[Update: Microsoft is now offering free replacements for scratched discs received in the Halo 3 Limited Edition throughout the rest of 2007. It should be noted that those wishing to use this program will have to pay to ship their original scratched disc to Microsoft. The replacement, however, is free. For more details, follow this link. Thanks to Matthew Mac for pointing this out.]
Joystiq reports that many gamers are receiving scratched discs in the Halo 3 Limited Edition (the one in the tin case). Well, we can confirm that report, as our very own Limited Edition came with scratches (as you can see above). Upon opening the package this morning, the "Essentials" DVD, which contains bonus materials, was loose in the case. The game disc was held firmly in place though, so no worries there. The scratches on the disc appear to be minor. So far, we haven't encountered any hitches in our bonus content, so we're not rushing out to make an angry return just yet, but we'll see. For those of you who have yet to pick up your Limited Edition, you may want to check it out before leaving the store.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
9-25-2007 @ 2:21PM
Tony Bowman said...
my game disc was mildy scratched in one spot, but not any moreso than the other games i've owned and played with no problems. it hasn't caused any problems so far(i've played campaign in 4-man co-op through mission 5 so far). i'l probably try for a replacement or an exchange at wal-mart, but only if it causes any problems playing the game.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:25PM
FR3SH JIV3 said...
I had to pass on the Limited Edition. When I opened my copy the disc was loose in the case and heavily scratched and the manager at EB let me open another to find the same thing. We went through 14 copies of the game and every one was loose and scratched up.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:30PM
Bob said...
I opened mine at the counter at Circuit City. The game disk was scratched. I handed it right back to the clerk and got a new one.
Thanks guys for warning me and letting me know what to look for!
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9-25-2007 @ 2:34PM
matt said...
Oh god my disc has cosmetic scratches, oh whatever will I do!!!!!!!!!! Come on guys if the disc plays who cares if it has cosmetic scratches both discs in my collectors edition were loose in the case and scratched but they play without a hitch. It's not like your going to use the disc as a mirror or something, just calm down.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:35PM
honz12 said...
Pre-ordered the bog-standard edition and the game disc was loose in the case upon opening. Luckily there was no scratching.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:40PM
o1eyedwilly said...
So I can send my disc in for replacement and I have to pay for shipping? Is it my fault the disc is scratched to hell? Not even a sorry from M$ yet. They knew it was shipping scratched.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:40PM
Jason said...
mine was scratched brutally. and I was one of the first 15 people in line at the LA launch. Luckily I opened it in the car and ran back inside.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:58PM
mike r said...
argh-
I just got the Limited Edition on the way to work and there's a bunch of scratches. I am going to swing by the store on the way back to see what I can do but this is lame as hell.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:00PM
Shape said...
When I had my Crackdown disc replaced through this program, it only took 7 days to have the new disc back in my hands. 7 days from the moment I handed it to the post office. That's pretty damn good.
Personally, though, at this point, I'd just return it to the store.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:10PM
argystu said...
my game was scratched but still played fine (for the first couple of hours so far). however, i didn't want to chance it and took it back to walmart - they had 2 other returned halo 3 sets because of the same issue, and that's all they had left. the guy was able to check out both sets, though, and got a good game and bonus disc from each.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:14PM
RH said...
Maybe instead of having Halo invade NY with vehicles and celebs and all the other crap, they could have looked at the fundamentals and dropped a little more money its way or whatever it takes. It's like I say every year when the NBA starts and the players miss all of their free throws, fundamentals.. it's key.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:15PM
Guy4 said...
plain goddamn embarrassing..
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9-25-2007 @ 3:28PM
Krusty said...
Sheesh ... Sony Defense Force is having a field day with this story...
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9-25-2007 @ 3:28PM
Jason said...
Add my name to the list. I bought a copy of Halo 3 LE at the Circuit City in Kalamazoo MI at lunch today. I got the disc back to my office and found this post... I decided to open my copy and check, sure enough, both discs were scratched pretty bad.
I went back to the store to get an exchange. As soon as I put the case on the counter without even saying a word they instantly knew why. "The discs are scratched aren't they?" "Yep." They've had 10 or so returns so far as of noon.
The customer service guy was cool about it and went through box after box trying to find one that wasn't scratched. He opened 10 or so boxes with no good discs among them. I ended up walking out with a standard edition and a refund for the difference.
He said that they had 18 or so preorders that were on the shelf, and that he wasn't looking forward to telling all of those people that their discs are more likely than not crap. He also mentioned having a friend that worked at the Best Buy up the road that called him after the first 5 or so returns and asked them if their discs were the same way - all the LE discs they had were too... tons of returns already.
This is sure to cause a stink. If I get home and this disc red lights my 360 (this will be 360 #2 for me - Forza 2 killed my other one) I'm seriously buying a PS3 and not looking back.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:35PM
wei said...
@Jason: I feel your pain. My RROD experience and MS's poor service is what drove me to buy a PS3 a few months ago. But now I find that I never turn on the PS3 and all my gaming is on the 360. As much as I want to abandon MS for their reprehensible quality control, they still have the best games. I'm pissed off about my scratched discs, as well. But I hope it'll at least work when I get home tonight.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:39PM
Jason said...
I can see that, for sure. I love a lot of 360 games, but most of the ones I'm looking forward to are on both platforms - while some are only on one (Gears, Forza, Gran Turismo, Killzone, etc.) I'll probably end up with both, but I've already been burned by the RROD on Forza 2 launch day (got to pick my car and then my 360 RROD'ed), I hope I get to play Halo tonight after all this.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:40PM
CanesTim said...
I almost bought the LE edition. I bought the H2 CE last time but I didn't really care this time. I would like to see all the extras but I'm becoming cheaper every year!
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9-25-2007 @ 4:12PM
useedems said...
What did they do, package flintstones and needles in the tins? All this hype and now this. Amazing.
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9-25-2007 @ 4:12PM
Bryant said...
Mine had the same thing, I forgot about this and was about to leave when a guy came back complaining - his game disc was scratched pretty bad, but the manager replaced it with the standard edition disc, so I had mine checked and sure enough, the essentials disc was badly scratched up. They opened another one and same thing but the scratches was much slighter than mine so I just settled with that. I was almost gonna get the legendary too, good thing they didn't have it. :p
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9-25-2007 @ 4:17PM
PLLDD said...
Finally got a LE (in store trade) after going though 3 different boxs. I'm not talking about a hair line scratch that can buffed out. One had a chunk of the disc knocked off, another looked like sandpaper was rubbed against it, and one had a scratch deep enough you can clear though the disc. Too bad I don't have one of those fancy camera phones.
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