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GRiD brings weird capitalization to Games on Demand
Another Tuesday, another entry in the ever expanding Xbox Games on Demand library. This week, it's Race Driver: GRiD, the well-reviewed 2008 racer from Codemasters. The game is available everywhere except Japan, which gets Raiden Fighters Aces, a fact that fills us with jealous rage. Still, if you're a fan of the Codies school of racing, you might consider picking it up (be sure to try the demo first). As usual, prices vary by region. Add GRiD to your 360 download queue [Via Major Nelson]
Games on Demand has a high-price Monopoly
The electronic incarnation of board game classic Monopoly is now available on Games on Demand for ... $30?! Sweet mercy, does that have luxury and income tax on it? The board game costs less than $20 and many electronic versions can be found for even less than that.As is our standard obligation, we'll mention that a used copy of the title can currently be found at GameStop for $25, which is still overpriced. Shouldn't this be a simple XBLA title, if anything? A $10 Xbox version of Monopoly would be lovely. Add Monopoly to your download queue
Left 4 Dead 2 demo, new Games on Demand available now
The demo of the zombie survival training game (also known as Left 4 Dead 2) is available now to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Although the retail game completes the scenario snippet on offer, the demo certainly feels like "more of the same," albeit with the addition of some new melee and bullet-required weapons.Also on the shooter front: Battlefield 2: Modern Combat can now be acquired through Games on Demand for $20. Far Cry 2 is also available outside of North America. As always, we feel it prudent to mention that the titles are likely to be found cheaper at a local brick-and-mortar shop (at the risk of running into shopper zombies!).Shortcuts: Add Left 4 Dead 2 demo to your download queue [via Xbox.com] Purchase and add Battlefield 2: Modern Combat to your download queue [via Xbox.com]
PSA: Army of Two, Midnight Club, Sonic Unleashed now on demand
Major Nelson has shared with the internet the following facts: Army of Two, Midnight Club: LA and Sonic Unleashed are now available on Xbox Live Games on Demand. Army of Two and Midnight Club are available everywhere except Japan and North Korea, while the madness that is Sonic Unleashed is available worldwide. In North America, Army of Two is $19.99 and Midnight Club is $29.99. Sonic Unleashed will cost you $29.99 and the immediate forfeit of your immortal soul. Prices in other regions will vary (except for the soul part; we're pretty sure that's constant).
PSA: GTA IV is now available on demand, $30 in US
Crime epic Grand Theft Auto IV has arrived (as promised) on the Xbox Marketplace's Games on Demand lineup. The grand theft mega-hit costs $30 to download, which is the same price as a fresh new retail version -- a tiny bit more in some cases. We should probably note that a used copy from GameStop is about $25. By all means, if you have no way of getting to a retailer please feel free to buy the game online. Oh, wait, that was a missed opportunity for a "steal a car" joke, wasn't it?
GTA IV, Dead Space coming to Xbox 360 Games on Demand this month
The Xbox 360's Games on Demand service is getting quite the booster shot this month, as Microsoft has announced six new titles coming to the service in October. The festivities kicked off earlier this week with the release of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and Call of Duty 3. Here's what the rest of this month has in store: October 13 Grand Theft Auto IV October 20 Midnight Club: Los Angeles Army of Two Sonic Unleashed October 27 Dead Space DiRT There's no word on price for any of these titles right now, so we've checked with Microsoft and will be sure to update you when we hear back.
Call of Duty 3, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 added to 'Games on Demand'
Major Nelson brings word that the troops of Call of Duty 3 and the elite squad of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 have infiltrated Xbox Live's "Games on Demand." Both titles go for $30 each in the US, but check your respective region for pricing.We should note that both titles cost $30 new from a store -- even less for those who find a used copy. Keep that in mind while you're trying to understand how price parity exists when there's no disc, box, shipping or manufacturing involved. Add Call Of Duty 3 to your queue Add Rainbow Six Vegas 2 to your queue
Shaun White, C&C 3 added to Games on Demand
Another Tuesday, more games for Xbox Live's Games on Demand service. This week, two new titles have been added, Shaun White Snowboarding and Command & Conquer 3. Shaun White is available everywhere except Canada, Japan and Korea, while Command & Conquer 3 is only available in -- deep breath -- Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom. As usual, pricing varies by region (Shaun White is $29.99 in the US). Check the links below to see the price for your region. Shortcut: Xbox Live Marketplace: Shaun White SnowboardingShortcut: Xbox Live Marketplace: Command & Conquer 3 [Via Major Nelson]
Virtua Fighter 5, FIFA Street 3 kick Games on Demand in the face
Because both games involve flying feet, get it? Anyhway, Major Nelson has informed the masses that both Virtua Fighter 5 and FIFA Street 3 have landed on Xbox Live's Games on Demand service. As usual, both games are only available in certain regions. Virtua Fighter 5 is confined to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, while FIFA Street 3 is available everywhere except Austria, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan. Also as usual, pricing varies by region, so check your local listings. You may find yourself wondering just how companies decide which regions get their games. We're convinced that Microsoft has set up a giant Velcro map, next to which is kept a bucket of tennis balls. Granted, we have no proof to back up this theory, but we're almost positive it's the truth.
Xbox 360's 'Deal of the Week,' Games on Demand, Avatar DLC for Sept.
Tossing the usual drip-fed weekly schedule aside for the moment, Microsoft has released the full details for its "Deal of the Week," Games on Demand and Avatar DLC releases (in the US) for the entire month of September. Let's start with Games on Demand: Games on Demand (no prices noted) Sept 8: Civilization Revolution Sept. 15: FIFA Street 3 Sept. 22: Shaun White Snowboarding Sept. 29: Fable II: Game Episodes -- (we'd hold out for that "game of the year" edition) Check after the break for the "Deal of the Week" and Avatar DLC details.
Civ Rev, BioShock join Xbox Games on Demand (check your region)
Xbox 360's Games on Demand offering has been updated with the addictive Civilization Revolution and the sublime BioShock for the European regions. Civilization Revolution -- Available in Canada, Germany and the US for $30. BioShock -- Europe (already available in the US) for £19.99, which seems a bit high. There is also an update for the Japanese region, which adds Earth Defense Force 3, Armored Core 4 and Wartech: Senko no Ronde for 2000. We feel obligated to mention that these prices seem to miss the point of digital distribution from the consumer perspective.
GRAW and Splinter Cell: Double Agent infiltrate Games on Demand
Grab your night-vision goggles and strap on your Kevlar, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and Splinter Cell: Double Agent have been added to Xbox Live's Games on Demand service. While GRAW is available in nearly all Xbox Live regions, Splinter Cell: Double Agent is only available to (most) European Xbox Live users. Prices vary by region, but we're confident in saying that no matter where you live, the asking price is probably too high for games that launched in 2006.
OnLive goes OnBeta, wants you to help by playing games
Can we find some charitable souls amongst our readers? If you're the sort of person who'll give up his or her valuable time to a worthwhile cause that demands hours of daily gaming, far less showering and more meals based around the expansive Frito-Lay product line, OnLive will most certainly want to hear from you. Beta testing of the nascent game streaming service has just been opened up to the masses, and the quick and deadly among you will already be signing up via the read link below. Just to make sure we've conveyed this accurately -- there's a company out there that wants to stream free games to your TV, so tell us, why exactly are you still here reading? [Via Joystiq]
Interview: Xbox's Aaron Greenberg on the $300 Elite and all things Xbox
Last night, just hours before the price cut announcement went out, we had a chance to talk with Aaron Greenberg – the often outspoken Director of Product Management at Xbox – about the new $300 Elite console, the company's Fall lineup in the absence of Splinter Cell Conviction, Netflix "exclusivity" (whatever that means), the (still!) outrageous price of the WiFi adapter, and whether we're ever going to see Hulu or Groups/Clan support in Xbox Live (those are two of our favorite questions for Aaron). Read on for the complete interview: Joystiq: Hey Aaron – so what do you have for us today? Aaron Greenberg: So this may shock you, but effective on Friday we are dropping the price of our Xbox 360 Elite console by $100, dropping that down to $299. At the same time, we are also reducing the price of the Xbox 360 Pro or Premium 60 gig SKU down to $249 -- that will be effective while supplies last. And this will essentially set us up as we head into holiday with a two SKU setup: the $199 white Arcade SKU and then the $299 120 gig Elite black console. The Elite price is effective Friday? Yes. The price drop goes into effect at retail on Friday. So of course we're totally surprised and had no idea this was coming, so any questions that might indicate I was prepared you should just take as good guessing on our part I think. Right, exactly. So you don't read your own site or anything I guess?
More racing, kicking comes to Games on Demand
Great news for you zero-patience homebodies out there: A new batch of Xbox 360 games has just come to Games on Demand. Better yet, it's a group of games that lets you perform some of the activities you swore off when you decided to never again leave the confines of your home. Now you can remember the fun of playing soccer with friends with FIFA 09 or relive the visceral thrill of operating a motor vehicle with Burnout Revenge and Need For Speed: Pro Street. Now, if only they'd release The Touch of Another Human, you'd be all set.
Saints Row hijacks Games on Demand
Major Nelson sends word that Saints Row is now available through the Games on Demand service on Xbox Live. An open-world title, similar to Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row garnered pretty good reviews when it was released way back in 2006. In North America, the Games on Demand version will run you $30. Unsurprisingly, the retail version can be ordered for much less online. Still, if you gots to have it and you gots to have it right now, it's there. Just calling your name. Add Saints Row to your Xbox 360 download queue [Thanks, Mike]
Xbox Live Update has arrived, everything is going to be alright
It was almost a little cruel of Microsoft to offer its Xbox Live Update preview program so widely -- sure, all your stupid friends had the update, with their fancy new avatar clothing purchases and their cutesy little shared virtual Netflix screenings -- but there was you, updateless, sitting all alone, trying to squeeze out a few more experience points in Call of Duty while you held back the tears. Well, your wait is over. The newly improved Xbox 360 dashboard is live for everybody. Games on Demand, User Ratings, Avatar Awards... it's all there. Just ripe for the picking.
PSA: Xbox Live Update is ... live
This one is for all the unlucky souls that didn't make it into the Xbox Live Update preview program: Your wait is over! The Xbox Live Update is finally here, and it's here for everyone. That's right, now everyone has access to the update's many riches and wonders, including better (and "exclusive") Netflix functionality, Avatar Awards, Games on Demand, User Ratings and more. And let's not forget you can also purchase clothing for your digital doll.Getting the update is easy. Just turn on your Xbox, connect to Live and BAM, instant update. For a quick look at some of the new features, check out the video above, and find a Netflix video tour after the break.
Japan's Games on Demand launch line-up revealed, tiny
With the North American and European Games on Demand launch line-ups out of the way, it's time for Japan. The full listing has been uncovered on the Japanese Xbox.com and ... it's really tiny. Anemic, really. It's small, that's what we're trying to say. All told, there are eight games that will be available when the Xbox Live Update rolls out, compared to the twenty-four titles that will hit the North American region. Also, of those eight titles, two of them are Idol Master games. In fact, the only other game exclusive to the Japanese region (for now, at least) is Bullet Witch.It's a little peculiar that there isn't a single RPG scheduled to launch with the service. RPGs -- Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata, Tales of Vesperia, to name a few -- have been some of the most successful titles for Microsoft in Japan. Their absence seems very strange.Find the full, RPG-less list of launch games after the break.[Thanks, sacra]
BioShock surfaces on Games on Demand, costs $30
A quick note for those lucky enough to be part of the Xbox Live Update preview program: BioShock is now available from Games on Demand. While you might be keen to download it just to try out the Games on Demand feature, you should know that it will cost you $29.99. Considering you can pick up a new copy of the game from GameStop, eBay or Newegg for only $20 (or less), it's not exactly worth it -- unless the convenience of not leaving the house is worth $10 to you, of course. It's also worth noting that the XBLM price is only $10 shy of the BioShock / Oblivion combo pack.Still, if you just have to try Games on Demand, don't have BioShock already and have 4.66 gigs of spare room on the ol' hard drive, go for it. Just remember, a man chooses!
