New Halo 3 Multiplayer Maps

I looked forward for years, literally, to Halo 3, both for the continuation of the campaign storyline (great story and, hopefully, Microsoft will get the right studio and director on board for the film adaptation) as well as to see what improvements would be made in the multiplayer live environment.

Sadly, I was disappointed on both fronts. The campaign game is way too short and the Halo 3 live experience just kind of...well, sucked. How did it suck? Let me count the ways. No scorpion tanks, limited availability of rocket launchers, some new weapons that are really questionable in their tactical value, and the absence of panoramic maps that give you a feeling of expanse such as blood gulch.

I can't tell you how quickly I got bored of cycling through the same handful (barely) of big team maps in this latest rendition of what I've always regarded as the pinnacle of gaming. In fact, it got so bad that I shelved the Halo 3 disc and brought out Halo 2 again, just to see blood gulch once more and to get my hands/controller on rocket launchers again.

Well, today, I got a marketing email announcing that more multiplayer maps have been released for Halo 3. I don't know anything about them yet but I'm itching to try them to see how they play. All I can say is, its about time.