With Halo 4s launch looming ever closer I’ve started thinking more and more about my past experiences at Halo midnight launches. My first Halo midnight launch was for Halo 2. One of my friends got me really into Halo CE shortly after it released and it grabbed hold of me and refused to let go unlike any other game I’ve ever played. I haven’t missed a midnight launch for a Halo game since. So I’ve decided to create a thread for people to share both their past Halo launch stories and their plans for Halo 4s imminent release. By the way I figured this would be related to Halo 4 enough for it to belong in the Halo 4 forum. If this is a mistake please feel free to redirect me.
I’ve never gotten to go to a midnight launch before. But this time, I’ve got Halo 4 LE pre-ordered and paid in full. I will probably wind up at Gamestop a little before 9, just cause. Hello, first in line!
The release of Halo 2 was my first all nighter. I was 13 at the time and my brother, myself and the friend who originally indoctrinated me into the world of Halo were all planning to go pick up our copies together and then spend the rest of the night playing through the campaign with intermediate bouts of multiplayer. We also skipped school. My brother and I pre ordered our copies at a very small, local game store so as to avoid the giant lines of Gamestop and Walmart and get back home with our copies as quickly as possible. We advised my friend to do the same, but being the -Yoink- that he is, he informed us the night of the release that he had pre ordered at Gamestop. There were about 50 people crammed shoulder to shoulder in the small store I had pre ordered at. One of the store employees had to stand on the counter and shout purchase instructions over the fervor of the crowd who got more anxious as the clock on the wall ticked slowly closer to midnight. When the last minute rolled around everyone was shouting a New Years-esque countdown and then cheered when it finally struck midnight. I got my copy and hurried over to the Gamestop outside of which my friend was waiting. The line was so long there that everyone was actually given tickets with numbers. My friend was in the early hundreds. (Like 110 or something)After another 30 or 40 minutes he finally got his game and we did exactly what we intended to do. We stayed up all night loving every second of the game and passed out at around noon the next day in the floor. Truly, those were good times.
> I’ve never gotten to go to a midnight launch before. But this time, I’ve got Halo 4 LE pre-ordered and paid in full. I will probably wind up at Gamestop a little before 9, just cause. Hello, first in line!
Well I hope it’s awesome! Halo 2 was the most amazing for me. Halo 3 was probably the worst since I pre ordered at the same small, local store I did for Halo 2 to try to avoid long lines, but there ended up being almost no one there. Like 3 people. I always go like an hour early when the line is still relatively small. There’s nothing quite like walking out with a copy past the line of people still waiting.
This is actually going to be my first midnight release. My friend and I don’t have school the day Halo 4 comes out so we’re going to enjoy every second of it! Any advice for my first midnight launch?
> This is actually going to be my first midnight release. My friend and I don’t have school the day Halo 4 comes out so we’re going to enjoy every second of it! Any advice for my first midnight launch?
I guess it depends. If you want to talk with other Halo fans I’d get there an hour or two early. Part of the whole experience is waiting in line and just chatting with people. I’m sure I’ll be skipping class as well on that next day.
Lol i don’t either , im gonna go get my copy , midnight release , and once i get it , lock myself in my room , beat the campaign , and -Yoink!- over the MP 
I’ve never gone to a midnight launch, and don’t really plan to this time. I’ll probably pick up my copy after school and see how much of the Campaign I can get done
> This is actually going to be my first midnight release. My friend and I don’t have school the day Halo 4 comes out so we’re going to enjoy every second of it! Any advice for my first midnight launch?
Yeah, you should have a bat with you cause people are always trying to steal at the midnight launches.
Or so I hear from a lot of kids…
No only thing I can think of, if you’re store does it similar to some around me, is to show up early to get it paid off so you can just jump in the express line and walk in, grab the game, and walk out. And also see if the store will have some kinda ticket system that tells you your place in line so you can pick up your ticket and come back right before they start letting people in.
This will be my first, I’m psyched!
I’ll probably be dead drunk that night.
This is going to be my first Midnight release. I’m excited, and getting to stay up
late, playing Halo is something I’ll get to check off my bucket list.
I got a huge group of people going with me… Lots of my friends that aren’t even buying it are still coming to hang out and try it out after we get it.
This is how I spent my night prior to Halo 3 and Halo Reach.
> This is how I spent my night prior to Halo 3 and Halo Reach.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCOmephvEdg
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3kPPiMHe4
That is seriously awesome.
I’ve been to the midnight releases for H3 and Reach. (Been to some for other games, but none of them compare.) Here where I live there is a college club who dress up cosplay style when Halo has a midnight release. They act as “security” at our Gamestop. They are going to be there on Nov. 6th again. Always a good time standing in line with complete strangers talking like you’ve known them for years. Usually I’m 6-7 shots of whiskey in, so any social awkwardness is out the door.
> > This is how I spent my night prior to Halo 3 and Halo Reach.
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCOmephvEdg
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3kPPiMHe4
>
> That is seriously awesome.
Thank you. The armor for Halo 3 was a last minute rush job. I had a little more time for Reach but still left out a lot of details. I’m in the process of making a new helmet and am adding more detail to my previous armor from Reach. I’m also finishing up on an assault rifle. It has a removable ammo clip and led ammo counter. I’m very excited to suit up for Halo 4 to continue the battle!
> Thank you. The armor for Halo 3 was a last minute rush job. I had a little more time for Reach but still left out a lot of details. I’m in the process of making a new helmet and am adding more detail to my previous armor from Reach. I’m also finishing up on an assault rifle. It has a removable ammo clip and led ammo counter. I’m very excited to suit up for Halo 4 to continue the battle!
Yeah but that armor really is sick dude.
> > > This is how I spent my night prior to Halo 3 and Halo Reach.
> > >
> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCOmephvEdg
> > >
> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3kPPiMHe4
> >
> > That is seriously awesome.
>
> Thank you. The armor for Halo 3 was a last minute rush job. I had a little more time for Reach but still left out a lot of details. I’m in the process of making a new helmet and am adding more detail to my previous armor from Reach. I’m also finishing up on an assault rifle. It has a removable ammo clip and led ammo counter. I’m very excited to suit up for Halo 4 to continue the battle!
So what kind of armor are you doing for Halo 4?
Halo Launches has been pretty epic that i have experienced. I think if you have 343i staff around collect as much signed swag before you leave to go play your game and talk to the developers. I think 343 “MIGHT” be doing another big launch at the Microsoft store again. Has not been confirmed yet.