Purchase an Xbox 360 Elite and get Fifty Bucks back

$50 Rebate Offered with the Purchase of Xbox 360 Elite through Oct. 5

Beginning today through Oct. 5, when you purchase an Xbox 360 Elite for $299, Xbox 360 will put $50 back into your pocket with a limited-time rebate. Coupled with the recent price drop of the Xbox 360 Elite console, this offer makes your premium games and entertainment experience more affordable than ever.

Xbox 360 Elite puts all your entertainment in one place so you can play games, watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and, coming this fall, keep up with your Twitter and Facebook social circles, all from your living room. Additionally, with a Netflix unlimited membership and an Xbox LIVE Gold Membership you can instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix, recommend your favorite shows and share in a movie party night with up to 7 friends — all on Xbox LIVE.

And, as announced earlier this year, the Xbox 360 you buy today will work with “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming in the future.

You may be eligible for the $50 Mail-in rebate when you purchase an Xbox 360 Elite in the U.S. between Sept. 22 and Oct. 5. Visit www.xbox.com/eliterebate/ for more details and rebate requirements.

[via Xbox 360 Press]

Halo 3: ODST - Previewer's Last Words

Halo 3: ODST embargo was lifted a few days ago and the web is a blaze with reviews from all over. Most interesting are the last words of a few that have previewed Halo 3: ODST:

OXM - Halo 3: ODST WORDS BY: Ryan McCaffrey

“Still, this Halo manages to earn its own keep while learning from its predecessors’ mistakes and balancing fan expectations. It’s no small feat, particularly with that Master Chief guy nowhere in sight.”

TeamXbox - Halo 3: ODST Review By: Tom Price - "Tomelet"

“All of this should sound like music to the ears of the hardcore Halo fan.Halo 3: ODST provides a ton of that classic Halo gameplay presented in new ways, with new stories and characters to explore, further fleshing out the deep background behind the long and dramatic saga of the Halouniverse. And while we might have appreciated some more tweaks to how the game plays—and wanted something that felt like it was letting us play the Halo story in brand new ways (like the Halo Wars RTS, for instance) —we can’t be too disappointed in what we got: a fantastic game that reminds us of why Halo was so great in the first place.”

Planet Xbox 360 - Halo 3: ODST Review by Eric Bush

“There were times leading up to the ODST release that we found ourselves wanting Microsoft to man-up and just release it as a downloadable add-on, however after spending plenty of time with the retail product we can see that enough new has been added to the classic elements to create a full-fledged product. If you need one more reason (other than the ability to unlock the “Recon” armor for use in H3) to go out and grab Halo 3: ODST when it drops on September 22, 2009 – each and every copy will include exclusive access to the Halo: Reach beta when it is released sometime in 2010. Make sure to hold onto your ODST disc after completion because that is the sole invitation, and the only way to get into the highly anticipated beta. Stay tuned for more details on the Halo: Reach beta right here at PlanetXbox360.com as it comes about, for now get ready to return to the Halo universe with Halo 3: ODST.”

1UP - Halo 3 ODST Review By Jeremy Parish

“ODST does suffer for the lack of genuinely new elements it adds to the Halo universe, and the campaign mode is a bit brief. Yet between the enormous scope of New Mombasa, the unique atmosphere, and the brilliance of Firefight mode, I can easily see myself pouring more time into ODST than any other Halo to date. As a student of the "quality over quantity" school of entertainment, I'll take a compact but meaty experience that keeps me coming back over a long, drawn-out exercise in tedium any day. ODST may be a side diversion in the Halo universe, but it's an awfully good one.”

IGN - Halo 3: ODST Review by Erik Brudvig

“There are places where Halo 3: ODST could be improved, but when it comes right down to it, every Halo fan should buy this game. Even if you've lost interest in the franchise over the years or haven't ever given a Halo game a look, you'd do well to grab ODST and a few friends for some of the best multiplayer gaming around, especially with as wonderful an addition as Firefight. The campaign is a tad short, but well-crafted and exciting. Then there's a whole disc full of multiplayer maps, though you may already own the bulk of them.

Halo 3: ODST isn't a true sequel, but it is more than a standard expansion. If you're on the fence about buying it, drop your reservations and go snag a copy. If you love Halo, you owe it to yourself to pick this up as soon as you can.”

 

Looks like Halo 3: ODST for the Xbox 360 will be worth every penny.

Related Post:
Halo 3: ODST Temp on N4G is on Fire!
Halo 3: ODST is NOT $60, if you’re a Smart Shopper

Halo 3: ODST Temp on N4G is on Fire!

N4G, News for Gamers, or as my wife likes to call it “NAG” (If she only knew). She just calls it NAG because she sees the 4 as an A, she really doesn’t know how bad the fanboys on both sides can nag about this or that, more so the PS3 fanboys. It’s a known fact that N4G is over run by PS3 fanboys.

Anyways, more on that later, N4G has this temperature gauge to rate each news article that is posted by you, the gamers, and the more the articles are read, commented on or viewed the temperature gauge goes up. At the moment, that temperature gauge is cooking for one particular game, Halo 3: ODST for the Xbox 360.

Halo 3: ODST is sitting at #1 for the Hottest Games on N4G right now a day before the release with others not even close in temperature. Why is this?

There’s a few reasons why:

5) Halo 3: ODST is a game that will sell millions in the first day because the fan base is HUGE and Bungie is a great franchise that keeps raising the bar with each game.

4) Xbox 360 fanboys!

3) Halo fanboys!!

2) PS3 fanboys!!!

1) and the biggest reason for the temperature so HOT on N4G is because, yes again, the PS3 fanboys!

That’s right, they over run N4G (it’s a known fact) and when a HOT game like Gears of War, Forza Motorsport, Halo and many other great games are about to release the PS3 fanboys are foaming at the mouth with anger, making sure to read all the reviews and articles on a console they don’t even own or support and comment more then the Xbox 360 fanboys about the faults, the lies, how Microsoft pays off the reviewers and on and on.

What they don’t realize, because they’re too busy NAGing about this or that is that they are the ones really getting the games to the temperature they hit because there's so many of them. And they’re all the same hitting all the articles commenting with their fanboy rants for a game they don’t like for no reason except it’s not on there console.

Trust me, if Halo became a multiplat game it would sell billions!

How do I know N4G is over run by PS3 fanboys, take a look at the top few comments on this review which released today that was posted on N4G and you add up the agrees and disagrees.

At the moment, the top comment is from a PS3 fanboy not happy with the review for Halo 3: ODST (Why would he care anyways?). At the moment he has 104 agrees and only 34 disagrees. That means 104 people agreed with this PS3 fanboy in a Xbox 360 section on N4G for a Xbox 360 ONLY Game!

Only 34 Xbox 360 fanboys disagreed showing how many PS3 fanboys there are over Xbox 360 fanboys on N4G. Sure, there might be a few Xbox 360 fanboys that don’t care for Halo but they don’t care to belittle the system of choice either or the devs that support only one system. They won’t even care to read a Halo article or news item about the game.

I want to say, “keep it up PS3 fanboys, it’s giving the game that much more hype”, but you don’t need the support from me. You’re doing a great job all on your own. I guess a word of “thanks” is in order … Thanks!

Halo 3: ODST is NOT $60, if you’re a Smart Shopper

Most Halo fans will be day one purchasers for Halo 3: ODST, those on the fence need to jump on over now to get the best deals and the unlock code to play as Sgt. Johnson in the new "firefight" co-op mode.

Lots are wishing the price was a little cheaper since bundled is Halo 3 multiplayer but there is a all new campaign to play as an ODST. Not playing as Master Chief will give the game a whole new feel and it’s a open world so more to explore at your own pace and in stealth, never before in a Halo game.

Then you have a new mode, Firefight! If anything like Horde Mode in Gears of War 2, it should be a blast to play. Then you get 3 new maps for the Halo 3 multiplayer that you can only get buying Halo 3: ODST. And don’t forget the beta for Halo: Reach!

Not a bad deal after all. If you look back, some games only come with a campaign or some only have online multiplayer, Halo 3: ODST has lots of content well worth $60!

Is it really $60 though? Not if you’re a smart shopper! If you shop around, there are great deals to be had and we have done the hard part and got all the deals in one place for your choosing. Jump In!

1) Toys R Us - $59.99 (comes with a $20 gift card and a FREE Rookie action figure, a $12 value) BEST DEAL!!!

2) Amazon - $59.99 (comes with a $10 Video Games Credit and with coupon code "HALOODST" get another $5 credit)

3) Walmart - $59.82 (comes with a $10 eGift Card and if you go through Bing.com you get %10 off $59.82. Bing.com, search Halo 3 ODST, click shopping, on the right side look for Walmart.com with Bing cashback) choose in-store free pick up.

4) Costco -  $51.99 (not sure if you get the Sgt. Johnson unlock code)

Hope this has helped and if you find another deal, let us know and will update the list.

Hottest Deals for Halo 3: ODST

Have you Pre-Ordered your copy of Halo 3: ODST yet? If not, hopefully this information will help, if so, this list might have you changing your mind on where to pick it up from.

The Toys R Us ad for 9/20 - 9/26 will have a nice deal on Halo 3: ODST with extras. Stevemoco posted on CAG that Toys R US will have Halo 3: ODST for $59.99 with a $20 GC plus a Halo ODST rookie action figure ($12 value).

thru 9/26/2009

$31.99 VALUE!

Online offer may vary.
*$20 GIFT CARD: In-store only. Quantities limited; no rain checks. Gift card valid beginning 6 hours after activation and expires 11/14/09, except where prohibited. See card for Terms & Conditions. Gift Card offer expires 9/26/09. Limit one per guest.
**FREE ACTION FIGURE/DS KIT: Quantities limited; no rain checks. †PIZZA HUT GIFT CARD: In-store only. Gift card offer expires 9/26/09. Quantities limited; no rain checks. See gift card for details, Terms & Conditions, and any applicable fees. All trademarks are property of their respective owner.

Toys R US is included in the Sgt. Johnson Pre-Order Bonus but the TRU website has no mention of it.

Not sure if this deal is instore only or not, I will keep you posted. I will post an ad scan as soon as I get it in as well. Instore only and the ad scan is now posted!

This is one of the better deals I have seen. If you see another Hot Deal, let me know.

Related Post: 
Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360 Trailer - Live-Action Trailer

Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360 Trailer - Live-Action Trailer

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF AN ODST WITH THE “HALO 3: ODST” LIVE-ACTION SHORT, DEBUTING THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND AS FANS EVERYWHERE PREPARE FOR THE LAUNCH OF “HALO 3: ODST” ON SEPTEMBER 22

Today, Microsoft unveils a “Halo 3: ODST” live-action short, a 90 second ad spot for the eagerly awaited Xbox 360 exclusive, “Halo 3: ODST.” The ad debuts today exclusively on MySpace at www.myspace.com/gametrailers and IGN.com. The “Halo 3: ODST” live-action short is a haunting, action-packed production that charts the life of a UNSC Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, or ODST.

In addition to the online debut of the 90 second short, Halo fans in the United States will be treated to a special, extended two minute 30 second version exclusively on Spike TV on Monday September 7. The extended version will premiere during “Band of Brothers” at 10:30 PM ET/PT.

The short will also be available to download on Xbox LIVE starting September 8.

For the production of the “Halo 3: ODST” live-action short, Microsoft and Bungie partnered with ad agency TAG SF, Legacy Effects (props), Asylum (visual effects) and Final Cut (editing). The short features an original musical score written and produced by Human. The short was directed by Rupert Sanders with MJZ, the director of the award-winning “Halo 3” ad spot “Believe.” The short was filmed on location in Budapest, Hungary.

Also launching today at 6:00 p.m. PT is a unique “Halo 3: ODST” interactive experience site on www.xbox.com/halo. Visitors will be in control of an Operations of Naval Intelligence (ONI) application that blends science, psychology and analysis to evaluate which ODST candidates are best suited for upcoming missions in “Halo 3: ODST.” Featuring over 20 minutes of interactive content, visitors can interact with the evaluations of the four ODST squad members they will be fighting alongside in “Halo 3: ODST” in order to dive deeper into the fiction of the game. Microsoft and Bungie worked with AKQA SF and TAG SF on the experience site.

Suit up and prepare to drop September 22 when “Halo 3: ODST” hits retail stores worldwide.

For the latest updates on “Halo 3: ODST” follow the Halo Waypoint Twitter @HaloWaypoint or visit the Halo Waypoint Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint.

[via Xbox 360 Press]