Halo 2 lives on with the help of 14 gamers

Don Reisinger of CNET writes:

"When Microsoft finally discontinued Xbox Live support for Halo 2 on April 15, it was the end of an era. Gamers from around the world who spent inordinate amounts of time fragging each other in Halo 2's many levels were forced to say goodbye.

However, as most left for newer alternatives, some refused to let go just yet."

[Bnet343]

I bet they are just looking for a prize out of this from Bungie or Microsoft.

"Hey they lasted a long time and refused to let go, let's reward them with swag"

I bet that's the reason why they won't let go. 12 days is crazy though.

[darthv72]

bungie (not MS) would prob give them something for their dedication. I wouldnt mind early copies of the reach full game. I am thinking bungie may be taking bets on who is the last man standing. Give them some kind of master chief trophy..that would be really cool.

[thereapersson]

"But don't think that they're doing this for accolades or prizes. According to Campbell, he and the rest of the gamers continue to play Bungie's classic "not for competition, not for a prize, but for the love, and memory of Halo 2."

[Hideo_Kojima]

I could imagine that if PSN shut down in 5-10 years I would certainly jump into a classic like uncharted 2 or kz2(or a game that is not out yet) and leave my ps3 on until i am forced out.

Wasn't Halo 2 P2P?

So Xbox live just did the matchmaking part of the networking.
Therefore they are not using Xbox Live servers at all anymore.
I doubt MS even cares or that they can stop them since it is all P2P from now on for them.

[vhero]

You could play online using a modded console if you liked using other methods. There are ways..

[DirtyLary]

I call BS. I bet everyone of these guys hasn't played H2 in years. They jumped on for the death of xbox and want the attention of being last and hope to get something out of it. Love of the game, right.

[tunaks1]

good lord 12 days? That can't be good

[Brewski007]

Hahah 12 days playing halo 2, thats dedication!. They're gonna be wrecked from it lol. Im sure once reach catches on in the beta stage soon they'll just say screw it :)

[PshycoNinja]

Some people have a hard time moving on huh?

[Parapraxis]

This is pretty cool if you ask me.

[TABSF]

Get the Games for Windows Live version of Halo 2, infinite gameplay time

[TheSadTruth]

Console games do not have dedicated servers, one player serves as host
all it takes is a small patch from bungie that removes friend list functionality and other XBL features, and simply connects to a SINGLE server that is virtually free to maintain that displays available player hosts to connect to

but console gamers are used to getting shat on, so none of them even care that Halo 2 is gone, while other PC games that are OLDER still have thriving communities that they didn't have to pay $50 a year to play online with

so sad

[xDaRkModEx]

and that's why i bought a gaming pc.:)

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

Too bad that Bungie is now freelancer and it's up to MS, owner of Halo 2 IP, to decide to do that or not... And guess what? MS isn't going to let people on any Xbox platform play online for free.

It's not even for the money Halo 2 would move, it's pretty old, there wasn't those many players still standing anyway, but since people would be able to play online without live on such a well known game as Halo, many would start questionating why they have to pay MS to play online.

You are right on how to make it (almost) server free, but what you seen to don't know (or just don't cover in your comment) is that this is the reason why Live in mandatory on 360 games, so they can stay milking the consumer for something most PC gamers can set up with one spare PC, there is no high cost to let people play online, still silver accounters will have to swallow the cry and take it home. This is not even a PC vs Consoles thing... Even on PS3 you could set up your own dedicated server to play Warhawk, and that is 2007 game.

Also, you are wrong about ''console gaming''. Most PS3 exclusives and a good chunk of it's multiplatforms are played over real dedicated servers.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

Unless they're a struggling family that can't afford a 360, I find it kinda stupid that they would still be playing Halo 2 and missing out on the best Halo yet in Halo 3. With Halo Reach just around the corner these guys are just missing out.

[playstation_clan]

they just want to play it on a reliable console

[El_Colombiano]

Maybe, just maybe, they don't want a 360? Yeah there are people believe it or not.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

That doesn't make sense dude. It's pretty clear that these guys are huge fans of Halo but don't want to get Halo 3? Take it from somebody that played A LOT of Halo 2. Halo 3 beats Halo 2 in every possible. This probably has to do with a struggling family that can't upgrade to a 360.

[TheBand1t]

Or someone who doesn't like Halo 3 over Halo 2.

Read: CS 1.6 VS CS: Source

[UnSelf]

@halo mlg

just stfu

ur a struggling troll

i swear i hate unnecessary negativity, let dem play their damn game jesus

[El_Colombiano]

Actually, you don't make sense. Just because one likes Halo 2 does not in any way mean that they should like the sequel. Somebody doesn't want a 360. Simple enough.

[Hideo_Kojima]

woooooooooooooooooooooot
lets see how long they can last

[DiLeCtioN]

so who is paying the electric bill?

[El_Colombiano]

Nostalgia.

[air1]

14! thats like almost triple the amount of kz2 players..

[respn]

lol. very very true.

[2Spock]

People might disagree. But they know for a fact no one hardly plays KZ2 anymore.

[NotoriousWarrior]

lol replying to yourself isn't healthy.

Yea Killzone 2 has 5 people online but Sony still has dedicated servers for them.

[air1]

f.y.i i am not respn.

well, sony has to keep those 5 ppl happy we all know how sony fanatics bust a nut when they hear dedicated servers as if nothing else works.

maybe you should find those 14 ppl and tell them to join kz2 cause it has dedicated servers cause we all know that nothing can be good online unless its dedicated amiright..

[2Spock]

Thats funny considering it still plays like sh1t, with dedicated servers.

[UltimateSin]

They're electricity will go out eventually.

[November 9 2004]

@halo3 mlg pr0. Halo 3 is not better in every way,halo 2 has better maps. They payed for the game so why shouldn't they choose to play it?

[UnSelf]

halo2 had the superbounce

that alone trumps any and every reason to play halo3

and i still kno the locations of every single one

[Raider69]

The XBOX is still a great piece of tech!I which M$ add release the 360 with the same reliability has it,since i already go on my fourth 360!I still have my first XBOX and had long periods playing games Like Forza endurance tracks for more than a week straight whitout turning the box off and it never overheat!

[electricshadow]

I find this really amazing. A game that came out in 2004, when original Xbox Live support has been dropped, there are STILL people playing. This just goes to prove how good of a game of Halo 2 is. There are games that were released this generation that have zero support already. I played Halo 2 online once and I loved it. I hope these guys (girls?) can play as long as they can. THESE people are true gamers.

[8thnightvolley]

that is some serious dedication ... 12 days is just plain crazy. well i will cheer them on.. till their xbox kick the bucket.

[xDaRkModEx]

x link kai or xbconnect !!!! go go go!! :3

[ZombieAutopsy]

Uhhh they should just get an old pc and play it on their...im sure it would be much better anyways.

[CrIpPeN]

Can't they just get a PC rig? LOL

[fullmetal297]

I excepted the bulk of the halo 2 gamers to migrate over to xlink kai and xbconnect.

[Transporter47]

if they love it so much play it there

[view-sonic]

i admire this 14 players. halo 2 is the only halo i haven't played, i hope bingie sees the love for this game and if its possible put it online again.
unless it was microsoft who pulled the plug, in that case just get reach

[4lc4pon3]

I have to disagree with your statement because I got a couple of friends that play MW2 and Halo 3 to death. When I say this I mean that my 2 friends EAT SLEAP AND PLAY. That is all they do they dont go outside or anything.

People get addicted to some wild extremes. I give these last 14 players a thumbs up. you know what I would of done so my xbox doesnt over heat. while im playing I would of taken the Top off it and put a Giant fan over the mobo.

Game on