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

  • dragonlou

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 10:44 pm PT

    panic at the disco, that the song.

  • Jeremycollinson

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 9:17 pm PT

    wicked
    sic

  • xtremeg4m3r

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 9:07 pm PT

    Lets get these teen hearts beating faster and faster. guess what song it is. I'm bored so dont say ur dmb or retarted for posting this. Deal with it and im bored

  • pageiszeppelin

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 9:05 pm PT

    zigmond1 if you preorder crackdown at ebgames they sed they would make sure that you would get the exclusive edition bc the sed they would take care of the people who get preorders. At least thats wut they told me. Plus crackdown looks allrite and fun.

  • jimjim350

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 8:08 pm PT

    crackdown is great i preordered it like 2 months ago i mean its made by 1 of the gta creators

  • SoloLuzerHm

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    Ok, you all are being rhidiculous, but thats what a boards for, what ever Bungie puts on your plate, you eat it, halo 1 was great, halo 2 is great, im tired of people comparing it to halo 1 it was GREAT! But no matter what you say bungie is not gonna change halo 3 for you QUIT COMPLAINING, saying "they did this wrong" or "this could have been a little better" If you want a perfect game make it yourself and use the main char name "master chef" And you know whats gonna happen then? Its gonna suck, your gonna realize how much MORE credit you should have given them for the HOLY ENTITIES They have given you already.

  • linkman31

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 5:43 pm PT

    "And by the way i just saw four 60 gig ps3's on shelf so microsoft better start acting like they aint the only next gen."
    Gears of War and Halo are both great franchises, and by the way, did it ver occur to you that the reason the ps3s were on the shelf is because NO ONE WANTS THEM?!

  • Big_Boi_911

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    http://www.consolegrab.co.uk/

    FREE 360 NO CATCH

  • Neomelkoreta

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 2:22 pm PT

    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. Halo 3's gunna be a great game, even if isnt perfect. So is Gears of War 2. Deal with it.

    ....so um yeah though, this does sound suspiciously like a cerial advertisment for lucky charms.

    "Routes for gamers to play Halo 3 early include specially marked boxes of Crackdown..." HAHAHA

  • Octagon

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    rule of 3, weee

  • Zigmond1

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 12:12 pm PT

    i dont know what crackdown is but if i preordered it would the guy at eb give me a normal box or the one with the beta code do u think

  • Hollywood_RFC

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 11:47 am PT

    Screw crackdown, i just want to try the game out. But yes, crackdown will get a boost in sales thanks to halo 3's beta. I think bungie better be careful about halo 3 though. Over marketing could lead to a distaster like halo 2. Everyone was pumped with bungie first released actual game play for the campaign, and then when we actually got halo 2 we were disappointed with limited mobility during the short levels on earth, and then we ended up play as the arbiter for half the campaign. what the hell was that. I think the multiplayer was awesome, bungie should more or less just transfer the same multiplayer structure over to halo 3 and put some major focus on the campaign because i really want to have a good story line for halo 3.

  • tonymatt225

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 8:54 am PT

    i say slash a spartan with a chainsaw and stick a COG with a plasma and get it over with!!

  • RadioSux247

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 8:37 am PT

    "Wake me up until Gears of War 2 comes out."

    consistently wake you up over and over again until GoW2? ok. p.s. you fail

  • WillT12345

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 7:46 am PT

    Well crackdown just doubled its sales.

  • X360MadMan

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 7:33 am PT

    HALO 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • ElitesIgnorance

    Posted Jan 5, 2007 3:54 am PT

    Wake me up until Gears of War 2 comes out.

  • Cerza

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 10:01 pm PT

    This seems like a marketing ploy to sell copies of a game that is either rushed, incomplete, or the company doesn't have high hopes for. Oh and toyungu, wtf are you talking about. Gears is nothing but extreme gore and shooting. It's script is laughably poor. It might as well not even have a story.

  • phendogg

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 9:25 pm PT

    There are 60 gig PS3 on the shelves everywhere, some stores have 30. Cause no one wants to pay $600 for a DVD player. And if you do not the storyline then don't play it. but 2.5 million other people seem to have liked it.

  • toyungu

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 8:31 pm PT

    screw halo. Givbe me a beta of gears of war 2!! Halo storyline is whack. Wrriting is poor and it is obvious they are trying to milk it. And by the way i just saw four 60 gig ps3's on shelf so microsoft better start acting like they aint the only next gen .

  • Alcotamaysees

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 8:13 pm PT

    Sounds kind of like those cereal advertisements. "A Halo 3 beta in specially marked boxes of crackdown!"

  • kids_with_guns

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 5:59 pm PT

    So a bunch of nerds will be up waiting for midnight to play Halo 2 for 3 hours straight

  • Supperdude9

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    "halo stands for Homo Ahole Loser Orphan "

    WTH???

  • Hinduce

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 4:00 pm PT

    yea uh ok. Now i have to buy Crack to play H3?

  • Mooshu92887

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    Meh... I signed up for the beta on the site, just because it was free and all. But I'm really not desperate enough to do the other two methods to get in, unless crackdown turns out to be a good game and i may buy it. Probably not though...

    It's Halo 3, it will be good... but it wont be the second coming of christ.

  • bigcrusha

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 2:46 pm PT

    I admire Bungie for trying to make Halo 3 better than the previous games but it's gonna be hard since everybody has different opinions about the prefect Halo game. I won't get to play the beta version but I can't wait to buy the finished game. I hope it doesn't fall even lower just like Halo 2 compared to Halo

  • PoopTete

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 2:39 pm PT

    wake me up when they announce Gears of War 2

  • lebbsouljah

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 2:19 pm PT

    not all copies of crackdown will have the keys, only specially marked cases...

  • menmau

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 2:05 pm PT

    looks nice...

  • sargemat

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:53 pm PT

    Bungie say that all copys of crackdown will have codes. Looks like all the launch copys will then they will be faded out.

  • madmaxx101

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:37 pm PT

    yeah i am a arm chair gamer...i dont need the WII idea of gaming and a plus for the saixis is it is so lite

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    Yea it does suck missing out on the rumble but those L & R triggers are much better then anything out there. Oh and motion control is a cool option to have.

  • mc2k4

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:25 pm PT

    Halo 3 will score 8.3.

  • madmaxx101

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    it felt like my buddy were pushing Xbox on me

  • madmaxx101

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:20 pm PT

    sorry i was talking about the Xbox....the sixias is cool but i perfer the Dual shock...

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:06 pm PT

    madmaxx101 your saying you bought the ps3 because of peer pressure?? Do you want a 360 know? Hey all and all the ps3 is going to do its things, it too me looks like it will probably be more like the xbox of last generation, yea i feel heavily that PS and Xbox switched places this gen. The sixxxasis does sound fun, im hoping the 360 will copy that feature.

  • LoWpS

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 1:02 pm PT

    wake me up when they announce Gears of War 2

  • madmaxx101

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    JimmyChalice Peace.....were Cool i see where your coming from "snarple_basic"

    actually it was pure pressure...its like smoking weed and your happy with that and your buddy are just pushing crack on you

  • JimmyChalice

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:51 pm PT

    madmaxx101,

    I never said PS3 was a bust, and im not trying to change your mind from playing PS3 games, im just an average gamer who plays anything to have fun. What im trying to say is that the fact that you didn't like the game is your personal opinion and i respect that, the fact that i have a XBOX, XBOX 360, PS2, PSX, N64, Gamecube and a SNES at home is because i dont give a damn where im playing im just playing, Im getting myself a PS3 when MGS4 comes out, just because i want to know whats it gonna be for Snake in is final days., also because it was the first game i bought when i got my PSX.

    Peace Out !!!

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:51 pm PT

    madmaxx101 I went to the 360 because i kind of feel like PS is losing alot of what made the ps2 amazing. Exclusives are leaving, gta will be out at the same time on the 360 and will look just about the same, the games wont bennefit from blue-ray's size because other developers are going to be wanting to develope for multi systems. I also feel like there price is going to drag that system down, your not going to see alot of 13 year olds with that system and lets face it alot of 13 year olds owned the ps2, they priced themselves out of the console war, sad but true. The more successful the 360 is the more the ps3 will be held down like an anchor by it.


    I was going to get the ps3 but i just couldn't get over all the facts, its a marketing nightmare. I loved my ps2 because it was the system that would end up getting everything, right now its looking like that system is going to be the 360, it kind of feels like the 360 is the true ps3 to me because it has more in common with the ps2 then sony's new system has.

  • Artaxerxes7

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    all i can say is that i'm really excited about Halo 3

  • GANGSTA287

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:41 pm PT

    I'm looking forward to Halo 3, but not enough to waste $60 on a crappy game just to get a chance at the unfinished demo...

  • sonofkong1

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:32 pm PT

    by eegotriip
    FPS = lame. Who cares?

    FPS is a bad view to play in.. kinda like they really want you to think youre IN THE GAME holding the gun.

    I don't know bout you but when Im walking down a hall, I can see more around me than what a FPS lets you see. so eegotriip i suppose when your walking down a hallway in real life you can see the back of yourself in a third person fashion

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:25 pm PT

    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.

  • madmaxx101

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:23 pm PT

    "JimmyChalice" and "raverblood"

    i appreate ya'lls prospective but i tried to get in to it but i just dont see it. i found myself jumping to doom ROE, Xbox Has Nothing for me. i have tried to get on the Band wagon to ditch Playstaion but it just wont happen .. Wait for killzone 2 and Resistance 2... i dont think PS3 is a bust. i think People look to Xbox 360 because its cheaper i say my PS3 was worth it and later this year more games and free online play...we shall see thanks your you input

  • Crystal_Lands

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:09 pm PT

    I've tried to throw an orange once... Not an easy task.

  • naruto767

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 12:03 pm PT

    you have to be 17 and older dam and i got this from ign.com only if i was 17

  • g-stuart

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 11:28 am PT

    hey i get new halo in game images go to my blog and post they are really cool

  • gabwa007

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 10:48 am PT

    I have a feeling Halo 3 s gonna be more like Halo 1 then h2 . They re trying to get that h1 feel back. They said on 1up that Halo 3s camera felt more like Halo 1 than h2 , and they re bringing the pistol back !

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Halo 3 Boxshot
Halo 3

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    81 of 76,869
    (down by 6)
    X360 Rank:
    21 of 1,864
    Tracking:
    71,739 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    33,510 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    17,622
  • Number of Players:

    1-4, 16 Online | Offline Modes: Competitive, Cooperative, Team Oriented | Online Modes: Competitive, Cooperative, Team Oriented

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. halo 3
    2. halo
    3. bungie
    4. fps
    5. master chief
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close

Related Games

Recent News

See All News »

Site Blogs