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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.
Preview all 360 themes before you buy
A new site just popped up on the net called Dashboard Themes and it looks to be quite useful. They have every theme released for the 360 on the site with screenshots of each blade and guide. Also built into the site is a ranking system, newly released themes list, and the layout is well thought out. Now how cool is that? So now you know where to go before you purchase a theme off of the marketplace or just a place to get an idea of what others like ... this is definitely a great resource.[Via Digg]
Free gamer picture for Canada [update 1]
Boy do we love those free gamer pictures and themes from the marketplace. And even though there is only one new one and only available for Canadian Xbox Live members, it's still newsworthy. Everyone who's from Canada and loves free goods, hit up the XBLM and get your free Multiplayer Mayhem Month gamer picture right this second! We can't see what it looks like since our HQ is in the States, so if you could download it ... is it one sexy gamer picture?Update 1: CANADA360 found an image of the gamer picture. It isn't all that bad.
C&C3 debut video conquers Marketplace
A new trailer for Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars popped up on Xbox Live Marketplace today. The video features lots and lots of mass destruction, as huge contingents of soldiers and machines wage war. Unfortunately, the video is devoid of any sort of interface, so we can't tell what -- if any -- refinements have been made to the control scheme created for BFMEII. Overall, the game is looking very slick and polished. The trailer itself is well produced, too. We particularly like the tag line at the end of the video: "Coming to a home theater near you." Nice. See the trailer after the break.
Oblivion content free for the holidays
The gift giving bug is out in full force as the shopping season crescendos to its ultimate finale. In this spirit of giving, Bethesda has announced that they will offer free Oblivion Marketplace content starting this Friday, December 22. The offer will run until December 31. Before anyone asks, no, it's not Knights of the Nine. No, the content to be offered will in fact be Mehrune's Razor, which debuted back in June. Normally 250 points, it will be free just in time for the holidays. In case you've forgotten what Mehrune's Razor is all about, check out our previous post, here.But seriously though, are there any Oblivion owners that haven't already bought this?[Via XUG]
Bungie talks up the Brute video
Now that the latest Halo 3 "ViDoc" has been released and allowed to simmer for a few hours, Bungie has responded to some of the most common questions and concerns associated with it. Chief among these questions is of course the graphics. Already announced as being placeholder graphics, many still found the video to be lacking -- in some cases barely above Halo 2's visual quality. In response, Bungie says that essentially nothing in the video represents the actual look of Halo 3, save for a few very brief snippets. Furthermore, all footage in the video is several months old, as that is when they started creating the documentary.
COD3 content called to Marketplace soon
DCEmu is reporting that new Call of Duty 3 content has been announced by Activision. There will be two pieces of content available: a free "Bonus Map" and a premium "Valor Map Pack" for 800 points. The bonus map is called "Champs" and sees players facing off in Port Royal de Champs, France. The map should fare well for smaller and mid-sized games. The "Valor Map Pack" will include 5 new maps, all set in France, and promises plenty of close quarters combat. For the moment, the content has no official release date, but we'd say it's a safe bet that it won't arrive before the New Year.
Santa's Row: reindeer up, ho ho hos down
Just to put everyone in the holiday spirit, Volition has rolled out some new content for Saints Row. Download the "Ho Ho Ho Pack" from Marketplace for access to a brand new Santa suit. We suggest you reenact the movie Bad Santa to your heart's content. Have your character drink himself silly, mistreat a few prostitutes, and go on a shooting spree. Is there any better way to spread holiday cheer? We submit that there is not. Merry Christmas, everyone!*[Thanks, Jay sheffield. Image via b3ta.com]*Except Live Silver members, who will be able to download the content after December 25th.
Lost Planet demos hit 1 million downloads
Capcom announced today that the single-player and multiplayer demos of Lost Planet have been downloaded over 1 million times combined. Additionally, Capcom states that hundreds of thousands of hours have been spent playing the Lost Planet demos. Considering that the multiplayer demo has consistently landed on the top 10 Live games for several weeks now, this is hardly surprising. No doubt, Capcom hopes that the hundreds of thousands of demo players will translate to hundreds of thousands of retail copies being sold when the game ships. Of course, there's a big difference between zero dollars and sixty dollars. Have you played this demo extensively? Will you pony up the dough for the full version?
Viral marketing infects GoW downloadable content [update 1]
It's that time of year when everyone gets to put on their speculation cap and their analytical pants to decode some viral marketing goodness. 2old2play found the site the above domain. The site is titled "RE-Emergence Day" and depicts the COG repelling down underground to take on the Locusts and a date 12-24-06 (that's Christmas Eve, FYI) plastered across the bottom. Not only is that exciting, but the website is registered to a JS Mining Corporation located on North Sera Road, Sera with administrative contacts of Baird, Cole. Getting that viral marketing feeling yet? All of this is speculated to be leading up to the release of downloadable content available Christmas Eve on the XBLM. But, the pessimistic side of me cries out hoax. This could easily be a fan of Gears messing with our heads, preying on our emotions, and ultimately making everyone depressed when the 24th rolls around and we get nothing. Anyone up for a little viral marketing?Update 1: Looks like this is fake. Mr. Rein, we just want some answers to what you're offering and when. Any info would be nice.[Via, 2old2play]
Red Vs. Blue brings holiday cheer to XBLM
A special Red Vs. Blue holiday video has landed on Xbox Live Marketplace. We were so busy rocking Assault Heroes earlier that we failed to notice. There is a Red Vs. Blue theme available as well, which will run you 150 points. We love us some Red Vs. Blue, so you can bet we're downloading the video right now. Unfortunately, Microsoft decided to pull a Scrooge, as the video is available only to Gold members. Silver Live members will have to wait until December 20th. At least you'll get it in time for Christmas, right?Has anyone gotten the video (or theme) yet? Is it super funny?
Microsoft launches XNA Creator's Club
Though you might envision a "creator's club" to be some sort of blunt object used to beat beautiful games out of misshapen code, it's actually the next step in Microsoft's ongoing XNA initiative. The "community-powered arcade" is now within reach of any gamer and would-be developer willing to download XNA Game Studio Express (for Windows XP) and spend some time coming to grips with the Visual C# and .NET frameworks its based on. Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft's Game Developer group, recounts Microsoft's cunning strategy of having one creative idea at a time. "When it comes to encouraging development on XNA Game Studio Express and through the XNA Creators Club, the limits are truly endless. What users will see today is just the beginning of the plans we have to revolutionize game development one creative game idea at a time."Of course, you'll also want to make your masterpiece playable on an Xbox 360 ("playable" being the keyword so often forgotten by some developers). In order to migrate your game to the 360 and to gain access to samples, game assets and other goodies, you'll need to join the XNA Creator's Club. It's been added as a purchase on the Xbox Live Marketplace, priced at $49 for four months or $99 for an annual subscription. Early adopters will have an opportunity to get their games published on Xbox Live Arcade in a contest launching next month.Well, what are you waiting for? Get cracking on your non-derivative 3rd-person shooter, Cogs of Conflict! Download -- XNA Game Studio Express[Full, slightly boring, press release after the break.]
Mass Effect X06 combat and dialogue video
The Mass Effect X06 that was promised yesterday has been released and we have YouTubified it just for you (it's available on Marketplace now as well). The video showcases some of Mass Effect's dynamic dialogue system, but it's mostly about the squad combat. You are allowed real time control over any member of your party and have access to numerous weapon upgrades and magic (called Biotics in the Mass Effect universe). Players can also pause the action at any time -- much like KOTOR -- to give squad mates orders. This option allows you to tactically plan what would otherwise be a difficult battle. KOTOR was based on a d20 rule set, but if any such calculations are present in Mass Effect, they are well hidden. All in all it looks like a blast, and we can't wait to get our hands on more info.
Mass Effect X06 demo video tomorrow
Community Coordinator for Mass Effect's community site, Chris Priestly, has announced that a new video of Mass Effect will be available this Friday. According to 360Monster, the video will be available on both Xbox Live Marketplace and the official Mass Effect website. Things have been very quiet on the Mass Effect front -- apart from one trailer last month -- so anything new is fantastic. Keep your eyes peeled Friday afternoon for the video. We'll be sure to post the video as soon as we find it.[Via 360Monster]
Lost Planet as epic entertainment
A Lost Planet theatrical trailer popped up on Xbox Live Marketplace today (as did a trailer for Battlestations: Midway). We'd love to show you the trailer, as that is our style. Unfortunately, it is currently nowhere to be found on any of the internets, so you'll just have to take our word for it that it's pretty neat. Presented in CG, it adopts the growing trend of making videogame commercials in the same style as movie trailers. In other words, it's made as though grown ups might actually be interested in it (imagine that). Lots of snow, lots of epic battle scenes, and a throaty narrator, the trailer has all the trappings of your typical blockbuster. We especially like the ending slogan that comes ripping towards the screen one word at a time -- you know, "JANUARY 12TH ... BLOOD ... RUNS ... COLD." Of course, the question remains whether or not the game itself will be so compelling (though signs point to "yes").And, just because we wouldn't want you to feel left out, we've embedded a five minute gameplay trailer that we found at GameTrailers. Check it out after the break.
Double Agent single player sneaks to XBLM
For those of you who missed Splinter Cell: Double Agent -- or simply haven't had the time -- a single player demo is now available* on Xbox Live Marketplace (it looks like a College Hoops 2K7 demo is up as well).. I am loth to admit that I am one of those who have not played Double Agent at all. I think I had Enchanted Arms on my rental queue at the time (oh, if I had only known!). Still, if you haven't had a chance to play, or if you're just the kind of person who needs a demo to make purchasing decisions, now is your chance. The demo clocks in at about half a gig, so find something else to play while you're downloading. Here's a suggestion: just watch the Halo 3 ad over and over again until the download completes.*As usual, we are informed that this content will be available for Silver members in about a week.
Small Arms pictures and theme on XBLM
We missed this earlier today (thanks to my recent move, I haven't had internet for three days!) but there is some new Small Arms content available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The theme (150 points) features Fox Claw, Marky Kat (fear the shotgun), Tyrone, and Lord Peet. The gamer pics (100 points) feature the same characters and also ... um ... a ham. Yes, a ham. We may be stepping over the line here, but that just might be the best gamer picture ever. It's also perfect -- and a little diabolical -- that we have just enough points left over for these after purchasing Small Arms. Go grab 'em if you're so inclined (you know you want the ham).And since we're talking Small Arms, how is everyone liking it (or not)?
Wal-Mart joins the digital movie download fray
Looks like all those rumors and conspiracy theories regarding a Wal-Mart download store actually counted for something this time around. Just in time for the holidays, Wal-Mart has announced its very own video download service, which will kick off in "beta" mode next week with an exclusive Superman Returns bundle. Buyers of the DVD will have an option to also obtain a portable, PC, or dual license for a movie download, priced at $1.97, $2.97, and $3.97 respectively. Users will be directed by a sticker on the DVD case to walmart.com/superman where they can enter a promo code and start the download -- which can be watched while the movie is downloading if they can't bring themselves to pop in the actual DVD. This is quite a different tact than other movie download services, such as iTunes, Amazon Unbox and Xbox Live, and it seems primarily designed to protect video sales cannibalization while leaving out much of the convenience of a traditional movie download service. Wal-Mart says it has more bundles planned for the beta launch, along with what is presumably a more traditional download service with more traditional pricing, though deets are slim at this point. What we do know is that the war for your holiday download dollar will be a bloody one this year.
Dark Sector faces the ch, ch, changes
Dark Sector has undergone some significant changes over the years. Way back in 2004, Dark Sector was revealed as the "first" next gen game. It was going to blow our minds whenever the mysterious "Xbox 2" finally showed up. A trailer for the game was released, featuring a man in a cybernetic ninja suit performing sneaking around on a space station. Later trailers revealed that the game was about man reaching the outer edges of our solar system, or "the dark sector." A new trailer is now available on Marketplace, and it's, shall we say, different. It looks like the developers have dropped the space theme altogether, opting instead for Eastern Europe. We know, we know ... space, Eastern Europe, what's the difference, right? Makes perfect sense. Oh, and apparently Dark Sector has something to do with the Cold War now. Oh, oh, and our hero no longer has a cybernetic ninja suit, but is instead infected by something that grants him special powers. He does have a new badass blade thing, though, and that counts for something.For posterity's sake, we have embedded both the old and new trailers after the break. Watch them both and see how much a game can change in two years.
Lost Planet multiplayer demo is out
As it was prophesied, the Lost Planet multiplayer demo is now available. We'd love to tell you how great it is, but so far we have been unable to get into a match. Judging from yesterday's video, we're betting it's pretty damned good. Do you agree? Go grab the demo and let us know how it is.
