April 15th was a traumatic day. Not only did it mark the day citizens of the United States had to turn in their income tax forms, but also it was the final day of support for the original Xbox on Xbox Live. Microsoft cut the old consoles out of the online platform. If you want to play online with an Xbox, you’ll need a 360 to do so.

Some games also lost support as a result of this decision. One of them was Halo 2, a game that contributed to Xbox Live’s early success. Bungie’s first person shooter told the story of the continuing adventures of Master Chief in his efforts to save the Earth from invasions and alien parasites. But it was the online multiplayer features that gave the game remarkable staying power.

While Halo fans can still play against each other online with Halo 3 and other games, the mechanics, maps and tactics are unique for each game. Some players weren’t ready to give up on Halo 2 — so they didn’t.

CNET’s Don Reisinger wrote about a group of gamers who have managed to keep Halo 2 running online. Their method is simple: They’ve been logged into Halo 2 since April 15th and  haven’t logged out or turned off their Xbox consoles. Reisinger writes that while dozens of players started out preserving the game, their numbers have dwindled down to 14 players. When the last of those players turns off his or her console or logs out (or loses power), Halo 2′s online world will be no more.

I can understand the love these players have for the game. Halo 2 was one of the few games I would play on Xbox Live. I was never one of the strongest players. I preferred to guard the flag in team games and I often contributed to high scores in death matches (I make an excellent target). But I also had some great times with friends and dealt more than a few impressive kills in my career. My style of play worked well with Halo 2′s pacing and interface. I’ll miss the online play.

Microsoft’s decision to end its support reminds me of Sony’s recent move to remove the “other OS” feature on the PlayStation 3. As these companies make their online services more complex, it becomes difficult to support older games and platforms. It’s easier to cut those elements out of the development cycle rather than find ways to accommodate older games. But these companies also run the risk of alienating their customers as they remove functionality from their products.

What’s your opinion about video game consoles losing functionality? Is it just the price of progress or do you think companies should work harder to avoid abandoning popular titles from the past?