Halo 3 launched last night all over the world, and has already set the world alight. Were you in line? Did you get a copy? Do you love Halo or hate it or not care about it one way or another? Much like this summer’s ‘Potter-mania’ it is hard not to have this game launch touch you one way or another.

Since the midnight launch, servers hosting multiplayer matches have been buzzing, credit card readers have been smoking, and millions of dollars and Euro’s have been changing hands. The game has set a record for the number of pre-orders, and is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the top 10 for yearly sales. There is some speculation that it will propel Microsoft’s entertainment unit to profitability this quarter for the first time ever, and perhaps even make for two profitable quarters in a row if the launch madness can linger long enough.

Colleen has talked about some of the interesting issues facing retailers – and I look forward to seeing how they handled things. Certainly this is an opportunity to put their best foot forward since the event is under a microscope – you can be sure that it will be played for political points if there is footage of little kids buying the game. I certainly hope that all of the stores manages to keep things under control as well as the few I’ve read about (example). Because a extraordinarily popular and anticipated game that has strong appeal to kids as young as tweens, especially one in a franchise that is generally considered ‘light M-rated’ and that many parents enjoy playing together with their kids, will be a magnet for teens to try to buy as soon as possible. Heck, even as I was writing this GamerDad put up an article describing that in wonderful detail.

There was one thing I was thinking about as I was reading some of the coverage – particularly one that was getting all up in arms about Zac Efron (of High School Musical fame) causing a stir at one of the launch parties. I was wondering something that has been commented on before – that Microsoft has engineered getting Halo a M rating and is quite satisfied with that. Certainly the fanbase buys into that – the various blogs and articles all complain about being compared to the frenzy around Harry Potter or High School Musical. They like to think that they are adults and the other folks are kids and therefore there is some more noble pursuit in what they are doing. But these guys need to get over themselves – there is no real difference between some guy in a Master Chief getup at Gamestop at midnight and me and my family in wizard garb outside the Barnes & Noble back in July. Except that much of the Halo 3 crowd trying to pretend that they are oh so cool (see my earlier article on THAT).

Full confession: I have a bit of a bias, I admit – I still begrudge Microsoft for ‘stealing’ Halo from the Mac in 2000 after Bungie had done some Mac & PC demos back at E3 in ’99. But that was many years ago and these are console action games that millions of gamers have loved, so I am letting go of my curmudgeonly grumbling and embracing Halo Holiday in full.

So I am hoping that Halo 3 does very well. Not in terms of finances, because I honestly don’t care if Microsoft dumps the whole entertainment business unit into the Pacific next week. I’m hoping it does well in terms of making gamers happy and giving them something cool to play and get excited about. Halo 2 has had a long life because it did a great job of making for a fun multiplayer experience. I want it to succeed because I’m a gamer, and I am in favor of anything that gives gamers more cool times with their hobby. I might enjoy seeing Sony get a bit of a comeuppance due to their arrogance, but I am saddened when so many games such as Lair and Heavenly Sword turn out to be duds – because that hurts gamers. I love all of the cool games that have already come out this year, and weep for all of those who have wasted money on the all-too-common crappy games (including myself!).

I know people who have come down with the ‘Halo Flu’ today and are probably finishing the game as I am typing this. That is great – I have never done anything like that, but life is too short for adults not to indulge themselves in a harmless fashion like that every once in a while. Tonight millions will be online having a blast with some friends or strangers or families. I have already been reading about folks getting some quality time in co-op single player mode, which is wonderful. Game on!

Update:  interesting to note in my local news that MIT has pulled a prank on Harvard and  reworked the Harvard founder’s statue to look like Master Chief.  Cool stuff – check out the picture.

Tags: Misc