Sign up for the Halo 3 beta next week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 30th 2006 at 1:00PM }

Halo 3 fanboys rejoice! Sign up for the Halo 3 public beta begins Monday, December 4th. Beginning Monday, American 360 owners will be able to register for the beta at Halo3.com. And of course many of you will recall that December 4th is the day that the new Halo 3 commercial will air during Monday Night Football on ESPN. If football isn't your thing, know that the commercial will air sometime between 5:50 and 6:20pm PST. The commercial is only airing once on television, though it will be made available on Xbox.com and 360 Marketplace afterwards. First the Shadowrun beta opens, and now the Halo 3 beta is following right in its footsteps: it's good to be a 360 gamer. Here's hoping that Microsoft continues this trend with future 1st party online titles.

Oh, we have so many questions! Is the needler worth anything now? What about the new assault rifle? How many Brute weapons can we try out? For that matter, will we even be selected for the beta? Anyway, tune your browsers accordingly and get your Tivos ready, Monday is right around the corner. See the full press release after the break.

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.

Tags: bungie, bungie studios, BungieStudios, halo, halo 3, halo 3 beta, Halo3, Halo3Beta, microsoft game studios, MicrosoftGameStudios

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Josh @ Nov 30th 2006 1:08PM

Halo 3 beta! I must be accepted.

Owen @ Nov 30th 2006 1:15PM

This is getting too much - first the fact that we can't download tv and movie content from the 360. And now - LOCKED OUT OF THE HALO 3 beta!!!!! WTF! We're either getting raped by Japs or raped by the yanks - we've only got one a-hole. Sucks to be a european gamer at the mo...

GuiltyDragon @ Nov 30th 2006 1:20PM

YAY! Keeps all the Halo idiots outta GoW for a time.

Harrison Armstrong @ Nov 30th 2006 1:24PM

when will european owners be able to sign up, dont screw us over with halo 3

Insomnious @ Nov 30th 2006 2:38PM

Of course we'll be screwed over with the Halo 3 beta, we get screwed over with everything; release dates, prices, special offers, the recent Shadowrun beta (even though there was a drop-down list we had to choose from which had literally hundreds of countries to choose from), friends list compatibility with Windows Live Messenger, Video Marketplace (and also iTunes videos)... the list is endless.

We obviously don't have a big enough voice in the gaming community to warrant being listened to. I mean, we spend a substantial amount more money on games and accessories, but clearly that isn't enough.

All Microsoft and their affiliated game producers care about is keeping Americans and the Japanese happy. You'd think after being continually ignored by the Japanese, they'd maybe concentrate on European gamers a little, who do actually show a little interest in the 360. The PS3 isn't even out here for a few months, so this would be an ideal time for them to win us all over during the holiday period.

Heh... us silly Europeans eh?

Oozer @ Dec 1st 2006 12:59AM

I have a bad feeling about this. I just know I won't be picked. I'm predicting a couple nights of crying myself to sleep right now.

Crueltylizer @ Nov 30th 2006 2:20PM

Only US? Aww Come on now. Why? WHY?

Michael May @ Nov 30th 2006 3:02PM

news just in.... WORLD FORGETS ABOUT EUROPEAN GAMERS AGAIN... wtf!!! it's not like we've got 700 mill people living in Europe or anything. This sucks. If this is true and it's only for the US, I will actually go and slap someone responsible for this.

what's the logic? are we not as responsible as all those squeaking american 9 year olds?? ARSE. that's all i have to say. me out...

Muggwoffin @ Dec 1st 2006 8:40AM

Only US! that's terrible!

Marc @ Nov 30th 2006 4:03PM

hahaha 6 out of the 7 posts are Euros complaining, aparantly no one cares to comment on the extreme importance of the fact that Halo 3 will have a public beta and that registration starts in 4 DAYS!!

Iced_Eagle @ Nov 30th 2006 3:40PM

I'm there! :D

Also, for the Europeans it's a lot harder getting betas in other countries... It's not like they can just flip a switch and then the Europeans magically gain access.

They have to set up a lot of test servers and make sure the beta applies by all UK laws and the sign-up procedures are correct for the other countries, etc etc...

Michael May @ Nov 30th 2006 5:10PM

Iced_Eagle: with respect, your post is complete bs. thanks for posting!

Neccy @ Nov 30th 2006 11:26PM

Add another annoyed european gamer to the list.

I'm actually so annoyed i dont want to spam this comment with over abusive language.

but F*CK come on..

Michael May @ Nov 30th 2006 5:16PM

A fragmented shard of hope!

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/halo3/

makes it seem like we'll get it eventually.
MS man, your face may be safe... for now.

NotOfThisEarth @ Nov 30th 2006 8:13PM

"9. hahaha 6 out of the 7 posts are Euros complaining, aparantly no one cares to comment on the extreme importance of the fact that Halo 3 will have a public beta and that registration starts in 4 DAYS!!

Posted at 3:20PM on Nov 30th 2006 by Marc 0 stars"

Yeah I'm sure YOU'D have something to say about it too if you weren't in the States there scooter. First video marketplace and now this. Bravo Microshaft, keep alienating non U.S. customers who are paying for your service too.

Oozer @ Dec 1st 2006 1:14AM

Don't worry Europeans, Bungie themselves have confirmed that the beta will be available across the Atlantic. They updated their news post about the ad with this line, in bold:

"Don't panic. The Halo 3 Beta will be available in the US, Europe and elsewhere in the world."

Here's the source:

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=halo3ad