NEWS - Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Halo 3 Launch Events Detailed
Forsaking the Midwest for the four furthest corners of the U.S. map, Bungie and Microsoft have released more tantalizing details about their upcoming Halo 3 launch events scheduled for Monday night. The Halo 3 "Midnight Madness" sell-a-thon starts at midnight Sept. 25, when more than 10,000 retail stores nationwide are set to fling wide their doors to throngs of men in homemade Master Chief helmets clutching Cortana dolls. Here’s what’s planned for the Halo launch in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and Seattle (sorry, chewy center of the country - no Chicago). New York Where: Best Buy, 529 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10017 What: Located in the heart of 5th Ave. and only a few blocks from Times Square, the Best Buy store on the corner of 5th and 44th Ave. will be the first to sell the game. The event will feature day-long activities, and Microsoft encourages line-weary fans to "demonstrate their fanaticism" for Halo through costumes, distance traveled, best signs and other general zaniness. Fans in line may get to play Halo 3 prior to launch against on-site celebrities from early Monday afternoon through midnight. Every hour, a new personality will enter the fray with the fans. At midnight, attendees can expect "a spectacle unlike any other," Microsoft said in a news release. Bungie team members and local professional athletes will be on hand to participate in the launch festivities. Miami Where: Circuit City, 8575 Northwest 13th Terrace, Miami, FL 33126 What: Hosted by Circuit City, Miami’s Midnight Madness event will feature product giveaways and contests starting at 9 p.m. Monday. Miami Dolphins stars Chris Chambers and Joey Porter will be on hand signing autographs as well as challenging fans at Halo 3 inside the store. Bungie team members will be on hand to participate in the launch festivities. Los Angeles Where: GameStop, 1000 Universal Studios Blvd, Universal City, CA 91608 What: From the entertainment capital of the world, GameStop’s flagship store at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles will host the Halo 3 West Coast launch. The event begins Monday evening, leads up to the first sale of the game at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, and will feature a celebrity autograph session, Halo trivia contest and a special appearance by someone dressed as Master Chief, as well as a number of Bungie team members. Fans in line will also have a chance to play Halo 3 against a celebrity prior to the launch. Seattle Where: Best Buy, 457 120th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005 What: Seattle fans are invited to join the celebrations at Bellevue’s Best Buy, which will open its doors at 12:01 a.m. To commemorate the release of Halo 3 in the game’s hometown (Bungie’s headquarters are in the Seattle area), fans will be able to celebrate the occasion with product giveaways, and people in line may also get a chance to play against Bungie team members and local professional athletes. Halo fanatics who line up for the four regional events may be blessed not only with the right to buy Halo 3 before lazy people, but also with the folllowing giveaway gear: * Halo Action Clix from WizKids * Collectible trading cards from Topps * Halo Ghosts of Onyx by Eric Nylund from Tor * Frag Fest t-shirts from Mighty Fine * Accessories and hats from Changes * Messenger bags from Enmon Accessories * Console sling bag and hardware organizers from BD&A * Halo Graphic Novels published by Marvel * 2008 Halo calendars from Trends International * Halo Uprising Comic (issue one) from Marvel * Halo soundtracks from Sumthing Else Music * Weapon replicas from Master Replicas * Zune Halo 3 edition from Microsoft * Limited-edition figurines from the diorama created for the "Halo 3" ad campaignSource: http://www.ign.com
