New Halo 3 beta entry paths revealed

Routes for gamers to play Halo 3 early include specially marked boxes of Crackdown, upcoming "Rule of Three" program.

Bungie Studios may be known to be obsessed with the number seven, but three seems to be the magic number for entry into the Halo 3 beta entry program. The third chapter of the franchise is headed to the Xbox 360 sometime later this year, but Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios are giving some lucky gamers three chances to help test out the multiplayer portion of the game when the Halo 3 beta program launches this spring.

Previously, the only confirmed method for gamers to be selected for the highly coveted testing period was to register at the Halo 3 Web site and hope fortune smiled upon them. Those who entered through this method and were accepted will be notified through e-mail this month, Bungie said today.

Recently, scans from the February issue of gaming magazine GamePro showed an ad for the upcoming Xbox 360 game Crackdown with the phrase "Includes invitation to Halo 3 multiplayer beta." At the time, Microsoft could not confirm the information, saying only that details would be announced at a later time.

Well, that "later time" was today. Microsoft confirmed that specially marked boxes of Crackdown will include Halo 3 beta keys. Crackdown will be available in North America on February 20.

The final way to get into the beta test is through the "Rule of Three" program. From February 1-3, gamers in the US who play three hours of Halo 2 over Xbox Live will qualify for entry. The first 13,333 gamers who have played Halo 2 over Xbox Live during the specified time period and who register at the Halo 3 Web site will be entered into the beta program. Gamers outside of the US should stay tuned for details on the "Rule of Three" program in their regions.

Only gamers with an Xbox 360 and a valid Xbox Live Gold membership will be considered for the program. For more information on Halo 3, read GameSpot's previous coverage.

337 Comments

  • Darkfox1303

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 1:29 pm PT

    For the 3 hours online does it have to be match making?

  • lahugh9

    Posted Jan 25, 2007 9:02 pm PT

    Well here's one Halo fan that won't have his dreams of play Halo3 for the first time be some scheme to boost sales of some game I don't even want. But if some wants to buy it for me that would be great. lol Anyone who really wants the game should just wait for everyone to sell their crackdown to used game stores then you can get it cheaper.

  • denbot

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 10:57 am PT

    i love the way bungie always forget about us brits, im mean come on iv host lan parties with my buddys yet they aint mentioned and how the fact they match 7 brits up with 1 host from USA and its a complete lag fest for the bits, yet how bad is this not letting us in the beta any other way then buying that crap ass game god dam £40 just to play a beta, god dam u bungie do somthin good for us and let us play the game n just call it a mp demo like any other game company would.

  • subzerodark01

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 6:48 am PT

    really! it only test see if measure up to the stander of game play. And gamer exicitment of wait for game be release in stores nationwide.

  • darkflame202113

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:13 pm PT

    that was a stupid idea.

  • shamarke

    Posted Jan 16, 2007 7:32 am PT

    mmmhmmm

  • _Sam_

    Posted Jan 14, 2007 2:59 pm PT

    I think it was smart of them to have multiple ways to "get in"

  • MillimeterPeter

    Posted Jan 14, 2007 1:26 pm PT

    If Sony did something similar to the Crackdown (Halo 3) invite....this forum would be turned upside down with topics about how Sony is an evil company who only wants your money.

  • AbstractTerror

    Posted Jan 14, 2007 10:24 am PT

    I'm preordering Crackdown just to play Halo 3.

    RIPPPPOFFFFF!!!! (but im a sucker for halo)

  • yoshinatsu666

    Posted Jan 13, 2007 11:39 am PT

    AgileNate, are you British?

  • joshyoung55

    Posted Jan 11, 2007 11:38 am PT

    MMMMMMM.... Crack

  • Kingsnake976

    Posted Jan 10, 2007 8:07 am PT

    Well... I guess I'll be putting the crack down and picking up Crackdown!

    Just kidding. Not even CONSIDERING giving up my crack.... my sweet, sweet crack.........

  • Zanduar

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 10:15 pm PT

    Expect Crackdown to sell alot more copies then it should because of this. Its one marketing ploy that will work wonders, just because everyone is waiting with drooling mouths for Halo 3 to come out.

  • Jorge1441

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 5:52 pm PT

    cool but i wouldn't buy a game i don't necessarily want just to play a beta version of halo 3 i think i'll wait for the full version

  • AgileNate

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 5:40 pm PT

    Halo 3 Beta Code is to Crackdown as a Golden Ticket is to a Wonka Bar on Willy Wonker.

  • hiway2hell

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 1:05 pm PT

    I bet you nobody even cares about the game crackdown. People are willing to pre-order a game that might suck just so they could play Halo. I would do it. Its HALO! Who wouldn't

  • gerald699

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 5:03 am PT

    Very good~~

  • Vorador47

    Posted Jan 9, 2007 4:26 am PT

    well its not the first time things like this have been done.

    remember Zone of Enders?? came with a Demo of MGS 2, probably the only reason anyone bought it, both the people i knew that bought it only did so for the MSG demo

  • Hoffy

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 6:34 pm PT

    What is crackdown? Hmm maybe you should look it up on this website instead of posting a message. It takes about the same time.

    I agree those are odd methods. Why should I registar on their website or play their previous game on the multiplayer on certain days. Or buy a certain game. (Idiot!)

    More ways to take your money huh? well two of those opitions are free. You act like you have to buy entries. It is just a bonus for if you were going to buy that game.

    And for those of you who think you need to buy Crackdown to get Halo 3: you should go out there and buy the game. RIGHT NOW!

    There are 3, here me 3 ways, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY CRACKDOWN. This is not a way to get money they are putting a bonus in one of the games so shut up about Microsoft or Bungie stealing you money. If you don't care about the beta then just wait like normal people. I hate stupid people.

  • Zombie07

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 5:05 pm PT

    what i all ready stayed 3 hours on halo isnt that enough me and my friends stayed up to like 12 playing that and we dont get anything well guess ill have to do it again

  • rapier_unreal

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 4:16 pm PT

    its a GAME LOL

  • IVIic

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 4:05 pm PT

    Wtf is crackdown?????? Code for drugs????

  • 00Beaner

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    BUNGIE'S ON CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • saugh

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 11:16 am PT

    Those are some very odd and weird ways to get people on the program, but it all seems just for show, just to show off how they have the market wrapped around their little finger.

  • maco_cuz

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 5:07 am PT

    more ways to take ya money

  • Wizzard2500

    Posted Jan 8, 2007 1:40 am PT

    You have to admit it will be good for sales. Either Buy the game or the live membership!! I did not think that Halo 2 was very good so I will just wait for the game to be released. As for the multi player Call of duty was better than Halo, because there was more balance between players.

  • edgarchong

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 10:58 pm PT

    Those guys must be broke as a crack hoe, to try and pull this one off, but there are some idiots out there...(no offense to those affected by my message). I may not be well informed but what the hell is crackdown is it a shooter or what kinda c**p is that? Oh well I'll just wait till Halo 3 comes out its already been what? 2 or 3 years now? what's a year more anyway. Come on people we must have better things (if not get yourselves a girlfriend for the love the love of jesus!) to do than waste our time waiting for a game that's gonna burn a hole in our pockets, while waiting for another (halo 3) to do the same? It's just a thought. G** bless you all.

  • VexRed4

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 9:42 pm PT

    ehhh... id have to buy crackdown to play halo 3

  • Thesimsfrk111

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 6:51 pm PT

    Kool...I'm buying Crackdown or just plain old crack...

  • rbrtchng1

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 6:49 pm PT

    Wow, what a great way to milk money from consumers. And these guys are the people who said PS3 was overpriced. Jeez, what a whole bunch of hypocrits.

  • ra7krz

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 6:20 pm PT

    that game is gonna sell like hotcakes lol just for that damn key, im thinking of getting it

  • gamerkid99

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    i'm just going to stick with GTA for now on

  • RoninZaiber

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 12:13 pm PT

    I love Crackdown. It's a slightly new concept. Besides the superheros and junk. the amount of fun you'll have playing Co-op on a GTA game fully is just insane. This could lead the way into more Co-op Open World games. It's a good start.

    As for the Halo 3 thing. Honestly I don't like Halo as much. Never liked the multiplayer either. I'm going to most likely buy Halo three for the helmet because I want something to hang up.

    Last about the Ps3s. I work at Gamestop in San Diego and we have about 12 or so. That is a shipment of two. We are literally asking people if they want to buy it since we don't want it in our store. As for the Wii it's selling like hotcakes. When it comes into stock 1 min and it's gone. For the Xbox 360 All the pros are selling pretty well. A decent amount. We get sold out after a few days since everyone is jumping onboard. The regular Xbox 360s aren't selling so well as I hoped. I wouldn't blame them.

    Thats my Five cents.

  • DHPimp

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 11:19 am PT

    What about Canada where's our chance to get in. i want to play for 3 hours and get accepted what the hell.

  • Sabien822

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 11:04 am PT

    Microsoft exec:Crackdown looks like it's gonna suck real bad.

    Microsoft exec 2:well....we could just put something for halo 3 on it.

    Microsoft exec: sounds good, lets go get wasted.
    *high five*

  • dragkill

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 9:27 am PT

    "Neomelkoreta
    what a bunch of nerds... still argueing about "what consoles better" and crap. Shoot I play video game everyday, and personally I prefer my Nintendo Wii, but honestly folks your fighting and bickering is truly pathetic, just choose what works best for you and play it."

    People feel the need to think they are better than others because of the material things they own, and try to push it on others. Honestly it's kinda pointless to try and stop them, because alot are stubborn. Just have the satification that you are not as pathetic as they are. As for me, I chose to get all the new systems that are out. I'm a gamer to the core, rather than saying what system is better, i buy them for the games that come out. Who really gives a crap about what system is "better"? It's rather, what systems have games that people prefer. When xbox was out, it was mainly fps games and such, so i recommened that to some of my friends that loved fps games. PS2 had alot of RPGs, so i did the same for people who liked RPGs. Right now at this point, i'm enjoying the nintendo Wii for now, until other games I am looking forward to come out (like Lost Planet).

  • CommanderRipjaw

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 7:29 am PT

    I'm not going to buy some superhuman GTA game just to play the Halo 3 beta. I'll just wait for the Halo 3 to come out, save money then buy it.

  • wrenweichman

    Posted Jan 7, 2007 4:48 am PT

    sooooo..................if i already signed up with the "first confirmed method" of signing up............do i still have to play 3 hours of Halo 2 on those days?

  • Duggla

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    awesome~!!

  • mslocum

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 8:25 pm PT

    I'll pass up crackdown and pick up HALO 3 when all the dust settles. I learned my lesson about being a fist adopter when I bought my 360.

  • strawberryheart

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 8:21 pm PT

    Its awesome how Microsoft uses people to do there work for them, a lot of workers. But I love Halo so I would love the chance too. I wish they would give a chance to be a voice actor in the Halo movie (which has been cancelled, yet everyone knows will come sooner or later).

  • JoeSmith34

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 7:11 pm PT

    Crackdown is a GREAT game that I am looking forward to A LOT!!!

  • aRE-you-AFraid

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 4:53 pm PT

    This could get exciting.

  • wayful

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 4:06 pm PT

    Screw Crackdown, that game is overrated I can tell already.

  • bagelbuster02

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 3:46 pm PT

    wouldn't u wanna save the halo 3 xbox live expeirence for when the game actually comes out.

  • greystone227

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 8:52 am PT

    I guess I'm either buying Crackdown, or having some sort of Halo 2 party Feb. 1st.

  • Thrash777

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 8:39 am PT

    Looks like I'm buying Crackdown!

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Jan 6, 2007 3:48 am PT

    "Alcotamaysees
    Sounds kind of like those cereal advertisements. "A Halo 3 beta in specially marked boxes of crackdown!" Posted Jan 4, 2007 11:13 pm ET"=================================
    ===========================================================
    Exactly, LOL==========================================================================Zoomer30
    Anyone who knocks the PS3 for having games that are not as "good" just dont get it. The PS3 just came out, the 360 has been out over a year. Just wait till F1 Racing comes out, GTA, etc. Posted Jan 4, 2007 3:25 pm ET================================================================But GTA's going to be available from day 1 for both systems what's your point? Do they even have any exclusives anymore?===========================================================

  • dragonlou

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 10:47 pm PT

    "Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have" that the name

    yes halo3

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