Halo 3 Legendary maps kick off 'Holiday Deal of the Week' on XBLM

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 1st 2008 at 3:59PM }

Following a tepid Black Friday sale this past weekend, Major Nelson has announced the Xbox Live Marketplace "Holiday Deal of the Week." Launching tomorrow, the weekly promotion will feature one discounted item for, well, one week during this month of December. First up, the Halo 3 "Legendary Map Pack" will be offered for 400

($5) -- marked down 33% from 600

-- tomorrow, beginning 12 pm ET, through next Monday. (Can't these maps go free already -- like the Heroic pack? Sheesh.)

The month-long run of deals will only be available to Xbox Live Gold members and is open to all Xbox Live regions. Major plans to announce a new deal every Monday, with the item going on sale the following day (Tuesday) for a full week. What goods would you like to see propped in the bargain window?

Tags: halo-3, legendary-map-pack, xblm, xblm-holiday-deal-of-the-week, xbox-live-gold

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Erluti @ Dec 1st 2008 4:04PM

My free GoW 1600 points are burning a whole in my pocket and I can't decide between Age of Booty, Metal Slug, and Indigo Prophecy...

Matt @ Dec 1st 2008 4:15PM

Wait till Wednesday and by Banjo Kazooie

J.Goodwin @ Dec 1st 2008 4:47PM

Seconded, Banjo on 360 is great.

Pip @ Dec 1st 2008 4:48PM

I refuse to buy map packs of any kind. Maps have always been free on the PC, so I see no reason for that to change on any other medium or platform. I loved Halo 3, too.

offday @ Dec 1st 2008 5:06PM

I'd go with Indigo. It was a cool game that everyone overlooked.

Haggard @ Dec 1st 2008 5:06PM

Indigo Prophecy is absolutely awful. The first 20% of the game is worth playing because it does things genuinely new to gaming, but then after that it descends into 'do long, uninteresting QTE sequences for absolutely no reason at all'. Seriously, you have to do one to stop your character coughing at one point.

Not only that but the story is frankly one of the worst I've ever seen in a game which seems to be actually trying to be more preposterous than anything ever committed to any medium whatsoever.

So yeah. Buy Banjo.

offday @ Dec 1st 2008 6:59PM

I disagree. Madden is awful. Indigo Prophecy was a refreshing alternative to the usual crap we get.

HitNRun @ Dec 1st 2008 10:41PM

Hey, I have a great idea! Why don't they have these sales in JANUARY?

You know, *after* the points have already been given as gifts?

MSUHitman @ Dec 3rd 2008 2:48AM

Real CAG's like myself got the Legendary map pack for free from preordering Ninja Gaiden 2 at Circuit City.

VENOM @ Dec 1st 2008 4:05PM

Halo 3 owners really don't have an excuse to buy the maps now. Unless of course they feel like waiting until they're free...but how long have they been out now? Just buy them already.

I'd like to see the Shivering Isles expansion for Oblivion take a price cut.

Esat Dedezade @ Dec 1st 2008 4:06PM

I'm waiting for them to be free :(

sk8monroe81 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:12PM

most halo 3 gamers are waiting for the maps to be free.
end of story.

8 million copies sold at $ 50 average at stores = $ 400 million in revenues...

at least half goes to MS- which is $ 200 million revenues from halo 3 estimated to date.

this is 1 franchise that can afford to offer free maps.

love the stories of the people who bought the heroic pack and then it was free a week later.

Imadogg @ Dec 1st 2008 4:13PM

I'd get em if they were free.

I'm also waiting on anything else at all to be free.

sk8monroe81 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:15PM

and plus this gives those of us that have played halo 3 for 20 - 100+ hours a much needed rest from the game and time to play the other great games out now.
when the maps are free it will be fun to go back.

but i cant play halo 3 everyday from september 2007.
this charging for the maps actually helps me get away from the game a bit... if that makes sense..

the game is addicting.

Esat Dedezade @ Dec 1st 2008 4:24PM

I am in concurence with sk8.

Just in case any one cared.

Vcize @ Dec 1st 2008 4:34PM

I care.

Hale 079 @ Dec 1st 2008 5:25PM

Bungie has stated numerous times that they have no plans to make it free. Check their website. I would rather they NOT make it free anyway; it's just going to screw over everyone who bought the maps.

Like yours truly.

sk8monroe81 @ Dec 1st 2008 5:31PM

do you think anyone would have bought the legendary map packs if bungie said they would be free in a few months??

they dont care if you bought it before, just ask the people who bought the heroic map packs and then saw them free a week later.

Farmer @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:50AM

^^ that's what happened to me.
And I'm pissed.

Bakkster @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:47AM

Even the first map pack coming out for free couldn't make me interested in Halo 3 again. I was so excited when they made an infection game mode, but then they made it impossible to find a game unless everyone was on your friends list.

Now, there's no reason to play, unless you have an adverse reaction to good FPS multiplayer, or you have an unnatural fetish with teabagging and racial slurs.

Snowblind @ Dec 1st 2008 4:23PM

They're free with the CE of Halo Wars. I can wait 'till then :)

sk8monroe81 @ Dec 1st 2008 4:35PM

thats a good point to bring up too.

i dont see this map pack being free until at least the halo wars CE ship and have been out for a while...

i think the halo 3 legendary map pack will be free when the mythic map pack is available.

just as how the heroic map was free when legendary released.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Dec 1st 2008 5:34PM

Maybe they'll forget to include the code for the maps Fable 2 style, then it will be free maps for all!

343 Guilty Fart @ Dec 1st 2008 6:12PM

I think you're wrong Snowblind, I think the Mythic maps come free with the Halo Wars CE, not the Legendary maps.

T @ Dec 1st 2008 4:34PM

"What goods would you like to see propped in the bargain window?"

Preferably things I haven't bought already (looking at you "GHIII Foo Fighters Pack"). That always bugs me.

I'm guessing Gears will get in on this at one point, likely Mass Effect's Fire in the Sky.

Personally, I'd love Castlevaniia: Symphony of the Night or TMNT 1989 Arcade to get bumped down for a bit.

But if they're looking for game content, an RB track pack would be nice (perhaps that Weezer or Girls of Metal Pack I've been eyeing)

Whatever the case, no new arcade or DLC purchases until the sales over. Unless they're already marked down of course.

Halwende @ Dec 1st 2008 4:29PM

I'd like to see discounts on Xbox Originals, that might entice me to take the plunge on a few of 'em (over buying them on disc for cheaper than the MS points value!)

Haggard @ Dec 1st 2008 5:30PM

People often forget how the great games of the past are 1/5th the price today if you shop around a little.

Crusty Magic @ Dec 1st 2008 4:30PM

After spending all that money on the stupid helmet edition, the DLC maps should have been free. Talk about milking a franchise!

T @ Dec 1st 2008 4:35PM

Anybody "stupid enough" to buy the Helmet Edition did so knowing full well what they were spending their money on. They deserve neither symphathy nor charity.

Esat Dedezade @ Dec 1st 2008 4:37PM

I dont regret purchasing it. It looks good on my shelf.

sk8monroe81 @ Dec 1st 2008 5:27PM

stupid helmet edition?

how is something that somebody wanted to purchase and enjoyed stupid?

just because you didnt like it and buy it...

im sure you have a lot of stupid things too... lol.

stevan @ Dec 1st 2008 4:35PM

I would like to see Bring Down the Sky for Mass Effect down to $2.

Duke @ Dec 1st 2008 4:34PM

None of the sale items have really inspired me to buy.

offday @ Dec 1st 2008 5:04PM

The maps should be free for anyone who paid for the heroic map pack. What a freaking rip off. I bought them, and they were free like a week later. Not to mention they did absolutely nothing with them, unlike the legendary where I can't play half the playlists without them.

Mike @ Dec 1st 2008 5:07PM

As a PC fan, this whole discussion strikes a very amusing tone for me.

Kevlar @ Dec 1st 2008 5:25PM

And as a person who enjoys the benefits of all platforms, console and PC alike, your condescending attitude makes me want to punch you in the gut.

Seriously, why are you even reading this as a PC Fan? What part of "Halo 3 Legendary maps kick off 'Holiday Deal of the Week' on XBLM" enticed you, as a PC Fan to click on the headline? Do you have nothing better to do than post flamebait on Joystiq all day?

Mike @ Dec 1st 2008 7:04PM

It amuses me - that is all. There was *no* condescension intended in my comment. As someone who plays PC games exclusively, the idea of paying for maps is amusing to me; maybe I should have chosen a better adjective. I certainly never thought the comment would incite someone to wish harm upon my gut, let alone bring someone to the verge of tears from frustration, as it appears I have. Anyway, I'm sorry and I'll remember to never comment in posts that I have no business reading.

Snowblind @ Dec 1st 2008 9:24PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall any developers releasing new maps for new PC games, besides in the expansions. (Which we DID pay for).

Fan made maps may be free, but most of them were no where near this kind of quality.

But if you're refering to some game that did have content like this released for it, for free, then feel free to correct me.

tb4m @ Dec 1st 2008 11:02PM

One acronym for that comment about PC games:

TF2, or Team Fortress 2 for the not so hip.

Mike @ Dec 2nd 2008 11:00AM

Basically every Valve game has had maps released from the developers. (Epic used to do this a lot too before they abandoned their PC fans) Off the top of my head Bioware also released their Bring Down the Sky expansion for free on the PC. Also, as far as user created content goes - there is some very high quality stuff to be had, you just have to be a little selective. Some of the best maps I've played in games like TF2, Counterstrike and UT3 have been fan made.

Joe @ Dec 1st 2008 5:25PM

No, they can not go free already. When the heroic maps went free everybody that payed for them got all pissed even though they knew they were going to be free eventually and officially. And why should MS make them free anyways? For a bunch of people that decided they hate bungie and Halo 3 because they are the most giving developer out there for the fans? Maybe if more people would stop forsaking Bungie they would be nicer, but than again, Bungie is still as nice as ever and what do I know, Its not like I work at Bungie...

offday @ Dec 1st 2008 6:10PM

People got pissed, and rightfully so, because they did absolutely nothing with the heroic map pack. They just had 2 playlists, that were nothing more than capture the flag and deathmatch. They weren't even ranked.

Then when the legendary map pack is released they literally blocked people from playing a game they paid for. Half the playlists require paid DLC and that's not right. I use to be the biggest Halo fanboy, but recently bungie just sucks.