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[Henry Panic]

In memoriam of the gaming franchise laying the blueprint that gave us the modern mp, eSports, and streaming we have today, I thought it would be a trip down memory lane to remember the franchises most successful 14.5M selling game.

I remember the night before there were reports of fights over copies needing a police response at retailers that sold the game a few hours early.

Teens, grown men, and families were in lines taking up half the mall parking lots waiting to rush into Bestbuy or Fye, or shopping centers in front of a Gametoo.

Thousands of people were waiting, shocked news coverage with reporters confused whether it was a toy, game, new shoes, or a movie.

One guy told iirc a CNN reporter it was a pair of socks and they believed him at first.

London was so concerned about crowds Microsoft cancelled a launch event.

Then the doors opened, security was overwhelmed, stores overstocked sold every copy.

https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/halo-3-launch-event-too-big-for-oxford-street/

https://www.gamespot.com/amp-articles/halo-3-rides-hype-into-us-retailers/1100-6179819/

https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/nys-halo-3-launch-was-no-riot-but-it-was-close/

https://www.wired.com/2007/09/crowd-concerns/

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Technology/story?id=3646582&page=1

https://techcrunch.com/2007/09/26/halo-3-breaks-records/amp/
https://blog.gitnux.com/halo-3-statistics/

With Joe leaving a proper send off thread was necessary.

I wonder who Microsoft could use for a new Mascot. They really don't have many current games that have prenamed characters in them. I guess maybe Starfield guy? Guess we need to see how that game performs first.

I think we can say the fight is finally finished now.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

I remember in the US, I was getting messages on 7-11 gas pumps to go in the store and reserve a copy. It was insanity, never seen anything like it before or sense.

As for the game, my hype went from 11 out of 10 to 3 out of 10 after I played the CoD4 beta

 

[BrutalTruth_]

Definitely miss midnight releases back in the day, the last decent one was the PS4/Xbox launch and it's been downhill since.

As for the game, my hype went from 11 out of 10 to 3 out of 10 after I played the CoD4 beta

I really enjoyed CoD 3 so when 4 came out it was my main shooter, I loved halo 2 but CoD changed everything, the campaign was well done too.

Mile High Club was also a bitch.

 

[Skifi28]

I got the dreaded RROD shortly before the game's launch, good times.

 

[mrcroket]

17 years.... these threads make me feel old

 

[MarkMe2525]

This and cod 4 ruined a semester of college for me.

 

[TexMex]

 

[Fuz]

Spoiler

 

[Krappadizzle]

Great night, Game Fuel, case of beer, jack n the box tacos. Me and 2 buddies cooping all night.

 

[Lillie]

it was my most anticipated game, and i've never experienced that level of hype since

 

[begotten]

I went to like 10 midnight launches during the X360 era. Halo 3 was definitely one of the best because that whole week was so memorable.

GTA4 midnight launch was my personal favorite because I won an official GTA4 shirt and one of those shitty Xbox Live Starter Packs.

 

[flying_sq]

Halo 2 and 3 were awesome. They were the games everyone played. If you had an Xbox or a 360 you played Halo, even if it you didn't play it a lot. It was the game where you could meet just about anyone. Even if you were bad at the game, there was usually at least one decent guy on your team that could carry so you could just dick around in a Warthog. Arena sandbox shooters done just right. The closest thing today is fortnite, but its not that comparable.

Not to mention all the Machinima, Red Vs Blue, montages, I mean it was a phenomenon.

 

[BrutalTruth_]

Halo 2 and 3 were awesome. They were the games everyone played. If you had an Xbox or a 360 you played Halo, even if it you didn't play it a lot. It was the game where you could meet just about anyone. Even if you were bad at the game, there was usually at least one decent guy on your team that could carry so you could just dick around in a Warthog. Arena sandbox shooters done just right. The closest thing today is fortnite, but its not that comparable.

I remember trying Halo 2 online for the first time, only had played PC games online up to that point and it blew my mind that I could join a lobby with my closest friends and play Halo 2 so easily, definitely was a good time to be an online gamer.

 

[flying_sq]

I remember trying Halo 2 online for the first time, only had played PC games online up to that point and it blew my mind that I could join a lobby with my closest friends and play Halo 2 so easily, definitely was a good time to be an online gamer.

Oh yea, friends would just be chilling in lobbys using as a voice chat just to hang out, not even playing the game.

 

[Unknown?]

It was annoying seeing it on every Mountain Dew and Doritos package!

 

[AJUMP23]

Finish the fight.

 

[DEAD ORIGINAL]

The final game in the holy trinity, loved it then came Reach overated Armour Lock and Jetpacks pile of crap

 

[Knightime_X]

Halo 3 back then was fun when everyone wasn't as much of a sweaty tryhard like they are today.

Maybe no one is that sweaty, just a bunch of pc cheaters?

 

[Spyxos]

Wtf it's been 17 years?.... It feels like only yesterday I was sitting in front of the TV with 4 of my friends all night.

 

[Henry Panic]

Wtf it's been 17 years?.... It feels like only yesterday I was sitting in front of the TV with 4 of my friends all night.

The 2nd game is almost 20 years old.

Pathways into Darkness 1993, which was the precursor to Marathon and Halo is over 30 years old.

If you were older than 20 30 years ago you're in your 50s now.

 

[Adam_802]

No game launch will ever be as big of a deal. Different world/industry today.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Ouch my bones.

And I still didn't play it.