Lionhead fan site Loinhead has posted a rather suspicious and alleged Fable II screen shot today, one that it claims originates from an anonymous source. The site cryptically writes "we seem to have found an image in the style of Fable 2 very shortly after the Collector’s Edition was announced." Hoax? Semi-clever marketing? Merely intense character customization?

My usually reliable Photoshop bullshit detector isn't being very helpful, but those who suspect that a Master Chief lookalike in Fable II is simply pixel alchemy are welcome to eyeball a larger version linked below.

Master Chief Rockin’ [Loinhead via Lionhead Forums]

Marketing Halo 3 - Finding Master Chief's Humanity

At the MI6 marketing conference earlier this week, various Microsoft staffers presented a talk outlining how they successfully marketed Halo 3 to the masses. They explained how their main goal in expanding the audience for the third installment of Bungie's saga was to put a more human face on Master Chief.

"The marketing statement was really based around Master Chief. We did some research, and found out that people thought of Master Chief the same way they think of Robocop and the Terminator, a killing machine... we had to humanize him to reach a broader audience."

Analysis: Microsoft On The Secrets Of Marketing Halo 3 [Gamasutra]

Microsoft Fine WIth User-Generated Master Chief on PS3

When fans built a Master Chief model for Unreal Tournament 3 (playable on the PlayStation 3), some of us giggled. Others of us, including Business Week, didn't think that Microsoft would be too happy. Now Microsoft attorney Don McGowan is speaking up on his blog to address the situation.

Actually it's nothing more than the Game Content Usage Rules...in action. When these were developed, people all thought they were focused on machinima. The truth is that while they do address machinima they also allow for a lot of other things. Mods like this are one of them.

Germans Make The Worst Halo Jokes

Halo "Mister Chief" Painting Fetching Over $4000 On eBay

Bungie's community manager, content monkey and, now, accomplished pastel artist Frank O'Connor's piece "Here Lies the Last Sip of the Bourgeoisie Malaise Consommé" featuring the infamous Mister Chief from Halo (sort of) is currently going for thousands on eBay. Price tag at time of publish? An impressive $4150. With three days to go, there's plenty of time for the original artwork to skyrocket in price.

Why should you care? Proceeds from the auction will go to the Brian Morden Foundation to help fund Ewing's Sarcoma and childhood cancer research. Bust out your checkbook and your goodwill if you've got the cash. If not, read the artist's statement at Bungie.net. It will haunt you.

Heart of Dorkness [Bungie]
Bungie Charity: Original Mister Chief Art [eBay]

Halo Sword For Sale...Costs $125, Life And Soul

We're sure that we have more than a few sword collectors in the audience—you know who you are because on your wall you have a few ninja stars, some Conan memorabilia and a duplicate of the Highlander sword. Why do you collect these things? Where do you find the money?

On a side note, said audience will probably find this Halo energy sword knockoff (spoiler: we know it's fake because it's made of metal) interesting. At 36" long and 14" wide, its stainless steel mirror finish is perfect for seeing the reflection of your gleeful (somewhat freaky) tears. Current bidding has the piece at $124.95. Yes, that may sound high, but after all, just what are your children's college accounts for anyway?

Halo Energy Sword [via hawtymcblog]

Master Chief Vacuum (We're Not Stretching, Just Look At It)

Every now and again there comes a vacuum so appealing that we're almost tempted to clean. Samsung's SC9540 vacuum looks surprisingly like the makers of Spartan armor have been reselling their prototype molds to alternative industries. Dubbed "the strong, silent type" on Samsung's site, we're sure that the design and marketing are both coincidental...unless you start seeing vacuum cleaners popping up on Mt. Dew.

Samsung SC9540 Vacuum [via ohgizmo]

Reader Max wrote in to let us know that Microsoft's Russian arm has been sending out "some very peculiar gifts to its partners" this holiday, specifically a chocolate Master Chief wrapped in pretty gold foil. As you can see, MC is surrounded by garland, chestnuts and Xbox 360 logos, carrying a sack filled with presents for the good girls and boys of Mother Russia. Maybe an odd choice, but I'm willing to bet that Halo 3 wins the Russsian Spike TV Video Game Award for "Most Addictive Game Fueled by Milk Chocolate." Further size comparison pics of the delicious treat are after the jump.

Master Chief Carved From Snow

Now that his battle is done, Master Chief seeks other fights. For instance, here we see him stand against global warming, spiting carbon monoxide emissions and the sun's building rays by standing defiant in frozen water. Don't mind his yellow glow. His bloom lighting is under control...it's just that a dog passed by not so long ago. (OK, fine. No yellow, "lemon flavored, we promise" snow was used in the building of this Master Chief sculpture. And his battle against polluters is in no way sanctioned by Bungie or Microsoft. As of now Master Chief is retired and void of any and all sponsorships—which is really too bad. He'd be great with a line of men's wear on QVC.)

Image [via digg]

The Master Chief Cake

Tetris "L-Block" Trounces The Competition

This isn't a submission for our now expired Dementium: The Ward contest, simply photographic evidence that Samba de Amigo for the Wii won't make its ship date because the gang at Gearbox Software is too busy mummifying Master Chief instead of finishing the note charts for the latest Ricky Martin tune. It's a good effort and I'm quite sure that the Chief will make his journey to the afterlife safely, but please, Gearbox staffers, get thee to a Wii development station and make with the samba already.

Starring Master Chief as "The Mummy" [Gearbox Software Forums]

After reading of the MTV intern's plight to create a Master Chief costume earlier this week I remembered that some reader had sent me a picture showing a pal of his wearing the helmet from the Legendary version of the game on his head.

I had asked him to email me the details on how it was achieved and then never heard back. So I decided to do it myself... big mistake.

Thanks a lot, guys. Now Billie Edington over at MTV's Multiplayer thinks we all have some sort of odd body paint fetish. Remember last week when I posted about her quest to build a Halo 3 costume? Remember when nearly half of you suggested she go the body paint route? Well, Billie does.

Fortunately, she ignored you and instead came up with a plan. The first step involved hollowing out a Special Edition Halo Helmet. Something, incidentally, one of our readers emailed was possible earlier this week. Now she just has to figure out how to see out of it.

Then she pieced together the rest of the armor, which she's broken down into nine distinct parts, by ordering from paintball and athletic gear companies. Next step, paint it all up and put it together.

And Now To Shop For That Master Chief "Halo" Halloween Costume... [MTV Multiplayer]

No, the picture is not proof of a special Halo lightsaber that's unlocked for players logging their millionth hour. The effect is actually just a rocket getting fired at Master Chief's hand. Sorry.

But still, it's like if you had a picture of Angelina Jolie making out with Scarlett Johansson. Your brain knows it's too good to be true, but you're gonna save the memory all the same for a lonely night when you might need it.

Halo 3 gamers + too much time = recorded madness [gamesradar]

Master Chief Gets Sex Change For Charity

Timelapse Lego Master Chief

I've been a big fan of Legos all my life, but I could never build anything recognizable out of them. I'm lucky if I can simply stack the things in a straight line without screwing them up, so I am understandably jealous of Nathan Sawaya, former lawyer turned Lego artist, who seemingly effortlessly creates a bust of Master Chief in brick form. He doesn't seem to be using any sort of blueprint or guide...he just sits down and builds it. He truly has mad lego skills. Click the pic or hit the link to see him in action.

Lego Halo [MTV's Multiplayer Blog]