I'm getting Crackdown. I'm ordering it from PLAY.com, where you can read, next to it: "Includes an invitation to the Halo 3 mutliplayer Beta".

Had I just impulse bought it, randomly gone on the site, seen that and clicked it, then you could accuse me of getting the game solely for the Halo 3 beta. If I had heard about the offer, and then gone to the site to buy it, then you could accuse me of getting it just for the Halo 3 beta.

I downloaded the demo. It's more than OK, it's a really fun game. Really surreal and superhero-ish, and it's made by a developer that are HQ'd a thirty minute drive from where I live. I like games that are just pure fun, but to be totally honest, I don't often buy them.

This has been such a slick move by Microsoft. So many more will have been in my boat ("Should I get it, shouldn't I?"), and been pushed to getting it because the beta is there. Others will just run down to their local GAME and pre-order it not even knowing what it is, so long as they get an early try of Halo 3.

I was disappointed by Halo 2, but I want to play Halo 3. Now I'm going to get the chance. It's been such a smart move, this game will sell big, and Microsoft will make a mint...and it will further the hype machine in the build up to Halo 3 (which, to be honest, compared to 2 has been substantially in a lower gear).

So there you have it. I'm buying Crackdown because of the Halo 3 beta...but not for the Halo 3 beta...there's a difference