Gamers to get sneak peek of 'Halo Reach'

Gamers get a glimpse of the latest version of the Halo universe on Monday when the multiplayer beta for “Halo Reach” opens.

But to do so, they must own a copy of “Halo 3: ODST,” which was released last September on Xbox 360 and is the most recent release from the Halo portfolio.

The only other access — now closed — was by invitation only from game developer Bungie, which used the invites to reward “loyal ’Halo 2’ players.”

The “Halo Reach” beta will be accessible Monday on Xbox Live through the extras menu of the “Halo 3: ODST” campaign disc.

The beta could last just a matter of weeks, although there is no official end date so far, according to Jeff Rivait, product manager for Xbox Games and Accessories in Canada.

“The reason for that is it is treated like a legitimate beta, in terms of Bungie using this as a test to get feedback, to collect data, to refine the game,” Rivait said in an interview.

“If they find two, three weeks in that things are going really well and they want to do more testing, they could extend it. So it is kind of in flux based on how things will go after it launches May 3rd.”

There is no limit to how many gamers can take part in the beta on Xbox Live.

Bungie will use the beta to tweak the multiplayer portion of the game as needed, from how matchmaking and new features work to assessing anecdotal feedback from gamers on forums.

The beta will include four maps: Swordbase, Powerstation, Overlook, and Boneyard, according to www.haloreachbeta.com.

There are also four new game modes (Headhunter, Stockpile, Generator Defence and Invasion), as well as some past favourites. There are six new weapons and players can also up their game via invisibility or jet-packs.

“So it’s a nice little cross-section of all the things and features you can expect in the finished product, but on a slightly smaller scale,” Rivait said.

Not all the maps and game modes will be available Monday, however. They will be released at different times during the beta.

Games designers have also opted to hold back new vehicles until the title launches in the fall.

“Halo Reach” is a prequel to the original “Halo” trilogy.

“It lets you explore how you got to the point of where you kick off as Master-Chief in Halo 1,” said Rivait.

Launched in November 2001 along with the original Xbox gaming series, “Halo: Combat Evolved” was a huge hit and eventually spawned “Halo 2,” “Halo 3” and the real-time strategy title “Halo Wars.”

The saga starts in the year 2552 with mankind threatened by the alien Covenant, with a lone Spartan soldier named Master-Chief leading the human defence.

The Halo portfolio has sold more than 25 million units worldwide and gamers have logged more than two billion hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live.

Earlier this week, Bungie and game publisher Activision announced a 10-year partnership.

“It has grown to beyond gaming,” Rivait said, citing books, graphic novels, DVDs and an anime series. “There are still many stories within that universe to be told, I think.”

As with past games, “Halo Reach” will be available in a variety of formats this fall.