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Microsoft thanking Halo 2 players?

D

Dead Man Typing

Member
Hi sorry if old, did a google search and all that.

Just got this email from Microsoft:

On April 15, 2010, we will discontinue the Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox games playable on Xbox v1 and Xbox 360. In our continuing efforts to evolve the service, we need to make changes to the LIVE service that are not compatible with original Xbox v1 games.
What does this change mean for you?
• It does not affect your ability to play original Xbox v1 games offline, but does remove LIVE connectivity and support for online multiplayer, leader boards, and other online features of these games.
• We realize that you are an avid Halo 2 fan. Unfortunately, with this change, you will not be able to play Halo 2 on Xbox LIVE going forward.
• Although it is difficult to say goodbye to Halo 2, the Halo franchise continues as the benchmark for multiplayer gaming in this generation with Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and soon Halo: Reach. On the Xbox 360, you will continue to have access to the LIVE service where you can enjoy hundreds of other LIVE-enabled games.
When will this change take effect?
• April 15, 2010.
What is Xbox LIVE doing for me?
• To thank you for being a loyal Xbox LIVE customer, we are giving you a free, three-month LIVE Gold membership and 400 Microsoft Points for you to use as you choose on Xbox LIVE.
• In addition, because you've been so loyal to Halo, we are inviting you to participate in the exclusive Halo: Reach Beta.
How do I get these offers?
• You will receive a token for 400 MS points. Check your Xbox LIVE account messages on the console. These points can be used for 365 days after you activate your token.
• We are extending your Gold membership by three months automatically. The extension will be directly reflected in your LIVE account.
• Finally, as the beta gets closer, you will receive an e-mail containing the code granting you access to the exclusive Halo: Reach Beta.
Thank you for being a loyal Xbox LIVE member. Please visit xbox.com/support if you have any questions or for more information.
The Xbox LIVE Team
Click to expand...

I appreciate the gesture, especially since I had already came to terms with them turning off Xbox 1 online functionality. I wonder what criteria they're using to determine whether or not people were avid Halo 2 fans. It does say loyal Xbox Live subscribers, so is everyone with a certain amount of subscription time will be getting this?

400 points and 3 months of gold is a nice little bonus, in my opinion. I already own ODST, but it'll be nice to be able to launch the Reach beta from my hard drive without the ODST disc. (if I'm understanding this correctly)

Anyone else get this?
 
I got this earlier as well. Almost deleted it, except I saw this thread. Pretty cool that they're doing that. 400 points will give me enough to purchase Perfect Dark XBLA. Nice job Microsoft.

It'll be a shame to lose Halo 2, but at least I can play it on the PC.
 
awesome, just checked, I got that same email. Will be nice to boot up the beta from the console just like I did with the H3 one.
 
I haven't played halo 2 in a while. I wonder if I boot it up and start playing if I'll get an email.

I'll take that extra Reach beta code off your hands when you get it :D
 
Got this as well. Pretty nice since my brother and I share a copy of ODST between us, now we can play the beta together on separate screens. :D
 
Is this email just being sent to people who are still actively playing Xbox titles (Like Halo 2) on Live? Or anyone who used Live on the Xbox originally?
 
To the ones that received this....were you regular Halo 2 players or just life long Live members? I wonder if I would get it if I go home and fire up Halo 2. :lol

The reason I ask...my Windows Live ID is tied to an old email addy that I don't use anymore....I've had Live since day 1. If that is the criteria....my thank you email probably bounced into the nether regions of Al Gore's interwebs. :-/
 
_dementia said:
kinda creepy how a company can keep tabs on everything we play, but i guess it comes with the territory :/
Click to expand...

psychomantis.jpg
 
_dementia said:
kinda creepy how a company can keep tabs on everything we play, but i guess it comes with the territory :/
Click to expand...
If I recall correctly from those internal docs that leaked recently, every game/dashboard visit and its duration is tracked in a permanent record for as long as your profile exists.
 
That's not a bad deal. Essentially a $25 value IIRC. They didn't have to give anybody anything. Pretty good gesture IMO.....
 
Z_Y said:
To the ones that received this....were you regular Halo 2 players or just life long Live members? I wonder if I would get it if I go home and fire up Halo 2. :lol

The reason I ask...my Windows Live ID is tied to an old email addy that I don't use anymore....I've had Live since day 1. If that is the criteria....my thank you email probably bounced into the nether regions of Al Gore's interwebs. :-/
Click to expand...

Been an XBL subscriber for 3 years and played 700 games of H2 (small compared to the 3 000 I played of H3), but apparently that's not enough. Either that, or the fact that I'm not in the US. Oh well.
 
Tunesmith said:
If I recall correctly from those internal docs that leaked recently, every game/dashboard visit and its duration is tracked in a permanent record for as long as your profile exists.
Click to expand...

Wow, just googled this (brought me back to NeoGAF :lol)

viewer
 
I just received this email today. Haven't gotten the token or the extra months yet though. How about everyone else?

By the way, I played the crap out of Halo 2 and currently have over 2000 games in Halo 3. Which according to a Halo 3 stats tracker is only 13 days, which is not as bad as I thought it'd be.
 
Z_Y said:
To the ones that received this....were you regular Halo 2 players or just life long Live members? I wonder if I would get it if I go home and fire up Halo 2. :lol
Click to expand...
Neither. I've had a Live subscription for just over a year, and I never owned an original Xbox. I did buy Halo 2 to play on my 360, but I've only played online once and have barely even started the single player campaign.

Perhaps the letter got sent to anyone who logged into Halo 2 within a certain time window?
 
Just checked and I didn't get the email :(

Have over 7,000 games played in Halo 2. I played the hell out of that game during High school.
 
Carlisle said:
Neither. I've had a Live subscription for just over a year, and I never owned an original Xbox. I did buy Halo 2 to play on my 360, but I've only played online once and have barely even started the single player campaign.

Perhaps the letter got sent to anyone who logged into Halo 2 within a certain time window?
Click to expand...

No offense to you, but if you got the mail I think every one else in this thread deserves it as well..
 
MagniHarvald said:
No offense to you, but if you got the mail I think every one else in this thread deserves it as well..
Click to expand...
None taken, I agree completely. It just kinda throws out all the qualification theories we've been bouncing around in here is all.
 
I got the email myself, I'm based in UK. I fired up Halo 2 to redownload the old maps when they went back up and had a few games on it recently.
You have to make sure your opted in to xbox marketing emails for your xbox account and possibly, recently played Halo 2 online.
My friend who got me into Halo 2 and played hundreds of games hasn't got the email so far, then he told me he opted out of marketing emails. Wonder if you can complain about it?
 
I got it too. Been a Live subscriber since Day 1 and played a crapload on Halo 2 back in the day. I did recently get nostalgic and pop it my 360 to play. When I realized I had to re-download all the maps & such to play, I didn't bother.
 
I didn't get anything. I think MS is punishing me for playing halo 2 for like 3 years and playing Halo 3 for less then a month.
 
Played over 11,000 games on Halo 2 since it's launch in '04 and I got the email.

I'm really appreciative of this because it means I won't have to buy ODST to get into the beta.

Win. :D
 
hmm, my xbox live account is hooked to an email account with had been disabled for a long time. I reactivated it today, so I hope I still get this.
 
I didn't get email. Played alot of halo 2 too =/.

Maybe cause I change my id and xbl name or something. That could be why.
 
I don't think everyone is going to get this, just xbox live accounts still regged to the old xbox live and not to people who signed in on a 360.

*edit* maybe I read wrong but some of you have had this email? in that case as someone who played halo 2 on my xbox and on my 360, where is my points and live time, ms? :D
 
Maybe if you use one of those free trials to play an Xbox original online RIGHT NOW they'll send you a thank you code.
 
Pappasman said:
I've been a subscriber since 04 and played H2 a shitload. I didn't get the email :(
Click to expand...

Ditto :( Over 4000 games between launch and the release of Halo 3 on both the original Xbox and the 360. I'm hoping it's just my email account acting up as it is wont to do with marketing emails. When Rockstar sends out emails, my one email account gets it immediately, this one takes a couple hours.
 
Nelo Ice said:
why do i never get anything for having xbl for 7 years?! :lol
Click to expand...
They work it out in some lame way, doesn't matter if you started as a beta tester or own an original xbox still, they might be going by if you played halo 2 back in november for more then 1 match, or if you played 3 times in december.
 
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