Microsoft pits Halo 2 against Grand Theft

Sun-Sentinal.com ^ | November 10, 2004 | By Dina Bass

[Porterville]

Microsoft Corp. started selling Halo 2, the sequel to the best-selling title for its Xbox video-game machine, as more than 7,000 stores opened at midnight Monday to cater to enthusiasts eager to buy the futuristic shooting program.

The company hopes the fanfare will overshadow its biggest competition, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a game for Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 2 that came out two weeks ago and is expected to be the top seller industrywide this holiday season.

A number of area stores joined in the nighttime opening, including EB Games in Jensen Beach. The 24-hour Wal-Mart stores in Miami and North Fort Lauderdale made the game available at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, has made little progress catching Sony in the $22.3 billion market for video-game hardware and software. Microsoft has spent $12 billion in four years in this market, and PlayStation2 outsells the money-losing Xbox 5-to-1. The original Halo is the only console game Microsoft has designed that's sold more than 2 million copies.

"The main thing, and frankly the only thing, that's going to drive the Xbox business for Microsoft is Halo 2," said Matt Rosoff, an analyst at Kirkland, Wash.-based Directions on Microsoft who has followed the company for four years. "PS2 has Grand Theft Auto but they also have other games and the new smaller form factor, which I hear is reviving sales."

Half of video-game makers' annual sales come in the holiday shopping season, and game designers are weighing whether to produce titles for the next models of Xbox and PlayStation, which analysts expect in 12 to 18 months. If Halo 2 is popular, it may bolster Microsoft's chances to win more games for Xbox.

"Microsoft has finally figured .......

Complete Story

[Porterville]

I want both these games; I didn't know that MS was doing so poorly in their XBOX venture.

[VRWCmember]

My sons love the Halo game and they got Halo 2 this week. They are crazy about it. I, on the other hand, really enjoy my Tiger Woods PGA Challenge 2004 on the X-box. I just wish I could hit a real golf ball half as well as I do on the xbox.

[BrooklynGOP]

Half Life 2 is coming out in a few days...

[MissyMa]

I just bought my son Halo II

He will be glued to the TV for the next week or so. He said a video game critic called it the best game of the century!!!

LOL! I don't know where he heard that from, but once he did he begged for it.

[Tempest]

GTA will win in sales but Halo2 is definately the better game.

[SeamusVA]

My husband picked up his copy of Halo 2 on Tuesday. I don't expect to have use of my TV again until well past Thanksgiving... sigh

[avg_freeper]

Does anyone have an opinion on how game box controllers compare to PC mice as far as FPS games are concerned?

I've only played PC games, have never even owned a game box (excluding my Atari 2600) and wondered if the play is as good on a game box. I would think that you'd have a lot less precise movement on a controller than you would with a mouse.

I've thought about buying an Xbox but have wondered if I would be disappointed with the controllers.

[CollegeRepublican]

I have both games right now. I am playing San Andreas at a leisurely pace. It is the type of game that I like to enjoy over a long period of time. Halo 2 on the other hand is my first priority right now. I have to learn all of the multiplayer maps and learn which weapon combos are best to kill quickly. Otherwise my friends will make my multiplayer time unbearable. So far Halo 2 is pretty fun. The single campaign has been pretty easy so far, I guess I am about half of the way through it. Of course the campaign part is just training for multiplayer games when I am alone.

[Porterville]

I'm way into Grand Theft Auto Vice City. I can't get enough of the eighties jams and soft rock.

[Porterville]

I like XBOX but I hear that people prefer the Sony Playstation controllers.

[CollegeRepublican]

My understanding is that if you are used to playing FPS with a mouse and keyboard, you will be disappointed with Playstation 2 or x-box controllers. It takes awhile to get used to the analog sticks on the controllers to have precise movements to snipe and stuff like that.

[OXENinFLA]

Have you been on the mission where you steal the combine?

Listen for "bunch of right-wing fascists" in the cut scene just before the mission starts...

[CollegeRepublican]

The origional xbox controllers were very bulky. They have now made them smaller. Most people still prefer the PS2 controller. I actually like the xbox controller for FPS type games and the PS2 controller for other type of games.

[CollegeRepublican]

I have not made it that far yet. I just reached the badlands. I have been spending my time doing side missions and getting my pilots license. I did hear that you could drive a combine though; my problem is I have to keep myself from rushing through a game like GTA:SA. I really get alot of enjoyment from skydiving, driving bikes, and jumping off things that sometimes I will not do an actual mission for a week or two.

I will have to listen for the fascists though.....interesting.

[Born Conservative]

He said a video game critic called it the best game of the century!!!

It IS the best game of the century, that is, until a critic comes along and names ANOTHER game the "game of the century".

[OXENinFLA]

Skydiving???

[Taquito]

I just bought Pacific Fighters for my PC. I love a good WW2 flight sim for my free time.

[OXENinFLA]

I will have to listen for the fascists though.....interesting.

It's after you get a call from "The Truth"

[newgeezer]

My wife got caught up in the frenzy -- fueled by our 13-year-old son -- rushed out and bought some special edition Halo 2 along with a guidebook on the day it came out... for $71.xx total. Sure, the son's birthday is coming up, but we don't even have an X-box (our two sons will be buying one with their Christmas money).

Then, I told her about the rating system. She checked; it's "M" (Mature, 17+).

The video game store now has one more special edition Halo 2 and guidebook in stock than they did before. God blessed me with a good wife.

[CollegeRepublican]

OMG!! You have not found the parachute? It is on top of the Mt Chiliad behind the camper on the flat area or it is just South-West of the Mullholland intersection in Los Santos on top of a very very tall oval shaped building. You can access the building at the base by walking into the yellow triangle and it takes you to the top. Get the parachute and B.A.S.E jump off of the building. Press O to open the chute and float down. Steal a plane and then jump out is even more fun.