MS reassures gamers on Crackdown/Halo 3 promo

Microsoft's marketing team promises in blog that all Crackdown copies from the "pretty huge" initial shipment will have invites to anticipated beta test.

It's a small leap from anticipation to apprehension, and with few games as eagerly anticipated as Microsoft's Halo 3, fans of the franchise have been understandably antsy about landing a spot in the game's invite-only beta test.

Microsoft announced three ways gamers could snag an invite, and with one of those points of entry already closed and invites sent out, desperate gamers are turning their attention to the remaining two. Specifically, they're wondering about the promise that specially marked copies of Microsoft's free-roaming Crackdown will include an invitation to the Halo 3 beta test.

To address any concerns, the Xbox 360 marketing team updated its GamerScore Blog today with reassuring words about the scarcity (or lack thereof) of those specially marked Crackdowns.

"The initial shipment of Crackdown at retail will include access to the Halo 3 beta," the blog notes. "The 'initial shipment' is pretty huge, so there will be enough to go around. For those Halo 3 fans who are STILL losing sleep over this, you can guarantee entrance into the Halo 3 Beta by purchasing a copy of Crackdown when it launches Feb. 20th."

Crackdown has been rated M for Mature. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's latest hands-on or download the demo from the Xbox Live Marketplace.

252 Comments

  • soniksmybro

    Posted May 14, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    if you don't want to buy the game, but want to play the beta...just rent the game. i rented a copy and i'm ready to go witht he beta.

  • playa42018

    Posted Feb 21, 2007 8:36 pm PT

    Just so everyone knows, you can't play the Beta without a Crackdown disc. AND also, the rental copies at say Blockbuster, DO have access to the beta.

  • lhardwick692

    Posted Feb 20, 2007 7:49 pm PT

    its just a ploy to get gamers to buy this crappy game--what gamers need to do is boycott halo 3-- saying you are tired of the hype being put out there for this game--only footage you see them showing now is fmv..not actual gameplay---get the game 90 percent done--release a demo..and move on..
    ..
    ..
    ..
    hopefully the hype doesnt mean it is another 10 hour game with emphasis on multiplayer...
    ..
    ..
    .. and i can read it now--crackdown sales millions of copies due to halo 3 beta---when in all actuality--a huge percentage arent worried about the beta the demo--but the actual finished product..
    ..
    ..
    ..and this is a microsoft product meaning instead of costing the 3rd party price of60 bucks--it should be 50--like sony 3rd party is 60 and sony made games are 50 bucks...guess the extra 10 bucks means the buyer is paying for the beta key---hmm --go figure

  • natedogr

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 8:34 am PT

    I won't buy Crackdown just for the Beta.

  • yoshiehsan

    Posted Feb 15, 2007 3:07 pm PT

    its sort of Grand theft auto but when i first saw it i thought it wasnt even worth download the demo but its just a simple good game

  • Box29

    Posted Feb 14, 2007 2:48 pm PT

    For those who keep saying they don't want their Halo 3 beta spot even though they're getting Crackdown, can I have your spot? This is serious, pm me if interested.

  • cd-hunter

    Posted Feb 14, 2007 2:00 pm PT

    I had some doubt about Crackdown but then i played it and really enjoyed it, as for the beta...i don't think that ill participate...i think i would rather wait for the game and be surprised by the polished awesomeness.

  • haloplayer11

    Posted Feb 12, 2007 1:04 pm PT

    crackdown is freaken amazing, i downloaded the demo on xbox live
    the only thing i don't get is that is the beta on a card or a demo or on the disk or a code or what?

  • elbman

    Posted Feb 12, 2007 9:15 am PT

    I'll be getting Crackdown, the demo is just incidental - couldn't care less!

  • nicedude82

    Posted Feb 11, 2007 9:45 pm PT

    loved the crackdown demo.....already pre-ordered a copy. It would be great if I get to play the beta Halo3 too.

  • volumesoxxs

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 2:54 pm PT

    I'm not going to buy Crackdown just for the multiplayer beta, ill just wait for Halo 3 so I can save money.

  • Theseeus

    Posted Feb 9, 2007 5:47 am PT

    lol, I proordred crackdown, and I don't even want the beta.

  • master_chief369

    Posted Feb 8, 2007 3:47 pm PT

    yo anyone that says s**t bout any Halo can go hang themselves..Halo all the way!!

  • elguino3

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 6:16 pm PT

    what is so great about halo i have it there are better games out there i mean its fun but its not that great

  • kiro900

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 7:08 am PT

    im pretty sure its in the spring

  • kiro900

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 7:07 am PT

    dude the graphics arnt done yet man .....is crackdown really that good? im dl the demo today

  • bluewitnesss

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 6:17 am PT

    Does anybody understand how this crackdown thing is going to work? Specifically, when we can actually play the beta. Will we be able to play the beta the day crackdown in released or later on in the spring when microsoft releases the code on marketplace. I can't find an answer anywhere.

  • elvis12345

    Posted Feb 5, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    Who cares about getting into the beta. Id rather wait for the whole package.

  • jbeasly

    Posted Feb 4, 2007 1:40 pm PT

    Its not worth buying if your just going for the beta take that at fullface value my friends and fellow gamers. Anyway why waste $60 when theres going to be a greater game than Halo 3, Wich is Unreal Tournament 3.

  • jasonvickers

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 5:29 pm PT

    well the crakdown demo is fun, should be great game even with the halo 3 invite

  • lecada

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:42 pm PT

    great marketing stragety by microsoft. i don't know how good of a game crackdown is gonna be, but that's an awesome incentive to buy the game.

  • xxdeedee

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 1:46 pm PT

    Halo 3 is lookin thae same as halo 2 man.....WTF.....bungie if u read this..make the graphics betterrrrrr, they look ****

  • timts

    Posted Feb 1, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    how large is the final map? demo shows a few islands and some areas are blocks, from what I can tell, if that's the size of final game, that's not much. hopefully it will be much much larger than demo then it would be worth it.

    I played the demo, after some level up, it allows me to play only another additional 30 minutes. so far no interesting mission yet.

  • Lacosteboyz2007

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 2:18 pm PT

    omg crackdown looks soooooooooo amazing i downloaded the demo ( even though it took my whole saturday ! ) i was just constantly jumping around after picking up green tokens from rooftops my only downside is i wish gangs didnt shoot at you randomly when your jumping around, man i love that demo i preordered it about 8 days ago now it looks sooooo good, and why is every1 so hyped up about the beta key ? after halo 3 comes out itll just be another game like all games oh well ? anyway people who don't no much about the awsome game that is crackdown check these out
    game spots reviews and previews on crackdown ( dey good )
    and www.crackdownoncrime.com and thats it cya peeps.

  • mdavis999

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 12:44 pm PT

    i've played the crackdown demo on xb live and it rocks the game is well worth it and its a added bonus getting the invite i've orderd my copy

  • kiro900

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 10:29 am PT

    i reserved my copy of crackdown which isa good idea for u dum heads if u havnt already

  • kiro900

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 10:27 am PT

    you dont no until u actually buy crackdown???.......crackdown probaly sucks dong the only reason people will buy it is for this beta

  • kjshiff

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 9:43 am PT

    boogiemanZero, your beta invite is actually ON the crackdown disk, not a card or anything like that , its been stated by MS and several other places that you need the disk to get the beta downloaded, the key is imprinted upon your Crackdown Game disk.

  • sergeim19

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:51 pm PT

    this gaong to be fun halo3 is the best for the xbox 360

  • Prince_DarkDrop

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:46 pm PT

    Yeah I planned on getting this b4 I knew about the Halo 3 deal.

  • caboose147

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    do you think blockbuster is even going to have copies of crackdown? and shouldn't this game be $50, seeing as how it is published by microsoft?

  • BLACKNESS-NSH

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:07 am PT

    I'm gonna buy it ^_^

  • arucard1086

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:32 am PT

    I'm gonna be very disappointed if this game gets overlooked like Zone of the Enders did just because of the beta....

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:19 am PT

    I am getting Crackdown because of how fantastic the demo is. Of course the Halo 3 beta key is a bonus.

  • Crzy1

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 9:57 pm PT

    From what I've played of the demo, Crackdown is going to be an awesome game, a beta invite would just be icing on the cake for buying it. Co-op mode has been an absolute blast so far, hope the full game can deliver the same thrills.

  • billybobjo

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:01 pm PT

    im a little bit confused :S.. as far as i no, i buy crackdown.. then there will be a code to download the beta.. then i play it?

    can i play halo 3 beta straight away or will there be a date for wen the download will be avalible?

    i have herd that in "June" you will be able to download the beta.. is this true?
    thanx

  • thesethcohen

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 11:30 am PT

    hahaha im getting a copy my mates dad works for microsoft and he is getting like 5 copies of crackdown.. ill see you there then woo

  • linkman31

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:40 am PT

    Yo boogie I'd buy it.

  • HILLKING050

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 3:15 am PT

    @ BoogieManZero: Do not sell!! The Halo 3 demo witch comes whit Crackdown only allows you to play the demo for a limited time. Witch is not the case (I believe) if you got the invite.

  • BoogieManZero

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 8:40 pm PT

    I actually want this game for Crackdown beleive it or not. I wonder if there would be a way for me to sell my invite to the beta on eBay. Surely I'd get something for it.

  • lghtsbr

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 7:16 pm PT

    I downloaded the crackdown demo as soon as i saw it..... it took awhile but the game was awesome!

  • Pyro1574

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 10:31 am PT

    and i dont know who all here has downloaded the demo for crackdown.. but i freakin love that game man... i just wish the demo was longer than an hour per play...

  • Pyro1574

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 10:29 am PT

    "Absolutezerr Crackdown does look like a great game. The Beta is a bonus. But I still can't figure this out. Is the beta built into the disc or does it have a code in the box that you use to download the beta off Xbox live Marketplace?"

    Im not sure where i read it but i know i did... it will be on the disc apparently to prevent people from getting the code and then returning it

  • pos3

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 10:16 am PT

    I got in on step one and I'm still going to buy crackdown...after the initial release of course.

  • Absolutezerr

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 9:28 am PT

    Crackdown does look like a great game. The Beta is a bonus. But I still can't figure this out. Is the beta built into the disc or does it have a code in the box that you use to download the beta off Xbox live Marketplace?

  • Lord_Regf

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 10:42 pm PT

    So does this mean if i just buy any random crackdown there will b halo 3 on it? or do i need to look for that marked box?

  • Vulpis

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 4:23 pm PT

    One way this could be looked at--what this package *actually* is is gamers paying $50-$70 (I don't even bother looking at the prices Xbox games are looking for, myself) for the Halo 3 demo and beta key, and getting a free third-string game as a bonus! ;-) Kinda the same method they use for their OSes, really...

  • Vandiego

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 4:08 pm PT

    I think Crackdown is a very good looking game. I played the demo and I liked how the cars formed to what skill level you are. The demo offers just half of the whole city that you can explore, it's huge. Also getting a beta for an extremely awesome game coming out later in the year? I can't wait to get the game.

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