"Halo 2" Multiplayer Map Pack: June 28

Earlier this week we reported on rumors of a Halo 2 expansion pack. Today, Bungie and Microsoft have released the full details. For the official press release from Xbox.com, go here. Or, for a better run down of all the info from Bungie, go here. The basic gist is that there will be 9 new multiplayer maps available on a stand alone disc at retailers on June 28 for $19.99. If you are on XboxLIVE, then you will get two free maps at the end of April with an option to buy 2 more. The other 5 maps will be available for download on June 28, the same day the disc goes on sale at retailers. The advantage of the disc is that you get extra bonus features like fly-overs and making-of stuff.

I'm all for game makers producing extra maps for download. I truly enjoyed the extra maps made available for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow and I think that the model works well in conjunction with XboxLIVE. However, in the case of Halo 2, I felt that the game was lacking to begin with so the release of extra content only angers me as I feel that content should have been there in the first place.

Also, Bungie is only releasing multiplayer maps. While that is all well and good, it leaves those of us who enjoy the single player campaign without any extra features. Basically, I feel as if MS is really trying to milk all the money they can out of Halo 2 and I'd be all for that, if they were to do it appropriately.

How would I recommend they do that? Well, I'm happy that they are releasing at least two maps for free. That's a good start. I would also have liked them to create and then release for free several new single player maps. Also, I would like to see all of the maps be available a la carte. I'm not sure how the second round of five maps on XboxLIVE will be released; as one purchase or a la carte. If they are bundled for a set price I'd be upset as I'd prefer to have the choice of what maps I'd like to buy.

Also, there is no word yet on the cost of the XboxLIVE purchases. Since there will be 7 total paid maps (2 free) on XboxLIVE I doubt that they'll be the same $19.99 as the disc. I'd guess they'd be about $2 each putting them around that $15 mark for all 7. That's just speculation, though.

I don't know. This set up gives me a bit of the willies. I paid $55 for the Collector's Edition and it was a very short single player campaign, obviously missing a good chunk of gameplay that was supposed to be there in the first place. The multiplayer on XboxLIVE is very fun and the game is more of a multiplayer game than a single player one. Now, MS is charging for more multiplayer maps, which is fine if they were to charge only a $1 per map.

I see in the future that they'll be offering some more single player content, probably for download or as part of a Halo 2.5 launch with the Xbox2. Either way I paid $55 for a game that was obviously cut and I can't help but think it was cut so MS could get us to buy the extra content that should have been in place with the original disc.