Microsoft reveals Halo 3 midnight madness details

With a week to go before the North American launch of Halo 3, Microsoft has confirmed the details for four US regional events.

Although 10,000 US retailers are expected to open at midnight, four retailers will host special events in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Miami.

In New York, the Halo 3 launch event will take place at the Best Buy on 5th Avenue a few blocks from Times Square. It will be broadcast on Spike TV and G4, with appearances by Bungie team members and local professional athletes.

GameStop will host the Halo 3 launch event in Los Angeles at the Universal CityWalk store. It, too, will be broadcast by G4 and Spike TV, with trivia contests, a celebrity autograph session, and an appearance by Master Chief himself.

Best Buy is hosting the launch event in Seattle, with Circuit City hosting the Halo 3 launch event in Miami. Bungie team members will be on hand at both locations. Miami Dolphins players Chris Chambers and Joey Porter will be signing autographs and playing against fans in Florida.

Attendees at all four of the regional events will have an opportunity to receive giveaways such as Halo Action Clix, collectible trading cards, T-shirts and hats, graphic novels and calendars, soundtracks, figurines, weapon replicas and even a Halo 3-themed Zune.

Halo 2 generated USD 125 million in sales within the first 24 hours of its release in November of 2004. Many analysts are expecting Halo 3 to break the record for the highest single-day gross in the history of entertainment.