Halo 3 Takes the 'Limited Edition' to a Whole New Level

Halo fans will have the opportunity to show their affinity for the franchise this fall when the newest installment of the video game series, Halo 3, is released in Standard Edition, Limited Edition and the ultimate Halo geeks dream, the Legendary Edition.

However, at an estimated retail price of $129.99 for the legendary edition, Microsoft is truly testing the boundaries of their fanbase. This edition includes two disks of additional HD content, one of which will also include an audio-visual calibration tool designed to make the most of fans' high-definition home theaters. The most notable feature of this edition is the collectible Spartan helmet case. The limited edition ($69.99) is the same as the legendary edition sans toy helmet and encased in metal packaging and the standard edition ($59.99) is just the game.

However, some video game experts have labeled the traditional features of special editions as garbage and useless information that is never pulled out of the packaging. The fact is that most additional content is rarely entertaining to the casual or hardcore fan and amounts to a poor offering for a higher price. Microsoft's offering of the collectible Spartan helmet, which would retail for $10 as a stand alone toy, and the game specific calibration tool is the most solid offering yet of any enhanced game edition but experts agree that more then doubling the price for it is outrageous.

What about actual game features? Additional game content, which has become a huge revenue source for Microsoft, will undoubtedly be released within months the of Halo 3 release but additional dollars will need to be shed to obtain it. Gamers are left wondering if they are being gauged for what should be included in a standard offering.

Hard core fans may pony up the additional $70 for the Legendary edition but the most sensible gamers will most likely opt to get an additional game.