Best Buy: Halo 3 to be launch title?!?

[bandersnatch]

GameInsider is reporting (http://www.gameinsider.com/comments.php?id=1012&catid=1) that BestBuy.com has Halo 3 dated for a 11/16/2005 launch with a price of $59.99.

More than likely a mistake but interesting regardless.

Best Buy's product page for Halo 3 is carrying a launch date as 11/16/2005 which if this information is correct would make Halo 3 a launch title for the Xbox 360.

Best Buy has the pricepoint set as $59.99.

More interesting is the fact they are taking pre-orders for the title as well -- just click on the preorder button and off you go.

[Varsity]

Retailers make this stuff up. The sooner people realise that, the better.

[Justin_McElroy]

I heard there's an ARG about this that starts at www.ilovelies.com.

[Madhatter45]

I hate it when retailers try to feed normal people such total BS. Hasn't Gates himself said that Halo 3 will launch side by side with the PS3 to take a bite out of their sales?

[Ajezz]

Couldn't this simply be Halo triple pack that's supposed to be coming out soon (that has Halo, Halo 2, and the map expansion pack all on one disc)

[Justin_McElroy]

And the award goes to...Ajezz. the only thing that's out of step is the date. But, c'mon...it's Best Buy.

[fitbabits]

If anything, and I doubt there will be any Xbox 360 Halo-related releases until Halo 3, it will simply be an enhanced version of Halo 2 (with maybe the multiplayer map pack included). However, I doubt even that.

[doubtingthomas]

I doubt we see Halo 3 until 2007. With Halo 2 coming out November of 2004, Fall 2007 would be a 3 year development cycle. Unless Bungie has some MASSIVE team working on it. Or they could be using the Ubi Soft/Splinter Cell model, having two teams alternate the titles, and Halo 3 has been in development long before Halo 2 came out. But seeing it this year, or even in 2006 seems a bit too hopeful.

[A-Team]

Quick link (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=4L4VISXFFWRLJKC4D3DVAFQ?sku Id=7294661&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat66900050002&id=1118841876708) to the Halo 3 Pre-Order page.

[fitbabits]

Quick link (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=4L4VISXFFWRLJKC4D3DVAFQ?sku Id=7294661&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat66900050002&id=1118841876708) to the Halo 3 Pre-Order page.

No-one's doubting the existence of the pre-order page at Best Buy. I think the consensus is that this is a mistake on Best Buy's part (or wishful thinking on the part of the Best Buy webmaster).

[carneconcarne]

this seems really unlikely, especially since the weekly bungie updates say they are just now starting to work full force on their next project

[ldi222]

Its either a mistake on best buy's part or a way for them to take advantage of clueless consumers who want HALO3 with their Xbox 360 preorder, jokes on them until who knows when though.

If HALO3 was just an updated HALO2 with more FOV for HD and possibly a map maker interface Id be thrilled.

[PantherModern]

MS won't release Halo 3 so quickly. They need PD0 to be a success. If Halo is an option, that won't happen.

[Justin_McElroy]

Very good point, Panther. I'm not sure they "need" PD0 to be a success, but they certainly wouldn't be pushing another FPS so hard if there was a delicious Halo in the pipeline.

[Zanzibar]

I don't think it'll take a 3-year cycle for Halo 3. I can damned well guarantee that the toolsets they made for Halo 2 is what they're using for 3; just with more impressive lighting effects and more high-res normal mapping. I bet they won't even change the character model geometries apart from adding higher-res textures.

It could just be me, but I thought that H2's normal maps looked terrible. My guess is that they built 'em high-res, but then halved the texture size as the framerate kept being choppy. Wouldn't surprise me if all they did for H3 was restore the originals.

If their story was in place - including a large-scale land battle on Earth that was cut from the end of Halo 2 - then I bet they could do it in 18-24 months. That said, it still ain't gonna be a X360 launch title.

*** Halo 2 spoiler***
.
.
.
.
(Hightlight below to read)
The MAIN question is, are the Elites going to be fighting the Covenant alongside the Humans?

.
.
.
.
**end spoiler**

[Mondopest]

Am I correct in recalling someone leaking info that Bungie was working on Halo 3 at the same time they were working on 2? For whatever reason (could be some serious drug use) I recall reading that back after Halo 2's launch.

[ezzkmo]

best buy is the king of incorrect information when it comes to release dates, especially in the internal inventory system. they even have old dates that are in the past still tagged on things like mario kart ds and stuff.

[score]

I doubt we see Halo 3 until 2007. With Halo 2 coming out November of 2004, Fall 2007 would be a 3 year development cycle.

Unless those rumours about them chopping up the real Halo2 are true... ;)

[ÜberJumper]

This is a pretty big secret to keep if it's true. Two or so months out from launch and we're only hearing it now?

[roboflavinoid]

This is a pretty big secret to keep if it's true. Two or so months out from launch and we're only hearing it now?
give that man a prize! it would be the best-kept secret because Halo 3 does not yet exist. developers don't sit on something like this until it's almost out. they wouldn't have missed E3. they wouldn't have hidden from the press. they would be jumping up and down to get everyone's attention. they would be climbing to the tallest building with a bigass banner, trumpeting to all the world that Halo3 is coming this christmas and it rules so everyone buy it because otherwise you won't have it and you will also cry.

don't even get a glimmer of hope. there is no Halo3. that comes later. in the meantime, enjoy your other launch titles.

[IndependentGMR]

Why is this news?

[LilAbner]

And the award goes to...Ajezz. the only thing that's out of step is the date. But, c'mon...it's Best Buy.

All this really means is BBY has created a SKU number for it. That web page is merely a placeholder and the date should be taken with the tiniest grains of salt.

[Zanzibar]

Couldn't this simply be Halo triple pack that's supposed to be coming out soon (that has Halo, Halo 2, and the map expansion pack all on one disc)

Doubt it, because it's listed for the X360. If it was the triple pack, it would be listed for the Xbox.

They had some schmo create the page just to get people to plunk down money early. Y'know why? Because it happens ALL THE TIME that people lose their preorder receipt etc. and often will give up and buy the item right then and there. Who gets that money? Best Buy - they've sold 1 game but got money for 2. Microsoft only gets the wholesale cost and BB pockets the rest.

The earlier somebody preorders, the bigger chance that they'll lose the documentation.

[Adam Blue]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that this might not be true.

[Hellstorm]

Rest assured that Halo 3 doesn't start development till next month...which means in a few days.

[Zeal]

Bill Gates just told me that this really is in fact a suprise launch.

Sony screwed.

[A-Team]

No-one's doubting the existence of the pre-order page at Best Buy. I think the consensus is that this is a mistake on Best Buy's part (or wishful thinking on the part of the Best Buy webmaster).
You do know what a quick link is, right?

Why is this news?
Because it's on the internet.

[Zeal]

Why is this news?

Because news is dead right now.

[Morratut]

Zanzibar. I reckon the Elites will be on our side. Not right at the start though.

I reckon a transmission by whats left of the Elite council and the Arbiter will bring the Elite and maybe the Grunts to our side. The Grunts hate the Brutes :D

I reckon the Covenant will have some more ugly suprises for us :eek:

[Morratut]

I very much doubt Halo 3 will be a launch title.

If it was though i would piss my pants with excitement :D

[whish]

Hmmm...the release date now reads 5/15/2006 - I guess this is more in line with a possible PS3 launch but I still think the earliest we'll see Halo 3 or the PS3 is November 2006.