We wait for the Halo 3 (Boston edition): aka failure to launch

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 25th 2007 at 1:15AM }

Don't see much in the picture above? Don't worry about it because there's nothing to see. Remember how there were those midnight Wal-Mart launches for Halo 3? Well apparently that didn't apply to the Wal-Mart in Walpole, Mass. Quick timeline of the events leading to midnight:

11:43PM - Arrive to an almost empty parking lot at Wal-Mart.
11:43:30 - Realize there is nothing going on here as I watch a woman cleaning inside.
11:44 - Two guys pull up asking what's the deal with the midnight launch? Tell them it looks like it's not happening here.
11:48 - Call up Ross who's apparently in a really great launch line waiting for his copy. Ask him if he can easily find a 7-Eleven on his internet-enabled phone that has a midnight launch. He can't hear me, but the two guys in the car know of a local store. It'll be a roll of the dice whether they're selling Halo.
11:50 - Follow the two guys to the nearest 7-Eleven. That's at least where I hoped we were going.
11:55 - Arrive at the local 7-Eleven and in a very awkward exchange that involves me pointing at the Slurpee machine and asking if they are selling, "The Halo 3." The clerk politely responds and laughs, "No, no, no, no."
11:57 - Say goodbye to the two strangers who say they're off to bed. They say they'll just pick it up tomorrow morning.
12:01AM - Standing in the empty 7-Eleven parking lot and accepting the fact that there won't be the Haloz tonight. Begin the drive home.

So, what's the point of this post? Did you try and get a copy of the game tonight and have no luck? Share your stories below.

Tags: boston, failure, halo3, launch

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

TheDonAndMikeShow @ Sep 25th 2007 1:19AM

I bought my Playstation 3 from a gas station!!!

Coollead @ Sep 25th 2007 1:24AM

I work at Best Buy, and I sent away around 15 people by 11:45 PM, as we weren't doing a midnight opening. The nearest store that was is a full 20+ miles away.

Anthony @ Sep 25th 2007 1:31AM

Why in the world were you still at work at 11:45 on a Monday if you weren't doing a midnight launch?

Coollead @ Sep 25th 2007 1:47AM

It was a truck night. We got our truck in, and had to unload it, and put it all out.

Starbuk @ Sep 25th 2007 1:24AM

I work at a local retailer that had a midnight launch. We had 500+ normal versions, almost 100 collectors, and about a dozen legendary ones. We didn't run out during the midnight release, but we have enough pre orders that should eat up most of the remaining stock, so if you didn't get one at midnight I suggest trying to go out early in the morning.

One thing we found out real fast: the packaging on the collector's edition is really poor. The holder for the game disc is really weak and the disc tends to slip out during shipping, allowing it to bounce around and get pretty scratched up. If you're going to buy a collector's edition, make sure you open it before leaving the store, or at least shake it to see if the disc is bouncing around loose. Most places will gladly swap out for a new one if it's scratched up, especially if you just bought it two seconds ago.

h8rain @ Sep 25th 2007 9:00AM

Not trying to rag on you, but you said:

"We didn't run out during the midnight release, but we have enough pre orders that should eat up most of the remaining stock."

Maybe I am misreading what you are saying, but I would think that before you sell a single copy, you go ahead and pull one for EVERY pre-order, because I thought that was the point of pre-order. Maybe I misread or you mistyped, but if what you say is right, then that is why I never "pre-order" anything.....

waves @ Sep 25th 2007 11:07AM

I think you did mischaracterize his post a little.

Also, There are always people who pre-order and then never come back for the game. I've heard of people putting pre-orders in at multiple stores, or just forgetting about it altogether. Knowing that, how long should a store be expected to hold a pre-order? I would think they wouldn't bother after a day or so. Especially with Halo 3. You know they're going to keep getting shipments in. Any store should have enough to sell to anyone who walks in the door.

darcy @ Sep 25th 2007 1:24AM

drove to futureshop at 11:55...stoopid long line...drove to blockbuster...no line, home playing at 12:10pm.

Getting my butt kicked by brutes in the woods so far on heroic...not sure what to think so far...graphics are meh, but having fun...

ronald.raygun @ Sep 25th 2007 1:40AM

good job on getting it today at noon!

SoulBlade @ Sep 25th 2007 8:41AM

Did you get voted down because you said the graphics were meh? People here are sensitive..

Matt B (SDF ) @ Sep 25th 2007 9:13AM

I know. They vote him down because they don't want the secret let out.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Sep 25th 2007 9:26AM

DON'T YOU DARE INSULT TEH HALOZ!!!
It is a flawless game. Flawless, I say, FLAWLESS!

...well, at least the interwebs'll be fairly quiet today, I reckon.

Almack64 (NOF - Ultrazord) @ Sep 25th 2007 10:17AM

I think vote down was for not knowing the difference between 12:00pm (noon) and 12:00am (midnight)

Draco @ Sep 25th 2007 10:41AM

Thats a silly reason to get voted down...

off topic, why is 12:05am noon, I know that it is, but where is the logic, who decided it would go 11am 12pm 1pm.

the world should run on the 24 hr clock.

upz @ Sep 25th 2007 11:00AM

I didn't realize 12AM was noon!

Just messing. I know what you mean. Probably the same reason why Sunday is the first day of the week and the Nintendo DS prints money.

Crono (NDF - French Taunting from Holy Grail Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 11:53AM

12:00 AM is MIDNIGHT! Reason being, its the start of the next day. The last second on a clock that is PM is 11:59:59pm. The next day STARTS at 12:00 AM.

upz @ Sep 25th 2007 1:31PM

Yeah, no kidding. Thanks for stating the obvious. His point is, why does the new day start at 12 as opposed to 1 (or 0, on a 24 hour clock), which would be the more logical number to start a series at.

Matt @ Sep 25th 2007 2:00AM

I bought it during my lunch hour about 3 hours ago, no need for a pre order. I guess thats the benefit of a worldwide launch and being in Australia

Kato @ Sep 25th 2007 1:31AM

I pre-ordered the Special Edition online from Best Buy... because I'm an idiot. I now must wait an indeterminate number of days before it is delivered. *sigh*

NegativeGhostrider @ Sep 25th 2007 1:45AM

I feel your pain. I preordered the Legendary because I had a ton of gift cards. Now I have to wait "4-7 business days." I'm giving Best Buy twice as much as any other gamer that day yet I can't even pick it up at launch. Bull.

dsub @ Sep 25th 2007 2:16AM

I'm not trying to rag on you guys, but seriously...

Why would you pre-order the game from a website when you can go into a store and physically purchase a copy at midnight?

Luke @ Sep 25th 2007 3:48AM

I did that same thing. Now i wait.

Kato @ Sep 25th 2007 10:17AM

@dsub: I actually did it because Best Buy had a deal to get a bunch of Microsoft Points for only 5 bucks if you preordered.

Irwin @ Sep 25th 2007 12:13PM

What are you guys talking about? MAN that sux, i pre-oreded mine on the bestbuy website(toronto, canada), and it shipped out this morning and will be at my house when i come home from university..

i did the same thing when i got my 360, its AWESOME, they deliver it to u on the release date, LOVE EM FOR THAT

sux they dont do it around ure area..maybe they have too many orders

nic @ Sep 25th 2007 1:32AM

did you guys get a press bundle copy from Microsoft??

jonathan @ Sep 25th 2007 1:38AM

Nearby gamestop has plenty in stock.

Decided I need sleep since Tuesdays are my longest class days (9:30 to 9) and that I would, as hard as it may be, not allow myself to play Halo until Tuesday night. So I'm buying it from Circuit City next to campus before class.

I could, however, drive to 1 of any 3 Gamestops and get it right now. They're all open, and all have plenty in stock. I've checked. Because I'm sick and obsessed.

fester @ Sep 25th 2007 1:35AM

7-11??! I think I'd rather take my chances with a vending machine that ya gotta kick! Of course if the vending machine is outside, that's a step up from WALLY where you have to put on a HAZMAT suit.[just kidding-couldn't resist] haha!

Shiro @ Sep 25th 2007 4:59AM

So I have to put on a Hazmat suit to purchase a game from Wally? Who is this strange individual? And why are you buying your games from a dirty old man?

Grant @ Sep 25th 2007 7:49PM

why not 7-11.
halo 3 is played by casual gamers, and sold game fuel fairly exclusively through 7-11.
On a similar hilarious side note:
there were 2 7-11's nearby, 1 next door to gamestop, and 1 a mile down the road.
i talked to some guys who went to both 7-11's after looking at the 300 person gamestop line and he said they BOTH had copies, but they were locked in the manager office, and the manager wouldn't be in til the next day.

good job 7-11, way to have a cross promotion that serves little purpose!

cpsterndog @ Sep 25th 2007 2:19AM

I assumed when I preordered my Limited Edition that my local Best Buy would be having a midnight launch - thankfully I heard from a coworker that they weren't. A little bit disappointing, but eliminates any temptation to stay up all night playing when I have to be at work at 7:00 AM tomorrow.

I think we all need a reminder that the world would keep turning even if the release date were 9/26. :-)

ruibing @ Sep 25th 2007 1:36AM

Just a sidenote. Walepole isn't really Boston, it's really Greater Bostonn, which is the only place you can really find Walmarts and Targets.

blooh (CDF - Ass Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 1:37AM

haha pwn couldnt get halo at midnight

i'm playin skate, but it's not midnight yet. i'll probably pick up halo in a few days

Lewis @ Sep 25th 2007 1:37AM

Im just waiting for a contest to win this sweet monkey of joy (deh Haloz 3), I can't afford the fruggin game

Andre @ Sep 25th 2007 1:39AM

Went to the nearest Future Shop at 10pm to wait in line (I was #12-ish). Minutes later, a couple of noisy guys show up. A couple minutes after that, their buds show up with a 24 pack of Budweiser and things just went downhill from there.

The night ended with 3 police cruisers on scene (total of 5 for the night) and the drunk idiots being cuffed and taken away. Drinking in public, drunk driving, harassment and assault at the very least. Oh, and I got the second last limited edition copy of Halo 3. :)

edwincruzzz @ Sep 25th 2007 1:44AM

I ordered the Collectors Halo 3 from Best Buy around the corner from where I live in LA. Found out yesterday that there was not gonna be a halo 3 midnight launch.

However there was a pretty big launch that was gonna happen at gamestop about 1 mile from where i live. /sigh now i have to wait till the mornin' 2 bad, that's what i get for not asking enough questions

daniel helm @ Sep 25th 2007 8:16PM

My collectors disc is pretty scratched! Called up Gamestop, and all they could say is, "Come tomorrow ASAP, but we have no idea what we are going to be able to do about it. Sorry."

Thanks.....

I'm really sad tonight.

Mark @ Sep 25th 2007 2:09AM

It still plays though? That really sucks though, and I hope the copy I get tomorrow won't be scratched...Sorry man.

dsub @ Sep 25th 2007 2:13AM

I'm sorry man.

We had 2 people of 60 limiteds sold come back tonight. We were actually telling people to open them and check before they got home. So far that's not so bad. We tested the two that were scratched though and they played perfectly fine.

Red Green @ Sep 25th 2007 2:02AM

I think that last user works for Sony. You can tell do bashing (a known Sony tactic) and bad grammer (a known sony...tactic...wait...)

Red Green @ Sep 25th 2007 2:03AM

Ok, so I screwed up on grammer as well in that comment...wow...

poonannie @ Sep 25th 2007 2:10AM

You also misspelled grammar in both posts.

nes @ Sep 25th 2007 2:11AM

im in school for another hour!!! im going to check teh gamestops afterwards, wish me luck!

Fernando Rocker (NDF - Water Ring) @ Sep 25th 2007 2:05AM

A typical frustrated ps3 fanboy... sorry that you have to justify the fact that you waste $600 in a useless machine. Have fun folding some proteins and playing Lair and halfbaked multiplatform games.

Brent @ Sep 25th 2007 10:35AM

Who are you even talking to? Do you have a bot that posts to every thread with random Sony bashing?

hotnutz @ Sep 25th 2007 6:26PM

You guessed it right.

!!!Fernando Exposed!!! Another closet PS3 fanboy! Mother says he still wets bed at the tender age of 12.
More tonight on Hard Copy!!!

David @ Sep 25th 2007 2:07AM

Went straight home after work and continued to play TF2.

Oh wait, was this post about a console FPS?

Steven @ Sep 25th 2007 2:08AM

i checked two 7 eleven's by me, and neither had any idea what i was talking about. then i went to the gamestop by my house, saw some old friends in line and cut the line behind them. when i got to the counter i told the girl i didn't preorder, but it was OK since they had 3(!) copies left that weren't pre-ordered. just got an hour and a half of gameplay in and now it's time for bed. sweet.