Halo 3 Beta Entries Start December 4th

[bapenguin]

Monday is a going to be a good day for Halo fans. First up is the 60 second Halo commercial during Monday Night Football on ESPN. On that same day, December 4th, Halo3.com will go live allowing XBox 360 users a chance to enter the beta program for Halo 3.

Full Press Release Inside (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=534731#post534731).

Looks like it's not an open beta, as only select people will get in.

[bapenguin]

Exclusive “Halo 3” Trailer Makes Broadcast Debut – Viewers to See Master Chief Like He’s Never Been Seen Before

Fans worldwide can experience a thrilling look at the most anticipated game of 2007 with a special 60-second “Halo 3” trailer; Microsoft announces first chance for North American gamers to participate in the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta by entering at Halo3.com

Humanity is about to experience another exciting look at the world of “Halo 3,” one of the most anticipated entertainment launches for 2007. Airing in North America, Monday, Dec. 4 on ESPN’s Monday Night Football and Xbox.com in Europe, the new 60-second “Halo 3” trailer will offer viewers an exclusive look at the iconic “Halo” universe and provide telling, new hints as to what Bungie Studios has in store for the highly regarded game, which is published by Microsoft Game Studios and exclusive to Xbox 360.

Fans can tune in to ESPN on Monday, Dec. 4 between 5:50 and 6:20 p.m. PST to catch this stunning new look at “Halo 3.” Additionally, the ad will be aired that same evening on Xbox.com at 8 p.m. PST /04.00 GMT/05.00 CET (Tuesday, Dec. 5).

The ad, created by McCann Worldgroup San Francisco, includes a mixture of live action and computer generated animation, will air one time only and will then be made available online worldwide through Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox.com.

“Halo is a pop culture phenomenon! The Halo franchise has changed the face of interactive entertainment and it's only fitting that we take an innovative approach to how we market and advertise the brand," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. "This invites a new audience with a rich back story, and continues to galvanize gamers around the world for the launch of Halo 3 in 2007.”

In conjunction with the ad, Microsoft today unveiled further details and an official call to entry for the “Halo 3” beta program. Beginning Monday, Dec. 4, by visiting http://www.halo3.com, gamers in North America will be able to register for the opportunity to be one of the select members to join the unprecedented “Halo 3” public beta program, scheduled to kick off in spring 2007. Today’s announcement confirms the first path of entry for gamers to participate in the beta program and be among the first to experience the most anticipated game of 2007.

The Xbox Live multiplayer public beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of “Halo 3,” is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. This beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the development of “Halo 3.” Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further refine and hone the end result of “Halo 3.”

Unveiled earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, “Halo 3” represents the third chapter in the “Halo” trilogy, an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, which equals nearly $700 million in sales, and logging in excess of 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live.

[Goronmon]

Me want.

I just wonder how much will change from the second one.

[pomeroy]

Well...this pretty much guarantees a November Halo 3 release. Woo!! HERE COMES THE COLE TRAIN! (I think I might just start using that in every post...)

[Kelegacy]

I don't even enjoy Halo as much as the rest of you, but I'm going to enter so as to steal a spot from the unwashed fanboys. :)

[Johan]

I don't even enjoy Halo as much as the rest of you, but I'm going to enter so as to steal a spot from the unwashed fanboys. :)

Ouch! Hit 'em where it hurts! ;)

I am decidedly UNexcited about this. I am, however, a big Halo fan, and will buy the game on day one (that's not common for me at all...day one purchases).

I really hated the way this whole freaking thing was initially announced, too. Ugh!

[Royal Fool]

A press release for an advertisement is pretty damn bad, even if your name is Microsoft and the press release contains the word "Halo". Thankfully they managed to squeeze in the Halo 3 beta mention so it isn't ultra horrible... just horrible.

[The Continental]

I don't even enjoy Halo as much as the rest of you, but I'm going to enter so as to steal a spot from the unwashed fanboys. :)

It doesn't really matter, Halo kinda sucks...



Ooooh, this is kinda fun.

[CaptStu]

Is this an image from the trailer?

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/12351/Halo-3-Trailer-Planned-for-Monday-Night-Football/

God damnit. It's shortening the URL. Oh well. Go to TeamXbox.com. You'll find it. I have faith in you.

[Pluvious]

OH BOY we get to do quality assurance for free !!! Isn't *** clever?

Tell you what.. when you finish the game (that includes an ending this time guys) I'll consider getting a 360.

[Mdot23]

tada

EDIT: picture removed. see link in stu's post on page 1

[CaptStu]

Thanks Mdot.

[Mdot23]

ahhhhh i need in that beta. i need it!

[Orosco]

The Xbox Live multiplayer public beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of “Halo 3,” is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. This beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the development of “Halo 3.” Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further refine and hone the end result of “Halo 3.”

Wasn't there an Escapist article about how developers shouldn't listen to the forums and all that crap?

[snugglebearofdeath]

OH BOY we get to do quality assurance for free !!! Isn't *** clever?

Tell you what.. when you finish the game (that includes an ending this time guys) I'll consider getting a 360.

:eek: How am I supposed to enjoy my gaming if you don't have a 360?!?

There goes my whole day. ;)

[SPBTooL]

Woo!! HERE COMES THE COLE TRAIN! (I think I might just start using that in every post...)
Because "The train is at home on the rails"

[Codicier]

Thanks for fucking up the formatting Mdot.

EDIT: Well that's better. Just bidness Mdot...just bidness. :p :D

[SPBTooL]

OH BOY we get to do quality assurance for free !!! Isn't *** clever?
I have been in some betas where the input from the players made a big difference. (Homeworld)
But I have also been is betas where the players opinion didn't mean jack shit and were just there to stress the servers. (SW: Galaxies)

[Captain Awesome]

Nice, I'd like to try it out. But I dont have very good luck getting into these things.

I think it has to do with the naked pictures I submit with my entries.

[Cupelix]

Jesus, can we get that picture removed? Makes it impossible to read the thread.

[Montolio]

Looking forward to it.

I would like to see a Zero Hour style achievement ( No Gamerscore, just prestige ) if selected that says something along the lines of:

Halo 3 Public Beta

Helped clear the UNSC supply lines . . . on fire!

[Pluvious]

Just keep posting until we get a new page. ;)

THUMBNAIL would have been nice...

[Mdot23]

i removed the picture. didn't think it was the biggest deal.

[ldi222]

You Halo haters can bash and hate all day long, you know your geek asses will be glued to that screen on Monday night even if you dont want to admit it.

[Roc Ingersol]

Wasn't there an Escapist article about how developers shouldn't listen to the forums and all that crap?
Yeah. It was also about how you can use the forums to lie to the userbase and turn them into an extension of your marketing machine -- while still ignoring everything they say.

[Varsity]

Yeah. It was also about how you can use the forums to lie to the userbase and turn them into an extension of your marketing machine -- while still ignoring everything they say.
Sounds like a plan.

[The Iron Weasel]

I'd rather they release some gameplay footage with the engine's bells and whistles turned on.

[Goronmon]

Yeah. It was also about how you can use the forums to lie to the userbase and turn them into an extension of your marketing machine -- while still ignoring everything they say.Actually, it was more about not letting beta testers having too much influence on design and balance decisions. But hey, who needs to be accurate about these kind of things?

[absolut taco]

Exclusive “Halo 3” Trailer Makes Broadcast Debut – Viewers to See Master Chief Like He’s Never Been Seen Before
Singing "Mad World"?

[absolut taco]

Check out the last sentence: http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=halo3ad

"Tune in soon when we'll talk to the fellows at Digital Domain about what it took to put this together."

Isn't Digital Domain a CG/FX studio? Maybe I'm too cynical but it sounds like another Killzone prerendered trailer.

[Sl1pstream]

Didn't they say it was going to be something prerendered a few updates ago?

[Roc Ingersol]

Actually, it was more about not letting beta testers having too much influence on design and balance decisions. But hey, who needs to be accurate about these kind of things?
We said the same thing. Your statement's just more diplomatic.

The article advocated ignoring the hardcore while retaining them as marketing pawns. Maybe you like it better when that comes with a sugar-coating, but that doesn't make the concept more 'accurate'.

[Hemalin]

The ad, created by McCann Worldgroup San Francisco, includes a mixture of live action and computer generated animation...
The CG was created by Hollywood FX house, Digital Domain, using assets supplied by Bungie.
So no gameplay footage. Meh.

[Mdot23]

Didn't they say it was going to be something prerendered a few updates ago?

Yes. as soon as this was announced they made it specifically clear that it wasn't game footage, but prerendered CGI of cleaned up in-game assets. they mixed in live action footage too.

[Shjinta]

Lets see how bad the MP is in Halo 3.. I swear their testers don't know how to test. I entered for the shadowrun beta..wonder if I got in

[Zeal]

::Borg Queen fires SHIVA nuke at Sony HQ::

"WATCH YOUR FUTURES END...."

[Zanzibar]

Want want want want want. God damn it, there's no way I'm gonna make it in, and I'm the biggest goddamned Halo fan there is.

[Megalith]

Ok, so basically the commercial will have no in-game footage.

Can we finish the lie already.

[the soUL TRAder]

I saw on xbox.com that some Bungie employees may be playing Halo3 ALPHA; the game, found under the "CurrentlyOn" tab of their XBL profile is called: "Pimps at sea......Yarrrrr!" The thread had screenshots with it there.
Speculation, but still interesting.

Seems like they are getting an early jump on perfecting the online. The "open" beta is another example.
Let's hope.

[Morratut]

Check out the last sentence: http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=halo3ad

"Tune in soon when we'll talk to the fellows at Digital Domain about what it took to put this together."

Isn't Digital Domain a CG/FX studio? Maybe I'm too cynical but it sounds like another Killzone prerendered trailer.

Not like the Killzone trailer at all.

MS and Bungie have admitted that they have produced the trailer, it's just been sent a studio to be 'touched up'.Just like the Gears of War 'Mad World' trailer was. Both trailers have gone through a similar process. Bungie say what you will see is proper ingame art and models.

The difference is MS/Bungie are up front and tell you the truth beforehand. :)

I would love to be in the beta program. Shame i live in England.

[Zeal]

They're actually just playing the beta on Live.

[JimmyDanger]

Exclusive “Halo 3” Trailer.....Yay... special 60-second “Halo 3” trailer; .....YAY....Microsoft announces first chance for North American gamers to participate in the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta by entering at Halo3.com
...Bummer


Well drats. Still - there'll be a trailer up on marketplace for all of us Johnny Foreigners.

Surely they need to test some network MP over some international (like Australia) length bandwidth?

[Zeal]

Don't worry, they clarified the beta is for all territories. You will get to play.

We also made mention of the Halo 3 Beta (coming some time in 2007) and folks panicked when they saw that a press release mentioned only the US. Don't panic. The Halo 3 Beta will be available in the US, Europe and elsewhere in the world. We'll keep you updated on the detailed specifics as they come in.

[Chameleo]

meh. halo's probably not that great a priority for people outside of north america.

[Zeal]

meh. halo's probably not that great a priority for people outside of north america.

Are all of you Halo haters the kinda people that get humiliated on Xbox Live or what.

[Chameleo]

Are all of you Halo haters the kinda people that get humiliated on Xbox Live or what.

nah. just a response to your constant *anything other than halo* hating.

[Zanzibar]

AIEEE! I just realized why they have an online sign-up at halo3.com instead of having an Xbox Live sign-up.

Because they want anyone to enter, not just Xbox 360 owners. Why? So the non-X360 owners can GO BUY THEM if they're selected for the beta. I bet one of the questions will be 'Do you currently own an Xbox 360?'

Anyone wanna bet that those who enter 'no' will have a higher rate of selection into the beta than those who enter 'yes'?