Halo 3 Beta Testing To Be Limited

Microsoft talks about the upcoming multiplayer beta and the new commercial too. New CG screen inside.

There are still several months to go until Master Chief returns to finish off the Halo series with the closing chapter of the trilogy next year, but already there is a lot of excitement surrounding the recently announced open beta test for Halo 3 sometime next spring. Be warned, though: Only the quick will be rewarded.

Microsoft is running a registration program for the beta test, with registration opening on 4 December for Americans. Registrations, which can be made from Monday at www.halo3.com, will be limited, though Microsoft hasn't said exactly how limited.

Also still unclear is whether there will be a fee involved. Microsoft recently commissioned a survey where people were asked if they would be prepared to pay to have access to games early. Microsoft did not respond when we asked them for comment. It could be that, as was the case with several recent Xbox Live demos, the Beta will only be open to paying members of Xbox Live.

Nervous Europeans may have noticed that the details above are for Americans only. It seems that this is because Microsoft will be holding a separate beta test in Europe.

"Don't panic," says Bungie's Frank O'Connor. "The Halo 3 Beta will be available in the US, Europe and elsewhere in the world."

It seems that some people are already playing. Several reports say Bungie employees are playing a game called Pimps At Sea on the public Xbox Live servers. The name refers to an in-joke at Bungie and has been used as a codename in the past.

Waiting until next spring just won't do for some people, so Microsoft has created a new television commercial for Halo 3. The ad will air at 2.15am GMT on Monday, 4 December, during regular Monday night gridiron coverage in the US. It will also be up on Xbox.com and at the Xbox Live Marketplace.

The commercial brings a different take on Master Chief. Bungie outsourced development of the commercial to ad agency McCann Erickson, and effects are being handled by ex-Industrial Light & Magic effects producers at Digital Domain.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo