After forking out over $1.3 billion to fix dodgy XBox 360 consoles, Microsoft is now banking on the roll out of Halo 3 to save its day in a bitter battle with both Sony and Nintendo in the games console market.
With Australia set to be one of the first countries in the world where Halo 3 software will offically go on sale, Microsoft is doing everything it can in an effort to rescue its gaming reputation which has been hit hard by the constant failures of the Xbox console which had a 30 percent failure rate in Australia compared to less than 1.5 percent failure rate for the Sony PS3 and the Nintendo Wii.
More than 42,000 advances have been lodged for the Halo 3 game in Australia, which will retail at $99.95 for the standard edition.
Also available is a AU$199.95 Legendary Edition of Halo 3 which will be released in limited quantities and arrive in a highly collectible Spartan helmet case. Included in the Legendary Edition will be two bonus discs packed full of extra content.
Already millions of fans around the world have placed orders for the new Halo 3.
Microsoft's marketing mavens are using the slogan "Finish the Fight" to promote the company's "Halo 3" video game, the final chapter in a popular science-fiction combat game trilogy.
Microsoft is hoping that Halo 3 will be the rallying cry for Microsoft to beat rival Sony n the next-generation video game console war. Though few hold out hope as Sony is getting stronger by the week with PS3 sales improving over forecasts.
"We're locked in a pretty good fight with Sony and (its) PlayStation 3 to win the generation. That's always been our aspiration," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "This holiday season is critical in terms of winning that generation."
"Halo 3" is Microsoft's biggest weapon yet. The game goes on sale on Monday night at EB Games stores and JB Hi Fi. Some retailers, including EB games, will hold Monday night events capped off with "Halo 3" sales at midnight.
With its big guns and corny sci-fi plot, the Halo video game series is undeniably the province of die hard gamer, as a result it has become one of the most lucrative entertainment franchises of all time. Sam Leith of the Daily Telegraph in the UK met up with the programmers and professional gamers to find out why.
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