It seems Halo Wars is set to become the new Crackdown, with Microsoft enticing franchise fence sitters with goodies from Halo 3. The real-time strategy game set within Bungie's sprawling, hoop-filled universe will arrive this forthcoming February in both regular form and a Limited Collector's Edition. The latter should prove tempting even to those who prefer to see their aliens on the other side of a crosshair, as it will include early access to Halo 3's Mythic multiplayer map pack.

The three maps, named "Assembly," "Orbital" and "Sandbox," join Halo Wars: Genesis, a graphic novel by Phil Noto, Graeme Devine and Eric Nylund; a "unique" in-game Wraith vehicle; six leader cards (they "possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle," it says here) and a "Spirit of Fire" patch, which your mom can sew onto your favorite jacket. Just be sure to pay her back the $79.99 as well.

Early this morning when Xbox Live was reactivated from its 26 (or so) hour slumber, Halo 3 users in Matchmaking discovered a problem. Users were angered to find that their Halo 3 TrueSkill and EXP were not being rewarded properly after each match -- that is to say it didn't work at all. According to Bungie and the Xbox.com support page, the problem is being investigated and hopes to be solved as soon as possible. Bungie noted that the issue may appear, at first, to be an EXP ban but users will be able to tell the difference when a very specific warning message is displayed. X3F will update you as soon as it learns more.

UPDATE: According to Xbox Live the mystery is a new campaign experience. The trailer download page on Live includes the text, "High action and deep mystery await players in this new Halo 3 campaign experience. Prepare to Drop!" This is getting interesting!

After an unfortunate false-start at E3 2008, Bungie has finally revealed its hidden agenda for world domination. Today at 7:07am PDT, Bungie teased what appears to be a story expansion to Halo 3. Details are scarce but the trailer begins with falling escape pods onto a city landscape that seems ripped right out of Halo 2's infamous E3 in-game demo.

The trailer showcases a giant explosion that levels the clean city into a burning pile of rubble ending with the tag lines, Halo 3. Prepare to Drop.

If you ask us, this screams ODSTs! Not that we're swayed by the itchy typing fingers of hardcore fanboys and girls but we're all excited for whatever this title or expansion could mean for the Halo universe! Expect every morsel of information here on X3F as soon as it becomes available.

In a new encoded post on the official Bungie site a string of text teases what many anticipate was Bungie's canceled E3 reveal. Playing out like a snippet of a Hollywood script, the string of text details a conversation between a Captain - Codenamed: DARE.V.500341(S1) - following up on a squad request to an Admiral - Codenamed: SMN.ACTUAL - calling the shots from a location currently under siege.

At the time of this writing speculation continues to run wild within the Bungie Forums. Popular theories point to new campaign levels, a map pack retail disc with a new cinematic (as seen in Halo 2's map pack) or an entirely new title within the Halo Universe, specifically due to references of the MAC weapon. Some of the more interesting tidbits could easily be gleaned from scanning the string of text (available after the break). The primary, DARE, is given a code number which ends in S1 leading some to believe the string of text occurs prior to Covenant attacks during the SPARTAN-1 era (yr.2491) -- way before John-117 joins the program in 2517.

Which theory gets us excited? The mention of squads could point to a pre-Halo era tactical shooter in the original SPARTAN phase that led to the creation of Master Chief. Wild thinking and speculation but we can't wait to see where this one is going.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

The anticipated second title update to the Xbox 360 power-house Halo 3 is scheduled to release on Tuesday, September 23. Bringing fresh achievements to the popular shooter as well as a host of new features to Bungie.net, the second update will also revamp the player rating system within the game as well as kick-start the September playlists which adds new variants of current maps into ranked games as well as retire classic gameplay variants like Rocket Race and Big Team Battle.

Some users will notice changes already made to Bungie.net but the changes will only become fully apparent when the update is released. Before our inbox becomes flooded on Tuesday with tips on broken updates there are a few things to keep in mind. Halo 3 ... pretty popular. According to Bungie's Luke Smith players may experience issues with everything from the playlists to actually obtaining the update -- a listing of possible Zero Hour scenarios can be found in the latest Weekly Update. In the update Smith also revealed one of the newly added achievements will not be available until September 25 also known as Halo 3's first birthday.

After a year of shelf-life and its battle for top seed in the Xbox Live rankings, what is your excitement level for the Halo 3 update?

[Thanks for everyone who sent this in]

From a list of runners-up that included the likes of Grand Theft Auto IV, Portal, Super Mario Galaxy, and Wii Fit, UK games magazine Edge has awarded Halo 3 its 2008 "Edge Award for Interactive Innovation" with four months left in the year. The decision itself seems to lack a certain degree of, well, innovation, as Edge previously selected Halo 3 as the "Best Innovation" in games for ... 2007.

Upon bestowing this honor upon the game last year, Edge's staff stated, "[Bungie] built Halo 3 to express what its fans dreamt it could be: four player online co-op, a level editor, screenshots, and the best matchmaking system in the world." Eight months later, the game has garnered nearly identical equal praise, "From its Theater mode to Forge, and the way a party playing through Live can seamlessly manoeuvre between them, here is an experience that demonstrates an unparalleled understanding of the potential for console online play."

Could we be due for a Halo Three-peat in '09? Perhaps, if the trailblazing likes of Madden NFL 2009 or Soul Calibur IV don't make the short-list for this coveted honor.

"We have a lot to learn from their success too, they did some very innovative things to keep people going and their experience-rewards system was something that we paid a lot of attention to." Is that any way to talk about your main Xbox Live competitor? Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Bungie's Lead AI Programmer, Damian Isla, had quite a few nice things to say about Infinity Ward's ridiculously successful shooter, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Isla joins a chorus of reviewers in praising the game's single-player campaign for its tight pacing and scripting, praising the developers for doing "a hell of a job with their set pieces, of scripting certain moments that they were really sure the player was going to actually see and experience first hand." Though Isla notes that Halo 3's gameplay is heavily dependent on simulation (meaning in-game physics and reactions, not reality), it still "has a lot to learn" from Call of Duty 4's tunnel of fun approach.

With Infinity Ward's next project rumored to be a sci-fi shooter, it seems the studios might soon be trading places outside of the Xbox Live rankings.

Now this is how you promote Viva Piñata. Parodying the Halo 3 Believe advertisement that swept a camera through a gorgeously crafted diorama, this trailer takes the characters of Piñata Island and places them in a similar epic battle -- complete with the original dramatic music. Is it fan made or legit? We don't know. It looks so good that it may be a professional job but it's so creative that it seems fan made. Who cares really, it is incredible. Also it works because now we totally can't wait for Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise to ship. We just hope it isn't like Halo 3 in that it doesn't include a scenario like this one at all.

Watch it. Live it. Love it. This trailer is epic. Believe.

[Thanks, Sean]

Looking for a good time waster? HaloTech Gee-MC is a fun, flash-based mini-game that allows you to build your own Spartan soldier from the Halo universe. Fulfill your wildest dreams by adding Recon or even the Bungie Employee-exclusive Flaming head to your creation. Set the stage by adding downed soldiers, vehicles and weapons to your designs (spot my creation above!) and even throw your creation to into screenshot gallery. There really isn't a point to it all but it's fun and you might as well get used to creating Avatars, no? Give it a spin!

A trusted Wal-Mart source has sent Joystiq an image taken from the company's intranet, "The Wire," showing a listing for Halo "Blue." We've also received an unverified tip detailing Halo "Blue," though it's unclear whether that information stems from the same retail listing. With so little information available about what Blue is, we're guessing the shown Sept. 30 date is placeholder. The Microsoft press conference is in less than 12 hours, so stay tuned.

Another Bungie Day has come and gone. As the famed developer celebrated their favorite day of the year with fans by treating them with a plethora of free goodies, Bungie.net regulars wrapped up an event meant to give something back. The mission: achieve 7 billion UNSC campaign kills in Halo 3 by Bungie Day, rounding out the day to a perfect '7' overall. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. As of today the goal is a little under 50 million kills shy of the 7 billion mark.

We commend the community's effort and sympathize, considering we added a few kills in the pursuit of 7 ourselves. While the goal wasn't achieved, B.net users proved with their passion and dedication that it is one of the best gaming communities in the world. Great job everyone.

Update: To clarify, the Legendary playlists within Halo 3 now require all downloadable content. So to continue playing on Legendary playlists you'll need the free Heroic pack, the Legendary pack (which you'd need to play on that list anyway) and Cold Storage. After Bungie Day the playlists that utilize Cold Storage are playlists that require all downloadable content. Effectively making Cold Storage apart of the Legendary Map Pack after today.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and a good Bungie Day to you. To help celebrate this, surely soon-to-be National, holiday the Xbox Live Marketplace has been overrun by Bungie related content. Available for download are a free gamer picture set and dashboard theme, both wrapped in Bungie-branded love. Also, if you're interested, 'Cold Storage' -- the new map for Halo 3 that re-envisions Halo's 'Chill Out' -- is online for the low price of free. There are a few limitations to 'Cold Storage,' specifically you must have both previous map packs to add the new map to matchmaking, but so far the map looks hot. Or cold. Whichever works for you.

Don't have the Heroic or Legendary Halo 3 map packs? Heroic is still available for free and as of today the Legendary map pack has been discounted to 600 MS Points. Oh and also, we're offering 10 X3F bonus points (which don't mean anything) to the first person to spot any Superintendent related hints in the map. Happy hunting!

Confused about what exactly you need to do to play the new Halo 3 multiplayer map, Cold Storage, come Monday, Bungie Day? Let Bungie's Luke & Co. explain it all in the "On the Seven7th Day" vidoc, embedded after the break. In short, you need the Heroic map pack (don't worry, it's free), the Legendary map pack (it's being dropped from $10 to $7.50 on Monday) and then, of course the Cold Storage map which, they want you to know, will be free not only on Bungie Day but every day. You also get a good idea of what the map – a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved's "Chill Out" – has got to offer.

Oh, and what's this about celebrating Bungie's independence as a multi-game studio by announcing a game on Bungie Day? Seven guys in a shoebox? Just banter or a tease of what Bungie's got planned for Monday? No, seriously, we're asking you here ...

You already know about Cold Storage, the remake of a classic Halo: Combat Evolved map for Halo 3. You already know about Bungie Day, which is this Monday, July 7. Hell, you even already even know that Cold Storage will be free on Bungie Day (and forever after). But, we know you still crave knowledge regarding the latest Halo 3 content. Lucky for you, a few Bungie employees banded together to create a new VIDoc, aptly named "On the Seven7th Day," to showcase Cold Storage and compare it with its Halo: Combat Evolved father, Chill Out. There's even a tease early on that Bungie may have something new to announce in the future. If only there were large scale industry events for such an announcement!