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The excitement is building at Bungie and for fans everywhere. Check out the latest update of Bungie Watch for the inside scoop.

Bungie knows everyone is anxious about the "next project" and they've got us on the edge of our seats. The latest Weekly Update introduces something actually related to the in-game play experience of the secret project--the user interface (UI).

No Mic, No Problem

UI's are usually an afterthought for most gamers, but the team at Bungie has broken this subject down philosophically. They ask, "What combinations of button presses make the most sense to change complex features?" and something they're paying special attention to, "how to input text quickly and easily." So, for those without a mic, it will be much easier to communicate with your friends.

To keep the game and the UI coherent, it helps to "pick hues that embody the spirit of the game." Assuming that this "next project" is actually Halo 3, does that mean that the interface will try to mimic the feeling of being inside a Spartan helmet, complete with all the high-tech doo-dads and read outs? It's all just wild speculation at this point, but the possibilities are certainly interesting.

But most tantalizing of all, Frankie, Content Massuer of Bungie.net, closes the update with a particularly memorable statement: "there are some words in that interface, options, if you will, that would make your hair stand on end." Those are certainly big words--what could he be hinting at? Assuming that the mystery project is Halo 3, we can think of quite a few things that would make our hair stand on end: A massively-multiplayer component, an RPG-style level system, upgradeable weapons and armor, and online cooperative missions to name but a few. Speculation aside, the sky's the limit and we're going to have to wait for E3--or later--to have our suspicions confirmed.

So let's hear it. What do you think Bungie's planning for Halo 3?

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