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Successful Halo 3 Beta Concludes

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

June 13, 2007, 1:39 PM

Microsoft said Wednesday that it had ended its multiplayer beta of Halo 3, adding that it had attracted over 820,000 unique participants contributing over 12 million hours of game play.

The company now turns its focus to promotion through Halo-themed merchandise, such as a special edition wireless controller and wireless headset. While the accessories are not available until September, Microsoft is building buzz by permitting pre-orders.

Other promotions include a special edition Halo 3 Zune to be available exclusively through GameStop on June 15 for 249; a book by Tor Books debuting on October 2; and a Marvel comic series beginning on July 25.

Bungie and Microsoft launched the beta on May 16, although issues with registration initially locked some gamers out of the beta. The strain on Xbox Live was tremendous -- downloads of the beta alone constituted about 350 terabytes of data.

"The participation in the 'Halo 3' beta was staggering," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "Witnessing such a great reaction to a small portion of the game has been inspiring."

Halo 3 is set to launch on September 25.

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By kholdstare

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 4:10 PM

yea the 360 sucks. it been out a year and the games on it look the same graphically than the PS3. Thats what so sad about the Xbox360. Companies are too cheap these days. Oh well I'll stick with my Nintendo WII right now because at least it has something different to offer me than the other 2 systems.

Score: 0

By syedsahmad

edited Jun 15, 2007 - 4:54 PM

Unless I'm reading your post incorrectly (which is possible), you are implying that the 360 sucks because the games, graphically, look the same as a PS3. While that doesn't make much sense, wouldn't that make the PS3 the loser? I would think a system, which is older (even by a year), should look WORSE than its competition that was touted to have an amazing CPU/GPU.

Score: 0

By mshulman

edited Jun 13, 2007 - 2:38 PM

Benjamin,

What were you expecting? I thought Halo 3 looked great, played great and can't wait for it to come out.

It was like playing a High Def version of Halo2 with extras added in. I really don't see why people weren't happy with it.

Score: 0

By Benjamin Linus

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 11:00 PM

Some people are blinded by Microsoft spin..

Microsoft have told you Halo 3 will be awesome, so you queue up for the box set of it without question...

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 10:52 AM

Nope. I enjoyed the game so now I am going to buy it. Simple as that. Halo 3 is not about the graphics it is about the gameplay. Also I still don't think the graphics are anywhere even close to as bad as people are trying to make it sound.

Score: 0

By syedsahmad

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 11:12 AM

Agreed. I too played the beta, along with many others, and found it to be much better than expected. The game looks much better "in person" than any photo or YouTube posted video. No "spin" convinced me the beta was fun, it was my own experience/time spent with the beta that led me to my conclusion.

Score: 0

By SlapShot

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 7:50 AM

like your blindness for everything sony spin...

lets honor the PoS3, by fading to black with journey playing

Score: 0

By siryak

edited Jun 13, 2007 - 7:26 PM

Same here. Although I compared Halo 3 and Halo 2 and Halo 3 was actually quite an improvement.

Score: 0

By Benjamin Linus

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 2:02 PM

If by Successful, you mean how everyone has been complaining about how bad it looks compared to expecations, then yes it was Successful...

I, like many as really disappointed by the Beta. I realise it's a beta, but I don't think they can change too much between now and launch, certainly not enough to meet my expectations...

I am wondering if the 360 is starting to reach the limit of it's capabilities... Perhaps Gears Of War is as good as it gets, graphically at least....

Score: 0

By SGD

edited Jun 14, 2007 - 10:05 AM

I bet that the 360 could do much better if it made games like Resistance on the Pcrap3 that were created in only brown. How many shades of brown can be displayed at one time.

Score: 0

By CarLox

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 6:30 PM

nigga cant you just shut the fuk up? please!!

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 2:18 PM

Lol. Yes because there are never complainers on any game ever. Get real Ben. The top selling games out there have whiners. Show me one game that does not have people complaining about something. Halo 3 is more about the gameplay anyway. Halo 3 is going to be a huge success just like the first 2 Halo games. Anybody that doesn't see this is obviously in denial.

"I am wondering if the 360 is starting to reach the limit of it's capabilities... Perhaps Gears Of War is as good as it gets, graphically at least...."

Seriously doubt it. Even if Gears of War was the limits of its' capabilities it is still pretty dam good. Far better than anything the PS3 has put out.

Score: 0

By Benjamin Linus

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 10:59 PM

I never said Halo 3 wouldn't sell, it will sell loads, but it's disappointing. People have been heralding it as a killer title for so long, but the beta simply fails to deliver, and I don't think it's totally down to being a beta. If Bungie can't get anymore out o the 360, then nobody can....

PS3 is just starting out, and personally, owning both systems, I prefer Resistance to Gears of War, the graphics may not be as vibrant, but Resistance has so many other great qualities, in both online and offline, that Gears simply does not cut it...

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 10:56 AM

Also Bungie was mainly limited by the engine they were using, not the 360. Then as I said the graphics do not look that bad. Oh forgot dealing with Sony fangirl, everything 360 is bad.

"PS3 is just starting out, and personally, owning both systems, I prefer Resistance to Gears of War."
How do you figure it is owning both systems? Are you huffing? The PS3s games blow compared to the 360s!!! They have yet to release anything ground breaking.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 8:51 AM

Owning that is funny I thought that the crap3 has is still sitting in the back seat on sales. Poor sales must mean a better product. Get real.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

edited Jun 13, 2007 - 3:09 PM

360 is the best out there. PS3 can say whatever they want until they come out with some a game. Can't believe the system is out 6 months and still no games. Did they sign up any developers at all?

Score: 0

By Metfanant

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 9:54 PM

because the 360 had a HUGE library 6 months into its lifespan too :::rolls eyes:::

keep telling yourself this after MGS, and Killzone are released....

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 11:07 AM

Lol yes because 2 titles are going to save the PS3. The 360 has much better exclusives than both of those games. It is time for you Sony fangirls to except that people aren't willing to pay the $600 price tag for the POS3 whenever they can get better for less from the 360. The sales are showing it.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Jun 14, 2007 - 10:07 AM

Not everyone liked those games. I hated Killzone so I could care less. MGS bored me so I am not concerned. There is not many exclusive stuff for the PS3 that excites me. The 360 is the answer for me. And yes I do have a PS3.

Score: 0

By SlapShot

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 11:05 PM

we should honor the PoS3, by fading to black and having the sound of journey going

Score: 0

By phenomnaruto

posted Jun 13, 2007 - 2:17 PM

See: Nintendo Wii.

Score: 0

By iamtux

edited Jun 14, 2007 - 3:30 PM

I second that.

Score: 0

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