17th January 2007 – Eager customers excited about the impending release of Halo 3, for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, are being offered a fantastic opportunity to participate in the testing and refinement of the game! By purchasing the new, action game Crackdown, this will include an invitation to participate in the pre-release version of the game, dubbed Halo 3 beta.
Data from GAME, Europe’s leading specialist video games retailer, has revealed that 85% of all their Halo 3 pre-orders have been made using a GAME Reward Card by ‘early adopters’ keen to reserve their copy before a release date has even been confirmed.
Research also shows that over a third of customers who have pre-ordered Halo 3, have previously bought Halo or Halo 2, and are predominantly male, aged 20-30, demonstrating that customers have grown up with the franchise and are extremely loyal to it.
The original Halo was released in November 2001 with its sequel, Halo 2, released three years later. Together these titles have sold in excess of 12 million copies and is considered one of the best selling game franchises ever.
Alex Croft, Managing Director for GAME Group’s Online Business said, “Halo 3 is one of the most highly anticipated Xbox 360 titles for 2007 and our customers are hungry to get hold of it. Halo 3 beta is a great way for gamers to actually influence the making of the game and will ensure the production of a truly amazing game.”
Crackdown allows players to roam a virtual city and enforce justice by any means necessary in Pacific City, a crime-ridden urban centre built to encourage the exploration of the full width, depth and height of the city.
Coupled with highly innovative co-operative gameplay and an interactive world where nearly anything can be used as a weapon, gamers will be able to create a volatile cocktail of judicial oppression as they clean up the streets.
The Halo 3 beta is due to begin in spring 2007 and gamers will require a hard drive and valid Xbox Live® Gold subscription to participate in the test.
www.game.co.uk
