'Halo 3' sales break entertainment records

Microsoft Corp. said its "Halo 3," first-person perspective shooting video game, brought in $170 million in sales its first day on the market, making it the biggest entertainment release in history, eclipsing the opening-day sales of the movie "Spider-Man 3" and the book "Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows."

Over 1.7 million copies of the game, exclusive to the Xbox 360 home console in three editions ranging from $59.99 to $129.99, were preordered, helping launch the game to its record day, according to a Microsoft news release. Over 10,000 retail outlets held midnight launching parties to herald the game's arrival including many in Utah.

"Halo 3" continues the story of Master Chief, an armor-clad citizen of earth struggling with and against alien species with the fate of all known sentient life at stake. The conflict takes place around and on planet-sized rings built in space ages past.

The "Halo" series is also popular on Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming service and more than 1 million "Halo 3" games have been played since its launch at midnight on Monday, Microsoft said. Bungie Studios developed the "Halo" games for Microsoft.