video-marketplace
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NBC News section on Xbox dashboard expanded, moved
You know that well-hidden NBC News tab that lives on the Inside Xbox channel of your 360 Dashboard? No? Well, let's start over, then: There's an NBC News tab on the Inside Xbox channel, which allows you to stream content from NBC News. We wouldn't blame you for not being aware of its existence; fortunately, Microsoft has made the decision to move the content to the slightly more trafficked Video Marketplace portion of the Dashboard. According to Major Nelson, the channel now features higher quality video, as well as additional categorized features like Most Viewed, NBC Nightly News and the Today Show. It's the closest you're ever going to get to playing Halo: Reach with Al Roker. Or is it? (No, it probably is.) (OR IS IT?)
AIAS Awards and DICE sessions now available on Xbox Live
If you couldn't make it out to Vegas for the DICE Summit earlier this year (and our in-depth coverage wasn't in enough depth for you), worry not -- Xbox Live has your back. By going to the GamerTV channel in the Video Marketplace, you can watch parts of the Academy of Interactive Achievement awards show, as well as highlighted sessions from the summit for free. Interactive entertainment-related sessions from Richard "Lord British" Garriott, the director of Kung Fu Panda, and oceanographer Dr. Dave Gallo are all available for viewing. Not included: the expensive Las Vegas hotel room and overpriced buffet you would have if you were there live. But you can watch the awards show itself, and see some of your favorite games win those AIAS awards all over again.
PlayStation Video Store coming to Canada on July 1
First announced at the Sony E3 2010 press conference, the PlayStation Network Video Store is coming to our Canadian neighbors on July 1st. It's taken a long time, but Canadians will finally be able to download movies and television shows directly to their PS3 and PSP systems. [Thanks, djpenny!]
HBO joins PlayStation Network video service
Time Warner's premium cable channel is coming to the PS3 and PSP later today. Sony has just announced that programming from HBO will be made available via the PlayStation Network video delivery service in North America. The initial selection includes the both the first two seasons of True Blood (Season 2 debuts on DVD today, as well). In addition, select seasons of Big Love, Entourage, Eastbound and Down, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire, Rome, Da Ali G Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Flight of the Conchords will also be available, with "more titles and additional seasons to be added each week." Pricing information wasn't made available in the press release, but we believe it will be similar to the content currently available on iTunes: $2.99 per episode. HBO enthusiasts will definitely want to stay tuned for tonight's PSN Tuesday update.
Xbox Live Video Marketplace coming to 10 more countries 'this fall'
As far as we know, the kind of laziness which prevents you from visiting the nearest Blockbuster Video is a worldwide phenomenon. According to a press release (.doc link) dropped just in time for CES, Microsoft is catering to this global lethargy by opening up the Xbox Live Video Marketplace to ten more countries this fall: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Australia and New Zealand. Basically, if the Xbox Live Video Marketplace was playing Risk, it'd have a kickass lock on the Eastern Hemisphere.
PSA: PlayStation Video Service expands to Europe today
It's been over a year since Sony America and Japan debuted video delivery services for the PlayStation Store. Today, the long-delayed feature finally makes its way to Europe. The service will launch in France, Germany, Spain and the UK today, with other countries to follow in 2010. Downloads will be available directly from the PS3 and PSP, with rentals starting from €1.99, and movie purchases starting from €7.99. For a limited time, the PlayStation Store will be running a special promo. Anyone that purchases Angels and Demons from the newly launched service will get a free copy of The Da Vinci Code. New registrants of the PlayStation Network will also be able to get a free download of Transformers if they create an account before November 30. "The launch of the PlayStation Network video delivery service extends our entertainment offering and provides consumers with another way to access their favorite movies, whether at home or on the go," SCEE's Andrew House wrote in a press release. SCEE's Jem Alexander also shared his enthusiasm with us, saying the service will be "amazing" and that "biscuits are brilliant."
Microsoft honoring MJ with free Thriller video download (update)
We're all still reeling from the passing of the King of Pop, but fortunately, Microsoft's got a nice (albeit brief) memorial for Michael Jackson up on Xbox Live. This weekend only, the Video Marketplace is giving away the full, ten-minute version of MJ's classic "Thriller" music video for your viewing pleasure. Yep, the greatest music video of all time is free to download until the end of the day today.It's a nice gesture -- but why not just make the video permanently free? We're not sure these wounds will heal in such a short period of time.Update: Looks like they've already take the deal down. If you don't feel like paying two dollars to watch a music video (and you shouldn't), you can just watch it on YouTube for free.[Xbox Live Marketplace link - US only (and no longer free)]
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 22 - 26
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly, and Blu-ray each week.Recommendation of the Week: The Girlfriend Experience (XBL to rent: 480 MS points for HD, 320 for SD): Steven Soderbergh returns to his indie film roots with this character study that was shot on one of the new RedOne HD cameras for only $1.3 million dollars. Real-life porn star Sasha Grey stars as Christine; an escort who offers the full "Girlfriend Experience" for a high price. Her boyfriend is okay with the arrangement on the surface, but underneath he's struggling. The film follows both of them as they deal with the reality of her job, and how they each handle the repercussions. Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.
HD South Park now available on Video Marketplace
We can't think of a better way to get ready for tonight's South Park Season 13 debut than by watching a few HD episodes from seasons past. South Park episodes from seasons 11 and 12 are now available for purchase from the US Xbox Live Video Marketplace in both standard and high definition, costing 160 and 240 each, respectively.Those who didn't get a chance to watch "Canada on Strike" should, nay, are required to see that episode. See for yourself.Source - South Park Season 11Source - South Park Season 12
Microsoft iffy on Netflix-style service for Euro 360s
Commenting on the possibility of a Netflix-style streaming service making its way to Xbox 360s in Europe, UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson admits to Eurogamer that such plans, well ... don't look too promising."Netflix is a great deal in the US," says Thompson, who believes that the Live service has to evolve "in different territories at different speeds." Though uncertain as to what the future holds for each of those territories, he adds, "We're concentrating on delivering the services we've got and bolstering the content we've got."We're guessing the addition of 30 new Universal movies to Europe's XBVM is part of Microsoft's exhaustive efforts. Sorry, Europe, looks like you'll be Netflix-less for a while. Think of it as a boon to productivity! You're helping to save the economy for the rest of us!
Microsoft Xbox video marketplace ad banned for being misleading
Apple isn't the only one to run afoul of the UK's Advertising Standards Authority, now that one of Microsoft's recent ads (embedded after the break) promoting its video rental service has been banned. Challenged because it fails to mention the viewing window (24 hours after pressing play / 14 days after download,) the board agreed, saying users may be influenced to purchase on the basis of being able to download and keep movies, which currently they can't. Microsoft argued that the ad was too short to get into the details of its DRM requirements, but maybe next time they'll hire one of the fast talking individuals from oh-so-many pharmaceutical ads for the last second disclaimer.[Via Joystiq Xbox & CVG]
ASA bans misleading Xbox 360 video rental service ad
UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has struck an advertisement for Xbox 360's video download service with the ban hammer because it did not disclose the expiration time frame of Video Marketplace content. The ASA investigated the advert after receiving a complaint that it did not specify Microsoft's actual policy on video rentals, which states that rentals will become unwatchable 24 hours after initial viewing or 14 days after purchase. The ASA concluded that "new users could be influenced to purchase" with the belief that they would own the right to watch the film at any time. According to Webuser, Microsoft argues the brief television spot did not allow enough time to detail the entire Video Marketplace policy, but the ASA maintains the service has "significant conditions" that must be disclosed to consumers. It's true, gamers, you really don't own anything you put into your Xbox 360 console. Cracking it open will only reveal a stack of digital IOU's. [Image]
Linking to XBLM content on the web just got easier
Everybody loves the semi-recently launched Xbox.com Marketplace. It's such an easy (and convenient) way to browse the latest and greatest Marketplace content from the comfort of your internet browser. But being bloggers, we've always had an issue with the inability to find a specific URL to link to certain content. Well, friends, those URL-less days are over, because the web Marketplace has just been updated with a new "Send a Link" feature. Below every piece of Marketplace content, you'll find a convenient URL to share with others and post to your favorite social networking site..Thanks to this new feature, sharing content with your friends is just a click away, our blogging job has become more efficient and spending your Microsoft points has become even easier. It's a win-win-win!
Netflix survey hints at paid HBO instant view content
There's a survey floating around the web asking current Netflix subscribers their opinion on paying an additional fee to get access to "premium" HBO content through the instant view service. Hacking Netflix posted a screen grab of said survey, which asks subscribers if paying an additional $9.99 per month would be worth receiving HBO original series, including Entourage, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, as well as HBO original movies on top of the 12,000+ pieces of instant view content already available. We'll admit, our Xbox 360's Netflix instant queue is getting stale, but paying $10 on top of the cost of our Netflix subscription to watch HBO content is bit too rich for our liking. Especially during these lovely economic times.[Via Ars Technica]
Activate Netflix. Win prizes. Be happy.
There's no better time than now to give Netflix a test drive, because Microsoft and the famous red movie dealer have partnered for an Activate and Win promotion where all new (and even current) Netflix subscribers have a chance to win fabulous prizes. We're sure the promotion has something to do with the fact that the NXE-enabled Netflix streaming feature is available on the 360. We're almost positive.To enter the giveaway, simply sign up for Netflix and download the registration gamer picture off the Marketplace. Only one winner will be selected to take home the home theater prize, but even "losers" will have something to smile about: They will be subscribers to a great content streaming service. Feel those warm fuzzies?
HD Wall-E now rentable on the XBVM
One of the greatest movies of 2008 (possibly EVER!) is now available for rental off the U.S. Xbox Live Video Marketplace. Pixar's Wall-E and all his cute, innocent and robot'ish charm can be rented in standard definition for 320 Microsoft points or in high definition for the always expensive price of 480 points. Spendy, but totally worth the cash. And for the seven folks who have yet to see it, be sure to check out The Dark Knight, which is also available for rental off the XBVM. "Let's put a smile on that face!"[Via Major's Twitter]
Xbox Live Video Marketplace opening in Japan next year
As evidenced by our weekly sales charts, the Xbox 360 is finally making some (see: any) headway in Japan, strengthened by a recent salvo of Square-Enix releases on the system. As such, Microsoft finally has the customer base to justify exporting a feature that Americans have been enjoying for over two years now -- the Xbox Live Video Marketplace.According to Famitsu, the Video Marketplace will be landing on Japanese 360s sometime next year, bringing with it a new slew of Japanese films and anime. Simmer down, Naruto-ites -- said content will be region-locked, leaving you to make due with your unsophisticated American programming. Unfortunately, the service's Japanese release date is fairly vague -- is an anticipated quarter too much to ask for a launch window? Come on, Microsoft. Help a ????? out.
The Guild, RvB, and more set to release to Video Marketplace
For those who are Netflix'less and are Video Marketplace purchasing regulars, know that new independent content will be making its way to the Marketplace this week. Some free, some not so free. Shows including The Guild, Horror Meets Comedy, Red vs. Blue, The Jace Hall Show and a catalog of shows from Blind Ferrett Entertainment will be available for download starting this week. Even better, the first season of The Guild (an online sitcom about gamers) is available FREE for download and season two will be premiering on the Marketplace tomorrow. It's independent entertainment, yo.
New Xbox Experience's Video Marketplace and Netflix previewed
We're big fans of the Xbox Live Video Marketplace, largely due to our own barren DVD collection and our nationwide banning from Blockbuster Video following our refusal to pay a $230 late fee on Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. That's why this week's New Xbox Experience sneak preview on Gamerscore Blog caught our eye -- it focuses on the revamped Video Marketplace and the soon-to-be-added Netflix functionality.No groundbreaking new information is revealed in the blog post, though some interesting statistics are given -- upon the launch of the NXE, Netflix Unlimited subscribers with Xbox Live Gold accounts will be able to instantly stream over 12,000 movies to their consoles. Combined with more than 20,000 pieces of content on the XBVM, the NXE is shaping up to be a cinematic treasure trove -- best of all, there's no late fees, meaning we can finally enjoy all that trouser-centric teen drama on our own terms.
E308: NBC Universal added to XBVM
Somehow slipping through our extensive E3 2008 coverage (bad X3F, bad!) was an announcement that came during Microsoft's conference informing us that NBC/Universal were just added to the U.S. Xbox Live Video Marketplace. This new partnership brings hit NBC, Sci-Fi Channel and USA Network shows to the XBVM including various SD/HD episodes from TV shows like The Office, Heroes, 30 Rock, Scrubs, SNL and more. This news may not be as exciting as the Netflix announcement, but we're sure those diehard Heroes fans would probably beg to differ on that point.
