and the complete Halo 3 multiplayer collection on a standalone disc, we feel this is a good value and tremendous addition to the Halo franchise."


    What a load of rubbish. So a 5 hour campaign, 3 multiplayer maps and a MP mode equals a full game now? If all that is worth that price then what are games like GoW2 worth? They have all that and a fucking metric ton more.

    There simply is no excuse.

  • GiarcYekrub #15 3 years ago

    Average of 7 hours of single player campain or no deal

  • Xerx3s #16 3 years ago

    Come to think of it, with all the other goodness, I think that I will give this a pass and try some of the L4D2.

  • Negotiator #17 3 years ago

    Microsoft and Bungie have created an amazing gaming package, two disks packed with content and the Bungie seal of quality. Buy it, I know I will.

  • matrim83 #18 3 years ago

    Cunts!

    Will still buy it though. :(

  • Gearskin #19 3 years ago

    What a joke you people are. L4D offered less content than this, but you play that over and over again. Repeating that 4 hours worth of content over and over again.

    You paid full price for that.

    But are unwilling to pay full price for a game that will likely include a campaign that's 4 hours long PLUS the coop aspect.

    Fail.
    Edited by 1 at 12/06/09 @ 09:24

  • liverpoolfc #20 3 years ago

    Ive purchased all the map packs. Idont want to pay for something ive already got.

  • CreepinJesus #21 3 years ago

    @Gearskin

    True! And people pay full price for a new FIFA game every year, too... and let's face it, it's just a team update!

  • Negotiator #22 3 years ago

    What I'm more excited about is the fact that Bungie are now able to churn out a new game every year. I know its been 2 years since Halo 3, but Halo 3 ODST is out Sept and a brand new Halo game is out next year, how can they do this? When we used to have to wait 3 years for a new game.

  • Pinewood_Groves #23 3 years ago

    @ Gearskin

    Left 4 Dead is a different experience each time. That's kind of the point of the game.

    You fail.

  • Gearskin #24 3 years ago

    @ Pinewood_Groves

    You are joking, right?

    You could no doubt say the same thing about ODSTs campaign, if it's anything like the emergeant gameplay of Halo 3's.

    That, PLUS Firefight, which will have the same emergeant nature thanks to random waves etc.

    If you paid full whack for L4D you can pay full whack for this.

  • steviepunk #25 3 years ago

    I'd have to say that ODST sounds quite interesting to me (full price or not), it's actually making me think about playing Halo 3 now...

    I loved the first Halo on the PC, but I have never liked FPS games on consoles (I played 5 minutes of Halo 2,which came with my original Xbox, and Halo 3 - which came with my 360 - is still in the shrink wrap!), though maybe I'll manage it now as I did get used to the controls in Mirrors Edge.

  • Gearskin #26 3 years ago

    You should SERIOUSLY play Halo 3. It's a brilliant game, top to bottom.

    I've gone back to it too, since E3's ODST impressions.

    Truly exceptional package Halo 3 is.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #27 3 years ago

    This remains a day one purchase for me, but then again I bought the Legendary Edition of Halo 3 so I'm probably a fucking lunatic anyway.

    TBH, I think as it comes with all the Halo 3 maps, it's worth full-price (as long as you haven't bought any, natch).

  • davisorle #28 3 years ago

    I don't understand the issue here. Get away with full pricing!? Isn't this a WHOLE different game? lol wtf is the issue? Don't buy it if you dont wanna pay full price. At least from all I have seen to me i see a whole dif game with a whole dif enviroment and lvl design and even your character is NOT MasterChief. So... I'll ask one more time: WTF is the problem with the full price!? lol

    Yeah I wish too that it was at an expansion pricepoint but its not an expansion, so I cant compain about the price..

  • Paperghost #29 3 years ago

    "TBH, I think as it comes with all the Halo 3 maps, it's worth full-price (as long as you haven't bought any, natch). "

    Wouldn't there be a huge amount of people who already have the multiplayer maps? I only play Halo 3 online sometimes and even I have them. As someone else said, they should seriously consider a "split" version minus the multiplayer additions. at present, it looks more and more like any major title with probable expansions / sequels / whatever will potentially include mutiplayer maps you've already bought as DLC (how many of us will be selling their copies of Fallout 3 before the "everything included" disc hits?) - so why bother with DLC anymore if they're gonna disc them anyway?

  • Slipstream #30 3 years ago

    Time will tell.

  • peteb #31 3 years ago

    Only 3 new maps?

    Pah.

    (I know it includes the DLC stuff though, but still...)

  • spenner #32 3 years ago

    If you dont want to pay full price for it, the answer is simple, supply and demand

    1) Dont pre order it. If they know loads of people will buy it no questions, then of course they will bump up the price
    2) Wait a few weeks after release before buying it. If everyone did this then prices would drop as suppliers need to get rid of their stock
    3) Wait a month or so and buy it second hand.

    But of course as it is Halo, millions of people will be pre odering already, or if not buying on day of release, and then in a few weeks they will be a tenner on ebay :)

  • sneetch #33 3 years ago

    @Pinewood_Groves
    @ Gearskin

    Left 4 Dead is a different experience each time. That's kind of the point of the game.

    You fail.

    Yes, it is a different experience each time, the same kind of "different experience" that asteroids, pacman and missile command offer.

    I love L4D but all BS aside the big "feature" of the game is simply random spawn positions, it kinda boils down to "which of the three possible positions will the tank, witch and weapons spawn in this time through the level"?

    @spenner
    I'll go for option 2. The single player campaign is the only part I'm interested in.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #34 3 years ago

    @ Paperghost

    I never bothered buying any of the maps, because (and this probably sounds a bit daft), after an initial spurt when games are new, I hardly ever play multiplayer. I like playing with friends, and I like the single player campaign, but didn't really spend enough time online to justify forking out for more maps. In fact, as regards DLC, unless I really love the game (eg. Fable II, Mass Effect) I pretty much always wait for a bundle/disc/freebie.

    I do agree, tho, that they should offer two versions, one being a cheaper "ODST only" affair, as that'd probably please everybody.

  • mega7ech #35 3 years ago

    Seriously, did anyone really think they would of released a cut-price halo game? Saw this one coming a mile off - does'nt bother me in the slightest to be honest, will still buy on day of release. I actually hope the inevitable "collectors edition" will be announed soon because I will be pre-ordering it immediatly. Im one of those folk who actualy likes all the tat that comes with those packs and Im not ashamed to admit it! :)

  • Moonprince #36 3 years ago

    jesus fuck balls full price bs!!!

    just glad ill get it free, shame for everyone else

  • bad09 #37 3 years ago

    I always moan about price on here (if I feel I'm not getting value or being ripped), but full price for a whole new single player game, some new maps and the old map packs is reasonable (if you haven't got the packs of course).

    Saying that LTAD shows you can do that (minus the map packs obviously) for 1600 points....

  • Alkeno #38 3 years ago

    Oh c'mon Microsoft, don't be so greedy! Bungie said it wouldn't be full price, so why don't just abide by their word?

    In my case I don't care for the multiplayer (I'm crap at it and my current connection is 3G so latency is terrible). I won't pay full price for a 5-7 hours campaign, but I'd easily pay 1200MS for it if they distributed it on a digital download.