By Ed Geronia, hackenslash Contributor
INQUIRER.net

THREE years ago, a lone soldier made a promise to finish the fight once and for all. Spartan 117, also known as the Master Chief, is back to kick Covenant ass. The trilogy is now complete with Halo 3, the final saga of the Xbox 360’s banner game. For the game’s global launch last September 25th, major gaming markets such as North America and Europe played host to several Halo 3 events.

The central HQ for the Asian Halo 3 launch was located at Suntec Plaza in the heart of Singapore. A theater-size screen outside the mall gave onlookers their first taste of seeing Halo 3 in action. Staged last September 25, the mall atrium was transformed into a venue for the ultimate Halo 3 gaming party. Because of differences in time zones, the Singapore Halo 3 launch could be considered as the first in the world.

The launch kicked off at 12 noon, with people already lined up since early morning to get the first copies of the game. On sale on that day was the two-disc Limited Edition set. Encased in a heavy black tin box emblazoned with the Halo 3 logo, the 80 Singapore dollar (around P2, 600) set was only made available to stores the following day. People who purchased the game at the venue were also given an exclusive loot bag which contained a Halo-themed notebook, shirt, poster, cell phone accessory, and a S$30 gift voucher for a Halo Tagger messenger bag. A raffle stub was also included with every purchase. The main prizes were several Legendary Edition box sets.

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By Agence France-Presse

SAN FRANCISCO–Sales of exclusive Xbox 360 video game Halo 3 rocketed to $170 million on opening day, marking a historic debut that outdid the final Harry Potter novel and the film “Spiderman 3.”

Microsoft confirmed on Thursday that the third installment in the Halo game trilogy had the highest grossing launch day in entertainment history after going on sale in the United States at midnight on Monday.

“Halo 3 has become a pop culture phenomenon,” said Microsoft Game Studios vice president Shane Kim.

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By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net

HALO 3 may be the most anticipated game for the Microsoft Xbox 360 but it was a big letdown for some in Hong Kong who lined up to get a copy, only to find out that it was in Mandarin.

In the official Xbox forum, some members who lined up hours before the opening of some toy and computer shops selling video game titles complained that the version being sold was in Mandarin. Some have accused Microsoft Hong Kong of knowing that customers were being scammed by not telling them what language the game would be in when it was released last September 25.

Among those who complained were Xbox forum member BushPir8 who said he was the third in line at a Hong Kong shop waiting for the sale of Halo 3 but found out that the copy being sold at the shopping center Windsor House was in Mandarin.

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By Jessica Mintz
Associated Press

SEATTLE, Washington–Within hours after die-hard fans finally got their hands on a copy of Halo 3, blogs brimmed with reports that special limited edition packaging is scratching the video game disks.

Microsoft Corp., which owns the studio that makes Halo 3, responded quickly on its Xbox website with details for a replacement program. Customers can fill out a form and send in their scratched limited edition disks for a free exchange through the end of December.

A Microsoft spokesman and a member of the company’s outside PR firm did not immediately respond to calls and e-mail from The Associated Press requesting more information.

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HERE’S an amusing video of members of the Bungie team driving a real Warthog, which will be used for the “Halo” movie. They were in New Zealand to help Peter Jackson.

And here’s a pic of the Warthog that Weta built posted on the Bungie site.

All I can say is: I want a Warthog — now! How much would it take to buy one, heh