Eager Fans Await Halo 3 Release

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Halo 3, undoubtedly the most anticipated title for the Xbox 360 -- and perhaps of all time -- will be finally available tonight. More than 10,000 stores will be opening their doors at midnight to sell the game, which is expected to break all sales records and become the biggest interactive entertainment launch in history.

Considering Halo 3 has already become the fastest pre-selling game in history, tonight's launch is less of a beginning, and more the continuation of the snowball crashing down the mountain that is the Halo franchise. What began in 2001 as a video game sensation has grown into a full-scale cultural phenomenon, including graphic novels, a major motion picture, action figures, and even soft drinks (i.e., Mountain Dew "Game Fuel").

Marquee launch events are taking place in New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Miami tonight, with contests and appearances by local celebrities and professional athletes who also happen to be Halo fans. A list of retailers who will be opening tonight for the launch is listed on the Xbox 360 site.

Whether the hour of release is a matter of hype, or a matter of making the launch easier on retailers and customers has yet to be seen. Perhaps it's a combination of the two.