Halo 3 Beta invites sent by Friday [update 1]

by David Dreger { Jan 22nd 2007 at 1:30PM }

Tipster Jonah sent a bombshell to Fanboy Towers: Bungie has announced when the first wave of Halo 3 Beta invites will be sent to lucky fans. According to the official site, participants can expect to receive the key in the mail between today, January 22nd and Friday, January 26th. The beauty of this time frame is that it takes place a week before the 3 hour killtacular option comes into play, and those interested will know ahead of time if they need to re-enlist ~~at 3:01 AM EST on February 1st~~ on the 5th. The site also confirms that those who registered in "Phase 1" and are not emailed by Friday are able to give it another shot for "Phase 2", which will have invites sent out by the end of February.

If you're lucky number 13,334 or above, you still have Crackdown as a final attempt to get into the coveted beta test. So, if any of you fellow fanboys get an email this week, let us know. If not, then give your gamertags so we can make a party out of the morning of Feb 1st.

[Thanks, Jonah Falcon]

Update: Apparently, according to halo3.com, the actual registering for "Phase 2" opens on February 5th. This gives you all three days to amass three hours of actual play time, should lobby time etc. not count towards your tally. It also allows gamers to get proper sleep, rather than playing through the night in an effort to be within the first 13,333 registrants that same morning.

Tags: Beta, Finish the Fight, FinishTheFight, Halo 3, Halo 3 Beta, Halo3, halo3.com, Halo3Beta, Invites, Spring 07, Spring 2007, Spring07, Spring2007, Xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jonah Falcon @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:16PM

If I'm picked, I'm still getting Crackdown.

Michael @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:14PM

Please post if you received one. What type of envelope and what was included in the mail package. Thanks!

Michael @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:19PM

If/when someone receives the beta invite. Can you please post what was included and what the envelope looks like? Maybe host a picture of what the contents look like. Thanks!

Vader582 @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:25PM

Email folks, not snail mail: "stay tuned for an email notification on the week of January 22-26, 2007".

WarriorDyke @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:08PM

if you were asked for your serial number during the first wave of signups does that mean that you are in the beta?

Red Arrow @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:28PM

If I am not mistake us folk in Europe have already been advised if they have got a place or not. So its not really the first wave of invites is it?

Krazy Koala @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:28PM

Arg, I really hope I get picked. I was a game tester last year and now my curse is that I can't help but notice flaws in games, even though I still have fun playing them. Gears of instance, I wish it had been polished for maby one more month. I want in this beta so bad, not just cause Halo's my favourite game ever, but cause I want my voice heard, its frustrating seeing bugs and not being able to do anything about it in a final build....arg

Paul @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:42PM

Michael is clearly trying to poach one from the mail - which is a federal offense

Krazy Koala @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:36PM

By the way, sorry about that poor spelling in my previous post, wow...just wow. MABY? I deserve this:

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Krazy Koala @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:05PM

Lol, no he's hoping that someone is dumb enough to take a picture of the Beta code before entering on their 360. Some guy on ebay a week or so ago took a picture of his Windows XP license key, a true moron.

fLUx @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:33PM

OK, this is how I see it -

Bungie is ONLY doing this so it is talked about every week (it seems) on every gaming blog on the planet! Which of course - worked great for GoW!

Now, I'm not saying all this hype is for nothing, but the chances are they ain't gonna block people from playing the beta, because this could influence the persons choice to get the game (I mean that for non-Halo fanboys)

So they will end up having "Phase 3" at the last min before Feb. 1st!

That way - they have got the hype up....but still don't risk loosing sales!

I am so certain on this, I'm not planning on trying to get an invite....I'm waiting for Bungie to send me one without me lifting a finger! :P

Maxmidget @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:36PM

There is a lot of confusion about how exactly the "Rule of Three" promotion will work. The new post on halo3.com gives the most detailed information yet:

"It is a two-step process:
1. Participate in at least three hours of Halo 2 multiplayer sessions on your Xbox 360 console via Xbox Live during the three (3) day period beginning February 1st at 12:01 am EST and ending February 3rd at 11:59 pm EST.
2. After the three day window is over, head back over to www.halo3.com on February 5th and register."

This conflicts with David Dreger's post above that says "they need to re-enlist at 3:01 AM EST on February 1st." Best I can tell it does not matter when your three hours of playtime are during the first three days of February, but you need them to be able to register on the 5th, and that is when you need to be one of the first 13,334 (not 13.334 - I hope more than 13 & 1/3 people get in). It does not say exactly when on th 5th the sign-up site will go up. Also, it does not specify if your 3 hours need to be in matchmaking, if lobby time counts, etc. Anyone have other thoughts or info?

Christie Arnold @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:36PM

According to the site you link to you can't actually enlist until the 5th once you have completed your 3 hours. I like this better than signing up right after the 3 hours because I don't know if 3 hours means 3 hours with halo running, including in between match times, or if it's 3 hours actually in multilayer games.

nonrandomhero @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:17PM

i know this isnt the accepted into beta email, but i just got it

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/teal_viper/untitled-1.jpg

Knuckles Dawson @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:24PM

Thanks for keeping me on my toes, guys.

Someone @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:21PM

ANYBODY ELSE GOT THIS EMAIL

Someone @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:24PM

same here man

Greetings Halo® Nation and thanks for your interest in participating in the Halo 3 multiplayer public beta.

Phase one registration is now closed. If you have been selected to participate, you will receive an email notification within the next two days.

For those of you that didn't make it in - fret not as this phase one was just the first of three ways to secure entry into the Halo 3 multiplayer public beta. The next two paths of entry are:

* Qualifying over Xbox Live® via the "Rule of Three" program in early February
* Purchasing marked packages of the upcoming game CrackdownTM, which hits store shelves in North America on Feb. 20

To find out more about these opportunities visit halo3.com for detailed information.

We hope this provides additional clarity on this phase of entry into the Halo 3 multiplayer public beta. See you online!

s2h @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:41PM

yyyeeeaaa baby im in!!!!!!!!!!

You have been chosen for the Halo 3 Beta Inbox
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Display images below - Always display images from xbox@email.xbox.com

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Congratulations Scott Blanchard, you have been chosen to participate in the Halo® 3 beta.

In order to participate, you must have access to:
-An Xbox 360TM Pro console or Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive
-A valid Xbox Live® Gold subscription

Keep an eye on your inbox, we will be sending more information about this opportunity soon.

*Limit one Halo 3 beta invite per person/Xbox Live gamertag. Your invitation is non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. The beta is available in English only.

If you prefer not to receive future promotional e-mails of this type from Xbox, please update your contact preferences in My Xbox. Please be aware that it may take up to 10 days before your preference is reflected in our system. One or more messages may still be sent.

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dasgooch @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:46PM

I just got in also! woot woot!

Clint @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:04PM

I just got picked for Halo 3 too!

Via e-mail.

Must be that endless Halo 2 playing time I've been putting in the past 2 weeks.

Nate Diesel @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:10PM

I got in. SWEET JESUS! The waiting is killing me! Release guitar hero II already so I can play something besides halo or gears.

8bitclassics @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:22PM

I also received a notification of being accepted.

Tariq Abusheikh @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:28PM

I'm in too!

I got the same email as nonrandomhero saying registration is now closed, then a second one 30 minutes later tellin me I was accepted!

Mike @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:41PM

I'm assuming this isn't going to be too hard to get in. Considering tons of people are getting in in this wave, plus the bajillions that will get in on crackdown, and then there is even the other way.

jeffe @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:49PM

I'm in bragging rights lol !!!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/366430936_433d7518e1_o.png

Derka @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:13PM

Im in baby!

Sincere7745 @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:53PM

I'm in. Now I can get crackdown for the game that it is and not because of the beta key inside. Guess I need to put a few minutes into some halo 2 to get ready. Gears is so hard to not play though.

GT = stoneNbone420 @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:56PM

Woot Woot... Got my email a few hours ago but Didn't check it till just now woo hoo! halo 3 bug testing here I come...

TommydaPole @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:24PM

YESSSS I'M IN BABY!!!

matthew @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:25PM

I got in! Just got the second email confirmation!

Mikeawesome @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:43PM

AHHHHH!

I'm totally in, everyone here who got in, send me your gamertag on AIM, I want to reduce the paper trail so I don't get in trouble for revealing anything.

Aim: OMGMIKEAWESOME

I'm so pumped. I want to have, like, 40 friends on live who participate in the beta, so we can just play forever.