In honor of the shopping madness that is just four days away, we are running a three-for-one news special today without the need to be at a store at 5am. It's because we care.

First and foremost, we have just announced that there were be a Halo 3 map pack releasing on December 11th. From the media alert:

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

And coming out this Wednesday on Xbox LIVE Arcade is Undertow.

"Undertow" redefines aquatic based shooters through a mix of high-definition graphics, intuitive controls and multiple modes of game play action. "Undertow" features a story driven single player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for up to 16 players over Xbox LIVE. Players battle for control of the oceans as one of three selectable races, each with four unique, upgradeable units. "Undertow" will be available worldwide this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+.
• For more details on “Undertow,” please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/u/undertowxboxlivearcade/

Speaking of holiday sales, MSN Games is running a sale later this week. From the media alert:

In other Microsoft Casual Games news, Thanksgiving comes early this year with an MSN Games “Thanksgaming Sale.” Starting at 12:01 a.m. PST on Wednesday, November 21 (3:01 a.m. EST) through 8:59 p.m. PST (11:59 p.m. EST) Monday, November 26, ALL download titles on MSN Games will be 50% off in the United States only. For more details on the MSN Games “Thanksgaming Sale,” please visit http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/thanksgamingsale.htm.

For all of the specifics, you can read the full media alert here.

Have a great short week!