Microsoft's X06 conference just ended, bringing a wealth of unexpected news. In a nutshell:

• We'll hear more about Halo 3 by the end of this year
• A cinematic Project Gotham 4 teaser was shown
• Banjo Kazooie 3 is on its way
• Doom is now available for Xbox Live Arcade -- 4 player co-op, deathmatch, and single player. 800 MPs.
• The following games were also announced for XBLA: Contra, Ultimate Mortal Kombat, Small Arms, Gyrus, TotemBall, Defender, Assault Heroes, Heavy Weapon, Settlers of Catan
• GTA 4 will have two episodic content downloads on the marketplace
• Splinter Cell 5 (not Double Agent) will be Xbox 360 / Windows exclusive
• HD-DVD Add On: $199, bundled with media remote and King Kong HD-DVD
• Marvel Universe Online announced
• Peter Jackson is to be involved with two exclusive 360 products; one is "not a game or movie" based on the Halo universe, the other is a new IP
• BioShock is now Xbox 360 / Windows exclusive

And finally Halo Wars was announced, a Halo RTS game developed by Ensemble Studios. According to Bungie: ""Halo Wars" is a brand new saga in the Halo Universe that explores the time of first contact between the UNSC and Covenant Forces. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to control dozens of Warthogs and Scorpion tanks instead of just a single vehicle, your time has finally come." More information is available at Bungie.net, and www.halowars.com is now live as well.