Posted on 09/25/2007 12:45:56 PM PDT by BenLurkin
PALMDALE - "Halo 3," the long-anticipated third installment of the futuristic video game series, went on sale at midnight, helping give closure to the hundreds of devotees who bought or picked up pre-ordered copies of the game in the wee hours of the morning. Ernie Casillas, assistant manager of Gamestop video game store on 10th Street West, said about 800 people pre-ordered copies of "Halo 3" from his store alone. Gamestop will be host to a "Halo 2" tournament at the store as customers wait until midnight to pick up their discs.
"We have one gent in line already," Casillas said about 2:30 p.m. Monday. "We have a radio station coming by, and I think Mountain Dew is coming as well."
Casillas said the store had only about 100 copies for walk-in customers. For those who pre-ordered the game, he said Gamestop employees would let them pay in advance then begin distributing games at 12:01 a.m.
More than 10,000 stores in the United States were expected to stay open until after midnight for the "Halo 3" release, according to Microsoft.
Best Buy, also on 10th Street West, was not open at midnight but opened an hour early this morning.
About 400 customers pre-ordered "Halo 3" from the Palmdale Best Buy, said store manager John Franco. He said the store had "plenty" of copies for walk-in customers as well.
The "Halo" craze started in 2001, when the first game, "Halo: Combat Evolved," hit shelves. It was released the same day the Microsoft XBox, the video game console that is home to the "Halo" series, was first released.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"EAGER PLAYERS - Fans of the new game "Halo 3" wait in line Monday evening outside Gamestop in Palmdale, where it will go on sale at midnight. First in line Tyler Robison, center, missed school and arrived at 2 p.m. along with sister Daniel Robison and friend Nikki Crowell." RON SIDDLE/Valley Press
Ping
Some folks have strange priorities.
More evidence of the “steep drop in consumer confidence” occurring in this country. These are hard times!
net oxygen/carbon/energy deficits...all of them are probably "nipple" people.
Bread and circuses.
I wonder, although I realize many have, how many have served.just asking.
Just wait’ll Grand Theft Auto 4 hits.
Or Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Because, clearly, no one has ever waited in a line prior to a product launch or some sort of release.
Good grief, the condescension on FR is getting unbearable.
My son stood in line outside Game Stop for me. I didn't think it would look appropriate for a woman of my age waiting in line with 'kids.' They opened the doors at midnight. I got the Legendary Version.
Reaper
It's a game. A video game.
....and no, I've never stood in line for a product launch or a release. Especially not for a GAME. I'm not saying I haven't wasted hours of time doing odd things (Freeping etc...) but just to wait in line to spend my money on something that I could get in a week with no hassle, I'm just thinking they are rather foolish.
But it's a free country and if they want to occupy their time waiting in lines for a GAME..... a video game.... well good for them. It's their right to wait in line if they want.
Wow, there are THREE girls in that entire picture! I bet that’s more girls than any of those guys have ever interacted with at once. I actually wish I could have gone to one of those parties... when you’re young and staying up all night isn’t a problem and midnight is your regular bedtime anyways, things like that are fun.
The Master Chief's helmet is bigger than I though it would be. Lift the helmet from the stand and it holds the disks.
"Microsoft chairman Bill Gates (R) shakes hands with Ritesh David, who was first in line to purchase the company's newest Xbox video-game, Halo 3, at an electronics store in Bellevue Washington, September 25, 2007." (Robert Sorbo/Reuters)
"Gaming fan Jim Cush (L), dressed as the character Master Chief from the Xbox 360 video game 'Halo 3', purchases his copy of the game during a midnight sales event in New York September 25, 2007." (Keith Bedford/Reuters)
I didn’t wait in line; put in a pre-order two weeks ago and picked up my copy after work yesterday with no wait.
I'm getting tired of it as well.
Got mine.......Legendary also. Great therapy. Cheaper than a therapist.
my point exactly. You thought about it, planned ahead and didn't wait like a fool in front of a store for "hours".
In other words Halo 3 is "entertainment" for you, not the "must have" item that you are "dying" for and willing to jump and sit like a little dog in order for the $7.00 /hour clerk grants you the extreme priveldge of owning a video game.
I imagine that the people in line would wet their pants if an undiscovered lost episode of "Star Trek" were to be found.
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