Halo Over-Reached

When is too much, too much? When does too much become nauseating? And when does nauseating become a turnoff? That’s what Microsoft is doing with their marketing of Halo Reach. When they announced that this was the most expensive marketing they have ever done for a game, two words came to mind. “Ya, think?”

I understand that Halo is a hugely successful IP, and for a lot of people it’s a big deal. But please, can you get it out of my face for a least one second?

Every time I turn on my Xbox, the first thing I see is something about Halo Reach. The second thing I see is something about Halo Reach. The third thing I see,… well, you get the point. For the last few weeks I am getting inundated by Microsoft about this upcoming title. Every day there seems to be a new trailer, a new interview, or some kind of new video. I just can’t get away from it. It’s so out of control that on the cover of OXM magazine and on 99 of the 100 pages inside (maybe a slight exaggeration) there was more coverage of Halo Reach.

I’m not a huge Halo fan, I owned Halo 1 and 2, and I’m familiar with the game, it’s just not my cup of tea. But if there was the slightest chance of me buying this game, Microsoft has so turned me off by being in my face, it’s not going to happen.

Like the old saying goes, you have to know when to say when. And as far as advertising this game goes, when was a long time ago.

This doesn’t just pertain to video games, it goes for all things. TV shows, movies, concerts, political ads. You can only take so much, and then it becomes a nuisance and a turnoff and you want no part of it no matter how good it may be. By now, anyone who has electricity must be aware of the new Halo Reach game that’s coming out, with the exception of one or two people in northern Canada and a few small villages in Bangladesh.

So can you please stop pestering me on my Xbox every day?

We get it. It’s going to be huge. It’s a big deal. Now stop. This may be the best game of all time, and I’m already sick of it because it was “overreached.” Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to play some Headshot 2.