Microsoft covers scratched Halo 3 discs

[UPDATE] Publisher waives normal replacement fee to address issues with Limited Edition package of blockbuster shooter.

Microsoft's heavily hyped first-person shooter Halo 3 was officially released at 12 a.m. this morning, and the wait in line for some customers was not just anticipatory, but also apprehensive.

Over the weekend, reports surfaced of problems with the packaging of the limited-edition version of the game. It seems the plastic spindle inside the special metal collector's case didn't properly secure the discs, because limited editions were arriving at media outlets with scuffed discs sliding around loose in the packages. A Microsoft representative busy preparing for a launch event wouldn't comment on the issue for GameSpot yesterday, but it appears the Xbox 360 maker is well aware of the problem.

The company's Disc Replacement Program page on Xbox.com contains a note saying that Microsoft will replace damaged Limited Edition game and bonus discs at no charge through the end of the year. Ordinarily, gamers would have to pay $20 for a replacement disc, and even then the program covers only certain Microsoft-published titles. For instance, Gears of War, Halo 2 for the Xbox, and Crackdown are covered by the program, but the regular edition of Halo 3 is not.

However, gamers will need to send in their damaged discs to have them replaced, and Microsoft says to allow two weeks for delivery of the replacement. Gamers can also have only one copy of any given disc replaced, so anyone who purchased multiple Limited Edition Halo 3s might not be eligible to have them all replaced.

[UPDATE] A Microsoft spokesperson has now responded to GameSpot's request for comment. "We have identified that there are some instances of blemishes on discs as a result of the packaging of the Halo 3 Limited Edition. It is related only to the Halo 3 Limited Edition version of the game. This is a small fraction of the total number of Halo 3 games shipped and sold...We encourage anyone experiencing these issues to go to xbox.com/support and click on the Halo 3 Limited Edition disc replacement link. We will be replacing these discs and apologize for the inconvenience."

168 Comments

  • KillerFPS

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 8:45 pm PT

    Mines a little scuffed but it plays fine. As long as its not real bad and still plays this shouldn't be an issue to most.

  • Justin_W

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 8:14 pm PT

    Sonicplys posted:
    "M$ always with problems. Why cant they be reliable like Nintendo."

    Apparently you forgot about the broken Wiistraps?

  • syx

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 8:13 pm PT

    If you buy it in retail just make sure you don't hear something ratteling in the case.

  • FearNinja posted Sep 25, 2007 7:57 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    FearNinja

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:57 pm PT (hide)

    Maybe they should have bought the Legendary Edition.

  • MaBill

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:56 pm PT

    To those that still think Limited and Legendary have the same case...THAT'S INCORRECT!! Limited comes with 2 discs...Legendary comes with 3 discs (3 discs in 2 separate black plastic cases)...I work for a certain retailer and I've seen the problems with the discs...and I also have the Legendary...SO DON'T TELL ME I'M WRONG!!

  • Sonicplys posted Sep 25, 2007 7:37 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Sonicplys

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:37 pm PT (hide)

    M$ always with problems. Why cant they be reliable like Nintendo.

  • surppo

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:27 pm PT

    i would be pissed if i preordered the limited edition two weeks thats not hot

  • HighlyToxic

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:24 pm PT

    Give your Limited Edition container a shake before you buy. If it rattles, forget about it.

  • Timbydude

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:12 pm PT

    Wow...that's pretty bad, especially considering that the 360 is REALLY picky about scratches (one minor scratch on a 360 game can render it almost unplayable).

  • Da1ShrpSh0trGrl

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 7:05 pm PT

    OMG!!! That's just wrong! Last nite during the release on a local GameStop we had 3 people who waled out and didn't even make it to the parking lot. 3 limited edition dist scratched. That's only in one store imagine how many more stores had this problem!!! Am kinda glad that I just spent on the regular version now.

  • Sonicgod

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 6:44 pm PT

    They should replace them this is my 4th xbox 360 limted edtion game to reject the disc and throw it around it's package.

    First was perfect dark zero limited edtion on launch day then the lame gears of war and VIVA limted metal boxes that can not hold disc. I am sending my HALO 3 disc back even if it does work just to make them lose a couple bucks and maybe they will learn in the future to make a decent metal box that holds the games and is better than the plastic ones the entire point of a game case is to protect the disc. Or better yet give us a "plastic DVD case in a metal box not paper not tiny cheep black nubs. Yes with my "Gears of War limited edtion metal box" they gave me lame sad a cardboard disc holder, that almost lost the disc on shipping too but it got to me in time before it fell out. It would have been scratched. So "small fraction "what ever every single one that shipped in that metal box was scratched at one game store i was at.a "small fraction" in that most was normal edtions in the Standard DVD plastic case.

    I have zero problems making sure the bottom of my disc are never touched by anything but the game case and xbox game tray, and having my game scratched by the box that kind of shotty work in package design is not acceptable. A "special metal uber box" you pay extra for should hold and protect that game like a US army tank Guarding Bill Clintons favroite mcdonalds from terrorist, not throw it around to get beat up.

    You are paying $10 more for cosmetic appearance you should have a flawless disc game and box from microsoft factory when it is opened.

  • MaximumD

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 6:29 pm PT

    @jimburber

    Yes, bluray has a special coating that protects it from scratching, unless you take a knife and intentionally scratch it hard. Do your research first or you should be the one leaving.

  • tawagivercetti posted Sep 25, 2007 6:26 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    tawagivercetti

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 6:26 pm PT (hide)

    Oh no my precious disc, my life is ruined

  • darth-revan

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 6:09 pm PT

    This happened to me, but I can play it. My disc has a few scratches and nothing more than what would have happened after a few months of owning it.

  • thebastardboggs

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 5:36 pm PT

    Both the discs in my copy had minor blemishes on them, but the game works fine so far.

  • JSharpe_187

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 5:35 pm PT

    This might stunt the launch goal of $200 million is 24 hours. But not much (more for the rest of them)

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 5:09 pm PT

    @digitalpro - I agree, and it is a problem with most packaged disc media, but usually if you just tilt the package you can hear the clanking of the disc hitting the walls of the disc case, in which case you say "give me another copy, the disc is loose in this one"; and you can usually do this all before you even pay for it, so it's no big deal if you know what you're doing.

  • digitalpro

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:57 pm PT

    This is a common problem. It has happen to movie dvd and other games. I think it being made bigger cause the scale of Halo 3 is on.

  • Shaggyman

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:45 pm PT

    all im wondering is why everyone is cursing microsoft. How does it have anything to do with them. they are just the publisher i highly doubt they had any direct control on the way the game was packaged. either way i understand the frustration as my 360 broke a week before release and i will be waiting a couple more weeks till i get a new one back.

  • Sidbob posted Sep 25, 2007 4:41 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Sidbob

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:41 pm PT (hide)

    Micro$haft strikes again

  • josmith733

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:39 pm PT

    Why is it Sony and Microsoft can't get a release right? Not enough consoles, the red ring'o death, and no rumble. It's not like MS decided yesterday to release this stuff. This has been planned for ages and in order to save an extra nickel they don't check out the cases?!?! I heard they're supposed to make $175 million on this just for the day of the release and they couldn't give up some of that for a smooth release. Whatever happened to customer satisfaction?

  • tzimisce24

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:23 pm PT

    @AzureWind213 - Oh yeah, some poor schmuck is gonna wind up with his head on someone's desk over this, I'm sure. This kinda kicks some dirt in Microsoft's face, given the publicity around this game. However, things happen, and the real measure of a company isn't whether or not they screw up, but how they fix the problem when they do. At least, that's how I look at it.

  • camoy

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:21 pm PT

    Ok I can say this for a fact, I have the legendary edition and both the game and the extra content comes in a plastic case not a metal case. Both cases are black in color not the usual xbox green. But the cases are the plastic ones that have the normal retention tabs for holding the disc in. If someone can tell me if it is possible to post a picture to this forum then I would be happy to show individuals such as peacebringer that he is in-correct. So it is only the limited edition that is suffering from this problem.

  • AzureWind213

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:21 pm PT

    Poor Design... You have to admit, that's pretty sad. Someone over at the package engineering place is getting a corporate beatdown right about a week ago XD

  • Thomas4

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:17 pm PT

    @generalmyke74: Your post makes no sense. Sony has never had a problem with faulty consoles. Please don't compare the 360 and PS3 hardware. The 360 was built faulty... not the PS3. Nothing against Microsoft at all... but don't try to act like PS3's are going to be breaking down like the 360 because they won't. They are built to last.

  • tzimisce24

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:17 pm PT

    Eh, any electronic device, be it a cel-phone, a PDA, a computer, or a video game console is vulnerable to issues. The manufacturing process for IC chips is insane, there are a zillion things that could go wrong. The original PS2 had issues with its drive, the 360 is having issues (not entirely clear what the red ring of death is caused by, really), so as long as the manufacturer is willing to cover manufacturing defects at no cost to the consumer, it's all good. Things happen, yanno?

  • diabolikskillz

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    go to gamecrazy and have 5 bucks in hand tell em you wanna buff up a scratched 360 game and your all done in less than 3 min.

  • S_Pac_316

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:11 pm PT

    Well at least they are doing something about it. But fourtunately, I don't have to deal with this since I got the Legendary and my discs are fine.

  • mrfrieze

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:11 pm PT

    generalmyke74. lol your a true fanboy. The only reason the 360 got the extension is because it was a factory problem and they are covering their butts. I've had 6 ps2 and 4 ps1 never broke down on me. 1 xbox and it broke. Does that tell you something, so after your 3 years are up have fun paying the repair cost. lol.

  • Thomas4

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:04 pm PT

    They should refund the money of people who bought the special editions that got scratched so that they won't have to wait a LONG TIME for their discs to return in the mail. Half of the people will probably go buy a regular copy of the game while they wait just to play this game... especially those who don't want to be left behind in the multiplayer. Anywho; good luck to those who have to get their discs replaced. Hope it's an easy process for you.

  • tzimisce24

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:04 pm PT

    My limited edition discs are a little bit scuffed, but thus far I haven't had any problems, at least not with the game disc. My roomie is the assistant manager at the store where I snagged my copy, and he said last night they're working with Microsoft to figure out if customers can just bring back their copies to get a replacement limited edition when the new ones arrive. For those whose discs were scratched, contact the retailer you got it from and see if they're doing something similar.

    The alternative, it seems, is to ship off your discs to Microsoft and wait two weeks to get new ones back while all your buddies are tearing it up on Live. Not a great option, from where I'm standing. :\

  • delcidanddarth

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 4:02 pm PT

    Bending over backwards to fix it? Ummmm... this is just above the minimum in terms of service. Technically, they could charge the $20, but they waive it (just for the Limited edition). However, it would be nice to see Microsoft do something more for their flagship game, especially for the people who shelled out over $100. How about some free xbox live for a year?

  • EmperorSupreme

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    @generalmyke74 The Xbox 3yr warranty is only a limited warranty that covers one issue. The red ring of death . All the other issues, overheating, power brick failures, disk scratching,etc that users are experiencing aren't covered under the 3yr warranty. They are the regular 1 yr warranty.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:53 pm PT

    my legendary had no problems

  • Agreb91

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:53 pm PT

    I didn't get any limited editions so my game arrived to me in great shape.

  • Manatassi

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:51 pm PT

    i_DUB... READ the article and THEN comment.

    I simply hope like hell my disc is ok.. considering the chances are actualy pretty slim im not that stressed

  • Mush_Mouth

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:40 pm PT

    Oh my God, will you people learn how to spell???

  • i_DUB posted Sep 25, 2007 3:37 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    i_DUB

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:37 pm PT (hide)

    They want me to pay $20. The hell they on.

  • peacebringer

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:35 pm PT

    generalmyke74

    for people saying about the 360 and they warranty atleast we have 3 years for free unlike sony you get 1 year? what happens if your ps3 break 1 year later and the warranty expired lmfao have fun paying 200 dollars for repair.

    yeah the PS3 won't break in 5 years after Purchase nice try though. MS needs a 3 year cause it's so horrible if it was better built it could stay at 6 months cause most consoles that work after 1 year without breaking have a 90% chance of lasting 5 years unless the Owner manually breaks it.

  • generalmyke74

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:33 pm PT

    for people saying about the 360 and they warranty atleast we have 3 years for free unlike sony you get 1 year? what happens if your ps3 break 1 year later and the warranty expired lmfao have fun paying 200 dollars for repair.

  • JimBurber

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:33 pm PT

    Yes Maximum D, because Blue Ray discs are impervious to harm whatsoever... Next time just go away.

  • peacebringer

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:30 pm PT

    Sorry guys defending the Legendary Editon but the case is the same as the Limited Editon case(but there not many Legendary Versions anyways. Both games need the medal tins becauses both Limited and Legedry have the extra Content, so how can they put that in the "Regular Case" plus check 1up open there Legendary version as soon as the guy opens the tin the disc is off the hinge lol.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:28 pm PT

    this is a sloppy job by microsfot, mine shad a scratch but im not gonna wait 2 weeks. screw that.

  • adamska_br

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:26 pm PT

    The fight got finished for these discs way before it picked up again.

  • thaflu

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:26 pm PT

    The same thing happened to the Limited Edition of Prey. Makes me wonder if I should just start getting Regular Editions of games. Also, it's messed up that Microsoft will only replace one scratched disc per person. Its their fault.

  • spookie6

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    There's still a problem with the cheap a$$ case though. A new disc could just get scratched again!

  • darendt69

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:13 pm PT

    ROFLMFAO!!!! WOW, Yet another damage claim for the 360. It doesnt seem they can get anything right. First the console scratches discs, then they RROD, then there steering wheels start smoking, and now they are scratching there most expensive versions of there prime title......wow. Quality control people, its all about Quality control. M$ needs to dump some more money in that department.

  • PSdual_wielder

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:12 pm PT

    yea, like anyone would buy multiple copies of the same game.

  • NailBail

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 3:08 pm PT

    Daaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmnnnnnittttt! Mine got scratched! Xl

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