Or so Daily Radar says, in the text that goes along with their E3 trailer link.

A hearty handshake to Battleground: Halo, who noted that Doug Zartman sent an email concerning the M$ buyout rumor to PlanetXbox. Responding to their asking Bungie for comment, Doug said:

Well, you gotta understand that there have been countless rumors of people buying us over the years - Eidos, GT, Acclaim - and we've developed a policy of not fueling those mills by commenting on the rumors. In general, if you haven't heard something from us, it isn't true.

Well, I think that settles it. Thanks to BG:H and PlanetXbox!

• Forum: Microsoft ain't buying Bungie

Excessive kudos to Chia and Troll, who just seconds ago alerted us to the posting of the E3 Halo Demonstration! Daily Radar has posted the movie as well as a few tantalizing shots, and we hope to have this trailer on RHL shortly.

We repeat, this is the Halo Demonstration movie from E3 2000! Weighing in at 26 megs, which has apparently been edited for length and size, the hi res MPEG is nonetheless recommended! Go get this movie now!

Quick addendum: kudos to FongSaiYuk, who posted on this independently in our forum. Check it out, especially if you're looking for a FTP link:

• Forum: New Halo Flick!

Received from Bounty of Battleground: Halo's PR department:

With the manical influence of the primates that inhabit the GameSpy offices, Battleground: Halo is proud to present our first-ever Bored Up The Wall Fragfest Of course, like any other contest we hold, this one has absoutely nothing to do with Halo. Which is fine as long as you get prizes, right? And oh boy, do we have some prizes:
First Prize: Some sort of game. We'll throw Halo in there every other month or so.
Second Prize: Some cool GameSpy swag. Whether it be GameSpy 3D Registration or a t-shirt, whatever. We have a lot of illegal merchandise.
Third Prize: The 'Ebay mystery prize'. All I can say about this one is:
Hehehehe.

Hehehehe, eh? I want one! I want one!

Haloplayers has been in communication with PC Gamer UK and has learned that the E3 Halo trailer will be released in the PCGUK issue which goes on sale July 31st. Although new video footage was originally promised for the August issue, Louis Wu of halo.bungie.org points out that an on-shelves date of July 31st makes it more likely to be the September issue.

Tim Jenks, PR Officer at Haloplayers, has this to say to y'all:

After noticing a large increase in European based Halo squads, we're just reminding people of the European Halo League - a league ready to go as soon as the game is here. - We currently have a large number of European squads already signed up for places in the league, and hope to see a few more interested. You can sign-up for a provisional place in the EHL at www.haloplayers.net/ehl/ and for the other leagues by mailing us at halo@haloplayers.com. We also hope to get everyone in the community involved in these leagues, and many other ladders, cups, and international tournaments once Halo is finally here.

Game Critics Awards has announced its nominees for the 2000 Best of E3 Awards; the winners will be announced here tonight. Halo has been nominated for Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best PC Game, and Best Action Game. (Oni is sadly absent, although it took last year's award for Best Action/Adventure Game).

The Game Critics Award Committee is made up of 35 editors of gaming mags, so its approval is something to be proud of. Cross your fingers...

And the winners are up! Game Critics Awards has posted the list of winners of the 2000 Best of E3 Awards. Halo was named as Best Action Game, and as the runner up for Best PC Game. In the three categories for which it was nominated but didn't win, Black & White took the gold instead; though I would (of course) have liked to see Halo receive all 4 awards, I must say that Black & White was a very worthy opponent.

Got something to say about the awards? Wanna rant about how Halo should have won, say, Best Sports Game, because it's just that cool? Do it on our forum.