Low-key Halo 3 launch in Australia

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.

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.