CVG has learnt that all plans for a Halo 3 midnight launch have been pulled as Westminster council feared that too many fans would turn up, causing chaos in the streets of London in the early hours of September 26.
Halo 3 will launch on September 26 and it's quite likely that it'll bigger than the PS3 launch back in March. At least the council thinks so, as that went ahead fine. When contacted HMV knew nothing of a midnight launch for Halo 3.
A GAME employee did though: "It's opening hours as usual," we were told. "The council won't allow a midnight launch."
Stephen McGill, head of gaming and entertainment, at Microsoft, told us, "Halo 3 launches in the UK on Sept. 26, and although we are not going to be running any official midnight opening events along London's Oxford Street (due to from Westminster Council concerns of huge crowds) we are pleased to confirm that over 1,000 retailers around London and the rest of the UK will be opening up at midnight to ensure fans can get their copy of Halo 3 it as soon as humanly possible - including many Game, Gamestation, HMV and Virgin Megastores stores, and of those that can't open at midnight many will be opening early on the Wednesday 26th too.
"To celebrate the launch, on Tuesday 25th Halo 3 is taking over the BFI IMAX cinema in Waterloo (UK's biggest cinema screen) where lucky fans and a number of top celebrities will be going head to head playing Halo 3 on the giant screen. Tickets to the red carpet premiere event can be won at www.xbox.com, along with giveaways in The Daily Telegraph this Saturday and on Kiss FM next Tuesday."
Ive never understood these midnight launches. Can anyone explain the mentality of going to shops before midnight just so you get a game a few hours earlier. are games that important or is there something else to it
They really think this would be bigger than the PS3 launch!? Are they mad!? Obviously they've been eating to many M$ for breakfast, hype, hype, hype.
You just burst your own bubble there Mister. 'Hype' i agree, i am a 360 owner and halo 3 is on my 'to buy' list obviously. But hype is what will make this game launch bigger then the PS3 launch.
The PS3 launch was good, no bad words against the launch itself, but when people saw that price tag, i'd say 70% of consumers turned away, that's just by guessing obviously. But don't doubt the hype machine that is Halo 3 because it will set new records. Guaranteed.
Midnight launches for consoles are great, I was there for the 360 and Wii launches. I don't quite see the attraction for a game though. Especially Halo 3. I'll get it but I'll wait for the postie I think.
People seem to forget, yeah its just a game. BUT this is The Game Industrys SpiderMan/StarWars. IF you want the industry to grow out of its perceived "Underground Ghetto" *Quote from Times* You need this kinda stuff. And hopefully, when it breaks all sales records, people will start realising gaming IS big.
Not because I was gonna be there at midnight, but because I'm going to have to wade through a tidle wave of fetid, foul-smelling, "hardcore" purists when I pick my copy up on the way to work...
Not because I was gonna be there at midnight, but because I'm going to have to wade through a tidle wave of fetid, foul-smelling, "hardcore" purists when I pick my copy up on the way to work...
You mean the kind of people that post on gaming forums?
Probably a stupid question... but why don't they just hold the midnight launch somewhere else? It's not as if London has a lack of big computer game stores.
Probably a stupid question... but why don't they just hold the midnight launch somewhere else? It's not as if London has a lack of big computer game stores.
Or somewhere else in the country? It's not like London is the only city we have now is it...
while i personally find these midnight events a bit daft , i do understand that there is a call for these things and find it strange that the reason that this one cant go ahead is because of numbers? What about the last Harry bleedin Potter release?
My mates and I are counting on a midnight launch, because we've organized the ultimate, epic gaming night for the Halo 3 arrival. (30ft screen, 1080i DLP, industrial 5.1 sound-system. Comfy seats, Pringles and Coke!)
If it's not Game, GameStation or HMV, though, it'll be the local 24-hour Tesco's, so no worries for us. Failing that, we'll have to rely on "Attack Plan Omega" to secure our copy in time.
not too bothered, i pre-ordfered mine from game i will get it a day before so thats what eveyrone should do! cus i imagine it would be cold outside at midnight
Never been into the whole midnight thing. Always waited for my consoles to become available. Likewise with games and movies (even laughed at those that slept outside the store to get windows 98 when that launched ). Don't see any reason for it not to happen though. After all the release of Harry Potter must have been more chaotic.
Probably a stupid question... but why don't they just hold the midnight launch somewhere else? It's not as if London has a lack of big computer game stores.
Or somewhere else in the country? It's not like London is the only city we have now is it...
Hold something important outside of London? What is this madness?
I sent an e-mail to GAME yesterday asking about the midnight launch, i am from Manchester so hopefully they will give me good news and i will post the outcome on here if people want to know
Not because I was gonna be there at midnight, but because I'm going to have to wade through a tidle wave of fetid, foul-smelling, "hardcore" purists when I pick my copy up on the way to work...
You mean the kind of people that post on gaming forums?
Don't get me wrong, I know what I am, but I also know that I can enjoy games and exercise personal hygiene at the same time.
I didn't always have this opinion, but since I picked up a copy of Crackdown which fell on the same day as FFXII launch, I was sandwiched between two hairy beef monsters in the queue and I've approached early morning purchases with a certain amount of trepidation ever since...
Probably a stupid question... but why don't they just hold the midnight launch somewhere else? It's not as if London has a lack of big computer game stores.
Or somewhere else in the country? It's not like London is the only city we have now is it...
Hold something important outside of London? What is this madness?
I don't mind midnight launches for consoles, but it sure is geeky for a game. Surely you can wait a few hours! And let's not forget that the day after launch is a normal (for me at least) working day. You'd have to be mad or on the dole/student.
I don't mind midnight launches for consoles, but it sure is geeky for a game. Surely you can wait a few hours! And let's not forget that the day after launch is a normal (for me at least) working day. You'd have to be mad or on the dole/student.
I think the opposite way.
I mean a console is nothing without the games, so I'd only consider queuing for a console if it had some amazing launch games, in which case I'm more queuing for the games than the console.
Midnight launches for consoles is like queuing up when they open a new cinema, I'd rather just wait til a film I really want to watch comes out and queue up then.
I don't mind midnight launches for consoles, but it sure is geeky for a game. Surely you can wait a few hours! And let's not forget that the day after launch is a normal (for me at least) working day. You'd have to be mad or on the dole/student.
I think the opposite way.
I mean a console is nothing without the games, so I'd only consider queuing for a console if it had some amazing launch games, in which case I'm more queuing for the games than the console.
Midnight launches for consoles is like queuing up when they open a new cinema, I'd rather just wait til a film I really want to watch comes out and queue up then.
I understand what your saying, but most people would'nt queue up for a movie at midnight!
I sent an e-mail to GAME yesterday asking about the midnight launch, i am from Manchester so hopefully they will give me good news and i will post the outcome on here if people want to know
When I went to GAME at Manchester Fort to get Super Paper Mario, they had a sign saying midnight launch there.
I assume that means one (or both) in the Arndale will open midnight. If not, Fort is a possibility for you.
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so thats what eveyrone should do! cus i imagine it would be cold outside at midnight
). Don't see any reason for it not to happen though. After all the release of Harry Potter must have been more chaotic. 
