Halo Reach: Countdown To Release And Invasion Week
With the anticipation building, the wait is almost over for the biggest launch of the year. In seven days players all over the globe will finally have their hands on easily the biggest title of the year, Halo: Reach – the final title in the critically acclaimed Halo series. People all over the world will join together in celebration of this epic gaming phenomenon.
Thousands of retail stores all over the nation are set to host midnight events to celebrate the release of the game, to join in the madness and sheer joy. Smiles will be had as well as laughter and, as I am sure, tears, in response to the release of the prequel to the number one game series of all time, as dubbed by the Guinness Book of World Records.
“Halo” madness is set to explode in New York City at a marquee launch event at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square. Fans attending will have the opportunity to be among the first to play Halo: Reach before the game hits shelves on September 14th at midnight, they can win special Halo-themed prizes, meet the creators and developers of the game, and fall witness to a special surprise musical performance.
Fans on the West Coast will have the chance to celebrate as well on September 13th at the Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, which happens to be closer to the home of the developers, Bungie. Developers from Bungie and 343 Industries will greet fans and join the countdown to launch, all while attendees can play Halo: Reach early as well, and compete in tournaments to win Coveted Halo prizes.
Aside from these events in New York and Seattle, thousands of retailers worldwide will be hosting their own midnight madness celebrations, where fans who attend can be among the first to bring home their own copy of the game. Here in our area our local Gamestop will be hosting a launch event starting at 10 PM on September 13th where fans can get together and celebrate the launch. There will be a Halo 3 multiplayer contest, in which the winner will receive a special Halo: Reach limited edition t-shirt.
Even beyond the United States retailers around the globe are planning to launch celebrations for the game, showing us just how much the appeal of this blockbuster series pierces the veil of mainstream gaming in all corners of the world.
The hunger that settles in the stomachs of those who anticipate this release traverses a wide array of fans. Just today, Warner Brothers is debuting a series of five original webisodes from the award-winning action-comedy series “Chuck” that features the show’s duo Jeff and Lester, who set out on a quest to track down their own copy of Halo: Reach. Fans can tune in today to snatch the first webisode, which will debut on TheWB.com, as well as Xbox.com and Xbox Live shortly later today.
Something very exciting that is planned for this release is what is called “Invasion Week”. Invasion Week will unleash a plethora of Halo-themed activities on Xbox Live starting on September 14th and running through September 20th. These activities will include new Avatar gear, exciting video and game content, amazing prices, and a chance to play with the game’s developers. As an intriguing bonus, all fans who get online will receive the Halo: Reach Invasion Week theme for free.
Here is a quick list of Invasion Week activities:
- Connect to Xbox LIVE and receive a free “Halo: Reach” Invasion Week theme
- Game with Developer: Bungie will play with fans on Thursday, 16th from 5PM-7PM ET in the US, and Friday the 17th 8PM-10PM BST in the UK.
- Play & Win: Play “Halo: Reach” any time during Invasion Week and you will be entered to win tickets to the upcoming UFC 122 Fight*
- Community Events: Themed nights hosted by the community team to play “Halo: Reach,” including “Co-op Night,” “Xbox All Nighter” and “Community Playdate”
You can still pre-order your copy of Halo: Reach at thousands of participating locations worldwide, and there are three packages to choose from – Regular, Limited, and Legendary. Also a lineup of custom-designed Halo-themed hardware such as a controller and headset for the Xbox 360 is currently available for pre-order. When pre-ordering the game, fans will receive a special token to unlock an exclusive in-game Spartan Recon Helmet when the title is picked up on launch day.
It is safe to say that this will be the single most explosive launch date this year for Bungie, Microsoft, and fans as well. Halo: Reach brings a new look at the Halo series, all while bringing the series to an end. Halo: Reach releases worldwide on September 14th.
If you have been a fan of the series as much as I have, then be sure to turn out for any launch event that is nearby your place of residence. I look forward to seeing everyone who shows up to the launch event near the office, and I hope to meet some new friends. Although this may be the last entry in the series, I am sure that the following, the family that Halo has created will live on for a long time. Be sure to pick up the game when it releases, and feel free to leave your comments telling us what you think of the launch events, or even of the game itself.
For more information be sure to check out more information on Halo: Reach at Bungie’s website.
Also you can check out an amazing light-generated statue of Noble Team here, where you can add your own point of light.
