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Forza 2 goes gold, reaches stores on May 29th
In a politely worded e-mail, Microsoft has announced that seriously simmy sequel, Forza Motorsport 2, has at last gone gold. Having hit Ctrl+S for the final time, the team at Turn 10 Studios has sent the finished code off to the disc pressers, shortly before collapsing into a nearby and distinctly unhygienic pool of blood, sweat and oil.A demo of Forza 2 is currently available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the full game can be expected to arrive on 29 May. UK retailers currently list a June 8th release date for those that enjoy driving on the wrong side of the road. [Via Microsoft press release]
Forza 2 demo releasing in a few hours
The wait has been longer than expected, much longer than expected, but the Forza 2 demo will be available in a few hours. Over on the official Forza 2 forums, community VIP chespace has confirmed that the Forza 2 demo will be available for download off the XBLM today at 2:00AM pacific (5:00AM eastern). And yes your math is correct, that's less than three hours from this posting. So racing fans, it's time to pull an all nighter. Grab your force feedback steering wheel, get real comfortable, and pop open a few cans of your favorite caffeinated soda. It's a countdown to Forza 2 guys ... get excited![Thanks, Stynk Monkey]
Verizon Action Hero theme and pic pack
Adding to our laundry list of free themes and gamer pictures is Verizon's Action Hero. And no, it isn't a movie sponsored by Verizon or is it anything else that is easily explained. Instead, Action Hero is a website where you can create your own mini action movie using the cartoonish characters they supply. Why? Because it's a marketing promotion to prove how wicked fast and cool Verizon broadband is. Yeah ... don't worry about the details. Just know that Verizon is promoting their broadband and want you to download their free goods and be happy. But be warned, the theme is rather disgusting from an aesthetically pleasing point of view.
SHReK the Third demo now widely available
A month ago we posted about a SHReK the Third demo that hit Marketplace, at least for Canada, the U.K., U.S., Sweden, and Australia. Even so, we never got around to our Xbox 360 Fanblogger duty of actually downloading and playing said demo. But perhaps Xbox Live members from the regions of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain can see the fault in our ways and enjoy the demo themselves. Wherever you are, have you played this demo yet?
Red vs Blue Baddie Picture Pack
Major Nelson gave word that a second set of Red vs Blue gamer pictures have hit Xbox Live Marketplace. This time, the theme is based on all the bad guys of the series, hence the name of "By the Numbers: Evil Picture Pack". For a cool 80 Microsoft Points, you get 8 pictures of "all your favorite Evil characters". So that's like, O'Malley, Wyoming and er ... six other pictures. You'll have to excuse us, we just buy the DVDs at PAX rather than watch it piecemeal. Either way, the other six favorites are featured, to be sure. Sadly no Mike Myers, though.
Microsoft tightening territory controls on Xbox Live
While the internet continues to decimate conventional demarcations like "countries" or "continents," content owners still find themselves funneled into separate geographical compartments. As an Xbox Live user, you are encouraged to keep your arms, legs and credit cards on the inside at all times, lest you cause some sort of international incident. The Xbox 360's Spring (that's Autumn for those on the other half of the planet!) dashboard update will further enforce this by restricting downloads based on the location of your console.As Microsoft's John Porcaro explains it on the Gamerscore Blog, "if you have set up an account that does not match the country where you are located, you will find that these new security measures will only allow you to purchase and download content that is licensed in the country where you are located." Frequently, said country will not go by the name of "America," as the wealth of content available to US subscribers utterly dwarfs that found in other regions, including Europe. There's a reason people are taking their Xbox Live accounts on international trips.While this primarily concerns content such as television shows and movies (which often hit Xbox Live before they've even been advertised in other countries), the decision to "strengthen the territory controls" seems exclusionary when more effort could be made to spread the content on a supposedly global network. The spider's web of licensing and regulation within television makes the delay and segregation somewhat understandable, but the possibility of Xbox Live Arcade games becoming similarly entangled is worrisome. Gamers in countries where the Xbox 360 has launched sans "official" Live support are already being foiled in their attempts just to purchase MS points. Your plastic's no good -- oh, except when it comes time to renew that Gold subscription. Then those borders fall down like dominoes.
Microsoft cracks down on country specific content
In preparation for the roll out of the Spring dash update, Microsoft brought down the hammer (of dawn) on country specific online content. More specifically, they are limiting access to faked US accounts. Right now, US Xbox Live members have the largest supply of video marketplace content which has caused an underground gamertag market. Live members from other countries have been creating new gamertags, specifying a US residence and getting access to the huge supply of exclusive US content. But that is no more, because Microsoft has implemented a new system that knows which country you are from no matter what you tell it. And before you get on Microsoft's case you may want to direct your anger towards individual governments or the movie studios in general. Microsoft is just playing by the rules guys.
First look at GoW's Hidden Fronts map pack
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Video_Gears_of_War_Hidden_Fronts_maps'; Still on the fence and not sure if you want to spend 800 Microsoft points on the new Gears of War Hidden Fronts map pack? Well, we fully understand your dilemma and thought we'd help out our fellow fanboys. Not only did we plop down the cash to buy the map pack, but we thought we'd pull back the secret curtain. Yup, we recorded a quick and dirty video of each map and showcased their uniqueness to give you a taste of what Hidden Fronts has to offer. And, as an added bonus, the video features informative (and somewhat creative) commentary by yours truly. But before you start mocking our lovely video you must know this is our first foray into such a project. Energy drinks were consumed, there was a bunch of swearing, recording, editing, recording, re-editing, and swearing ... but we survived. So, give it a watch, get a taste of the new Gears maps, and see if they are worth the 800 Microsoft points. Enjoy.[Thanks, Grotesque1 for helping with the vid]
Gears of War 'Hidden Fronts' map pack now available
Containing four new maps and a strong allusion to bulletproof codpieces, the "Hidden Fronts" map pack for testosterone explosion simulator, Gears of War, is now available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. In exchange for 800 MS points ($10), you'll receive approximately 230 megabytes of data that will automagically congeal on your hard drive and form beautiful, post-apocalyptic environments. Those less intent on wiping out the Locust horde can wait until September 3rd for the maps to become free of charge.%Gallery-2901%
"Hidden Fronts" Map Pack now available
So after the announcement and the subsequent screenshots, the Gears of War "Hidden Fronts" Multiplayer Map Pack is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Complete with four maps, Bullet Marsh, Garden, Process and Subway, you can download it now for 800 MS Points, or, if you have that much will power, or that little interest, you can get the maps for free on September 3rd, 2007. So, are you going to get it now, and play with your friends who have it, perhaps even being strong armed into buying it to stay competitive, or should we wake you up when September ends?
Boost your E.S.P. with AXE theme and gamer pics
If you're looking to boost your Extra Sexual Perception (E.S.P., no we're not joking) try AXE's new theme and gamer picture offerings. Up for free on the Marketplace is AXE's E.S.P. theme featuring a real woman and a few gamer pictures featuring a real woman. Now you can live out your "I must have an attractive female as my theme" fantasy. Oh, and we're sure the fine folks over at AXE would like you to buy their AXE Boost shower gel if you have time. Or you could just ignore the whole marketing/branding crud and download the goods for the female! Yeah, something like that ...
Welcome to Hidden Fronts, we'll be your guide
TeamXbox received some celebrity treatment the other day when they got some hands on time with Gears of War's latest multiplayer maps from the Hidden Fronts map pack. And it's safe to say they were impressed. The guys played in Microsoft's test lab against a few mysterious game testers, getting a feel for the maps, and getting pwned in the process. A quick recap of their impressions are as follows; Garden features dense vegetation and green clouds of pesticide that'll kill you, but can be shut off via a control panel. Bullet Marsh is dark, very dark, and if the generator is turned off the map will get even darker and the Kryll will attack to kill. Process is chalk full of vertical elevation shifts, catwalks, and pipes ... a long distance killing machine's dream. Finally, Subway features multiple levels of fun, empty subway cars, beautiful rays of light, and dirty floors. Make the jump for TeamXbox's full impressions and be sure to check out GoW's Hidden Fronts map pack, available tomorrow for 800 Microsoft points.[Thanks, MuJaHiDeEn 420]
360 Queenz theme too mature for Marketplace
It looks like Microsoft put their foot down and stopped the sexually charged 360 Queenz theme and gamer pictures from making it to the XBLM. Deacon, the guy who posted the exclusive 360 Queenz preview, updated the Unscripted 360 community saying that "Microsoft isn't going to release it for whatever reason. too provocative? please. if this is too provocative then i'm at a loss for words". So, it's looking like those painted 360 girls won't be coming to an XBLM near you, because Microsoft thinks the whole thing reeks of bad taste. But look on the bright side, you are now free to spend those 150 Microsoft points that you were saving up. What's your opinion on this? Do you think those 360 Queenz were a little too sexy for the Marketplace or did Microsoft overreact just a bit? Vent away fanboys ...[Thanks, AoE]
"Hidden Fronts" screenshots hit the tubes
Not long after we announced the upcoming Multiplayer Map Pack for Gears of War, we were sent screenshots of the four arenas. We have to say, they look mighty nice. Our favorites being that of Garden and Bullet Marsh, which both really take the "destroyed" beauty motif to the next level. Process looks nice, with the eery yellow glow of the Imulsion surrounding the battlefield, but Subway looks kind of run of the mill in the available shots. What do you think of the levels? The rest of the map shots are available after the break.
GoW "Hidden Fronts" Map Pack hitting Thursday
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/GoW_Hidden_Fronts_Map_Pack_hitting_Thursday'; On Thursday May 3rd at 4:00 AM EDT, four new Gears of War maps will be hitting Xbox Live Marketplace as part of the "Hidden Fronts" Multiplayer Map Pack. Running you 800 Microsoft Points, you'll be able to do battle on Process, Garden, Subway, and Bullet Marsh. For those of you concerned about the price, fret not, as you'll be able to download the pack for free four months later, on September 3rd, 2007. We've got the map descriptions from the press release after the break, but the question we've got for you is this: Are you going to get the maps now, or wait a bit first to see if it's worth your hard earned points and hold off till they're free in the fall?
360 Queenz theme will blow your ... mind
Just to make up for ... exposing you to the bleak outlook on the part of the Live community we should best ignore, here's something that will make sure you want to boot to your dashboard every time you start up your 360. Konsole Kingz is bringing us the 360 Queens to Xbox Live Marketplace, in the form of a Dashboard Theme and some gamerpics. All we can say is, "Daaaamn". We have the sneaking suspicion we'll be checking our System blade's preferences far more frequently. The theme will go for 150 MS Points and the picture pack for 80, so that's a fair price for some nice eye candy. Would you want to spice up your 360 with this theme? In case you're too distracted to notice, the rest of the blades can be seen by clicking the "Read" link. Which one's your favorite?[Via Unscripted360, Thanks Channing Lee]
PSU: AotI expansion to be download only
The Phantasy Star expansion ever so conveniently named Phantasy Star Universe: Ambitions of The Illuminus, will be coming to the Xbox 360 this Fall and offered exclusively via download from the XBLM. The expansion will continue the "epic" PSU storyline and build upon the traditional gameplay with enhanced game and community features. But, as with the other PSU offerings, it'll cost you $9.99 per month to play on Xbox Live which you already pay for. Actually, this kind of irks us a little, paying to play on an already paid for online service. Heck, they could at least discount the monthly fee for gold Xbox Live members and keep the $9.99 price tag for silver. Stupid monthly fees ... we'll exterminate you one day.
Tetris Evolution gets skinned
Today, new Tetris Evolution content went up on the Marketplace with new backgrounds and skins for you to enjoy. Four new background sets are available for 100 Microsoft points each including a soothing waterfall and some explosive fireworks. Also released were four new Tetris skins each costing 80 Microsoft points and include bugs, flowers and some sort of blue Tahiti skin which sounds like an alcoholic drink. If Tetris Evolution is becoming a dull eye sore maybe a visual update will do the job to get you back in the game. But it'll cost you.
Free Pac-Man tournament theme available
In honor of a certain Pac-Man tournament that kicked off this week, you can download a free Pac-Man tournament theme from the XBLM. But we're a little embarrassed to say that we couldn't specifically nail down where you can download it other than by clicking on a rotating advertising banner. So, you may have to dig around the Marketplace until you find a Pac-Man ad. We guess it was a little too hard for the XBLM gods to put the theme in the gamer pictures and themes new releases section. Oh well, it's pretty interesting, free, and therefore worth all the XBLM detective work. So give it a download ... if you can find it.
Marvel UA DLC now available
Major Nelson gave word that the Hero and Villian packs are finally available on Xbox Live Marketplace. You can buy the Hero or Villian packs individually for 500 MS Points a piece, or if you're a thrifty fanboy, can get both packs for 800 MS Points. Also available is a trailer for the packs so people can have a look at the content before they buy it. So, now that the wait is finally over, are you going to pick any of these packs up? If so, which ones, and does it have to do with the added Achievements?
