Microsoft Xbox 360 will launch its strategy game Halo Wars in Dubai, in what will be a first for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, sources said.

The launch will be at the stroke of midnight on February 27 (the night of February 26) at Virgin Megastore, Mall of the Emirates.

Master Chief, the hero of the ‘Halo’ universe will make a guest appearance and fans will have the exclusive chance to get their photos taken with him. Also present will be a number of Microsoft Xbox 360 and Virgin team members to greet the attending fans and give away ‘Halo Wars’ collectibles, only available to those who originally pre-ordered the game.

“The midnight launch of ‘Halo Wars’ will give Xbox 360 fans, attending the event in Dubai, the chance to be one of the first in EMEA to get their hands on one of the most anticipated strategy game of 2009” said Aman Sangar, product marketing manager, Microsoft entertainment and devices division Middle East. “The name “Halo” evokes an excitement and fervour that very few gaming brands can command. So we are indeed pleased to offer fans an opportunity to be a part of the Halo phenomena albeit in the Real Time Strategy genre.”  

Anticipation around the upcoming release of “Halo Wars” has been mounting. The demo, which was released on Xbox Live, in the countries where the service is available, on February 5, quickly set the day-one record for the most demo downloads on the service, and in just its first five days, the game has been downloaded by more than two million Xbox Live Gold members around the world.

Tarek Moussawer, product marketing manager, Virgin Megastore said: “We are excited about the ‘Halo Wars’ midnight launch, and are going all out with preparations to welcome all gamers and ‘Halo Wars’ enthusiasts in Dubai. Judging by the buzz & fan base of the Halo franchise we are confident that this will be by far one of  the largest game launch events hosted in Virgin Mall of the Emirates.”

Eager fans waiting to buy the game will also have the opportunity to experience ‘Halo Wars’ on the Xbox 360 gaming stations placed at the Mall of the Emirates Virgin Megastore outlet.

Halo Wars is a strategy game based on the legendary Halo universal campaign mode. Players will command the armies of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) warship ‘Spirit of Fire’, consisting of familiar and new UNSC units in its initial encounters against the covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate mankind.

Halo Wars will immerse gamers in an early period of the storied Halo universe, allowing them to experience events leading to the first Halo title for Xbox, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service