Smacking up on plasmids and beating a guy with a wrench, wailing on a bronze-clad diver while a little girl cheers for your demise, popping someone's head off with a pistol, setting someone on fire, popping someone's head off with a pistol after setting them on fire...it's just another day in the underwater paradise of BioShock called "Rapture." This video showcases actual gameplay with some of the best water effects and creepiest scenarios I've encountered in a video game. GG 2k Games.

Introduction:  I’m an engineer by day - hardcore gamer by night.  I’ve played games “professionally” and won thousands of dollars doing it.  I’ve beta tested for XBOX Live and Games for Windows – Live.  I own an XBOX 360 and a high performance PC.  I am currently playing both Games for Windows – Live titles – Shadowrun and HALO 2 along with the HALO 3 beta and Shadowrun for XBOX 360.  Please take a moment to read my list of 10 problems that I (and probably you) will have with Games for Windows – Live.  Note that I’m not trying to bash Microsoft or console users.  I’m a console user.  I’m an XBOX Live user.  I run several gaming websites supporting certain Microsoft games.  I’m an admitted Microsoft fanboy.  However, this list is to bring certain issues to light and will hopefully help Live on the PC be a better experience for all users.

Top ten things that are wrong with Games for Windows - Live

10.  Quiet launch.

It didn't launch on May 8th as originally planned.  When did/does/will it launch?  It launches when the first Games for Windows - Live launches.  If you went to any major retailer in the past few weeks, you might have bought Halo 2 for Windows Vista (with partial nudity) which would allow you to connect to GFW - Live.  However, since Halo 2 (PC) is having trouble (with the nudity and since has been delayed), Shadowrun will be the first official Games for Windows - Live title on May 29th.  Actually, we were told that Shadowrun hits the shelves on the 29th.  Microsoft is now saying that it will be available on the “week of the 29th”.  So confusing!  But why does didn’t it launch on May 8th even with the delay of HALO 2 (PC)?  That's my next point.

9.  It doesn't work from your desktop.  

Games for Windows - Live does not run as an application on your desktop.  You must run it from inside a game – a GFW – Live enabled game.  Shadowrun and HALO 2 are the only ways you can connect to GFW - Live.  Vista has been marketed a gaming platform by Microsoft.  They’ve even added a neat “Games” folder and special settings that make gaming a bit easier.  Why not integrate GFW – Live with the newly added gaming features in Vista?  Not being able to use GFW – Live from the desktop will kill the deal for many new Live users.  After all, they are used to using FREE applications from the desktop that do what Live does.

This reminds me of the old days of XBOX Live when you had to be inside of a game to make full use of its features.  So effectively an online gaming service designed to connect gamers requires them to buy software (the games) to use it.  GFW - Live won't work for you without buying software (a GFW - Live enabled game).  Sorry if you've already bought a Gold subscription and not a GFW – Live title.  Sorry if you are used to running Xfire or Gamespy Arcade from your desktop. 

The current version of XBOX Live runs perfectly just after boot up of your XBOX 360 (and original XBOX).  I think Games for Windows – Live should also.  After all, it runs on a computer.  A computer.

XBOX Live is the killer app for XBOX 360. Which gets me to my next point.

8.  XBOX Live users have it so much better. 

It’s not the same experience.  People communicate via webcams, voice messages, text messages, and Windows Messenger without having to be inside of a game to do it.  They download movies.  They rent movies.  They download demos and patches.  They can even buy games.  Not to mention that is has one slick user-interface. 

Games for Windows - Live doesn't offer the same experience.  Even the user interface is plain.  You can't add custom themes.  There are no “blades”.  You can't connect to a marketplace to download or rent movies or TV shows.  You can't download demos or buy arcade games.  Basically, you can only join up to games and send communications to other players from within a GFW – Live game.  I won't go into how the interface has XBOX 360 controller buttons sprinkled all over it.  But my point is that Games for Windows – Live is missing some major features that we’ve grown accustomed to with XBOX Live.

7.  And it’s missing the little things too.   

The latest version of XBOX Live is kicking butt.  They are doing something right over there.  It's the attention to little details that make the experience polished and refined.  GFW - Live isn't polished.  Not only are they missing the big features, but they are missing the little features. 

Example: When you get an achievement in an XBOX 360 title, a little bubble pops up telling you the point value of the achievement and the title of the achievement.  This feature doesn't exist in GFW - Live.  Microsoft says that research shows that as soon as someone gets an achievement very often go immediately to the guide to see what that achievement was.  PC users get left out in this case.

Example:  You can’t play music from inside the Live interface.  Yeah, you can run Winamp, iTunes, or Windows Media Player in the background if you want to play music, but I could also run Xfire, Trillian, Team Speak, and the Gamespy Arcade in the background of my video game.  All of those are FREE services that I could use.  Some PC gamers are going to be paying $50 per year for a service that has less features than they get for free.

I would think that being on the PC platform, GFW – Live would open the doors to some amazing features that aren’t possible (or at least practical) on the XBOX 360.  I think it’s almost unfair that the XBOX Live users have the better experience.

6.  The feel of www.gamesforwindows.com. 

The online home of Games for Windows just doesn't have the "it" factor.  XBOX.com has a good "feel" to it.  But, the Games for Windows homepage seems corporate and plain, like the GFW - Live user interface.  Bottomline:  there’s nothing on that site that hooks me into coming back to it.  Oh, and the page has the "inhaling console" shape in the background.  Come on.  This isn’t a service for the console.

XBOX.com is the hub of XBOX Live.  Gamers can go there and find game-specific forums.  They can meet other gamers and exchange information.  They can send private messages.  GamesForWindows.com isn’t much of a hub.  There’s very little utility there.

Hardcare PC gamers: If you want interaction with your subscription that you could be paying good money for, you'll have to do the unthinkable and go to XBOX.com and find the love.  It's there.  Waiting for you.  Embrace it and your Live experience will get slightly better. 

5.  The content on www.gamesforwindows.com. 

That URL is supposed to be the online home for GFW, yet it's full of misinformation or no information.  The two launch GFW - Live launch titles I mentioned earlier?  HALO 2 and Shadowrun both have missing information on their page.  Most importantly, as of this writing they don't even have release dates listed.  They haven't for weeks at a time.  (Note:  HALO 2 briefly had a release date listed on the page but it was removed after the first delay of the game and was only up for a short amount of time).

What's also important to PC gamers?  System requirements.  Yet, those games don't have recommended system requirements.  Shadowrun doesn't have recommended or minimum system requirements details.  At least HALO 2 does have minimum requirements details.

"Coming Soon."  That phrase is sprinkled throughout the site.  It's usually listed under the game trailers (which both GFW - Live launch titles already have) or the demo section (we know Shadowrun will have a demo and have seen verbiage in other places that there will be a HALO 2 demo).  Content and information is available on the web – even from other Microsoft properties – yet gamesforwindows.com doesn’t offer that information.

Besides that, the site has broken links. 

Example:  Go the the main page and go to their games catalog.  Ok.  12 games on Page 1.  Let's see what's on Page 2 and 3.  Doh!  You can't.  The links don't work.

Example: Although it's fixed now, a link on the Shadowrun page used to take me to a page about Alan Wake (which didn't contain much information either).

4.  Can't connect to Windows Messenger. 

This an excellent example of how two of Microsoft’s products (both developed on the same platform) aren’t playing well with each other.  Yeah we can send messages to our messenger contacts from outside of GFW - Live, but what if we wanted to chat inside of Live like our XBOX brethren can do?  Even though GFW - Live is on a platform that natively supports a keyboard, you can't connect to Windows Messenger to communicate with your contacts.  Recall that Microsoft just released an add-on peripheral for XBOX 360 users to be able to type faster.  They promoted the device as something that will enhance the Windows Messenger experience.  It was important enough for Microsoft to release an add-on peripheral for the XBOX 360, yet it wasn't important enough to fit into GFW – Live – a service on the PC.

By the way, Windows Messenger is one of the most popular instant messaging applications outside of the US.

3.  Limited buddy list capacity. 

Would MySpace or Facebook be popular social networking platforms if they limited the number of friends you could have?  I would guess not.  If Live is about social gaming, why don't we get more space on our friends list?  We are paying $50 a year for the service after all. 

Who has 100 gaming contacts?  Not most people, I would guess.  But my list is full.  Over 80 of my friends signed onto Live in the last 24 hours.  I know every single gamer on my list and accept no random friend requests.  A large chunk of my list is of people I've met in real-life.  Shadowrun and HALO 2 (PC) are now coming out.  I'm not going to have much room to add newfound friends to my list.  I’ll have to cull some longtime friends from my list now.

2.  It's Vista only for now. No XP.  

Sorry rest of the world.  Since you need to be in a game to run GFW - Live, you won't be using GFW - Live on Windows XP.  That's because the major launch titles, Shadowrun and HALO 2 are exclusive to Windows Vista.  (Note that Shadowrun is cross-platform and will be available for XBOX 360 also).

Funny thing, though.  You can't use the "Game Advisor" which is a main link promoted on almost every webpage on the Games for Windows website.  It gives you an error message if you are using Vista:   "Windows XP Game Advisor requires the use of the Windows 98/ME/2000/XP operating system and the Internet Explorer 6 browser."

I’m confused.  Do you or do you not want me to run Vista?

1.  Limited or no third party developers are using GFW - Live. 

This is the biggest problem that gamers (and perhaps Microsoft) will have with GFW – Live.  It looks like Microsoft Game Studios is the only one using GFW – Live.  Shadowrun and HALO 2 (PC) are both products of Microsoft Game Studios.  Great, but where are the Valve's, the iD's, the Ubisoft’s?  There are a lot of major PC games hitting the market soon (Quake Wars, Medal of Honor, Assassin’s Creed, and perhaps Unreal Tournament 3).  How can GFW – Live make it when Valve’s Steam grows in popularity and major games like Starcraft II don’t have GFW – Live support.  The hit games are out there.  The hit services are out there.  How is Microsoft going to win the PC gamer over?  The current version of GFW – Live won’t do it.  There’s only two Games for Windows – Live titles.  Go to the gamesforwindows.com website and you won’t see any other GFW – Live titles mentioned.  Will there be any more GFW – Live titles launched this year?

Those are my top 10 issues with Games for Windows – Live.  (Please digg the article here or by clicking the button below). I think that most people that use GFW – Live will see them as at least small problems.  Bottomlines:

1. If you are coming from XBOX Live to Games for Windows - Live you may be severly disappointed with the lack of features in the PC version of Live. XBOX Live has it so much better.
2. If you are not coming from XBOX Live but from traditional PC gaming, you may be severly disappointed that you are paying $50 per year for features that you can get for free with other applications. The only reason I see that one should use GFW - Live is to unlock achievements. But achievements aren't something that PC gamers are used to anyway.

I personally have more problems than these.  Here is a major problem that I and a few others are having: 

Games for Windows – Live reboots my modem.  My modem (a Linksys WCG200 recommend by Comcast) reboots periodically when trying to connect or after connecting to GFW – Live.  It took me two hours to download my XBOX Live profile to my computer.  Why?  Because my modem would reset over and over.  This bug was reported during the GFW – Live beta.  It happens in Bug Bash and HALO 2 (PC), both using GFW – Live.  So, it only happens when GFW – Live is being used.

This is a problem for me because I have other devices and computers connected to the internet. My VOIP can’t go down.  It needs to stay up.  And it is always up, until I play a GFW – Live title.  My wife’s wireless laptop and XBOX 360 also get kicked offline when playing GFW – Live titles.

This happens from multiple computers on the same network with GFW – Live titles.

Microsoft’s unofficial response:  Call Linksys or Comcast to get the latest firmware for my modem. 

My response:  I’ve got the latest firmware.  Your software is the only software that caused my modem to reboot.  This has been confirmed to happen on different machines running GFW – Live titles.  Yes, I’ve been Microsoft’s Knowledge base and manually installed an update to GFW – Live.

And it’s not just me.  Other users have posted to forums about this problems.  Additionally, my friends that come over to use GFW – Live experience the same problem on multiple computers.

Attention more details about the armor have been revealed.

Update: Go to this page to learn how to unlock all of the armor: http://hushedcasket.com/node/2387

In the latest edition of Gamepro, you'll find some juicy information about HALO 3. They reveal the never before seen vehicles, maps, weapons, and armor in HALO 3. Yes, armor. HALO 3 will now allow you to equip your characters will tricked out helmets, shoulderpads, and more. Here are a few screen captures, but you really should check out the magazine:

via Gamefaqs message board. Thanks Magus8D.

Update: Go to this page to learn how to unlock all of the armor: http://hushedcasket.com/node/2387

Many people on my list were playing.

You can use the Energy Sword. Notice the ammo meter for this weapon.

Dual pistols. One pistol is a 5 shot kill.

Note how high I am. Wraith is barely visible in bottom left. Look at the sensitive radar.

Multiple teams.

Tonight, thousands of HALO 3 beta participants got to play custom gametypes in HALO 3. Previously, it the custom gametypes menu. Tonight a viral networking event took place.

I received a text message saying that some people on my list were playing HALO 3 custom gametypes. They certainly were. Oddly enough, when I started the HALO 3 beta, I was notified that I need to download and apply an update to HALO 3. Whatever the update did, it didn't prevent me from playing HALO 3 custom gametypes.

The ability to play custom games spread in a viral fashion as when someone "backs out" of a custom match they are taken to a customs game menu in which they can start a customs match. So, one game could be the parent of thousands of customs matches. Note that a modified XBOX 360 (which will get you banned from XBOX Live) is not required to play or host the customs games. Heh. This morning, I saw several XBOX 360 idling with single players in custom games. I guess they didn't want to risk losing the customs menu.

How one starts a custom game in the first place is a bit of a mystery. It appears that it randomly happens after pressing a lot of buttons in the customs games menu we revealed last week.

We played all kinds of gametypes with all kinds of weird settings. Low gravity with infinite ammo in Spartan Lasers on Valhalla was a blast. However, gametype in which the running speed was increased was difficult to play with Battle Rifles as it was hard to hit someone moving that fast multiple times. Additionally, we played a gametype in which the Oddball carrier was invincible. Not invisible. But invincible. Odd indeed.

Check out my HALO 3 stats. You can see here that we even got to play Tank Flag.

As you've probably figured out, THX is now part of the Halo 3 Beta custom game scene. Oculus and I took a few moments to test out the pistol...err..."Magnum." Yeah, it's still called the Magnum. Here's the results:

Wielded Alone
---------------
Head Shots to Kill: 5
Body Shots to Kill: 7
Most Lucrative Combo: 4 Body Shots + 1 Final Head Shot

Dual Wielded
----------------
Head Shots to Kill: 7
Body Shots to Kill: 8
Most Lucrative Combo: 6 Body Shots + 1 Final Head Shot

The pistol's power is slightly nerfed when dual wielded. I assume this is to encourage single wielding, which encourages grenades and melees.

Odd. Evidentially they found it without modding their box.

Note the pistol.

Due to popular demand we will again have a THX outing on Thursday night. This time we'll be meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings in the Jones Valley Super Target shopping Center. Contrary to what JDogg might tell you, Buffalo Wild Wings is NOT closer to the Rave than it is Chili's. In fact, it is directly behind Chili's. Feel free to bring spouses, significant others, children, cousins, pets, trolls, and fictitious creatures from Greek mythology. Appointed time will be 7 PM. Come late if you have to; some of us will probably be there until 10-11 PM. After doing a leader's recon this weekend I can confirm the wings are good and the drink selection is gratuitous. Hope to see many of you there.

Midnight has created a group for the Hushed Casket at MyGamerCard.net. MGC has some amazing stats on gamerscores in general. With the THX group, we'll be able to keep tabs on what THX'ers are playing and their gamerscore progress.

For instance, you can sort our group by game. So, you can see who has the highest score in Geometry Wars, Guitar Hero II, or Gears of War. GG.

I'll add a link to this site to the menu soon so that you can check back later.

A good look at what it's like to play Shadowrun. I know several of you are getting the game. It releases on Tuesday. Hopefully others will give it a try. A demo will be out in early June.

Again, I'm looking more forward to this game that any other game. I really think a lot of you wil

I recently found myself in the market for a new LCD monitor. My desktop’s existing 17” monitor was cutting the mustard, but my wife has increasingly been using the desktop more for watching TV shows and movies. I also needed an interim screen to allow me to game on my Xbox 360 while I am away from my normal household. All this combined with the sharp fall in LCD prices made a new monitor a no-brainer. Read all the dirty details and check out some screens after the break.

Update: It has been found. Someone posted the screenshot.

Amazing. Now we are getting reports that HALO 2 (PC) has been recalled do to partial nudity.

“It has come to our attention that an unfortunate, obscure content error which includes partial nudity was included in our initial production of “Halo 2” for Windows Vista. As such, we have updated the initial game packaging at retailers with a label, so customers are aware before purchasing the game. Additionally, we’ve developed an online update which can be downloaded from www.halo2.com to remove the content.” (via Next-Gen)

HALO 2 (PC) is getting off to a rocky start. My halo2pc.org forum is full of people complaining. Those that have the game are complaining about technical problems with the game and Games for Windows - Live. Those without the game are complaining that the game is delayed. Now this. I guess it will result in more sales, though. I mean...it's going to get a ton of free publicity.

BTW: I found an old Easter Egg the other day when playing through the campaign. Do Easter Egg's like these HURT the game by causing the ESRB to think: "Hmm. They put this obscure graphic in the game. I wonder what else they can do. Better look really close. Decompile that source code!"

(click image for hi-res version)

Check out what's in store for those who purchase the limited edition on August 21st. It's still a prototype, but man is it cool! I think I'll use mine as a toothbrush holder for the master bath. That way I'll really get some use and enjoyment out of it.

Click here for more pics.

Great news, according to TeamXbox:
Not only will we have some wireless guitars, but new songs from Alice Cooper, Kiss, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, and Tenacious D. Too bad we had to wait through the second generation of guitar hero before we could have wireless controllers for the Xbox 360. They have only been available for PS2 for over a year...Enough gripes though, below is the story.

Today the upcoming PS2 exclusive Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80s had new tracks announced for inclusion. Is Activision planning to release the content to Xbox 360 users as well? Read on for the titles and discussion.

Somebody got their hands on the Halo 3 Legendary Edition (the monster version) and thought it would be a good idea to take lots of pics. I take my hat off to this person.

Bungie has updated their HALO 3 beta playlists:

"Like any good chef we're making some changes to the recipe in the Public tastetest we call the Halo 3 Beta. This week we're making our first change to the Matchmaking Playlist . We're swapping out Team Training and adding in Big Team Training. In Big Team Training players will play 6v6 on High Ground and Valhalla. In addition to some existing modes look for some new modes in Big Team Training, like Multi Flag CTF on Valhalla. Additionally, we've made some slight tweaks to the Team Skirmish playlist that should add greater variety in the opponents you'll face."

Who's up for some 6-v-6 tonight. Screw 24 and Heroes.

Grunts"R"Us (heh) has a really useful guide to the new military-style ranking system in HALO 3 beta. They lay out the ranks and the RP points required to get the ranks. Notice that if you quit out you'll loose 2 RP points.

Below is information pulled from Grunts"R"Us:

The Rating Points (RP) Ranking system is based on military ranks and is the secondary measure which measures you up in matchmaking. The points given goes accordingly, and are given in both ranked and non-ranked matchmaking:

Win a match: 1 RP
Lose a match: 0 RP
Quit out of a match: -2 RP

The ranks are given like so, and are subject to change (as this is semi-unofficial and somewhat speculative):

Rank: Recruit - Grade 1
RP Points: 1

Rank: Apprentice - Grade 1
RP Points: 3

Rank: Private - Grade 1
RP Points: 5

Rank: Corporal - Grade 1
RP Points: 10

Rank: Corporal - Grade 2

RP Points: 15

Rank: Sergeant - Grade 1
RP Points: 20

Rank: Sergeant - Grade 2
RP Points: 30

Rank: Sergeant - Grade 3
RP Points: 40

Rank: Gunnery Sergeant - Grade 1
RP Points: 50

Rank: Gunnery Sergeant - Grade 2

RP Points: 75

Rank: Lieutenant - Grade 1
RP Points: 100

Rank: Lieutenant - Grade 2
RP Points: 150

Rank: Captain - Grade 1
RP Points: 200

Rank: Captain - Grade 2
RP Points: 300

Rank: Major - Grade 1

RP Points: 400

Rank: Major - Grade 2
RP Points: 500

Rank: Major - Grade 3
RP Points: 600

Rank: Commander - Grade 1
RP Points: 250

Level: 40 and above (?)

TeamXBOX.com and many other sites are reporting that modders have found information in the HALO 3 beta program that indicates that we'll be able to play 4-player co-op over XBOX Live. The following phrase was found in the HALO 3 beta:

"The game cannot start because all players are set to observer. Too many players for splitscreen. Only 2 players may play splitscreen coop on the same Xbox 360 console. The party size is too large to start the game. Up to 4 players may play coop on Xbox Live or System Link. Loading information from Xbox Live… "

Holy cow! HALO 3 just got really cool. Could the campaign be the "killer app"?

The most important part to HALO 3 is the campaign. For some, it's worth the price of admission. Being able to play campaign with up to 4 players just added a lot of replay value into the game. What do you think about online co-op in HALO 3?

What do you think about this information being published at this time? Is it a spoiler? Is it unethical for modders to look in the HALO 3 code and find details about the final version of the game? Is it unethical to post that information online? Thoughts?

TeamXbox

Go and check out the news story about 4 player Co-op in H3. At the bottom of the story you will see a group of 4 sites given special thanks for info and we are one. Thanks to Rap's post on H3 multilayer gametypes and options they have a link for us. Very cool!

Now that I’ve seen the playlists from Guitar Hero I and II, and played GH II extensively, I want to lay my requests out there for GH III. The selections are geared towards my particular interests, but I think my interests are pretty closely in line with traditional rock and roll and heavy metal that has been the fundamental ingredient in the success of the Guitar Hero series. You’ll notice that like most good songs, most of the tracks below are about drinking, fighting, or having sex. So read on and feel free to disagree, but be sure to post a better idea if you do.

Wow, this is awesome! StarCraft II is official!!! Finally, a PC game I can look forward to!

Check it out at http://www.starcraft2.com.

You can download the cinematic trailer here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

StarCraft II continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.

Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft II will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company's world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft II the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game.

Features:

* Fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the magic of the original game
* Three completely distinct races: Protoss, Terran, and Zerg
* New units and gameplay mechanics further distinguish each race
* Groundbreaking single-player "story-mode" campaign
* Vibrant new 3D-graphics engine with support for dazzling visual effects and massive unit and army sizes
* Full multiplayer support, with new competitive features and matchmaking utilities available through Battle.net
* Full map-making and scripting tools to give players incredible freedom in customizing and personalizing their gameplay experience.

Out of nowhere, MLG has added Gears of War as a main title to their tour. Over the course of the 2007 Boost Mobile MLG Pro Circuit, MLG will be awarding over $140,000 in Gears of War prize money and pro player benefits, with the National Championship first place prize weighing in at $25,000!

MLG's GoW tournament rules:

1. No leaving the normal boundaries of a Map.
2. No shooting while Roadie Running.
3. No use of the Chainsaw on yourself.
4. No Land Surfing
5. No Skydiving
6. No Airwalking
7. No Instant Chainsaw.
8. No Remote Control Chainsaw.
9. No Canceling the Chainsaw Animation.
10. No looking at an opposing Team’s TV or projected screens by Players or Coaches.
11. No starting Games until all Player’s status has been Set to Ready.
12. Breaking any of the above rules will result in a Forfeit of the Game.
13. Any sign of cheating may result in a Forfeit of the Game and possible ejection.
14. The Team that doesn’t Host will choose to play as the COG or Locust for each Game.
15. Quitting out of a Game will be considered a suicide. If the Host quits out of a Game their Team will forfeit the Game.
16. All Players must play as a different COG or Locust character.
17. Players must use their registered MLG Login Name during all Games. No Team Name abbreviations are allowed.
18. No Warm-Up Games may be played outside of scheduled Warm-Up periods.
19. During scheduled Warm-Up periods the winners can stay, but the losers must get up.
20. During scheduled Warm-Up periods, Teams still active in the Event have priority over open Stations.
21. When Players are given the option of using a Full-Screen, Teams can use 2-4 TVs.
22. Players may not raise the volume of a TV above 50. This rule doesn’t apply to Station 1 or Players using headphones.
23. In the case of an Xbox 360/TV malfunction, the Game will be restarted from the beginning.
24. Games started without the approval of a referee will be restarted.
25. If a Team fails to report to their Station within 5 minutes of the announcement, they will Forfeit the first Game. 10 minutes after the announcement, a Team will Forfeit their Best of 3 Game Match or the 2nd Game of their Best of 5 Game Match. 15 minutes after the announcement, a Team will Forfeit their Best of 5 Game Match.

It looks like HALO 3 will ship with some never-before-seen gametype settings that are sure to drastically change the way we can play HALO. Want to run faster? Want to be immune to headshots? Want to tweak the radar sensitivity or have infinite ammo? It's all in there (and a lot more) coming to a custom game near you in September.

The custom screen is built into the HALO 3 beta but getting into takes a bit of luck and (from what I can tell) a network error. It appears that the custom games menu option becomes available when someone tries joining up to a party host with someone how has incompatible NAT settings. Several THX'ers have experienced this.

By the way, you CAN NOT play custom games in the HALO 3 beta via this menu. It's still neat to poke around, though. Some settings in those menus:

• Damage resistance
• Shield multiplier
• Shield recharge rate
• Immune to headshots
• Grenade counts
• Infinite ammo
• Weapon pickup disabled
• Player speed (25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, 100%, 110%, 125%, 150%, 200%, 300%)
• Player gravity (50%, 100%, 200%)
• Vehicle use (passenger only)
• Motion tracker range (10m, 25m, 75m, 100m, 150m)
• Appearance
  • Vis effects (black glow, team glow, white glow)
  • Active camo (good camo that might fool and elite, poor camo that might fool a grunt, invisible)
• Indestructible vehicles (on, off)

Those are some of the more standout settings. Each gametype has several variants and several settings underneath it. Object carriers, VIP's, can have custom settings while the rest of the team can have different settings. It looks like there are a few new gametypes heading our way including Tank Ball and Tank Flag (I always wanted to play a HALO version of Crimson Skies where Banshees could play CTF).

I can say that I'd like to play HALO at a little faster pace. Perhaps the 110 speed WILL work. (Trivia: Gearbox Software wanted to change the running speed of Master Chief in HALO PC to 110% which is why the map Infinity is so large).

Uber special bonus coverage just in from the rumor department: XBOX360faboy is reporting that somebody said that he said that Games Radar is reporting that modders have found new equipment and vehicles that are hidden in the HALO 3 beta. They probably got their information from this thread on HaloMods.com. (Disclosure: Modding your XBOX 360 will get you banned from XBOX Live). Stuff that MAY or MAY NOT be in HALO 3 in September.

New equipment:
Instacover
Smoke (suggested this might be a smoke grenade?)
Jammer

New vehicles:
Chopper
Pelican
Shadow

New weapons:
Flamethrower
Claymore Grenade

New mode:
Infection (described as "Destroy the Flood or become infected. Score points for killing flood or big points for infecting a human. The player with the most points wins.")

New rankings:
The highest rankings are now Killpocalypse and Killionaire, instead of Double Kill and Triple Kill.

What? No Kestrel? I guess it was too slow anyway.

Bungie.net's new website now shows stats for both HALO 2 and HALO 3 games. It looks like there are quite a few people playing the HALO 3 beta.

A look at the HALO 3 stats:

386,601 Halo 3 Players (Last 24 Hours)
636,332 Halo 3 Games (Last 24 Hours)
19,763 Players Online in Halo 3

Compare that to:

171,485 Halo 2 Players (Last 24 Hours)
319,796 Halo 2 Games (Last 24 Hours)
6,000 Players Online in Halo 2

Goku says that over 100,000 HALO 3 players were online at one time last night. At the time of this post in the morning, 20,000 HALO 3 players are online compared to 6,000 HALO 2 players. Over twice as many HALO 3 games have been played in the last 24 hours than HALO 2 games.

It looks like HALO 3 is on track to be a successful game even with some matchmaking problems and a delay.

You will probably see this message displayed:

Thanks to Gnome at SR.THX for the screengrab during an update.