Low-key Halo 3 launch in Australia

Hundreds line up at Aussie retailers for Halo 3 midnight launch down under; no "official" launch events from Microsoft.

The Halo 3 launch at EB Games at Bondi Junction.

When Microsoft launched Halo 2 in November 2004 in Australia, the software giant made plenty of noise at the game's midnight launch, entertaining the hundreds waiting at Sydney's Pitt Street Mall with bands, cheerleader performances, break-dancers, free food, and more. Fast-forward three years to the Australian launch of Halo 3 and things have changed remarkably--Sydney's Pitt Street Mall was last night practically devoid of gamers lining up, with Microsoft not holding an official event to unveil its biggest game of the year.

With Microsoft Australia not holding any consumer launch events in the country, it was left to individual retailers to hold their own midnight launches. EB Games stores across the country had hundreds of gamers lining up, with close to 100 gathering at the Bondi Junction store. In the centre of Sydney itself, the EB Games at the Galleries Victoria had 20 people lined up, while the Pitt Street Mall store had 15 people. New Aussie retail entrant Game only had some stores open for Halo 3's midnight launch. Its store at Broadway, Sydney, had plenty of punters, with close to 100 showing up to collect their copies of the game.

Other major retailers didn't even bother opening. Myer's Pitt Street Mall store, the site of the Halo 2 official launch, was closed, while most JB Hi-Fi stores across Australia were also closed.

Despite the lack of a big splash, those who did stay up until midnight to collect their copies of the latest adventures of Master Chief were definitely excited about finally getting their hands on Halo 3. Many GameSpot AU spoke to had planned to hook up with friends immediately to try the game in co-op mode, while the Forge editor and multiplayer mayhem were other popular features.

Close to 100 people lined up outside the EB Games Bondi Junction store.

Elia Brodarec, who ordered the game three weeks ago, said single-player was not his focus. "I probably won't play much single-player because I'll be playing it with my clan," he said. Peter Clutton from Annandale planned on playing the game as soon as he got home, despite not having a day off tomorrow. "Last time, I actually quit my job for Halo 2. It was a menial job, and I just didn't turn up or answer my phone," he said.

Check out GameSpot's full review of Halo 3 by clicking here. And for more pictures from Halo 3 launch stores in Australia, click here.

147 Comments

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 2:17 pm PT

    Microsoft should of had a launch party.

  • chicken_123_pie

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 6:52 am PT

    there was a little over 200 where I went and I was expecting more. The store had 900 pre-orders but most of the people just picked it up at 9am (losers).

  • qaz88aof

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 2:44 am PT

    woo yeah... finished it in 5 1/2 hours... now its all about multiplayer

  • zpxkjp

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 1:30 am PT

    What a sad bunch of people! a game isnt worth your job.

  • Anita_Bath

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 11:28 pm PT

    some people are such nerdy losers
    as if you quit your job!

  • vroenis

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 11:09 pm PT

    I think everyone learnt from the Halo 2 launch and the following months that stock simply will not be scarce. I waltzed into my local K-Mart today and they had plenty in stock, at a good price too.
    We're all just too accustomed to the fact that these days, 'limited editions' aren't really very limited.

  • bennae66

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 11:05 pm PT

    after playing halo for a whopping 30 mins before running off to work (where i am now) i will say its impressive. the plants move when you walk through them, the ground textures are great, ai is fantastic (playing heroic) and my gf at home has already eclipsed where i got up to before i left for work. im not suprised by gamespots review. tonight its a 10 to 16ppl lan at my place and i will watch the sun come up. i dont work tomorrow oh yeah.
    and yes bioshock was awesome. gf and i both finished last week and loved every min of it. halo3's visuals dont match that game quite, but unlike many fanboys i diddnt buy halo 3 for graphical muscle nor will i criticize it for such. i bought it for gameplay which it has oodles of and i cant wait to sink my teeth into forge.

    anyone want to rumble on live in the future my nick is Bennae

  • bennae66

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 10:55 pm PT

    in WA they banned midnight launches so i had to settle for lining up at eb at 8am today. clutching a box for singstar 90's for ps2 in my hand i went to the counter and told them id come to collect my singstar bundle. to the amusment of the employees and the crowd i waved it in the air and expressed my happiness for finally getting my hands on that microphone bundle and asked if i was the only one. i threw it on the counter and happily walked out with halo 3. i lined up for 20 mins there were over 50 ppl at eb whitfords.

    hey, im a nutter and you have to have fun with these things

  • 9symonal

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 10:51 pm PT

    I just got my copy the limited addition. Still haven't played it though because I am on holidays and have no xbox 360.

  • sonic0491

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 10:43 pm PT

    EB sucks...

  • masterchief1994

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 8:57 pm PT

    I get mine in 3 hours *also shakes franticly*

  • X-RS

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 7:54 pm PT

    ok....
    im gonna get mine in about 2 hours *shakes franticly*

  • Jagazaar

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 7:51 pm PT

    The one at our local Stockland had about 150 people lined up, several buying the Legendary Edition. I wasn't getting it, but I hung around my friends who were, asking everyone questions like "What's Halo?" and "Have you guys ever heard of/played Half-Life"? And finally I bought some obscure little game for $10, bragging to everyone excitedly about how I was glad I came to its launch.

    Good times.

  • lucas_kelly

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 7:45 pm PT

    I'm glad I didn't have to wait.

  • heelflipdarkslide

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 7:13 pm PT

    Me and a friend just played through co-op on Heroic. took us about 8 hours. Outstanding game.

  • GrimGravy

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 6:41 pm PT

    least they already have the game so stop whining

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 6:35 pm PT

    It seems that the Australian branches of the Big 3 are just as bad as each other. When will MS, Nintendo and Sony wake up and start treating us better?

  • hilltops

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 4:54 pm PT

    m e h

  • McH0TTY

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 4:07 pm PT

    Man im still playing bioshock, im gonna have too wait until next week to play Halo 3, so many good games so little time.
    (nba2k8, GH3, skate, Half-life 2 Orange-box, Mass Effect, Rock Band, Brothers in Arms:HH, Call of Duty, Assassin's creed, PGR4)

  • mjcowley Site moderator

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 4:07 pm PT

    I decided to get it this morning. Walked into Target. Store was empty, had the place to myself!

  • masterchief1994

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    Lucky bastards! I'm here in Canada still waiting!!!

  • Taylor9124

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:42 pm PT

    hmm, dont really care. halo 3 is just another overhyped shooter. and yes im buyign killzone 2, but ill admit thats overhyped to. ive played halo 3, and id give it a 9/10 just for the fact its fun, but not revolutionary to get 5/5s and stuff.

  • HK-47-M4

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:40 pm PT

    Odd, I thought Microsoft would be pushing this game everywhere, except maybe Japan. Maybe they thought it wasn't necessary.

  • Ape_Escape_1Fan

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:35 pm PT

    Low key launch is much better than No launch. my country here in Iraq we no have Halo 3. wait till 2011 then get game. Halo 2 come here in Baghdad last month. very good game.

    --------------------------------------------

    please tell me your joking. and you don't actually think your in iraq.

  • darthzew

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:25 pm PT

    Sucks 'n' all, but there's pretty much no launch in Brazil. Yes, it's coming out here on the 25th, but it's... just not apparent.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:23 pm PT

    Haha thats interesting!!!! They are playing now huh? Those bastards!

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:19 pm PT

    Lucky Australian's for being so close to the international date line.

  • Brodersalsa

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:18 pm PT

    Dude.. you're not from iraq...

  • KingKobra2K2

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:12 pm PT

    Hmm, I never knew they had EB Games in Australia. Learn something new everyday.

  • LordLeckie

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:07 pm PT

    No official event? bastards.

  • Salith

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    6 HOURS AWAY HALO 3!!! YEAAAAA!

  • foxracing1313

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:54 pm PT

    funny bestco considering how gamespot/ign said differently, anyways thats not really the point of this article.

  • JDubs07

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:52 pm PT

    Surprising.

  • bestco

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:44 pm PT

    Halo3 single player lasts about 9-12 hrs, that's on Heroic level, if you play on Lengendary it will be 20+ hrs easily. That's from all the review sites.

  • iliyun

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:41 pm PT

    Low key launch is much better than No launch. my country here in Iraq we no have Halo 3. wait till 2011 then get game. Halo 2 come here in Baghdad last month. very good game.

  • GabrialTehall

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:33 pm PT

    admir1983 your crazy

  • Hermitkermit

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:30 pm PT

    Good, to see that alot of people are waiting for this game, although there are some who have gotten the game already and some have resorted to stealing, really hope there is no riot or something....HALO!

  • coedmaester

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:04 pm PT

    Personnaly, I don't feel the excitement for this one as much as there was for Halo2...but still getting it HEHE :p

  • sideoftheham

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 2:00 pm PT

    ill just wait until tomorrow to get my copy. im not in such a rush

  • admir1983

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    kinda disappointed by halo3 single player i was told it only lasted 4-5 hours is it true? i didn't read the review yet really not a big fan of halo it its more multilayer game then a single player its a rental for me and bioshock is a buy

  • retrofraction12

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:49 pm PT

    gamespot gave this game 9.5, i want to play it to see if the score is as good as the game.
    if microsoft is not stupid [ waiting 3 years to put out halo 2 pc]
    then i will get the pc version

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:48 pm PT

    7:12 and counting.

  • 9symonal

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:47 pm PT

    @elektrixxx I've seen both of them too might get super paper mario.

  • elektrixxx

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:37 pm PT

    The only ads I've seen for games lately is Heavenly Sword and Super Paper Mario!

  • 9symonal

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:31 pm PT

    It does not suprise me I haven't even seen an ad on my t.v here in Austrtalia or seen master chief or the xbox quad bikes at the football to hype it up. I am getting my copy this morning.

  • sgtfernando

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:17 pm PT

    that kid who quit his job for halo 2 is a total moron....

  • Joe1834

    Posted Sep 24, 2007 1:12 pm PT

    sigh...MOM GET ME AN AIRPLANE TICKET TO AUSTRALIA

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