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Halo 3 Preorders Top 1 Million, Marketing Begins
Gamespot reports that Halo 3 has broken the all-time record for videogame preorders in North America. There are now more than 1 million copies of the title reserved across the continent. "The figure means that the Halo 3 launch could potentially be bigger than that of Halo 2. The then-Xbox-exclusive sold 2.38 million units in the US and Canada in the 24 hours after went on sale on November 16, 2004, generating an estimated $125 million. Halo 3 preorder customers' passion for the game is such that cost is apparently no object. As part of today's announcement, Microsoft warned that, despite its premium price point, the collectible Halo 3: Legendary Edition is on track to sell out before the game launches. The bundle, which includes a miniaturized version of the Master Chief's helmet, retails for $129.99 in the US, but is already sold out at several online retailers in the UK."
Marketing Begins?
I think with a million preorders, the marketing is pretty much done.
Holy Moly! Thats pretty impressive. If that was a music album it would already be considered "platinum". All that without any hardcore marketing. I guess it's true that the game industry is going to surpass the music industry, if it hasnt already.
I'm holding out for the version that comes with the working Mjolnir armor.
Isn't enough that I ruined a pony, making a gift for you?
You can buy 2 PS3 games and breakfast for 2 with that cash.
HAlo 3 and mass effect are the only two things that might tempt me to get a 360. I susupect they may eventually get PC editions.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
While I agree with Mr. Shill here about Halo not being as much of a mind-blowing game that many people see it as (in my opinion, of course), I still think it's a good game. It had a good aiming system, the controls were tight, the graphics were decently pretty, the length was perfect, and the story line was interesting.
As far as the Halo 3 Beta graphics go...any self-respecting gamer should know that you NEVER judge a game based soley on the beta. Console folks just aren't used to the idea of a beta and as such they took it to mean that this is what the game will be like.
Living With a Nerd
You can also buy 2 and a third normal Halo 3 games for that price.
The premium version isn't the only one, you know. Sheesh.
Comment of the year
But it will be saddening to see the bought and paid for reviews pour in for the game as gamers where most of us still like to believe that the games market is a place where you live or die on actual game worth and not how many millions a company has to throw at reviews and the press.
And it's utterly impossible that opinions may vary, and that some people might actually like the Halo series of games without being bribed? I've played a hell of a lot of FPS games, going back to Marathon, Doom, System Shock 2, Unreal Tourney, etc. The fact of the matter is that I think Halo 2 is a really, really fun game, and that's all I care about. Then again, I'm not a snob with the whole "oh games without a mouse all suck!" crap that you see around here so often.
Comment of the year
Halo 2 was released on the 9th. I still have the orange sticker on my box stating that it not be sold until 11/09/04.
Hopefully those little freaks aren't back in Halo 3
Excuse me while I gather the virgin sacrifice and assemble the pentagram required to solve your problem
In the highly unlikely event of the game selling out, MS could push a button and produce 100,000 more in a single day. I really don't understand why anyone pre-orders so far in advance. The game will available everywhere with no difficulty at all. Preorder is a total and utter waste of time.
The publishing duties aren't held by the same people who do the development. Of course, I'm not going to argue with you about any of it, your cynicism shows your opinion of the game is locked before it's even finished.
Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
...those 1 million people who pre-ordered didn't think Halo 2 was overrated. I trust Bungie to provide a game that will be worth $50-60 dollars. I don't think it will be the world's best game, but it will certainly be worth the money, for multiplayer anyway. People seem to think that it's all-or-nothing for the Halo series these days, and that's just not true. Get down from your thrones made out of Valve games, people. I'm pretty sure it's legal to buy a shooter for a console that isn't the worlds best game and NOT get struck down by lighting (or an AWP).
Tell me something...it's still "We, the people"... right?
I have a couple of theories on this.
1) Halo allowed LAN-style gaming, without the headaches. A $300 console replaces the need of four gaming-level PCs. Keep in mind, not only is the cost reduced, a LOT less gear needs to be lugged around.
2) Halo is to FPS what Final Fantasy 7 is to RPGs.