This bundle is a TON more than just 2 maps. Seems like folks want to call out only those parts of the bundle they like and then say that’s all it is. I’ve read others say, it’s only armor or it’s only skins, etc. It’s ALL of this. None of this specific content is recycled, but for maybe Pitfall, and even that has been dramatically redesigned.

Would it have been nice to get this pack free? Sure, but where is the business sense there? Mind you I’d LOVE to have noobs come back to the game so I can PWN. But honestly, even if this were free, I doubt we’d see much of an increase anyway and it wouldn’t last. There are just too many games out there for people to choose from. This is why the perceptions are so skewed when it comes to play population. If you compared Halo 3 to Halo 4, then you’re saying Halo 4 is a failure.
One simple thing people don’t take into account is that there were less big blockbuster games back then to take you attention away from Halo. Now there are several successful franchises out there. So Halo has more to compete against. If makes perfect sense that player population isn’t going to be were it was, especially when more games (big name/franchises) keep coming out.

With Halo being a 1 every year/other year thing now, it’s pretty safe to assume that we’re not going to get these packs free.

Regarding Halo collector perceptions:
One thing that I do find strangely funny in an odd way is when collectors gripe about the cost of the map packs. We spend HUNDREDS of dollars on the toys, but when a simple $10 bundle pack comes out, people complain. Seriously???
To quote a Halo collector: “People are just saying that $10 for some recycled assets is a bad deal.” And yet Mega Bloks, McFarlane, Funko and other licensees reuse molds of their toys all the time and put new paint on it. For example, one jut ONE McFarlane figure cose more than this whole pack. That same figure could be repainted in 5 different colors, yet people buy it. It’s the same toy, just a different color. How about the Mega Bloks multipacks? For a long time we were getting the same figures, just in different colors. Yet people clamored over them.
I fail to see how this bundle pack is bad when comparing this. With the bundle pack we are getting ALL NEW stances, some NEW armor, a NEW map, a NEW game type, then the armor and weapons skins.

I’m willing to bet most collectors have spent WAY more on Halo Mega Bloks, McFarlane, Funko, Jada, etc., than they have on the games themselves. Yet it’s the games that keep ALL other Halo lines going. Without the games, the licenses would dry up and gone would be the toys with them.

Even take the novels into account. One hard cover novel costs $25-30. Softcover maybe half of that. BOTH are STILL more than this bundle pack.

I dunno, I choose to show support for this pack. It IS cheap and it DOES offer a lot of variety. There is something in there for everyone. And the best part is, if you don’t want all of it, 343 is making it available for you to purchase parts of it instead for even CHEAPER prices. The only thing then that you’ll miss out on is the bonus content. THAT is a reward for those who buy the whole pack. And I agree with that decision. Again, for only $10, we’re getting a ton of great content.

Here’s another thing to consider, for those who collect, do you display your stuff or play with it? If it’s display only, then it’s just sitting there. If you play with the stuff, when’s the last time (as an example) you picked up the original Mega Bloks Ghost and zoomed it around on your table? I’d say chances are pretty slim that is happening. Yet, if you’re an active Halo gamer, you’re using these assets all the time. I know many a gamer friend that is excited about the Mark V and/or ODST armor. A lot of people are looking forward to the return of the Pit, now called Pitfall. This new gametype, Ricochet, looks like a LOT of fun and you can BET it’s going to be a new mini-gaming league SOON in the future.

Anyway, I’m not mad, just really perplexed by people’s perceptions of this pack. Hmm, was that an alliteration…

To read more about Halo 4, please check out HFFL’s section on Halo 4 HERE.
And as always you can read that and MORE by going to HFFL’s homepage, HERE.

-Sal