I agree. After the first TV commercial aired in January of this year I figured there would be at least one more to follow. However, consumers are fickle, and don't usually use personal planners. I assume if you advertise too far in advance then they'll forget about the release by Sep 25th. Perhaps the weekend before the release is when the blitz will start.

Bioshock's commercial didn't air until the weekend before, IIRC.

I've been seeing some commercials on G4 where Gamestop is pushing H3 preorders. It's mostly a montage of multiplayer levels from H2 with a voiceover saying goodbye to them. Haven't seen anything from Microsoft/Bungie though.

Good point. I bet they will advertise the heck out of it a couple to a few days in advance. Then advertise the heck out of it after release.

I mean, it is the date that MS has been chomping at the bit to capitalize on for the past 2 years. Surely they've got something in mind.

Do you think that Microsoft would gain enough sales generated by TV and Cinema advertisements alone to cover the costs those methods incur?

The game has practically sold itself to the general public by word of mouth alone. Anybody even -slightly- interested in gaming has probably seen at least one of the many Halo 3-related videos that are now out there, and are most likely quite enticed by what they saw.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a gigantic TV and Cinema campaign cooked up by Microsoft. I'd fire my marketing staff for spending too much time and money on a product that practically sells itself. They'll probably still make something, just nothing insanely fancy or costly.

sir ginger, your point is valid, but there is another side of it. When it comes to video game consoles MS is not solely concerned with short term profits. Microsoft's entertainment and devices division is not known for profitability. They take a loss on each 360 sold. IIRC, and don't quote me on this, they are generally expected to post net losses each quarter rather than gains, despite ~$6 billion in revenue. MS wants to capture market share and the buying habits of the average American consumer. Halo 3 sells xboxen. Xboxen entrench MS into the home entertainment market.

Even if it's not profitable in the short term, I think MS is interested in using a Halo 3 commercial to sell a few extra units and try to become more mainstream. FWIW, a commercial would also sell to gaming-ignorant parents, who absolutely need a commercial to know that H3 is available for a Christmas present.

I think I overlooked that. D=

Yeah when looking at it that way, I guess I can understand them creating a sizable TV and Cinema campaign for Halo 3, most likely very close to release time and leading up to the Christmas period. Market share around this time of year would be extremely important.

Who needs to advertise on TV and in the theaters when they are advertising at Burger King, 7-11's, and grocery stores (Mtn. Dew Game Fuel)?

I think advertising at BK will give enormous visibility to this game. Young kids eat there. Old farts eat there.

Still, I do expect some TV marketing soon.

It tastes okay, but reading the nutrition label (what nutrition?) makes me want to vomit because I feel like I'm shaving off a month from my life each time I drink a bottle.

A short life well lived is much better than a long drawn out one played safely. Drink that crap and go lift weights if it makes you feel any better.

Inevitably as they say: you will die alone.

Not everybody dies alone, just him.