Half-Life 2 and Halo 2 Expansion Packs Confirmed
4/10/2005 at 1:59 PM
Figure we’d take down two grunts with one grenade.
Two of the biggest first-person shooters on the market are both getting the expansion treatment. Half-Life 2, developed by Valve Software, has been admitted by the studio to receive its forthcoming first expansion, titled Half-Life 2: Aftermath. As previously rumored, Halo 2 developer Bungie Software has, at long last, confirmed its expansion simply named Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack. Seeing how the two announcements came quite close to one another, and are of a similar nature, it seemed appropriate to knock off each piece of news in one story.
Beginning with Half-Life 2, PC gamers will be excited to hear of the treasures Valve has in store for them. That’s right – Valve Software is working on this expansion itself rather than dumping the development duties on Gearbox Software, who were burdened with creating the Half-Life expansions Blue Shift and Opposing Force.
At this time, the details of the creative aspects of the expansion are very vague, but as rumored earlier, main character Gordon Freeman’s sexy sidekick Alyx will be a big part of the add-on, but not necessarily as a playable character. However, it is known the expansion will begin immediately following the ending of Half-Life 2, while Gordon and Alex are struggling to escape City 17 and its impending apocalypse. No release date has been noted by Valve.
Moving on to Halo 2, those speculating and hoping for a conclusion to the single-player campaign’s abrupt finish will not, unfortunately, see anything of the kind. Instead, Bungie Software has confirmed it will release Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack, which will include nine different multiplayer maps of varying sizes. Of course, Xbox Live users will be the ones to take advantage of this alternate type of expansion pack, as they’ll have the opportunity to play on four of the maps as early as late April. Two of these maps will be downloadable for free, and the other couple will be purchasable for $5.99. On June 28, the remaining five maps will be available as a package for $11.99.
LAN gamers are not forgotten, as Bungie promises the entire collection of maps will be available for retail purchase on June 28, for $19.99. The retail version will include an “animated side story,” a documentary focusing on the map designers, strategies for being the best on the new maps, and a careful inspection of each new map. The disc will also hold all Halo 2 updates and fixes, and maybe even the first bonus map (Foundation). Bungie also hints it may throw in “possibly one or two other treats.” Live players who don’t want to pay for the additional content will eventually get to play the new maps. Every single map will be downloadable, for free, “by late summer.”
Keep in mind we’ll keep you updated on any developments on Half-Life 2: Aftermath and Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack.
Article by Cyrus Baetz, GamingWorld X
Source: Valve Software and Bungie Software, respectively
Our Comments
Cyrus Baetz: Both of these announcements are exciting news for PC and Xbox Live gamers, respectively. Halo 2 players know what they’re waiting for, and have had their fingers crossed for a lot longer, so the payoff is bigger for them. Still, while Half-Life 2 players are waiting in the dark, they know something is in store for them, which will make the wait all the more interesting.
