Xbox365 has an image that purports to be from Relic, one of the five remaining upcoming new Halo 2 maps, described as an island map similar to Halo 1's Silent Cartographer or PC Halo's Death Island multiplayer map.

Hack the web server that Microsoft makes, and win a Microsoft console-- that's the proposition of the HackIIS6.0 Challenge run by Roger Grimes. Check that site for details and read the HackIIS6.0 Challenge discussion at Slashdot. The catch? This time, they're going to install all the security patches.

Prometheus posted a summary of the HBO Lekgolos Humpday Challenge against Bungie in the HBO forum. The clan took the first game impressively, winning 5-0 in "monosnipe" neutral flag on Coagulation. But Bungie regrouped to take the next two games and the victory. Thanks to Blackstar for the tip.

According to BDGamer, Microsoft has announced that it has selected Limelight Networks as the Content Delivery Network for Xbox Live. Limelight currently powers Steam and is slated to perform the same duties for the Phantom gaming console, should it ever see the light of day.

Felonious Monks over at Geezer Gamers posted the script for a new custom game type called 7-Eleven in their forum; three-team cops-and-robbers affairs that pits thieves, police, and convenience store staff against each other. Thanks to Louis Wu at HBO for the heads-up.

According to Major Nelson, the new Halo 2 maps are now available for download, as his schedule lists 7 AM EST and it is now shortly after that. I've had no chance to download them yet myself, but I'll post as soon as I do. As mentioned many times before, Warlock and Containment are free, while Sanctuary and Turf together are $5.99 and are not available separately from each other.

Xbox365 says it thinks it has received a copy of the actual Xbox 360 logo. Kotaku thinks it's got a picture of an Xbox 360 memory card. (I think I feel dizzy. Comments saved for later... --Ed.)

Both Major Nelson in his blog and Frankie in the HBO forum have confirmed that despite what you may have heard, the reset of game statistics for Halo 2 will not affect your friends list. Many of you may have been receiving-- or even sending-- voice and text messages to your friends with instructions not to delete them, in order to preserve your lists post-reset. It isn't necessary.

The web is abuzz with news about more images from ourcolony.net that purport to be of the Xbox 360, as well as some that appear to come from other sources, and still others that were apparently debunked months ago but have come back to haunt us. If you haven't been following the action at ourcolony.net, here are a few links to other gaming sites that have the images:

[image:8460 left hspace=5 vspace=5 border=0]Stubbs The Zombie has a new website up, part of Aspyr Media's campaign to promote Wideload Games title, due out for Mac, PC and Xbox this fall. The site has new videos and screenshots, some of which we've added recently to our very own Stubbs gallery. There's also the promise of new material every two weeks for members of the Zombie Army.

Most of the reviews and feedback about the 1.1 Update to Halo 2 has been overwhelmingly positive, aside from a few gripes about the Magnum. Joe "Dyslexia" Renaud over at Major League Gaming has done an in-depth analysis of the changes in this update, evaluated from the perspective of pro gamers.

Brian "SketchFactor" Jarrard talked to 1UP.com about the changes in the 1.1 Halo 2 Update, touching on one particular weapon tweak (or rather the lack thereof) that was close to the hearts of the author:

Sistimatic has written the latest of Rampancy's series of Halo 2 Impressions. This one covers the indoor/outdoor snowdrifted Flood-fest that is Quarantine Zone.

Gamesindustry.biz has another story up speculating on exactly what the Xbox 360 is going to be when it finally launches. This one suggests two editions; a stripped-down, games-only edition without a hard drive, and a premium edition with a hard drive and Internet access. However, the point of interest to most owners of Halo and Halo 2 probably this: