You can do a HDD maintenance so that it defrags the HDD as best it can, and the clearing of the cache every few weeks helps it run smoother and easier when loading data back and forth.

Also, clear out any “rubbish” you may have stored on the HDD, stuff that you ‘really’ don’t need. Like the demo of those games you said you might buy, but didn’t like, or the Game Vids of GTAIV or Devil May Cry. It all is basically junk, and you can download it again for free if you have paid for it already . .

The less trash you have on your HDD, the easier it is to work, that applies to all sized HDD’s . . not just the 20 gig unit.

Cod 4 got ruined by the patch because that lag is terrible now and it’s going to be a while before it gets fixed.

Oh well, one of my friends has just been converted to the goodness that is CoD4 so all’s well.

And funnily enough another friend has lost his 360 so we have been playing some Halo2

You just have to do the math on the numbers of gamers playing Halo 3 in the Aust/NZ region to see that setting up a farm over here just would not be a viable proposition. In Europe, yes, it would. Which is why they have now introduced the Movie Download service in UK and Europe.

Due to the small numbers here (contrary to what many Aussie gamers might think of how important we are), it’s simply not profitable for companies to set up major networks here, as they do have to pay for the service facilities here, and if there’s no return on it to match the expense, the local branch would simply be loosing money, not making money, which is what a business is in business for after all.

My biggest gripe these days with Halo3 is the lag. For quite a while the lag has been shocking for me and a lot of my friends, regardless of connection speed. SheekyAssassyn will back me up on this.

It’s a shame because Halo3 was a regular Fri/Sat night get-together for a few of us.

I am also disappointed that they have basically re-skinned Lockout. Adding a new coat of paint and a few extra doo-dads does not qualify as a new map for me.

I would be more than happy to return to playing lots of Halo3 but until Microsoft stick a server here in AU I will be sticking mostly to CoD4.

Cheers for the info OZ about the maps, this site is getting bigger and better nearly every time i come here with better news etc.

Keep up the good work guys!

The embargo lifted at 2am this morning, hence the late (read early) posting of it. We wanted it up early as possible for the weekend. Naturally, if you have some friends or you’re on other forums, (halo ones especially) please let them know where they can get a good insiders preview of the Maps.