XMixMasterX stopped by to point out Mix Picks Week 6 – a bunch of new map reviews based on items he found on B.net. Go read!(Louis Wu 18:00:59 UTC)

Linda let us know that there’s a forum with some pretty neat pictures of Halo 3 action figure prototypes, some going back years. Check ’em out!(Louis Wu 17:56:53 UTC)

As we mentioned a few days ago, the July episode of GamePro has a sizeable article on Halo Wars – and one of the things they discuss is the control scheme of the game. (This is what critics seem to be most skeptical about – many people don’t think you can create a control scheme with a console controller that will give you gameplay on par with PC RTS’s.) Halo Wars Addict has looked at the GamePro info, and put together a graphic that lets you see how the control scheme works. Thanks, Sam152.(Louis Wu 14:51:15 UTC)

Avateur kicked off the analysis of the cryptic content at the bottom of this week’s Update – you can read it over at args.bungie.org.(Louis Wu 14:46:18 UTC)

pyroman took a page from the MST3K playbook, and created Master Chief Theater 3000. Episode 1 covers the opening cutscene of Halo 3. Check it out!(Louis Wu 14:44:44 UTC)

Gamesradar is disappointed by all the masked heroes in our video games. Guess who’s on the list?(Louis Wu 14:40:14 UTC)

Gamespot has a blog piece about the video game press – and how they can be influenced by fan expectations, in a way that doesn’t look good when you check back later. Halo 2 and 3 are used as examples of the phenomenon. Give it a read, and decide if you agree!(Louis Wu 14:30:41 UTC)

bndud let us know that the first episode of Backlash (which is really the 15th episode of Cops and Robbers) is now up at RobbersUnite.com. He suggests watching the first 14 episodes first.(Louis Wu 14:26:40 UTC)

2old2play is hosting a charity drive to benefit the PKD Foundation – it’s a series of challenges, primarily Halo-related. Go read the details at 2o2p! Thanks, naveeda.(Louis Wu 14:21:26 UTC)

Yesterday’s edition of the Bungie Weekly Update was a little light on information – some travel info, some head-to-head info, some BTB info, ways NOT to submit news, a teaser about next month, and… another Superintendent message? Go read – either at Bungie.net, or in our Weekly Update Archive.(Louis Wu 13:16:25 UTC)

Folks have been making montages of gameplay footage for almost as long as Halo’s been out, and I think I’ve been pretty consistent in my tastes during that time. I’ve always felt that some effects can add to the interest level of the montage – but there’s a point at which visual effects take away from a montage’s enjoyability. We got word from Lando Griff1n today that his montage was posted, over at Bungie.net (well, hosted by Halo3Montage, but the discussion is at B.net), and I downloaded the HD version to check it out. I think I can say with confidence that I’ve never seen a montage with more video effects than this one. It’s fascinating just from an academic standpooint… but I warn you, you might have some trouble watching it if you’ve been drinking. There are smaller versions if 330 mb is too much for you.(Louis Wu 19:58:31 UTC)

Bungie’s Blog has a machinima roundup – looks to be a bunch of submitted movies, with descriptions by their creators. Most have been mentioned here before – but not all. Go poke around!(Louis Wu 19:22:32 UTC)

Cthulhu117 let us know that the Fan Fic Pick of the Week is already online. That was fast!(Louis Wu 17:48:41 UTC)