Did The Halo 3 Beta Kill The Hype?

Now before you all bring out your pitch forks and torches, hear me out. I’m a big Halo fan and probably always will be. I loved the beta, and I already have the Standard Edition preordered. My question is, has the hype for Halo 3 been ruined by the beta?

Let’s look back a few years ago to the much anticipated Halo 2 release. Ilovebees was in full swing; people were buying up the latest EGM’s and Xbox magazines for screenshots of the game. Gamers were sent into a frenzy as the online marketing came to a close, and pictures and video of the game were seen on TV and the internet. MTV ran a special and aired footage of the game and fans playing the game. The gamers were too busy playing to stop and even look at the cameras. This is a classic definition of hype.

Hype is a slang word we use to describe something that is unable to be waited for. There can be hype for video games, movies, TV shows or just about anything else that we enjoy. Everyone always says, "It lived up to the hype?" or "It was over-hyped." It is safe to say that Halo 2 was surrounded by some of the biggest hype in video game history. So what builds up the hype for games like Halo 2 and keeps it going strong for so long?

Put simply, it was the lack of information given. Bungie kept their lips sealed as long as they could and it paid off in a big way. They reported sales on the first day of release of 125 Million dollars. In other words, the game sold roughly two million copies on opening day. I was one person in a crowd of over 100 waiting in line that chilly night. The three hours I was there, the topic of conversation was focused on Halo 2. Everyone was excited and couldn’t wait to get home and get it in their Xbox. People joked about how they wouldn’t take it out of their tray for years.

Let’s flash forward a few years, to the Halo 3 era. Hype for Halo 3 was started last year at E3 when Microsoft released a teaser trailer of Master Chief walking. It was the first glimpse of the game’s engine, and it was passed around the internet like a virus. A few months later, a Halo 3 CGI trailer appeared during a football game. The trailer again was hugely popular and stirred the imaginations of Halo fans everywhere.

Most recently, every gamer with a code or Crackdown disc was able to participate in the Halo 3 multiplayer beta. The hype that was building came crashing to a halt. There was talk about the game, what was in the game, and what should be changed in the game. There was no longer discussion of what the game would look like or play like. We now know what is in store for us when we fire up the game. Sure there will be some hidden features, weapons, and vehicles in the game. And of course, there is the single player game that has been kept mostly secret from us all, but will that be enough to build the hype up again for Halo 3 or has the beta ruined the hype for Halo 3?

I know that I will still be standing outside, at midnight, picking up my copy of Halo 3. I just feel like there is something missing in Halo 3. I already know how to drive the Mongoose, use the man cannons, snipe you with the laser, and use all the new equipment. While the beta was exciting and I enjoyed playing it, when I look back, I kind of wish I would of skipped out on it. I’m not spending my days searching for Halo 3 news or calling friends when a new trailer or screenshot appears, I’m just quietly waiting for the game to arrive. The Halo 3 beta killed my hype.

_________________
Video Game Community Head Administrator

Last edited by Bleu on Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:15 am; edited 1 time in total

I say it didn't lose the hype!

_________________
Video Game Community Head Administrator