RC Master has kicked off a new YouTube channel – RC’s Video Game School. The first video, as he showed on our forum, will teach you how to assassinate Sword Elites in Halo: Reach’s campaign. (Yeah… this probably isn’t as easy as he makes it look.) (Louis Wu 16:09:22 UTC)

More Ragnarok/Mantis stuff – Paul B. put up a 9-minute game showing a couple of runs in the Mantis (thanks, CyReN), while Shadders wrote up his thoughts on his blog. HaloForum put together a compilation vid showing offscreen Mantis video (thanks, ElzarTheBam). Frank added a couple of comments to assure folks that the Mantis isn’t going to be TOO overwhelming. Update: MixMaker1 let us know he’s put up impressions, as well.(Louis Wu 15:55:28 UTC)

We’ve seen a lot of off-screen Halo 4 footage, but not a huge amount of high-level gameplay. CyReN pointed out links to some gameplay by BilzozANinja – this video shows a 5-minute game that includes a Sticky Detonator Extermination (it happens right at the end of the game, but there’s quite a bit of decent DMR/Carbine gameplay before that), while this one shows a seriously impressive 29-0 run. (This one might worry some of you a little; we had word after E3 that ordinance drops would get harder and harder as the game goes along, to counteract the ‘rich get richer’ effect… but this guy gets drops after 6, 8, 6, 8 kills, due to huge bonuses for things like a Running Riot, Untouchable, etc.) This last one also gives you a great view of the destructive power of the SAW. (Louis Wu 15:49:20 UTC)

NartFOpc and some friends were playing in Matchmaking, and most of the other team quit. Sometimes… you gotta make your own fun!(Louis Wu 15:46:02 UTC)

Postmortem announced the winner of the first week’s entries for his Visualizing the Halo Universe contest – congrats, TDSpiral! Check out the post for comments on all entries!(Louis Wu 15:44:16 UTC)

The big news this morning is a double-punch – it’s information that came out last week, unofficially, but the embargo has been raised, and 343 wants you to get an eyeful. Halo 3’s Valhalla is back… in Halo 4, it’s called Ragnarok. (The remake, at least what we can see of it in the new trailer on Halo Waypoint, or the new image gallery of scenery shots, looks to be pretty faithful to the original.) The second punch? The Mantis, a multiplayer vehicle we saw in renders last week, is playable on this map (and the video has footage). Greenskull already has an impressions video up – go see what he thinks of the map, and the mech! On our own forum, uberfoop kicked off a discussion thread – go add your two cents! Update: looks like I should have held off just a little – nomis78 announced a CommunityCustoms writeup, and CyReN let us know about a HaloCouncil breakdown from xClicked. Folks have been chomping at the bit to talk about this! Update 2: Until Halo Waypoint gets it up onto their own channel, there’s a HD version of the Mantis vid on YouTube, posted by GoombaStompShow – nice for folks who can’t get Silverlight to work.(Louis Wu 11:02:33 UTC)

Dogiojoe pointed out a fan-made Halo 4 trailer that will do a nice job of pumping you up! (Louis Wu 19:50:32 UTC)

nomis78 stopped by to announce a writeup of the UK Preview event he attended last week – swing by Community Customs to read the details!(Louis Wu 19:48:50 UTC)

Shadders interviewed Frank O’Connor in London recently – the first half (non-embargoed questions/answers) is online now. Go read it! Thanks, TheOddOne.(Louis Wu 19:45:52 UTC)

Wahrer Machine put together a Chiptune version of Halo 2’s Peril – go listen! (Louis Wu 19:44:05 UTC)

Still more off-screen footage from Eurogamer – this one is Halo 4 Dominion on Exile. Thanks, CyReN.(Louis Wu 19:43:00 UTC)

(Louis Wu 19:41:25 UTC)

Higuy sent word that Project Lumoria, the campaign mod for Halo Custom Edition, will be released this coming Friday, October 5. It will include 5 maps and a brand-new UI to load the campaign. Their final ViDoc wil give you a more complete look at what’s coming!(Louis Wu 19:37:53 UTC)

These came in last week, but life’s been rather insane – apologies to Dust Storm for the oversight! Podtacular 313 contains a nice summary of the information that’s been released since the media embargo lifted last week, while Pod TV has a look at the Covenant Weaponry video released a couple of weeks ago. (Louis Wu 19:35:09 UTC)

The Family Gamer TV has an interview with Frank O’Connor that previews Halo 4 and shows off some more looks of the upcoming game. Check it out! Thanks, Hydranockz. (GrimBrother One 19:02:11 UTC)

Hedgemony continues his series of amazing comic cover concepts based on the new GEN2 MJOLNIR armor from Halo 4. He started out with CIO, and kept the magic rolling with Oceanic. His latest though, completely near and dear to my heart. Check out his artistic depiction of a valiant Spartan IV battling the most grim of conditions in LOCUS. Go. Look. NOW!(GrimBrother One 22:45:44 UTC)

We’ve had good things to say about KontrolFreek products in the past – and now, they’re kicking off a new giveaway. Halo 4 Free is a Facebook-based giveaway – liking their page could net you a Halo 4 console! Take a look.(Louis Wu 17:59:11 UTC)