uralllame was inspired by an anti-piracy clip on a DVD he was watching to create his own version for modded Halo content. Go watch it – it might not change your mind, but it’s cute. Thanks, Dragoncoals.(Louis Wu 11:49:27 UTC)

The Bungie Weekly Update is online over at Bungie.net (and in our Weekly Update Archive) – it’s actually a pretty interesting read, this week. Lots of info about what’s coming in September (and, unfortunately, what’s not), plus teasers about PAX and Bungie’s showing there. Swing by! Looks like Mid7night was first. (The September changes actually go into effect on the 16th, but Green Day didn’t write anything about the middle of the month.)(Louis Wu 00:17:07 UTC)

mendicantbias00 decided to rewrite Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Raven’ with a Halo theme – check it out and see what you think!(Louis Wu 18:35:29 UTC)

If you’re running a Windows machine (Mac running Boot Camp is okay, but Parallels/VMFusion/etc are not) running XP SP2 or later, you can install Photosynth, and see a compilation pic of Zanzibar, built from 273 separate pics. Thanks, dhan.(Louis Wu 15:29:14 UTC)

B1 Games (the makers of the Halo Interactive Strategy Game) have released a video showing how to play it – Ross Mills found it at Kotaku, but you have more (and better) watching options at GameVideos, where it originated.(Louis Wu 14:19:50 UTC)

TTL Demag0gue stopped by to announce Reclaimer 80 – the bigger picture is beginning to unfold.(Louis Wu 14:14:11 UTC)

We mentioned a caption contest a few weeks ago, in which the prize was a Halo poster. Zach tells us it’s been won, and the prize delivered – you can read the details on his site. (Louis Wu 14:13:47 UTC)

Six new pieces are up for you in the Fan Fiction section. I didn’t think I needed to keep saying this, so many years down the road, but… 1) this is a Halo Fan Fiction collection – if you submit non-Halo material, it will be deleted, and 2) if you submit a story with no punctuation and atrocious spelling, it will be deleted (you can read the rationale in the Submission Guidelines). Don’t waste your time (and mine) – follow the (basic) rules!(Louis Wu 14:07:18 UTC)

Xbox Focus has a long, multifaceted article looking at what was wrong with the Halo 3 Campaign. If you can get past the language (I don’t know why the “use big words wrong” style bugs me so much, but it does), you’ll find some well-thought-out rationale – I don’t agree with all of it, but he backs up his argument with solid examples. Give it a read, see if you agree!(Louis Wu 23:08:24 UTC)

It’s Thursday, and it’s after 11 am Pacific, so it’s time for another Double XP Weekend. It’s Team Snipers again – go practice your long rifle skills!(Louis Wu 18:19:01 UTC)

IGN has a Hands-on with Halo Wars from the Leipzig Games Convention – no new vids or screenshots, but some discussion of gameplay. Go read!(Louis Wu 18:02:25 UTC)

mendicantbias00 has updated his Halo 3 screenshot/panorama blog, Breaking Boundaries – the latest update is here, but check the whole site, he’s been adding stuff every few days.(Louis Wu 16:56:47 UTC)

DocOctavius is selling his Halo 2 Evolution Boxed Set on eBay – there weren’t many of these, so if you missed ’em the first time around, here’s another chance!(Louis Wu 16:53:50 UTC)