As you might have guessed, a large portion of each of my days at Microsoft is spent thinking about Halo 3, reading about Halo 3, watching videos about Halo 3, and bugging my co-workers about Halo 3.

I thought I would share a particularly awesome thread I had on one of our internal discussion lists called GamrChat.

My original inquiry:

From: Nick Severson
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 9:11 AM
To: GamrChat
Subject: Planning ahead: Halo 3

It just occurred to me that I have not  thrown $$$ down to reserve Halo 3 yet…

Seeing as how this will be my first Halo release as an MS employee, I had some crazy idea that we would be able to get the game from the MS store on release day without a reservation (or some H3 release party? I’m waiting for my invite…).

Since I’ve been here though, the MS store debacle around Gears of War leaves me little hope. I just don’t trust ‘em to come through. Sure, I’ll get my friend’s kid a copy from there a month after it comes out but that won’t do for me, no sir! I gotta have my copy right away…

So, inquiring minds want to know what ya’ll are planning to do for the release, copping it at the store? What happened for Halo 2? What is the point of working here if employees we can’t get Halo 3 on release day? Guess I need to be in the Xbox group, damn it! Where is that career compass tool again?

The first three replies came in. No invites to a release party nor job offers in the Xbox group… :-(

#1
MS Store seems hit or miss…  I was surprised to see Crackdown in there on the day it released…  I think Murphey’s Law applies.  If you buy the game retail, the MS Store will have it the day it releases…  if you bank on the store having it, you’ll be waiting.

#2
Another option is to put your $5 at GameStop or EB and if it comes out at the company store on release day, get your money back at GS/EB and buy it at the company store.

#3
Here’s a ground-breaking idea….WAIT A MONTH AFTER LAUNCH DAY! I’m sure we’ll have it in stock by then.  J  Whhhhhooaaaa – I did NOT just go there!  Bwaahahahahahaha….. J  Be gentle now…put those flame throwers down already!

Not much coming in, looks like I will have to order it. But #3 deserved a response first.

WAIT A MONTH AFTER LAUNCH DAY!?

Not a ground-breaking idea. I did think of that for about .013 seconds.

If I do that though, all the kiddies will be so much better than me by then and will have waaay higher levels and waaay higher XP and, OMG, I just cannot stand for it! Not to mention that they will have gotten all those achievements before me.

What’s that you say? All of the Bungie kiddies are all at level 50 and have the achievements already?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next reply was from a Bungie staffer, perfect!

If you really want Halo 3 as an MS employee, go to http://career.

That’s our internal employment postings site. Great! But I need more info, so I pry…

I’m on career now, where should I look?

Can I use you as a reference?

With that reply sent I wait with bated breath for a response.

NO.

Damn them! Why is Bungie teasing me so? All I could do was reply with the following.

Boooo!

But finally, someone came up with a great idea. Screw the Microsoft store!

Pre-order from EB in Redmond Town Center and then come hang out and party with the rest of us to pick it up at midnight.

Say no more, I gotta make sure my copy is secured!

Ok, done.

I will be the one in full Master Chief armor…err, wait, that won’t distinguish me from the 20 others that will also be in full armor. I’ll put a bow tie and tux on over the armor to commemorate the premier. Red carpet style bitches!

Well, my work here is done for the day! If anyone else is looking for a party sometime in November, you know where to find us.