It was 3:00 AM, and my party had just gotten done losing 50 to 35 on Big Team Battle.
Suddenly we’re disconnected, and the beta is no longer working! 12:00 AM Pacific was the inevitable cut off.
My efforts to restart Crackdown were futile; the end had arrived.
While sobbing waiting on my dashboard, I noticed some of the gamers in my party were still online. As it turned out, if you hadn’t quit the Beta, you’d still be rocking custom games! Currently I have two friends who are leaving their consoles on all night, and perhaps all week, to continue the Haloing. Lucky…
It’s been a long day for a lot of people but we’re happy to announce that effective immediately, a title update for Crackdown is available on Xbox Live that will fix the issue that previously prevented you from downloading the beta. The Microsoft team just deployed this fix and when you launch Crackdown you should receive a prompt to download the update.
Please note that it could take up to four hours for your console to receive this update based on various factors. However, the good news is that we’re in the clear and Halo 3 gameplay is just over the horizon.
We realize this has been a pain for many and an inconvenience at the very least. Given the circumstances, we’ve decided to extend the duration of the Halo 3 Beta from June 6th to June 10th at 11:59 PM PDT. So, you lost almost a full day of play today but to make up for it we’re tacking on four more days (and a weekend at that).
We apologize for the delay and hardships this issue has caused and hope that it quickly becomes a distant memory clouded by good times playing Halo 3 with your friends.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding. We’ll see you online!
That should make everyone happy. (Hah, who am I kidding). Thanks Bungie. I’m glad this fiasco is finally behind us.
The download is now working. HOWEVER, you need to clear your cache, which means you will lose your game updates (you will simply be prompted to re-download them next time you launch a game). Here is how to do it:
Restart your box, then do this:
Go to the dashboard.
Go to the system tab
Select memory
Highlight your hard drive
Press Y
Press X, X, LB, RB, X, X
Say yes when prompted to do maintenance on your hard drive.
Enjoy! I’m sure this will be sorted out in a bit and you wont need to clear your cache, but since I know how impatient you all are… see you soon. Start your download before the masses!
This just in! The Microsoft team has identified the issue that was preventing the Halo 3 beta from being downloaded via Crackdown. This problem is expected to be fixed within the next 3 to 6 hours. New information as soon as we have it!
We’re happy to finally announce that the issues being faced with the Halo 3 beta and Crackdown will be resolved shortly. The Microsoft team has found a solution and it’s undergoing final testing now.
Assuming the test pass goes according to plan, the fix will come in the form of a Crackdown title update within the next three to six hours.
We understand many of you were eagerly awaiting your chance to jump into the Halo 3 Beta and this technical issue has put a damper on your plans. Thankfully the fix is incoming and we’re sincerely sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. Ultimately we hope this will all soon be a distant memory once you pick up the Spartan Laser, launch yourself from a Mancannon and enjoy online shenanigans with your friends.
As a reminder, people who already have the Halo 3 Beta are unaffected by this issue. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we have more information.
In the past hour or so, while some are busy finishing (the beta) fight, the rest of the internet is up in arms wondering where their Halo 3 beta is. So far, the official word is a collective, “We Know!” Bungie states, “With any luck this will be a short delay.”
Meanwhile, in the past hour or so, the Halo 3 Beta page on Xbox.com has changed. The site USE to read that the beta begins “May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run(s) through June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.” It now reads:
Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the multiplayer beta of Halo 3 will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE on May 16 at 10pm EST and run through to June 7 at 4:59pm EST.
So if these figures are to be believed, you could be waiting up to another 10 hours to get your game on (if you are getting in through Crackdown, at least). It’s a 17 hour delay from the original time, but the 17 hour extension should make everyone stop complaining. Right?
Update: Turns out, the Xbox.com link is to an Australian page. I don’t know why it says EST (does it stand for anything besides Eastern Standard Time?), but 10pm in Australia, is roughly 5PDT that has always been promised. The time US Xbox.com page remains unchanged. However, the following notice has been added:
Customers are reporting problems downloading the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta via Crackdown. The Xbox team is well aware of this issue and working diligently to resolve it. Please check back for more information as it becomes available.
Wow, wasn’t expecting this tonight. Bungie just released the official release date for Halo 3: September 25, 2007.
We said Fall 2007, but did you expect Halo 3’s release date to be just two days into the Fall? On September 25, 2007 (just two days after the Autumnal Equinox), players will be able to finish the fight they started in Halo: Combat Evolved and continued in Halo 2. Halo 3 will release in Europe on September 26, 2007. Worldwide dates may vary slightly depending on local rules and conditions.
Awesome. I was dreading a release closer to winter. What was going to hold me over between the beta and the final game?! It will still be a long 3+ month wait, but much better than it could have been. More details and a full Q&A at Bungie.
Bungie has posted a more than extensive guide to get you ready for the beta tomorrow morning. There are FAQs, map guides, weapon and equipment guides, and more. See you there tomorrow!
The first few minutes are the same as what I posted earlier, but this extended version shows the entire level. Ends up I was wrong, the level looks exactly the same size as the original Zanzibar. Not too much different, either. Sure, a couple new ramps, platforms, and the ATV, but besides that it looks like a clone. I’m kinda disappointed it’s not a more extensive makeover. I mean, releasing old Halo CE maps for Halo 2 years later is one thing, but we will be coming fresh off Halo 2 (well not so fresh, but you’ve probably played Zanzibar more recently then Derelict, until they were re-released.) Still, beggars can’t be choosers. It is one of my favorite Halo 2 maps, and I look forward to tearing up the beach on that Mongoose!
The first leaked video of the internal beta has made its way around the interweb. I assume (hope) it will be the first of many. The map shown is named “Last Resort”, and is an extensive remake of the classic Zanzibar. Notice the landmark generator in the icon on the opening lobby screen. The map looks huge now. Most shown is inside the base. The platform with the switch is most notable from the original Zanzibar. I can’t really tell how much of that interior is actually accessible, or if it’s just fo’ sho’. Regardless, this has my favorite Halo 2 map, so I’m very glad to see it will make its way into Halo 3 in one form or another. Enough already, watch the video for yourself!
Just got the press release, so mark your calendars, and schedule the day off work/school. No other info on the beta has been released, just that it will arrive on the Xbox Live Marketplace May 16th. To hold you over until than, a new multiplayer Vidoc is available at Bungie.net, and on the Marketplace (in 720p). You can download it here.
Bungie also offers the following details, and confirms that there will be three maps:
The Beta itself consists of three maps – Valhalla, High Ground and Snowbound – graphically improved since our first MP screenshots – and all three will be playable in Matchmaking only (that is after all, what we’re Beta testing here). All three maps are suitable for a wide variety of gameplay types, and you will have the chance to try all manner of game types, familiar and new.
There are a number of new features you’ll get to test out – including a new grenade type, a completely different class of weapon and some of the enhanced online functionality we plan to bring to the game – but it should be noted, a lot of secret features are hidden in this Beta. We’re keeping a lot of our powder dry for Fall. In May, when your firing the Spiker, sniping vehicles with the Spartan Laser and sticking fools with the Brute Spike grenade, remember that it’s just a peek-a-boo fraction of what’s to come.
And do me a special personal favor – walk down to the beach, the river or the lake in High Ground and Valhalla, and take a look at the water.
