Gaze at Halo 3 'Heroic Map Pack' images

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Dec 6th 2007 at 8:30PM }

Be honest now. It's not like you have anything better to do than to stare at a series of polygonal environments and pretend you're dashing through them, mowing down multicolored cyborgs and kidnapping defenseless flags. In the gallery below you'll find images depicting the three environments comprising Halo 3's "Heroic Map Pack," which arrives on the Xbox Live Marketplace on Dec. 11th. It'll set you back 800 MS Points ($10) unless you're the patient and/or apathetic type, in which case it'll cost you nothing early next year. But then, we already lost the apathetic readers at the headline.

If you've made it this far (kudos to you for putting up with an unreasonable amount of filler nonsense), you'll want to be reminded about those three new maps again: "Rat's Nest," an indoor area rife with vehicles! "Standoff," a valley overshadowed by a large melancholy dish who's always staring off into space! "Foundry," a level you get to strategically clutter up (sometimes with soccer balls) in Forge! The constant use of exclamation marks is unnecessary and annoying!

Gallery: Halo 3 - Heroic Map Pack

[Via X3F]

Tags: Bungie, DLC, FPS, Halo, Halo3, Heroic-Map-Pack, Marketplace, XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Hyams @ Dec 6th 2007 8:38PM

I was going to mock the price of these maps, but then I remembered that the new Warhawk map + new vehicle is going to cost me $8, and so decided not too.

We demand cheaper DLC! (but refuse to boycott it ... )

brandon_r87 @ Dec 6th 2007 9:07PM

@ gonk, he could have bought before price cuts, and I'm sure he is including taxes. I paid $450 with taxes for my launch Pro model.

Hyams @ Dec 6th 2007 9:10PM

Yay for Joystiq's fucked up reply system?

jayeffaar @ Dec 6th 2007 10:00PM

I see a fucked up replay, but what's fucked up about the system?

[Hoping real hard that this reply shows up where I think it will]

jayeffaar @ Dec 6th 2007 10:03PM

Hey, besides the fact I apparently can't spell "reply", it showed up just fine!

Darren @ Dec 11th 2007 11:42AM

i have a problem with you all being so cheap for 3 new maps... its not gonna come out until spring... you paid over 450$ for your system and games and to play live... ya'll are some cheap mofos.. its 10 bucks... thats less than an hours worth of work.. maybe you all dont have jobs...

carg0 @ Dec 6th 2007 8:38PM

i don't care how bad i want these maps. i'm not getting raped for $10.

"Heroic Map Pack"? Is that what they're calling this? I can see why. it certainly must take a 'heroic' effort for everyone at Bungie to NOT call this what it really is: bullshit.

ThornedVenom @ Dec 6th 2007 8:44PM

For 10 bucks, you might as well want your map to be named Heroic.

BIGGEN @ Dec 6th 2007 8:45PM

that's halo3 for ya: bullshit

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Dec 6th 2007 8:49PM

Thank you. I spent 450 bucks on a video game system, I spend 50 bucks a year on Xbox Live and 25$ monthly for internet. You can take off that last one because this is a complaint towards Microsoft.

I spent 60 bucks for a game. Thats 60 bucks on top of the overpriced Xbox Live service and the expensive-but-worth-it 360. I shouldn't have to pay a dime for a few new maps (I am the only one who thinks Halo 3 has a shitty map selection? I mean they are good but there isn't a lot.) If your going to charge me 10 bucks for an addon pack you better give me more than 3 fucking maps. I want at least 5 and some weapons. Feel free to through in some booze too.

I'll wait until they are free, thanks. To those of you who won't wait a month (they are free in January right?), have fun wasting 10 bucks that could be used for something worth it's price on Xbox Live.

gonk @ Dec 6th 2007 8:53PM

you paid $450 for a 360?

Poisoned Al @ Dec 6th 2007 9:43PM

No, not just you Nick. Most of packaged maps are bland to look at or boring to play in certain or all modes (shotty snipers on Narrows, ooo fun). The few good maps there are don't seem to show up much on ranked games ether. I mean there may not be many official Team Fortress 2 maps, but they are all play tested to hell and back and are great to look at, and PC owners get new user created maps for free. Okay, most of them suck donkey farts, but they still cost nothing.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Dec 6th 2007 10:20PM

Gonk, it was an Elite

rTwelve @ Dec 6th 2007 11:22PM

@Nick
Usually, I would have to start arguing with you on that, but as it turns out, I won't even be able to "waste" my $10 dollars, but Microsoft no longer believes I am 19 anymore, and that I'm 17 again, and cannot download Halo 3 maps, as well as various GTAIV trailers and other fun Mature rated things. They also can't seem to understand that the debit card under my name I had back then IS THE SAME ONE I HAVE NOW, AND I HAVE NO OTHER CREDIT CARDS, AND BUYING A PREPAID VISA CARD JUST TO PROMOTE MY CHILD ACCOUNT DOES NOT JUSTI--

oh, now I can see your point now, Nick. Good show, good show.

Jake @ Dec 7th 2007 8:46AM

You don't have to buy the maps. Make a statement like me by playing something else until the maps are free, then give the game a healthy revisiting.

Brad Lee @ Dec 8th 2007 2:50PM

Yeah this is definitely not worth my $10.

I've stopped caring about Halo though, ever since I got COD4, which is leaps and bounds better than H3 in every aspect. The only thing H3 has over COD4 is the co-op, but after pounding through that a couple times with friends, there really isn't any reason to do it again.

I might try the new maps when they become free; by then maybe I'll be bored of COD4. But in all likihood, I'll try the new maps, remember why I stopped playing Halo, and just go back to Call of Duty.

Obie @ Dec 6th 2007 8:45PM

I am too busy with the 10000 great games that came out this year, I'll wait till the new maps are free.
My wallet would kill me in my sleep if I opened it one more time this year. ;)

gonk @ Dec 6th 2007 8:48PM

haha, same with me

i'm on my 3rd playthru of mass effect, still like 2 more to go to unlock everything

then i'll play it again right before ME2 comes out :)

Obie @ Dec 6th 2007 8:57PM

Wasn't the first Gears of War map pack free?
So why do we have to pay for the first Halo 3 map pack?
The game already sold a gazillion dollars, and would it have killed Mountain Dew to sponsor these maps?
Again, screw it...wait a few months and get em for nuthin'.

calsurfer18 @ Dec 6th 2007 8:52PM

not all corporations are greedy. look to google microsoft.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 6th 2007 9:50PM

Please. you guys act like only Microsoft would do this. This is what happens when something is really popular. Businesses like Microsoft capitalize on it. It happens.

And jesus christ people stop overreacting. You act like Microsoft is forcing this on you. They're not. So just wait until these become free and stop bitching at every little thing that happens.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 6th 2007 9:51PM

didn't mean to reply to you.

Fuck.

ThornedVenom @ Dec 6th 2007 8:48PM

At first, I thought that all of these microtransactions would have been kind of cool, just to pay and DL a pop for a little fee. You know, just flowin' with the stream of wootness.

But then I realize that this is Xbox Live, and they're willing to charge you 10 bucks for three maps. Sorry, can't justify that.

I DEMAND FREE SUPPORT FOR CONSOLES! AND MODS!

colin @ Dec 6th 2007 11:06PM

you/d better take some hostages then

Jeff @ Dec 6th 2007 8:49PM

This is micro$oft living up to the dollar sign that is used to spell their name. Same crap they pulled with GoW. God knows the developers probably want nothing to do with it, but the money gods in the sky know we'll pay for it.

Fish @ Dec 6th 2007 9:04PM

Wow, over reactions. I stopped playing Halo 3 regularly a few weeks ago, and instead moved on to other games.

If these 3 maps hold my attention for a month, that's one or two less games I'd buy. $10 for a month's worth of entertainment isn't bad at all.

Axyl @ Dec 6th 2007 9:14PM

They are tempting but I am too cheap too buy them Because they are expensive

Axyl @ Dec 6th 2007 9:15PM

I know I stated the obvious

Yubastard @ Dec 6th 2007 9:17PM

"The constant use of exclamation marks is unnecessary and annoying!"

I love you, Joystiq... you always make me laugh and I feel safe and take solace thinking you are the latest bastion of unbiased videogame info.

Tango Charlie @ Dec 6th 2007 10:03PM

Tango Charlie @ Dec 6th 2007 10:04PM

oh. everything after the emoticon "heart" I used disappeared. now we'll never know what I was going to say.

Speddy @ Dec 6th 2007 9:37PM

Halo 3? What is that? Oh, the biggest selling and quickest to finish and forget videogame of 2007?

I'm playing CoD4 so I don't have time or MS points for this (late) map pack.

Jmoney @ Dec 6th 2007 11:56PM

go to major nelson look at the top 10 multplayer games for the week on Live...and try to repeat that again....

Speddy @ Dec 7th 2007 8:22AM

I don't give a crap what Major (ass) Nelson thinks. He's a MS tool. I bet you are one of those forum posters that always asks, "Should I Buy It?". Should you ask to wipe your ass after you take a dump too?

dark_inchworm @ Dec 7th 2007 2:07PM

Um... it's not what Major Nelson thinks, fella... it's a simple fact that Halo 3 is played more than any other 360 title available (well, not factoring in 360s that have no internet connection, but I'd wager the stats would remain the same).

Tango Charlie @ Dec 6th 2007 9:59PM

I'll wait.

You guys go, get good at them, and I'll see you in 2008.

Sky Shark @ Dec 6th 2007 10:03PM

How about you cheapies, these people who spent much time working on it, MS probably gets some royalties then they have to factor in making a profit on time put into the DLC packs so stop complaining about 10 dollars. If you don't like FINE. Wait till they're free in spring but stop moaning and complaining cause quite frankly its starting to annoy everyone who sees the reason for this pricing.

Ethan @ Dec 6th 2007 10:17PM

I wish standoff was still called Jodrell bank - then I could pretend I was playing in Macclesfield.

Dan @ Dec 6th 2007 10:25PM

it's the prince of like...2 beers and a coke or something. You people need some perspective.

Do you think these maps were created on the dole or something? people are working paid time to come up with this stuff- you can't expect it to be free.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 6th 2007 10:26PM

Dude these are gamers you're talking about. They'll bitch about anything, especially when money comes into play.

ThornedVenom @ Dec 6th 2007 11:05PM

Thank you for pointing out the main problem in this relatively new form of marketing: how much is DLC worth?

Truth to the matter is, even if it cost the developer an arm and a leg to make it, the consumer shouldn't give a fuck because it's not his concern. The question is how much that content is worth in the eyes of the consumer.

RKN2K @ Dec 6th 2007 10:22PM

"pretend your dashing through them"

What, again?

Ants @ Dec 6th 2007 10:41PM

are these maps going to be used in ranked playlists?

gonk @ Dec 6th 2007 11:25PM

i heard that they will, but only if everyone connected to a match has the pack

Ants @ Dec 6th 2007 11:29PM

wow i guese no ones gonna play these maps online then, unless they add an option to match against players who downloaded the maps. After they become free it will probably become a mandatory download to play online, like in halo 2.

gonk @ Dec 7th 2007 12:41AM

no, they said you would still be able to play online w/out this pack

if someone cares enough about the new maps, they can create a game with their friends who they know also got them

honkyjesusownsu @ Dec 7th 2007 12:21AM

Wow.

640p almost HD at it's best.

This is me impressed.

Way to go Bungie.

Infinity Ward is next.

honkyjesusownsu @ Dec 7th 2007 1:05AM

Vegeta what planet are you from?

Wait for them to be free? All this content was done when the game was done.

Every publisher and developer is hereby at EA level except Irrational and the FREE BioShock crap.

Don't kid yourself or make excuses for non-HD games.

Overhyped game of the century = Halo Almost HD