SK1LL4XED sent word that there’s plenty of new Halo-related stuff up over at the Post Game Carnage Report – Episode 73 of their podcast is heavy on the Team Classic discussion, there’s a separate Team Classic review, and they’re running a Halo video contest with a deadline of May 21. Full details (and prize description) on their site! (Louis Wu 18:40:29 UTC)

NeoGAF’s Hitmonchan107 (who’s gonna get hired if he keeps this up) pointed out a couple of news bits – an MLG video producer is looking for feedback to improve their live stream offerings, and Tor is giving away four Halo prize packs – you’ve got until tomorrow at 1pm (Eastern) to enter.(Louis Wu 18:35:36 UTC)

Over at NeoGAF, Mikasangelos pointed out some new stills from Halo: Faith on their Facebook page – along with this first test composition from their vfx department. Gotta say… looks pretty good!(Louis Wu 18:32:50 UTC)

Fly the friendly skies.

No beavers allowed.

Hot, nasty, bad ass speed.

Back in February, we mentioned The Art of Video Games, an exhibition coming next year to the Smithsonian Institution – Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo Wars are all up for voting. This is a reminder that the voting was SUPPOSED to have ended tomorrow – but has been extended through April 17. If you haven’t cast your vote, register and do so in the next 10 days!(Louis Wu 15:35:29 UTC)

Today is the last day that High Impact Halo will have new content; as planned, content will be frozen and the site will be archived here for posterity. Anakade stopped by with a farewell vid from DWT Productions. Glitchin’ forever!(Louis Wu 14:29:34 UTC)

In case you didn’t notice yesterday, the Community BTB playlist went live as planned – some great maps in there! In the games I played, Tank/Banshee domination was NOT a problem (as it is in standard BTB). Check ’em out. (The full list of maps can be seen on Bungie’s Playlists page.)(Louis Wu 13:44:15 UTC)

shadow8p put together ‘Planko’, a Pachinko-type game built in the Halo engine. You can watch a video showing how it works; the download links are in the description. It’s set up for team play, even! Has a couple of issues – but even so, it’s pretty cool.(Louis Wu 13:40:26 UTC)

munky-058 posted a few video clips yesterday, as part of a farewell to the HBO community for the coming month (real life intrudes, apparently) – they’re all fun, but it’s the last one I’m calling attention to. In a quiet moment after the battle on the bridge of the Covenant Corvette on Long Night of Solace, Munky had a conversation with one of the marines. Most of us will never get the chance to hear this for ourselves; my guess is, you have to be on Legendary, and you have to keep that dude alive through this tough fight (and you probably have to have the IWHBYD skull on)… but it’s a fascinating bit of discussion. Go watch. Update: kornman00 confirmed that this line can be heard elsewhere; he heard it while waiting for reinforcements on Winter Contingency. (The volume was really, really low – it was nowhere near as clean as munky’s version – but you might be able to find other places where this is audible.) Update 2: And T07WRX5, too. I guess it’s easier than I thought – but it’s still pretty cool to hear!(Louis Wu 13:22:48 UTC)

A fan sent in an interesting article on Dorkly.com charting Villians who eventually became heroes. One of our favorite split-lips made the list. Go check it out!(GrimBrother One 12:56:28 UTC)

This happened to Gus’ wife Esther the other day. If you want to read more about her adventures, you can visit her blog.

PS. If you’re attending RTX this May you can now book at our official hotel using the following link:

http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/A/AUSLNDT-RTP-20110527/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

If you’re attending RTX you may want to join the Official RTX group

Hey guys, dropping off this week’s fresh new THIS IS… This week Geoff and I take a look at The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile. It is the first ever game to have Achieveables in it! Enjoy!

Halo Waypoint has a couple of cool bits for you today – a Legendary tattoo (that’s an arm it’s on), and some Halo goodies (a pistol and a mongoose) lovingly crafted in… Minecraft. Check ’em out! (Thanks, angel.)(Louis Wu 19:32:33 UTC)

Rockslider stopped in with word of his newest AotCR video – Shade Riding off the bridge, in a LOT of variations. Is there anyone who’s spent more time on that bridge than Rockslider? I doubt it.(Louis Wu 19:28:26 UTC)

Save the burning books! Oh and you get an achievement too I guess . . .

This happened to Gus’ wife Esther the other day. If you want to read more about her adventures, you can visit her blog.

PS. If you’re attending RTX this May you can now book at our official hotel using the following link:

http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/A/AUSLNDT-RTP-20110527/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

If you’re attending RTX you may want to join the Official RTX group

Aloha, and welcome to Monday! Later on will be this week’s AHWU but for right now here’s all the wrecks in Hawaii 2. Enjoy the Buggy and don’t drive into a volcano.