Vasheeth writes:

Season Two of Red Vs. Blue ships out Aug 2! Pre-order it now to make sure you get one! It is now in the Red Vs. Blue online store.

Season Two of RVB ships out Aug 2! It is now available to pre-order in the [url=http://www.redvsblue.com/estore_dvds.shtml]Red Vs. Blue online store.[/url] Go over there and order yours now for some high quality, Halo-related, Machinima shenanigans!

So, it only took 1.5 hours, not two or five. But the forums and account creation should be working just fine now. The forums will take a little bit to reindex themselves, so you may see a bit of weirdness for the next 30 minutes, though.

Our emergency maintenance is complete. No further downtime is scheduled for this issue at this time. We'll be keeping a close eye on things, and you should let us know if you're still encountering problems.

You may have noticed the increased traffic to this site in the last few days. This is great, but has also given us a few forum headaches. To fix it, there is going to be some emergency maintenance going on today.

Account Creation, My Profile, My Settings, and the Forums will be offline for about two to five hours today. Unfortunately, I can't tell exactly when it will start, but we are looking at between 10am and 12pm Pacific time. We're going to be doing some maintenance on our database that should help limit the forum "Internal Server Error" bug from popping up until we can locate and fix the root cause of the problem.

dolbex writes:

MLG Atlanta - 50k3 is just beginning Day 2 of the event. Yesterday we streamed games to over a 300 users at a time and had room for plenty more. Just for an update, Strangepurple took the FFA round, Ogre1 and Ogre2 won the 2v2's, and we are just now moving into the championship round of the tournament.

If you want check out the event jump over to mlgpro.com and get into the action!

Short and tart this week, we're hosting the [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=367511]Bungie Weekly Update[/url] on our own forums again, especially after the spanking we took last week. This week, we talk about skyboxes, water, icons and [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=367511]lots more![/url]

So get over to the [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=367511]Undergound Forum[/url] right now and get a teeny taste of what's been going on this week!

The small-yet-epic Halo 2 theatrical trailer is [url=http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=164795]now available to watch[/url] online, thanks to our good good friends at [url=http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=164795]MSN[/url]. So what are you waiting for? Go [url=http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=164795]check it out right now.[/url]

Remember to right click to "save target as" if you want to keeep [url=http://entertainment.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=164795]this trailer[/url] for posterity. And you probably will.

Today is the fifth anniversary of the [url=http://halo.bungie.org/oldnews.html?item=2]MacWorld Halo Trailer and announcement[/url] - the world's very first viewing of what would eventually end up being the biggest selling game on a console nobody had thought of yet.

Thanks to [url=http://halo.bungie.org/oldnews.html?item=2]Halo.Bungie.Org[/url] for reminding us, as well as having a very nice link to a pic of the trailer launch itself. As Bungie old-schoolers of course know, Halo was originally announced for the Mac and we delivered it right on time. Give or take several years.

DoctorEvol writes:

I have found a video showing the world's largest sick day, November 9th, 2004.

I have found a video showing the world's largest sick day, November 9th, 2004. Scientists are never able to fully explain this sickness only know that many, many people contracted a disease, a sickness, called Halo 2 on November 9th, 2004. Watch the video [url=http://www.blackartstudios.com/haload2.html] here [/url]

For various sad, lame reasons, we moved the [url=http://halo.bungie.org/halo2updates/search.html?date=20040716]weekly update[/url] over to[url=http://halo.bungie.org/halo2updates/search.html?date=20040716]HBO's friendly, fluffy, kitten-safe Forums[/url] so get over there right now.

And this [url=http://halo.bungie.org/halo2updates/search.html?date=20040716]weekly update[/url] features all sorts of cool stuff, but a very poor drawing.

We just received word that the deadline for the Mt. Dew [url=/News/Story.aspx?link=8E57B7FA-EE8D-4E1A-A445-41CAFA58B404]casting call[/url] has been extended to [b]Wednesday, July 21[/b]. If you and your friends want to give it a shot, there's still time!

The recently announced [url=/News/Story.aspx?link=8E57B7FA-EE8D-4E1A-A445-41CAFA58B404]Mt.Dew photoshoot[/url] has been re-scheduled to Saturday, July 24th. Anyone interested in a chance to start in an ad (and more importantly, get hands-on time with Halo 2) should read the rules and send in their submission!

Two new Halo Action Figures are due out in July. An Active Camouflage Elite at Game Crazy and a Cobalt Master Chief for Electronics Boutique.

Two new action figures for the Halo series are coming to gaming stores near you this month. Due out the end of July are an Active Camouflage Elite at GameCrazy outlets and a Cobalt Master Chief at Electronics Boutique (yes this is different from the Battle Damaged Version currently at GameStop). It is a limited edition run that will not be repeated. Here's a glimpse of the Elite: [img]http://www.bungie.net/images/news/inlineimages/littlecamoelite.jpg[/img] And here's the new Cobalt Master Chief: [img]http://www.bungie.net/images/news/inlineimages/cobaltchief.jpg[/img]

The latest Weekly Update is one of the longest and most detailed we've ever posted, so we posted it over at the equally detailed [url=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=449458]HBO Forums[/url] so quit reading this, and get over there and [url=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=449458]READ THE WEEKLY UPDATE![/url]

And just in case you've never seen the updates before, we keep a failry comprehensive [url=http://www.bungie.net/Games/Halo2/page.aspx?section=FAQInfo&subsection=WeeklyUpdate&page=15]Archive right here.[/url] So go get caught up.

Interested in a once in a lifetime chance to become immortalized in gaming history while also getting a little hands-on time with Halo 2? The folks at Mt. Dew and Xbox are looking for hardcore crazy excited Halo fans to participate in an upcoming advertisement. There's only a few days to enter so hurry up!

[color="red"][b]The Official Rules and Requirements can be found at the Mt. Dew website:[/b][/color] [url=http://mountaindew.com/Halo2Shoot/]www.mountaindew.com/Halo2Shoot/[/url] Here's the scoop, straight from the folks at Mt. Dew: [b]HALO 2 CASTING CALL[/b] Here’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Bungie community – a select team of Halo players may be chosen to visit us at the Xbox testing facility in Redmond, Washington and have a Halo 2 LAN party NEXT WEEK (on July 24). If you are chosen, you may be photographed for a print advertisement. Now take a deep breath. Here’s the way it works: Take a photograph of you and 3-5 friends that shows us how much you love playing Halo and drinking Mountain Dew (together). Don’t hold ANYTHING BACK – show us ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM – GO NUTS. You know what we’re talking about. Then send the photo to [email]halo2shoot@mirrorball.com[/email], along with your contact information (names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, the ages of all participants, and the reasons why you should be picked (in 25 words or less). If you’re selected, your team will be responsible for transporting yourselves to Xbox in Redmond on July 17 to play a little game we like to call HALO 2. [b]ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 PM (EST) on JULY 21, 2004[/b] You. Your crew. Halo 2. And Dew. At Xbox. Get moving. [i]Note: Bungie/Microsoft are not involved in this promotion - any questions, issues, etc.. should be directed to the contacts listed above. Thanks.[/i]

[i]Halo Doc[/i], the filmmaker behind the upcoming Halo 2 documentary and bonus DVD, needs your help! As part of his ongoing research into the depths of our fan community, [i]Halo Doc[/i] is on the hunt for any awesome Halo inspired fan creations he can find. If you've got something worth showing, read on.

Bungie’s filmmaker, HaloDoc, is researching the creative and wonderful world of the Halo community and he needs your help. Send him your creations at [email]halodoc@bungie.org[/email] and show him how hardcore and artistic our fans are and what types of cool creations you've produced. He’s looking for high quality jpegs, QuickTime or AVI movie files (640 X 480 or better). Who knows, you may even end up having your work featured as part of the bonus DVD materials packaged with the limited collector’s edition of Halo 2. Your email should include the actual file and/or links to where it can be located. Please also include your real name, address and a phone number where you can be reached. If your creation is chosen to be included in the DVD, you will be contacted by Film Oasis and some legal mumbo jumbo will need to be signed. [b]DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JULY 22, 2004[/b] [b]Please note: All submissions become the property of Bungie/Film Oasis and can not be returned. [/b]

dolbex writes:

MLG has teamed up with HaloTV to bring MLG Atlanta – 50k3 to the masses. So what is HaloTV? Well, HaloTV is a constant stream of videos, matches, red vs. blue episodes, and when they are feeling in particularly special, live broadcasts. Well, guess what. Now is one of those times.

We will be broadcasting at least one major stream that will focus on the main stages, roving “crowd cams”, and interviews with professionally signed MLG players. On top of it all we will be archiving quite a bit of this footage for release after the tournament is all over, so if you are in attendance, you won’t miss a beat. Head on over to [url=http://www.mlgpro.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=41&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0]MLGpro.com[/url] and get all the details on how to attend, if you arn't attending!

Clans and gamers in general need a place to talk and setup clan matches, so we launched [URL=http://icga.advancedproprietarysystems.com]ICGA[/URL], aka the inter-clan gaming association. We want to foster a large community for events and discussion of our favorite hobby -- games.

[URL=http://icga.advancedproprietarysystems.com]ICGA[/URL] is dedicated to all games, not just Halo, but Halo is a huge part of our site. We want to organize games and events, and be a central place for gamers. So stop by and check out what we have, we want to grow, so see whats [URL=http://icga.advancedproprietarysystems.com]here[/URL].

So just before we go to bed for the evening there's just one last thing, it is Bungie Day after all and we already gave you Seven new things to look at...

What do you mean there were only six new items today? What about this? The Seventh! Another 3D screenshot! This one requires Quicktime of course, but as before, you can "grab" the screen and rotate it to see the action. In this case, the action consists of a new game we invented on Zanzibar called "Hogball" where we stack explosive fusion cores and blow them up to launch the poor Hog through the windmill. It takes some setting up, but it's totally possible to do it in the current build of the game. [img]http://www.bungie.net/images/News/InlineImages/3D7thshot.jpg[/img] Download the files here: [url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/e/f/bef4cc00-a5e4-4909-acf4-6b38ee9bed4e/Hogball-small.mov]Small 3D Hogball screenshot - about 2 Megs[/url] [url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/0/9/309f398c-9159-4508-929a-bbd709c5c771/Hogball.mov]Large 3D Hogball Screenshot - about 8 Megs[/url] Rotate this one slowly – there's a lot to see! Happy Bungie Day!

That's right! To celebrate Bungie Day in high style, we're giving seven lucky winners a bundle of ancient, and sometimes classic Bungie stuff. To have a chance of winning, you should head over to our [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=292415]WIN TONS OF BUNGIE STUFF CONTEST[/url] in the [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=292415]Underground Forum[/url].

Well what are you waiting for? This contest will probably be over in one night, so [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=292415]go see if you can win![/url]

More celebration of Bungie Day as we round up Seven Bungie Cars and let democracy decide which is the best, and therefore which is the worst, in our [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=291976]Official Bungie Day Hooptie Poll.[/url]

Seriously, what are you waiting for? Go decide who wins and who drives home in shame at the [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=291976]Official Bungie Day Hooptie Poll.[/url] Yet another in a long line of unrigged official polls. Let freedom to vote for the best hooptie ring!

goweb writes:

To celebrate Bungie Day, what better way than to launch a website? [b][url=http://www.tru7h.co.uk]tru7h[/url][/b] is the product of many hours' work. You can submit news, archive cool webcam images, and even submit movies for Marathon and Myth (Soon™). And trash talk in the forums.

To celebrate Bungie Day, what better way than to launch a website? [b][url=http://www.tru7h.co.uk]tru7h[/url][/b] is the product of many hours' work. You can submit news, archive cool webcam images, and even submit movies for Marathon and Myth (Soon™). And trash talk in the forums.

mrsmiley writes:

Today is Bungie Day! Why? It seems that those crazy folks have an affinity with the number seven. As weird as that may be, having a holiday on the seventh day of the seventh month makes perfect sense! In honor of this age old tradition, I have whipped up a little Bungie Day Flash Card!

Ok, actually it is just a crappy animation I spent all night working on, but I'm sure Sketch will agree in encompasses the true spirit of the holiday! Check it out! | [url=http://www.halobabies.net/hosted/msxl/flash/bungieday.swf] Bungie Day Card[/url] | Flash Required | 605K Filesize P.S. Since this is my first ever flash animation, there is no preloader. If they movie stops mid-way, wait for the browser to finish loading, and refresh! =)