Gamers Evolved

Last night the Halo series developer, Bungie, announced Halo 3 will include a cooperative online mode that allows up to four players to team up and battle together over Xbox Live. Though rumors were floating around about a two-player co-op mode, Bungie shocked the gaming community with the four-player details.

Like every other aspect of Halo 3, this mode is chosen from a Lobby. Simply select Campaign, choose your network (Xbox Live or System Link) and invite your friends to join you, or they can simply join your session once it’s set up and in a lobby (but they cannot join a game once it’s in-progress). They will pop into your lobby instantly, and when you have all the players you need (anywhere from one to four) you can begin the game from the beginning – or from any of your saved checkpoints.

“It’s time for us to sack up and tell you what’s what regarding online co-op. So you were probably wondering why we didn’t want to commit to two player co-op online over Xbox Live. We certainly got plenty of mail asking, no, demanding that we make it happen. Of course we were working on it, but we were also working on something better. Not two player co-op. Not three-player co-op, but up to four player co-op. Online. On Xbox Live, or sure, System Link if you prefer. That is correct – up to four player co-op in Campaign mode on Xbox Live or System Link.”- Bungie’s Luke Smith

Details about the new co-op mode are as follows:

• Two players will be able to play in a cooperative setting in the same room with the same screen, with the possibility of adding two more teammates through the Xbox 360’s online network.
• Players who start a single-player campaign will be able to bring in other gamers to join in the adventure from any save checkpoint.
• One player will control the Master Chief, another the Arbiter, while the remaining players will take control of two brand new Elite characters named N’tho ‘Sraom and Usze ‘Taham. Bungie states that each will have identical characteristics (besides starting weapons; Carbines for the Elites in some missions, not the battle rifle like the Master Chief).
• Players will also be able to save videos of battles fought during co-op mode, allowing for on demand replays of the action.

Halo 3 will be available on September 25 in three forms - standard edition, limited edition, and legendary edition - ranging in price from around $60 up to about $130.