Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta event - San Francisco
Located in San Francisco's Mission District, where the trendy mingle with the low-income (or at least cross paths), the swank Foreign Cinema is playing host to the West Coast's Halo 3 event tonight. Much like our friends out East, we've got a few open bars, lots of random milling around with other game writers, and tiny, fancy hors d'eouvres. (You know the only thing better than mini-hamburgers? Regular-sized hamburgers!)People who got to the event early or rushed the multiplayer area after check-in landed a spot with a 360 controller and a giant HDTV. And they're still going strong, hours into the Halo 3 multiplayer beta. The rest of us (read: losers) are getting to know how many drinks it takes our neighbors before they start leaking... secrets. San Francisco has played host to several individual game events in this anniversary of E3, and the assembled crowd is a who's who of gaming dorks journalists.
Gallery: Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta Event - SF
Microsoft sprinkled some Halo 3-themed goodies around this bar and restaurant, including a few close-to-life-sized Master Chief statues and Halo-based bathroom signs. (Huh, we never thought about how he does that in his suit.) Otherwise, the main event is fighting for a giant HDTV to play the beta. Like in New York, Microsoft is giving away a Halo-themed Zune to one of the lucky attendees. We also got to hold the Legendary box helmet; the inside is rectangular-shaped to fit the game discs and goodies, but we expect that it'll only take hours after the game's release before gamers hack it into a wearable -- albeit small -- helmet.
The event feels most like a down-tempo end to a long week of game events, and that's not a bad thing. Once we fight for an open controller and place on the couch, we'll post impressions of the game. And the content in this beta is the same as the current friends-and-family beta, which will also be the same as the public beta next week. You'll be able to give it a shot soon enough.
Now we're going to go back to staring at journalists who are currently playing, hoping to make them uncomfortable enough to get up. Petty, but hopefully effective.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anonymous @ May 11th 2007 11:54PM
I'd be jealous but..you guys haven't played yet? Wth? Strong arm your way in there and give us the dirty details! NOW! GOGOGOGOGOGO!
Anonymous @ May 12th 2007 12:09AM
After seeing the Halo 3 Helmet, does it seem to be worth the extra (60? I think?) dollars that the legendary edition costs? I'm worried that I'll pay, and it will be a cheap POS made of flimsy plastic, and it won't even look like his helmet at all. Please advise, joystiq overlords.
Zack Stern @ May 12th 2007 12:38AM
Hey, Anonymous,
$60 just for the helmet? I'd pass. But it's a solid piece of plastic construction--it could be heavier, but I wouldn't call it "cheap."Zack
Silver @ May 12th 2007 1:02AM
Aargh, is it just me, or is the Halo franchise the most over-hyped and overrated game in the history of gaming?
I played this game to death like 15 years ago: it was called Marathon.
Curse you, Microsoft, for devouring Bungie and whoring this game to epic levels of ridiculousness.
Unit @ May 12th 2007 1:43AM
they also had one in ny( with more than enough avaliable tv's and 360's to go around without the wait). I played a couple of rounds but was handed my ass by some of the devs. Also the helmet does look neat in person, but im undecided if it's worth the price.... Soon the madness that is halo3 multi player will be unleashed amongst the rabid gamers lol!!
lolz @ May 12th 2007 2:07AM
"Aargh, is it just me, or is the Halo franchise the most over-hyped and overrated game in the history of gaming?"
No, it is just you.
GaryM @ May 12th 2007 2:18AM
San Francisco, eh?
Anonymous @ May 12th 2007 2:20AM
Just watched the gamehead episode and I noticed something I hadn't previously seen, or I hadn't heard anyone talking about. It looked to me like you can pick up a skull and melee someone with it? Did anyone else notice that?
And after watching gamehead, and seeing just how freaking large the helmet is that you get with the legendary edition, I might pick it up. You could hollow the thing out and wear it on your head it's so huge. Although, I'm going to seriously have to weigh the benefits (how much I'll enjoy looking at the thing) against the extra cost of the helmet.
After a little research, the "Limited Edition" without the helmet and the box, is 70 dollars. What you get for the extra 10 dollars above the standard version, is probably the commentary DVD's. So if you count those as 10 dollars of the cost of the 130 dollar Legendary Edition (Edition with the helmet) you come out with the helmet costing about 60 dollars exactly (unless you add some value for the box, which I assume can hold the entire halo trilogy within).
So, what do you guys think? Is 70 dollars worth it for the helmet and the box?
SeNiLe @ May 12th 2007 5:46AM
Why is there black bars on the left and right side on each of the screen? When you play split-screen does it not use the full screen? Kind of weak!
RazorElite @ May 12th 2007 12:08PM
"Aargh, is it just me, or is the Halo franchise the most over-hyped and overrated game in the history of gaming?"
Yup, just you... and some PS3 fanboys.
Dustin @ May 12th 2007 12:15PM
I am more than extremely jealous of you guys and everyone at that event.
I heard there was some kind of live footage of someone playing it for 3 hours, did anyone end up watching that? I can't seem to find it anywhere, which isn't a surprise considering it's 3 hours.
... I need more footage. I'll give you my pre-order for Halo 3 Legendary edition for just half an hour of some beta footage.
Please?
Kevin Kelly @ May 12th 2007 4:56PM
#11 - It was on Justin.tv. You can see it now in the archives section, it was pretty fun to watch.
Oh, and anyone comparing Marathon to Halo needs to have their eyes checked.
Phil @ May 12th 2007 8:49PM
at justin.tv they have live halo 3 beta footage.
SoullesJoker @ May 13th 2007 6:16PM
#8. Come on now.. dont be such a noob! The skull you see in the Game Head episode refers to the gametype "Oddball" where you get time for holding onto the ball. Like king of the hill, but you cannot shoot or throw grenades when holding onto the ball... I dont think you've ever played halo in your life.. hehe