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Halo 3 — first impressions and exclusive pics

September 24th, 2007, 3:00 am by

Matt DegenMore Halo 3 coverage from ocregister.com Less then 24 hours from now, the video game Halo 3 goes on sale (click HERE for midnight openings in OC). But Gadgetress contributor Matt Degen managed to get a copy beforehand and played the game all weekend. Check out his review…

halo-3-limited-edition.jpg

True to Microsoft’s words, my media-review copy of Halo 3 arrived Saturday. I fetched the game from the O.C. Register headquarters, brought it back home and have been playing it for the past two days.

I’ve put in about 4 hours so far on the game, which is releasing Tuesday and is expected to be the biggest entertainment launch in history.

Considering the last version made a then record-breaking $125 million within 24 hours of launch (presales can do wonders) there is little doubt that “Halo 3″ will smash even that record.

Getting into the game

So, first thoughts…

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Halo 3 fever strikes gadget sites

September 23rd, 2007, 12:58 pm by

More Halo 3 coverage
+ OC’s Halo 3 midnight openings

Does Microsoft really need to be bribing gadget sites with excessive Halo 3 swag bags? Gizmodo, Engadget, Gamesradar.com and others reported on the lavish care package provided by Microsoft & friends just days before Halo 3 goes on sale.

Halo 3 swag bag

Halo 3 XboxArriving in a giant army-green duffel bag, it included the $400 limited-edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 console, plus limited-edition controllers, figurines, gold subscription cards, a Halo 3 wireless headset and the game, which was covered by a Master Chief helmet, according to Gizmodo.

Interestingly, Brian Lam, the Gizmodo editor who posted the photos and created an ‘unbagging’ video decided to take the video downdiscussing this because people didn’t quite understand why he wasn’t thrilled to get the freebies. There are even forums discussing Brian’s actions.

Brian, like many gadget reviewers, knows what a pain it is for products to stack up. Plus, it sounds like he aspires to remain fair and unbiased, like any journalist. Now, is he sending the SWAG back to Microsoft?

If I kept all the products I tested, would you believe me when I said I liked something or would you suspect I was just being nice in exchange for free stuff?

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7-Eleven gets in on “Halo” frenzy

September 20th, 2007, 1:09 pm by

From earlier: Halo 3 midnight openings in Orange County

The munchie triumverate

Readers, with this post, the Gadgetress blog welcomes another contributor. Matt Degen, who has helped me out with audio and video reviews, is an avid gamer and is helping me cover Tuesday’s Halo 3 launch. Bug him if you’re a gamer, maybe he’ll toss you a free game…

Gamers stocking up on Mountain Dew and chips now have even more reason to go to 7-Eleven for those all-night “Halo 3″ parties: The convenience store has rolled out a promotion for the game that offers “Halo 3″ memorabilia and over $300,000 in prizes.

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Halo 3 midnight openings in OC

September 20th, 2007, 7:00 am by

::Added 11:30 a.m.:: Local Play N Trades opening at midnight. See below…Halo 3

One of the biggest video games ever is back The much-anticipated Halo 3 for the Xbox 360 goes on sale Monday night.

And the Best Buy store in Fullerton is one of only a handful of Best Buy stores that plan to open at midnight to sell the game to the most dedicated fans. Other OC midnight openings include GameStop and the Newport Beach Circuit City (see end of post).

Best Buy won’t say how many games each store is stocking. But a spokeswoman tells me, “We we will definitely be ready for the buying frenzy (both on Monday night and beyond)! As always, we try to maintain enough stock to make sure that anyone who wants to buy the game at anytime can do so.”

Will Halo 3 top Halo 2′s first-day sales record of $125 million?Halo’s Master Chief

Here’s the deal for Best Buy. Line up whenever you want, but pre-launch madness starts at 10:30 p.m. Best Buy is giving away lots of stuff, such as t-shirts, hats, glow balls and bam-bam sticks. The first 25 people in line get an “exclusive Halo blow-up game chair with built-in speakers.”

The Fullerton store is providing photo ops with Halo’s Master Chief.

Best Buy will have four versions of the game available: Halo 3, Halo 3 Limited Edition (left), and Halo 3 Legendary Edition (right) and the special edition Halo 3 Xbox 360, which I first spotted at E3 earlier this year.

All are available as pre-orders on Amazon for $59.99, $69.99 and $129.99 and $399.99.

Halo 3 Limited EditionHalo 3 Legendary edition

And kids, if you’re under 17, bring someone older with you because Best Buy says it’s sticking to its policy to only sell games rated M for mature.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: Play N Trade at The District at Tustin is hosting a Halo 2 tournament starting after 8 p.m.Prizes include Halo 3 (all editions), t-shirts and Halo 3 mouse pads. Tournament is $10 to enter, but free if you pre-order Halo 3 by Sept. 23.

  • Play N Trade Video Game Store, The District at Tustin Legacy, 2433 Park Avenue in Tustin. (714) 259-1176. More details HERE.

:: midnight launches in OC ::

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Spot Halo 3 at District’s grand opening, win free stuff!

August 17th, 2007, 1:23 am by

Play N Trade’s Halo 3 PriusIf you spot a Prius wrapped in Halo 3 glory this weekend at the grand opening of the District, then head to the brand-spanking new Play N Trade video-game store in the new Tustin shopping center and get a free Halo 3 mouse pad and enter to win lots of gaming giveaways.

The much-anticipated video game doesn’t drop until Sept. 25 so you may think the Newport Beach-based retail franchise is toying with gamer emotions. They are. Because it looks like winning a Halo 3 game isn’t part of the deal.

Instead, you could win a Nintendo Wii console, which may be harder to track down than Halo 3.

To get a free Halo 3 mousepad, just spot the Prius, remember the OC college on the license plate and tell a Play N Trade store employee. You’ll also get a free entry into an upcoming gaming tournament held at the store.

Or just stop by the store and say you want to “test” some games so you can play for free.

::details::
The District Play N Trade, at 2433 Park Ave. in Tustin , 714. 259-1176.
Halo promo starts today, ends Sunday.

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Woohoo! Win a Simpson’s Xbox 360

July 13th, 2007, 12:34 pm by 




Woohoo! Simpsons Xbox 360

Pictures of a Simpsons-yellow Xbox 360 began leaking out last spring and details were later revealed that only 100 were made to promote the upcoming movie and no, you can’t buy one.

Gadgetress as a Simpsons avatarBut you can win one. One chance ends tomorrow. The official Xbox site is giving one away (along with a trip for two to the Los Angeles premiere on July 27). To enter, send an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject line “Simpsons Movie Premiere”

Five more boxes will go to winners of Xbox.com’s Cloning Clyde sweepstakes. This is more involved. You’ll need to Register your gamertag before July 17, and then play a multiplayer game of Cloning Clyde to enter. You’ll receive one sweepstakes entry for each day you play. Winners will be notified on July 29. Official rules HERE.

jetbluehomer.jpgAnother chance ends July 31 through JetBlue, the “Official airline of Springfield.” The Xbox isn’t even the grand prize or first prize. It’s the second prize. Deadline to enter JetBlue’s contest is midnight July 31. Random drawing set for August 3.

At MySpace, if you Simpsonize your profile, you could win the mega-grand prize, which includes the Xbox and so much more. (Don’t forget to create your own avatar. Like mine, on left?). I couldn’t find details on when this contest ends though.

And, of course, there is 7-Eleven, which teamed up with the cartoon to turn a dozen stores into Kwik-E-marts. My editor took his kids to one in Los Angeles and said there was a line to get in. Apparently, according to AdWeek, from July 16 to 23, 7-Eleven is inserting ‘Scratch N’ Win’ games in The New York Post.


				


				
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Close-ups of the new Halo-edition Xbox 360

				July 12th, 2007, 11:23 am by 
				

					

			

			

			

			
			

			

			
			
			
			
			
			
halo3logo.jpgThe biggest games for the Xbox game console have been in the Grand Theft Auto and Halo series. No wonder Microsoft plans to offer a special Halo 3 edition console in September, when Halo 3 goes on sale on Sept. 25.


halo3box.jpgI watched the working demo of the game while at E3 and I’m sure fans won’t be disappointed. Developers from Bungie Studios showed off some highlights: Film mode to turn your game play into works of art and at any given moment, you can pause and switch to another player’s perspective. The graphics were sick!


More details from Bungie. Prices for Halo 3 will be:


    

  • Legendary Edition $129.99
    • 

  • Limited Edition $69.99
    • 

  • Standard Edition $59.99
    • 



The Halo 3 Xbox console comes in Halo green and includes a wireless remote. Some close-up shots:


halo3xbox2.jpg


halo3xbox11.jpg


halo3xbox3.jpg

				


				
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Microsoft kicks off E3 with no Xbox price cut

				July 10th, 2007, 10:57 pm by 
				

					

			

			

			

			
			

			

			
			
			
			
			
			
xboxe31.jpgI was hoping for a discount on the Xbox 360 console tonight during Microsoft’s big E3 press conference in Santa Monica, but no such lack. Then again, the Xbox is still cheaper than the newly reduced $500 Sony PlayStation 3.


Microsoft had plenty to offer, starting with all the new games that will be out by the holidays: Halo 3 (Sept. 25), Grand Theft Auto 4 (Oct. 16), Gears of War for Windows (by end of year), Assassins Creed (Nov. 2007), Project Gotham Racing 4 (end of year)…halo3console.jpg


With Halo 3, the company will sell a special Halo edition Xbox 360 beginning in September in Halo green and complete with accessories, including wireless controller, wired headset and Xbox Live silver membership. No details on price.


boxpinkcontroller.jpgI don’t remember seeing the pink controller, but according to Microsoft’s press site, which released all the new stuff after the press conference ended at 10 p.m., there will be one in pink (and dark blue and light blue).


mssceneitcontrol.jpg


Some family-fun stuff for Xbox 360: Viva Pinata: Party Animals, a Simpson’s game and “Scene It,” complete with a new controller (on left) so up to four people can play.


Microsoft also touched on other non-gaming features: Its Xbox Live Marketplace area, which Live members have spent $125 million since its launch, will add Disney’s entire high-definition movie lineup starting tonight (Tuesday).


Check back all day tomorrow. I’m heading to Santa Monica to see how E3 slimmed itself down. Hopefully, I’ll post what I see right here on the blog as soon as I can.

				


				
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