The online cartoon site Penny Arcade has posted up a new cartoon to comment on recent events. You can thank Tsao for pointing this out to R.net, and go take a look!

Whoops, we missed this crucial part in the frenzy (can you blame us?). A second article, entitled 5 Things You Must Know About Microsoft's Buying Bungie, was also posted at the same time, and in my opinion, it is the far more important read of the two. An excerpt, right from the top:

2. Bungie may continue to publish games for the Macintosh and PC

Seropian and Jones will make decisions as to what platforms each Bungie game will be released for. So far, no decision has been made for Halo or Bungie's unannounced third title (being developed in Chicago). In fact, it is not even confirmed that Halo will be an Xbox title -- though if it's not we'll eat our hats.

If you only read one of the two articles, read this one. And watch for more information over the next 24 hours, as Bungie and Microsoft (presumably) make their own statements on the matter. And most importantly, don't panic... yet.

Kraken gets to go down in infamy as the reader who alerted us to the official news. In an interview with Jason Jones at the Daily Radar, it is confirmed: Bungie is being bought by Microsoft. Jones claims that Microsoft will still be allowing Bungie a certain degree of autonomy, including the choices of platforms to develop on.

From the article:

DR: What do you suggest Mac gamers do with all the hair they are going to pull out of their heads at this news?

JJ: If they had some red and yellow dye handy, they could arrange it in the shape of a bulls-eye towards which we can aim the handy new Microsoft mind-control laser we got as part of the deal.

Is it just me, or were jokes like that a lot funnier before they became part of Microsoft?

Just kidding. I think.

At any rate, it appears Oni is not affected by this deal at all, but Jones was particularly silent on what platforms Halo would eventually be released for, making no mention of the Macintosh or the PC other than to say it will be Bungie's decision, and focusing on the bright future of the upcoming X-Box console from Microsoft.

• Forum: It's Official...

Steve Campbell of bungie.org pointed out this Daily Radar article to us:

Microsoft to Buy Bungie Software. I've gotta run off now and finish some articles by Monday that show that, no matter what happens, I knew it was gonna turn out that way all along.

Yes, as pointed out by rojay on our forum, Something Awful has come out with a second article on Halo, even more informative than their first. Be warned, there are naughty words and naughty pictures therein (thanks for reminding us, Kel), so don't open it if your boss/mother/teacher is looking over your shoulder. But on no account miss out on one of the most incisive, in-depth Halo articles of the year.

• Forum: Something Awful satire on Halo

Yet more info from halo.bungie.org! ZeroRage has postes on their forum giving a brief quote from NextGen concerning the new game Bungie was supposed to reveal behind closed doors at E3:

the game would be a fantasy-based siege warfare title that featured both realtime and turn-based gameplay. The cool part? It will be built on the Halo engine.

Read the post.

Happy seventh day! I just wanted to make a quick post to remind you about the upcoming Bungie Day. It will, according to Bungie.net's calendar, begin at 0707 on the seventh day of the seventh month - one month from now. Will Bungie do anything special to celebrate? Perhaps release a certain file or two for download? We'll have to see!

That's right! The Myth II b.net server has, as of this morning, been fully reset, allegedly in celebration of Mordia's birthday. Not just three games, all of the games, which means everyone is starting out with a clean slate. The mood is surprisingly positive... doubtless due to that fact that an emp is now 70 points, not 400.

Nevertheless, some people are a bit irate. There are 24 permutations of OMFG , and I think I've seen 19 of them now... need to go back and finish my collection. No shortage of games to be had tonight, that's for sure.