Stood in line at BestBuy last night starting at 10:30 to get my hands on a midnight-release copy of
. I was one of the small percentage of thirty-something-plus geeks in line (one or two guys may have been in their forties, but it was definitely a younger crowd). Kudos to my mega-cool wife for granting the kitchen pass for me to make the midnight run.
Got a free poster of the Master Chief (instant strife between my boys -- which one gets to put it on his wall??) and entered a drawing for a 3-foot tall statue of the Chief, but I don't think I won that. The doors opened promptly at 12:01AM and I exited the store less than 10 minutes later, probably the 50th person or so in Plano, Texas to [legally] own the game. Yay!
Got home in time to play it for an hour or so. The graphics are definitely several steps up from the original Halo. So far I haven't seen any ham-handed politicking, Lileks' concerns notwithstanding. The banter from the space marines is so far more varied and colorful, there are a few new species of Covenant aliens, and the new weapons (the battle rifle and SMG, esp. with the two-handed shooting option) rock.
A more objective review (not just subjective impressions) will follow in due course. If my posts are lighter than their already nigh-insubstantial form for the next couple weeks, you'll know what I'm doing.
1
Looks like the guys at Penny Arcade were in line too.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3
Posted by: owlish at November 09, 2004 08:43 AM (n2osn)
2
By the way, on the title: "I Am A Pathetic Halo Fanboy Geek;" no, no, no.
Be Proud of who you are. Look in the mirror and say some of those self-affirming thingees. "I am good at killing aliens." "I can kick my son's butt at video games." "And darn it, people like me." "I may be a Halo Fanboy, but I can use it to increase my geek rating significantly."
Then kick some alien butt.
Posted by: owlish at November 09, 2004 08:56 AM (n2osn)
3
My wife won't let me have video games. Can I come over and play?
Posted by: RP at November 09, 2004 01:56 PM (LlPKh)
4
Owlish, there were several frat/football types, like in that Penny Arcade strip. Interesting crowd overall -- geeky like an SF or comics convention, but not quite the same degree of social awkwardness. Quite a bit tougher-looking (and coarser-talking) than Star Trek fans.
Posted by: JohnL at November 09, 2004 02:12 PM (YVul2)
5
RP, any time! But you have to pay your own way to Texas. Maybe when your kids are a bit older, your wife will change her mind (mine did -- we didn't get our Xbox until last year when eldest child turned 9).
Posted by: JohnL at November 09, 2004 02:13 PM (YVul2)
6
Maybe. I'm doubtful, but maybe.
Posted by: RP at November 09, 2004 03:47 PM (LlPKh)
7
And in other fun news, Headline News was comparing the first day of Halo 2 economically to a movie opening, and G4TechTV is having Halo2 day. Yippee!
Posted by: owlish at November 09, 2004 06:22 PM (n2osn)
8
John,
One of the students in my Intro to Aerospace Eng class sent this email on Monday afternoon:
Professor Hall-
I am speaking for the entire class. We will be on our way to the mall to pick up copies of halo 2 at midnight. This is the biggest release ever. No other movie or video game compares. I think it would be a great idea to cancel class for tomorrow. In halo 2 there are many aerospace vehicles, so technically we will be studying some form of class material while saving the earth.
- Ryan Koubek
Note: You are the coolest teacher at VT.
Thought you might appreciate it. BTW I did not cancel class, possibly endangering my status as "coolest teacher at VT."
Posted by: chris at November 12, 2004 09:16 AM (zH1Gw)
9
Hey, about the "ham-handed politicking" of H2, Michelle Malkin has an entry that points out the creative editing that went into that quote. See
this entry (at least if I did it correctly.
BTW, I already have 2 copies of H2. I have 2 boys and they each have their own Xbox, so I reserved them each a copy, gave it to them on the afternoon of the 9th and said, "Merry early Christmas!"
Posted by: Glen at November 12, 2004 03:00 PM (go2A+)
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