Crackdown for Xbox 360 includes access to Halo 3 beta

Redmond (WA) - The most anticipated Xbox 360 title since December’s Gears of War, Crackdown made its way to stores today. The action racing title is the first for Microsoft’s console to use the new Havok physics engine from Realtime Worlds - and comes with access to the Halo 3 beta program.

Crackdown follows the same path as Grand Theft Auto as an open-ended game broadly classified as a racing title, where players are able to run through the streets and interact with the characters and scenery in the foreground. However, the main focus of the game is ridding the streets of crime instead of causing havoc.

Additionally, it is the first Xbox title to use a new physics engine from Realtime Worlds that has been reported to allow a more dynamic real-world experience.

"This allowed us to experiment early with the vehicles, ragdolls and dynamic objects key to Crackdown’s non-stop action and massive destruction. The physics in Crackdown is definitely one of the next generation features that gamers are really going to appreciate," said Realtime CEO Dave Jones.

However, arguably where the most interest is with the game right now is in the fact that it includes access to the Halo 3 beta program. The beta will appear as a free download in the Xbox Live Marketplace beginning in the next few weeks for users with the Crackdown disc in their console.