GameStop to Host Halo Wars Midnight Launch Events Nationwide

GameStop today announced that it will host midnight launch events for Microsoft's Halo Wars at more than 2,000 stores nationwide. Starting at 10 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2009, customers can visit their local GameStop and get in line to be the first to get their hands on the newest Halo game.

Fans will have the opportunity to bring out their inner Warthog by participating in one or more of the following events:

[pwnsause]

oh, so the fanboy store favored the disappointing game?

Now how many people are going to be dissapointed when they find out that this game is an RTS and not an FPS?

[HDDVD18]

it is just ms publicity stunt
HW was killzoned way before its release

hw will be a major disappointment in sales just like reviews

[Foxgod]

only ps3 users are stupid enough to buy a game thinking it would be a shooter.

[pwnsause]

uh oh, here comes the fox god, the ultimate defender of the M$ camp HAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAH why dont you watch the Halo Wars commercial before you talk.

EDIT:
"you have to be living under a rock not to know what halo wars is."

really? ask my freinds in college. ask someone on the street HAHAHAHAHAH

quit defending Microshaft

[Foxgod]

dont have to, you have to be living under a rock not to know what halo wars is.

Ps3 fans live under a rock, their ps3 has the size of a big rock after all.

[TheMART]

Why do you worry about a gamestore just having a night opening for a game which finally isn't another shooter (KZ2) were there are many from.

The first special made RTS for an console. Furthermore, does this hurt you personally? Your posts make you a weak gamer.

Everyone that buys Halo Wars knows exactly what it is. Will be funny to see an RTS like Halo Wars outsell the most expensive PS3 FPS project ever.

[Ko_Uraki]

for a great game :)

[Capt CHAOS]

I didn't think it was a big enough of a game to warrant a midnight launch..

Weird.

[Bathyj]

Its not. But its got Halo in its name.

It might very well be a good game, but when do with ever get midnight launches for a RTS.

[JOLLY1]

you sure are upset that this game has a nationwide midnight launch. Why so sad?

[Godmars290]

When MS's paying for it of course.

Just have to question weather or not weather or not they'll manage to embarrass Sony with the move, be able to report they sold more copies of their game day-one, of if Gamespot gets embarrassed by selling less.

Its a technical win-win scenario for them.

[Tony P]

Pretty doubtful of the whole thing. I still think not too many console gamers know or care that Ensemble can make a great RTS.

Hope they do well though.

[pumpkinpunker]

no, it's pre-orders, guys. tons of people are stoked about this game they just don't troll N4G trying to over-hype it.

[xwabbit]

lol pumpkinpunker, Game stop had over 1 mil reserved for kz2 and they didn't do a midnight release nation wide. I never even saw adds on gamestop about that game lol. In the 4 gamestops i have gone, the wii and the xbox are working. In the PS3 section they don't even have 1 for playing. You see the tv and the space for where its suppose 2 be the PS3 and it isnt. pumpkinpunker have u seen the reviews of this game ?

[Sez]

"So many haters over here... hummm, they seem jealous"

nah.. more like they are scared HW will outsell KZ2. they know that HALO has a bigger following that KZ2 and many of their other games. and maybe. just maybe people are looking foward to playing this game.

[The Matrix]

I'm a PS3 and 360 user and I'm more excited about Halo Wars. Anyways...

I called my gamestop (it's on the midnight launch and tournament list) and they said that they will NOT be having a tournament and they weren't sure about a midnight launch.

So much for individual stores following the rules...

[WildArmed]

Imma PS360wii owner, and im more stoked about Killzone 2.
I played the crap out of the halo wars demo, somehow it doesnt seem as appealing anymore O_O
(not much of RTS person anywayz)
Bring on the helghast! I need to shoot something!

[nycredude]

Make that 1,000,000 preorders - 2. I preordered 2 copies of Killzone 2 from gamestop for my brother and I but I just can't stand that gamestop didn't have a poster, midnight launch or at least try to advertise so I went out found my local mom and pop in nyc and bought it from them last night! F*&k gamestop. btw Killzone 2 is on point! The MP is crazy!

[jammy_70]

its had a 6 and a 6.5...

[Doppy]

I'm telling you it's uneducated gamers. Some people are getting it for more Halo story (acceptable), some for RTS (acceptable), some just because it's Halo (acceptable), some because it's supposedly Ensembles last game (slightly acceptable). But some uneducated gamers think it's a FPS or TPS, and not a RTS. I don't know how many people I've heard say did you see that Halo Wars commercial it look bad@$$, and I have to intervene and say that's only the cutscencs, and it's not s shooter it's an RTS, and to my surprise the stupidly reply with a confused what.

I really want to see what happens after this game launches. I expect it to sell 3 - 4 million, and about a week later I expect 2 - 3 million people will have traded it in or tried to take it back.

[soxfan2005]

That's why MS released a demo a month ago - to educate gamers. If MS was trying to sell Halo Wars on the Halo name alone, they would not have released a demo for anyone to try.

[Bathyj]

Why would I be upset? I'll buy the game if I like it. It sounds good and I never said a bad thing against the game. I like a dumbed down RTS cos I'm not into all that micro management in the PC games.

I'm saying, if it was Age of Empires 3 or any other RTS, even the Total War series which is the pinacle of the genre, then theres no way it would be getting a midnight launch. Its simply because of the Halo name, and it will probably go on to sell very well, especially for a strategy game, and I'll be proven right.

Sorry I took so long to answer, I've been playing Killzone, but I'm back at work now.

[Doppy]

There are over 28 million 360 sold, and how many Xbox Live accounts? if I'm correct it's around 20 million so that's at least 8 million people who don't know any better.

[forcefullpower]

This is nothing more than a MS PR stunt to avert attention from Killzone 2.

Halo Wars is not that popular for a midnight launch

[II Necroplasm II]

I don't think any RTS game would take attention from Killzone 2, also Halo Wars being on the 360 and not PS3

My issue with Killzone 2 and gamestop is why can't they have both console exclusive games launch at midnight. Maybe they can't by their book..
but their stupid anyhow.

[kwicksandz]

A little game like starcraft 2 will be more than deserving of a midnight launch. And ill bet the farm it will outsell Killzone 2 and halo wars as well.

[Godmars290]

Haven't exactly been hearing good things about SC2 since Blizzard announced that it was a "trilogy." Not that its going to stop it from selling like bottled orgasms.

Still, unless what's left of Ensemble plans to put out Covenant and Flood campaigns, make a PC version, I don't see the game coming anywhere near the other in ability.

[xwabbit]

*mistake*

[Crazywhitie]

anything with Halo in the title will be big. there was only 6 people at the Gamestop Midnight Launch for Killzone 2 you think they should have stayed open???

[forcefullpower]

I have mates that just have 360's and they buying purley because there are no other games they want to buy. Got F all to do with actually wanting the game.

And if there where only 6 people for killzone 2 there probably be only 2 for halo wars

[Ko_Uraki]

We don't know, maybe the preorders are good enough for a midnight launch. According to Amazon (US) and Play.com (UK), the game is selling very well.

[Omega4]

lol the US still hasnt got this game yet, i got mine yesterday

Sure feels good to have one big release in the UK before the US, cant say the same for those stupid JRPGs i mean where the hell is Tales of Vesperia its a joke

[chasegamez2]

there will be a lot of disappointed people
that night

[crck]

After watching Halo War ad after Halo War ad during the TNT basketball games I'm inclined to agree. Those ads of only the cgi cutscenes make it look like it would be a shooter.

[pumpkinpunker]

those ads also say at the end of them "Free demo on Xbox Live." The free demo ad is on the first page of Xbox Live when you log in also. So if people don't play the demo and/or have no idea that the game is an RTS and buy it then that is their own stupidity. Besides they may still like it anyway because it's a pretty fun game.

Did people really think KZ2 would outsell a Halo game? People will buy Halo Wars just for the story even if they hate RTS games. Sort of the same reason people bought MGS4 even though the gameplay is pretty average third person shooter fare and its online component is also average.

[Sez]

i said the same exact thing two days ago. there just too many ways to check out this game before you buy it. so people buying it and not knowing it's a RTS is just on them. but as i told pirate thorn. people are informed what this game is about. just because the fanboys on this site hope that it will fail (more like they are scared halo wars will outsell KZ2)doesn't mean that everyone shares your opinion.
and the fact that HW has a full midnight launch must be eating you guys up.

[Says you]

Seen the commercial as well and only showed CGI cutscenes why didn't they show the gameplay itself?.

[pwnsause]

thats the funny part LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL I feel sorry for the Bots who are going to buy this game, without realize what Genre this game is under HAHAAHHHAHAhAha

EDIT: Im not saying that the game is bad, I like RTS, but you Bots are always getting fooled by Microsoft.

[Foxgod]

funny, i have never been fooled by ms, they delivered me strong games.
I like RTS games, and i like Halo, so this game will be loads of fun to play.

[sajj316]

I'm going to call it that this game ... not Killzone 2 ... will be the most returned game this year.

[pumpkinpunker]

You're right. KZ2 won't sell enough copies to get returned compared to Halo Wars.

@titntin

but don't forget the online component. that will take strategy when you're up against live opponents. multiplayer should keep this game out of the used section.

[titntin]

I think you might be right for several reasons.

1) Some misguided people will buy it thinking its an FPS.
2) Some RTS players will not like the linearity and almost complete lack of stratagey of the gameplay compared with other RTS titles.
3) Many will be disapointed in how incredibly short it is. 15 campaign missions - I finished it in two sittings.

Those that are new to RTS's though , and particularly those that are big fans of the Halo universe, WILL be happy though. The story is very good and the cut scenes are about the best I've seen this generation. Given how many millions of Halo fans there are, you can still expect a LOT of very satisfied customers from this game.

Its obvious that the midnight launch is because there are so many Halo fans, and with the US having twice the installed base of 360's, it makes sense to have a launch for this title. No need for some to cry 'foul' - its sound buisness sense, and if you think a game store has any reason to display 'bias', then you are crazy and theres no help for you!:)

[dale1]

one person at midnight walked in our local asda for this game,before he bought it he asked the girl behind the counter if it was a fps,she said i think so,then about twenty people waiting in the killzone line said no it aint mate its a pile of sh*t,but killzone is.he read the back and walked off.had to laugh but i kind of felt sorry for him.

[Foxgod]

well, i would have been laughing at the people who buy killzone, not because killzone is bad, in the contrary, its a good shooter.
I would laugh at them because there they are, a bunch of sony fans getting goo goo on a shooter, a SHOOTER.

The genre they always crashed and burned on, now they are crashing an burning on an RTS.

5 years from now, the same people are going to be lined up to buy an RTS for their ps4, while they laugh at a xbox720 owner buying a game genre that is crashed and burned on.

[pwnsause]

"I would laugh at them because there they are, a bunch of sony fans getting goo goo on a shooter, a SHOOTER."

and MicroBot$ went goo goo on a shooter, A SHOOTER. see what I did there? SPIN SPIN SPIN SPIN all you want bot, but the fact holds true that Halo Wars is not being shown as an RTS but as a Shooter to lure in your dumb freinds.

[Foxgod]

not really, because what console was it that made the console shooter genre big ?

it was the xbox, not the ps2.
the ps2 had people lined up for an rpg, while they where laughing at someone buying a shooter for his xbox.

5 years later the same people that where lined up for an rpg, are now lined up for a shooter, laughing at someone buying an rts for his 360.

ps3 fans = lack of short term memory.

[pwnsause]

"because what console was it that made the console shooter genre big ?"

It was the n64, not the xbox stupid! HAHAHAHHAAA remember Goldeneye?

360 fans= Suffer from small brain Syndrome, its a disease similar to Cerebral Palsy, but its worse.

"I dont remember loads of shooters spawning on consoles after goldeneye was out.
Goldeneye was a rare occasion."

So Perfect Dark Doesnt exist then? HHHAHAHAHAHAAHAH, you need a brain replaced.

"You would all still be lined up for rpgs then, speaking of rpg's are you having fun playing rpgs ?, i know i do."

Too bad they're all bad, except for Valkyria Chronicles, JRPG of the Year, only on PS3 AHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, just stop FoxGod, Im destroying you left and right...

[Foxgod]

because the n64 had one shooter that played well it made the shooter genre big ?

I dont remember loads of shooters spawning on consoles after goldeneye was out.
Goldeneye was a rare occasion.

Halo on the other had was a new milestone, it set the foot print for many top console shooters to come, including killzone, which would never have reached this status without the halo succes.
You would all still be lined up for rpgs then, speaking of rpg's are you having fun playing rpgs ?, i know i do.

[twoface]

Yeah dale, it'll be funny.

The first person in the HW queue asks "Is this a fps?", and the midnight launch ends

[Ko_Uraki]

I still can't believe that there is people that will buy this game thinking that it is a FPS.
At least we can assume that for midnight the vast majority of the buyers will know that Halo Wars is a RTS.

[N4Garbage]

Would you guys like some cheese?

Just reading some of the comments lol.

I'll be going fishing in the river you kids are crying.

/castfishingrod

[Mutley416]

I don`t See a RTS, doing big numbers...but HALO...if anybody can hype it up, the Halo people can-

Why a RTS...even thought I`m a fan of the RTS, Don`t they run the risk of screwing up the franchise?

[CBaoth]

I think an RTS is a perfect extension to the FPS franchise since Bungie meticulously crafted an entire mythos from a usually story-line devoid genre. **SPOILER** They skewed the lines between good and evil, injected moral dilemmas and religion into the plot, and even had players forming alliances with the Flood for self-preservation.

And I have no problem w/ GS having a midnight launch. I'm just disappointed as a HUGE RTS fan this a sophomoric effort that falls short of expectations in the RTS genre.

[Ko_Uraki]

Pals, I think that if I preorder a game, I've read its description :)
I can understand the mistake of a "casual" gamer that buys Halo Wars at a WalMart in April, but not a mistake of some one who has preordered it and stays in line at midnight.

[thehitman]

Like the hype train is getting moving. Thought this game was going to avoid it I guess not.

[Johnny Rotten]

I like the concept of an easy RTS game but I still think I would suck :(

I thought the game was supposed to come out today?

[Sez]

wow theres alot of scared sonyfangirls on in this thread. "oh so many people are going to be disappointed because it's not a FPS. with all the info about HW that people already know what the games is about. sound like your worried that HW will outsell KZ2.

@dale1

i find your story. how should i put it. BS. if the guy wanted to know what HW is about. i doubt he would ask the clerk and she said i think so. when all the person had to do was donwload the the demo. it's been out for a while now. so i call your story bullsh!t. and you don't have to have a gold account to download the demo. for your information.

[kewlkat007]

actually have people give Console RTS a shot and they may like it. Depending how successful it is you will see much more RTS coming out because of it.

I don't get why every is always so negative about the gaming Industry in general.

We always think everything is set, people like this and people like that and there is no room for the industry to grow. Maybe it's usually just Xbox games. I don't know.

[4Sh0w]

Why are people calling out microsoft, it must be financially in Gamespots best interest to have a midnight launch for Halo Wars because the preorder numbers are there....and so what if microsoft is great at advertising deals thats what a company is suppose to do, promote their games.

Didn't Sony have a deal with Gamestop where gamers pre-order to get a code for the early KZ2 demo? The Gamespot near me said the same thing I read a few days ago, there wasn't enough pre-orders, surely if the pre-order numbers were there for KZ2, Gamestop would host a midnight launch, they love $$$$ so it would be in their best interest. Either way the KZ2 should see huge sales just for whatever reason alot of folks didn't preorder.

Halo Wars looks like a great game also, I'll be playing both, hmmm can you imagine that kicking butt in KZ2 then taking a break and crushing some Covenant butt in Halo Wars. damm were spoiled this gen. 4Sh0w.

[GameHero]

don't waste your time (6.5)

[Pootie Tang]

I think ppl will surprised at home well this game will sell, There 9 million Halo 3 owners, and some ppl are cult-like about it. It's the story their after more than the game, so it'll be huge IMO

[KingKionic]

halo wars have the top preorders right now. more then resident evil.

[TheOutsider]

RTS= REAL TIME $HIT!!!!!!!

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Killzone 2 has poor reserves.

[MasterGamer]

my friends and I can't wait for this game