There were quite a few interesting side-stories branching off from this Tuesday's release of Halo 2. By interesting, I do not mean the countless predictable (but necessary) stories of long lines and record-breaking first day sales. I do mean:
Halo 2 Strategy Guide Breaks Random House Records
Quick Summary: The guide sold more in one day than Bill Clinton's biography -- 270,000 copies in one day. An initial print run of 1.1 million will likely sell out quickly as well.
This one was particularly interesting to me, as it has implications for a long-neglected area of video game journalism. Game guides have evolved from their simple roots to include interviews, retrospectives, and the kind of minutiae that is the essence of thorough journalism. Hopefully these huge sales will lead to increased attention and talent to the game guide subsector.
Halo 2 -- Liberal Propaganda?
Quick Summary: Right-wing rag The Free Republic takes an out-of-context quote to its liberal-consipracy extreme.
Thanks to Chris Remo and the crew at Idle Thumbs for alerting me to this one and pointing out the essential flaw -- the original interview in Entertainment Weekly completely changed the meaning of a quote from Halo writer Joe Staten by leaving out the last four words. If my "negative" "review" of Halo 2 wasn't enough caution against out-of-context quotes, this ought to be. Then again, anyone expecting thorough and experienced game analysis out of The Free Republic isn't thinking straight anyway.
The best part is the comments that are so ludicrous they're often almost self-mocking: "If your kid is going to a Halo 2 release party tonight at midnight, be aware that your kid is going to a left-wing political rally..."
The New Video Frontier
Quick Summary: PRI's Marketplace uses the Halo 2 release as a jumping off point to look at the positive effects of games on business sense
Author Mitchell Wade takes the controversial position that video games have made a whole generation of players less risk-averse and more willing to accept failure. Who knew? With San Andreas sending the anti-violence crusaders into overdrve in recent weeks, it's nice to see a major outlet covering the other side. Best part: The host somewhat incredulously accepting the demonstrable fact that gamers aren't giving up games as they pass into their 30s.
IGN vs. Bungie
Quick Summary: The IGN team gives a detailed account of their thrashing at the hands of the Bungie team in multiplayer Halo 2.
Humorous color piece or conflict of interest? You decide.
Actually, I decide first -- it's just a fun piece. Fraternizing with your sources can be all right if it serves some journalistic purpose. Here, offering some unique hands-on impressions of the multiplayer game is purpose enough. It would have been nice if they had taken some of their time with the developers to get more insight into level or gameplay design, but I digress.
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Why bother buying a strategy guide to such a simplistic game? Run as fast as you can, down the only open corridor, shotting everything that moves?
ReplyDeleteThe only time I ever bought a strategy guide was for Metal Gear Solid, and I didn't even use it as a strategy guide. I'd only look at the info about each level after I'd completed it. But it was a gorgeous book, full of detail about the world, etc.
ReplyDeletePeople still buy strategy guides! I thought they went out in the 90's by the great hand of the internet. Im sure countless faqs are already available, but I wouldn't know haveing blown threw the game.
ReplyDeleteLiberal Propanganda? In the Halo 2 commerical the only time Master Chief speaks is too spew the one-liner "I need a weapon!" Isn't that the motto of the NRA?
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