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Forza 3 sales surpass 1m units; premium DLC released

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 8th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Since it's late October launch, Forza 3 has sped into over 1 million homes worldwide, marking a commercial milestone for Turn 10's critically acclaimed racer. In conjunction with today's release of the game's second and now premium DLC car pack (the first one's always free, ain't it?), dubbed "Hot Holidays," Microsoft has tallied up some Forza 3 stats.

According to the publisher, players have so far tracked 6.6 million hours and 590 million collective miles -- no word on flats or oil changes. Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg tweets that "more than 4M [million] auction bids" have lead to "$18.7 billion" virtual dollars spent (we have to imagine at least a billion went to that gorgeous coop pictured above). Of course, Microsoft has it's eye on the real dollars, offering today's 10-car pack for 400

($5). The full list of cars is posted after the break.

Additionally, a second premium pack has been confirmed for January 12, and -- wouldn't you know it -- that date coincides with the kick-off of the Detroit International Auto Show. Huh, you think that was planned?

Gallery: Forza 3 DLC -- Hot Holiday pack

Continued →

Lips December DLC dated and detailed

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 7th 2009 at 6:20PM }

After promising to reveal the December Lips DLC last week, we finally manged to wrangle a list from Microsoft. As is usually the case with Lips, the collection is runs everywhere from pop to Motown to ... wait, They Might Be Giants? And Violent Femmes? Truly, the Lips programming schedule is a mysterious thing.

The entire list is located after the break, though we'll save you some suspense: Paula Abdul and The Temptations fans have a lot to be excited about. In fact, the Temptations tracks, as well as Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer's "Baby It's Cold Outside" are available now.

Continued →

PSA: Halo Legends delivers third free episode, titled 'The Package'

by Ben Gilbert { Dec 5th 2009 at 2:30AM }

Another Saturday has arrived, and with it another free episode of Halo Legends on the Xbox Live Marketplace. For 24 hours only (of course it won't be on the internet afterward!), you can catch an anime'd up Master Chief delivering "The Package" with four "specially selected Spartans."

Today's episode is the first half of a two-parter (concluding on December 12), so be sure to catch it or be left lonely and confused when next week arrives. Or you could always just wait until the whole shebang arrives on Blu-ray this February 9.

Fairytale Fights price slashed, demo hits XBLM and PSN [update: demo now on XBLM]

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 4th 2009 at 1:45PM }

Update: The demo is now on Xbox Live Marketplace. You can add it to your Xbox 360 download queue here.

So, there are two bits of news in this particular post. They are complementary: one should really help you with the other. First, Playlogic has announced that the price for Fairytale Fights has been cut in both Europe and North America. Checking Amazon and GameStop, it looks like the US price has been dropped to $39.99. That's a pretty significant cut, nearly 30%. We're not sure what the cut is for European regions, though Play.com has marked the title from £39.99 to £29.99.

Now, the second piece of news: A demo for Fairytale Fights is now available on the PSN in North America. According to Playlogic, there's a demo on Xbox Live Marketplace as well, though it doesn't appear to be available right now (we'll update this post if it shows up). A demo is expected for Europe on December 10. The reason this second piece of news is so important is that the demo will help you realize that the game still isn't worth the asking price. See? Pretty helpful.

PSA: Free NFS Shift 'team racing' DLC out for 360, PC

by Randy Nelson { Dec 3rd 2009 at 4:00PM }

EA has opened the garage door and rolled out its Team Racing Pack for Need For Speed: Shift, adding five new cars and a cooperative online racing mode to its superb driving game. Available today for Xbox 360 and PC, the DLC is priced at ... wait, it's free? Five cars and a new mode are free? This is obviously an error and the DLC should be downloaded before EA starts asking like 1500 space bucks for it. Oh, EA did this intentionally? Kudos, giant publisher. (We're still not sure if this is some kind of trick.)

XBL Gold members can grab the expansion from the Xbox Live Marketplace at this link. PS3 owners in the UK will find the free DLC on PSN today, with the US PlayStation Store getting it next Thursday, December 10.

Bayonetta demo brings climax action to XBLM

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 3rd 2009 at 3:15PM }

Here's a friendly little reminder for all the climax action fans out there: The previously announced Bayonetta demo has arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace. We've been able to spend some time with the demo, and it's probably safe to say that Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden players out there have something to look forward to. But you don't have to take out word for it, because you can try it yourself. Amazing world we live in, isn't it?

Shortcut: Download the Bayonetta demo [Via Xbox.com]

Your Xbox Live Avatar can give a pet a good home tomorrow

by Justin McElroy { Dec 2nd 2009 at 10:30AM }

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.

FIFA 10 Ultimate Team DLC pitched amid sales surge

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 1st 2009 at 9:30PM }

FIFA 10, the latest iteration of EA Sports' biggest global franchise, itself based on the world's most popular sport, is selling well. That's an understatement. Worldwide, EA estimates game sales have surpassed 4.5 million units since the October 1 launch, including a so-called record-setting first week, in which 1.7 million units were sold in Europe to make FIFA 10 the world's "fastest-selling sports video game." What better time to announce that the game will receive a fresh pair of legs?

EA today announced the pending release of FIFA 10 Ultimate Team, a DLC management mode -- introduced to the series last year (and ported to this year's slumping Madden game) -- that has been made over with a "redesigned chemistry system built around player relationships." Think: God game governing platonic dating-sim played with a deck of cards, and ... you're there. Come February, Ultimate Team will be available for download for 400

or $4.99 via Xbox Live and PSN.

Gallery: FIFA 10 Ultimate Team (DLC)

Dante's Inferno demo on PSN Dec. 10, XBLM Dec. 24

by Justin McElroy { Dec 1st 2009 at 2:00PM }

There are plenty of beloved Christmas Eve traditions observed across the globe. Whether it's roasting chestnuts or watching the Christmas Story marathon, everyone's got a different way of marking the arrival of St. Nick. EA's hoping that the 360 owners among you will start a brand new, equally-sentimental tradition as it releases a demo of Dante's Inferno for XBLM on Dec. 24. The sample includes the entire first level of Dante's demonic journey into hell and goes great with eggnog.

Those preferring PSN will get the demo on Dec. 10, a date which has the dual benefit of (1) being two weeks earlier and (2) not making the baby Jesus cry.

Reminder: Sonic 2 is Xbox Live Deal of the Week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 30th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Hey, remember when we reported that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was slated to be the Xbox Live Deal of the Week for the week of November 30? Well, guess what? It is the week of November 30! Sure enough, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 can now be downloaded for a mere 240

; otherwise known as three dollars. That's two bucks off, making It a pretty good deal, especially if you conveniently forget how many times you've purchased the game over the years.

Barring that, you can always shamefully push the purchase button anyway.

Shortcut: Add Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to your 360 download queue

[Via Major Nelson]

Winter Sports 2010 demo skates to XBLM

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 24th 2009 at 5:30PM }

A new demo has arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace for Winter Sports 2010. Now, you might be asking yourself, "What is Winter Sports 2010?" We asked the same question. It comes from 49Games, makers of Summer Athletics on the Wii.

After a little digging, we found a trailer on the YouTubes and confirmed our suspicions. Yep, it's a traditional Olympics-esque collection of mini-games, testing your skills at timed button presses and the like. The sports on hand include snowboarding, skiing, figure skating, speed skating, bobsledding and more. Though, honestly, why would you need anything other than figure skating?

Watch the trailer after the break.

Add the Winter Sports 2010 demo to your 360 download queue

Continued →

Spend your scratch on New DJ Hero DLC

by Randy Nelson { Nov 24th 2009 at 5:20PM }

A DLC three-pack of tracks by French DJ David Guetta is available today for DJ Hero across PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. The original works "When Love Takes Over" featuring Kelly Rowland, "Sexy Chick" featuring Akon, and "On The Dancefloor" featuring will.i.am and apl.de.ap make up the mash-up pack, which goes for 640

($8) and $7.99 on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store, respectively (the tracks are not offered for purchase separately). Each track is sold separately for Wii at 300 Wii Points ($3) apiece.

Also out today for Wii are the two tracks from last month's Extended Mix Pack 01: "All Of Me" by 50 Cent featuring Mary J. Blige vs. "Radio Ga Ga" by Queen, and "DARE" by Gorillaz vs. "Can't Truss It" performed by Public Enemy. Those will set living room DJs back 300 Wii Points, as well.

The knowledge that your DJ Hero controller is a million times cooler than the Tony Hawk Ride board is, as always, priceless.

Fallout 3 Avatar gear coming this week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 23rd 2009 at 1:45PM }

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)

PSA: Second Halo Legends episode free, available today only

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 21st 2009 at 11:30AM }

If you enjoyed the Cowboy Bebop-meets-Master Chief action presented in the first episode of Halo Legends (seriously, that main character looked just like Spike Spiegel!), then you may want to check out the second episode of the Spartan-themed anime premiering today on Halo Waypoint. For 24 hours starting at 12:00AM PST (about eight hours ago), Xbox Live Silver and Gold members will be able to access "The Duel" through the "all-things-Halo" hub.

Microsoft also notes that this will be the last week for Xbox Live Silver members to explore Waypoint, and in turn, enjoy the weekly free episodes of Halo Legends. If you're wondering what time the show will be available for you and you don't live in North America, a full list of showtimes is available on Xbox.com.

Sonic 2 soon to be Xbox Live Deal of the Week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 19th 2009 at 3:45PM }

According to Sega, the XBLA version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will soon become an Xbox Live Deal of the Week. The deal is scheduled to begin November 30 -- just in time for the holidays -- and will see the game's price drop from 400

($5) to just 240

($3). That's an absolute pittance for one of the best Sonic games out there, and with Project Needlemouse still a long way out, you'd be hard-pressed to do much better (seriously).