shopping

Hippieman sent me a message on XBL a couple days ago.. the two downloadable netmap packs for Marathon:Durandal, the XBLA version of Bungie's classic Mac and PC scifi shooter, the grand-daddy of Halo, are now online in the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Monsters and Critics is reporting that Wideload Games' sophomore effort (at least, its second full-length offering) is now shipping: Hail to the Chimp is available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

ShackNews is reporting that Wideload Games' Hail to the Chimp, originally announced for a May release, is slightly delayed until June 24 so that some final finishing touches can be put on the game. Chimp is to be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and is priced at an affordable $40.

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How do ya submit comments and posts, i wanna submit some cool shit but it wont let me, wen i click my subjects and then submit, it wont let me type anything, its gettin freakin annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!

It shouldn't come as much surprise, but if someone owns an Xbox 360, odds are they'll also pick up Halo 3. So far 52 percent of the US installed base owns the game, according to GameDaily BIZ.

Along with the Xbox 360 dashboard update due out on December 4, you can pick up classic original Xbox games through Xbox Originals. 1200 MS points will grab you games like Fable, Psychonauts, or even Halo.

Note to potential purchasers: while what, if any, Xbox Live features have been added to these games are as yet unknown, HBO's Louis Wu has it on good authority that Halo 1 will not be getting Live multiplayer, so don't get your hopes up for that.

The Bungie Store has got the blue filter you can use with Halo 3's video calibrator in stock now. For a limited time, it's free with any other order!

If your Halo 3 disc was scratched in the box, Microsoft will replace it. However, you only have until the end of this year.

The Master Chief teabags a PlayStation 3 and steals Halo 3 in this Gamebrink video linked over at Kotaku.

A Kotaku reader snapped some photos of Halo 3 boxes arriving at some game store. Not long to wait now!

Russ Pitts at the escapist has never preordered a game-- until Halo 3, that is.

Gamesindustry.biz reports that Microsoft is expecting to sell out of the Legendary edition of Halo 3, in the US at least.

According to CVG, the Legendary edition has already sold out in the UK.

Frank Caron from Ars Technica had a chance to play through the game and will have a thorough writeup after the 23rd when the embargo ends.

Char Easter was invited to play Halo 3 at Bungie and wrote up his experience.

GamerMetrics says Halo 3's launch means fewer sales of other titles. Fancy that.

Bungie says that a blue filter will be very helpful for those keen to get the most out of the Audio/Video calibration tool they're providing with the Legendary Edition. They'll be available in the Bungie store soon.

Frankie has posted at Bungie.net that Best Buy may be your best friend come Halo 3's launch day:

During the launch period of Halo 3, the 25th, 26th and 27th of September, Best Buy will be sponsoring the Xbox Live Gold service and making it free for everyone. Think of it as Halo Free Gold Days. That means that even if you only have Xbox Live Silver, or you picked up a 360 just for Halo 3, that you’ll be able to try almost all of the features – online co-op, Multiplayer, Forge editing, viewing networked Saved Films - however, you will not be able to use our File Share system unless you subscribe to the paid Xbox Live Gold service.

Interesting restriction. Looks like nobody wants a lack of a Gold subscription to get in the way of Halo 3's online multiplayer numbers.

MasterChief2829 pointed out a link to an eBay auction that claims to have the full retail Halo 3 package, including an unboxed shot.

It appears to be a PAL version of the game from Australia.

Kotaku has the story that says that eighty-eight Best Buy locations have been chosen to open at midnight to sell Halo 3 on September 25. See Kotaku for the full story or click the thumbnail on the left for the complete list.

Tex went to pay off the last installment of her Halo 3 Legendary Edition preorder and got a couple of unexpected surprises: the early arrival of the new Halo 3-themed wireless controllers, and a special Halo 3 bracelet given out to GameStop employees. Check the Queen of the Hill blog for photos.