In November 2006, Bungie and Microsoft announced there would be a Halo 3 multiplayer beta launched in the spring. In February 2007, Microsoft released Crackdown and promised the hundreds of thousands who bought it they'd have first-day access to the beta. On April 10, the beta received an official launch date, May 16, and an end date, June 6. Gamers became anxious as press and select "Friends and Family" were allowed early access late last week, but 5:00 a.m. PST on May 16 wasn't far off.
5:00 a.m. on that appointed date came and went, though, and the beta didn't launch for Crackdown owners. It wasn't until some 14 hours later -- 7:00 p.m. PST -- that Microsoft issued a patch for Crackdown...yes, Crackdown. There wasn't an issue with the beta -- Halo 3 downloaded and played fine for press and those involved in the Friends and Family program -- so how did Microsoft's biggest promotion of 2007 blow up in its face after months of hype?
Read the full story to find out.
