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Bing brings the holiday gold, offers free Xbox Live preview for Thanksgiving weekend
Need something to do while your loved ones slave over hot stoves and turkey platters? Microsoft and Bing have got your back, offering gamers another free Xbox Live Gold weekend to help you frag your way through the holiday. Of course, if you're feeling too sedentary to twitch your thumbs, you can always veg out with your Netflix queue or use the console's ESPN app to get your traditional Thanksgiving sports fix. Either way, you're golden until the 27th -- after that, you'll need to pony up and subscribe. Don't have an Xbox 360, you say? We hear there are some deals floating around that might help you fix that.
U-verse on Xbox 360 is getting upgraded in November, but will require XBL Gold
The good news for everyone anyone using their Xbox 360 as a AT&T U-verse set-top box, is that it will be upgraded as a part of the new dashboard update coming this fall. that means support for the integrated search, new UI and control via voice or gestures with Kinect. The bad news? After the update, it will only work if you're also a subscriber to Xbox Live Gold. No problem if you were already shelling out in order to get your Gears 3 co-op on, but not so awesome if you weren't planning on buying the gaming package just to watch some TV. Giant Bomb has talked to Microsoft and of the new services, some, like the BBC, may be accessible without a paid-up Gold pass, but for HBO Go, Dailymotion and others you'll need to toss some cash Redmond's way. To ease the pain, AT&T is tossing a one-time $60 credit towards its users with the package -- still no word on whether or not you'll need to pay that installation fee for a new setup after the upgrade goes through.
Avatar Kinect for Xbox 360 is official, smile like you mean it
Turns out the rumor was true, Avatar Kinect is coming to the Xbox 360 this spring (for Xbox Live Gold members, at least). Details are sparse -- a place where you can virtually hang out with your "friends" -- but Kinect is shown to now be able to detect facial gestures like eyebrows, smiles, and laughs. Impressive, but after all we've seen with the Kinect hacks, can't say we're too surprised the camera's capable of such detection. %Gallery-112846%
Xbox Live Gold price increasing November 1 in US, UK, Canada, and Mexico
Well, this is sad and unexpected: Microsoft's Major Nelson just announced that Xbox Live Gold will be getting more expensive in the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico starting November 1. A single month will go from $7.99 to $9.99, three months will go from $19.99 to $24.99, and the yearly sub will now be $59.99, up from $49.99. Yes, it's super lame, but to make up for it Microsoft's running a quickie "lock in" promo for a discounted $40 one-year Gold sub starting November 1 -- a nice deal if your subscription is set to expire around then, we suppose. We're definitely wondering why Microsoft is jacking Live prices right before launching Kinect and the gaming-focused Windows Phone 7, though -- we've heard theories ranging from an attempt to increase Entertainment and Devices revenue to a simple inflation adjustment. We'll poke around -- and we're guessing there's about to be a run on Gold upgrade cards. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Twitter and Facebook for Xbox Live will be free for Gold members, 'free trial' for Silver
This shouldn't really come as too much of a surprise, but anyone wanting to enjoy Twitter and Facebook on Xbox Live will have to pony up for Gold member subscription, the same premium prerequisite currently needed for Netflix Instant Watch and pretty much all online gaming. Silver membership will be given a "free trial," but exactly what limitations that entails, or if they'll be an option to "upgrade" to the full version, is anyone's guess.
Xbox Live Gold subscription on sale at Amazon for $29.97
You heard it right! Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold subscription, which normally runs $50 annually, is being sold by Amazon right this very instant for $29.97. A similar discount was apparently going on at Buy.com last week, so we're not sure what it all means, but we suppose it could mean that Microsoft might possibly be moving toward a lower price for the subscription (don't hold your breath). We don't really know "why" or "how" this has happened, but it "rules" and we're looking forward to all the extra cash our avatar's going to have in the coming year for new hats and fingerless gloves. [Via PC World]
Reminder: win Xbox Live Gold and MS Points [update]
[Update: Our winners have been chosen. Once we receive verification from said winners, we will post their names for all to see (and envy).]Just a quick reminder, our Xbox Live Gold and MS Points giveaway is still accepting entries until tomorrow morning. Just in case you missed it, we're giving away four (four) 12 month subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and a total of 11,200 Microsoft Points. That's an entire year of gaming and plenty of points to help you do it. You have until tomorrow morning to enter, so get cracking if you haven't already. Head over to the official contest post for your chance to win.
A new Halo 3'ified version of Xbox Live Gold cards
Bored with your average Xbox Live Gold subscription cards? Sick of the standard orange, yellow, and green swirls artwork and want some Halo flavor? Well, we've got you covered with a new darker and prettier 12 month subscription card featuring some Halo 3 goodness. As you can see, it's Master Chief standing in an intimidating pose ready to take on the entire Covenant fleet (or so that's what our imagination tells us). You'll also notice the subscription card adds an additional month for free, bumping it up to 13 months. We can only speculate that the additional month was added due to the whole "3" reference ... get it? Mark your calendar for April 20th and prepare to stand in line for days on end. We're certain (not really) that these subscription cards will sell out fast.[Via Live Gamer]
Free Xbox Live Gold weekend for Australia
Australian and New Zealand fanboys who have Xbox Live silver accounts will be happy to know that a free gold weekend is upon them. Thanks to Ubisoft's charitable nature, GRAW 2 will be sponsoring an Australian and New Zealand free gold play weekend starting Friday, March 9th and running through Sunday, March 11th. Fellow silver members take advantage of your free play weekend as they are quite the rarity. Second thought, just purchase a Xbox Live gold subscription and all your life problems will disappear. That's almost a guarantee.[Via IGN]
Save $20 on Live Vision + Live Gold bundle
Stootsi.com is having a sale on the Live Vision camera. They are currently offering the $79.99 bundle, which includes a year of Xbox Live Gold, for $54.99 plus $5.00 shipping. That's $20.00 off the regular price. It's a pretty good deal if you haven't already picked one up. Stootsi has even provided potential buyers with a list of "things that will have to change now that you're gaming on camera": Keep the stack of pizza boxes to eight high or less Church-goin clothes in case you meet that special someone Heavy reduction in obscene pelvic-thrusting after a headshot (.... what?) No more Cheetos stains, or an Orange-centric wardrobe Do something so that your parent's basement doesn't look so much like your parent's basement Put those Ninja pajamas to good use, finally Silverware for your hot pockets Make your ethnic slurs a little more subtle You'll have to change your 'No Meth for Minors' policy to clean up your gaming room Like P. Diddy says, "Preserve your sexy" with Pro-Activ skin solution Anybody plan on picking one up? Remember, you only have one day to get this deal.[Thanks, James Martin and Nate]
Shopping tips from Dave & Buster's hero
Reader DCFC Fan likes "sticking it to the man" so much, he paid for his 360 by earning 85,000 Dave & Buster's tickets -- thereby earning the respect of fanboys everywhere. It turns out he also has a few shopping tips that don't involve skee ball:Xbox Live Gold subscription cards for 12+1 months are available for $35.82 [from Wal-mart.com] (and have been for a couple of weeks). While it's a great deal, $6.99 for basic shipping takes the fun out of it.The solution? Print out the Walmart ad and take it to Circuit City for their generous price match. Thirteen months of XBL Gold for $35.82. Nice.Secondly, while I liked to keep this lesser known tip under my hat, screw Best Buy. They will probably change this eventually, so let's stick it to them while we can.The trick to getting 1600 MS Points for $14.99? The BBY GGC or Best Buy Gamer Gift Card. These gift cards are near the check out, in cd jewel case type packaging. The bonus here is that there is a $5.00 off any game accessory $19.99 and up coupon in the packaging. Buy gift card, putting $5 or $10 on it, then go back through with your gift card, $5 coupon and 1600 MS Points.Not a bad way to pay for Cloning Clyde and Streetfigher 2.
12 months of live for 35 smackers
Walmart.com is currently selling 12 month Live Gold subscription cards for the low price of $35.82. Usually priced at $49.99, the savings are fairly substantial. It's currently unknown if this offer is available in-store or only online. If anybody snaps one up, let us know how it went.[Via del.icio.us]
Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend is a-happenin' now
We're already nearly 24 hours into the 72 hour* "Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend" sponsored by the telco overlords at Verizon. This is a chance for all you 360 owners out there who managed to save up the $400 (or, more likely, $300) to get the thing--but didn't pitch in for a Gold account--to get a taste of what you're missing. I recommend you start by downloading some multiplayer demos, like GR:AW or Battlefield 2, and rocking them out multiplayer over Live.*It's notable that Verizon and Microsoft chose this weekend over all others; considering we're going to lose an hour due to Daylight Saving's Time "springing" forward, this is really a 71 hour "Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend." What are we not supposed to look in the mouth again?See also:Xbox Live Ambassadors announcedFree Xbox Live Gold weekend back with free points
