Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Halo 'No Longer Just a Game' For Microsoft

Posted by Zonk on from the hasn't-been-for-a-while dept.

News.com has a piece looking at the way that Halo has transformed from game to franchise for Microsoft and the Xbox. Despite the heavy advertising and branded products that seem to be everywhere in anticipation of next week's launch, the company is still trying to keep the IP as pure as possible. "Microsoft is wary of watering down Halo, meaning it would rather walk away from deals for Master Chief pajamas or Covenant sippy cups. Microsoft had little experience in talking to toymakers and others about how to transfer an onscreen experience to real objects. But such experts exist in the licensing arms of movie studios, so Microsoft partnered with 20th Century Fox to act as the main licensing agent for the Halo brand. Items that did not make the cut were a Halo-themed lottery ticket, lingerie modeled after a female hologram character, and toy guns based on the game's weapons. Instead, fans can expect high-quality action figures from McFarlane Toys, a tabletop game from WizKids, and replica weapons for mature buyers."

14 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. But toy guns DID make the cut by Have+Blue · · Score: 3, Funny

    http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2007/07/06/halo-3-laser-tag-command-features-plasma-rifle-plasma-pistol-energy-sword-for-your-inner-master-chief.htm

  2. Items that did not make the cut were... lingerie by trdrstv · · Score: 4, Funny

    Items that did not make the cut were a Halo-themed lottery ticket, lingerie modeled after a female hologram character...

    WHY the HELL NOT?!?!?!

  3. Re:Why don't we have licensed bedsheets anymore? by Drinking+Bleach · · Score: 2, Funny

    Probably the #1 reason Mario even got popular :)

  4. i'm here to kick ass and make soup by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just having a character named "Masterchief" always seemed like overkill to me.

    Well, it was supposed to be Masterchef , but they couldn't get Steven Seagal to sign on, so they had to change it at the last minute.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  5. Crap by FauxPasIII · · Score: 2, Funny

    My wife would have _loved_ a Cortana teddy.

    --
    25% Funny, 25% Insightful, 25% Informative, 25% Troll
    1. Re:Crap by Tofystedeth · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would have _loved_ my wife in a Cortana teddy. Fix'd
      --
      "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Drink deeply or not at all."
    2. Re:Crap by Surt · · Score: 1, Funny

      I would have liked to have _loved_ my wife in a Cortana teddy, had she not left me over it. Fix'd You missed a couple minor typos. Fix'd.
      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  6. Re:Why don't we have licensed bedsheets anymore? by Gropo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I miss my Pac Man sheets. I wonder if anyone sells retro ones in Queen size these days.
    Oh, never mind I share that bed with a female. Yes, I'm new here.

    --
    I hate Grammar Nazi's
  7. Re:Why don't we have licensed bedsheets anymore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Licensed bedsheets? The game is rated MA. Nothing says virgin quite like a 21 year old with Cortana plastered across your bed.

  8. Uh huh by MBCook · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've got to say, when I first started to see all the marketing crud they are doing for Halo 3 I thought it was pathetic. The "game fuel" thing really clenched it for me.

    I think Ctrl+Alt+Del captured it.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  9. Re:Items that did not make the cut were... lingeri by PJ1216 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Madness?! This is Sparta!

  10. halo players, mature? by inzy · · Score: 3, Funny

    "replica weapons for mature buyers"

    haha. yeah right, it's so mature and grown-up walking round with a plastic copy of a virtual weapon from a computer game

    kudos to MS though, for not putting the brand on anything. the lingerie sounds plain tacky

  11. Re:Why don't we have licensed bedsheets anymore? by markbt73 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Do you really think Transformers sheets would have helped you to get a girl to stay over?

    --
    "Oh boy! Are we going to try something dangerous?"
  12. "Covenant sippy cup?" by Allison+Geode · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think you mean "Official Halo 3 Covenant Grunt Food Nipple(TM):" For when you've worked up a big grunty thirst.