No Beta Test for Halo 4: Watch for scammers!

Remember how 343 Guilty Spark nearly scammed the Chief into killing us all?

No Beta Test for Halo 4
With all the news today about Halo (basically that Halo 4 exists, like, for real) is coming in the American fall there's a key piece of intel to be found amongst all the 343 people saying how awesome the game will be.

There's not going to be a beta test for the game. Halo 3 had which was awesome and Reach had one which in hindsight wasn't THAT awesome.

Frankie O'Connor has said  that Halo 4 beta would be a "huge interruption" to the development process at 343 Industries. But we can be sure that 343 is definitely "testing the game at scale."

I'm sure that's grand and all but the cynic in me says have you ever wondered why some movies never get premeires or reporters don't get pre release screenings? I jest. 

Once interesting turn of events is that Microsoft is actually trying to get a site taken down that is claiming to be able to get you into the Halo 4 beta. Clearly it's some kind of scam site. 

Fusible reports that "Microsoft is going after another phony Halo 4 Beta site. A complaint has now been filed (Case Number: 1432610) with the National Arbitration Forum over Halo4Beta.biz (screenshot) The domain name is owned by a resident of Illinois according to Whois records. I’ve reached out the owner for more information and will update this post if I hear back. "

If you check out the site (not gonna link to it) it purports to be an official Xbox site and even has the balls to suggest one can download the PC beta version! What a bloody crock!

So that's a nice play there from Frankie and Microsoft Of course I don't know why they don't just hack it themselves and take it down - you'd think Microsoft would know how to do that right - it could be done in the most clandestine fashion too. I'm just saying, why pay all those lawyers fees when you can just use your best internal dudes to work some magic? I jest. Kinda. 

So you've been warned Halo fans, there is no beta and any one telling you there is is trying to scam and con you.

Lancer Assault Rifle Training Poster to download for wallpaper

Gamers who took part in the Gears of War 3 Beta last month have been given a lil thank you nod from Microsoft in the form of this sweet poster:

You should think about downloading this to use as some sweet wallpaper for your screen!

Microsoft also let loose some statistics about the Gears Beta that may excite the Lizard part of your brain:

• Total Participants: 1.29 Million
• Total Countries Playing the Beta: 145
• Total Kills: 927 Million
• Total Executions: 127 Million
• Total Deaths by Chainsaw bar oil: 23 Million
• Total Bullets Fired: 23 Billion
• Total Match Time Played: 249 Years
• Jimmy Jangle's personal contribution to these numbers. Zip.

GOW3 Buddy Tokens: How to get 'em

Starting May 8, the Gears of War 3 Beta Testing wil introduce the Never Fight Alone stage. This change up give players who are already playing the beta a chance to get their friends into the beta as well.

Players can earn buddy tokens through Wednesday, when the expanded beta kicks off. The first token is the easiest to earn; simply play at least one game in the beta to have one sent to you via e-mail. Microsoft says other tokens are awarded by doing the following:

• Purchase any “Gears of War” content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace (including a “Gears of War” Game Add-on, a “Gears of War” Games on Demand title, or a “Gears of War” Avatar 
• Play 20 or more hours of the “Gears of War 3” beta (any time already spent in the beta will count toward this challenge)
• Add a 12-month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription to your existing account (purchased from retail or online)
• Play more than 100 hours of any “Gears of War” title, lifetime to date

Get cracking and bringing it on kids!

GOW3 Beta news

Here's the official word on the Gears of War 3 Beta:

Enlist in the most explosive gaming event of the spring: the Gears of War 3 Multiplayer Beta!

Get into the Beta by preordering Gears of War 3 through select retailers. The Beta begins April 25 and ends May 15.

For those of you who purchased the Bulletstorm Epic Edition (on Xbox 360 only), you get early access to the Beta, beginning April 18.

Three new multiplayer modes and four exclusive maps will be rolled out during the Beta period -- all running on dedicated servers. This is your chance to help shape the most anticipated game of 2011.

In the Beta you can play Team Deathmatch mode on the four new maps (Thrashball, Checkout, Trenches, and Old Town); Capture the Leader and King of the Hill gameplay modes will be added later in the Beta period. Also, be sure to look out for a surprise event weekend that you won't want to miss.


Not only will you get an early taste of the final chapter in this blockbuster trilogy, but you'll also have access to exclusive content that you can permanently unlock and carry over to your Gears of War 3 gamer profile when the retail game launches on September 20.

Exclusive Beta Unlockables

• Flaming Hammerburst

Complete one match by Sunday, April 24 to permanently unlock.

• Flaming Lancer

Complete one match during the week of April 25 to permanently unlock.

• Flaming Sawed-Off Shotgun

Complete one match during the week of May 2 to permanently unlock.

• Flaming Gnasher Shotgun

Complete one match during the week of May 9 to permanently unlock.

• Beta Tester Medal -- Wear it proudly, Gear.

Complete one match in the Beta to permanently unlock.

• Thrashball Cole -- Unlock Thrashball Cole to play as Augustus Cole as he was before Emergence Day -- a legendary Thrashball athlete known for his ferocious, flamboyant style.

Complete 50 matches in any game type to unlock for the Beta period.
To permanently unlock, complete 10 matches as Thrashball Cole during the Beta period.

• Gold-Plated Retro Lancer -- Before the chainsaw bayonet was deployed at the beginning of the Locust-Human War, the original Lancer assault rifle had a large fixed blade.

Complete 90 matches in any game type to unlock for the Beta period.
To permanently unlock, score 100 kills with the Gold-Plated Retro Lancer during the Beta period.

Visit one of these participating retailers for your pre-order today!

In the US:
Gamestop

In Canada:
Gamestop 

In the UK:
GAME

Gamestation

In France:
GAME

FNAC

Micromania

In Italy:
Gamestop

In Australia:
EB Games 

In New Zealand:
EB Games 

Stayed tuned for Beta updates!

How do I get into the Gears of War 3 Beta?

Where's Dom when you need him?

There is one sure fire way to get into the Gears of War 3 beta. This is by purchasing the ‘Bulletstorm Epic Edition' game when it gets released on February 22 2011.

Epic announced this way into the beta just before Christmas saying: "Players that purchase the Epic Edition are guaranteed early access to the Gears of War 3 beta".

This is a similar approach to the marketing of a new game (i.e. Bulletstorm) wherein a popular game is used as a cross promotional tool - as what happened with Crackdown and the Halo 3 beta access - it's a good trick as people will find out about the Gears beta via Bulletstorm's promotion and gamers will find out about Bulletstorm via their interest in GOW. It's a win for the publishers and possibly for the gamers...

So, will you be getting Bulletstorm simply to get into the beta or will you buy it because you need something to waste a few hours until GOW3 is in your grubby lil hands?