Halo: Reach DLC announced along with Forgetacular Contest

Those folks at Bungie sure know exactly how to keep their audience happy. First they moved their much needed October multiplayer update up a few weeks to sate all the complaints about needing a Team SWAT playlist. Not to mention the rest of the update, set to go live on 10/19, which will introduce the Team Snipers playlist as well as an all Infection playlist (dubbed Living Dead) just in time for Halloween.

Earlier this week, Bungie announced the first round of DLC for Halo: Reach dubbed the “Noble Pack” and will drop on November 30. For 800 MS points, the Noble Pack will add three all new maps to various Reach playlists.

The first map, named Anchor 9, is set on a UNSC suborbital drydock. A smaller map, Anchor 9 will be used mainly in Rumble Pit, Team Slayer, Team Objective playlists. Though it’s a smaller map, it seems to be following the Bungie mapmaking pattern of larger maps regardless of the games it’s intended for. It’s said to feature a large, open area in the center of the map with hallways surrounding it as well as an antigravity area outside of the station.

The next map, named Tempest, is an asymmetrical map that was once a Forerunner installation. Featuring two different base areas, Tempest will be featured in Big Team Battle games as well as Objective-based games like One Flag or traditional CTF. Bungie also noted that Tempest will provide a large palate of objects and features to use in Forge.

The last map, named Breakpoint, is set at an underground UNSC laboratory compound retrofitted to stave off the Covenant assault. Breakpoint is the largest of the new maps and will be used for Big Team Battle and Invasion games.

I’m not even gonna try and pretend like I’m above spending 800 points on three maps – I’ll be buying it day one. I’d be happier with 4 or 5 maps for that price, even if they were remakes. Bungie has once again let me down, though, by not delivering a remake of Hang ‘Em High – possibly the greatest, asymmetrical CTF map ever created. But three maps isn’t all you’ll get for your 800 points – Bungie is also adding 250 more achievement points with the Noble Pack. There hasn’t been word on what these achievements will entail yet.

But wait – there’s more. Along with the announcement of the Noble Pack, Bungie also announced the “Forgetacular Contest.” Using the incredible powerful map editing tool, Forge, players are being given the chance to become part of Halo history as well as winning some sweet gear.

From now until November 28, players can submit an original creation to Bungie for a chance to not only win one of seven Limited Edition Halo: Reach Xbox 360 console, but also to have their maps integrated into Halo: Reach playlists. Bungie hasn’t said how many user-created maps will be made part of Halo: Reach playlists, but their website states, “Further, any and all awesome maps that meet the Bungie quality bar will be slated for integration into Xbox LIVE Matchmaking for millions of players to enjoy.”

There are some stipulations, though. The Forgetacular contest will feature seven different, specific game-types for amateur mapmakers to create for – Invasion, Race, Infection, Big Team Battle, Team Slayer, Symmetrical Arena, and Capture the Flag. More rules and regulations for the contest can be found at http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Forgetacular.