If you still haven't received your glorious email inviting you to participate in the Halo 3 beta, you might have an easy chance to stroll in. Reports are flying to and fro that beta access will be available for everyone who buys a copy of Crackdown at launch.
Though Microsoft has stated clearly that access to the beta would be contained in "specially marked boxes" of Crackdown, the smug patrol are beating their chests in the rhythm of "I told you so" declaring that every box, at least in the first shipment, will get you in on the Bungie action.
No one seems to have an answer as to whether or not all boxes are specially marked. Neither can we say when "un-marked" boxes will start to hit stores, but if
IGN is right, anyone who wants Crackdown in the next two months, will also be allowed to try out Halo 3 multiplayer.
If every single box of Crackdown produced within the next year does not contain a Halo 3 beta key, then that technically means only certain copies will. How many and for how long? I have no idea, but I won't stand in the way of the train.