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[Sybrix]

I'm posting this because it's such a great video, gaming during the 360 days was just so epic and let's be honest, it hasn't been topped.

This footage has captured a moment in time that will never be experienced again, the game, going to the store to buy it physically at a midnight launch, a buddy 4 player local co-op.

 

[Con_Z_ǝdʇ]

Halo 3 midnight launch.

Came across this video uploaded September, 2007. Some of our posters here were kids. That was a very different time. Midnight launches were quite a thing from 2007 to I wanna say 2013. I went to an MGSV midnight launch in 2015 and barely anybody was there (although I won a poster because I...

www.neogaf.com

 

[West Texas CEO]

what a magical time to be alive.

 

[SkylineRKR]

I kind of took it for granted. I had a 360 at the time, and wasn't completely in love with it. I kind of missed my PS2 during its maiden year.

But looking back, the E3's, the world premieres, the hype for demos.. Reading mags and browsing GameTrailers.. it was indeed pretty great. And games back then were more diverse, and I don't mean -that- one. There was like Halo, Gears, Dead Rising, PGR, Ninja Gaiden.. And they were all good still.

 

[Alebrije]

Obligatory

 

[deriks]

Good times when we stood for hours for a thing that we wanted. We organize to play with our friends. We talked with strangers that has the same sentiment for it, and make new friends... It was the most love letter ever

Now you just... download it, and a lot of those games you can't even get a physical copy... and even if is a physical copy, you need to download some patch to run... We have great gakes, but holy shit the burocracy

 

[March Climber]

And games back then were more diverse...there was like Halo, Gears, Dead Rising, PGR, Ninja Gaiden.

The games still are. Here's the key difference in what changed with gamers:

Reading mags and browsing GameTrailers.

Really look into this part. Gaming magazines and gametrailers covered everything. Everything. Back then, people were doing their own research by utilizing sources like these and finding those various titles to enjoy. Things changed and those same gamers settled into letting algorithms and advertisements feed them the info. So instead of going to find those gems themselves like they used to, this dynamic changed for the worse.

Now instead of actively looking for fresh new experiences, most people just wait until ____ company announces a long-awaited sequel or remake to something those people knew about when they were younger, or they wait for word of mouth to spread about a great game from a dev they never knew about, but would have known about during the magazine/gametrailers days.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

I went and picked up a copy at Midnight from my local Blockbuster Video.

A different world.

 

[Kings Field]

This and the MW2 and GOW2 midnight launches were nuts.

 

[Chittagong]

I remember the Halo 3 midnight launch like the last thread of the Halo 3 midnight launch

 

[EverydayBeast]

Bungie made sure Halo 3’s launch was special, certainly other games had “midnight launches” but I can confirm.

 

[Guerilla Munch]

 

[Guerilla Munch]

 

[Northeastmonk]

I thought the launch of Halo 2 was better. Halo 3 was huge, yes. I worked at GameStop during the midnight launch. I think I was excited for H3’s campaign and GTAIV. There was more to play at the time than with Halo 2. Halo 2 was great BC on 360. I waited in line for hours for H2. H3 I just grabbed my copy when the store shutdown.

Looking back on it now. I went to a H2 tournament inside a church, there was a forum for Halo in my state, and MLG Halo was popular to talk about. I don’t remember much of H3 besides the marketing was massive and because it felt like it went downhill after 3’s campaign and Reach. I played H4/5/Infinite. None of which really got on the same level as Halo 2/3. I lost interest in Halo multiplayer when H3 came out because I didn’t have internet where I lived besides dial up. I could play the campaign and that was it.

 

[{insert code here}]

Can't really make AAA games like this anymore with all the DEI and marketing suits in control of everything. Maybe we should lean into the AA space and take that shit over.

 

[Arsic]

I went and did one of those medical lab places you stay in for a few days while they test new prescription drugs on you and draw your blood periodically.

Earned the dough to buy a Xbox 360 and Halo 3.

That’s how good that marketing was then.

 

[tusharngf]

 

[SHA]

In the middle of the night
In the middle of the night
Just call my name
I'm yours to tame
In the middle of the night
In the middle of the night
I'm wide awake
I crave your taste all night long
'Til morning comes
I'm getting what is mine
You gon' get yours, oh no, ooh
In the middle of the night
In the middle of the night, oh

 

[Papa_Wisdom]

Halo 3 midnight launch.

Came across this video uploaded September, 2007. Some of our posters here were kids. That was a very different time. Midnight launches were quite a thing from 2007 to I wanna say 2013. I went to an MGSV midnight launch in 2015 and barely anybody was there (although I won a poster because I...

www.neogaf.com

 

[Power Pro]

This was me more for Halo 2, and the launch of the Xbox 360. i remember the long line for Halo 2, and how excited the first person who checked out was. The Xbox 360 itself was also a big deal because my brother and I spent the entire night outside a best buy with a crowd of very cold people all night. The hype kept up warm for a while, lol. Halo 3 was sort of a big deal, but I just don't remember it as vividly as those other launches.

 

[Krappadizzle]

I worked at GameStop during Halo 2's midnight launch and it was awesome and so exciting.

I was in the military during Halo 3's and it wasn't even comparable, Halo 3 was everywhere and it was such a zeitgeist of excitement. Sitting in line and talking with everyone and discussing the books and games and stories was so endearing.

I'll say I love the digital age we love in as it is way more convenient for me, but damn if the excitement of new launches isn't hampered compared to what it was in those days.

 

[Spyxos]

What a great event Halo used to be, it's a shame it's so totally at the bottom now.

 

[Syphon Filter]

I thought the launch of Halo 2 was better. Halo 3 was huge, yes. I worked at GameStop during the midnight launch. I think I was excited for H3’s campaign and GTAIV. There was more to play at the time than with Halo 2. Halo 2 was great BC on 360. I waited in line for hours for H2. H3 I just grabbed my copy when the store shutdown.

Looking back on it now. I went to a H2 tournament inside a church, there was a forum for Halo in my state, and MLG Halo was popular to talk about. I don’t remember much of H3 besides the marketing was massive and because it felt like it went downhill after 3’s campaign and Reach. I played H4/5/Infinite. None of which really got on the same level as Halo 2/3. I lost interest in Halo multiplayer when H3 came out because I didn’t have internet where I lived besides dial up. I could play the campaign and that was it.

the halo 3 campaign is awesome.