For gamers who have been waiting for the third and final chapter in Bungie Studios’ immensely popular FPS “Halo” series for the Xbox you can start counting the days left until it’s in your hands. Microsoft reports that “Halo 3″ has gone gold and the master copy is off to the manufacturing plant to be turned and burned into millions of Xbox 360 game discs. The release date for “Halo 3″ is slated for Tuesday September 25. Barring an act of God there is nothing that …

Microsoft let it be known today pre-sales of the three Halo 3 editions are on fire at the moment, having soared past the 1 million mark. The game debuts Sept. 25.

Halo 3 preorders are so intense, said Microsoft, it expects the Legendary Edition to be sold out by the time the game launches. Retailers such as Gamestop and Best Buy have indicated that presales are among the fastest in video game history.

What’s left for the universe of “Halo” to conquer? Handheld guns, of course. Jasman Toys got the license to make replica weapons from the upcoming “Halo 3″ video game and are set to release the first two models this October.

A Plasma Rifle (pictured) and Pistol from the Covenant side of the game (those are the bad guys) will arrive in toy shops and video game stores a few weeks after Microsoft releases the final chapter in the bestselling FPS franchise. Sometime in 2008 a Covenant Energy Sword will also hit store shelves. …

If you want an example of how big the hype for “Halo 3″ is getting look no further than the Bungie website. The designers of the franchise commented on the speculation that “Halo 3″ won’t ship with online co-op play. Here’s a clip: “As we approach the tail end of development, we will have a clearer picture of whether or not that online feature will be included. Assuming either way would be foolish at this time. We will say more when we feel it’s prudent. Because that’s how we roll.”

“How we roll” translated from …

At the Microsoft E3 press conference held last night in Santa Monica there was lots of news about the company’s plans for “Halo 3″, set for release on September 25. First up is a new Xbox 360 console decorated in Spartan green and gold trim. While Microsoft didn’t say what the exact date of availability for the Halo 3 edition Xbox 360 would be, it’s likely to be the same day that the third “Halo” game comes out. The Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition console will include a 20GB hard drive, a headset, and a play …

Those of you using Verizon Wireless for your internet needs can make your smile a little wider today. The company has announced that all its CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network has been upgraded to Revision (Rev.) A technology. For the rest of us that don’t speak hardcore geek what that means is that Verizon wireless broadband customers should see upload speeds up to nine times faster than before while download speeds will ratchet up to ten times quicker.

Dick Lynch, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for the company decided …

Comic book artist Todd McFarlane looks to have gotten into the Halo 3 accessory market by putting his artistic talents towards some limited edition gaming add-ons. These three offerings should be available in early September, though you can preorder them now through Gamestop.

McFarlane’s talents will specifically go towards one of two wireless controllers for the Xbox 360. These controllers – one Spartan, one Covenant – sport original artwork which is integrated onto a scratch and wear resistant surface. Both $60 controllers come packaged with a collectible …

On June 10th Microsoft will be releasing a watermelon red version of its Zune media player. The new red color will be sold exclusively through Target and Amazon, and it looks to possibly be a limited edition version like the pink Zune with it’s 100,000 unit cap.

This watermelon Red Zune version joins the original colors of brown, black and white along with the pink version and the upcoming Halo 3 Zune expected in September.

Aside from the new red color, the functionality of the Zune will be just like the others with a 30GB capacity, 3-inch …

Until recently Xbox 360 owners were able to download a firmware hack which allowed them to play backed-up games and essentially boot-legged copies of games on their game console. They were also able to participate with them on Xbox Live seemingly without any notice from Microsoft, but that appears to have changed.

Apparently with the recent Spring Update earlier this month and coinciding with the beta release of Halo 3, Microsoft has shown that they are able to detect and ban those consoles with modified firmware. …

Now that Microsoft has announced a September 25 release for its much anticipated “Halo 3″ PS3/Wii killer, Gamestop is offering a piece of crack right now for all the Halo-ites that can’t wait that long.

The online video game store is selling an exclusive branded “Halo 3″ Zune that comes preloaded with a ton of Master Chief goodness. Those that buck up the $249 will get three “Halo 3″ making of documentary videos, the 2006 E3 trailer, the “Starry Night” commercial, the “Halo 2″ theatrical trailer, the first six episodes of “Red vs. Blue” as …

Microsoft has confirmed that when its highly anticipated “Halo 3” finally arrives in stores this autumn, gamers will have the option to buy one of three different versions.

The “Halo 3” Standard Edition is comprised of the game and standard packaging (box and interior booklet.) A Limited Edition version will ship inside an exclusive metallic case. Inside along with the game will be a bonus disc which will feature behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the game, a documentary, a first-of-its-kind audio-visual calibration tool that will tweak your system to …

Hitting store shelves today is “Crackdown”, the first of 2007’s highly anticipated new games for the Microsoft Xbox 360. Developed by Scottish game company Real Time Worlds and from the mind of the same programmer that created the original “Grand Theft Auto”, “Crackdown” lets you explore the futuristic crime-filled streets of Pacific City and attempt to bring law and order to its frightened citizens.

You can roam all across the massive city and carry out mayhem using a wide array of weapons and vehicles but “Crackdown” has some new tricks that …

How many games have you played that featured a railgun as a weapon? I’m guessing just a few under a thousand. From Halo to Stargate to the movie Eraser, railguns are just as much a part of the sci-fi genre as bad acting and large-chested blue aliens. Now however, railguns are no longer science fiction. They are a reality for the US Navy.

The Navy demonstrated its new toy at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The weapon uses electromagnetism to propel …