A blue spartan takes off from the man cannon, used to launch players and equipment through the air and across the map.

Bungie stated that mancannons are preferable to teleporters because they present the player with more danger, as well as give opponents an opportunity to attack you in transit and for you to defend yourself. More combat, less camping. What's not to love?

The question of who will inspire us with their shiny pole is answered as a red spartan makes away with a very, very shiny blue flag.

Various weapons and equipment litter the battlefield: several frag and spike grenades, as well as a Covenant carbine.

A Custom Games menu from an alpha build of Halo 3.

The text on the left screen is:

CUSTOM GAMES

SWITCH MODE
NETWORK: System Link
GAME: Escort
MAP: Warthog Inc.
START GAME

Ready to start the game
Party is open to System Link

Start
Edit Options

On the screen to the right is a post-game CARNAGE REPORT with players names.

Mayhem on Higher Ground as the defending red team loses their spartan laser wielder to an unseen attacker to the left. The tracer effects here, such as the spartan laser beam, also appear to be relatively low-quality placeholders, as Bungie mentioned this footage is quite old.

From its appearance, this would be the same early design of High Ground that featured multiple turrets and a perpendicular barrier wall. There is nothing where the 3d diagram indicated "big ass mortar gun".

A three dimensional diagram of the High Ground level, although this appears to be an early version. The VIDOC refers to an initial design that featured a fortified wall perpendicular to the valley, as well as multiple automated turrets. In the final design, the wall is turned 45 degrees, and there is only a single turret.

A diagram of the defensive structures of the High Ground multiplayer level. The right side indicates the red base flag position, as well as a "defender spawn" point.

Concept art of the High Ground multiplayer level. As mentioned in more than one Bungie Weekly Update, the resemblance to the overhead view of the level itself is striking.

A bird's eye view of the multiplayer level High Ground, slated to be included in the multiplayer public beta on May 16. The level seems to be asymmetrical and built for attack/defense roles, as base defenders have a turret and a height advantage over attackers.

This large Forerunner-like structure appears to be Valhalla, seen from a great distance.

Another change in Halo 3 from Halo 2 is how players in multiplayer games are identified. Rather than full gamertags, shorter callsigns are used, although it would appear that player badges are also retained.

This alpha footage shows short callsigns for some players, such as P13 above (who is dead) but longer names for others (such as HALO014 next to him). The distinction may be between enemies and friendlies, or perhaps the build shown does not enforce such short callsigns on all players.

Most of Bungie's remarks about Halo 3 to date seem to indicate a decided deemphasization on dual-wielding. The video shows relatively few players dual-wielding, with far more use of the assault rifle, the battle rifle, and other weapons. This player dual wielding SMGs Halo 2-style, probably doesn't stand a chance. Noob.

More of what appear to be placeholder particle effects associated with grenade explosions. In the background, you can see a blue spartan charging the spartan laser, indicated by the bright red spot.

Here we see a spartan preparing to jump off an object that is speculated to be something akin to a portable mancannon; an air lift similar to those found in Halo 2's multiplayer levels Warlock and Foundation, but in a piece of equipment that can be carried and deployed by a player.

Such equipment would appear to be one of Halo 3's major changes, compared to the previous games. At least two pieces of equipment are shown in the video and specifically referred to: the bubble shield (as seen in the "Starry Sky" CGTV ad from late 2006) and the tripmine, shown later in the VIDOC.

Frankie's post in the NeoGAF forum indicates there are an unspecified number of additional pieces of equipment; the air lift shown here may be one of them.

Interface designer David "Evil Otto" Candland, shown with what appears to be Halo 3's medals. Some are familiar (assassination, beatdown, sticky, snipe, doublekill) but some appear to be new.