Author: halo@bungie.org

Arby ‘n’ the Chief, Episode 9: Newcomers can be seen at YouTube (thanks, John_117). Reaction, at least on OUR forum, seems to be mixed; I guess this is one of those things you either like or you don’t.(Louis Wu 14:49:19 UTC)

trigger119 let us know that there’s a new film from Zukan available for downloading (or streaming) at GamingTV – Rain is to be a revival of his earlier lauded Vendetta, and this preview looks pretty nice! Go check it out.(Louis Wu 14:45:11 UTC)

The Bungie Weekly Update is pretty light this week – some clarification about some of the rumors (and news) floating around out there about upcoming Halo projects, another list of how not to get Recon armor, some matchmaking update news, and details on the Play & Win Sweepstakes we mentioned a while back. Oh, yeah,…

GamesRadar sat down with Cam ‘Cunbelin’ Pinard and Jason ‘BrownV’ Sussman – watched them play, asked them about their strategies and what they like. Fun read! Thanks, Decommissioner.(Louis Wu 19:53:46 UTC)

GhettoMole is rapidly nearing completion of his Scout helmet – the secondary color has been finished, only the visor remains! Go look.(Louis Wu 17:29:59 UTC)

Solidly in the ‘rumor’ category, 1UP.com has some gossip it’s pushing from Quartermann’s Rumor Mill:[W]e’ve heard rumblings that the first one will be a Halo spin-off due in late 2009. Our spies tell us to expect a third-person action/adventure shooter hybrid that takes place before the original Halo, chronicling early skirmishes between the ODST troops…

Hawty McBloggy has returned to her Rorschach Inkblot tests, based on heatmaps of multiplayer killzones – today’s looks at the death on Blackout. You can also see answers from Foundry, the last map she covered (back in February). Go tell her what you see!(Louis Wu 10:30:26 UTC)

Just a few pieces posted this week in the Fan Fiction section – go read ’em! (Louis Wu 10:29:39 UTC)

mcdizzell noticed that Marvel’s posted the cover art (or SOME cover art) for the fourth Halo comic. I said I wouldn’t post any more news about the series until the next issue was actually released – but it’s pretty artwork. Go look. (Louis Wu 10:29:18 UTC)

Luke McKay whipped up a little Cortana doodle today, over in his RvB Journal – we’ve added it to his Gallery here.(Louis Wu 21:44:22 UTC)

Bungie has announced that this weekend’s Double XP playlist will be SWAT – and that it’s live, now. (XerxdeeJ… LIVE is calling you!) This is the last SWAT weekend – and your last chance to play SWAT unranked; when it comes back in May, it’ll be a full-time playlist, and it will be ranked. Go…

Hawty McBloggy found a fun shirt at Split Reason – I’ve never seen a Spartan Laser do that, but it makes a nice sign!(Louis Wu 21:29:16 UTC)

HeavenlyYeti let us know that Beat the Yeti had another challenge – this time it was Team Yeti vs Team Flaming Tampons. Three games, with an overall tie. Sounds like fun games!(Louis Wu 21:27:36 UTC)

The first episode of the new Podtacular Video Podcast (numbered 159, as a continuation of the audio podcast) is now up at Podtacular.com. Freak in a Box and Crypto flix interview Foo Mo Jive and JVB. 37 mb, 18 minutes, with layout of the upcoming episodes. Go watch! Thanks, Samus 117.(Louis Wu 21:22:12 UTC)

PaulMc was playing on Valhalla, and took a shot at a Banshee with his missile pod, from pretty close range. He missed, the Banshee boosted in and splattered him. Pretty standard, right? Well… the missile ALMOST got a lock… so it decided it was gonna follow that Banshee after all. The ‘shee had headed for…

ZZoMBiE13 looks at the naming of the Halo Map Packs to date, does some extrapolating, and lets you know what might be coming next, in the latest installment of Another Halo Comic Strip. Here’s hoping he’s wrong.(Louis Wu 20:20:03 UTC)

Whoa, that was quick. Inside Halo 13 is now online – The Dead Pixel shows off some cool screens, details a new request for submissions (you’ll have to watch it yourself for specifics), executes some mailbag hijinx, and gives you a taste of the endtimes. Go watch! Thanks, Adam Kovic.(Louis Wu 20:12:10 UTC)

Dennis Powers let us know that Shipwrecked Episode 13 is now up – some nice animations in those shots!(Louis Wu 20:04:21 UTC)

If you live in Omaha, NE (or nearby, I guess), you might be interested in a Halo 3 tournament to be hosted this weekend at Heidelberg’s Sports Bar by Ahman Green, an NFL running back with the Houston Texans. Details (and an application form) are available in the Omaha World Herald story linked above.(Louis Wu…

Game and Player has a scientific review of the Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack. Go read it to see what that means.(Louis Wu 19:57:02 UTC)