There are more and more reports coming in about the Bungie mess. A few people are attributing the so-called postponement to Microsoft, but according to HBO, Kotaku only mentions "... a sudden decision made by a certain, shall we say, jejune high-level executive." 

Presumably they're talking again about Harold Ryan, who again is NOT the president of Bungie, as far as I know; he was last reported to be the Studio Manager as recently as September 21st, 2007.

And again, what's with the timing of the announcement? I have a hard time believing that the 7pm posting of the "official" email is a coincidence. But more sources, including HBO's Louis Wu, are coming out saying basically that this is not a joke.

Maybe last time was a browser issue, but ILoveBees still has the counter running... but this time it looks like its been reset.

Still just over 90 minutes left before the time the announcement would have come... if this is some kind of stunt, I have to say I'm very impressed... but the general consensus is this is not a joke. I wont believe it until 7:08 though.

UPDATE: 1Up has confirmed that Bungie indeed points the finger at Microsoft for this sudden delay.

This is only going to get better (worse?) as details emerge. There is some kind of acrimonious dealing going on at Bungie, and for it to knock off arguably the 360's biggest developer is something that will not be forgotten right away.

EDIT - the deadline has passed, there has been no page update. And now IGN reports that someone at Microsoft may have slipped that a new Halo installment is indeed in the works. The plot sickens.