E-mail:
Password:
GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

New Halo 2 maps out now

Classics Hang 'Em High, Derelict transformed into Tombstone, Desolation; new Blastacular Map Pack now available for $4.
By Tim Surette, GameSpot
Posted Apr 17, 2007 9:49 am PT

In just one month, the gaming public will get their first crack at Halo 3, the anticipated sci-fi shooter from Bungie Studios, through a multiplayer beta test. To hype up excitement for the game and to ease the painful waiting period Halo fans will endure until May 16, Microsoft has released a pair of new multiplayer maps for Halo 2, the top-selling Xbox game from 2004.

The $4 Halo 2 Blastacular Map Pack contains a pair of arenas, both of which are revamped takes on two Halo: Combat Evolved maps. Tombstone is a re-creation of Hang 'Em High, one of the most popular Halo maps of all time. Desolation, a new look at Derelict, is the second map in the pack. The maps will only be available in custom games for about a week; after that, they will be cycled into the ranked matchmaking playlists.

Because the maps are Xbox content--not Xbox 360--they won't appear on Xbox Live Marketplace and they can't be purchased with Microsoft points (however, the download is available to both Xbox 360 and original Xbox owners). To get the maps, Xbox 360 gamers have to go old school and download the maps directly through Halo 2, and must have a credit card linked to their accounts.

Bungie admits this is likely to confuse some gamers who have accounts created with Xbox Live Membership cards rather than credit cards, but offers a simple workaround on its Web site. The developer also says that some European Xbox 360s may experience some difficulty getting the maps, but once again, offers an easy method on Bungie.net.

Sign up now to post a comment on this story!

223 Comments

First to Last Latest
1 2 3 4 5
« prevnext »
sharpshooter188

ill be so glad when halo wars and halo 3 comes out. After that this franchise can be over and DONE with.

Posted Jun 3, 2007 4:04 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (-4)
Fusionkiller

So i cant play halo 2 anymore cause I dont want to pay 4 dollars for these stupid maps. WTF. How are they going to make these maps necessary to play. Im so angry, anyone who has any words of advice please tell me. Also, is anyone else having crazy bug problems with crackdown?

Posted May 21, 2007 11:14 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+3)
cshadows11

well now i cant play a quickmatch. does anyone know when theyll be free?

Posted May 17, 2007 3:42 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
YourEvilTwin67

I only have an Xbox 360 account and i cant put money on my account only those stupid Microsoft points. Does any body know how to put actual money on your Xbox 360 account?

Posted May 13, 2007 12:48 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
scottmafiaz

Great, we have to pay £2 just to have a quick match of halo 2. Brilliant - not. And it's taking ages to download. I'm so annoyed.

Posted May 13, 2007 8:03 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+1)
j0hnny831

metroid_dragon : -Thanks for the tip, i will try that. I had just recently hear from xbox live, that the matchmaking for the blastacular is still under maintanance for those who were unable to successfully download the maps. I guess right now these maps are off limits.... has anyone downloaded these maps this week?? thanks

Posted May 2, 2007 10:01 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
leotaku2006

Whats up.?
I tell you that here in Colombia theres not Xbox Live and you can not play games on Xbox Live or Download gamecontens like the new maps. I only want someday Xbox Live would be available in Colomia. Tanks.

Posted May 1, 2007 9:10 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
metroid_dragon

j0hnny831:
I had the same problem the first times I was trying to DL them, I just turned the xbox off, gave it some time (Actually, it was like a week) and then tried it again, and it worked. I would reccomend just letting your 360 chill for an hour or so, and try again.

Posted Apr 29, 2007 10:55 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Cheif1000

Wait a sec your wanting us to pay u 4 bucks for a stinkin Halo 1 map just for Halo 2 RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!

Posted Apr 29, 2007 5:18 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+1)
inspectercoley

$4 for 2 Halo 1 maps. Yeah good one. Thats a pretty sweet deal for content thats over 5 years old.

Posted Apr 28, 2007 4:17 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
watthepho21

sinceps1 I prefer the TOP LINE opposed to the bottom line and he, as well as tons of others, do deserve to cry for being an idiot/whiner. But I think now MORE people are posting their thoughts about people complaining than people actually complaining....and btw this isn't an english class asking for an essay on the way you feel about this.

Posted Apr 26, 2007 4:08 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
eric_4_life

no prob, just download them either really early, or really late, thats what i did

Posted Apr 25, 2007 6:49 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
j0hnny831

I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM AND I NEED SOME SERIOUS HELP. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DOWNLOAD THESE NEW MAPS, BUT I GET A "DOWNLOAD FAILED" MESSAGE. - HAS ANYONE HAD THIS ISSUE?? DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO FIX IT? -THANKS

p.s. $4 is chump change! just beat up a little kid for his lunch money and there you go! Don't complain, nothing in life is fair and people gotta make there money.

Posted Apr 24, 2007 11:15 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
berzerker92

ah well i dont have live..... ive got like 40maps for halo 2 anyway so im not missing out on much.

Posted Apr 22, 2007 4:06 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Darkness767

THANK YOU!!! I would come over to hug you guys ,but I am not that kind of guy. And I don't know were you people are.

Posted Apr 20, 2007 7:17 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
tsiper

Thank you BUNGIE YOU ROCK AND SO DO THE MAPS AND THEY ARE CHEAP!!!!!!!!! Awesome Awesome Awesome, you can't get a better deal than this!

Posted Apr 20, 2007 12:51 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
iamahalo2newb

The $4.00 charge.
Its not that i can't afford $4.00, its the fact that Bungie is making another $4.00 off of EVERYONE...these maps were given to say "Thanks" for supporting Halo 2, is Bungie like the lady on Simpsons that gets Homer hooked on a cookie and then JACKS UP the Price.

I give a ratts ass what anyone says, these maps should be free, I'll wait...

Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:03 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+1)
walkerj1

'fail to install'
thats what i got,weren't these meant to be 360 only before...........

Posted Apr 20, 2007 1:26 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Mike_Carrington

why is every complaining about $4 for 2 maps, its only $2 a map for those mathematically challenged. im english and we have to pay more for all the games and stuff anyway, PS3's for example are about £125/$250 more here. And i bet these maps will be more than £2/$4 for me to download but i will anyway, just a shame they didnt remake Damnation, thats my favourite from Halo 1

Posted Apr 20, 2007 1:23 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
crunchb3rry

Wow, is any gaming site going to grow the balls to report on how plagued with problems these downloads are? Even lameassed Joystiq is afraid to call a spade a spade.

Posted Apr 19, 2007 11:29 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
mall69

nicely stated Tzap......... but i do think it's crazy to pay more for something additional, the aftermarket part on my import should have been free, you know, the spoiler should have come with the car, after i buy a pair of jeans i should be able to take them back to store and get new funky zippers sown onto the legs for free, i mean i already paid for the jeans, why can't i have some free zippers...you know, that's crazy, Nestle Quick should be free seeing how i already paid for the milk, lunch meat: free.... it's nothing more than an add on for my bread... i want free lunch meat and zippers and spoilers and chocolate ... i want everything free...

Posted Apr 19, 2007 5:01 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
bloodwakeace

this game came out in Nov 9, 2004 the maps should be free
+ i am poor

Posted Apr 19, 2007 2:48 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
sexyhak

its $4. A number 2 at Jack in the Box cost more and this will last longer!

Posted Apr 19, 2007 2:20 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
llc012

$10 for symphony of the night is a good deal. $2+ for cover songs is bad. $4 for this map pack is a little high, but i could have waited till they became free, i wanted them now. paying for extra content isn't bad, it's pricing schemes that can be ridiculous. buying parts for chromehounds and armor for horses, CRAZY.

Posted Apr 19, 2007 10:48 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Dreski83

ahhhh... good old Hang'em High. One of the BEST multiplayer maps I ever played in any shooter game.
Shame they changed the name, but as long as its the good stuff that made it what it was, I got no problem taking the round about way to get it.

Posted Apr 19, 2007 8:07 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Slayer420

Well said Tzap!

Posted Apr 19, 2007 7:38 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
pulledabooth

That is lame i get MS points just so i do not have to use a credit card. They better put it on the marketplace soon so i do not have to deal with that.

Posted Apr 19, 2007 6:58 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
icstars2

i love hang em high

Posted Apr 19, 2007 6:46 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Tzap

I am really tired about people complaining about "fees" in the gaming world. It really doesn't matter whether it is a simple lowly add-on or a monthly-basis fee. This money is being paid to the developers and the cost of running the huge pipelines on the servers we play on. Anyone who has a decent job, whether it pays 7.50$ an hour to it being salary based can understand the costs. Does it really bother you to pay up to 20$ a month to maintain this type of growth in gaming? If you can't handle it, then you are simply going to fall behind this next generation of gaming. Monthly fee's, add-ons, and downloading games are of this generation.

Castlevania : Symphony of the Night became downloadable a couple weeks ago for ~10$ on xbox live. Do you see anyone complaining about that? How about the classic games you pay for to download on the WII? Perhaps even the measily selection that the PS3 has to offer? It is a privilege for us to even have these offers at our disposal.

Simple fact is, games that cost you additional $$ after the initial purchase these days have proven to have a longer life-line and stronger/better gameplay. Otherwise, we have been provided with the opportunity to purchase and download classics that were once considered out of the market. Game development costs have skyrocketed. If you are turned off by the idea of purchasing stuff provided over the internet, then you are on your own. The only reason this market still exists is because of the consumers, they have spoken, and they are willing to pay for this content.

Posted Apr 19, 2007 4:33 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
sinceps1

"you probably aren't even old enough to be allowed to play halo/halo 2."

Well, you know the real point was just that he needs to stop insulting people and crying about a four dollar map pack. So, you already pwned him before you insult him, and I doubt the "you are probably not this age" thing makes anyone wanna care about what you say... He shouldn't cry in all his messages, bottom line man.

Posted Apr 19, 2007 1:18 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
watthepho21

$4....4$????? You can't afford $4....Yet you have an xbox or a an x360, a comp, a house, and electricity...but you think $4 is too much, then just leave no one here wants to hear you.

i'd agree with what mall69 said. So koal leave the community if all you are going to do is insult other people and cry about $4...you probably aren't even old enough to be allowed to play halo/halo 2.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 8:39 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
MattGPA78

Bottom line: if you think $4 is too much, just wait a little while and they'll be made free, just like the other map packs were.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 8:01 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
mall69

see... what'd I tell ya'!!!

Posted Apr 18, 2007 6:55 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Somini

A lot of you say that "$4 isn't that much", but I think it is. The only ones who would think that this isn't a scam are people who only play games on their consoles and don't know what user-made and free DLC is. It's only maps, people, they should be free!!!

Posted Apr 18, 2007 6:54 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
mall69

...i'll bet the one's complaining about the $4 are the same squeeky voiced, hairless-where-it-counts little twist-offs that have turned Halo 2 into a ghetto fabalus wannabe club, where small, pale faced children in fuzzy pj's talk trash from the safety of their bedroom...or.... the one's who don't have a job and a $4 charge on the card is a smackdown from mummy and daddy. cool. don't play. don't like ya anyway.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 6:05 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
nicklink01

people who complain over a 4 dollar map pack are cheap.there two great levels to play that are worth the money.if you complain that there not free off the bat heres something for you.if you had a job that you worked at from 9A.M to 5P.M everyday you would say"so wheres my pay"oh wait sorry everyone wanted it for free so all that hard work will be not paid for.how would you feel?sad?angry?yea you would.so pay them for their hard work they did just for you

Posted Apr 18, 2007 4:26 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Dylan6998

yeah i've got a 360 and i just tried to download the maps and they wouldn't work. i got an error message saying the download "failed" i don't like in the UK like many people who have problems with this, i live in the US and it still shut out.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 4:10 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
christhepenguin

I loved Hang 'Em High. Does anyone know if these will appear on the PC version? No Xbox. Free Vista. Hello Halo 2 with higher resolutions.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 3:06 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
jakob_187

Again, I'll say they should've just saved these for Halo 3. Regardless...all the guys that are complaining about a FOUR DOLLAR MAP PACK with two of the fan favorites...I might add...I mean, you guys are being ridiculous! It's only four dollars. I mean, I can get either Halo 2 maps...or a pack of cigarettes....hell, not even a pack of cigarettes. It's like, if you save that four bucks and don't eat McDonald's or Burger King tonight...congrats, you just got enough money for the maps. $4 is nothing. $4 is like a damn nickel in 1942!!!

So quit whining. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Plus...they took the time to make the maps, and they are charging a measly $4 for the maps. Whoo-hoo...it's nothing compared to the price of the downloadable content from Marketplace!!!!!!!

Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:47 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
destinhpark

Nah, I'm waiting until they're free.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:41 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
The_Houston_Kid

I wouldnt say "great maps" but they are worth 4 bucks. I recommend them for anybody who likes halo still (which is like everybody... lol)

However ive been trying to get into a BTB match on Tombstone and im sure it will be absolutely awesome (my internet is messing up on my xbox right now... dont knwo whats goin on

Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:14 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
Auron7814

"ThaRainmak3r Wait, I'd swear that these maps were supposed to be Xbox360 exclusive"

How can it be an exclusive to the 360 when it's an origianl xbox game?"

Easy. They could have released the maps on Xbox live marketplace somehow. And besides, if you go back and look at the original announcement for the Maps, they did say they would be 360 only.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 2:01 pm PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
anarchicgoth

i thought they were supposed to be exclusive but then again more chance for money the better- but then they could have made them exclusive then all the people who wanted them would have to buy 360's

Posted Apr 18, 2007 11:56 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
fluffebunnie

Microtransactions have pwned you.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 10:32 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
SPARTAN013

"ThaRainmak3r Wait, I'd swear that these maps were supposed to be Xbox360 exclusive"

How can it be an exclusive to the 360 when it's an origianl xbox game?

Posted Apr 18, 2007 10:03 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
tippman38

Can't wait until they are cycled into match making and you cry babies can't play until you download them, and if your waiting for them to be free you'll be waiting for a lonnngg time. LAWLZ!! PWND NUBZ!!

Posted Apr 18, 2007 9:58 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
a-man-called-e

great maps, worth paying

Posted Apr 18, 2007 9:40 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
ThaRainmak3r

Wait, I'd swear that these maps were supposed to be Xbox360 exclusive. That's what I've been told for months by various websites and gaming magazines; that only 360 owners could get them through marketplace. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but that's kinda wierd. How does it flip-flop entirely like that?

Posted Apr 18, 2007 9:16 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
TheHotelLion

Also, they should have made the option to buy it on the Marketplace. This is stupid that I have to go out and get a gift card, because I am not spending $4 on a credit card, no way. Anyone who knows personal finances knows you should always spend minimal amounts like that in cash - wait. Bungie is becoming more and more user unfriendly.

Posted Apr 18, 2007 8:46 am PT
Login to rate this comment
/ (+0)
1 2 3 4 5
« prevnext »
advertisement

Latest Entertainment Headlines

Latest TV headlines from
Carell, Baldwin top Emmy's comedy actor shortlist
Daisies' Pace joins Duchovny, Shalhoub, Sheen for Emmy nomination finalists; Britney "snubbed" from guest spot honors.

Story Tags

News Features

Featured Stories

Sony patents new motion-control, touch-screen tech

USPTO applications detail alternative input schemes for "handheld electronic devices."
Posted Jun 30, 2008 6:07 pm PT

Newsmakers

Q&A: FIFA Soccer 09

FIFA 09 producer David Rutter on new gameplay additions, expanding Be a Pro, whether Australia's A-League is back in the mix, and a possible PS3-exclusive mode.
Posted Jun 30, 2008 9:45 pm PT