Halo 3...?

[TheFreud]

Saw this on xbox.com

Awesome we can have a POS music player that LOOKS like Halo3... Now how about some news about the GAME on release day, HQ!

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/14158/US-Soldiers-Get-Halo-3-Military-Edition-Zune/

[K2]

Halo 3 Goes Gold
>> From the press release:

Most Anticipated Title of 2007 Released to Manufacturing, Begins Final March to Xbox 360

The wait is almost over. "Halo 3," the final chapter in the groundbreaking "Halo" trilogy and the most anticipated game release of 2007, has been released to manufacturing.

Three years in the making by renowned developer Bungie Studios, "Halo 3" is now finished and will begin its journey to store shelves around the world in less than four weeks. "Halo 3," which has already set new records as the fastest preordered game in history, has exceeded one million presales in North America alone. The title is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25.

"This is a huge milestone for us and a big cause for celebration at Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios," said Harold Ryan, Studio Head at Bungie Studios. "This is the game we've always wanted to make and certainly the best game our studio has developed. We can't wait for gamers to get their hands on it on Sept. 25."

Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, "Halo 3" will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief's epic battle to save humankind. In November 2004, the world's view of video games changed forever with the release of "Halo 2," which generated a record-setting $125 million (U.S.) in sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the most-played game on Microsoft's Xbox LIVE® online gaming and entertainment network, with nearly 1 billion hours of online gaming logged to date.

[WhinerSlayer]

ATTN:                   POWERZONE ASSOCIATES, VIDEO GAMES

APPLlCABILITY:  WORLDWIDE EXCHANGES 

QUESTIONS TO:  Robin Cloud, Buyer, DSN 967-6540, cloud@aafes.com

REFERENCE:        Visit the PowerZone Portal using the following link:

                              <<<http://h2.aafes.com/sites/14/HARDLINES/49234678%20POWERZONE/Forms/AllItems.aspx>>>



SUBJECT:  Halo 3 for Xbox 360 is Street Dated 25 Sep 07!   

   

The Halo 3 video game new release will be distributed via MV Menu profiles from SPDC 1059905, and will also be stocked in the SPDC for store polls (sell $59.95).  The Halo 3 Limited Edition contains special content disks as well as an art book with scenes from the game, and comes packaged in a collectible tin case (sell $69.95):

Title

Platform

CRC

Size

Halo 3

Xbox 360

2450988

MG/ACAD

Halo 3 Limited Edition

Xbox 360

2451079

LG/ACAD

                               



The Halo 3 Legendary Edition (shown above; includes a highly collectible Spartan character helmet and two additional disks packed with exclusive content) will be distributed via ILP PO 0007215530 (sell $129) in very limited quantities (min 4, max 24 units per store, PCPO table 97PVIDGAM2):

Halo 3 Legendary Edition        Xbox 360        2451038


*****All stores will also receive at least one FREE Halo 3 Legendary Edition to raffle off on launch day to generate additional excitement!!*****

Please note this game is STREET DATED for 25 Sep 07.  Video games do not normally distribute with street dates, however this is an exception and the street date must be strictly adhered to.  DO NOT PLACE THIS TITLE ON STORE SHELVES UNTIL 12:01 a.m. 25 Sep 07.  **Please be aware the supplier will penalize future street dated product shipments if violations of street date are noted.** 

This title has also been coded with the street date register prompt, to aid in preventing early sales.


In addition, stores will receive ILP half-pallet shippers which contain 60 copies of the game along with 6 ea Halo 3 Covenant and Spartan controllers (sell $59.95) and 8 Halo 3 headsets (sell $59.95) for add-on sales.  The special limited edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 consoles (sell $399), controllers, and headsets will also ship to stores via separate ILP shipments throughout the month of September.  These items are NOT street dated, and can be placed for sale upon receipt, with the exception of the console, which is street dated for 16 Sep:

Halo 3 Spartan Wireless Cont    Xbox 360        2455413
Halo 3 Covenant Wireless Cont   Xbox 360        2455538
Halo 3 Wireless Headset Xbox 360        2455596
Halo 3 Xbox 360 Console Xbox 360        2521102

[TheFreud]

 

A straight answer?! I am sitting here beside myself.

I called the power zone this morning. I was concerned that they would use the marketing push like they did Harry Potter books and stay open all night on the 24th, to release the game at 12:01 the 25th. I spoke with Ricky- he is the guy I have come to know as the Games Guy- He said that they will not be doing that as far as he knows.
Looks like I will be camping out at 8:30 in the morning of the 25th.

Of course I will also be trying to make double sure by putting in "Special Order" paperwork for a copy both for myself and my Hub.

[TheFreud]

Well, we knew it was probably too good to be true.

The insider's rumor round the stores is that they have not yet gotten the boxes with the games in them- although they are in the country at distribution. Managers are freaking, but likely there will be no Halo 3 come launch day. AAFES blew it, yet again, despite some inter office memo that release day was to be a big day of promotion and prizes, consoles and game.

AAFES, you suck. So, don;t cancel those preorders, folks.... you're gonna need them.

[Prplneon]

That REALLY SUCKS,  Way to go Aafee's, you blew it again.  Looks like you'll be playing WoW when the rest of your freinds and family are Shooting each other. Bummer.

[NotTelling]

The games were delivered to stores in Germany last week. There are, however, VERY limited quantities per store. If you really want a copy on release day, it will be a good idea to arrive VERY early the day of release.

[TheFreud]

Went down to the Powerzone at 5:30 a.m. There was a line in front of the door. The shopettes had some too. (THey didn't advertise that fact)

As I understand it... 60 copies were issued per store. I know for a fact they didn't institute a 1 copy per customer rule (At least not at all the locations.)
The usual AAFES policy is to only order an XBOX game twice. Ever. I am guessing they will except on this policy for Halo 3.

My advice- if you were not one of the lucky handful who got your copy is to order it from amazon or EBGames.com They shop very fast, and you won't have to worry about the stupid looks you'll get from walking in to the BX and asking when they will have more in. Let me save you a trip. "They don't know. They get whatever HQ sends them"

[Don_Coyote]

I know it's old news... but again... just playing catch-up...

First, with the release of a game like Halo 3... expect confusion! Remember when we heard of Halo 2 coming out? Not only was that game BADLY over-hyped, but they changed the release date 7 times. I was in tech school by the time it came out (about 6 or 7 months after its original release date). Fast forward to about 4 or 5 months ago when Halo 3 come out... holy piss... I've never in my life seen a bigger swarm of dependents at the BX, because of this, I was unable to by it... yet anohter plot foiled by dependents.  I had to work...  unlike those spoled-a** little punks. But something like that is to be expected from Halo 3, and quite honestly, I don't think any store will be prepared for the release of anything as long-awaited as a game like that. Don't get it twisted... AAFES still sucks for many other reasons, but you can't blame this one on em. 

[TheFreud]

What was funny... M hub went to yon local power zone and was gonna get it on release day. The line was already ass deep at 6 am, so he was gonna say screw it, pick up some donuts at the shopette for consolation, and come home defeated.
The dude at the shoppette, whilst making small talk with my husband said, "Oh, we have copies. We have 3 left." So he bought them. Now, while I was thrilled that we did get them- the two we wanted for each of our consoles, and one extra we sold to a friend, I was more than shocked that they let him buy all 3 copies. On such a sought after item, they should have imposed some kind of limit like one per customer. (Had they done so he would have called me at home and had me run up there for my copy while he sat on them.) Bungie actually released H3 ahead of the scheduled date- it was originally supposed to be in November, and it came out in September. I was in there buggin the ordering guy for a good long 7 or so weeks once the release date was leaked to get on the stick.

My last 2 trips into the power zone to find CoD4 have resulted in no results, and that game has been out for quite some time in the states. That right there is in the "no excuse" zone. If they guy who does the ordering would pull his head out- we could get them before everyone on XBox live has stopped playing them. It's not so hard to watch the gaming market. A little effort would go miles.

[Don_Coyote]

...that's why I'm glad to be back in the states... I get the games sooner than I'm used to... AND there's far less dependents here, but a lot of retirees, but they don't game, so it's all good... except for when they take forever in the damn lines. The BX here is... well... limited with their selections, and they're about a couple weeks behind Wal-mart. In order to get stuff, I'd have to go there, and though Altus is a VERY small place, the Wal-mart here still gets a lot of attention from locals, and outsiders that couldn't get whatever game that just came out that they couldn't get in time at their own town.

[Disgruntled]

Hate to tell both of you this, but now that RETEK controls how items are ordered, the RA isn't allowed to tweak the numbers.

Pretty much, whatever an exchange is allotted is all they get now.

[TheFreud]

Hate to tell both of you this, but now that RETEK controls how items are ordered, the RA isn't allowed to tweak the numbers.

Pretty much, whatever an exchange is allotted is all they get now.

I got news for ya... If the system isn't working then the solution is simple. Say something. Tell someone. Pick up the phone and call HQ. Get your coworkers to do it too... Don't just sit idly by and let the customers get it in the pooper because it is easier than making some calls. That's called LAZINESS.
Give out the phone number to those that are routinely unhappy so we can call HQ too- if they hear from enough people they have to change something. It's this shrug and walk away attitude, rampant throughout AAFES that makes the massive problems- It is no one responsibility, no one's job, and no one cares- so long as they aren't the ones who have to do something. It's attitudes like yours that PISS ME OFF.

[Don_Coyote]

...although that's very, very true ...my point is that no matter who controls the orders, or what BX/PX/NEX/whatever, no one can complain about any store not having enough copies of Halo 3... it's an extremely popular game, and just like anything else with such popularity, trere will never be enough in just one place.

[Disgruntled]

Microsoft doesn't allocate a lot to AAFES to begin with because some hosebags released a previous title before street date: you cannot expect that complaining to HQ will help when it is the outside company's decision.

Same with the hot Sony/Universal videos... Ever notice you do not see them on the release date? Again, selling before street date, so AAFES as a whole was put on the shite list and now has to wait for the second wave release.

I know that doesn't help when you want a title, but blame some manager who thought he or she was above the rules because they wanted a sale and a little glory.

As it is, not much will be ordered at store level anymore. RETEK automated ordering has taken that over--it is supposed to be "one out the front=one ordered for the back" without human intervention OR warehouse backstock. So if something sells out the first day, you will have to wait for the system to log the sales and do the replenishment requests. The reorder associates are going to be nothing more than label hangers in the very near future.