|OFFICIAL| Halo 3 Beta Blowout


Recommended Posts

Right, but don't be so closed minded. Some people went out and bought (or rented) Crackdown just to play this beta. Some people woke up at really early hours in the morning just to play the beta. It's one thing for them to say that the beta will be released on a certain day (or week) and then just update everyone when it actually is out, but it's a completely different thing to have a to-the-second countdown on the front page for weeks.

Now hopefully you can see why people are upset. :)

:rofl: That's great! :laugh:

of course people will be happy when it comes out, and it's true that they didn't have to give a beta. but the fact of the matter is, they did give us a beta and they did advertise it to be ready this morning. they even had a countdown on bungie.com. then you have major nelson saying stuff like

and

they said it would be ready, and it's not. the complaining won't do anything, but people have a right to voice their gripes about the situation.

They aren't doing this "for the fans". They are doing this to see how to enhance their netcode and get more feedback to make a better game. If anything WE are helping them, most of us for a nominal fee of purchasing Crackdown. I'm one of the people who actually saw the Beta as an enhancement, not as a feature to purchase the game. Having said that though, they have hyped the **** out of this thing and it's stupid that it is not out. Majornelson said it was out, Bungie.net said it was out and people have been playing it since Friday. It IS out, just not for the people that actually paid money, which is why people are mad.

You make it seem like no one is playing the beta, when there are already thousands playing it. If it doesn't come out until tomorrow, I would expect them to keep the Beta up an extra day. And the main question on my mind is, WHY didn't they expect this? Why is it everytime something comes out now, there are major problems?

And don't come out with the 'we're helping them' bit. You know full well that you and probably 99.99% of everyone who downloads this and plays it aren't doing so to explicitly help bungie. Most probably don't even know that they are helping bungie at all. They just want their hands on Halo 3.

::::this made me laugh

http://www.xboxyde.com/stream_3834_en.html

I understand why you're upset, though I don't think I'd share the feelings even if I were in the beta, because quite simply, you're bending your entire life around a beta for a videogame, and that's just ridiculous. You change your schedule, skip out on stuff, lose a lot of sleep, all for what? Something you have three weeks to play anyways, and something that has little impact on reality. Granted it is going to be a ton of fun, but it's just ridiculous that you get so worked up over it. And that's the reason you get upset. I'm as big a Halo fan as the next guy, but I'm perfectly fine waiting until the game ships (not that I wouldn't mind playing the beta) to get my hands on it.

Don't give me that 'we're helping them' bit. You know full well that you and probably 99.99% of the other players are just downloading it to play the game, not to help bungie in any way explicitly. Most people probably don't know that they're helping bungie implicitly. They just want their hands on Halo 3.

-Spenser

We're aware that some users are having difficulty downloading the Halo 3 multiplayer beta via Crackdown.

Uhhh, more like ALL users. No one with Crackdown has been able to download the Beta.

I tried at 7am central time (when the countdown ended) and it didn't work, so I came back 5 hours later (now) and it STILL doesn't work.

WTH is going on with the Xbox Live Team?

Well, if it's not available until tomorrow, then that sucks. Hopefully they'll get it out.

I feel for all those that called in sick for nothing. Most jobs aren't too tolerant on 2 days away, without a note at least. Still, it sucks for those.

Hehe, i can also imagine how many people will lose their jobs because of this also. :lol:

:happy:

Right.....there should be a big BSOD at the end of that movie and a snicker by Peter Moore while saying out loud "clean up this crap Spartan-X".

It's funny how when everything goes sour, you try to relieve people and it never works.

I'm even beginning to read that Microsoft has temporarily shut down 1-800-4MY-XBOX due to the volume of complaints. Nuts.

Haha. This looks to be the biggest ****up MS has done in a long time.

Edited by Meshuggah
I'm really mad... so are thousands of people on bungie.net and xbox.com forums.

Theres riots going on, the mods cant contain all the new threads. Its out of control.

But 6 hours... that's plenty of time to get this fixed.

You'd think so but we don't know what the problem is or how serious it is. If it's taking them this long it might be more complicated than just 'flicking the switch'.

However I still think they should have maybe ... tested this before today?

I find it amusing how hostile this forum has become :laugh:

lol, thus is the power of halo.

wow! doesn't seem to be a good day to be around this board... :cry: :no:

microsoft deserves a :boo:

i still love you, s_x. you might want to hide out until this thing gets fixed though :p

I'm actually starting to take enjoyment out of this. There used to be a quote on a board outside my dorm room earlier this semester that went along the lines, "It's easy to get angry. What's hard to get angry at the right time, for the right reasons."

I just thought it was appropriate :p.

-Spenser

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Google adds built-in computer control to Gemini 3.5 flash by Karthik Mudaliar Google has added Computer Use as a built-in tool in Gemini 3.5 Flash, giving developers a single model that can reason about a task and operate graphical interfaces across browsers, mobile devices, and desktop environments. The feature is available through the Gemini API and Google’s Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, although it remains a preview feature for now. Computer Use enables an AI agent to examine screenshots and return actions such as mouse clicks, scrolling, and keyboard input. A developer’s application must execute those actions, capture the resulting screen, and send it back to Gemini, creating a continuous loop until the task is completed. Google says the integration can be used for activities including repetitive form filling, application testing, research across multiple websites, and longer enterprise workflows. Gemini 3.5 Flash can work with browser, mobile, and desktop environments, whereas Google’s earlier standalone Computer Use model was primarily positioned around browser interaction. The main change is consolidation. Computer control was previously offered through the separate Gemini 2.5 Computer Use preview model. As Neowin reported when that model was introduced, it was designed to interpret a visual interface and generate actions without requiring a website-specific API. Google later brought Computer Use to preview versions of Gemini 3 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash in January 2026. The latest release now incorporates the tool into the stable Gemini 3.5 Flash model rather than requiring developers to select a specialized model solely for interface automation. Gemini 3.5 Flash itself was announced in May as Google’s latest fast model for coding and multi-step agent workflows. It supports a one-million-token input context window and up to 65,000 output tokens, along with adjustable thinking levels that let developers trade additional reasoning for lower latency and cost. Google also added that Gemini 3.5 Flash received targeted adversarial training for computer-use scenarios. The company is also offering safeguards that can require user confirmation before sensitive or irreversible actions and automatically stop a workflow when suspected prompt injection is detected. Its developer documentation describes configurable protections for areas such as financial transactions and changes to sensitive records. Google isn't the first to bring Computer Use to its platform. Anthropic has made computer control available through Claude, while OpenAI has continued improving computer-use performance in its recent models. Microsoft has also applied the concept to business workflows, including a Computer Use capability for the Researcher agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
    • After I installed KB5095093, the volume on my ARM laptop won't go above 20%. It's stuck on the hearing protection level, which is pretty much useless if you want to listen to anything. I rolled back.
    • Amazon Prime Day slashes Samsung's newest Galaxy Watch Ultra by 45 percent by Karthik Mudaliar Samsung’s flagship Android smartwatch has received one of its steepest Prime Day cuts. Amazon has dropped the 2025 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra in Titanium Blue to $357.24, saving buyers around $292 from its $649.99 list price. That's a 45 percent discount (purchase link below). The 47mm Galaxy Watch Ultra uses a titanium casing and a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 480 and peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It includes LTE connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, NFC, and dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS for more accurate outdoor route tracking. The 2025 model has 64GB of storage, a 590mAh battery, sapphire crystal glass, 10ATM water resistance, IP68 protection, and MIL-STD-810H durability testing. Its health and fitness tools include heart rate monitoring, sleep coaching, Energy Score, Running Coach, body composition analysis, temperature sensing, and ECG support, where available. This model is best suited to Android users who regularly run, hike, cycle, or train outdoors and want cellular access without carrying a phone. The larger battery, rugged construction, bright display, and dedicated Quick Button also make it a stronger option than Samsung’s regular Galaxy Watch models for extended workouts and demanding environments. Grab the Titanium Blue Galaxy Watch Ultra before the Prime Day price resets: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) [Sold and Shipped by Amazon] Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Google begins rolling out its post-Epic Play Store billing model next week by Karthik Mudaliar Google has confirmed that its redesigned Play Store billing and fee structure will take effect on June 30, 2026, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Economic Area. The changes will let eligible developers offer their own payment systems or send users to an external website for purchases, while separating Google’s platform service fee from the cost of using Google Play Billing. The rollout puts concrete dates and detailed rate cards behind the broader Android policy overhaul Google announced in March. That announcement followed a proposed settlement with Epic Games intended to resolve their long-running disputes over app distribution and payments, although the U.S. portion of the agreement still requires court approval. Under the new billing choice program, developers selling digital content or services can display an alternative payment option alongside Google Play Billing. They may also direct users to their own websites to complete a purchase. Developers can use Google’s standard payment-choice screen or design one that complies with the company’s user-interface rules. Choosing another payment processor does not eliminate Google’s cut altogether. The company will continue charging a service fee for transactions associated with apps distributed through Google Play, regardless of whether payment is handled by Google, an alternative provider, or a developer’s website. Google argues that this fee covers the value and infrastructure provided by Android and the Play Store. For developers earning up to $1 million annually, the service fee will generally be 10 percent. That rate also applies to auto-renewing subscriptions. When Google Play Billing is used in the U.S., U.K., or EEA, Google will add a separate 5 percent billing fee, and developers processing payments elsewhere will not pay that additional charge. This means Google’s familiar flat 30 percent commission is disappearing, but developers will not necessarily see a dramatic reduction on every transaction. An in-app purchase from an existing user processed through Google Play Billing can still reach a combined 30 percent. The biggest savings are likely to come from subscriptions, smaller developers covered by the $1 million tier, and companies able to move customers to their own payment infrastructure. Google is also offering lower rates through its Apps Experience and revamped Games Level Up programs. Apps and games that satisfy the company’s requirements can qualify for 15 percent service fees on new-install transactions and 20 percent on existing-install transactions. The criteria include performance and reliability standards, support for additional Android device categories, and selected platform features. Those program rates are scheduled to become available in the initial markets and Australia on September 30. For consumers, the immediate effect will depend on whether developers adopt alternative payments and pass any savings on through lower prices. For developers, however, June 30 begins a more flexible but considerably more complicated Play Store economy in which distribution, billing, install dates, revenue thresholds, and program participation can each affect Google’s final cut. Google is also separately developing a Registered App Stores program designed to simplify the installation of qualifying third-party stores. That initiative is expected to arrive with a major Android release later in 2026 and will launch outside the U.S. first. Google says the rest of the world will receive the changes by September 30, 2027, although billing rates for markets outside the US, UK, and EEA have not yet been announced.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      Tom Schmidt earned a badge
      First Post
    • One Month Later
      D0nn13 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Rookie
      +ChiefOfNeo went up a rank
      Rookie
    • One Year In
      Tom Schmidt earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      464
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      177
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      124
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      81
    5. 5
      Xenon
      76
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!