This is a journal of how the Halo 3 launch went. I live in Florida (the Florida panhandle) in a town called Crestview. It is about 45 miles from Pensacola, Florida and about 60 miles from Panama City, Florida. Crestview is basically in between. To put things simple, I live near Eglin Air Force Base, which is the largest military base in the world. So I wanted to buy the game (not pre-purchase it) because I like the whole crowd thing... I also want to add that I do have a life (many people say that us gamers have no life so we have all of the time in the world to hang out at stores at midnight). So enough blabbing from me...

Here is how my night went...

(Monday September 24th 5:30 pm): Checked Crestview Wal-Mart. Nobody in line. They were going to have over 160 games for Halo 3 (regular & special edition). So I left to get some food and do some things around my house. 

(Monday September 24th 9:55 pm): Went back to Wal-Mart. I was about 14th in line. So I called my brother in Baltimore to see how he was doing. He pre-purchased his SE Halo 3 at Game Stop. He was about 50th in line. He said at about 11:45pm there was almost 100 in line.  

(Monday September 24th 10:05 pm): Still on phone with my brother in Baltimore. My line was also starting to get big. Well over 30 people waiting. Thankfully down here in Florida we have Super-Wal-Marts. They are open 24/7 and we can hang out inside the store and chill. Surprisingly a LOT of females in line.

(Monday September 24th 11:20 pm):  Got a call from brother in MD. He had his Halo 3 SE in-hand. Found that BOTH DISC’s were loose in package and both discs were scratched. Although pissed to high hell, game played without a hitch. Back here my line was up to almost 50 people. Not bad for a small Florida town that resembles Mayberry... 

(Tuesday September 25th 12:01 am): Line started to sell. We were off to see the wizard. They were ID’ing people so some of the kids who didnt have parents with them were screwed. Total in line... about 85-90.

(Tuesday September 25th 12:19 am): Got back home  and started playing online with my brother from Baltimore and my cousin from Michigan. I also had both disc’s loose in my SE set. The main disc was really scratched to hell, but it works...

(Tuesday September 25th 2:20 am): Played online with my brother in Baltimore, my brother that lives here in Florida and with his friend from work. Downed 3 Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee drinks... Lack of sleep make Sean talk like Homer... mmmm... Halo 3....

(Tuesday September 25th 3:30 am): Getting my ass handed to me online. I think I have been playing COD3 & Medal of Honor: Airborne too damn much the last few weeks... I still find myself trying to run.  

 (Tuesday September 25th 5:10 am): Sleep.... I will give you updates and thoughts when i wake up. This is a HUGE game (especially online)... until then, enjoy Halo 3 (and check me out online. My gamertag is below...

Halo 3 Review

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Halo 3 Details:

The epic saga continues with Halo 3, the hugely anticipated third chapter in the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. Halo 3 represents the third chapter in the Halo trilogy—an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.5 million units worldwide, logging more than 650 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE, and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel, an upcoming film adaptation, and more.

The Covenant rules the Earth — the Flood has been unleashed — and the fate of life everywhere hangs in the balance. There is only one person capable of saving the human race: Master Chief. This genetically engineered super soldier is the last chance for humanity’s survival. Everything he has gone through has led him to this monumental moment. Stowed away on a Forerunner ship, he rushes back to Earth to defeat the Covenant once and for all. Hopelessly outnumbered, and with his Artificial Intelligence companion Cortana ensnared by Gravemind, things look bleak. But when you are bred for battle like Master Chief, you fight past the breaking point and bow to no one. It’s all been building to this — a desperate, final war that leads to a soul-shattering climax of epic proportions. Help this incredible hero stop the Covenant, destroy the Flood and save the lives of every person on the planet.

The third chapter in the critically acclaimed franchise features insane battles with an arsenal of alien and human weaponry. You’ll discover all-new armaments and characters as you fight to the finish. You can even play online with Xbox Live and battle in pulse-pounding multiplayer action. Next-generation graphics and technological advances, such as enhanced artificial intelligence and a beefed-up real-time lighting engine, make Halo 3 shine with stunning realism. Finish the fight once and for all in the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race in the climatic curtain call of the awesome Halo saga.

Halo 3 Features:

• Next-gen advantage: Taking full advantage of the power of Xbox 360, Halo 3 expands on everything that has made the Halo franchise great, adding a wealth of technical and gameplay advancements.
• Evolution of design: Next-generation high-definition visuals, enhanced A.I., an advanced real-time lighting engine, and new weapons, characters, and challenges are just a few examples of Halo 3’s evolution of design and technology.
• Unparalleled experience: Ultimately, these improvements provide gamers with an unparalleled experience and, in the end, tell an even more compelling and engrossing story.
• Online multiplayer: Working in concert with Xbox LIVE on Xbox 360, Halo 3 builds upon the unique social multiplayer experience and innovative, evolving online gameplay of Halo 2.
• Only on the Xbox 360.