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Halo fans are strange, otherworldly creatures whose behaviors are difficult to analyze. A consulting firm named OTX recently tried to tap into this demographic's collective hivemind the only way it knew how -- by asking Halo 3: ODST purchasers what title they'll likely pick up next. The firm found that the average Bungie buyer plans to acquire a total of three games within the next few months, with Modern Warfare 2, Assassins Creed 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 being the most desired titles. We're not sure if that means this group enjoys blockbusters, or if they're addicted to games with numerical suffixes.

Though the list of top 20 games charted in this manner is primarily composed of Xbox 360 titles, God of War III was also a popular response; with 18 percent of participants claiming it to be their next purchase. We're beginning to see a pattern develop. A manly, manly pattern.

As we did when the Mythic Map Pack was released, Joystiq brings you a quick video guide to locating the final three skulls in the new Halo 3 multiplayer maps included with ODST. In order for gamers to grab the final skulls -- and the Gamerscore attached to them -- players will need to enter each new map (Citadel, Heretic and Longshore) in Forge mode accessed on ODST's second disc.

Like the Mythic Map Pack, not every skull is in an easy to reach location. Citadel may pose somewhat of a challenge, because the skull is placed in an area gamers may not be able to access when exiting Monitor mode. However, with the help of a few objects and the Grav Lift equipment, it will eventually be yours. Found a better way to grab the skulls? Drop some science in the comments!

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Be sure to check out Joystiq's Halo 3: ODST Review, as well as in-depth analysis of the Campaign and Firefight games modes.

Xbox Canada is hosting a Halo 3: ODST training event in Toronto -- and you're invited. Starting tonight at 7PM (and ending 10PM), fans will get a chance to participate in a variety of Halo-inspired events, including basic training and going head-to-head with other ODST "recruits."

The public event takes place at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto's Distillery District. As far as what kind of "training" Canadian gamers can expect... well, it's a good thing health care is given away like candy in the Great White North.

We train the lens on Bungie game designer Alex Pfeiffer and Microsoft global product manager Ryan Crosby for this look into the design and marketing of Halo 3: ODST, and the future of the franchise.

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Be sure to check out Joystiq's Halo 3: ODST Review, as well as in-depth analysis of the Campaign and Firefight games modes.

Spike got a five-minute look at the upcoming anime Halo Legends, and (as you'll see for yourself right after the break) it's got all our favorite tropes of the genre: comically exaggerated animations, vaguely effeminate dudes and very weird-looking soups.

Of course, it's also got something else that's going to have your eyes glued to all 298 seconds: Master Chief being a total badass and kicking the living crap out of a Brute. Enjoy.

[Via Siliconera]

Aside from releasing an RTS title in Halo Wars this year, concept art found on ex-Ensemble Studios artist Dylan Cole's website reveals yet another game that the studio was working on in the Halo universe. No name is given for the shots, though Cole calls the above image "Halo Universe City," which could mean a city from the world of Halo or a game named "Halo Universe."

He also mentions that the "concept paintings" were for "a project that was canceled," so you can bet we won't be seeing these beautiful vistas in game form anytime soon. We do know that the studio was at one time working on a Halo MMO that never saw the light of day -- maybe these shots have something to do with that? We've asked Dylan Cole for more information, but for now, check out the full gallery of concept art right here.

[Via HBO]

If our late-night review of Halo 3: ODST filled you with an unbridled desire to purchase the noir-filled shooter, Toys R Us will have quite the deal on the game's launch day. Those willing to travel to the giraffe-approved retailer this Tuesday are eligible to receive an ODST action figure and a $20 gift card with their purchase of the title. We suggest spending the complimentary Geoffrey Bucks on another action figure to keep your lil' trooper company as you spend the next few weeks exploring New Mombasa.

Make sure you don't purchase any Master Chief action figures, though. There's no reason to give the poor guy an inferiority complex.

Enter "The Green Box." The question we've all been asking ourselves: Is Halo 3: ODST worth $60? If you want the answer, this is your review:

In hindsight, announcing what was then "Halo 3: Recon" as a "value-oriented" expansion appears to have been a crucial first misstep for Microsoft and Bungie along the road to marketing what is now Halo 3: ODST. In time, the so-called expansion grew to include a complete campaign with 4-player support; Firefight, a separate co-op multiplayer mode; a comprehensive version of Halo 3 multiplayer; and access to the Halo: Reach beta when it becomes available at an unspecified date next year. ODST was ultimately set at the standard, full-game price of $60. That's when folks got skeptical.

So how's your money being spent?

Ah, what's a Halo game release without midnight launch events? Unsurprisingly, both Best Buy and GameStop will be hosting midnight launches for Halo 3: ODST. While Best Buy will simply be selling the game at midnight, Monday, September 21, GameStop has some festivities planned. According to Team Xbox, activities planned include RC Warthog and "pedal-powered go-cart" races, Halo trivia contests as well as a Halo cosplay contest. Before you don your favorite Cortana costume, you should call your local GameStop to see when and if festivities begin (most stores will begin at 9:00pm local time).

Joystiq has also been told that "some" Game Crazy locations will hold midnight launch events. You'll have to contact you're local store to find out.

For a list of all participating Best Buy stores, click right here. For participating GameStops, download this PDF. Or, if you don't feel like waiting in line for three hours, you could always try Wal-Mart.

Source -- Best Buy - Halo 3: ODST Midnight Store Opening Locations!
Source -- GameStop - Halo 3: OSDT Midnight Openings (PDF)

Halo.Bungie.Org has revealed that tonight's episode of Spike TV's Gametrailers TV will host previews of several upcoming Halo projects. The show, which airs tonight at (check your local listings), will feature a preview of Halo 3: ODST. While that's not terribly exciting, given how close it is to release, the show will also be hosting footage from the first episode of the Halo Legends anime project. In addition, GTTV will be previewing Microsoft's upcoming Halo destination, Halo Waypoint.

If you love all things Halo, be sure to tune in. Alternately, you could always wait until the footage lands on the internet sometime tomorrow. Sleep, or Halo? We know, it's a tough question.

For those about to drop, we figured we'd let you know that Bungie.net has been updated to include stats from the upcoming Halo 3: ODST. Of course, there aren't many stats to speak of just yet, as the game is still a few days away from release. Still, it's nice to know that everything has been implemented. In addition to the stat tracking we've all come to know and love, a new "Road to Recon" feature has been added as well.

This new feature keeps track of the achievements that players have to earn in order to unlock the extremely coveted Recon armor variant. Previously, the armor was available only to those who caught Bungie's notice, usually through some form of community notoriety (or Frankie Photoshopperie). It's important to remember that just because you can now haz Recon without resorting to such shenanigans, Bungie isn't making it easy. The achievement tracker should help you keep track of the ridiculously difficult Vidmaster Challenges.

Like this one: "Finish any level solo on Legendary, on LIVE, with no shots fired or grenades thrown." Yeah, good luck.

Get ready to lie, cheat and steal because ONE2ONE Collectibles has revealed an insanely detailed Master Chief bust for the low, low price of $249. This "strictly limited," 1:2 scale bust of Halo's most popular playable character -- unless that gets topped somehow -- stands at 12 inches tall and 12 inches wide, and is set to be released during Q4 2009. If the Chief isn't your character of choice, ONE2ONE also revealed that busts of a Brute Chieftain and ODST Marine are on the way. Get those pocketbooks ready, ladies and gentlemen. This could be an expensive fourth quarter, after all.

[Via TeamXbox]

Microsoft has dropped the details surrounding the official Halo 3: ODST launch party. The event will be held on September 21 at the Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, and will be attended by Bungie's own Joe Staten as well as 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor. A Firefight mode tournament will be held, with prizes given to the winners. Prizes will also be awarded to those with the best Halo-themed costume (good luck winning against these guys).

Select fans will also get a chance to try out the campaign (a whole day early!), and several panels with Bungie and 343 Industries will be held as well. Finally, fans can expect previews of Halo Waypoint and the upcoming anime project, Halo Legends. The event will run from 6–11 PM, Pacific Time.

If Halo 3: ODST's campaign is "Combat Distilled," then its co-op multiplayer mode, Firefight, is the product of the same process, further refined. Firefight is combat distilled, then filtered; then distilled again and again. While the story mode can already be played cooperatively with up to four players (with or without scoring enabled), Firefight re-purposes eight of the sets from the campaign missions into closed, gladiatorial arenas where the odds are heavily stacked in the Covenants' favor. It's not a complicated formula. We've seen Gears of War 2 similarly extract itself into Horde Mode, as well as a number of other recent shooters spinning off their core gameplay elements into various arcade-like challenges.

In all, Firefight contains ten maps (two are featured twice as night and day versions with slightly varied ingredients), and three of the ten are unlocked through campaign progression; though anyone can play on a locked map, so long as the match host has unlocked it. Likewise, except for the Rookie, character skins are unlocked through campaign play. (Sgt. Johnson will be a bonus skin for ODST pre-orderers.) Firefight lives on the campaign disc (separate from "vanilla" Halo 3 multiplayer; contained on a second disc), and players are bound to the limitations of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper: non-rechargeable health, no dual-wielding, and so on. You're no Spartan.

Bungie has released the third in the Halo 3: ODST ViDoc series, entitled "Terra Incognita." With the help of Bungie staffers like Curtis Creamer, Joseph Staten and Marty O'Donnell, the video takes a look at the development of ODST, which was completed in just one year. The team spends a good deal of time -- the video is over 8 minutes long -- discussing the hub of New Mombasa, the open-world area where players will spend their time as "the Rookie." The video also goes over some of the additions to the game, as well as the subtractions. Incidentally, if you miss dual-wielding, blame design director Paul Bertone. Apparently he "doesn't like it."

Give it a watch, and be sure to check out Joystiq's latest hands-on impressions of the ODST campaign and new screens below: