As you would probably know Spartan Ops will require a Gold account the download. This is just ridiculous. 343 states in their Halo Bulletin 13-06-2012 that Spartan Ops in part of the game you buy. So Silver accounts should be able to download missions.
That you need a Gold account to play Spartan Ops online with a friend or to play Matchmaking is fine because Xbox Live is a sevice Microsoft offers. But not being able to play Spartan Ops solo without a Gold account is just weird. Imagine you can’t play splitscreen ore system link without a Gold account. People with Silver accounts should be able to download Spartan Ops, maybe a week later than people with a Gold account, but they should be able to play it because they payed for it.
Quotes from the Halo Bulletin:
-Although I would note that it doesn’t matter which version of the game – LE or Standard, since it is included in the price of Halo 4.
-Between Spartan Ops and Campaign, you’re basically getting two campaign equivalents for one price.
Note:
-Some people only play Halo for the story and do not play MM. So they don’t need a Gold account, but know they have to pay for Spartan Ops when they buy the game and for a Gold account.
-Some people don’t have the time to play often and a Gold account would just be a waist of money. Campaign is and Spartan Ops can be saved and continued when you have the time to play.
-Most people with a Gold account play Halo for it’s multiplayer. If they already play Spartan Ops they probably wont replay levels because MM has more replay value.
You can still download updates with silver. I would imagine that’s how they unlock since the missions come with the game. If not then it should not be a gold only feature.
I don’t actually know anyone who has an Xbox and doesn’t own a Gold subscription but I do completely understand the issue for those who don’t.
I never really thought of the possibility that silver could deliver this form of DLC as it is stated as ‘free’. At the end of the day it’s just Microsoft trying to get some more money of their audience even though it does seem quite unreasonable. It’s nothing on 343i’s part.
> What I want to know is if i can purchase one month of gold after a few months, download all the content I missed, and then play solo when my gold expires.
probably not unless you play it while you have the gold
Single player playthroughs should perhaps be possible, but it’s a co-op gamemode intended to be played with more than 1 player, so gold stays for at least co-op play.
> What I want to know is if i can purchase one month of gold after a few months, download all the content I missed, and then play solo when my gold expires.
I’m not actually too sure if this will even be available.
I didn’t notice at first but I had bought DLC for ‘Call of Duty: Zombies’ (don’t go there), when I was playing offline i decided to play the DLC content and it wasn’t available for me. I’m not sure if this was just my console/ account but it could mean you actually need the Gold to download and play.
> it’s gold only and that’s good, another benifit to paying $60 a year
Why? You already paid for Spartan Ops because it’s price is included with the game. Paying 60€ a year for xbox live is for the services Microsoft offers you, like matchmaking, the ability to play Spartan Ops with friends, etc…
I understand requiring an internet connection but to requiring a gold account too, that’s jive as hell. Put another one in the plus column for -Yoink!- taking the fun out of games by its pay to play service.
Gold should not be a requirement. I don’t pay for Xbox anymore since moving on to PC gaming. Paying for missions which we don’t even know are good yet are not my plan especially with college.
> Single player playthroughs should perhaps be possible, but it’s a co-op gamemode intended to be played with more than 1 player, so gold stays for at least co-op play.
Single player is possible, but not if you don’t have a Gold account. Multiplayer is also a co-op gamemode and you can play multiplayer splitscreen and on systemlink without a Gold account.
The benefits for a Gold account are Online Muliplayer and matchmaking and Online Spartan ops and matchmaking.
> > Single player playthroughs should perhaps be possible, but it’s a co-op gamemode intended to be played with more than 1 player, so gold stays for at least co-op play.
>
> Single player is possible, but not if you don’t have a Gold account.
My wording with “should” and “stays” does not indicate a belief of otherwise.
> Multiplayer is also a co-op gamemode and you can play multiplayer splitscreen and on systemlink without a Gold account.
> The benefits for a Gold account are Online Muliplayer and matchmaking and Online Spartan ops and matchmaking.
That is correct, online. SO is an online mode and it is connected to an online progression system.
Playing offline doesn’t require a player to unlock weapons or abilities for online because it’s all “custom” anyways.
I understand that one has “paid” for their SO with the purchase of their copy of Halo, but so has one bought the rest of the online features. Online features require a gold membership, it’s a reality of XBOXLive and something not new to us.
> I understand requiring an internet connection but to requiring a gold account too, that’s jive as hell. Put another one in the plus column for -Yoink!- taking the fun out of games by its pay to play service.
We pay to play better games than the competition. I’m not going to cry over $60 for a year of fun, and laughs.
> What I want to know is if I can purchase one month of gold after a few months, download all the content I missed, and then play solo when my gold expires.
You will. It’s something you downloaded. Gold isn’t necessary to play it, it’s just necessary to get it.
It’s a company of Microsoft. Is there anything on Xbox Live that doesn’t require gold to download? Anyway, I can get 14 months of Xbox Live for €30, just look around the internet and you will find some great deals on sites such as amazon.co.uk.
> True, but some people (myself included) will want to play it offline.
>
> Imagine if Forge required you to go online with a Gold account, even if you were just forging alone.
I believe I covered the “alone” part already, so I have already imagined.