Cullen in the #hbo channel of irc.bungie.org pointed out the Halo 2 references in the latest VG Cats comic; the theme was hidden sexual content. (Before you ask, no, you cannot have hot coffee with Cortana--Ed.)

Frankie's latest Weekly What's Update mentions that the count of banned cheaters is above five thousand now and rising; in addition, he clears up a few things people still can't seem to get straight about how the AutoUpdate works.

SketchFactor has posted at Bungie.net that since the introduction of the modified content detection in AutoUpdate 4 yesterday, more than 2,500 permanent matchmaking bans have been issued by the "self-aware automated Banhammer".

Bungie has rolled out the latest autoupdate-- you now have to download it in order to play in matchmaking on Xbox Live. The update includes code to detect modified content; it also (purportedly) fixes the teleporter bug on Relic.

Saiyan of Team3d, referred to by the Ogres as the most underrated Halo 2 tournament player, gave a candid (if somewhat terse) interview which is up not at Team3d.net. Thanks Louis Wu at HBO.

Major League Gaming's website notes that they will hold two Halo 2 mini-tournaments at Giants Stadium in New Jersey this weekend, on July 23. Details including prizes are in MLG's announcement.

On the eve of the autoupdate that is supposed to deal a crushing blow to cheaters in Halo 2 matchmaking on Xbox Live, there have been a variety of discussions on various sites and forums about whether or not the matchmaking model delivers on the "virtual couch" claims that Microsoft makes for the service. The latest of Narc's Retorts asks: is Xbox live creating a digital divan, or a digital divide?

Frankie has posted on Bungie.net that on July 20, 2005, Bungie will release Autoupdate 4 for Halo 2, which will detect players using modified Halo 2 content and ban them from Xbox Live Halo 2 matchmaking, permanently, with no possibility of appeal.

This includes the use of hardware mods (modchips), so-called soft mods, and game saves or game types saved using Action Replay or similar devices.

Dyslexia at Major League Gaming interviews Str8 Rippin. Thanks Louis Wu at HBO.

Players who want to compete in Major League Gaming's Philadelphia events in Halo or Halo 2 need to register online.

Bungie.net has a couple of updates today; SketchFactor has posted that the last Humpday Challenge pitted Bungie against Team Korea where Bungie won a best four of five match; next they'll take on Taiwan and Hong Kong.