While at D.I.C.E., MTV News' Stephen Totilo spoke with Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios, to check in on the status of some of Microsoft's bigger projects ... say, the litany of Halo games in the works. While Spencer wouldn't say much about Peter Jackson's as-yet-untitled Halo project, or Ensemble Studios' Halo Wars RTS -- both are still in the early stages of development -- he did have a little more to say about the upcoming Halo 3 beta. When asked about the size of the beta, Spencer responded, "It isn't really a tease ... People should expect a pretty robust experience when they're playing. Don't call it a demo." More than one map? Spencer assures us, "The experience will definitely be deep." Deep, eh? Remember, if you didn't get a Rule of Three invite, you can always grab an "initial" copy of Crackdown.
Halo 3 beta: Microsoft says "the experience will be deep"
by Christopher Grant 
on Feb 16th 2007 9:40AM
13
While at D.I.C.E., MTV News' Stephen Totilo spoke with Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios, to check in on the status of some of Microsoft's bigger projects ... say, the litany of Halo games in the works. While Spencer wouldn't say much about Peter Jackson's as-yet-untitled Halo project, or Ensemble Studios' Halo Wars RTS -- both are still in the early stages of development -- he did have a little more to say about the upcoming Halo 3 beta. When asked about the size of the beta, Spencer responded, "It isn't really a tease ... People should expect a pretty robust experience when they're playing. Don't call it a demo." More than one map? Spencer assures us, "The experience will definitely be deep." Deep, eh? Remember, if you didn't get a Rule of Three invite, you can always grab an "initial" copy of Crackdown.
Reader Comments (13)
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 10:27AM (Unverified) said
I would like to think it would be most the maps... But realisticly it will probably be the ones they have talked about plus one or two...
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Posted: Feb 16th 2007 10:33AM (Unverified) said
This is very exciting! Sounds like it's going to be a somewhat complete experience, which is amazing. It's a really treat when a developer does something like this.
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Posted: Feb 16th 2007 10:35AM (Unverified) said
hopefully there is a lot of content in the beta, but there is a lot more in the actual multiplayer game. it would suck if the game came out and only had all of the maps that ive already played on, with all of the weapons i have already played with. i want to have some stuff that is new when the game comes out too.
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Posted: Feb 16th 2007 11:23AM (Unverified) said
To be fair, most multiplayer betas I've been involved in do include pretty much everything, since it all needs to be tested. You can't not let beta testers use a feature because then it might turn out that it has a bug, or doesn't work properly.
They might hold maps back, or things they are already sure are working, but from experience, beta testing does spoil a game in terms of anticipating its release, kinda like the supcomm beta, the multiplayer doesn't feel like I'm getting much new.
But to be honest, I don't mind, since with betas you get to play something earlier than normal and it means that the final game works a lot better, so the lack of anticipation is balanced by the chance to see something way before its release and contribute to its quality.
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They might hold maps back, or things they are already sure are working, but from experience, beta testing does spoil a game in terms of anticipating its release, kinda like the supcomm beta, the multiplayer doesn't feel like I'm getting much new.
But to be honest, I don't mind, since with betas you get to play something earlier than normal and it means that the final game works a lot better, so the lack of anticipation is balanced by the chance to see something way before its release and contribute to its quality.
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 1:21PM (Unverified) said
Um, how deep can Halo possibly get?? Point and shoot. Thats real deep. Opps almost forgot run and jump, those to make it really deep. I don't think that there's going to be a huge change of formula, does deep mean that Master Chief grows a conscience? That'd be deep but I highly doubt it. Besides Beta testing is a shame. It's like listening to your favorite band recording your favorite song as a demo while they're drunk. It's just not how I'd want to see it, in demo mode.
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Posted: Feb 16th 2007 12:19PM Mr Khan said
Well, they did do Alpha testing in the past (with the US Army, right?) so maybe the stages that were tested by the military won't be released in the public beta
(yes, i still call them stages)
Considering that i feel multiplayer to be the staple of Halo (i wouldn't touch that so-called campaign with a 5 ft pole) this will lure a lot of people in, get them hooked with 2 months or so of the full multiplayer experience, then cut them off, and have them raving for more
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(yes, i still call them stages)
Considering that i feel multiplayer to be the staple of Halo (i wouldn't touch that so-called campaign with a 5 ft pole) this will lure a lot of people in, get them hooked with 2 months or so of the full multiplayer experience, then cut them off, and have them raving for more
Posted: Feb 16th 2007 2:10PM (Unverified) said
in the beta faq they said they are going to hold stuff back. thats all i wanted. good point #7, i cant imagine how i would feel if gears was stripped from me and told that i could have it back a few months from now. i would want to play it more than ever. oh ya and Arno, you are a turd. shut your ass!
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Posted: Feb 16th 2007 4:05PM (Unverified) said
congrats # 9. you might possibly be the most ignorant halo hater yet. dont ask why. just accept it.
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Posted: Feb 25th 2007 3:28PM (Unverified) said
Where can i sign up to play the bata? Email me with the link please!!! Bear_foot_inc@yahoo.com
Thanks guys,
~Samuel
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Thanks guys,
~Samuel
Posted: Feb 25th 2007 4:02PM (Unverified) said
#9 should take a ride on the waahhbulance(wah ambulance for you noobs)
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