avatar-marketplace
Latest
Equip your Xbox Avatar with free Modern Warfare 2 night vision goggles
Do you have any idea how hard it is for your Xbox Live Avatar to see when your 360 is turned off? It gets so dark in there without the console power button's emerald (or, sometimes, ruby) luminescence. Why not lend your tiny homunculus a hand by picking up the Modern Warfare 2 Avatar Night Vision Goggles, which Microsoft and Infinity Ward are handing out for free until Sunday, 11:59 pm PT? It's a lot cheaper than constantly leaving your system turned on, and it makes it look like you're wearing Johnny 5's head as a sort of trophy, which is ... totally sweet, right? Shortcut: Add the Night Vision Goggles to your Xbox 360 download queue [via Xbox.com]
Behold, the PAX East Avatar hoodie
If you like rare Avatar gear, then this post is for you! As it did during PAX 2009, Microsoft is readying a special Avatar item for the very first PAX East. Initially revealed by Microsoft's Eric "e" Neustadt via Twitpic, Microsoft has provided us some higher fidelity images for you to enjoy. The front of the hoodie features the PAX East logo and the back sports the word "Boston" with Crackdown orbs for Os. Very spiffy. Microsoft hasn't announced how to get your digital hands on one of these babies. Assuming it works the same way as the PAX 2009 Avatar shirt, the PAX East hoodie will be given out exclusively at the event itself. Rest assured, if we come across any, we'll share the love and give them away.
Sega All-Stars Avatar items are looking for sales
We may not usually condone the capricious waste of Microsoft Points on Avatar frippery, but we must admit that the Sonic & Sega All-Stars clothing set makes a pretty good argument for the existence of Avatar clothes. And that argument is "here's Ryo Hazuki's jacket." It's available for men and women for 160 ($2). The other available items strike similarly at the heart of Sega nerds, including Beat's sunglasses, a little AiAi-in-Monkey-Ball prop, and a Samba De Amigo sombrero! You can even buy a Crabmeat to decorate your virtual Green Hill Zone (by which we mean your dashboard). See the full set at Xbox Live Marketplace. [Via Sega]
Perfect Dark, Alan Wake items now in Avatar Marketplace
Your virtual closet of Avatar wear just got some new styles, as Perfect Dark and Alan Wake gear is now available in the Avatar Marketplace. You can peruse the usual -- shirts, pants, helmets and outfits -- or if props is more your thing, there's a variety to choose from. "Elvis" you can see above, but there's also a flare, some pages of a manuscript or even an Alan Wake book. Like, a book that says Alan Wake on it that your Avatar looks at. Head into the Avatar Marketplace to see all of the new stuff. Source -- Perfect Dark Avatar gear on Xbox Live [Xbox.com] Source -- Alan Wake Avatar gear on Xbox Live [Xbox.com] [Via Destructoid]
Xbox Live Deal of the Week: Gears of War Avatar items
Looking to represent the Serans during the ongoing conflict with the Locust in Gears of War 2? Well, you've probably been playing the game, but if you insist on enlisting your Avatar in the ranks of the willing and able, Major Nelson reveals the COG armor (steroids not included) will only set you back 240 ($3) this week, while the helmet is a far more manageable 80 ($1). That's a savings of 25 and 50 percent off the normal price, respectively -- a sale that is valid until March 8. Shortcut: Add Gears of War COG armor (male) to your queue [Xbox.com] Shortcut: Add Gears of War COG armor (female) to your queue [Xbox.com] Shortcut: Add Gears of War COG helmet (male) to your queue [Xbox.com] Shortcut: Add Gears of War COG helmet (female) to your queue [Xbox.com]
Force Unleashed Avatar gear unleashed on XBLM
Comm scan has detected that new Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Avatar items are now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Yes, even more Star Wars stuff for your digital self. Normally, we would scoff at things like this, but hey ... there's a Stormtrooper outfit. Oh sure, you could get a clone trooper outfit before, but why waste money on that when the obviously superior Stormtrooper armor is available? Check out the full collection of gear, including the Starkiller lightsaber, on Xbox Live Marketplace.
Xbox Live March schedule: Block Party, Perfect Dark and more
As is becoming custom, Major Nelson has dropped the schedule for next month's offerings on Xbox Live Marketplace. March has quite a bit in store, particularly the Xbox Live Arcade Block Party, which will feature Rare's N64 classic, Perfect Dark. Other notables include Fallout 3 on Games on Demand, the Call of Duty: World at War map bundle for $20 and Street Fighter IV Avatar apparel. The schedule also serves as a reminder of other big March launches, including Microsoft's Game Room service and the "Desperate Escape" episode for Resident Evil 5. Find the full schedule after the break.
BioShock 2 Avatar items come to Xbox Live
The following comes to us from the BioShock Wiki: "Big Daddies are genetically-enhanced human beings who have had their skin and organs grafted into an enormous diving suit. The candidates also go through voice box modification and pheromone application. They are then placed in large vats with a substance that effectively turns them into mindless drones. With gene splicing, the humans inside the suits were given enhanced strength and agility." ... Or they could have just paid 320 points ($4) on Xbox Live. Jeez, we guess Andrew Ryan wasn't so smart after all. (Related note: If you spend $4 on a Big Daddy costume for your Avatar, you are, legally speaking, no longer entitled to the sweat of your own brow. Sorry.)
Xbox Live deals, XBLA releases and Games on Demand for January
Major Nelson recently peeled away the veil separating us from the knowledge of when stuff would be coming out on Xbox Live Marketplace over what remains of the month of January. This new knowledge includes the upcoming Deals of the Week -- on January 18, both of the DLC packs for the original Mass Effect will be marked down to 240 ($3) each and Hasbro Family Game Night: Battleship will get rolled back to 400 ($5); and on January 25, Portal: Still Alive will have its price temporarily reduced to 800 ($10). The Major also announced two new Games on Demand: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, available now for $20, and Dead Rising, coming January 26 for an undisclosed price. For the rest of January's bounty, including discounted Games on Demand titles, XBLA releases and Avatar items, head past the jump.
Your chocobo Avatar pet is in the mail
Last month -- utilizing the spamming power of Twitter -- Microsoft and Square Enix partnered to offer Xbox Live users a free baby chocobo pet for their Avatars if they registered their Gamertags during the social media promotion. After weeks of waiting for the marketing plan to run its course, codes for the tiny companion have been sent to participating users via email. Sadly -- as Major Nelson points out -- those who did not participate in the promotion cannot get the pet, but we anticipate the baby chocobo will find its way onto the Avatar Marketplace at some point. Reminiscent of the baby chocobo that nests within Final Fantasy XIII hero Sazh Katzroy's gorgeous afro, our baby chocobo only seems to flutter around, refusing to nest within our own Avatar hairdos. We presume that feature will be some kind of pre-order bonus for Final Fantasy XIII when it launches on March 9, 2010.
Disney Avatar items flood XBLM (including Mickey ears)
Let's face it, childhood was disappointing. Every year, you begged your parents to take you to Disney World, forever dreaming that you might own your very own pair of Mickey Mouse ears, the accessory that screams, "Yeah, I've been there." And every year, your parents would say, "We're going to Disney World!" Filled with glee, you would pile into the car with the rest of the family, only to arrive at the local Pottery Barn. Okay, so it might not be everyone's childhood, but it's close enough. The point is that there is now a digital ton of Disney themed Avatar goodies on Xbox Live Marketplace. There's actually some fun stuff up there, including the enchanted broom from Fantasia, a Tigger doll and plenty of clothing options. And yes, there are Mickey Mouse ears. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, some of the Disney items, including the ears, are experiencing some technical difficulties. Fret not, however, as Major Nelson assures us that Microsoft is on the case, so we're sure our your childhood dream will soon be within reach.
Buyer's Guide: Xbox Live Marketplace
.nounderline a { text-decoration: none; } So, what to spend your Microsoft Points on? The choice can be quite daunting. After all, there's a lot of content on Xbox Live Marketplace. With this handy guide, we give you some solid suggestions to spend your points on based on several categories and include everything from Xbox Live Arcade games to Indie Games to Avatar props. Just select from your favorite genres below. (Joytip: Click on a game title to see its Xbox.com listing; and check out our links to reviews and XBLA in Brief videos to help make crucial purchasing decisions.) Action | Braid | Family & Board Games | Hardcore Party | Puzzle | Retro | Shooters | Spare Change
Xbox Live Faux Pas of the Day: Free '2010 Glasses'
Your Avatar can celebrate the next dance around the sun by putting on some hideous 2010 glasses, now available in the Avatar Marketplace for free. Wearing the glasses will have your virtual representation come dangerously close to committing the high crime of fashion: socks and sandals (which is, sadly, also available on the marketplace). However, if you think your Avatar can rock the look, by all means, have them go for it. If you regret getting these, just remember that hindsight is 2010. Shortcut: Download "2010 Glasses" to Xbox 360 [via Xbox.com]
Ask Engadget HD: Does Dolby, RealD or someone else offer the best 3D movie theater experience?
In case you hadn't heard, there's a pretty high profile 3D movie coming to theatres near you this weekend, and assuming one actually has multiple multiplexes to choose from, who has the best technology? RealD and Dolby have been fighting it out to ramp up 3D theater installs over the last couple of years with other competitors also mixed in, but our friend Kevin wants to know if there is a noticeable difference from location to location: A question I have every time a new 3D movie comes out: We have two theaters here that offer 3D movies. One lists them as "Digital 3D"; the other as "RealD 3D". What are the technical differences, and do they end up producing noticeably different final results? Or am I getting the same experience at both theaters? Thanks for your help! We know a few of you must have grabbed a pair of glasses and checked out flicks form the Toy Story series to Coraline and My Bloody Valentine, do you have preference on where to go to see 3D? Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Your Xbox Live Avatar can give a pet a good home tomorrow
We often worry that our Avatars get lonely when we're not focusing our attention on our 360s. We can give them all the toys we want, but it's just not the same as the touch of another living, not-living pet. Tomorrow, they'll finally have a proper companion as pets come to the Avatar Marketplace, including Large Dog, Pug Dog, Dog in Bag, Cat, Siamese Cat, Long Haired Cat, Goldfish, Guinea Pig, Monkey, Bird, Snake and Pony each for 240 ($3). By the way, we're hoping that by "Dog in Bag" we're talking about the purse kind and not the "adolescent sign of future deviant behavior" kind. Only time will tell, we suppose.
MS Points, assemble! Transformers Avatar items on Xbox Live
We all have guilty pleasures, this much we all know. But some guilty pleasures are too guilty. Case in point: Michael Bay's Transformers movies. We bring this up because some new Avatar items based on his work -- and consequent games -- are now available for purchase on Xbox Live, including the Optimus Prime and Megatron helmets you see above, as well as several branded t-shirts. Now, if you want to run to your Xbox and drop some real money on these fake duds right now, fine, more power to you. However, if you expect to still be on our friends' list afterward, well, we should probably talk. %Gallery-78988%
Fallout 3 Avatar gear coming this week
Good news for fans of purchasing digital clothing for digital people, Bethesda has announced that Fallout 3 Avatar items will be hitting XBLM this Thursday, November 26. There are lots of items available, including a nifty Vault 101 suit with a sweet PIP-Boy. The cream of the crop has to be the full Vault Boy suit though, with its creepy, soulless expression. That one, by the way, is available only for male Avatars, which seems a bit silly. The rest swing both ways. Vault 101 Suit -- 240 ($3) Bethesda Game Studios Shirt -- 80 ($1) Fallout 3 Ringer Shirt -- 80 ($1) Vault Boy Shirt -- 80 ($1) Vault Boy Suit -- 240 ($3) Vault Boy Head -- 80 ($1)
Look flashy in incoming Operation Flashpoint Avatar duds
[Image Source] It's a good thing our Avatars have endless walk-in closets, because there's yet more wearable advertising licensed clothing coming for them, this time from Codemasters and its military sim Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. According to the game's community manager in a post on the Dragon Rising forums, the clothing will be available "soon" and start at the seemingly standard 80 ($1) -- probably for one of the several T-Shirts. Speaking of which, check out how gung-ho Dexter's sis, Deb, looks wearing one of them (right).
DJ Hero and Assassin's Creed 2 Avatar items added to Marketplace
You know what would make becoming the "chosen one" in your late night 1 vs. 100 bouts a whole lot easier? Just imagine: The camera pans up to your seat -- but you're nowhere to be found. You're a white-garbed shadow, slipping through the crowd, silently executing other would-be contestants. It's a beautiful dream that could be realized if you pick up one of the new Assassin's Creed 2 Avatar costumes -- a set which includes Ezio and Altair's respective get-ups (400), Da Vinci's Flying Machine (240) and a whole mess of other items that no hitman (or hitwoman) should go without. Also, there's a whole slew of DJ Hero content, including a few turntables (240), a "Ghetto Blaster" (160) and some virtual vinyl (160). While the DJ lifestyle isn't nearly as attractive as that of an assassin, we suppose these accouterments are still pretty sharp.
Modern Warfare 2 Avatar gear coming to Live tomorrow
Are your Avatars ill-equipped to raid a terrorist safe house? Well, good news: Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling (aka fourzerotwo) revealed Modern Warfare 2 gear will soon be available for players to purchase on Xbox Live's Avatar Marketplace.Revealed in a recent Tweet, Bowling stated that Infinity Ward will upload the content to Xbox Live tomorrow -- which includes the Ghost outfit pictured above. In an email to Joystiq, Bowling confirmed the content will be made available for purchase tomorrow. Until then, we'll sleep soundly knowing that the Avatar world will soon be safe from terrorist scum.[Thanks, B. Marriner]
