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Vampire Rain demo available in Canada & Mexico, not U.S.
The Vampire Rain demo was first released in Japan on Tuesday, and we suspected that it would become available in North America shortly thereafter. Well, we were right and today it is, but unfortunately for some (or rather, most), it's only available in two thirds of this continent. While being available in Mexico and Canada, as well as portions of Europe, Asia, and Australia, the demo is not on Marketplace in the US. Quite frankly this is quite odd, and we hope the rest of you get your hands on it sooner rather than later. We guess we can get you "exclusive" hands on impressions later today, if we aren't too busy.
Tomb Raider Anniversary coming to 360 (as DLC?)
Is there anything the ESRB can't do? Routinely revealing numerous Xbox Live Arcade games, the ratings board has now revealed that Tomb Raider: Anniversary is headed to the Xbox 360. In an interesting twist, the ESRB actually lists five different entries for the game, each with a different locale specified. In all, Peru, Lost City, Greece, Egypt, and Croft Manor are listed. This specificity leads us (and Joystiq) to conclude that Anniversary will be offered as downloadable content. Whether this is done via Tomb Raider: Legend or as independent downloadable episodes remains to be seen (if we had to guess, we'd say it'll be Legend DLC). Considering Anniversary costs $30 on other platforms, a $5-6 price tag for each episode on Xbox Live Marketplace would be reasonable (though we're not necessarily expecting it).We really enjoyed Lara Croft's first outing on the 360, so here's hoping Eidos makes an official announcement soon.[Via Joystiq]
New Catan content settles on Xbox Live
While it may not be as exciting as, say, a downloadable expansion, there is new Catan content available on Xbox Live Arcade. It's not particularly exciting though, as it won't significantly alter your game at all. First, there is a picture pack available that will set you back 100 MS Points. Somewhat more interesting, you can download the Mayfair skin, which will give your gameboard the appearance of the original Mayfair Games version. The Mayfair skin will set you back 100 points as well.Anyone planning on downloading this content, or will you save your money for an expansion?
Avast! Here there be Pirates demos.
Ah, there's nothing better than surprise demos in the morning. Actually, come to think of it, there are lots of things better than surprise demos (at any time of day really). Still, let's not sully the moment and ruin the fun of a new Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End demo gracing Xbox Live Marketplace (though the demo has already made the voyage to other shores). We've been impressed by the game's visuals so far, and now we can sample the actual swashbuckling gameplay. Let's hope for a pleasant surprise, shall we?Anyone out there gotten a chance to play this yet?%Gallery-3339%
Hour of Victory demo coming next week
Hour of Victory, Midway's next entry into the often neglected WWII genre, will be receiving a demo next week on Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo will arrive next Wednesday, giving eager gamers a chance to try the game before it assaults retail on June 22. While it's true that the WWII genre is somewhat saturated at this point, Hour of Victory attempts to stand out from the rest of the crowd by offering a character switching gimmick. There are three characters in the game, boasting different specialties and presumably different personalities (sort of like a hairier, sweatier Charlie's Angels). There is the stealthy spy type capable of stealth kills and other forms of sneakery, the out-and-out soldier eager for a brawl, and the sniper, who, um, snipes things. To get an idea what you'll be in for when the demo drops, check out a trailer for Hour of Victory after the break.
First Fable 2 video diary now available
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, Fable fans of all ages, the first Lionhead Video Diary is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. You can also grab it from Lionhead's website. Of course, if you're not too picky about fancy res-molutions, you can watch it right here in this post. If you kept track of Fable 2 during GDC, then you won't find too much new information here, although you will get a few cursory glances at the game in development and a high resolution fly-through of some of the environments. Give it a watch and tell us what you think.Note to Lionhead: let's put more gameplay into the next video diary, hmm?%Gallery-3398%
Shadowrun Demo coming June 6th
FASA has given word on when we can expect the Shadowrun demo to hit Xbox Live Marketplace. As a means to give gamers with Halo 3 Beta withdrawal a quick fix, it will go live on June 6th. It will feature Power Station, and the gametype Raid, with Humans and Elves. It also won't have a time restriction for play, so you may frag to your heart's content, and it doesn't have an announced expiration at the moment. Full breakdown of what's in the demo after the break.
Pay to show your love for Heroes
Truly there is no better advertising than paying another company to advertise their products for them. It seems that Xbox Live Marketplace was designed for just such a thing, as numerous themes and picture packs have appeared, which do little else than tell other people how much you like a certain product (we bought a Halo theme, so we're not exactly innocent). Marketing genius. The latest in this line of fan-vertising is new Heroes content available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Specifically, there is a theme available for 150 points and a picture pack for 80 points. Strangely absent from the Marketplace: the actual Heroes television program.With such a perfect digital delivery system, you'd think NBC would be offering Heroes on Video Marketplace already. Alas, for now your stuck with the digital equivalent of a T-shirt.
New Vehicles and Tracks for Novadrome
For the low, low price of 250 MS Points you can get your hands on eight new vehicles and six new arenas for the Xbox Live Arcade title Novadrome. Not only can you take this online in the multiplayer mode, but they are featured in a new Career mode as well. So, while the game didn't receive the best of reviews, it still had some merit, if only to remind us of Re-Volt, the Dreamcast title and Xbox Live Beta game of choice. Will you be picking this up, given that you actually have Novadrome?
New Marvel UA DLC + Achievements in April
In the coming month, Marvel Ultimate Alliance will have two new character packs featuring 8 new playable heroes and villians. The Good Guys™ are comprised of Hawkeye, The Incredible Hulk, Nightcrawler and Cyclops, and the Baddies™ include Dr. Doom, Magneto, Sabretooth, and our personal favorite, Venom. Individually, the packs will run you 500 MS points, but you can nab both for 800, saving you $2.50 USD, or $3.20 CAN. On top of the new content, their will be additional Achievements available, most likely to coincide with the new characters. Once they are unveiled, we'll give you the details. So, would you pay up to play as these characters in Marvel UA?
Poll: how much do you spend on MS Points?
Update: This poll is now closed. Check out the latest Fancast for our discussion of the results. You can view the final results after the break.So, putting together a little tax info this morning, I decided to check out how much money I'd spent on Xbox 360 related things. $299 for a Core System (I know, but it's all they had), $99 for a hard drive, all that stuff. Delving a little deeper, I decided to check on all the the online purchases I'd made, which led me to MS Points purchased for content on Marketplace. From June (when I started here at X3F) to December 2006, I have purchased a staggering 7500 MS Points, equivalent to $93.75. That's almost two entire retail games.X3F wants to know how much you've spent on MS Points in the last 12 months. To check your own account, follow this link, enter your .NET info, and click "Points" on the left side of the screen. You can access your transactions from up to 12 months ago. Add up your running total and submit your answer in the poll. Of course, if you don't want to go through all that trouble, you could always guess. Place your vote after the break.
Viva Piata demo now available
A demo of Viva Piñata is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Clocking in at just under a gig, the demo promises to let you raise your own sparrowmint piñata. Viva Piñata vets will know that sparrowmints are available fairly early in the game, but the demo should give players about 30 minutes to an hour plenty of gameplay. Considering the high hopes that Microsoft originally pinned on the game, we wonder why it took this long to release a demo. With any luck, maybe this will convince more gamers that Viva Piñata is worth checking out. Trust us, if you give it a chance, you'll find that Viva Piñata is very addictive.Update: It looks like the demo has more gameplay than we thought. Enjoy.
Borat theme to make benefit glorious XBLM
Jagshemash! The wizards of Xbox Live Marketplace, in all their arcane wisdom, have seen fit to release free Borat content. If you haven't seen the movie-film, well, we can't exactly recommend it. It's good on a person-by-person basis, but your results may vary. Chances are if you're the kind of person who would like it, you've already seen it. And if that's the case, you might as well go download a free theme and picture pack. We'll let the Marketplace details do the talking: "Stop wise consumer! Do not buy food for your childrens. Instead make purchase my moviedisc. Disc contains plentiful extra unseen bonus movie footages! It is niiice!"The content is US only, so get it while the gettin's good. High fiiive![Via Planet Xbox 360]
Major Nelson wants your Marketplace rules
Inspired by the recent changes to the gamerscore policy, Major Nelson is asking for user feedback on defining new rules for the Xbox Live Marketplace. Of course, there are rules and policies around Marketplace content right now, but Major Nelson is looking for suggestions from all 360 users to make it better. If you're interested in contributing to the conversation, head over to Major Nelson and tell him what you think. Let's try and keep the suggestions constructive, too. "Faster download speeds" is really a given and doesn't add to the conversation.We'd like to go on record and agree with one of the first suggestions: no charging for cheat codes. If you make any suggestions, be sure to post them here as well.Anyone have any bright ideas?
NBA Street Homecourt demo hits Live
Basketball fans rejoice! The NBA Street Homecourt demo is now available for Xbox Live Gold members. We're not sure what happened to the Def Jam: Icon demo that was supposed to hit Marketplace yesterday, but Homecourt is definitely welcome. Honestly, we've been waiting to try this game ever since we saw videos of the game's insane double dunks. Here's hoping the game lives up to our expectations. We'll post our impressions later today.Has anyone managed to grab this already? Tell us what you think.[Thanks, Rob]
COD3 Valor map pack available [update 1]
Update: As many of you have pointed out, there are problems with this download. Click here for details.Hot on the heels of the free bonus map, Champs, comes the Valor map pack for Call of Duty 3. The pack cost 800 points and contains 5 brand new maps. Stalag 13 is an abandoned prison camp, La Bourgade has you fight in a French village, Ironclad sets you in a naval shipyard, the Crossing puts players at a strategic choke point, and Wildwood gives you a chance to fight it out inside a forest setting. Call of Duty fans, be sure to come back here and tell us what you think.Is it worth 800 points?
Batttlestations: Midway demo ready for battle
The Battlestations: Midway demo that we were promised yesterday is now available (as is a new F.E.A.R. trailer). The demo comes in at just under half a gig and promises to provide players with some WWII multiplayer action in the air and sea around the Island of Solomon. With multiple vehicles like planes, submarines, and boats, Battlestations: Midway looks to give WWII buffs a nice change of pace after the recent spate of WWII FPS games. We're going to give the demo a try and we'll post our impressions later today.In the meantime, if you've had time to play the demo, tell us what you think. Does it live up to your expectations? Does it fill the void of the missing Crackdown demo?
Battlestations: Midway demo hits tomorrow
So the Crackdown demo was pushed back, but that doesn't mean we can't have some free fun before the weekend arrives. GameSpot reports that a demo for Battlestations: Midway, the WWII combat game, will be arriving this Thursday on Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo will contain one multiplayer map, the Island of Solomon. It's a game of Americans versus Japanese in which the winner must destroy the enemy's air base, aircraft carrier, and naval base. While the WWII genre is getting somewhat tired, Battlestations' vehicular approach may just make us sit up and take notice.Anyone out there looking forward to this game?[Via Planet Xbox 360]
COD3 map hits Marketplace tomorrow?
A recent series of events leads us to believe that the announced free map for Call of Duty 3 -- entitled "Champs" -- will be made available tomorrow on Xbox Live Marketplace. Karsten of Shizzle Games told us of a post on Major Nelson detailing the new content. Those of you with an RSS reader may have seen it pop up, too. The post is gone now, but a quick search shows the same post, only it's dated for January 11, tomorrow. Major Nelson's clock must be running fast, because Ms. Pac-Man showed up on his site yesterday, even though it wasn't released until this morning. But there you have it, expect a free new map for Call of Duty 3 tomorrow. This could also mean that we'll see the Valor Map pack -- containing 5 maps for 800 points -- release tomorrow as well.
Blitz the League demo tackles Live
The New Year's Xbox Live content dry spell seems to be ending, as a Blitz the League demo dropped on Marketplace today. Sure it's not the freshest demo around, but it's better than nothing. It should be noted, however, that Silver members will have to wait until next week. For the rest of us, start your year off right with digital football complete with digital hookers and digital drug use. Doesn't get much better than that, right? As long as it's a videogame, you can do all your favorite things and not break your New Year's resolutions!Oh, and if football isn't your thing, don't forget the Crackdown demo that drops next week.
