With single-day sales of $170 million, Microsoft is pretty much hailing HALO 3 as the biggest thing since sliced bread, declaring it "the biggest entertainment launch in history." In comparison, SPIDER-MAN 3's opening day record was only $59.8 million. The blockbuster film's three-day total of $151 million doesn't even meet HALO 3's mark. Moreover, the 8.3 million units sold even beat the summer release of J.K. Rowling's HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.

However, film insiders do complain that comparing first-day sales of a videogame that ranges from $60 to $130 to a film, which at the most makes $14 per ticket, is like comparing apples and oranges. Factoring in future home entertainment sales and overall international box office to SPIDEY 3's numbers shows that films still have longer legs than videogames.

With the HALO 3 on pace to quickly become the biggest selling title in gaming history, Microsoft could really reap the benefits in additional Xbox sales this holiday season. Previously, HALO 2 set a record of $125 million in its first 24 hours.