Halo 3 has been released, everyone that wants to play it has played it. Those that haven't played it soon will be playing it. So, is it the killer app for the Xbox 360 or just an awesome addition to a growing library?
If you look back to the classic Xbox you'll recall Halo and it's Halo 2 were very well received on the console. Calling them "well received" is really an understatement considering they were the best-selling Xbox games for 4-years running and top online game played on Xbox Live until Gears of War arrived.
Think about that for a second, until a game with the graphical power of Gears of War with its co-op play mode and fairly standard online mode, Halo 2 reigned. GoW claimed the top spot on November 13th, 2006. It took a now-generation 360 title to dethroned a classic "Xbox 180" title.
The original Xbox had a few memorable games but nothing came close to the Halo series. It was, by nature, Xbox's "killer app" and without it we may never have seen an Xbox 360! But, does the Xbox 360 really need Halo 3 to survive?
Other titles have garnered gamer interest such as: Rainbow Six: Vegas, G.R.A.W, BattleField 2, BioShock, Blue Dragon, Oblivion, Call of Duty 3, Condemned: Criminal Origins, Dance Dance Revolution Universe, Guitar Hero 2, Forza 2, Viva Pinata, Saints Row and the list goes on.
Although not every title has been a record breaking blockbuster, the Xbox 360 has a game for almost everyone. How does Halo 3 fit into the mix with arriving titles like GTA IV (delayed), Assassins' Creed, Mass Effect, Project Gotham Racing 4 and many other holiday delights?
Perhaps, Halo 3 isn't a "Killer App" for the Xbox 360 like the Halo's of the past. Maybe Halo 3 is simply a title that's worth buying? The hype machine is in full effect, much like Gears of War on steroids, with hats, cups, slurpies and all kinds of crazy Halo 3 swag. Does all the hype make Halo 3 that much better of a game? Not really, it just goes to show you Microsoft is not willing to let this game slide under anyones radar.
Let's face it, Halo fans don't need to buy a fast food Halo product or see a sponsored ad during an NFL game to remember the third revision of the game.
It does stand to wonder how much of an impact the mass marketing will have against the competitors in the space, namely Sony and Nintendo. Sony is trying to clear their name and put out some killer titles but Microsoft won't let them forget about the success of the Halo franchise.
Is Halo 3 really the only game to have on the Xbox 360? How many gamers are considering all those other titles arriving soon? Will you time share your Halo game with other upcoming titles or is this it for you? Is Halo 3 the plateau of the Xbox 360 or is it just another weapon in the war against the competitors?
Sony plans to fight back with titles like Metal Gear Solid 4 (MGS4), Killzone 2 and Warhawk for the PlayStation 3. Any one of these games could turn out to be Sony's "Killer App" but in a way, having a single killer app like Microsoft's original Xbox is a double edged sword. You have one title that can bring in huge sales for your company but... you have one killer title. One title might keep your system alive for awhile but it won't make your system #1 in the industry. History shows the Xbox was brought to life by the Halo franchise but, today, Microsoft pretends the console never existed and continues to push the 360 to all consumers in the industry.
Microsoft learned that one "killer app" doesn't make a console. A killer app should simply make the console better.
