GOW knocks Halo 2 from Live top spot
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Nov 18th 2006 at 3:45PM }
Today is a momentous day. For the first time since, well, ever, Halo 2 has officially been knocked from the number one slot on Xbox Live. If you keep track of Major Nelson's weekly updates on the most played games on Live, you'll know that Halo 2 consistently trumps all other Live titles, even all the fabulous titles on 360. That's right, one original Xbox title is routinely played more than any 360 title. Until now, that is. Of course, now the question is: how long will it stay there?
We'd like to extend our congratulations to Epic and to Microsoft for their success. So, have you made the switch from Halo to Gears?
[Via Joystiq. Thanks, Sherveen Mashayekhi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian @ Nov 18th 2006 4:18PM
I hope they add some more game modes and better matchmaking or I don't think it will hold the number 1 spot for long.
jay see six @ Nov 18th 2006 4:21PM
finding a ranked game with your friends is so impossibly frustrating that I went from floored with the game to now considering trading it in.
Neoxkc @ Nov 18th 2006 4:42PM
You're not supposed to play ranked games with your friends, they don't want you to, otherwise they would have a party system like Halo 2, which I feel they should have anyway.
Danno @ Nov 18th 2006 4:48PM
It's actually far too easy to abuse the system as it is.
Have your friend set up a specific game, filter for that type, look for his name, stack sides.
LAME.
Bonus points for the host kicking people until the opposing team members all lack voice comm.
It does need work, but that's the matchmaking system, not the game.
Hype @ Nov 18th 2006 5:26PM
gow is a nice multiplayer game..but if fails in comparison to the behemoth that is halo 2....halo 2 has so many different modes to play more levels and u can play with 16 ppl....when microsoft decides to create new levels and allow more players then it will be greater than halo
Jenny Talia @ Nov 18th 2006 6:13PM
Halo will take back the top spot when the new maps come out, if not sooner.
L Capitan @ Nov 18th 2006 8:59PM
#5, GOW was not designed for more than 4v4 teams. IMO it would turn into another simplistic run and gun, IE Halo 2. And we don't want that do we?
Kritz @ Nov 18th 2006 9:29PM
"So, have you made the switch from Halo to Gears?"
Hell no. It hasn't even SHIPPED in Australia yet. It's also nice to see that the normal edition will cost $90USD.
I'm gonna hate to see the collector's edition.
>> Kritz
Insomnious @ Nov 18th 2006 10:01PM
For those of us in the Recreation zone, the Player matches are excellent. Gears of War is one of the first games where I've played online and felt that it was truly balanced. None of the guns are unbalanced, the levels are simple yet excellent skirmish arenas with plenty of cover, and there are no 'miracle kills' which happened all the time in Halo 2 (such as getting killed with a shotgun from across the map).
And please stop comparing it to Halo 2; they're both completely different games and both excellent multiplayers which deserve their own merit. If you compare all games to your beloved Halo 2 then why bother buying new games?
gamerxb360 @ Nov 18th 2006 11:11PM
As much as I don't like the idea of not being able to play with a buddy in a ranked game as well.. I for one am happy for the efforts being taken to keep matches balanced based on skill. I love Halo... but 7 times out of 10 I'm playing with people with the same rank that are really bad, or TOO good. How many of you like to play with people that yell STICK TOGETHER only so they can steal your kills as you assist them?? I would take even matches over playing with a buddy any day of the week. So far my experiences online with Gears have been more enjoyable because the gameplay forces people to work together.. more so than Halo ever did. Don't get me wrong... I love Halo.. but they both have pros and cons in their own rights. Gears may not have the variety Halo carries in the game modes and maps.. but it plays more balanced and at times (in my personal opinion) can be more enjoyable. But in conclusion.. both games earn the right to be the most played online games. They are both fun.
sleepstick @ Nov 19th 2006 4:48PM
Am I the only one who is NEVER able to connect to a host? I get disconnected everytime. Never had a problem with any other 360 game. I've been able to play on-line ONCE, so I know it's possible, but WTF?
darkbhudda @ Nov 19th 2006 9:11PM
Just came out in Australia. 3 days early. And the wireless headset came out early too.
Yee hah, grandma.
Now I just have to wait 6 hours until I can get home.
Waiting, waiting.
Gonna sign up for Gold membership too now that I have ADSL2+. Might be able to actually use the headset unlike XBOX on ADSL1 which didn't have the bandwidth.
Hopefully the cheaters and griefers have gone up the ranks and I won't have to deal with them for a while.
Righteous Grabe @ Nov 20th 2006 5:49AM
1) When you get into a game, it is beautiful. I've never played a team best FPS that was actually fun. I'm more of a "KILL THEM ALL" kind of guy.
2) what is with the match-making system. It is complete crap. How do companies, after seeing HALO2 and Blizzard's Warcraft 3 (or even starcraft3) screw us on such a crappy match making system. Refresh, slow, refresh, the host has left. . crap
Ran @ Nov 20th 2006 5:40PM
Yes two totally different games. Halo2 is vast and I love the vehicles. Flag and bomb are great modes. Haven't played it in sooo long though. New 360 titles are more interesting.
I love GOW multi. Can't get enough! Only 4 per side does seems a nice balance.
Friendly fire choice is a good option also. I hated people that turn on each in halo2.
More maps and more modes (capture the flag) would be choice for gears update. I played rank a little but playing with friends in unranked is still a blast. Who cares about bragging rights.
There's nothing so satisfying as an unsuspecting enemy's head blown clean off with the sniper rifle. Chainsaw, Shoty, and headstomp aren't bad either!
FredoTeabaggins @ Nov 21st 2006 4:15AM
I usually only play Halo 2 on XBOX Live, but I have to say, I picked up Gears of War and I love it. True, the multiplayer interface blows goats, but I'm having so much fun playing the campaign portion that I don't really care at this point. I'm fatigued with Halo 2 and I say screw new maps, we need Halo 3 pronto.