Shipments of free Halo 3 experience delays

by Dustin Burg { Jan 26th 2008 at 3:00PM }

Last November, Microsoft ran an offer where all new Xbox 360 owners could grab a free copy of Halo 3 for upgrading to Xbox Live gold and registering the new console's serial number. Well, Microsoft was supposed to get the free copies of Halo 3 to their new 360 owners by January 18th, but have hit a bit of a snag.

According to a few fanboy tipsters, all the Halo 3 shipments have been delayed, but Microsoft promises to get those who completed the offer a copy of the game within' three weeks. How nice of 'em. That means, if you were one of those who participated in the offer and you don't receive your Halo 3 by mid February, call up Microsoft and yell, yell away. Screaming is healthy, especially when it's over the phone with someone you don't even know.

[Thanks, Drew Green and Ted]

Tags: bungie, bungie-studios, halo-3, halo3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

eugene @ Jan 26th 2008 3:08PM

"Screaming is healthy, especially when it's over the phone with someone you don't even know."

Don't forget that screaming is most effective when directed at some peon who had nothing what-so-ever to do with the delay and has absolutely no power to do anything about it.

Captain Obvious @ Jan 26th 2008 3:31PM

So my 360 RRODed during the promotion, and my replacement came when it was still in effect. I signed up using the serial number on my "new" (read: refurbished) 360. And I got the email yesterday confirming my copy of Halo 3 would be shipping in the next 3 weeks. It's nice to have some good come out of the whole RROD experience, although I am still miffed about my arcade games not working when XBL is down.

Tony @ Jan 26th 2008 3:41PM

Try deleting them and re-downloading them, if you haven't. It's the first thing support suggests and seems to work for SOME people (unfortunately, not all people).

dan stabbingworth @ Jan 27th 2008 10:24AM

Welcome to shitty DRM. I wish x360f or joystiq would write an article about this so MS would actually feel some pressure to make it right. Sheesh, it's only been going on for several years now.

Kevin Gass @ Jan 26th 2008 3:36PM

LOL i had a 360 in april of '06 and I was still able to get this, and everytime MS has a deal for 2 free arcade games i get thoses as well

Paul @ Jan 26th 2008 6:14PM

how many 2 free arcade game deals has MS had? i don't remember any. i just signed up for halo 3 though and i hope it works. are any of the 2 free arcade game links still good? if so, can you post it on here? i would love to get those too haha....

Kevin Gass @ Jan 26th 2008 10:09PM

Actually I have at least 2 free arcade games i recieved, but I already had the game, they're in my email somewhere. If I find them I might give them to Xbox 360 Fanboy, so they could give them out. But I "returning" my copy to walmart. Cause V-day is coming soon, and I has no cash :(

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 27th 2008 3:02PM

Kevin, share the love with some free Arcade games! :-)

Killer @ Jan 26th 2008 4:06PM

"Apparently, the Xbox 360 must be purchased between November 21 and December 21."

The funny thing is I bought my Elite in September, and filled the thing out, and they accepted it. This is the second time Microsoft checking ability has given me free stuff. First the two free arcades (I got two of those), even though I bought my regular 360 6 months before the valid terms and got those. Now I'm getting a 2nd copy of Halo 3. Keep up the service Microsoft. I mean seriously, if you can't check the correctness of the data, I'm fine with it, keep the promotions coming, I'll keep applying, till you figure out how to check data. Thank you Microsoft! :) I'll not be complaining about the late delivery. ;)

Kevin is in the same boat. In face I bought my first 360 at the same time he did...that was the loophole month I guess. :p

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 27th 2008 3:03PM

Share some of your extra codes! :-)

Peter @ Jan 26th 2008 4:48PM

I got mine in January 2006 and I just got the email. lol

Josh Cutshaw @ Jan 26th 2008 4:50PM

Quick, kind of relevant question....

Is the heroic map pack free yet?

If not, would you know when?

spitefac3 @ Jan 26th 2008 5:10PM

no they're not. they'll be free when the new maps are released sometime in the spring.

todd @ Jan 26th 2008 5:39PM

I signed up for the heck of it. I've had my 360 since April 06 and my gold account since then as well... got my email yesterday saying my H3 was on the way hahahahahaha...

Anthony @ Jan 26th 2008 6:43PM

yeessss, i just got my email saying it will come in 3 weeks

willie @ Jan 26th 2008 6:46PM

i signed up but i didnt get my copy, and my friends have been raggin on me for not having Halo 3 yet, so MS better send me my copy already!

ciscomancer @ Jan 26th 2008 9:29PM

I signed up with a buddy's serial from Ireland, and it went through no problem. I am not mailing him the game, tho.

Aharon @ Jan 26th 2008 7:57PM

The thing that sucks is that I bought my 360 during that time frame and had Live for an Xbox and upgraded it to 360 for Gold. I didn't get one of those emails saying my copy was on the way. I'll need to call MS on Monday to see what's going on.

Peronthious @ Jan 26th 2008 8:12PM

Same here, and I haven't gotten any confirmation at all. Doesn't really matter, though; I got impatient and went out and bought Halo 3 yesterday. If they send it, I'll probably just trade it in to Gamestop or something.

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 27th 2008 3:06PM

Your situation is like mine. I didn't get an e-mail, and I did everything fairly. I got the system in the timeframe, and transferred my original account over.

I want my game already!

lharmon @ Jan 26th 2008 8:54PM

The real question is this: WHO DOESN'T HAVE HALO?! I know I do, so what are we supposed to do with this extra copies? Ummm give-away contest?

eugene @ Jan 26th 2008 10:51PM

I'm going to put mine in the COD4 case... so the case won't feel lonely.

George Arauz @ Jan 26th 2008 9:12PM

Congrats to those getting the game.. its incredible

Sora267 @ Jan 27th 2008 12:13AM

I got my 360 to me on December 17th (It was bought before then), and I didn't know about this then. So, I just registered tonight, and it went through. I wonder if they'll send me a copy....=D

Dan Micek @ Jan 27th 2008 12:26AM

i never got an e-mail...

tojfs7931 @ Jan 27th 2008 2:04AM

Wow how many more blunders are xbox 360 users going to have to endure.

PS3 anyone (especially with my nice refund from the government coming soon)

meow mix @ Jan 27th 2008 9:23AM

shit... amazon.com practically gave away those stupid halo 3 legendary edition packs. microsoft is getting too arrogant in their way they've been treating the comsumers. now they want to push the games for windows brand? wtf people?! are you not seeing this?

this is another fine mess that microsoft is known for. rrods, crappy rushed hardware, down xbox live software, systems that ruin discs... it goes on.

brent @ Jan 27th 2008 1:12PM

i signed up even though ive had live forever but i got an email saying halo should be here in 3 weeks.

Killer @ Jan 27th 2008 2:11PM

@Meow Mix

Shut up.

"now they want to push the games for windows brand? wtf people?! are you not seeing this?"

And apple doesn't have games for MAC? It's a marketing tool, thats all it is.

"rrods, crappy rushed hardware, down xbox live software, systems that ruin discs... it goes on."

1st, RRODS and Scatching disc fall under "Rushed Hardware", so way to point out the exact same thing 3 times. 2nd, its not xbox live's software, its the servers. Obivously, the new users are downing the servers. Xbox live works perfectly fine most of the time, until aroind 6 pm to 9 pm (eastern time) when the largest amount of people are on live. So microsoft is most likely going to upgrade those in due time. Oh and one more thing please go on...what other things are you going to complain about? If you have a 360, then get rid of, it if you are completely annoyed by microsoft. no one is forcing you to buy/keep a 360. Personally, I've been very happy with the consumer freindliness they have shown everytime something goes wrong. Free replacements, and free games or titles. I mean microsoft could just tell you "F@#% Off" and not care, so stop B#%ching.

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 27th 2008 3:10PM

I have not gotten an e-mail yet........

todd @ Jan 28th 2008 8:14AM

ha, my brother got an elite during the purchase time, yet has no online or Gold for it yet... signed up with a newly made silver account he did on xbox.com and just got his email as well.

Tony @ Mar 25th 2008 9:40PM

I just called MS and was given the run around. They said they confirmed that I was to receive the game, but they have to wait for approval from "upper managment." Supposedly when this happens they will call me and tell me when I will get the game. I have a feeling it's going to be at least another month or more. Anyone else having a hardtime with MS fulfilling their promise?