When my launch-day-360 red-ringed in November (post-NXE) I wasn't given the option to get a box. Instead, they *mailed* me a shipping label (didn't even offer for me to print it). I didn't even know that was what was going on; I was expecting a box in the mail and was quite suprised when just the label showed up.

I called up and bitched and -- eventually -- they sent a coffin. Granted boxing it myself wouldn't have been that difficult, but I was pissed on principle. This probably extended my whole repair scenario by at least another 10 days.

Keeping that box for future usage.

All the maps are pretty, but the aesthetics and flow of Assembly have held by heart since its first unveiling.

i need them because if i turn up the volume on the speakers too loud the wifelet will zombify *me*

Gears Of War 2
The Wrath Of Dom

since my aim sucks, blast radius is my friend -- boomshot, baby!

Mythic is the map pack being released for the *current* Halo 3 in early 2009. Based on the new acheivments, there appear to be 6 maps in that pack; there are acheivments specific 2 these maps. No specific release date or pricing. Only 1 map (Assembly) has been publicly shown.

Recon is the name of the Fall 2009 new game Halo 3 Recon. It sounds like H3R might also include the Mythic maps, but it is likely that the current new acheivments are gained only in H3 (not H3R) w/ the Mythic maps. It remains to be seen whether the online gaming of H3R interoperates w/ the existing H3, or if it is a separate XBL gamespace.

(Recon is also an armor type in the existing H3)

Convincing my wife that there is absolutely nothing abnorrmal about camping out all night in 25 degree weather for the 360 launch.

My launch-day 360 is still going strong, but ~68% very nearly corresponds to the failure rate amongst my group of my 40-50 co-workers who also have owned one.

obviously this far-exceeds what forge can do.

on the flip side, while this looks great for creating broad-swath outdoor environments, i wonder how fine-grained the controls could be for creating arenas and carefully structured environments. perhaps this doesn't apply to far cry, but in a Halo-esque world you obviously need detailed object placement to carefully craft certain environments (i.e., to ensure symmetry, sight lines, jumps, etc.) ... just saying 'create mountains here' and 'place building here' and brushing in trees doesn't do that.

nonetheless, for a FC world, very cool stuff.

Random speculation time:
1.) bungie rumored to be devleoping XBLA arcade game (amongst other unsubstantiated rumors)
2.) luke smith indicates that one bungie effort "is so close you can feel its familiar warmth on your cheek while you sleep"
3.) bungie annoucement @ e3 cancelled
4.) Geo Wars release on arcade moved up by a week

prb means nothing ... but who knows ... was a (now postponed) Bungie XBLA game slated for a July 30 release?