Joe Spataro and Tam Armstrong have released the animation talk they gave at the GDC this year – and you can download it from Bungie.net. (Warning: my (older) version of Powerpoint was unable to view the video files, though a 3-year-old version of Apple Keynote had no problem with them.)(Louis Wu 22:10:06 UTC)

Bungie All Stars is up to Round 10 – and your chance to add that exclusive star to your gamertag involves Halo: Reach, Forge, and a bunch of rocks. Go read about it at B.net!(Louis Wu 20:50:34 UTC)

Burnie and Geoff present an in-depth tour of the 3 new maps of the new Halo Reach DLC. The Defiant map pack features an awesome new slayer, big team and firefight maps. Check it out.

Hey guys, if you are crazy in to Halo: Reach like we are, you may want to check out this early preview of the Defiant Map Pack that releases tomorrow! Enjoy!

If you’re hating the idea of being the fastest Twitter reader, we’ve got another way for you to win Defiant Map Pack codes – all you need to do is prove your skill at a retro Halo game. Back in 2002, BOLL created a Pelican Flash game – fly that Pelican as far as you can without hitting anything, and you can put yourself on the high score list. Get into the Top 3 list on any of the five levels, and you’ll find yourself in possession of a Defiant Map Pack code this evening, at 7:30pm EST. (Yes, that’s a bit late for Europeans. Sorry.) You can only win once, even if you show up more often than that. You’ll be prompted for a name on the final screen, and an email address and a Gamertag after you submit your score – all of these are optional. If you choose not to submit a name, you’ll never even see the email/gt screen. If you choose not to submit a valid email address or gamertag, your entry will not qualify for the prizes. Thanks to BOLL for the addictive game… and to 343 for the codes! Check your engines – and fly straight!(Louis Wu 18:29:26 UTC)

Straight outta GDC.

TiberiusAudley was another gamer who snagged an early map code – and you can read his impressions at Audley Enough. I’m still waiting to read a negative review… that I’ve waited this long bodes well for Certain Affinity’s craftsmanship.(Louis Wu 17:24:25 UTC)

Another cool walkthrough of the Defiant Map Pack – this time from the Rooster Teeth crew. Burnie and Geoff show you all of the goodies available. As you might expect, camera control is very clean. Thanks, onebitrocket.(Louis Wu 16:26:24 UTC)

Community
–Achievement HORSE #14
–Fails of the Weak! Volume 25
–Xbox LIVE Labs
–Weekend Hunt

AH Videos
–Peng Me Again and Ship Shape video guides in Dead Space 2
–Pin-up, The Diablo You Know, and Flame Grilled video guide in Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
–Enchantment Overload video guide in Torchlight
–Achievement Hunter Behind the Scenes: Magical Floating Games
–Rage Quit: Guitar Hero Metallica

Community Videos
–Zombie Music and Talking Dolls Easter Eggs in Call of Duty: Black Ops from Nand
–Sore wa kantan desu video guide in Doritos Crash Course from Soothsayer57
–Bin Collector, Snot an Achievement, and Canadian Stunt video guide in Earthworm Jim HD from BioHRay
–Communication Breakdown and Survivor video guide in Supreme Commander 2 from ClownBaby
–Rajputtin’ You to Shame, Aggressive Pacifist, and A Zande to Remember video guide in Deadliest Warrior: The Game from BrownMan

Xbox 360 Achievements
-Added achievements for Xbox LIVE Labs
-Added achievements for Michael Jackson: The Experience
-Added achievements for The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile
-Added achievements for WWE All Stars
-Added achievements for Battle: Los Angeles
-Added achievements for NASCAR 2011: The Game
-Added Doom on the Loose DLC achievements for Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet
-Added Autumn Tale DLC achievements for ilomilo
-Added The Exiled Prince DLC achievements for Dragon Age II
-Added Defiant Map Pack DLC achievements for Halo: Reach
-Added Lost Hobo King DLC achievements for Stacking

Windows Phone 7 Achievements
-Added achievements for Fable: Coin Golf
-Added achievements for Burn it All!

PlayStation 3 Trophies
-Added trophies for .deTuned
-Added trophies for Tomb Raider: Underworld
-Added Dead Money DLC trophies for Fallout: New Vegas

Steam Achievements
-Added achievements for B.U.T.T.O.N.
-Added achievements for Swords and Soldiers HD

Dani’s got a full writeup of the new maps, as well, over at Forward Unto Dawn. Good read!(Louis Wu 13:35:21 UTC)

FyreWulff wrote up a text-only review of the Defiant Map Pack (he’s waiting for the official embargo to end to include screens/videos) – you can find it over at the Fire Team Zulu website. Interesting stuff!(Louis Wu 13:32:53 UTC)

AngelicLionheart stopped in with word of an artist who’s doing a 24 hour draw-a-thon for Japan relief – he’ll draw whatever you want, with the money going to the Red Cross tsunami relief effort. We recently mentioned some Halo work he’d done… jump in and get some cool artwork made!(Louis Wu 13:32:04 UTC)

NeoGAF’s Tashi put together Ascendancy, a montage of footage from some early Defiant gameplay – and Devin Olsen followed up quickly with his own minitage. Nice work! Update: Tashi also uploaded a full game vid on Highlands (it’s the one where his opening predicted rocket double comes from).(Louis Wu 13:31:00 UTC)

I have no idea how he did this… but b0anerges managed to reproduce the Real Salt Lake logo… in Forge. Check it.(Louis Wu 13:30:34 UTC)

ChenK had been looking for a piece of Halo 3 artwork – KP helped out. Grab this while it’s available! (Louis Wu 13:30:07 UTC)

Achievement Hunter’s Geoff and Jack hung out with This Spartan Life’s Damian Lacedamian – the resulting 10 minute interview is up on Halo: Waypoint’s website (thanks, pete_the_duck, who’s also in the movie). Great talk, great challenges (they’re playing TSL, not HORSE) – go watch!(Louis Wu 13:29:42 UTC)

CruelLEGACEY is giving away a Defiant Map Pack code, along with a Gears of War 3 Avatar prop – you’ll need to follow him on Twitter to get in on the action. Good luck!(Louis Wu 19:08:27 UTC)

padraig08 found an RC Warthog commercial that could have been aired in the 90s – I laughed in a few places.(Louis Wu 13:25:36 UTC)