These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Community Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU's):
1 Halo 3
2 Call of Duty 4
3 Call of Duty: WaW
4 Gears of War 2
5 Battlefield 1943
6 GTA IV
7 FIFA 09
8 Left 4 Dead
9 UFC 2009 Undisputed
10 Fallout 3

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased):
1 Battlefield 1943
2 The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
3 Ikaruga
4 Worms 2: Armageddon
5 Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
6 Castle Crashers
7 UNO
8 N+
9 HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT**
10 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
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NextGen Player writes:

"The World Cyber Games, the largest e-sports festival on the planet, has announced the torch relay route for the WCG 2009 Grand Final. This 80-day, virtual online journey is the ceremonial beginning of the WCG and is symbolic of "lighting the passion & spirit of Cyber World".

The online relay will travel around 11 countries to finally end up in Chengdu, China, the host city of WCG 2009 Grand Final. At each stop, the torch icon will appear on official WCG country websites with greeting messages from past WCG champions."
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Bungie writes:

"Look, we know that the lumps we doled out in the Bungie Day Playlist have been hard to take. You're still nursing the bumps and bruises. You wanted to win and it's no surprise to us that now you want a rematch more than anything in the world.

Unfortunately, you're going to have to get over that bout of post-partum. The ass whoopin' we delivered isn't ever going to go away. And while we do have plans to bring the playlist itself back into your Halo 3 experience sometime in the near future, it won't be set up as a mechanism to make it rain Recon. That magical weather machine's time has passed. The clouds have dissipated and the sun is shining."
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GamerDeals writes:

"Grab Halo 3: Legendary Edition for $63.99 (51% off) w/ free shipping over at Amazon."
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Bungie writes:

"Told ya we were gonna kick your ass.

For a while there it looked like you were gonna make us eat our words though, didn't it? We were throwing down on your own crazy pile of maps ('sup, Colonnade), the odds were stacked pretty high in your favor (like so many teetering blocks of stone), and let's be honest here, our four-man squads did their absolute best to let you walk out of the Bungie vs. The World party with a pretty easy victory.

Our fearsome foursomes stayed up later than most grown ass men should and thoroughly diminished the studio's liquor stash, draining it down to an empty pile of glittering bottles while they simultaneously feasted upon the unhealthiest of foodstuffs. The opportunistic among you took advantage of their drunken, stumble bum, and sugar-saturated state-a shameful way to win, I might add-to pull out ahead and build up what appeared to be an early and insurmountable lead."
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Neill Blomkamp, the chap who created the awesome live-action Halo 3 short films, has released the latest trailer for his new major motion picture "District 9". The film is being produced by Peter Jackson and is being released on August 12th in the US. The same style of gritty imagery used in the Halo shorts has also spilled over into the film.
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urk of Bungie writes:

"Bungie Pro originally launched right alongside a little game called Halo 3 in September, 2007, providing the community-at-large (that's you) with some extra server-side features that we can't offer to millions of ravenous players (that's you too) without charging a lit bit extra. The reception was overwhelming. To date, Bungie Pro has allowed players to create and share more Screenshots, Saved Films & Film Clips, and Game & Map Variants than we ever imagined. Launch-to-Date, over 84 million pieces of Halo 3 content have been shared through Bungie.net.

84 Million!

But still, you demand more. And guess what? We're ready to deliver. Today we've incorporated some brand-spankin' new technology into Bungie Pro's existing suite of game-enhancing features. We call it Bungie Pro Video. And here's what you need to know."
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Xboxic reports: A European Xbox360 games retailer has revealed details of an upcoming console bundle 'Ultimate Halo Pack' which Microsoft will start shipping on the launch of Halo3: ODST. Since the retailer has now removed details (possibly) because Microsoft has not yet made an announcement, a screenshot was taken to prove its existence.
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It seems that bungie has announced a second way to earn recon armor on bungie day. "The puzzle been sitting, hidden, on Bungie.net for almost two years since then, so just for fun, we'll let you take a crack at it for a chance to win Recon."
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Urk from Bungie.net writes;

You've laid eyes on Heretic before, both as "Midship" in Halo 2 and through the small looking glass we provided by way of one of the images on our Halo 3: ODST Product Page. But since today is Bungie Day, we figured you deserved a little bit more perspective. Here's a sneak peak at Heretic, Citadel, and Longshore, three maps you'll find packed into the Halo 3 multiplayer disc included with Halo 3: ODST. Click each image to make huge.
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These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Community Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU's):
1 Halo 3
2 Call of Duty: WaW
3 Call of Duty 4
4 Gears of War 2
5 GTA IV
6 FIFA 09
7 Left 4 Dead
8 UFC 2009 Undisputed
9 Fallout 3
10 Rock Band 2

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased):
1 Worms 2: Armageddon
2 Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
3 THE KING OF FIGHTERS'98 ULTIMATE MATCH
4 Castle Crashers
5 UNO
6 Hasbro Family Game Night**
7 Worms
8 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
9 GAROU -MARK OF THE WOLVES-
10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
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Urk from Bungie.net writes: Today is Bungie Day - the seventh day of the seventh month of the year - and we demand celebration. Why? Well, you might have noticed that our little studio has something of a historic fondness for the number 7. Our plan for World Domination is comprised of seven steps, our titles tend to wind up riddled with a healthy dose of the cardinal number 7, and though the fine folks over at Halopedia have done an admirable job of tallying the more overt examples of our numerical predilection, both in-game and on our website, the reality is that there are just too many obvious, subtle, and never-to-be-seen references to the number seven embedded into our works to track. We have what you could call an affinity for the number.
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Bungie writes:

"When I said last week's update was short and sweet, I lied. It was actually a monument to all your sins. I don't know exactly what that means, but what can I say, today is my day off you ungrateful jerk! And really, shouldn't you be busy downloading a giant heap of maps and getting some practice in? You definitely need it. Some of our guys were getting warmed up last night and ran into some players who thought they were pretty epic. Turns out, only sometimes. Better luck next time. Maybe try going to the body with the AR to take out the shields first, then go up top with the BR. Just sayin'.

Have a great weekend. Once we've had our fill of patriotism, fireworks, and cheap malt liquor we'll make our triumphant return. There's much more to come next week. Stay Tuned."
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The guys over at OzBoxLive are organizing a Game Night in Melbourne, Australia which they are calling "Xperience Xbox" at The State Library of Victoria on July 17th.

They have a fantastic night planned for all Xbox 360 fans and Casual Gamers alike, to play some of the best games on the Xbox 360 console. Some of the games include… Guitar Hero World Tour, Halo 3, Street Fighter IV, Virtua Tennis 2009, Pro Evolution Soccer, Sacred 2, Harry Potter and a lot more.

There will also be a raffle where the main prize is an Xbox 360 Pro and a bunch of games with all money raised going to the Royal Children's Hospital.

This is a FREE event but booking is required as tickets are limited. Please go to the link to book online at… http://www.xperiencexbox.eventbrite.com/

Those of you outside of Melbourne can join in via Xbox Live in the hit XBLA game Bomberman Live and join gamers at the event.

This is going to be a great opportunity for everyone to meet other gamers, have fun and of course win real prizes whilst helping out a great benefit.

So sign up, tell your friends and join the OzBoxLive team on July 17th.
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Bungie writes:

"Other than the Fillion-induced swoon many of our manliest of men have succumbed to lo these last few days, there's not much else out of the ordinary going on inside the studio. Bungie Day looms, but it's still business as usual as everyone on the floor is hard at work making kick ass games.

The most significant difference in the hive overall is one we've already touched on: the assimilation of the Halo 3: ODST team into Halo: Reach (and elsewhere). I talked a little bit about the studio's modular approach to the floor plan earlier this year, but to give you a small impression of the current layout, where there was once a very clear split among the honeycombed work spaces, segmenting the two projects into distinct factions, that same single line of open space parting the studio proper right down the center merely functions as a walkway. Both sides of the aisle are now guns and keyboards blazing, working together in perfect harmony towards the same, unified goal."
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Xboxic reports: The Halo3 Recon Armor for some is one of the most sought after Armor Permutations because of its limited supply. The armor can only be unlocked by doing something that makes Bungie feel you deserve it, such as a Forge map, screenshot, or machinima (but this is a rarity). Now with the upcoming release of 'Halo3: ODST' by completing all 7 of the Vidmaster Achievements below - you will unlock your very own Recon Armor for use in Halo3 Multiplayer.

The Vidmaster Achievements require you to own both Halo3 and Halo3: ODST, although the latter will come shipped with a seperate Halo3 Multiplayer disc - one of the Vidmasters require you to have the Halo3 Campaign.

All 7 Vidmaster Achievements to obtain Recon Armour are listed below:

Vidmaster Challenge: 7 on 7 - 0 GamerScore
Entered into a ranked or social playlist with 7 EXP on the 7th of the month.

Vidmaster Challenge: Lightswitch - 0 GamerScore
Got the rank of Lieutenant in any playlist in the new EXP progression system.

Vidmaster Challenge: Annual - 0 GamerScore
After 9/25/08, completed Halo on 4-player Legendary LIVE co-op, with Iron, and everyone in Ghosts.

Vidmaster Challenge: Brainpan - 0 GamerScore
Find all the hidden skulls on the Mythic maps.

Vidmaster Challenge: Endure – 25 GamerScore
In Firefight, on any mission, passed the 4th Set on 4-player Heroic LIVE co-op.

Vidmaster Challenge: Déjà vu – 25 GamerScore
Completed Highway on 4-player Legendary LIVE co-op, with Iron, and no 'Hog or Scorpion.

Vidmaster Challenge: Classic – 25 GamerScore
Finished any level solo on Legendary, on LIVE, with no shots fired or grenades thrown.
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These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Community Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU's):
1 Call of Duty: WaW
2 Halo 3
3 Call of Duty 4
4 Gears of War 2
5 GTA IV
6 FIFA 09
7 UFC 2009 Undisputed
8 Left 4 Dead
9 [PROTOTYPE]
10 Rock Band 2

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased):
1 Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
2 Castle Crashers
3 Sonic The Hedgehog 3
4 Worms
5 Sam & Max Save the World
6 UNO
7 CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars
8 Peggle
9 Hasbro Family Game Night**
10 Rocket Riot
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Despite openly expressing his love for Halo and Modern Warfare, and despite comparing Bungie and Infinity Ward to the son of God, Gearbox president Randy Pitchford has called upon both developers to explore new horizons with their games.
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Bungie writes:

"Even though I stumbled around like a clumsy oaf with a gut like a hairy slab of ham last week, letting all my American friends know that Sgt. Johnson would be packed in as a Halo 3: ODST pre-order bonus, hopefully it's now been made clear that yes, no matter where you happen to plant your own national flag, you're probably going to be able to pick up Sgt. Johnson as a pre-order bonus for Halo 3: ODST, even if you don't call the US of A home.

Why am I still saying "probably?" Rounding up information on each and every participating retailer worldwide would be a daunting, monumental task. And I'm super lazy. As a result, I'm working from the list supplied straight from our publisher. It should cover a great deal of folks who are interested."
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Master Samo writes: "We all know that Joystiq kept pressing Bungie until they finally decided to submit and confess that Halo Reach will be an FPS title, but this article is not about that. In fact, there is a huge possibility that Bungie's confession was merely the tip of the iceberg. From what I have discovered so far, this game could be far more than just another FPS. If you would like to know why the possible new direction that the Halo franchise might be taking with Halo Reach could be a Sandbox experience, then keep reading."
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