And who better to show us around the new maps than the crew from Red vs Blue?

Bungie has an FAQ about the new maps downloads here. Additonally, they have some notes about a play list update (which isn’t yet live as of this writing) and more right here.

PoweTip: Download the maps from Marketplace so you can do background downloading instead of waiting at the screen. Better to kill time in an XBLA game or watching a video than staring at a progress bar.

Wow, what a mountain of awesome stuff in the Dashboard Update! This video comes from Microsoft’s Game Score Blog. The update should be available very soon, if not by the time you read this.

Couple of things you might want to check out:
Friends Of Friends – here you can set your privacy settings for the new Friends Of Friends feature.
Arcade Hits – some of the pricier Xbox Live Arcade titles now cost less! Marble Blast Ultra and Lumines and more! More arcade titles will drop in price just like the ‘Platnium Hits’ program on disc games.
DivX Playback – At last, watch video you downloaded on you home computer on a TV without converting it all into some other goofy format.

See the full list of updates on Xbox.com

Newly independant Halo developers Bungie have been talking a lot about new maps, using code words and vague tempting descriptions, but now they make the trio of multiplayer additions official.

Available December 11, 2007 for 800 MS Points ($10 US) will be the Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack. You’ll be able to download these using your XBox Live account connection. There are 3 maps in all: Standoff, Rat’s Nest, and Foundry.

Standoff is a symetrical map with 2 bases set at dusk and giant satellite dishes in the background. Rat’s Nest is the companion to the campaign mission Crow’s Nest, featuring indoor and outdoor settings. Foundry was designed from the ground up for Forge alterations; apparently almost everything in the map can be moved or deleted.

Those not wishing to buy the maps will get them free in Spring, right when the next map pack goes for sale.

Read all about maps direct from the designers at Bungie.net

The fall dashboard update for the Xbox 360 is running a little late this year. According to Official Xbox Magazine, it should happen on December 4th. Will it be worth the wait? Well parents will be able to use the new Family Settings to limit the time childen playing games. Thats enough Viva Pinata, little Jimmy. Sadly, this is unlikely to curtail the pint sized razor tongued demons I meet nightly in the Xbox Live lobbies of various M rated games. At least MS is trying.

Also coming with this update will be Xbox’s own virtual console! Original Xbox games will be available for 1200 Microsoft points ($15). The launch lineup will be the original Halo (obviously) Fahrenheit, Fable, Crimson Skies, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex and Burnout 3: Takedown. Compatibility with Xbox Live is expected for those titles that supported it (Crimson Skies, Burnout).

Those in Europe will be pleased to find out they’re finally getting Video Marketplace. Now they too can finally download episodes of South Park for $2 a pop.

In a little more immediate news, Screwjumper is now Xbox Live Arcade’s 100th game. To celebrate this as well as 2 years of the service they’re promising a surprise new game next Wednesday that is a “sequel to Xbox Live Arcade’s most successful game.”
I haven’t checked the numbers in a while. That could be early hit Geometry Wars, the card game Uno, or even this year’s best selling classic arcade title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

No matter what, there seems to be no shortage of downlaodable content on Xbox Live these days, which is frustrating since I’m still trying to clear Halo 3, haven’t touched Orange Box yet, and Assassin’s Creed comes out this week.

Seems as though last weeks rumors were true, and Bungie has indeed split from Microsoft to pursue other opportunities. The Microsoft press release reads:

“REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 5, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a plan for Bungie Studios, the developers of the “Halo®” franchise, to embark on a path to become an independent company. Microsoft will retain an equity interest in Bungie, at the same time continuing its long-standing publishing agreement between Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie for the Microsoft-owned “Halo” intellectual property as well as other future properties developed by Bungie.

The critically acclaimed Xbox 360®-exclusive “Halo 3” achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, “Halo 3” is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.

“Our collaboration with Bungie has resulted in ‘Halo’ becoming an enduring mainstream hit,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. “While we are supporting Bungie’s desire to return to its independent roots, we will continue to invest in our ‘Halo’ entertainment property with Bungie and other partners, such as Peter Jackson, on a new interactive series set in the ‘Halo’ universe. We look forward to great success with Bungie as our long-term relationship continues to evolve through ‘Halo’-related titles and new IP created by Bungie.”

“This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally in our mission to create world-class games,” said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. “We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft® platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios; and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through ‘Halo’ and beyond.”

Bungie Studios will remain in its current location in Kirkland, Wash….”

What this means for Microsoft competitors Sony and Nintendo remains to be seen, but this is big news any way you slice it. More info as it becomes available.

OK, now you have it. Maybe you got it at midnight, maybe on your break from work or school, maybe on your way home today: but if you own an Xbox 360, today is the day you get Halo 3. What do you think? Chime in using the comments section for this post (No spoilers!) or register for our forums and visit the Halo 3 Appreciation Thread, where you can discuss the games’ story, revelations, and ultimate outcome.

Tonight, many Powet forum members and staff will be online playing matchmaking and co-op. Feel free to post your gamer tag at our XBOX Live section, and add us to your list. Its a weeknight, but we’ll be on as late as we can.

October 6th we’re going to have an official Powet Game Night for Halo 3. You’ll have a week and a half to work on your skills, learn the new maps, create your custom Spartan, and come up with some new game types to share. More details will be posted to the forums soon.

Happy Halo Day!

The edition of Halo 3 every one is talking about is finally revealed!

[Read the rest of this entry…]

The Xbox 360 may not be doing too well in the land of the rising sun, but that didn’t stop Microsoft from making some killer announcements at the Tokyo Game Show. Besides the formal announcement of the exclusive Ninja Gaiden 2 (shock!) a handful of downloadable titles were announced for Xbox Live Arcade including Treasure’s critically acclaimed shooter Ikaruga and a new, high-definition version of Sega and United Game Artists’ Rez with full 5.1 audio! 1up has got the screenshots here, commence drooling!