14 DAY TRIAL // Halo 3 has not even hit the shelves and Microsoft is already cashing in. On August 9, Microsoft has applauded the fact that Halo 3 has passed the 1 million milestone by counting just the pre-orders of the title. And by the looks of it, Halo 3 will not have the chance to jump off the shelves, as pre-orders ensure that the game will never even get to touch a store shelf. Microsoft is already referring to the release of Halo 3 as the entertainment event of the year, and judging by the rate of the presales for the title, the fastest in gaming history, Microsoft is not off by much on the actual success of Halo 3.
"What we've experienced is nothing short of phenomenal," said Bob McKenzie, senior vice president of merchandising at GameStop Corp. "'Halo 3' has eclipsed many previous records and will prove to be one of the must-have items of 2007."
"The excitement for 'Halo 3' is incredible," said Jill Hamburger, vice president of movies and games at Best Buy. "From our preorders online and the buzz we're hearing in our stores, we know this release is going to be one of the biggest entertainment events of the year. We're thrilled to be able to bring it to our customers."
Halo 3 will be made available on September 25 in no less than three versions exclusively for Xbox 360: Standard Edition, Limited Edition and the collectible Legendary Edition. According to the Redmond company, demand for the Legendary Edition is at an apex, and the version is expected to have sold out completely by the time of the launch.
"This September, 'Halo 3' will push video game entertainment into the forefront of mainstream culture," said Chris Di Cesare, director of creative marketing at Microsoft. "Teaming up with some of the world's strongest and most recognizable brands is trailblazing new paths and cementing video games as big entertainment on par with major event films, and is a testament to the excitement and anticipation intrinsically linked to 'Halo 3.'"