Bungie Studios, developer of the popular Halo video game series, is offering a cameo voice-over role in its highly anticipated Halo 3.

The role was donated to charity organisation Hollywood Arts, which has put it up for auction on eBay. The auction is set to expire on 26 February and bidding is currently at $2,125 after 12 bids.

Hollywood Arts describes itself as a unique arts training and therapy programme that provides opportunities for at-risk, homeless and runaway youths to understand themselves and their own creativity in a safe and supportive environment.

Halo 3 is expected to hit the shelves in March, and the winner of the auction will have to be ready to jump into action if they are to get it all done in time for the game's release.

The original eBay posting caused something of stir when the "wit" who wrote it joked that if you don't make the session in time, you would end up in Halo 4.

Many people took this to imply that Halo 4 was already in development, but Bungie was quick to rectify this with an official announcement that it was simply intended as a joke.