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Halo 3 Enters Public Beta... Master Chief Reporting for Duty
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by Jordan Yerman | May 21, 2007 at 07:43 am
860 views | 0 Recommendations | 2 comments
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![Halo 3 Beta Screenshot #2 [Highground]](http://media.nowpublic.net/http://media.nowpublic.net/images/d6/e/d6e07d8a2139a1c8d9e9a23bd7a17a7e.jpg "Halo 3 Beta Screenshot #2 [Highground]")
Halo, the flagship title for Microsoft's Xbox gaming platform, is back. The third title in the series is entering public beta as gamers check to see if the Master Chief is ready for prime time.
UPDATE: our own e03179 has alerted us to a feedback blog that has sprung up.
The first-person shooter is the latest addition to the company’s popular science fiction franchise in which an armor-clad human space soldier fights alien hordes in sprawling single-player and online multiplayer battles.Shane Kim, corporate vice president for Microsoft Game Studios, predicted sales would surpass those of "Halo 2," which the company says reached $125 million within the first 24 hours in 2004.
"In terms of great exclusive content, this is the biggest weapon that we have," he said.
The announcement comes as a "beta," or test version, of "Halo 3" is being offered to consumers through June 6, allowing players to test some of the game’s multiplayer features ahead of schedule.
The beta shows only the game’s multiplayer online aspects, however. Details of the single-player story remain a secret, Kim said.
However, the initial beta launch, offered via purchase of an additional title (Crackdown), was delayed, sparking outrage from legions of fans who couldn't wait to take on the alien hordes.
Once unleashed, several beta testers quickly discovered the possibility of a four-layer co-op mode:
[q
url="http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=76642"]Crafty
coders playing the Halo 3 beta have unearthed references to a
four-player co-op mode.
We're still waiting to hear from Microsoft about whether it's
legitimate, and if it will feature when the full-game launches on 26th
September.[/q]
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 09:49 on May 21st, 2007
I do not know who is more excited about this: me or the fourteen-year-old gamer who lives over the road! Gaming has become such big business, and is redefining the entire entertainment industry.
at 16:33 on May 21st, 2007
This in from Justin Farrey, who is beta testing the game...:
I was so stoked about this beta. The only reason that I
purchased Crackdown was because of the Halo 3 add on. I
must admit that I have had several satisfying hours of play
on CD.
I booted up the warm glow of the green circle on the 15th
just before midnight. Several of my friends were logged on
to XboxLive with the same intent. But when morning came
Halo 3 Beta did not. I messaged my friends they had the
same story. I quickly checked Bungie.net and saw the count
down that said the beta was to be released at 8 AM Eastern
Time - precisely when i was scheduled to clock in at work.
I was not going to be discouraged. I raced home on my lunch
break and was denied again. I checked at 8 o'clock, 9
o'clock, 11 o'clock. Defeat was my only name. I check
back with Bungie and searched Google for resolutions. I
saw some speculation that it was delayed until the 17th.
Finally a glimpse of hope. I successfully got the download
after that hour turned and my central nervous system lit up
with electric excitement. My Xbox hummed its sweet sounds
as it loaded the content. Then another setback. I
received a "blue screen of death" of sorts. It was a
message informing me that the beta was "either currently
unavailable, or has expired." Curses upon curses.
Now to be fair the Beta has loaded successfully and I have
made my enemies hate the day that they logged on.
So what type of backlash should Bungie expect? Not much
really - poo happens, right? Would I ever buy another game
based solely on the beta of another - probably not.