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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title>The Force Unleashed demo breaks XBLM download record</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/the-force-unleashed-demo-breaks-xblm-download-record/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/the-force-unleashed-demo-breaks-xblm-download-record/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/the-force-unleashed-demo-breaks-xblm-download-record/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/tfu_demo_smash.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
It's not just stormtroopers and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-force-unleashed-tops-the-charts-in-hardcover-fiction/">trees</a> that have been splintered by <em>Star Wars: The Force Unleashed</em>, but download records as well. LucasArts announced that the game's Xbox Live demo has force choked download records for the service, surpassing a million downloads in just eight days following its August debut -- a feat one day better than <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/too-human-goes-gold-900k-downloaded-demo/">the previous record</a> according to the company. <br /><br />Boasting further, LucasArts adds that <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/17/the-force-unleashed-demo-coming-thursday-to-xblm-and-psn/">together with the game's PSN demo</a>,<em> The Force Unleashed</em> appetizer has been downloaded more than 2.3 million times worldwide. Most impressive, though we wonder how many people gave up their place in line camped out waiting for the game's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/the-force-unleashed-unleashed-on-september-16/">September 16 release</a> in order to actually try it out.<br /><br />[Via press release]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/the-force-unleashed-demo-breaks-xblm-download-record/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1310498/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/the-force-unleashed-demo-breaks-xblm-download-record/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>demo</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>star-wars</category><category>starwars</category><category>the-force-unleashed</category><category>theforceunleashed</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-09-10T20:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Source: First images from 360 Avatar creator leaked</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator-leaked/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator-leaked/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator-leaked/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator/"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/gam_avatariconrumor_490.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
<span style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 7px;"> <script> var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Source_First_images_from_360_Avatar_creator'; </script> <script src="http://digg.com/api/diggthis.js"></script></span>We've all seen the adorably customizable lookalikes that <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/details-on-new-xbox-experience-avatars-netflix-primetime-et/">we'll be generating with the Avatar system</a>, due out with the Xbox 360 <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/search/?q=Fall%20update">Fall update</a> -- but we've yet to see the actual system that will let you let you <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/microsoft-contemplating-for-pay-avatar-accessories/">create your virtual representation</a>. However, a "super secret source" recently sent <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/">our green and white sister site, 360 Fanboy</a>, a couple of images <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator/">containing the icons used in the Avatar creator</a>. Assuming they're legit, they give a great indication of what aspects of your avatar you'll be able to manipulate. Based on the images in the gallery below, it looks like our dream of walking through Xbox Live's virtual halls as a morbidly obese man in a rabbit costume might just come true.<br /><br /> [Thanks, DCB and SS1029.]<br />
<div class="postgallery">
<p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/avatar-creator-customization/">Avatar Creator Customization</a></strong></p>
<a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/avatar-creator-customization/956920/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/08/avatarpage1-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/avatar-creator-customization/956921/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/08/avatarpage2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><br /><br /></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator-leaked/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1274121/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/source-first-images-from-360-avatar-creator-leaked/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>360</category><category>avatar</category><category>icons</category><category>rumor</category><category>xbox360</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Griffin McElroy</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-03T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Horror filmmakers try hands at comedy on Xbox Live</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/horror-filmmakers-try-hands-at-comedy-on-xbox-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/horror-filmmakers-try-hands-at-comedy-on-xbox-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/horror-filmmakers-try-hands-at-comedy-on-xbox-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/technology/news/e3i78def930c52edb05f0560d25f94f856c"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/saw01_teehee.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Inside every horror filmmaker lurks a budding comedian struggling to claw its way out, showering the audience with the goo inside. At least that's Microsoft's hope, as this week the company tapped a handful of directors, known for creeping us out in films like <em>Hard Candy</em> and <em>Friday the 13th</em>, to create a set of freely downloadable comedy shorts for release globally this fall over Xbox Live to coincide with the service's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/details-on-new-xbox-experience-avatars-netflix-primetime-et/">major facelift</a>.<br /><br />The brainchild of <em>Slither</em>'s James Gunn and Peter Safran of <em>Scary Movie</em> infamy, the film series has a number of notable directors on board, including James Wan (<em>Saw</em>), David Slade (<em>30 Days of Night</em>), Lucky McKee (<em>The Woods</em>), Andrew Douglas (<em>The Amityville Horror</em>) and Marcus Nispel (<em>The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</em>). With each itching to trade in their bloody hatchets for hilarious, madcap antics, with now look forward to the filmmakers' unique take on what promises to be sidesplitting comedy.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/technology/news/e3i78def930c52edb05f0560d25f94f856c>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/horror-filmmakers-try-hands-at-comedy-on-xbox-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1264851/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/horror-filmmakers-try-hands-at-comedy-on-xbox-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>comedy</category><category>horror</category><category>microsoft</category><category>saw</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-23T13:29:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>1 vs. 100 game show coming to Xbox Live Primetime</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/1-vs-100-game-show-coming-to-xbox-live-primetime/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/1-vs-100-game-show-coming-to-xbox-live-primetime/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/1-vs-100-game-show-coming-to-xbox-live-primetime/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/mmo/" rel="tag">MMO</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/engadget-and-joystiq-live-from-microsofts-e3-2008-keynote/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/1vs100.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://kotaku.com/5016615/game-show-channel-coming-to-xbox-live">recently rumored</a> game show channel for Xbox Live was officially announced at this morning's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/engadget-and-joystiq-live-from-microsofts-e3-2008-keynote/">Microsoft press conference</a> in the form of "Xbox Live Primetime." TV producer <a href="http://www.endemol.com/">Endemol</a> has teamed up with Microsoft to produce the new massively-multiplayer game show channel, which will include a version of the semi-popular NBC show <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_vs._100">1 vs. 100</a></em>, complete with real prizes (no word on whether host Bob Saget is involved). Primetime is part of Microsoft's new <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/highlights-from-microsofts-e3-keynote/">"Live Party" community channel</a>, which includes the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/15/source-avatars-to-be-microsofts-answer-to-miis-and-home/">long-rumored Avatars</a>. No word on what, if any, other game shows will be coming to Primetime, but we're hoping for a version of <a href="http://www.g4tv.com/ninjawarrior/index.html">Ninja Warrior</a> that involves rampant button mashing.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/engadget-and-joystiq-live-from-microsofts-e3-2008-keynote/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/1-vs-100-game-show-coming-to-xbox-live-primetime/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1255413/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/1-vs-100-game-show-coming-to-xbox-live-primetime/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>1-vs-100</category><category>e3-2008</category><category>endemol</category><category>game-show</category><category>primetime</category><category>xbox live</category><category>xbox-live-primetime</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Kyle Orland</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-14T19:15:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>PSN boss disses Xbox Live's interface, game delisting</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/psn-boss-disses-xbox-lives-interface-game-de-listing/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/psn-boss-disses-xbox-lives-interface-game-de-listing/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/psn-boss-disses-xbox-lives-interface-game-de-listing/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/microsoft-xbox/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=11182&amp;Itemid=2&amp;limit=1&amp;limitstart=0"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/neener.jpg" /></a></div>
No sooner does Sony (<a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/sony-responds-to-adverse-firmware-2-40-effects/">briefly</a>) improve the PS3 user interface with the much-talked-about <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/firmware-2.40">version 2.4 firmware update</a>, than some at the company feel cocky enough to start badmouthing the competition's interface. <a href="http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=11182&amp;Itemid=2&amp;limit=1&amp;limitstart=1">Speaking to Next-Gen</a>, PlayStation Network Director of Operations Eric Lempel took the bait, comparing Sony's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/playstation-store-redesign-unwrapped-weekly-updates-suspended/">redesigned PlayStation Store</a> to Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. "I think if I look over at the competitors' UI they may have some issues just displaying content," Lempel said, "and scrolling up and down lists isn't the easiest way to find things." Tell that to <a href="http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/">McSweeny's</a>, why don'tcha?<br /><br />Lempel also pointed out that the PlayStation Store interface has "a lot of room with virtual shelf space to put a lot of things," a not-so-subtle jab at Microsoft's recently announced <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/all-of-xbox-live-arcades-potential-delisters-revisited/">plan to de-list some Xbox Live Arcade games</a>. "Depending on what type of UI you have you can accommodate a lot of titles," Lempel continued, "and specifically with our new store redesign which launched back in April we have a great ability to merchandise a wide variety of titles." That's all well and good, assuming your PS3 is <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/playstation-3-2-40-firmware-update-not-available-pulled/">currently working</a>.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/07/03/sony-mocks-the-360-for-its-xbla-de-listing-and-ui/">X3F</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=11182&amp;Itemid=2&amp;limit=1&amp;limitstart=1>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/psn-boss-disses-xbox-lives-interface-game-de-listing/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1245250/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/psn-boss-disses-xbox-lives-interface-game-de-listing/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>console wars</category><category>console-wars</category><category>consolewars</category><category>interface</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>PlayStation-Network</category><category>PSN</category><category>Sony</category><category>XBL</category><category>XBLA</category><category>XBLM</category><category>Xbox Live</category><category>Xbox Live Arcade</category><category>XboxLive</category><category>XboxLiveArcade</category><dc:creator>Kyle Orland</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-07-03T16:57:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>It's too hard to find stuff on XBLA, says Microsoft</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/its-too-hard-to-find-stuff-on-xbla-says-microsoft/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/its-too-hard-to-find-stuff-on-xbla-says-microsoft/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/its-too-hard-to-find-stuff-on-xbla-says-microsoft/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/06/04/microsoft-unhappy-with-xbl/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/xbla_bookshelf_messy_yuck.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
You know that sweet Ikea bookshelf you've been fawning over? It would go great in the family room, proudly displaying all of your favorite books and even that Precious Moments statue you pretend to like when your girlfriend stops by. It's functional, and makes things easy to find. But put a few thousand items on that same bookshelf and what you'd be left with is a colossal mess, something not unlike Microsoft's great, but <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/download-now-or-forever-hold-your-points-potential-delisted-xb/">equally cluttered</a> Xbox Live Marketplace.<br /><br />Speaking to <a href="http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/06/04/microsoft-unhappy-with-xbl/">MTV Multiplayer</a>, Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Xbox Live product management director, owned up to the service's organization ills. "I think that we are not...happy with the ability to find and discover content," he said, adding that Microsoft "built Xbox Live Marketplace for a few hundred items and now we have 17,000 items." <br /><br />It's something the company is hoping to correct, at least in part with its controversial decision to <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/underperforming-xbla-titles-to-be-delisted/">shelve under-performing Xbox Live Arcade releases</a>, but Greenberg admits that Microsoft is still looking for a solution to make content on Xbox Live easier to track down. We've contacted our Joystiq mentalists, who are at this very moment trying to project two simple words into the minds of XBL devs. <em>Search</em>. <em>Bar</em>.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/06/04/microsoft-unhappy-with-xbl/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/its-too-hard-to-find-stuff-on-xbla-says-microsoft/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1216112/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/its-too-hard-to-find-stuff-on-xbla-says-microsoft/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>delist</category><category>delisted</category><category>delisting</category><category>microsoft</category><category>xbla</category><category>xbla-delisting</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-06-05T05:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>G4 original content now available on Xbox Live Marketplace</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/g4-original-content-now-available-on-xbox-live-marketplace/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/g4-original-content-now-available-on-xbox-live-marketplace/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/g4-original-content-now-available-on-xbox-live-marketplace/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/g4-shows-coming-to-xbox-live/?biz=1"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/gam_codemonkeys2_490.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
If you find yourself in the mood to pay to watch G4's gamer-oriented line of television programming, <a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/g4-shows-coming-to-xbox-live/?biz=1">you can now scratch that puzzling itch on the Xbox Live Marketplace</a>, where several of the network's original television programs have been made available for download. These programs include <em>Attack of the Show</em>, snowboard documentary series <em>The Block</em>, and animated comedy series <em>Code Monkeys</em> (which includes a free sneak preview of the show's second season).<br /><br />Oddly enough, <em>X-Play</em> is not one of the shows featured on Microsoft's service, despite the fact that the daily half-hour Sess-fest is one of the highest rated programs on the network. A shame, too -- we would actually dish out some Microsoft buckz to avoid wading through the countless reruns of <em>Fastlane, Cops, Cheaters, </em>and other "gamer-oriented" programs to watch the oft-renamed program. Alas, we must continue to suffer the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheaters">seemingly limitless douchebaggery of Joey Greco</a>.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/g4-shows-coming-to-xbox-live/?biz=1>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/g4-original-content-now-available-on-xbox-live-marketplace/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1208169/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/g4-original-content-now-available-on-xbox-live-marketplace/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>attackoftheshow</category><category>codemonkeys</category><category>dlc</category><category>g4</category><category>g4tv</category><category>television</category><category>theblock</category><category>xboxlive</category><category>xboxlivemarketplace</category><category>xplay</category><dc:creator>Griffin McElroy</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-28T22:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>GTA IV could become Xbox Live's top game</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/gta-iv-could-become-xbox-lives-top-game/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/gta-iv-could-become-xbox-lives-top-game/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/gta-iv-could-become-xbox-lives-top-game/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN3055808220080501"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="228" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/gtaivdrivingshot.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
It probably comes as no shock that Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox Live, believes <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/Grand-Theft-Auto-IV/"><em>Grand Theft Auto IV</em></a> could very well take the top spot on Live from the see-saw battle waged between <em>Call of Duty 4</em> and <em>Halo 3</em>. Greenberg tells <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN3055808220080501">Reuters</a> that the multiplayer is so well implemented in <em>GTA IV</em> that he can't imagine anyone who owns a copy of the game not trying it on Xbox Live.<br /><br />Greenberg goes on to say that <em>GTA IV</em> appeals to such a large audience and it'll probably be the best-selling game launched all year. <em>GTA</em>'s multiplayer is certainly a different experience from <em>COD 4 </em>and <em>Halo</em>'s first-person perspective, and could easily take the top spot on Live with curious players testing it, but whether the game's multiplayer is actually deep enough to hold on to players remains to be seen.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/microsoft-gta-iv-to-drive-xbox-live-/?biz=1">GameDaily</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN3055808220080501>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/gta-iv-could-become-xbox-lives-top-game/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1183438/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/gta-iv-could-become-xbox-lives-top-game/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>grand-theft-auto</category><category>grand-theft-auto-iv</category><category>grandtheftautoiv</category><category>greenberg</category><category>gta-iv</category><category>gtaiv</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Alexander Sliwinski</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-05-01T13:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Xbox Live's got hiccups, but it's working</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/xbox-lives-got-hiccups-but-its-working/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/xbox-lives-got-hiccups-but-its-working/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/xbox-lives-got-hiccups-but-its-working/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/default.htm"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="367" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/xblconnectionissuesspeedbum.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Is it <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/major-nelson-speaks-about-recent-xbox-live-issues/">Christmas again</a>, already? <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/default.htm">Xbox.com</a> is acknowledging what many of you probably already know, which is that Xbox Live is having some issues. The service is "up and running," but users may experience matchmaking and voice communication issues.<br /><br />Now it's time to play the half-glass game! <em>Glass is half-empty</em>: Why are customers paying for a service that can't fulfill its basic promoted functions? <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/metal-gear-online-beta-delayed-more-info-tomorrow/">Broken services</a> should be free. <em>Glass is half-full</em>: At least it's happening now. It could be worse, this could still be going on next week during the <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/Grand-Theft-Auto-IV/"><em>GTA IV</em></a> launch.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/xbox-live-up-and-running-but-still-having-difficulties/">Engadget</a>, <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/04/22/xbox-live-connection-hits-another-speed-bump/">X3F</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/default.htm>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/xbox-lives-got-hiccups-but-its-working/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1175787/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/xbox-lives-got-hiccups-but-its-working/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Alexander Sliwinski</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-23T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Xbox Live down Monday morning for spring cleaning</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/xbox-live-down-monday-morning-for-spring-cleaning/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/xbox-live-down-monday-morning-for-spring-cleaning/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/xbox-live-down-monday-morning-for-spring-cleaning/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a></p><a href="http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/04/17/558674.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/gam_ghostbusterslime_490.jpg" /></a><br />Did you know that every foul obscenity, racial slur, and homophobic epithet collects in the corners of Xbox Live, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters_II">much akin to the mood slime in "Ghostbusters II"</a>? It can cause some serious latency issues -- though unfortunately, it cannot be cleared away by a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne. It takes hours of tedious chiseling and scraping to clear this hate plaque from Microsoft's servers, during which time Xbox Live is made unavailable for <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/9/"><em>CoD4</em> grinding</a> and pi&ntilde;ata swapping.<br /><br />Unfortunately for those 360 owners with online gaming on the docket for this coming Monday morning, Xbox Live will be down for said maintenance for eight hours. Before you get your hopes up, <a href="http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/04/17/558674.aspx">Gamerscore Blog assured everyone that this is not the fabled spring update</a>, just some routine sprucing. We know the thought of division from the gaming hivemind is unbearable, but we trust you can go without from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST (that's 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST, or "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_mU1VFraHY&amp;feature=related">Too Legit 2 Quit</a>" to "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNz225f1230">Pumps in a Bump</a>" in Standard Hammer Time.)<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/04/17/558674.aspx>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/xbox-live-down-monday-morning-for-spring-cleaning/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1172094/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/19/xbox-live-down-monday-morning-for-spring-cleaning/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>hammertime</category><category>maintenance</category><category>microsoft</category><category>server</category><category>slime</category><category>xbox</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xbox360</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Griffin McElroy</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-19T11:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>This Wednesday: XBLA gets Ikaruga, Poker Smash DLC</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/this-wednesday-xbla-gets-ikaruga-poker-smash-dlc/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/this-wednesday-xbla-gets-ikaruga-poker-smash-dlc/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/this-wednesday-xbla-gets-ikaruga-poker-smash-dlc/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/04/07/ikaruga_smash_arcade.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/ikaruga-title-490.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Hey, it's tough to keep the lid on an exciting secret. If <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/treasure-website-ikaruga-coming-to-xbox-live-this-wednesday/"><em>we</em> knew</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/ikaruga"><em>Ikaruga</em></a> was coming to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday, we'd probably <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/ikaruga-back-on-xbox-360-partnernet/">blurt it out</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/uk-oxms-april-issue-ikaruga-out-now-on-xbla/">at every</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/28/rumor-ikaruga-polarizing-xbla-april-9/">opportunity</a> too. Sort of like what we're doing now. In case you haven't gathered, Treasure's mesmerizing shooter is finally, officially coming to Xbox 360 this week -- f'realz, confirmed and for 800 MS Points ($10). You're all smiles now, but just wait until the game crushes your ego to a pulp in its unrelenting, unforgiving bullet-hell fist. <br /><br />Those who prefer their gaming to be less hectic and humiliating should note that <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/poker-smash"><em>Poker Smash</em></a> is receiving some downloadable content this week, with an "Environment Pack" adding two new Action Mode environments and a "Puzzle Pack" adding 15 new weapons. No, wait ... puzzles. Definitely puzzles. Each pack will set you back 100 MS Points ($1.25).<br />
<div class="postgallery">
<p><strong>Gallery: <a set="yes" linkindex="17" href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/ikaruga-xbla/">Ikaruga (XBLA)</a></strong></p>
<a linkindex="18" href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/ikaruga-xbla/738849/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/04/game02_03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a linkindex="19" href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/ikaruga-xbla/738848/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/04/game02_05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a linkindex="20" href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/ikaruga-xbla/738847/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/04/game02_04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a set="yes" linkindex="21" href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/ikaruga-xbla/738846/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/04/game02_02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a set="yes" linkindex="22" href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/photos/ikaruga-xbla/738845/"><img src="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/media/2008/04/game02_01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/04/07/ikaruga_smash_arcade.aspx>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/this-wednesday-xbla-gets-ikaruga-poker-smash-dlc/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1160580/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/this-wednesday-xbla-gets-ikaruga-poker-smash-dlc/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>DLC</category><category>Ikaruga</category><category>Poker-Smash</category><category>Treasure</category><category>XBLA</category><category>XBLAWednesday</category><category>Xbox-Live</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-07T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Two Worlds expansion Curse of Souls hits the Marketplace</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/two-worlds-expansion-curse-of-souls-hits-the-marketplace/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/two-worlds-expansion-curse-of-souls-hits-the-marketplace/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/two-worlds-expansion-curse-of-souls-hits-the-marketplace/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/two_worlds.jpg" /><br /></div>
While we doubt <em>Oblivion </em>will credit Reality Pump's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/TwoWorlds/"><em>Two Worlds</em></a> as the wind beneath its wings, we still can't help but wonder if it's cold there living in the shadow of Bethesda's role-playing opus. Nevertheless, the lesser of the two open-ended RPGs continues to get love by way of downloadable content, the latest of which dropped today over Xbox Live. <br /><br />Dubbed <em>Curse of Souls</em>, the 600 point multiplayer-focused affair is the game's second, following the already available <em><a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/03/13/new-two-worlds-dlc-tainted-blood/">Tainted Blood</a>, </em>and promises, among other things, an extra 10 hours of content spread over 35 new quests. The download also adds a player-versus-player arena throwdown in the town of Tharnburg, no doubt making for a <em>thrilling spectacle</em> for the handful of players still frolicking in the world of Antaloor as they wait for the game's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/two-worlds-the-temptation-dated-for-fall-now-called-a-sequel/">recently confirmed sequel</a>.<br /><br />[Via Press Release]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/two-worlds-expansion-curse-of-souls-hits-the-marketplace/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1157617/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/two-worlds-expansion-curse-of-souls-hits-the-marketplace/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>expansion</category><category>open-world</category><category>openworld</category><category>reality-pump</category><category>realitypump</category><category>rpg</category><category>southpaek</category><category>two-worlds</category><category>twoworlds</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-04-03T14:45:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Call of Duty 4 multiplayer boasts 'monstrously huge' numbers</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/call-of-duty-4-multiplayer-boasts-monstrously-huge-numbers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/call-of-duty-4-multiplayer-boasts-monstrously-huge-numbers/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/call-of-duty-4-multiplayer-boasts-monstrously-huge-numbers/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/pc/" rel="tag">PC</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/firstpersonshooters/" rel="tag">First Person Shooters</a></p><div align="center"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/cod4-meets-godzilla.jpg"  alt="" /><br /></div>
When Infinity Ward producer, Mark Rubin, told <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=129421">Eurogamer</a> that the number of online users for the PS3 version of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/cod4"><em>Call of Duty 4</em></a> was "monstrously huge," we can only assume he was referring to a beast of significant size and infinite terror -- which pretty much rules out those Pokemon things. Indeed, the multiplayer monster appears to be of the house-trampling, child-eating variety, with Rubin having declared, "No other game has come close, either online current, or total unique users in a day."<br /><br />The battle between <em>Call of Duty 4</em> and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/halo3"><em>Halo 3</em></a> for <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/halo-3-reclaims-top-live-activity-spot/">Xbox Live supremacy</a> was also mentioned, with the former shooter's "between 1.2 and 1.3 million users every day" <a href="http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/03/26/live-activity-for-week-of-3-17.aspx">trumping</a> Bungie's slightly more spartan servers. As for the percentage of total game owners (over <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/activision-call-of-duty-4-best-selling-game-of-2007/">seven million</a> at last count) that have taken their tactics online, Rubin describes the number as "startling." Who knew statistics could be so scary?<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=129421>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/call-of-duty-4-multiplayer-boasts-monstrously-huge-numbers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1153407/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/call-of-duty-4-multiplayer-boasts-monstrously-huge-numbers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>Bungie</category><category>call-of-duty</category><category>call-of-duty-4</category><category>COD4</category><category>FPS</category><category>Halo-3</category><category>Halo3</category><category>Infinity-Ward</category><category>InfinityWard</category><category>PSN</category><category>Xbox-Live</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-31T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Original video content coming to Xbox Live</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/original-video-content-coming-to-xbox-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/original-video-content-coming-to-xbox-live/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/original-video-content-coming-to-xbox-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/business/media/31xbox-web.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/xblvm-joystiq-490.jpg" /></a></div>
Microsoft has announced that Hollywood producer/talent producer Peter Safran has signed a deal with the company to produce original content for Xbox Live (via <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/business/media/31xbox-web.html">The New York Times</a>). The first shows will scripted (i.e. not reality shows), run under 10 minutes in length and are expected to come out in the Fall.<br /><br />Said Scott Nocas, Xbox Live's global marketing manager for programming: "We definitely look at this as the first of many." The shows, according to Safran, will be exclusive to the service for a time and might then appear elsewhere. Safran also said that some of the content would be supported by advertising.<br /><br />As noted by the NYT, Safran represents Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Nia Vardolos (<em>My Big Fat Greek Wedding</em>) and the directors of <em>Epic Movie</em>. Safran said he expects to recruit "established filmmakers" but was not planning to seek out major movie stars.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/30/original-content-coming-to-xbox-360/">Engadget</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/business/media/31xbox-web.html?_r=1&amp;oref=slogin>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/original-video-content-coming-to-xbox-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1153311/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/original-video-content-coming-to-xbox-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>breakingnews</category><category>video</category><category>video-marketplace</category><category>xblm</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xbox-live-video-mark...</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Ross Miller</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-31T09:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Ninja Gaiden II demo coming in May</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-in-may/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-in-may/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-in-may/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2007/09/ninja_gaiden_2_imp_tgs.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Ever since the announcement of <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/ninja-gaiden-2"><em>Ninja Gaiden II</em></a>'s <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-2-to-hit-north-america-june-3-worldwide-earl/">June 3rd</a> release, we've become increasingly annoyed with the months of April and May. As is the case with those insolent, slow-moving people who bunch up in front of you at the supermarket, we really just want to ram them out of the way so that we may fill our cart to the brim with candy as quickly as possible. Having turned around and spotted our menacing glares, May has at least shown some decency by offering us a sampler -- a <em>Ninja Gaiden II</em> demo to be precise (and free of rambling allegories). <br /><br />According to Microsoft's <a href="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/"><em>Ninja Gaiden II</em> website</a>, those eager to decapitate demons, mangle monsters and otherwise alliteratively assault archfiends can expect to download a demon-stration from Xbox Live Marketplace in May. The page also advises to look for "exclusive" content from April 15th, no doubt referring to things like gamerpics, themes and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/ninja-gaiden-2-demo-hits-xbox-live-just-a-video/">videos pretending to be demos</a>. Wait, we're not falling for that one again, are we?<br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/">GDC08: Ninja Gaiden II</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653732/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653731/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653730/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653729/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/gdc08-ninja-gaiden-ii/653728/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/02/ninja-guy-dan-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-in-may/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1150376/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/ninja-gaiden-ii-demo-coming-in-may/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>BreakingNews</category><category>Demo</category><category>Itagaki</category><category>Ninja-Gaiden-2</category><category>NinjaGaiden</category><category>Team-Ninja</category><category>Tecmo</category><category>XBLM</category><category>Xbox-Live</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Ludwig Kietzmann</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-27T06:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Netflix surveys customers about service on Xbox 360</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/netflix-surveys-customers-about-service-on-xbox-360/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/netflix-surveys-customers-about-service-on-xbox-360/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/netflix-surveys-customers-about-service-on-xbox-360/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/online/" rel="tag">Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2435747920080325"><img width="490" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="192" border="0" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/netflixlive.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Netflix told Reuters today that it's been surveying its subscribers about interest in streaming movies using the Xbox 360. The company declined to go as far as saying this meant there was a partnership in the works, but did say it's looking to use "as many ways as possible" to provide its service to consumers.<br /><br />The whole "Netflix on consoles" thing has been batting around for a while with <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/rumor-netflix-streaming-to-xbox-360-and-ps3/">reports last month</a> that Netflix was running surveys to gauge consumer interest. Netflix has made <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/netflix-wants-service-on-your-console/">no secret that it wants to be on consoles</a> and our eyebrows were already raised way up early last year when Netflix CEO Reed Hastings <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/27/netflix-ceo-joins-microsoft-board/">joined the Microsoft board of directors</a>. If Microsoft <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/ms-touts-digital-distribution-over-historic-discs/">doesn't want to go down the Blu-ray path</a>, but still wants to offer a service that makes it stand out, Netflix would certainly make a marquee alternative.<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2435747920080325>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/netflix-surveys-customers-about-service-on-xbox-360/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1148532/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/netflix-surveys-customers-about-service-on-xbox-360/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>microsoft</category><category>netflix</category><category>xbm</category><category>xbox live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Alexander Sliwinski</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-25T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Rock Band Store launches, is awesome</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/rock-band-store-launches-is-awesome/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/rock-band-store-launches-is-awesome/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/rock-band-store-launches-is-awesome/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/" rel="tag">Sony PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rhythm/" rel="tag">Rhythm</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/rock-band-music-store-rockin-consoles-this-week/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/rockbandstoremain.jpg" /></a></div>
The much-improved <em>Rock Band</em> store <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/rock-band-music-store-rockin-consoles-this-week/">announced to the world yesterday</a> is now available on Xbox Live and PSN. A 30-second download and installation gives players access to the streamlined song-buying interface, which features audio previews and individual instrument difficulties for each song, as well as a much simpler way to sort and browse through the growing selection of music.<br /><br />Besides the cool new store, we're also extremely gratified by the much-needed <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/rock-band-patch-also-fixing-incidental-issues/">faster loading of DLC</a> provided by the patch. After a one-time file creation upon the first post-patch load, the annoying little "loading additional content" animation was reduced from roughly ten seconds to about one second in our tests on Xbox Live. The physical "download data file" that actually speeds up the process takes up a paltry 112KB on our system, meaning there's no reason not to rock out faster!<br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/rock-band-music-store/">Rock Band Music Store</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/rock-band-music-store/709121/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/rbmusicstore01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/rock-band-music-store/708731/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/rockbandstore7_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/rock-band-music-store/708729/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/rockbandstore5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/photos/rock-band-music-store/708728/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/rockbandstore2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/rock-band-music-store-rockin-consoles-this-week/>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/rock-band-store-launches-is-awesome/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1145823/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/rock-band-store-launches-is-awesome/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>DLC</category><category>harmonix</category><category>patch</category><category>PSN</category><category>rock-band</category><category>rockband</category><category>store</category><category>xbox live</category><category>XboxLive</category><dc:creator>Kyle Orland</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-21T10:10:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>22 unlockable characters confirmed for Castle Crashers</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/22-unlockable-characters-confirmed-for-castle-crashers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/22-unlockable-characters-confirmed-for-castle-crashers/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/22-unlockable-characters-confirmed-for-castle-crashers/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/action/" rel="tag">Action</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=34"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/castle_crashers_unlock_select.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
You'll need more than your fingers and toes when counting up the number of playable characters in The Behemoth's upcoming (and <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/castle-crashers-an-xbla-original-from-the-behemoth/">long awaited</a>) XBLA opus <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/tag/CastleCrashers/"><em>Castle Crashers</em></a>, as the devs have confirmed that the game's roster will pack in "about" twenty-two unlockable slots. <br /><br />How exactly characters will be unlocked remains, much like the game's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/09/castle-crashers-likely-due-2008-receiving-more-content/">eventual release date</a>, a mystery, with Behemoth blogger Emil <a href="http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=34">teasing</a> only that characters will be added "by various different means." However, given that since it was first announced some two years ago the heavily-stylized side scroller has remained near the top of a short list of titles we cannot wait to sink our thumbs into, it's just shy of hyperbole to say that we'd do anything <em>Castle Crashers</em> asked of us anyway. <br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/03/18/castle-crashers-will-have-22-unlockable-characters/">Xbox 360 Fanboy</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=34>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/22-unlockable-characters-confirmed-for-castle-crashers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1143884/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/22-unlockable-characters-confirmed-for-castle-crashers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>castle-crashers</category><category>castlecrashers</category><category>side-scroller</category><category>sidescroller</category><category>the-behemoth</category><category>thebehemoth</category><category>unlock</category><category>xbla</category><category>xbox-live-arcade</category><category>xboxlive</category><category>xboxlivearcade</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-19T18:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Puzzle Quest getting XBLA expansion, fans asked to name it</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/puzzle-quest-getting-xbla-expansion-fans-asked-to-name-it/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/puzzle-quest-getting-xbla-expansion-fans-asked-to-name-it/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/puzzle-quest-getting-xbla-expansion-fans-asked-to-name-it/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/rpgs/" rel="tag">RPGs</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&amp;newsId=20080317005610&amp;newsLang=en"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/puzzlequestmain.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
<em>Puzzle Quest</em> was among our favorite titles released last year over Xbox Live Arcade, with the unlikely mix of casual puzzling and role-playing edging its way into several of our staff's <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/best-of-the-rest-griffins-picks-of-2007/">top</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2007/">picks</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-justins-picks-of-2007/">for</a> <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/best-of-the-rest-james-picks-of-2007/">2007</a>. Now publisher D3 has announced that the game will soon be getting what it calls a "tremendous amount" of new content by way of an upcoming downloadable expansion. There's just <em>one </em>problem -- it <em>needs </em>a name.<br /><br />The add-on, which promises a new villain in Antharg, the Lord of Plague, as well as new spells, items, and quests on top of four new hero professions (Bard, Rogue, Ranger and Warlock), is currently being dubbed " Puzzle Quest: 1.5," but that name is <em>hardly </em>appropriate. To this end, D3 is calling for players to submit name suggestions on <a href="http://www.puzzle-quest.com/">the official Puzzle Quest website</a> starting today at noon through Friday, March 21. Once a name has been decided, the expansion will be made available this spring over Xbox Live. We're already brainstorming our ideas -- might we suggest <em>Puzzle Quest: The Addictioning</em>?<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&amp;newsId=20080317005610&amp;newsLang=en>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/puzzle-quest-getting-xbla-expansion-fans-asked-to-name-it/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1141867/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/puzzle-quest-getting-xbla-expansion-fans-asked-to-name-it/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>antharg</category><category>breakingnews</category><category>d3</category><category>d3-publisher</category><category>d3publisher</category><category>expansion</category><category>puzzle-quest</category><category>puzzlequest</category><category>xbla</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xbox-live-arcade</category><category>xboxlive</category><category>xboxlivearcade</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-17T10:15:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Namco Bandai bringing Mr. Driller to Xbox Live Arcade</title><link>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/namco-bandai-bringing-mr-driller-to-xbox-live-arcade/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/namco-bandai-bringing-mr-driller-to-xbox-live-arcade/</guid><comments>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/namco-bandai-bringing-mr-driller-to-xbox-live-arcade/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/" rel="tag">Microsoft Xbox 360</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/puzzle/" rel="tag">Puzzle</a>, <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/859/859593p1.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/mr_driller_online_topper.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
It's been four long years since Namco Bandai last graced us with its diminutive pink spelunker <em>Mr. Driller</em> in <em>Mr. Driller Drill Spirits </em>for the Nintendo DS. Thankfully, it's an oversight the company will soon remedy with the <a href="http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/859/859593p1.html">newly revealed <em>Mr. Driller Online</em></a>, a downloadable version of the casual puzzler currently in development for Xbox Live Arcade. <br /><br />Details are currently light, though the game, which so far has only been confirmed for release in Japan this Spring, looks to stay true to the series' uber-cute roots of downward drilling and colors vibrant enough to make a box of Crayolas blush. The game will also include a handful of new modes and gameplay over Xbox Live, making the one thing that has been missing from the saccharine puzzler -- online trash talk -- a reality. <em>Finally</em>!<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/03/14/mr-driller-online-will-drill-through-the-xbla/">Xbox 360 Fanboy</a>]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> </p><p><a href=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/859/859593p1.html>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/namco-bandai-bringing-mr-driller-to-xbox-live-arcade/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1141279/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/namco-bandai-bringing-mr-driller-to-xbox-live-arcade/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>]]></description><category>mr-driller</category><category>mr-driller-online</category><category>mrdriller</category><category>mrdrilleronline</category><category>namco-bandai</category><category>namcobandai</category><category>xbla</category><category>xbox-live</category><category>xboxlive</category><dc:creator>Jason Dobson</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-03-16T11:30:00+00:00</dc:date></item></channel></rss>