Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 Available Sunday

In anticipation of Halo 3's September 25 release, the green and gold-tinged Halo 3 Special Edition Xbox 360--announced during the Microsoft's E3 2007 press briefing and one of the last revelations made by ex-VP Peter Moore during his tenure at the company--will be available from retailers this Sunday, September 16. Priced at $399.99, the whole shebang includes an "authentic Spartan green and gold" Xbox 360 with the now-standard HDMI output, a similarly colored wireless controller complete with a matching battery and charging cable, a 20GB hard drive, and a voice chat headset. Owners of the limited edition console will also be able to obtain exclusive Halo 3 gamer pictures and themes through Xbox Live Marketplace. It does not, as many have assumed, come bundled with a copy of Bungie's Halo 3. For those keeping track at home, that's $50 more than the $349.99 white Premium system, which comes with a 20GB hard drive but does not pack a spiffy Halo paint job, $19.99 Play & Charge Kit, nor exclusive XBLM content. The black Elite model of the Xbox 360, featuring a 120GB hard drive, but again no battery and charging cable or Halo 3 goodies, runs $449.99.