Bungie "Saddened" By Xbox Live Disconnection News, Fans React Somberly

G4TV writes: April 14 will mark the end of an era for Bungie. Halo 2, the game that launched the studio into triple-A status and made headlines worldwide, will no longer be playable online.

Bungie reacted as you might expected: they were bummed out but thankful for the fans.

Fans were much more vocal about their disappointment, however, taking to the official Halo 2 forums on Bungie's website to swap memories about their time spent battling each other online.

"Damn, I wanna cry, Halo 2 is the reason I'm aiming to design game sin the future," said Sonic343.

[Bnet343]

Well damn. I wasn't aware THAT many people were still playing it. It's time to move on I guess. I'm all for this taking out the original Xbox Live as long as improvements can be made to the existing one such as expanding the Friend's List to more than 100 friends. I know not everyone agrees, but I don't play original Xbox games online anymore so this doesn't bother me. You can always get Halo 2 on PC if you really want to play again.

[TheDudeAbides]

They started playting it as kidz, now they're grownupz still playing it, it's not healthy.

[El_Colombiano]

No, it is *not* time to move on. Just the fact that Microsoft makes you pay to play online should keep you in a state of mind that you will forever be able to play your favorite games online.

This means that at any moment in the future, your entire Xbox 360 catalogue of games can become completely useless online. It's simply wrong of Microsoft to do this to their paying and loyal gamers. I pray that Sony never do this with the PSN.

[-Alpha]

I *think* that PS2 online is still going if I'm not mistaken.

I don't understand why MS is doing it, Halo 2 is played a lot and it isn't right to do that.

Halo is an excellent game online and the fact that people still play #2 on Xbox 1 shows how many dedicated fans there are.

[darthv72]

I don't know why but I just have this feeling that MS may do something special for Halo 2 players. Maybe even give it the GoW collection treatment or something. I know they offered up the games on their games on demand service but they were the same as the original disc version.

If MS really wanted to they would do up a Halo collection with CE and Halo 2 updated with the halo 3 type gfx and achievements and even online support (ala GoW collection).

MS knows how much a cash cow halo is and it just seems stupid to kill off the online support for the game that made them but it only leads to the possibility of making the service better and rereleasing halo 2 on the 360 with full on live (360) support.

Just a thought.

[Blaze929]

Well with the PS2's online system - it wasn't tied into what is now the Playstation Network. PS2 online depended on the developers/publishers who decided to allow their game to go online.

With Xbox LIVE, it's all tied in. Xbox LIVE is the same Xbox LIVE when it launched server wise. So the reason I guess Microsoft finally has no choice but to discontinue it is to allow them to keep Xbox LIVE progressing better then they ever were able to before. One new feature everyone knows will come because of this is the option to finally have more than 100 friends.

Who knows what other features etc MS probably had planned but couldn't do becuase of the Xbox 1's LIVE architecture. Although it's sad that they are shutting it down and I won't be able to play Halo 2 for nostalgic times - it's time to move on. Is this means better and more features for LIVE then bring it.

Let's be honest, Halo 2 is the only game that really matters and the reason for all the outcry for this. Maybe what MS could do is re-release Halo 2 as an Xbox 360 game for those who still wish to play it online. If the Halo 2 factor wasn't in this no one would care. But Halo 2 is still hella fun and people are sad they can't play it online anymore.

I just hope for the next xbox they don't decide to do this again and they made the current LIVE system "future proof" so to speak becuase if they discontinue 360 games online for the next xbox they can bet I won't be buying the system.

[-Alpha]

Ah ok. Yeah, the PS2 online was a mess, it was such a pain trying to sign up and everything.

It would be nice for Halo 2 to come to the 360 or something like that. I wouldn't put it past MS.

Now if I could only run Halo 2 on my PC...

[LEGENDARY PELON]

Boy i cant believe this is going to happen. Halo 2 was the first game i played on live! It was so much much! Met a whole bunch of cool friends.

First map i played was on Lockout with swords. BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

Those nostalgic moments will never go away, even when Halo 2 is gone.

[RockmanII7]

The answer to this is to put Halo 2 on Games for Demand and make it compatible with the new xbox live and carry your stats over from the old one to this one. The Hardcore Halo fans will buy this and a few people could make the jump to 360 because they will need one now to play this and every other xbox 1 game online.

[Shepherd 214]

halo is not for kids. I bet you couldnt even last 2 minutes in a match with me or any other skilled Halo player, and i bet your shallow mind couldnt comprehend nor appreciate Halo's story or any other intricate story out there. Your an idiot, your statement about Halo being only a kids game is ignorant, and people like you shouldnt be allowed to express their opinion freely without risk of imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine.

[Nelson M]

Haaaa Hah

Xbox has no Games !!!!!

[blitz0623]

So how exactly does Bungie being sad and Xbox having no games relate with each other?

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Nelson M is desperate :) How is MAG and White Knight and the other 4 flops?

[Trebius]

The sad part is you can still play DREAMCAST games online!! M$ has no business ethic, and no consumer loyalty. They do whatever the fk they want as long as they get $$$.

Just like when they nickel and dimed you with the MS points. (cheated you)

And with the Online pay, and Hard drives, and wi-fi, and peripherals!! lol How do people put up with that sh!t? :)

Their online doesnt even have a BROWSER for God's sake!!!! AND THEY OWN INTERNET EXPLORER!!!!!

[Halo_Reach]

They are killing the best online game ever - Halo 2 ... Sad move ... Sad Move ...

They have to much money and they only want more ... Now they will add Halo 2 to Xbox 360 Live and people will need to pay it again to can play ... F********* m***** *f******f*****

[The Iron Sheik]

They are trying to rip you off. That is what they do. Are you just figuring this out now?

[Zuhk]

They will ruin it for everyone for the sake of a few pennies. Believe it or not but if they manage to run Sony out of the running then they will have a monopoly on the industry and you really dont want to know what they will do then. I would love to see other companies involved in the gaming industry but never microsoft

[mrv321]

I wouldn't be surprised if more people play Halo 2 that ALL the game EA recently just shut down combined. But where's the complaining? Personally I'm ok with this, wish that their was an alternative but hey life will go on.

[Halo_Reach]

Now they are going to put Halo 2 compatible with Xbox 360 LIVE and everyone will need to pay to play it again !!

Microsoft is trash they are full of money , they have 19 Bilions profit and still they only want more ... WTF is this ??? Trash company trash!

[UltimateSin]

http://gamerscoreblog.com/p...

"On April 15 we will discontinue the Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals"

[UltimateSin]

Just move on, life will go on, you have Halo 3 and you'll have Halo Reach soon enough.

[Giant_Chibi]

yes, but halo 3 is nothing like halo 2. It's like comparing ssb melee to ssb brawl.

There's just certain techniques you can't perform in Halo 3, such as bxrs, double shooting, and super jumps. And the majority of the maps were less symmetrical and more diverse in structure.

But not all news is bad, we can still most likely play online through xbox connect.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

BXR, double shot, etc... were just exploits and glitches. I personally loved them and called them hidden combos but every noob started to use modded controllers that recorded button combos with ease.

[longestnamein4ghahah]

halo 2 was great. sorry but it's the reason xbox is still here master chief's tbags are still solid today :P

[Dance]

Launch an attack on MS Headquarters

[jellybalboa]

yes i shall join you in this holy war, it is now or never

[Immortal321]

no online, xbox pretty much is dull

[shutupandplay]

Wait, so you can`t even play halo 2 on your 360? Just like that? What a load of sh*t. It`s not like I`m avidly playing Halo 2 anymore, but that really just shows how much MS cares.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

Dude, the game is 6 years old. How about you just take your own advice and do what your name says.

[IaMs12]

Dude they never said you cant play Halo 2 anymore just the online component is no longer available. LAN it up all you want.

[y0haN]

With console gaming you pretty much have to keep up or you don't get to play.. but here we are 10 years later and people still enjoy Counter-Strike to its fullest.

[Captain Tuttle]

I'll bet they re-release all 3 Halos in a "Fall of Reach: Collectors Edition" and that you'll be able to buy the games On Demand individually once Reach comes out. Everyone will have to re-purchase the game but they'll be able to play it online again.

I'm calling it.

[Captain Tuttle]

Who said I would buy it? I'm not a Halo fan.

[IaMs12]

They did it with GoW, so its ok for that series not Halo though.....

[xboxlover]

for $80 plus tax, and the headest, splintercell 2, and a GR game. Sad if anyone buys it.

[DJ]

For an online service with FEWER playable games? If I was still an Xbox owner, I'd be calling Microsoft's reps nonstop. I had a lot of fun with Halo 2, so I just find this situation to be horrible. Xbox 360 owners who play Xbox Originals are going to be missing out too. =/

[Convas]

You're out in force tonite. Do you, you know, play games, or stalk Xbox 360 Topics all day?

[Gaara_724]

never played the 2nd one but i jsut ordered it of amazon only £7 and yeh does the pc's version still have online i hope so lol if not ach well at least ill be able to get the gap in story between 1 and 3

[jackalman]

Who the hell still plays Halo 2 only the poor and graphically challenged. Bad Company 2 is where its at, get with the program Grandpa!!!!!!

[ShottySnipa417]

People play Halo 2 for a number of reasons. Here's three of my own:

1. Better than Halo 3's matchmaking.

2. Nostalgia

3. You got to love the Spectre! Amazing vehicle.

[Apocalypse Shadow]

microsoft is stearing every halo fan to only be playing reach and other 360 halo products this fall.cutting of halo 2 fans is just a ploy.

this first thing is to get halo fans onboard in playing halo3 or odst.

and this is by turning off servers like EA does to their sports games each year.

interesting plan if it works.but it's obvious they want all halo fans to be playing next gen or miss out.

[wwm0nkey]

Now here is what I think is going to happen with the release of Halo Reach.

Its Bungie's last Halo so they will probably put all Halo games in a "Mythic" edition set with remastered versions of Halo 1 and Halo 2 with online, as well as a re-release of Halo 3 with SP and all MP maps and ODST. I expect this to cost at least $120 or more.

Personally I would buy this

[spunkee311]

I remember being a campaign gamer only. My only time playing online was Unreal for the PC (which changed my way of gaming lol) and playing some PS2 games online for the PS2 with the adapter like Need For Speed Underground and MK: Decpetion and Armaggedon.
It wasn't till I bought my friends XBox and bought Halo 2 that I really got into xbox live and online. And this was back in 2005 after the 360 was already out.
After having friends over all the time play Halo 2, I figured, why not just buy XBox live and try it out online. It literally changed my life lol. From there I buy a 360 and pretty much play any game online now. But Halo 2 started it all.
TO tell you the truth, I think its still a little too early to shut down the servers for Halo 2. It has a good 1 year or 2 left still. PC games don't get shut down till 10 years later if its somewhat succesful. And Halo 2 is one of the biggest games out there.
I think if we are paying for XBox Live we should have it longer. I wouldn't be surpised if in the next 2 years Micrsoft starts shutting down some of the 360 game servers.

[hard joe]

m$: your sadness doesn't bother us at all
soon you'll be scrapped just like our former first party studios
muwahahahahahahahahahahahaha (evil laughter)
/jk

[diggylee]

This is just another example of how Microsoft is screwing the original xbox gamers and the top shooter still played there on that console. So what if xbox Halo 2 gamers get to play a shooter MP for free! I own a 360 but will you ever see me pay for Live again? Hell no! Any MP gaming for me will be done on my PS3 because frankly i'm sick and tired of the nickel and dime garbage Microsoft has made a habbit of. As long as people still have an xbox with games that are still played daily like Halo 2 then the servers should stay up period!

[Grown Folks Talk]

that people complain about Microsoft nickle & diming, yet had no problem buying a hard drive, multi-tap, network adapter, ect for the PS2. All he stuff PS3 owners gripe about against the 360 is things they've willingly done for years with the PS brand. As for the topic, some people will be pissed, others won't care. Of the original Xbox games I still own, I don't play most online other than Chaos Theory from time to time, so not a big deal to me. I know it will be for others though.