...not this bad. I was wandering through Best Buy in Edmonton on Monday and saw this line-up forming outside.
It was about 6:00 PM, and I started to wonder if there was a big sale or something coming up. When I got to the door, I saw the cause of the awaiting masses along the building. HALO 3 for XBox 360 was being released between Midnight & 4:00 AM that night.
I've stood in line for many things: Star Wars Episode III on opening day, Splash Mountain at Disneyworld (both of which I would've gladly gone back in line again if time had permitted), the checkout line at Costco (desperately wishing there was an express lane), but standing in line for a computer, sorry, console game is outside my realm of desired experience.
HALO 3 is the muchly-anticipated conclusion to the HALO trilogy. the first of which was released in November of 2001. The first-person shooter is tbe best-selling XBox title to date. Three years later, HALO 2 was released and made available to the Windows platform as well.
Not only can you buy the game for $60, there is a limited-edition version that comes in a special tin case for $70, and die-hard fans can even buy a replica of Master Chief's helmet for $130. $400 will get you the special HALO 3 edition of the XBox 360 console with the HALO paint job (you still have to buy the game separately).
HALO 2 grossed $125 million in sales within the first 24 hours. and while sales figures for 3 aren't out yet, it was expected to clear $200 million. Hollywood boxoffices pray for opening weekend figures like that. Speaking of which, I'm starting to wonder how long it will be until we get to see HALO on the big screen.
Even if game consoles were allowed in our house, I can't see myself rushing to wait in line for over 6 hours to be one of the first to get a copy. Now, if it was Star Wars Battlefront III, that might be a different story...
