Which gaming product launch strategy first implemented the 'midnight launch party' concept that became a retail standard for major AAA game releases?

The gaming industry has revolutionized product launches with innovative retail strategies that blend physical and digital experiences. One particular launch strategy broke industry records and changed how AAA titles reach consumers. Test your knowledge about this groundbreaking retail approach that bridged virtual worlds with real-world shopping experiences and created unprecedented customer engagement for a major gaming title.

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Halo 2 (2004), which featured over 7,000 retail stores opening at midnight and generated $125 million in first-day sales
World of Warcraft (2004), which pioneered developer-sponsored midnight events at select retail locations
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004), which first coordinated global simultaneous retail release events
Half-Life 2 (2004), which combined digital pre-loads with physical retail midnight collector's edition releases