Halo 3 Mythic map 'Sandbox' dug up, dusted off [update]

by Dustin Burg { Jan 30th 2009 at 12:33AM }

(click to embiggen)

Behold, the first screenshot of the yet to be officially revealed Halo 3 multiplayer map Sandbox. You know, the map that's one third of the upcoming Mythic Map Pack. The image comes way of the official Austrian Xbox Blog, which sort of jumped the ~~gun~~ plasma rifle by releasing information about Sandbox and the other Mythic maps, Assembly and Orbital. Bungie must have caught word of the photographic leak and decided to host a super high-res shot of their own.

What we gather from the Sandbox screenshot is that the map looks a lot like Halo 3 arena Sandtrap, but darker and with fewer hills. If you look really close, each chunk of the map seems movable, meaning that Sandbox will be a true Forge experience. And if you investigate even further, the Austrian Xbox Blog mentions the Mythic maps will cost 800

with ~~an XBLM~~ a Halo Wars bundle release on March 3rd. Go ahead, grab a shovel, start digging and see what you can find.

Update: Microsoft just informed us that the Mythic Map Pack will be available bundled with Halo Wars CE on March 3rd and will release as a stand alone XBLM download later this Spring.

[Via 1UP, Thanks MDK x2002x]

Tags: bungie, bungie-studios, fps, halo-3, mythic-map-pack, sandbox, x3f-twitter

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Jan 30th 2009 12:38AM

That looks pretty creative.

nsdcx @ Jan 30th 2009 1:20AM

@ luigindaisy

That may have been true in the past, but that was when Microsoft was calling the shots as far as the DLC pricing timetable. I can't remember when it was said, but Bungie did say that they had no plans to make the legendary map pack free.

nsdcx @ Jan 30th 2009 1:21AM

oops...i meant to reply to the below post.

ice~ @ Jan 30th 2009 12:39AM

Does anyone else not like what bungie does with their DLC? That they require All DLC to play most of the playlist types? Because that really pisses me off...i just got back into halo but im not willing to drop the money on the Legendary DLC....and all i can play is Team Slayer and Squad Battles...NOT cool bungie....not cool at all

Shmil @ Jan 30th 2009 12:48AM

It is a pain in the ass, but the maps have been out for a good while now. I'd be more upset if they didn't show up regularly in matchmaking. But you are right, there should be more than 2 playlists that don't require the legendary maps. Also Bungie needs to make some sort of custom game playlist: no exp lost or gained, just some option to host custom games and have random people join.

Obie @ Jan 30th 2009 12:51AM

I know right? At least in COD4, the game automatically seeds the party according to their map purchases, you never have to split your team if they don't have the maps.

LuiginDaisy @ Jan 30th 2009 12:51AM

I bought the maps, and it's worth it. The sniper games are really fun on Ghost Town.
-If I were you, I would wait for a month to buy the mythic maps. By that time, the Legendary maps will be free. Bungie does this to all of their DLC. Heroic free, release legendary. Legendary free, release mythic, rinse and repeat.

I forge a lot, so I'm looking forward to this. I've made Block Fort from Mario Kart 64, and some CS:S maps in Foundry, so getting a bigger/better map is going to be great.

Also, according to the pic, some of the blocks are different colors. THIS IS BIG.

melloncollie @ Jan 30th 2009 2:11AM

Want me to call the waaaambulance for you?

ice~ @ Jan 30th 2009 2:15AM

I'm not whining I think I have a legitimate point....why should i have to pay extra to play the game modes that came with the game I payed $60 for? But I did stub my toe in the midst of writing this comment...so you might have to make that call

Grimlock @ Jan 30th 2009 6:11AM

My biggest complaint is i don't see them coming up enough. Sure there is the option for DLC social slayer, but when that comes up people just want to farm for the new achievements and when they don't get what they want they'll drop. So in the end i agree with you Ice, i want a who set of things that will work with the new maps, so much so that people won't feel the need to break the system just to get into.

offday @ Jan 30th 2009 9:38AM

It use to really piss me off, so I said, "Whatever, F Bungie. I can't wait until Gears 2 comes out!"

Needless to say, I ended up buying the maps and I'm back playing Halo. :(

Sean @ Jan 30th 2009 9:50AM

Or you could look at it another way... They are rewarding those players who continue to give them money with playlists they want to play. If they kept all the old playlists, there wouldn't be enough players or variety of players in those lists to make it fun and you would complain.

See Bungie loses either way...so they go with the community that is giving them money. Bungie is constantly looking at the player population and adjusting the playlists as appropriate. They were no doubt getting more complaints that certain plalists weren't getting the new maps so they adjusted the playlists. They still left in the two most popular playlist types for those without the legendary maps.

The rest of the playlists have slowly moved over as more and more people bought the DLC. They didn't just turn the switch on overnight.

Spallit @ Jan 30th 2009 10:31AM

are the other map packs free now?

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 30th 2009 11:36AM

You think that's bad? Bungie made a sucker out of me .I bought all the Halo 3 related crap they've been selling with the hope that maybe I'll be happy with the game.

I can tell you that their maps suck hard with a straw and not even a cool straw but a regular, cheaply made straw except for Avalnche and Ghost Town, maybe I would have been happy with Legendary if it wasn't because I bought Heroic first day as well.

The huge issue that makes DLC maps suck, but really, really suck is because you can’t play them when you want. Matchmaking chooses whatever it wants, I spent the whole day I got the Legendary pack playing Heroic maps, seriously what’s up with random maps and play lists? I hate most of the Halo maps and Bungie still refuses to make a dedicated Braains and Juggernaut in the playlists. Is like if they want Halo 3 to suck on porpoise.

Yeah Halo 3 riped me off big time.

Also that online is pretty bad everybody uses a lag switch or it just lags like if I was using a 56kb connection. Crazy how Bad Company can pull 32 players and Halo 3 lags with 6.Seriously Bungie should be ashamed of themselves.

Although even without lag the game isn’t really good either the times I don’t have lag I can get 1st place in Lone Wolves really quick.

I say I’m not buying anything from Bungie, so screw ODST unless it happens to be awesome by its own merits, has better graphics and its single player co-op only.

aristokrat @ Jan 30th 2009 2:52PM

While I have some sympathy for you, I agree with the idea that those who continue to spend money should get a little more reward. After initially buying both Heroic and Legendary, I barely got to play them because they were relegated to single playlist. I'm happier now that many playlists require them, so that I get to play them more frequently. Especially the doubleXP playlists, because I love me some Braaaains on Ghoul Town and Speed Demons on Dish of Death. Nobody would buy the maps if they couldn't use them. And for your filter maps idea, all it takes is one cheap-o to make everybody play Snowbound.

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 30th 2009 6:59PM

Sympathy? You know is pretty mucha game so I don't think that was called for but I was thinking on removing you know the vote thing.Seriously most people press X because they can.

The new snowbound isn't bad but I miss the laser.

ice~ @ Jan 31st 2009 1:38PM

@Aristokrat

I agree with you that the people who spend the money should be rewarded but does that mean the people who don't should be punished? I'll just wait until mythic comes out and legendary goes free....then i'll be happy :D

Shmil @ Jan 30th 2009 12:44AM

Want so badly.

LuiginDaisy @ Jan 30th 2009 12:54AM

Remember that video Bungie released and there was a glimpse of a large and empty grid-type level? This could mean that the actual SCENERY and BACKGROUND of the map can be changed, just like the filter effects!

FUCK I want it now.

Cole @ Jan 30th 2009 12:56AM

As awesome as that would be... i doubt it

Cole @ Jan 30th 2009 12:55AM

AWESOME!!! So pumped to see that all 3 maps are originals, not just remakes of old maps! The name "Sandbox" makes me agree with the idea of another fully forgeable map. Cant wait for these maps now.

FJ 2036 @ Jan 30th 2009 12:56AM

Is nobody realizing this map is basically Sandtrap? lol I always get Bungie DLC but this map is literally the same thing except with a new base. Same background, sand and everything.

I thought they would get more creative than this

Danny @ Jan 30th 2009 12:56AM

Looks a bit smaller than I expected, but I defintely like the atmosphere. Looking forward to it!

Will @ Jan 30th 2009 1:17AM

I feel so bad being a PC gamer. I miss out on this cool DLC! You lot sure seem to be having fun with it.

To think I've never bought a single MS point. :(

Will @ Jan 30th 2009 1:19AM

p.s.: This comment wasn't meant to mock console gamers, it was meant to mock companies like Halo doing.. this.

nsdcx @ Jan 30th 2009 1:23AM

1. Halo isn't a company.

2. While there are some gems in the PC modding world, most of it, in my experiences, is shit. I consider myself lucky that I don't have to sift through all that to find what I want.

Will @ Jan 30th 2009 1:37AM

Oh, Bungie, oops.

I wasn't talking about mods in particular by the by. A lot of companies (even ones Not-Valve) do release some of their own stuff for free. It's pretty cool.

For mods I just look at lists and click top rated / top downloaded and it's usually really groovy stuff. Maps are usually found for you by whatever servers you happen to play on.

It's just like.. I look at that map and it looks so BLAND. I mean srsly. There's no decoration, nothing interesting, just some sand and a hole in the ground. When I think of a map I remember playing Call of Duty with all the lush environments full of random objects to make the cities feel complete. If you're going to charge for maps at least make them pretty, yeah?

Will @ Jan 30th 2009 1:42AM

Hey by the way guys, I ttly designed a new Halo map. I call it "Sleetleap"

Check it out: http://i42.tinypic.com/mhd1u.jpg

I think it compliments snowbound well, found here: http://www.talkxbox.com/screenshots/1000/26.jpg

Tiptup300 @ Jan 30th 2009 3:59AM

You obviously don't play halo, because each level has it's own custom look and feel. None of them seem like a reconstruction of another level.

Will @ Jan 30th 2009 9:18AM

I think this one seems like a reconstruction of Sandtrap

jumpshot @ Jan 30th 2009 1:02PM

Oh, clearly just because it has sand it MUST be a clone of sandtrap. Also, it's not.

But by that logic, every map in Farcry2 that takes place in Africa is also identical to each other.

mokeusa @ Jan 30th 2009 1:24AM

Pretty sure that the release date for the maps is for those who buy the Halo Wars limited edition. They list the 02.27 date for a code as that's their Halo Wars release date with the ability to download the maps March 3rd, which is when HW is released in North America. I think they're speculating, and probably correct, on the 800 points and they do say at a later date "for all others".

NukeAssault @ Jan 30th 2009 1:39AM

Looks... i dont know. Old School? Like its nostalgic, yet ive never played it (obviously). Is that just me? Any way, it is kinda on the small side... Could be good for swat. Guess we will see soon enough.

343 Guilty Fart @ Jan 30th 2009 1:04PM

I agree, maybe because it's a bad pic, or a pic from early in the development, but the maps looks kind of Halo:CE-esque.

m311y @ Jan 30th 2009 2:29AM

This map looks like it would be cool to replicate paintball skirmishes with.
And with forge, you'd get a lot more variation.

Dirty @ Jan 30th 2009 3:56AM

Yeah, bet you didn't know sandboxes were used way before outhouses were even thought of. I think i see a few turds in there, or maybe those are just vehicles? hmm....

Nigeria @ Jan 30th 2009 5:14AM

You've got my Australia in Austria.

Digital Limit @ Jan 30th 2009 5:27AM

Look awesome, can't wait :D

Snappy @ Jan 30th 2009 6:02AM

Looks good. Even if these maps turn out....meh, I get them for free with Halo Wars. I was thinking, Wow what a let down that map looks like a 15 year old made it. Then I did look closer to realise, oh....it's a building block set. Yay!

The Dark Wayne @ Jan 30th 2009 9:03AM

what about Longshore or the other maps mentioned in the achievements?

Paul @ Jan 30th 2009 9:40AM

i think that map along with citadel and heretic will be the 3 maps included with halo 3: odst. bungie say they will be releasing 3 more multiplayer maps with halo 3: odst so i am assuming this is what those achievements are talking about.

carg0 @ Jan 30th 2009 9:12AM

i've had it with this 3-maps-for-$10 bullshit. it's a shamless rip-off.

you idiots realize if you don't purchase them, MS will eventually be forced to lower the price or at least offer more maps at the same price, right?

stop allowing M$ to continually charge a premium price for insufficient content! even Bungie has publicly stated that the general consensus among them is that the whole '3 for $10' is too much.

Prox @ Jan 30th 2009 10:02AM

I'd rather pay $10 for 3 Halo maps than $10 for 3 Gears 2 maps. Halo maps (to me) are more well-constructed and Forge allows for some really great customization not available in other games. That's why I have purchased Halo maps in the past and not Gears maps.

But even if I (and everyone who visits this site) decided to jump on your bandwagon and not buy the maps they'd still be $10. Too many 12 year old kids will pick these up the day they drop with the help of their parents' credit cards. I'm not saying you don't have a good idea, I'm just saying that I don't think it will work in this case.

343 Guilty Fart @ Jan 30th 2009 1:14PM

I agree with you in spirit, but I really don't think if we boycott the price point that MS is going to change the price, unless EVERYONE on XBL boycotted. What pisses me off is how map packs used to become free over time, and I'm not talking about just Halo. I can't believe you still have to pay money for Gears 1 maps still, that's just ridiculous. And I have a feeling MS won't make the Legendary maps free either once the Mythics drop, so no one get your hopes up.

Farseer (GDI) @ Jan 30th 2009 9:29AM

So, I'm confused. Is the source from an Austrian blog, or from an Australian blog? ;)

offday @ Jan 30th 2009 9:39AM

I'm not really impressed. Looks too much like Sandtrap to me.

sk8monroe81 @ Jan 30th 2009 2:22PM

it honestly looks like a smaller version of sandtrap.
like if you smashed the 2 sides together and took away all the extra room that sandtrap has...

i just cant believe how many people still play halo 3 and the same maps.
when new maps come out (for free) i usually go back to halo for a week or 2..