Since a copy of this disc has been popping in and out of the Marketplace and I've seen a few questions fly around I figured I'd start a thread with a quick summary of the details so that those who decide it looks interesting can make an informed decision. Title: Halo 2 Multiplayer Beta Date: July 2004 Print Run: Approx 7500 copies Included Maps: Five Single Player: No Multiplayer: Live only (no System Link) Retail Xbox: Yes Game Modes: Assault, CTF, Slayer Maps: Ivory Tower, Lockout, Midship, Waterworks, Zanzibar The Halo 2 Multiplayer Beta is something of an enigma for Xbox fans. As one of the most widely produced "beta" discs (with a print run that exceeds some production titles) you can't exactly call it "rare." Then again, whenever you pair the words "Halo" and "Beta" ears always perk up. Distributed to any Microsoft employee that asked for a copy, the multiplayer beta was designed more or less as a stress test. In this regard it is very similar to the Halo 3 beta that was made available for download on the Xbox 360 prior to that game's launch. The same game was also used to demo the multiplayer gameplay to media. Participants in the beta received the game disc, a NDA and a basic set of instructions. The paperwork is actually more difficult to track down than the game disc due to the simple fact that most people playing the game didn't care about the paper, they just wanted to frag. By itself the disc is little more than a trophy. Because it was designed to work in conjunction with Live, you cannot play a game on the beta simply by dropping it into a system and firing it up. Some fancy jiggerypokery is required if you want to experience anything but the menu. More details on the Halo 2 Multiplayer Beta: IGN: http://xbox.ign.com/articles/546/546627p7.html Gamepro: http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/previews/38028.shtml Gamespot: http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/preview_6107086.html Gamespy: http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/halo-2/546626p1.html Team Xbox: http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox/875/Halo-2/p1/ Xbox.com: http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/h/halo2/tipsandtricks.htm 1UP: http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3134528 P2P (Borman's Site with video): http://www.ptop.aborman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=22&Itemid=62 Disc ID: MS13001W-MS-T -hl718
How is this not rare? All of these copies were only distributed to bungie employees and required to be returned after the testing period. I have the licence agreement in paper and in the games menu. Almost all of these copies were returned. If one did not return the disk he/she risked there job. And there is no evidence of having 7500 copies. Im not trying to make you look bad but this is almost hurting my sale. Look at this: This is what else is in the betas code: gametypes: warfare capture_the_flag assault slayer oddball king_of_the_hill race juggernaut headhunter territories New weapons: -Disintegrator -Flamethrower Clanmatches: -Clan URL -Clan colors -Clan motto -clan abbreviation Possible dropped maps: -"Cloud City" which seems to have been dropped before the beta..... This may be incorrect but it is mentioned as a level. (EDIT) the level is listed as "non-existent" Profile: -Weird voicemask -Dropped backgrounds and Icons 4 colors allowed instead of 2 -Can put in flags, faces, check marks etc in profile name from stock menu -Profile names can be very very lengthy Vehicles: -Shadow -Mongoose! -civilian vehicle (you can get in it and possibly drive it) -Creep?? I have no idea what the hell that is.... -Covenant gun tower, it says: "Hold *blank* to man Covenant gun tower" -falcon??? (no idea what that is either) -gravity throne -insertion pod, haha..... says "to get in insertion pod and sit there like a dummy Press *blank*" -longsword fighter?? (wtf is that) -phantom?? -shadow -wraith (it has a gunner seat, assuming as a secondary gun. It does not specify) -Pelican Grenades: -Flashbang (no joke its in the mainmenu) Weird stuff: -"team killer" (an option in the game variants) Chances a team killer has in 1 minute before being booted from the game -You have to hold a button to diffuse the bomb.... Funny stuff I found: BOOT PLAYER: Don't let the door hit ya' where the good lord split ya' All of this information is 100% genuine. Many of these changes and extras are not reflected in the actual beta and are not in the actual game. This is what I found when looking at the maps in a hex editor. Keep in mind 80% of this stuff is not in the actual game or menu. It just simply exists in the map. However it seems that this "extra stuff" can be activated somehow into the beta.
HUM..Just my observation...but...are you sure it is the comments and not the price??? US market for sales is not the greatest. If it is one persons comments than either their word has alot of clout or what they say may hold some truth...
Well it seems like everyone is against me but I can bust out the original receipt for what I paid and can show you that it's plenty more than 500$. Anyways if there were 7500 copies I'm sure that most of the employees did not breach there NDA and sent the disk back. But regardless I'm not trying to start an argument. If somebody has a question let me know. Otherwise im not going to attest to the rarity of this item anymore. I just tried to clarify what the product is.
If you want evidence of the print run, I suppose you should speak with some of the employees who were working at Bungie at the time. Anyone who dealt with beta administration should be able to tell you the exact number. As for the rarity in general, you should circulate a bit more amongst Xbox collecting circles. There are a number of these discs out there moving back and forth between collectors. On Assembler alone a handful of people have these discs. No one is trying to prevent the sale of your item. We're simply doing what we do and that's detailing information about interesting things. That would include items such as the Halo 2 disc. Information alone is not going to directly help or hinder. In fact, the information provided has already detailed that finding the paperwork intact is a lot harder than simply finding the disc. You've got a complete set which does make it more desirable to someone looking. When it comes to collectible items the market is determined by availablity and demand, not by how much a single person paid. In some ways, collecting is much like the stock market. Sometimes things go up in value. Sometimes things go down. Sometimes you can afford to sit on an item. Sometimes you need to liquidate it fast. And sometimes new collectors do overpay. It happens to all of us. Unfortunately you can never base the selling price of an item on "what I paid for it before." Who you buy from or sell to is also going to make a difference. Some of the "retail resellers" (for lack of a better term) like BuyAtari and DreamTR are going to cost you more because they are in the business of selling games. That said, the extra cost a buyer pays is offset by the benefit of ease of access. Many collectors won't sell to just anyone; simply finding out something is for sale is half the challenge. As far as clarifying and detailing the disc, please feel free to do so. No one is ever going to complain about the sharing of information and the more we all learn the better it is for everyone. Borman's done a great job of detailing the contents of the disc on his website, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't feel free to also post details as well. -hl718
I don’t think anyone is against you. HL718 hit the nail on the head with sharing information. That’s what this board is about and makes it great. We all share information and don't mind comments. I know I can speak for myself and say if not for the economy I probably would have bought it but for me at this time my finances suck. I have 2 houses taking a dump in this housing market, stocks up and down and have been hit with everything but the kitchen sink, I expect that next week,, so my just neat items are all on hold. On rarity, for me, I don’t consider it that rare. Not because of anything anybody has said but because I have physically seen 4 copies in different people’s collections. Also, as far as I know you really can not do much with it. To me it is just one of the many items I find would be neat to have. Collecting is crazy one week you will have a very common item sale for 100’s of dollars and the next week have the exact same item sale for 10 dollars or find a bargain on a extremely one of a kind item but bargain can definitely be debated because that is all in the eye of who is buying it and what they value the item as. For example 5 years ago I paid over $2500.00 for a prototype aurora fire truck, 4 exist in the world. To me it was a bargain to some people they say I was nuts. As for what you paid. Not to be mean but no buyer is really going to care about that. I know in slot cars when I am selling those none of my buyers care what I paid for it just what is the best deal I will give them on the car they want. In games collecting is even tougher because re-selling betas or devs can be tough. I know for me I bought allot through bankruptcy auctions and even though everything was on the up and up eBay still can pull the auctions so when I buy those type of collectable I take that into account for my buying cost. The easier the item is to re-sale the easier I am on paying more for them. Best advice I can give is stick with the price you want. If it does not sale at first bump the thread periodically and eventually you will sale it or at least get a counter offer. Economy just really sucks at this time so high price games are taking a beating. Look at dreamtr . A year ago his games would have been gone in the first hour. Now they are slower moving. In the end don’t let what people post get to you. It just builds resentment and hatred which contribute to your own stress. Not worth it. Everyone here is great and do not mean any harm. I know for me I really enjoy this board and its people. I don’t always agree with them and at times we disagree but as a community we all come together in the end and that is one of the reasons the assembler board is the best in the world.
You have to get a hold of my properly resigned xbe, but enough people have it, so you should have no issues acquiring.
