Video game and entertainment software retailer, GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), has hosted the West Coast premier for one of the most anticipated video game launches in history - Microsoft’s Halo 3. Musical star Zac Efron and the hero of the game Master Chief, joined thousands of fans to celebrate. The GameStop’s Flagship store at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles, was the site where everyone received their first copy of the game, meet the celebrities and collect autographs from members of the game’s creator, Bungie.

Jim Wimpress, Vice President of Stores, GameStop Corp. remarked, “Rarely do we get the opportunity to experience a historical event like the biggest launch in video game history – one that is equivocal if not bigger than that of a movie launch. It is an exciting moment for us at GameStop to be part of the launch of Halo 3 in Los Angeles – a city where some of the most powerful entertainment industry moments happen.”

GameStop’s launch event was similar to a Hollywood premier, including game play for attendees, meet and greets with one of Hollywood’s hottest actors and screaming fans awaiting the first sale of the game which took place at 12:01 AM PDT. Master Chief made a special appearance to mingle with the crowd and pose for photos with eager fans. The event satisfied Halo 3 addicts who could not wait to get home and play the game.

GameStop also rolled out the red carpet for fans of the game nationwide by hosting midnight events at over 3,700 GameStop and EB Games stores.

Halo 3 is the hugely anticipated third chapter in the critically acclaimed Halo franchise. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. Halo 3 is now available at GameStop locations nationwide.

Headquartered in Grapevine, TX, GameStop Corp. is the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer. The company operates 4,954 retail stores across the United States and in sixteen countries worldwide. The company also operates two e-commerce sites, GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publishes Game Informermagazine, a leading multi-platform video game publication. GameStop Corp. sells new and used video game software, hardware and accessories for next generation video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise. General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company’s corporate website: www.gamestop.com/corporate.