The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 140

Connection CHOICES THAT CLICK 4 THE FUN'S JUST STARTING Popular game spawns a new sequel The hype Xbox has become that proves how big ByCRISTEN HAYES Special to The Star Dough: Microsoft Game Studios and game developer Bungie Studios sold more than 5 million copies of the original a number that adds up to $200 million or more in sales Domination: helped build the Xbox franchise Microsoft has now sold more than 155 million Xboxes since the launch In 200L The company is projecting that 5 million Xbox consoles will be sold in 2005 Data: The game will retail for $4999 and discounts will be rare A limited-s edition version of the game with a second disc detailing its making will sell for $5499 2" contains simulated violence and intense action and is rated for mature 17 and over Images courtesy of Microsoft pre-order Many including GameStop Electronics Boutique Best Buy and Circuit City are opening at midnight to sell the first copy at 12-01 am Tuesday and they expect people to be lined up out die door While such a reaction to a game is not unprecedented presents it on an even greater scale In gamers play the enigmatic Master Chief an elite soldier who is the only defense between hordes of hostile aliens and humanity A fast-paced action game the original combined detailed environments and a compelling cast of characters sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and earned a huge following of devoted fans It is a phenomenon that has spawned three books and a variety of memorabilia On eBay highly sought-after items like the green edition Xbox and some of the more unusual action figures often sell for many times their original price The game illustrates a new trend in the gaming world: video and computer game releases that gener ove over Spicier Man Moviegoers paid $115 million to see the blockbuster during its opening weekend in 2002 a record for the industry But Xbox gamers are expected to pay at least that much when one of the most anticipated video games of the year is released on Tuesday Students who know when their next math exam is have known for weeks when "Halo sequel to the 2001 video game hit will be released Microsoft Corp said in mid-October that more than 15 million games had been pre-ordered While an official update been released pre-orders alone are believed to exceed 2 million copies which would generate more than $100 million dollars in sales Retailers have been preparing for Tuesday's release date for months At GameStop in Roeland Park for instance employees answer the phone with the offer of a "Halo compete online on the Xbox Live network with up to 16 friends Alex Richardson a Shawnee Mis sion East graduate and current freshman at Kansas State University bought an Xbox specifically to play have one game and it's he said ate the excitement and cash formerly reserved for blockbuster movies and albums Hie industry saw that as recently as last month when another game Theft Auto: San Andreas" sold 45 million copies in one week was developed by Bungie Studios a formerly independent game developer that was purchased by Microsoft Corp before the release of the original That purchase guaranteed that the game would be developed for Xbox o- lly and not compatible with other game systems About 70 Bungie employees worked on for three years said Frank content manager for Bungie said computer and video games are becoming more mainstream without alienating hard-core players increasing their popularity Part of the original lure was the ability to link multiple Xboxes and have parties said adds to that he said by allowing users to Gisten Hayes a 2004 graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School attends Lake Forest College Send comments to chayesQkcstarcom WEB REVIEW miss Worth a look Somewhat useful Ho-hum bother More insurers are putting caps on replacement costs covered toy homeowner policies These sites can help calculate what replacing your home might cost GADGET CHECK Wireless Xbox Snapshot: One of the downsides of any video game console is the wires If competing online wires run to the headset Logitech started to cut the cord for Xbox users earlier this year with a wireless game controller The company is completing the process with Its Cordless Headset Designed for the online Xbox Live service the headset uses 24-gigahertz technology to provide audio input and output for players up to 30 feet away The compact over-the-ear design uses a boom microphone Insuring your home wwwbuilding-costnet If you know about how many square feet of living space you have this construction industry publisher's Web site can spit out detailed labor and material cost estimates for each of 34 construction cost categories The calculator Is also a handy tool if you Intend to build wwwrepair-homecom This construction-oriented Web site Is less Interactive than some others and is powered by a rechargeable battery that Logitech says wHI last up to six hours The AC-powered recharger is included Techno-stress factor Low but could interfere with some 24-gigahertz wireless phones or wireless computer networks I Price: Retails for $7999 and includes two months of free Xbox Live It will be most useful when combined with the cordless controller which retails for $4999 I Details wwwiogitechcom David HayesThe Star but offers more Information than many Click onto The Home Builder for advice about everything from designing and building homes to dealing with builders and lenders www msmoney commm ins urfL homeownerhtm The advice is generally blah but a Homeowners Quick Estimate calculator offers a quick interactive gauge of potential replacement costs i wwwatlanticmutualcom This insurance company Web site offers seven simple questions to help determine If your home Is adequately insured wwwcwinsurancecom Countrywide Insurance's calculator gauges your replacement costs based on just three things your state your ZIPcode and the square footage of your home sagmar November 2004 M0NEYWI8E K-16 wwwkansascitycom.