14 DAY TRIAL // Just as this (work) day was approaching an end, this came in. Microsoft has confirmed through an official report that over 10,000 retailers across the United States will be opening their doors for Halo 3 fans who are currently probably standing in line as you're reading this piece. OK, see ya, be careful out there so you don't trip and fall in the crowd.
What, you're still here? When they said the most "highly anticipated game expected to register the biggest day in retail entertainment history," I figured there was no chance I'd still have you with me by the second paragraph. Oh well, guess I should be grateful. I'll treat you to some official word then:
"The excitement and demand for 'Halo 3' has transcended a typical video game release and we're preparing dedicated registers for its midnight release in our 24-hour stores," said Darin Dickson, video game merchandise buyer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. "It's clear that this is one of the most anticipated games of the year and that 12:01 am Sept. 25 will be a memorable moment for thousands of gamers."
"Our customers have been waiting for 'Halo 3' since the day after 'Halo 2' launched in 2004," said Jill Hamburger, vice president of movies and games at Best Buy. "'Halo 3' is going to bring the experience to new levels, and we are excited to help our customers get the best possible game playing experience."
As for Shane Kim himself, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, he is convinced that "With 'Halo 3,' Bungie Studios has further mastered the art of marrying fantastic gameplay with the intangibles that make the experience extraordinary for gamers, evoking incredible emotion through its story and character development. That emotion is at the heart of what makes this more than a game and why 'Halo' connects with its audience in the way other great stories like 'Star Wars' resonated with theirs. But unlike the static experiences of a great film or novel, 'Halo 3' offers a dynamic and social interactive entertainment experience that enables players to finish the fight themselves."