Bethesda production director says MS 'totally bungled' ODST marketing
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Sep 22nd 2009 at 3:29PM } 
According to him, these complaints wouldn't be arising if it weren't for the game's "totally bungled" marketing campaign. "First saying it was a standalone expansion pack, then coming out and saying wait, no, we're charging full price because - surprise! - we put 'more' stuff in it and it's called Halo 3: ODST now, vs its original title, Halo 3: Recon." Bungie has since justified the new price point to us, though apparently for some that just wasn't enough.
Gallery: Halo 3: ODST Campaign
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Krayziebone702 @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:35PM
yeah i wanted more too
Snakku @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:07PM
With games like AC2, UC2, Bioshock 2, coming soon..how is this game justifiable @ $60 with half the shit regurgitated ?
Jimbodawg @ Sep 22nd 2009 5:27PM
If you don't already own Halo 3, and you plan on getting this or already have, you're one of the few. The majority of players that want ODST are those who are familiar with the series.
What happened to this coming with ODST's story, Firefight, and the 3 new maps?
No one was asking for a separate disk with the Halo 3 MP features. They could have released that separately.
If they were to release a disk with ONLY ODST's elements, then I'd get it. It'd be cheaper, and wouldn't make my original Halo 3 copy obsolete. I still think this should of been DLC, no matter how large. They could of done what Bethesda did by selling it on disks in retail stores too, so those with crappy internet wouldn't complain.
Courtney @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:33PM
We always complain about not getting enough information out of companies about upcoming games/hardware, but this is why. Plans change, features change, prices change. But once you've promised something, that will be held against you for a long time.
Taylor @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:37PM
That's why our parents taught us not to make a promise we can't keep.
Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:40PM
To be honest, not many "plan changes, feature changes" result in a completely separate game spinning off from them.
Courtney @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:52PM
I was speaking in general here though. They are catching heat because they talked about specifics before those specifics were nailed down, therefore leading to incorrect expectations from their customer base. It doesn't matter if the game got bigger and better, the lesson still stands. This is the kind of reason that we don't see more information a lot of times.
Cj @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:33PM
Thats why im looking for it as cheap as possible online. Amazon is listing it at $50.99
Synep @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:18PM
It was a ful 59.99 on amazon yesterday, so I just picked up at a brick/mortar store today. Considering tax, I could have saved $15 through amazon. Damn. I buy almost all my games through amazon; generally I can save around $6 off the price and $6 more off sales tax. It's even better with fast and free shipping if you're a Prime member.
Hue Jass @ Sep 23rd 2009 2:00AM
Not only that, but when you purchase Halo OSTD's on Amazon you get $10 Credit for your next game purchase. Seriously through Amazon I only spent $40 bucks on the game. That's how much it should cost.
Lyrical @ Sep 24th 2009 12:48AM
amazon.com sent me $9 back because ODST price dropped since relsease YAY!
so i payed 50 for this game plus amazon gave me $10 in credit for buying the game
lol im going to start buying games from here for now on!
Doug @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:34PM
"Bungie has since justified the new price point to us, though apparently for some that just wasn't enough."
Did they justify it? Well, OK then....
Courtney @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:35PM
The increasingly inaccuratley named Halo trilogy?
Jrinswand @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:35PM
Somebody should tell the Bethesda production director that Ashley is a girl's name.
Space @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:45PM
tell that to Ash from evil dead.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:00PM
Ash is not short for anything
speedmetaldemon @ Sep 22nd 2009 5:02PM
... except Ashley.
Watership @ Sep 22nd 2009 6:11PM
How is using the same engine and new assets bad? What about all those games that use the Unreal engine? Are you people really saying that all the geometry of the city, the characters, the story, the voice acting, the new lighting,and firefight, is just a rehash? It's more of a new game than Quick sequels like Madden and Rainbow Six Vegas 2. The complaints aren't valid. To me, it smells like some detected a chink in halo's armor and moved in for the kill.
Zero.X. @ Sep 22nd 2009 6:47PM
Actually, 'Ashley' was originally first used as an English male name, and still is. It just gained popularity more as a female name over here in the West, and we're used to that. Ash is still short for 'Ashley'.
I looked it up 'cause I thought the exact same thing while playing Vagrant Story back on the PSX lol
macssauk @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:37PM
Yeah it definately isn't worth $60. They used the same game engine, same models for a lot of things, only thing they really did was make a story and some new animations. Oh well. I got it for free off of the internet about a week or two ago. :)
TiLoBrown @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:44PM
Except its not the same engine, its modified, but not the same
Kleptomaniac @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:46PM
@Brown
Its just the halo 3 engine with some lighting changes, which was just the halo 2 engine with modifications. So yeah its the same engine.
TiLoBrown @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:53PM
@Klep: Yea, I hate finding health packs in Halo 3.
ducttapeBigSexy @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:18PM
Why is it every pirate has to reiterate to everyone on the Internet that they know how to steal software? If you're so awesome, why don't you try doing something for the good of society that actually takes talent, instead of something that takes so little effort a stoned high school drop out with bad hygiene and weight issues can do just as well?
macssauk @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:23PM
Why must you assume that I have no talent? I am pretty sure I am better than you at programming software and high level mathematics due to my years of University study. Thanks for trying though! Really was a solid effort.
Petebot330 @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:40PM
If the game is so awful, why did you download it?
macssauk @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:43PM
I had to download it you dumbass to find out whether it was good or not. ROFL.
wicko @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:00PM
Tilo... its the same goddamn engine. They even mention themselves that its the Halo 3 engine. They haven't added enough features to give it a full version increment. IE going from v3 to v4. So, its considered the same engine. That's how it works.
Heimbachae @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:49PM
i upvoted you man. i'm a fanboy, but there's no way in hell i'm paying for this. just release the campaign and i'll buy in bungie. else wise, NO THANKS.
Carbonize @ Sep 23rd 2009 3:25AM
He had to download it because despite his being "better than you at programming software and high level mathematics due to my years of University study" nobody wants to employ programmers with no real life experience and got their diploma's from an online university.
abelpc @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:37PM
I am currently greatly enjoying ODST... was worth every penny.
soopysire @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:42PM
same here. i played all through the night with four player co-op on legendary. beat the campaign and have been enjoying firefight non-stop.
abelpc @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:03PM
ya, finished campaign and going to spend the evening Fire Fight mode with buddies.
Latin_Trident @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:44PM
I got it from Amazon for $29.99 in a lightning deal. freakin awesome price!
Shagittarius @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:38PM
I mean if its supposed to be a full halo game why not call it Halo: ODST. Calling it Halo 3: ODST implies its not a complete game but rather an add-on.
Snowblind @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:41PM
It's a stand alone game, but still just an expansion, hence the 3 in the title.
In my opinion, it's easily worth the money but I have to argee with Bethesda that the marketing job was botched. A lot of people seem confused over what it actually is, and if it's worth full price.
Faceman @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:43PM
If I didn't just grab a Slim, I'd buy this full price. But now with a legion of PS3 games I can borrow from my friend, I can wait till this hits 40 or even $20.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:43PM
Wow we better listen to this guy, just look at how expertly they sold WET with those spam bots
Space @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:48PM
Well he certainly put his theory to the test by giving the stranglehold expansion a completely new name.
liamario @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:45PM
"Bungie has since justified the new price point to us, though apparently for some that just wasn't enough."
They haven't justified anything. It all depends on who is buying the product. If you have all the multiplayer maps already bought, you can straight away half the price of the game. Just because they added stuff to justify the price, it doesn't mean that it's worth the asking price. Take away those maps and the game is an expansion and that's the reality. Halo fans have been raped
zldaphreek @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:48PM
this from the guy who brought us horse armor.....
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/01/oblivion-dlc-half-off-except-horse-armor-which-is-doubled/
Dakar @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:50PM
Not being able to pick up and play Firefight mode anytime thanks to lack of matchmaking, and not really having any interest in Halo 3 multi means this bad boy is definitely not worth the price.
See you at $40.
Kaoz @ Sep 22nd 2009 6:08PM
On Amazon 50.99 plus, 10 dollar video games credit. plus enter HALOODST for another 5 bucks video game credit. (I got in on that this morning, not sure if it is still active or not. was "meant" for pre-orders)
So 35.99 , can also knock off another 5.10 if you have an account with the ECA.
Granted, it will stick you with some store credit (that is only good for video games, and expires at the end of october) but still, a good price.
acme @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:53PM
I already own half the content in this, its overpriced.
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com @ Sep 22nd 2009 4:44PM
I don't. As in, I don't own half the content and I don't think it's overpriced. The characters and single player content are all new from models, textures, levels, campaigns, voice acting, soundtrack... There is no way you own half the content. You just own the multiplayer maps. This isn't a programmatically generated expansion using only content/assets from Halo 3. There's lots of new content with some multiplayer maps from Halo 3 in the box. It's like if a popular movie franchise released a sequel (or prequel) to a movie on DVD and it also has some of the extras that were also on the first installment of the series' DVD. I guess "you own half of that content" too...
speedmetaldemon @ Sep 22nd 2009 5:06PM
Holy crap Chibi Chaingun, it's almost as if you are both two different people with different opinions! This is rare indeed.... you better call some one
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com @ Sep 22nd 2009 5:14PM
BUT... Will you be a 3rd opinion???
CaramelZappa @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:56PM
Halo needs marketing at this point?
NoughtSoClever @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:58PM
'totally bungled'
"That's an 'I' you idtiot" - RvB
bluetev @ Sep 22nd 2009 3:59PM
Maybe, just maybe, if they spent more money on the game rather than on marketing. But then, thats not the message they got with Halo 3, make halo 2 with 640p graphics, spend a bomb on marketing - worked for that game, so why blame Bungie for trying it again?