Last week over at bungie.net, the Bungie Weekly Update hinted at something big dropping this week, and here it is!

After launching to incredible acclaim and fanaticism, “Halo 3” players will be able to enjoy three all new multiplayer maps on Dec. 11 as part of the Heroic Map Pack, the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios to come via Xbox LIVE.

These maps will be available on the XBL Marketplace for 800 MS points ($10) and include Standoff, Rat’s Nest and Foundry—all fully customizable in Forge. Also of note, these maps will available for free in Spring 2008.

From the press release:

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

Foundry

Rat’s Nest

Standoff

This weekend Major Nelson posted the top 10 Xbox Live titles for the past week (measured in number of unique users). If you keep up with this list you know that the top two titles don’t change very often. Before the release of Halo 3, Gears of War was solidly in #1 each week. Since the release of Halo 3 took #1 Gears has been #2. No more. This week COD4 has upset GoW (by how much we do not know). With Infinity Ward already discussing the first round of patches for COD4 and huge demand selling out many stores on launch week, it’s reasonable to say that this change may be semi-permanent. Word of mouth is also selling many copies of COD4, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

If you’re interested in the upcoming COD4 patches, here’s an executive summary:

Additions / Features:

* Added Kill cam to Airstrike bombs and Claymores.
* Addition of Host Migration so if Host Leaves auto-chooses next best host.
* Tweaked the following Oldschool Mode settings based on feedback:
– Added Unlimited Sprint
– Increased Magazine Size
– Added Ragdoll Cam
* Addition of New “N0M4D” Control Scheme.

Optimizations / Tweaks:

* Identify party by background color (in Lobby).
* Optimized server selection for first match for better connections.
* Improved network performance for 18 player games.
* Optimized ‘Chase Cam’ when Spectating.
* Fixed Playlist error when attempting to join from other games.
* Handle Corrupt Create A Class data instead of kicking player.

Unfortunately, no release date has been set for the upcoming patch. However, given the frustrating nature of some bugs, we all can hope it’s soon–very soon. Major Nelson and E also discussed last week’s XBL troubles on Larry’s podcast this weekend. Apparently the problem was elusive and not based on user load, but E is confident they squashed it for good.

This is a transcription of the music in Halo 3’s main menu after the main theme. I believe it to be called Unforgotten. This transcription is arranged for a violin cello and a piano. The timing for this one is off by a bit but the notes are the right ones. Again, I have given you a PDF and the Finale 2003 version.

Here is the first half of the Halo 3 E306 Announcement Trailer. That is all that I have worked on. I tried to make the timing as close as possible but in the end I am about a quarter note off. Anyway I have provided you with a PDF and Finale 2003. This is for piano only. Enjoy.

VVV thinks the graphical improvements to Halo 3 are nice, but that under the hood, the gameplay mechanics are still broken.