gunluva whipped up a pretty funny little sketch – go check it out.(Louis Wu 14:04:50 UTC)

Zeouterlimits pointed out the latest Listen Up podcast (09/18/2009) from the 1UP guys – lots of discussion about ODST. They liked it a lot, apparently. Timestamp of ODST discussion: 0:36:30 – 0:49:00.(Louis Wu 14:04:33 UTC)

kabu let us know that The HBOFF Feet First into Hell contest is closed – next up… judging!(Louis Wu 14:04:15 UTC)

ODST drops in 3 days, but the web content has already begun to explode. (Full reviews are still embargoed until midnight (eastern) tonight, so any that you see today will be from folks who weren’t at press events.) Stuff we’ve heard about in the last half-day or so:

• Kombo.com has a campaign hands-on – no spoilers, just impressions of the differences between ODST and Halo 3, in terms of gameplay. Good read. (Thanks, James Center)
• Gamespot has a preview of the weapons of Halo 3: ODST. Includes wielding tips.
• Gamespot also has a playthrough vid of the first hour of Halo 3: ODST (well, 49 minutes or so). Count on the first hour’s worth of secrets to be spoiled. (Thanks, serpx)
• IGN posted a fun video that summarizes the Halo story in 5 minutes or so – obvious story spoilers, and I think if you had never heard of Halo, it would make almost no sense… but for Halo fans, it’s quite funny. Thanks, FassinTaak.
• IGN also posted a tiny (30 second) ode to the Halo 3: ODST pistol – it’s a Headshots minitage. Thanks, Minime637.
• Gametrailers has posted a bunch of new clips – cinematics, some firefight vids, campaign gameplay. No real spoilers.
• TeamXbox Has posted a bunch of new vids, as well – all campaign clips.

I’m positive there’ll be more as the day goes on – and tomorrow will be insane, given the end of the press embargo this evening.(Louis Wu 13:49:01 UTC)

The Bungie Weekly Update is (not surprisingly) full of information about Halo 3: ODST – the launch date, the party on Monday, some AMAZING artwork, tales of debauchery and derring-do in the Bungie offices, and more. And, of course, a bunch of fun-making at the expense of some of the less well-spoken fans… go read. You can also check it out in our Weekly Update Archive.(Louis Wu 23:58:52 UTC)

We forgot to mention it – but this week’s Double EXP Weekend playlist is Rocket Race – and it’s been live since yesterday. Thanks, urk!(Louis Wu 17:52:53 UTC)

Hawty McBloggy has a bit on a really nice-looking groom’s cake that a really cool woman had made for her husband-to-be. She based it on the Special Edition Halo 3 Xbox 360. You KNOW he picked well…(Louis Wu 17:32:48 UTC)