Halo Wars promised in first half of 2009

Two words not uttered during the Microsoft keynote today: "Halo Wars." While the game's absence didn't force the only missing piece from an N-column "Bingo!" (curse you Alan Wake!), it certainly raises questions about the RTS's status, despite those supposed demo stations lurking in the bowels of the E3 convention center. 1UP today relieved some of the skepticism, reporting that lead designer Dave Pottinger confirmed last week that Halo Wars would not slip to 2010. In fact, the release date apparently has been narrowed down to ... the first half of 2009. Break out the magic markers, we still gotta lotta calendar days to x off!