Halo 3 Special Edition 360
 

Picked mine up at midnight, the Wal-Mart I got it from only got 10 in, so it seems like these will be pretty limited. Anyway, I took some pictures of the real thing and decided to give a mini-review on it.

Click here to see all photos in full resolution

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Here's the box. Looks pretty sweet, even though the idiot at the register was rough with it and made a corner have a little dent in it. I should have asked for a 50% discount as a result, but oh well.

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The console itself, in my opinion, looks very nice. I think the color of green they gave it fits really well and does not remind me of throwup in the least.

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However, the controller it comes with almost does. It is just the plain green without the cool "battle damage" effect or any UNSC logos/writing/etc.

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The headset is nice because I finally have another one of these cheap pieces of garbage that look different than the rest, so I can finally claim one as my own and make my friends use the other ones. Other than that, it sucks. The green does NOT go at all well with the rest of the (gray) headset. And it doesn't even have the Halo logo or anything on it. Same as normal headset except with the terrible green/gray theme.

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To my surprise (since I never read up on it that much since I knew I was going to buy this regardless), the console also comes with a play-and-charge kit. If you don't already have one (I do), this is a great addition, especially since it includes a rechargeable [black] battery out-of-the-box, as well as the standard AA batteries.

Unfortunately, it does not come with an HDMI cable, but it does have an HDMI port which is something I always wanted on my other 360s.

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The biggest weakness on this console is easily the hard drive. You cannot easily swap it unless you want the new one to look ugly and not match, so you're stuck with this useless 20GB one. 20 gigs is not enough space, it's as simple as that. Out of the box you have 9.XX GB free because of the reserved system space, and a bunch of gay demos like Madden 07 (doesn't even make sense since 08 is out and they all suck anyway), which I promptly deleted. My 120GB HDD on my other 360 is just freakin' sweet. You never even get close to running out of space, and it's completely overkill, which is a good thing. They should have at least made the Halo 360 have 40 gigs, which would be acceptable. Oh well, at least it looks awesome.

You also get the exclusive codes to download the Halo 3 Special Edition Theme and Gamerpic Pack, which I have included in the picture for those curious about what they look like. Pretty neat.

Xbox Live Blade:
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Games Blade:
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Media Blade:
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System Blade:
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Guide:
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Gamerpics (7 of them beginning with the thing to the left of the 3 logo):
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Overall, this is a great thing for a huge Halo fan. Though most people aren't big enough fans to want to pay an extra $400 for this. You're basically getting a 360 Premium ($350), with HDMI ($??) (though aren't they all going to have it eventually?), and a Play and Charge Kit ($20), Exclusive DLC ($5), which means you are paying an extra $25-ish for the Halo makeover. If you think that's worth it, go for it. Otherwise, the 360 Elite is easily the best value (in my opinion).

Finally to answer questions I've seen people ask about it, I am not sure if it has the new GPU cooling stuff, since I haven't decided to void my warranty yet and check, though I'm 99% positive I will give in and do it anyway very soon. And the DVD-ROM drive that mine came with is the Hitachi.

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This is, by far, the ugliest piece of shit I have ever seen in my entire life.

This thing looks like it's been stripped of it's original colour and painted by a 14 year old. Not only that, but it looks like a bunch of transparent decals have been applied. Furthermore, why is the mute button red, and button to open the disc tray green? Do I really have to mention the controller? How the FUCK does this thing fit into any entertainment display without being a complete and utter eyesore?

Proof people will buy anything so long as a name is attached to it.

I didn't even know this was on sale yet. I thought they were going to bundle it with Halo 3, but that would make no sense whatsoever for a thing called HALO 3 SPECIAL EDITION 360, right? No sense at all.

Also, no way I'm ever going to touch this with a ten foot pole. I don't mean to sound rude, but Lix totally nailed it. This is in fact the ugliest console I've ever seen in my life for sure. It looks like somebody with the worst type of diarrhea just shat all over this Xbox.

Haha, I was thinking the same after looking through all this. I mean not even a coupon for 3% off the game at EB or whatever? Tsk tsk. Though this is a huge improvement over the original Xbox's eyeball melting translucent fluro green Halo edition. :gonk:

Simple, just paint everything else green. I don't think it's all that bad, honestly. But then I didn't really freak out when I saw my mates purple GameCube buried in a sea of bland. You sorta get drawn to it right awa-WOW VIDEO GAME CONSOLE! While we're on the topic of exciting special edition consoles, nothing is ever going to beat the Hello Kitty one.

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Pure style!

So? What exactly is the problem.

It makes perfect sense. If the consumer wants the barebones game, they get that. If they want the limited edition version, they can get that. The point is to let the consumer have the choice. It being called the Halo 3 Special Edition 360 obviously refers to the custom case, and anyone interested in buying it is well aware of the fact that they still have to buy the game.

All Premiums that are being released into the wild now come with HDMI output. There may still be some premiums on store shelves that do not have it, but the ones leaving the factories do. I could only assume that if they keep the cores around much longer, they will eventually get it too.

As for this Halo 3 console, it's kind of ugly, as orange and olive puke green don't really go well together, but hey, it plays video games. Who sits around looking at their consoles?

Frankly, this doesn't really look much worse than the standard 360. I think the 360 in general is very cheap-looking, though the Elite model is an improvement thanks to its colour.

What the fuck is that finger on the controller, though? It looks like something from an eighteen year old 'graphic designer' with a warezed copy of Photoshop. Those guys love putting useless arrows and shit everywhere.

Edit: okay, if it's just a sticker then nevermind. It sure looks funny though.

I guess so you won't forget where the xbox logo button is.

I have to agree with everyone that color is hideous. Split-pea soup is ugly.


That's better than Nintendo's attempt at a custom console...

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Ah, IIRC it's just a sticker that's on every 360 controller at initial purchase, A-ism. Something there to let you know how to turn on the controller/activate the console. Peels off and what not. The Hello Kitty X-Box will have your souls, that's really all that needs to be said.

Yes, that is about as bad as them pointing out where the step is on the warthog. V STEP V

Well, if the military of the future is anything like the military of today, most people in it might be too stupid to realize that's a running board unless you point it out to them.

I'd buy that Halo 360 in a heartbeat but I have not the moneys.

Or maybe not. Actually, I won't buy a x360 till the 65nm models get widespread. In one year, none of those Halo painted 360 will be funtional, mark my words.

Lix is actually right about something for once. You got duped, Tube. That thing is GROSS. Aside from the obvious Halo obsession, can I ask what justified the couple hundred dollars you spent on that when you already have the far superior Elite unit?

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HALOL(r) 3
BUNGIE H3-0
1E100 0x
x.a - D34th 4nGle 108
|n|n|nROGUE PROCESS ghost 713>
*arrow pointing in the space between the Halo "o" and 3*
*more undecipherable scribbling*
... POS/NAV ...
CONFIRM SECURE QUARANTINE ... blabla ... ghost 713 again


Leet speak is so cool. This console will be very popular among the average Halo fan.

You guys are totally just jealous. Keep the hate comin'. :cool:

Hey, that is pretty funn-- WAIT A MINUTE!

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It's not that bad, certainly not great but fuck there are some people acting like this is a travesty at the level of the holocaust or something. That or they broke a nail over it, I don't know. Whatever it is, it needs to be douched. FUCK MICROSOFT FOR GIVING FANS... whatever the hell it is you give fans.

"People will buy anything so long as a name is attached to it."

Parn nailed this one in one sentence if you want to talk about people doing more than just stating the apparently obvious. How many people here are fans of certain developers? Or games series? You're going to buy what you want, product and brand name recognition exist and you aren't going to escape that. Especially when several members here make it known through motherfucking journal entries, threads, and/or posts as to their purchasing habits.

Yes, it is badly designed. Thank you for making it known you aren't going to buy it and whoever did is dumb and they're dumb, right?

Because he wanted it? What other possible reason could there be? Not that it really matters, seeing how everyone's entitled to spend their money how they see fit and don't have to justify their purchases to anyone.

Dude that makes sense. They said there'll be no Halo 4, and they'll keep their words, they'll just jump to Halo 23 or 263.

I kind of like this Xbox. Seeing as how I'm gonna buy one at the end of this month, this is actually not a bad Xbox to get.

Why you'd get this over the price-dropped Elite is beyond me.

What's the cost?

Is this basically a 360 Pro with a $50 shell?

I'm sure I could pay someone less than $50 to do a really great design on the case.

I think the problem would be that somebody purchased a 360, which cost more than the Elite, which doesn't even come with a 120 GB HDD, while they already own an Elite. Also, if anyone knows me, they'll know I always take up Limited Editions and stuff like that, but usually box sets and the like come with art books, bonus soundtracks, posters, maps, etc - they don't come with less.

Sorry Tube, people think I'm insane for buying expensive Japan-only stuff, but at least I gained from my purchase.

No it doesn't. It costs $400, the Elite costs $450. Not that it's relevant anyways. He wanted a limited edition Halo 3 console, and so he put down the money for it.

Looks to me like he gained ownership of something he really wanted. Who are we to dictate what he did or didn't gain anyways? By your own words, people "think you're insane" for buying Japanese products that you desire, so why do you feel the need to give someone else a hard time over what is basically a similar situation? Is not every person entitled to spend their own money however they see fit without having someone else ridicule them for it?

We're not trashing the ugly look on it, we're trashing the extra cost to get an ugly case that impresses 13-year olds with the use of leetspeak on the side and, as Elixir pointed out, there are no additions to the package, namely, the new Halo game.

Why they release this before the game is out rather than making the package $500 or something (They'd still get it) and having it come with the game? Its not like they need it for publicity. Anyone who is planning on getting the game already has pre-ordered it.

Most people who are getting the Halo 3 themed Xbox 360 are the same people who are forking out the 130 bucks required for the legendary Halo 3 edition.

Microsoft isn't making this bundle to draw in new consumers. They're making it for the hardcore Halo fans who enjoy such Halo related items and personally i think the Halo 360 looks neat. Not something i'd buy, but it isn't ugly by any means. I'm sure you're willing to waste your money on such similar worthless novelty trinkets like the Wii Zapper. Different strokes for different folks.

Want to talk ugly? Just look at all the numerous DS special editions that have been released throughout the past couple of years; namely the SE ones.

And those who buy those are idiots. Its a shame Microsoft is evil and that the consumers were stupid, because in a logical world, they would just sell a Halo-themed shell for the 360 and give you an alien plushie or whatever people absolutely need for pricey pre-orders.

Its a shame they didn't go the route of Valve. Give you MORE for what you'd normally pay. $45 for 5 epic games is pretty damn sweet.

Next time they should make the system's 3 plates all interchangeable. It would save us from all this novelty marketing. (or at least that of $500 hardware) As well it would make the faceplate's look less mismatched.

@Iwata
You're right about thoes who get this are probably the same people who are getting the $130USD version of the game too. However I'd say that the majority of these paople getting the $130 version are the same people who bought the system at launch. I could be wrong, but considering that when the 360 came out MS didn't have a reputation for making solid original IPs, the thing that most 360 buyers at the time were banking on was Halo 3.

I suppose that the sale #s will tell us how successful this version of the 360 is, but whether it does well or not, companies are still going to do this sort of thing to earn capital on fanboy's obsessions. (ex game branded PSPs and DSs)

So in summary:

Tube: "Got this Halo 360 it's pretty sweet if you like it you should check it out"
Fag 1: "omg y u buy that wtf bungie r retard"
Fag 2: "lol who even plays halo"
Fag 3: "I dont even own a 360 because Im a shit but I wanna say that's stupid and ur dum for buying it lollololol"

Can the GFF populace get any dumber.

Nice console, could use a bigger HD though. Probably it's only downside. I suppose people don't realize that the case color matches the Master Chief's armor scheme.

But then again, why would I expect people in the VG forum to be able to put two and two together.

Told. No offense.

You make Darwin award winners look like geniuses.

More like give you more for some rehashed shit. Orange Box, more like Rehash Box. Not even joking.

I may seriously end up getting one of these but I don't really know much about the 360s, does anyone know if it'd be worth it to get one of these instead of an Elite? I don't even know what the price differences are.

I wouldn't recommend getting it, since the ten gigabytes will fill up very fast (I think I used up more than 10 GB on my PS3 on the very first day, and the PlayStation store doesn't even have as much worthwhile stuff as the Marketplace), and if you decide to upgrade it -- of course, you can't just use any laptop hard drive, you have to get the magical Microsoft one -- the 120 GB version is 180 dollars on Amazon.

No, Microsoft are milking Halo before Bungie FINISH THE FRANCHISE.

They're bound to roll in millions from this console, the game, and the LE (which won't ever become rare), but I'm sure there's a large portion of people who are "hardcore Halo fans" that won't touch that shit.

The color, leet speak, green headset, radioactive snot green controller, decal-esque crap and overall appearance is one thing. But you're actually going to downgrade by buying this console. The lack of 120 GB HDD is the main issue, and since the difference is only $50 (and since you don't buy multiple 360s every day) why wouldn't you pay that for a better colour and bigger HDD? It's $220NZD over here for the 120 GB HDD, so this speaks for itself.

It isn't "hating", this is "common sense"

No wonder I stopped coming here.

Listen, it's my opinion entirely that the console looks bad, visually. Other people seem to agree with me in this thread which isn't my doing.

But it's a fact that you could've purchased one with a 120 GB drive for a mere $50 more (although you already own an Elite, it seems, and with a gamerscore of 60,000 you probably purchased the original white version of the console.. so I'm beginning to draw the picture here) but you settled for the Halo one.

Was your Elite broken? If your console was broken and you were waiting until the Halo one was released before purchasing it, that'd make much more sense.

Yeah! What a bunch of idiots, spending their cash on products that they want! Stupid corporations, they're always trying to make money by selling stuff that consumers desire. I'm so sick of this.

He's a Halo fan and wanted to own a Halo themed console. Seems to make plenty of sense. Why the hell does his purchase have to make sense anyways? This is some straight up high school snob-fest crap. All of us spend money on products we don't need, videogame related or not. It's unbelievable that people are acting like total asses over what other people do with their own cash.

Ruins the fun. Unless my memory is made of pudding, Tube collected basically all the special edition Xbox's. People like collecting consoles! I have four Master System's for example, each slightly different from the last. Sometimes just thinking about them makes my nipples erect.

Hey didn't potion own a Jap 360 and a non-Jap 360 despite the fact that all his games work fine on the Jap one? And they were both the white one? Wouldn't that further shine the silly light on his posts? So dude with two white 360s is saying how dumb it is for a dude to have a white one, an Elite one, and a Halo one. So I guess it is simply inconceivable for someone to have gotten a launch 360, played it until the Elite came out, decided that he wanted HDMI and huge hard drive, and so got the Elite. Then they release a console themed to match a game series that he really likes comes out, and so to show his support for that game series, and to express his opinion that he thinks that the console is an attractive purchase, he buys that one. Yeah, where's the logic there, that makes no sense :confused:

I actually like the design of the Halo 3 Xbox:(

Didn't Lix JUST BUY another DS lite just because it was baby blue? OH GOD WHERE'S THE PRACTICALITY IN THAT etc.

Okay, if we're going to bring personal purchases into it:

I purchased the Japanese 360 to upgrade from an European 360 Core which came with two games complete for $180, the difference is that I actually upgraded, and I bought the Ice Blue DS Lite for $85 which came with screen protectors, Supercard, micro SD card and pouch.

They were both extremely great deals and good value for money, all of which I've paid myself back with by selling my previous gear.

It would be different if this was a bargain, value for money, or worth it in any shape or form that an extra $50 couldn't top.

Yes, because clearly it's a smart idea to ignore the point being made and resort to taking jabs at the person's personal merchandise which is viewed as "a waste of cash" by the likes of yourself. I'm not even going to bother feeding you a response to the Japanese importing issue either, since you seem to think all good games are American, which speaks volumes.

This isn't hypocritical at all - I've played on a 360, and I know what to expect. The majority of this thread agrees that the colour is terrible, so if you're going to discredit mass opinion then lol be my guest. But let's do that for a minute then.

The real fact is, the console costs 50 bucks less than an Elite, which includes a 120 GB HDD. Feel free to fetch me the American price of these things, since you'll be told they're over $50 each when purchased individually, thus if anyone purchases this Halo 3 LE console and wishes to upgrade their drive in the future, they're going to be forced to pay well over the price of an Elite. And there isn't even a 120 GB HDD unit which matches this LE.

So how is that in any way value for money or comparable to my own purchases (which are)? It is not。

See Charlie, nobody is arguing against this. The fact of the matter is that some people are fans of the console itself and buy it as a novelty collectible among its factors. The "personal jabs" came at you when you came in here with your "excellent taste in video games" and tried to knock Tube down a couple of pegs because he spent his money buying something he wanted when you, uh... do the same with your money.

It all befalls on whether or not the INDIVIDUAL likes it that's going to warrant the purchase. Shit, I'm getting a 360 and I'm thinking of getting one myself because I like the color scheme myself, but given that I don't really have as much money to spend on games as some of you guys, I'll buy what will get me the most for my money... But that's MY CHEAP-ASS MODUS OPERANDI SPEAKING and I sure as hell am not going to start shitting on people because their color palette just doesn't suit mine (and because their wallet is just a bit bigger).

DO YOU SEE? BECAUSE I DO.

Ence, because you're low on cash, I'd recommend an Elite even MORE, since upgrading to a larger HDD in the future (if you can't deal with 20 GB) will cost more than the price of the Elite. Seriously, it's a large amount of money, and you don't currently own a 360, so why not get the best? I mean, the prices are close enough. =/

I'm sure the filter makes my posts in this thread come off as snobby as hell, but that isn't the vibe I was trying to give.

I am. If this version of the 360 had a larger hard drive I'd be buying this one instead but, alas, $50 for a much larger drive as opposed to the $180 that they normally cost is a damn good deal for me; regardless of how badly I want to buy one of these Halo 3 editions.

What filter?

He has a weird sort of punishment where the administrators used a filter to make "because I have excellent taste in video games" appear in pretty much all his posts. I was wondering what was up with it for awhile too.

Also, for the record, I have 1 white premium 360, 1 black premium 360 (painted) with added 120GB HDD, and now 1 Halo 3 360.

So if you want to ignore the obvious fact that I bought it because I'm a fan of the series and don't find the design ugly, I still did get an upgrade. Namely, HDMI, and the newer GPU cooling system, since I actually checked it today. And I certainly plan to replace the 20GB with another 120GB HDD. It's simply an annoyance because I'm obviously going to have to swap the external HDD shells so that my Halo theme remains intact, and yes, the price for 120GB HDDs is high.

Thank you for explaining that. With me being a mod means they never tell me ANYTHING.

I was also wondering what the hell the "excellent taste" thing was all about. At first I thought it was a 4chan thing or something.

As for the Halo 360, I think it's ugly as sin. I understand it's supposed to match the Master Chief's armor color, it just doesn't do it very well, with its one solid green and useless arrows. And fuck if that controller isn't an eyesore too.

Personally, I'd just save up and get a bigger hard drive, rather than buying a whole other console. I barely have enough room for the one I have as it is. If you've got the money to throw around on things like that though, more power to you. I spend extra on Limited Edition things like that myself, like Bioshock and Grownlanser Generations, so I certainly won't judge you for doing the same.

I'm still waiting for Tube to post a ;_; message because his Halo 360 red ringed out.

Yup, because the average lifespan of one of the new boards with the additional heatsink is 3 days. Damn Tube, you're LUCKY that it hasn't broken on you yet, shit.

That'd require him to eat the 360, who would eat a 360? And it'd leave more than just a red ring trying to pass that. Oh my God. :gonk:

"Finish the Fight!*"
Limited Edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 only $399.99**!
Legendary Edition Halo 3 only $129.99**!

*Halo 3 not included
**MSRP

That being said, I like the way the console looks, and I wish it wasn't some big ploy to get people to spend more money on "limited" stuff. I'm looking forward my standard edition copy. :P