Your first two Sackboy costumes will be the fashionably late Halloween Mask and Launch Spacesuit pictured above. Both will be free and reportedly disappear from the PlayStation Store on Nov. 19. Further down the line, expect Sackboy outfits to run you 99 cents American. Also expect to see "premium" costumes at twice the price. The Old Snake and Sephiroth Sackboys, for example, fall under the "premium" category. Surprised?

Available 11/6: Official LittleBigPlanet DLC on the PlayStation Store [PlayStation.blog]

Cost to you is a mere $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track, with the full Nirvana "7 Pack" priced at $10.99 (880 Microsoft Points). Cheap!

• "Breed"
• "Lounge Act"
• "On a Plain"
• "Polly"
• "Something in the Way"
• "Stay Away"
• "Territorial Pissings"

The track pack includes the following tunes — "This Calling", "Chiron" and "Two Weeks" — all of which can be downloaded individually for 99 cents American. If you're thinking about striking, strike fast. The pricing is a limited time offer.

"We need to help retailers," Braben said. "In fairness, they're probably doing it because they're struggling. But there are ways of tracking and deterring pre-owned sales."

His ideas: Unique codes on boxes, similar to those used for PC online games, to ensure the games can't be sold. Or, special content that can only be unlocked with a scratch-off card containing a one-use code.

But most likely, small developers will look to the downloadable channel as the way to go, Braben says. This will certainly become more viable in future generations of consoles, meaning devs still must cope with retail markets for the forseeable future.

Braben Questions Game Prices [Develop, via Destructoid]

The pack also includes the Jjaro texture and design set from Marathon Infinity, as well as two new achievements with the potential to add another 30 points to your gamerscore.

Look for the Jjaro Map Pack tomorrow for the low, low price of 250 Microsoft points. It looks so old it's practically new!

Freeverse Announces New Content Pack for Critically Acclaimed Marathon: Durandal on Xbox LIVE Arcade

New York - June 17th, 2008 - Freeverse, Inc. today announced its plans to release a major downloadable content pack for its 2007 XBox LIVE Arcade port of Marathon: Durandal, Bungie's classic first-person shooter. Slated for a June 18th release, this content pack will extend the Marathon gaming experience on the Xbox 360 gaming console with new maps, game modes, and textures.

Available for 250 Microsoft Points on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the Jjaro Map Pack for Marathon: Durandal will include 12 classic multiplayer levels previously seen in Bungie’s Marathon and Marathon Infinity.

Nostalgic players will recall the names of these classic maps: Thrud, Vulcan, King of Pain, Spiral Insanity, Dead Fields, Morphine, La Cosa Nostra, Mars Needs Women, ‘Fugee Camp, What Goes Up Must Come Down, Arena, and Spline.

Each of these downloadable maps will support new gametypes previously unseen in their original release on the Macintosh platform, including King of the Hill, Kill the Man with the Ball, and Tag.

Also included in this downloadable content pack is the “Jjaro” collection, a texture and design set previously introduced in Marathon Infinity. In addition to these exciting new environments in which to play, players will also be able to unlock two new achievements:

Thing What Kicks - Kill a Juggernaut in Survival and live to tell the tale. 20 points.

King Pfhor a Day - Outscore all other players (at least 3) combined in a King of the Hill or Kill the Man with the Ball match. 10 points.

Players must download and enable the Jjaro Map Pack before they can earn these challenging new achievements.

Marathon, considered ahead of its time in 1994, was a first-person shooter featuring an advanced 3D graphics engine, interesting story line, and compelling multiplayer game modes. Unique level design set players against obstacles and puzzles, including low-gravity spots, crushing ceilings, and magnetic fields that interfere with the player's motion sensor. Marathon's unique gameplay paved the way for two sequels, as well as Bungie's later franchise Halo.

Freeverse's 2007 XBox LIVE Arcade port adds some modern flair to this timeless classic, including a revised hud, enhanced widescreen high-definition graphics, and an increased framerate. Multiplayer is possible through four-player split-screen and 8-player games over Xbox LIVE, including both co-op and deathmatch modes. Winner of a Best of Show Award at the E3 2007 show, Marathon: Durandal is currently available on the XBox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points.

Xbox Live® Market Place Downloadable Content 20 December 2007

Mirage2000-5 - SCARFACE EMBLEM - (Free)
The heroes of Ace Combat 2, Scarface Squadron Aircraft. This aircraft's armour has been reinforced at the expense of stability. With the main military force unable to respond, the mercenary tactical strike force, Scarface, was entrusted to rescue the Usean continent from the hands of a brutal military coup d'etat.

F-22A Raptor - MOBIUS - (200 Microsoft Points)
The Heroes of Ace Combat: Distant Thunder, Mobius Squadron Aircraft. Fated with single handedly maintaining air superiority, this aircraft's armaments know no parallel. However, necessary reduction of armour has resulted in low damage control. A lone pilot, Mobius' battle record exceeded that of an entire squadron.

F-15E Strike Eagle - CIPHER - (200 Microsoft Points)
The hero of Ace Combat: The Belkan War, Cipher's Aircraft. This aircraft's armour has been lightened to facilitate greater fire power. Fully customized preemptive striking capabilities place this fighter at the forefront of any battle. As the leader of the Republic of Ustio's Mercenary Galm Unit, Cipher's overwhelming fighting skills amidst the escalating conflict quickly earned him the moniker, "The Demon of the Round Table". Both feared and respected, his was the path of a true ace.

F-15E Strike Eagle - PIXY - (200 Microsoft Points)
Ace Combat: The Belkan War, Wingman Pixy Aircraft. Armour has been lightened to increase stability. With an array of counterstrike customizations, this aircraft can immediately adapt to changes on the battlefield. The Republic of Ustio's Mercenary Galm Unit No. 2, "Pixy" nearly lost his left wing during combat, but miraculously completed the mission and returned to base, earning him the name "Solo Wing Pixy". He continued his military career earning numerous accolades as Cipher's wingman.

A-10A ThunderBoltⅡ - XMAS - (200 Microsoft Points)
Holiday Aircraft. Seemingly unaffected by gravity, even during inverted flight, exceptional aerodynamic performance is achieved at the expense of this aircraft's otherwise characteristic durability. This is an A-10A of a different breed.

F-117A Night Hawk - THE IDOLMASTER YUKIHO - (400 Microsoft Points)
THE IDOLMASTER, Yukiho Hagiwara Aircraft. A little on the shy side, this aircraft boasts impressive moves when trying its best. It's up to you to make this star shine!

# # #

In addition to the three songs I've never heard of listed above, tracks from—according to the press release—popular European bands Extremoduro, Trust, and Die Fantastischen Vier will be available as single song downloads. Finally, holiday classic "We Three Kings", as recorded by Steve Ouimette, will also hit sometime in December.

Nothin' but the hits!

Midway Announces Stranglehold Downloadable Map Pack Coming Soon

Midway today announced a downloadable map pack for the acclaimed 3rd person action adventure title, Stranglehold, for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game systems. The map pack features 10 additional multiplayer maps ranging from the Kowloon Market to Wong's Estate Grounds to the Rooftops of Chicago, as well as 21 all-new multiplayer character skins. The Xbox 360 version will include 10 new achievements worth 250 points. Rated "M" for mature by the ESRB, the Stranglehold downloadable map pack will be available soon in North America via the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE.

Prices will range from 99 cents to 2.99 for individual songs, with the expected price for a single track to average $1.99. Three song artist and variety packs will come in at $5.49, but Gamespot doesn't have confirmed pricing on full album packs.

For those wondering what Metallica tunes will be available, I'm extremely happy to pass on that "Ride the Lightning", "Blackened" and "And Justice for All" will lead the charge. More details and dates at Gamespot.

\m/, ^_^ ,\m/

Rock Band DLC priced, detailed [Gamespot]

The current issue reveals master tracks from The Police (Roxanne, Synchronicity II, Can't Stand Losing You), Queens of the Stone Age (3s and 7s, Sick Sick Sick, Little Sister) and Metallica (titles to be announced) can be added to the already stellar line-up. But that's not all. Tracks from Black Sabbath and David Bowie, a good portion of which are "as made famous by" will also be available as add-ons. And yes, there's even more.

A "Punk Pack" featuring tracks from The Buzzcocks, The Clash and The Ramones will add some variety to the DLC line-up as will a slew of single tracks that run the gamut from classic rock to modern rock. The other confirmed jams are as follows.

Fortunate Son - Credence Clearwater Revival
Jukebox Hero - Foreigner
My Sharona - The Knack
Cherry Bomb - The Runaways
Bang A Gong- T-Rex
Joker and the Thief - Wolfmother
Brass in a Pocket - Pretenders
My Iron Lung - Radiohead
Buddy Holly - Weezer

Totally Excited By Just About Everything Above - Me.

OXM reviews Rock Band... AND NEW DLC ANNOUNCED [ScoreHero Forums - thanks, Keeb13r!]

In Game Content: Guitar Hero III [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Be extra evil this November as Codemasters announces OverlordTM: Raising Hell as part of new downloadable content.

One free and two premium downloadable content packs coming soon for OverlordTM on Xbox 360.

Unleashing the wondrously evil Overlord and his army of lethal minions for a fresh round of malicious mayhem, Codemasters today announced the forthcoming release of three downloadable content packs for Overlord™, the summer's hit action adventure from Triumph Studios.

The all-new content will be available this November from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox™ 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and comprise of one free and two premium download packs.

The premium downloadable content is led by Overlord™: Raising Hell, an expansion pack that adds all-new single-player levels to the original game. An additional premium pack, the Overlord™: Challenge Pack will deliver a set of all-new online multiplayer maps. Microsoft Points pricing for the two premium content packs will be confirmed at launch. A further downloadable content update will also be available free of charge. This will add split-screen play to all the original game's multiplayer maps and introduce an all-new multiplayer Survival map.

Premium and Free Downloadable Content Details:

OVERLORD™: RAISING HELL - Premium Downloadable content
Prepare to go deeper into the Overlord's twisted world as this single-player expansion pack opens a series of hellish new levels. Complete with new enemies and objectives, each new level is a supernatural abyss - a hell for each of the game's five kingdoms: Mellow Hills, Evernight, Heaven's Peak, the Golden Halls and the Ruborian Desert.

Access to each abyss is via a portal, which opens once a kingdom has been successfully conquered and the previous ruler banished to a personal hell within. However it's not just the fallen heroes that have been dragged into the abyss: the Overlord's newly loyal peasants have also been taken down into hell too.

With the undead denizens of each abyss on the attack and threatening the Overlord's reign above ground, there's only one thing for it: assemble your minion army, descend into each abyss and embark on a fresh wave of tyranny in order to return the serfs to their homelands, defeat the fallen heroes once and for all, and claim the throne of each kingdom's underworld.

OVERLORD™: CHALLENGE PACK - Premium Downloadable content.
This additional premium download content pack is ideal for Overlords who really have something to prove. There's pillaging fun with seven new online multiplayer maps, including the competitive 'Capture the Maiden' map and 'Protect Your Power', where players must defend the Overlord's tower against waves of enemy attack.

Putting minions through their toughest workout, the Challenge pack also introduces a "Legendary" difficulty mode, which challenges players to achieve Legendary status by using their most aggressive minion managing skills to complete the game under exceptional bad-ass circumstances.

OVERLORD™: SPLIT-SCREEN MULTIPLAYER PACK - Free Downloadable Content.
The free update will be available alongside the premium packs and will enable players to go head to head in an all-new split screen multiplayer mode. In addition to providing split screen play on all of the game's original multiplayer maps, the update will also introduce a new multiplayer map, Rocky Race, which sees a pair of Overlords working cooperatively to survive the onslaught of an arch rock giant on the rampage.

All three content packs are set to be available this November from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360, with Microsoft Point pricing to be announced. All three packs require players to have a full copy of Overlord for Xbox 360 in order to experience the additional content. For all the latest information and videos, be sure to visit www.codemasters.com/overlord

"The Guitar Hero II downloadable video game song packs are some of the most popular content on Xbox LIVE and are quickly becoming a very lucrative revenue stream and powerful promotional vehicle for musicians and record labels today."

Guitar Hero II Xbox 360 Video Game Song Packs Hit Multi-Platinum Status with 650,000 Downloads

More Than Two Million Single Songs Accessed Through Xbox LIVE Marketplace® since April Highly Anticipated Sequel Guitar Hero III to Feature Master Tracks, Original Songs and Downloadable Content

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sep 11, 2007 - Downloadable Xbox 360 video game song packs for Activision, Inc.'s (Nasdaq:ATVI) Guitar HeroTM II hit multi-platinum status with more than 650,000 downloads through Xbox LIVE Marketplace® in less than five months, as defined by the music industry's RIAA. Each downloadable pack contains three individual songs. Individual songs combined have topped the two million mark, making the Guitar Hero II packs some of the most downloaded content on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

"Activision was the first third-party publisher to offer downloadable content via Xbox LIVE to consumers and as a result, we have tremendous insight into the types of content that consumers want," states Dusty Welch, head of publishing, RedOctane. "The Guitar Hero II downloadable video game song packs are some of the most popular content on Xbox LIVE and are quickly becoming a very lucrative revenue stream and powerful promotional vehicle for musicians and record labels today."

Tim Riley, worldwide executive of music for Activision, added, "Activision has long been a pioneer in recognizing the importance of music in games and has forged unprecedented partnerships with all of the major record labels, music publishers and bands in order to offer Guitar Hero fans unrivaled access to music catalogues."

"We have been working very closely with Activision to make our catalog available for download for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II. The results we have seen from download sales to date have been very impressive. This partnership is providing EMI Music Publishing and its songwriters with a valuable new source of revenue, and at the same time giving us the opportunity to exploit portions of our catalog that might otherwise not get such high-profile exposure," remarked Rod Kotler, Director of Music Services, EMI Music Publishing.

On August 14, 2007, Activision released a new My Chemical Romance video game song pack which included original recordings of the hit songs Teenagers, Famous Last Words, and This is How I Disappear from the band's latest album "The Black Parade." In its first week of release, over 50,000 downloads of the three-song pack were purchased through Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Commenting on the success of the My Chemical Romance video game song pack, Brian Schechter, the band's manager, said, "Activision has always had the artists and music culture in mind for their games. Now, the band's fans will be able to enjoy their music in a new way that they truly enjoy. As long as Activision and Guitar Hero keep providing quality products to the world, I would love to have all Riot Squad artist's in business with them."

Additionally, Activision's highly anticipated sequel, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will feature master tracks from some of rock's most legendary bands like the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica, as well as original songs by such guitarist icons as Slash and Tom Morello. The sequel also will offer a vast array of downloadable content including songs from some of the most popular European bands.

"Having Warner Music Group's master recordings in Guitar Hero III is a fantastic opportunity for everyone. Both our current and catalog artists are being exposed to new audiences through this great game. By selling additional tracks, we don't have to wait for another volume of the game to be released to offer new artists and music to gamers around the world," said Mark Pinkus, SVP Synch Licensing & Strategic Marketing at Rhino Entertainment.

To date, Guitar Hero games have sold more than 5.5 million units, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is scheduled to launch in October on all major console platforms and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

"You buy the product, you get the content," Team Fortress 2 designer Robin Walker told us. "We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers."

Valve won't charge for DLC [Eurogamer]

If you're a Nintendo DS owner and you're going to be buying the new Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End game and you're just going to happen to be in Disneyland soon, you could find some hidden treasure. According to the OC Register, there will be special Xs "hidden near the "Pirates"-related attractions" where you can download exclusive additional content for the DS version of the game.

I'm a little confused by "Pirates related attractions." As far as I know there is only one Pirates of the Caribbean ride located near the center of the park. If they've opened up new ones, it's news to me. It's an interesting offer, but at the price of Disney tickets, that's going to be some expensive ass downloadable content. It's probably cheaper just to buy a copy of the game and a PS3 and stay at home. Flynn De Marco

Want downloadable gifts for Pirates of the Caribbean: AWE? Go to Disney [Go Nintendo]

Two new game modes and several new maps hit for Rainbow Six Vegas today.

The 800-point Red Edition Pack includes the Assassination Mode and Total Conquest Mode as well as new maps the Doscala Restaurant, Marshalling Yard, Roof, Border Town — Redux, and Killhouse — Redux.

In Assassination you have to escort a VIP to a designated extraction point. In Total Conquest you have to control three locations on a map. Brian Crecente

From the release:

Any PS3 owner playing MotorStorm online will receive Time Trial Mode automatically - you won't even need to download this one from the PLAYSTATION Store. Take any vehicle out on the track of your choice and go hell for leather to lay down the quickest lap time. You can race against ghost vehicles of your previous efforts, other players' times and the best attempts from the MotorStorm development team - and then upload your best times to the global online rankings. In addition, more tracks, vehicles and game modes will be available later in the month, and thereafter on a regular basis.

More tracks? More vehicles? Ghost data from the Evolution Studios team? Love it. Michael McWhertor

PLAYSTATION NETWORK / DOWNLOADABLE PACKS RELEASE [ThreeSpeech]

In a sit down with N'Gai Croal, Phil Harrison talks up Resistance: Fall of Man a bit and mentions that Sony is prepping new content for their shooter and that we can expect to start seeing the new stuff this April.

"We're going to release additional content for Resistance. I don't think we've gone into detail on the schedule, but we have some really, really cool things that will be extending the story, extending the locations, some brand new content, starting in April. So if that works well and is well-received by the audience, then that will keep the engagement with game going between now and should there be a sequel at some point in the future."

What sort of new content would you like to see on the shooter? I'm sorta split between new multiplayer maps and fresh single-player content. Brian Crecente

Loot: The Phil Harrison Interview, Part I [Level Up]

In addition to those two new levels, the Battleground map originally included with the Collector's Edition version of the game will be handed out free at an unspecified time. And yes, more map packs are planned, but release dates are not solid.

To sum up, you're dropping five bucks for two maps to tack on to the sixty (or seventy) you already dropped on the "full" game with the promise of further optional gouging. Enjoy! Michael McWhertor

CAPCOM TO RELEASE DOWNLOADABLE MAP PACKS FOR LOST PLANET : EXTREME CONDITION FOR XBOX 360

Seven New Multiplayer Maps Coming Over the Next Few Months

SUNNYVALE, Calif - Feb. 16, 2007 - Capcom , a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced plans to offer downloadable multiplayer map packs for Lost Planet : Extreme Condition for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The first map pack will cost 400 Microsoft Points , with pricing on the following packs to be determined later. Lost Planet, which carries a "T" rating for teen audiences by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), can be found on retail shelves around the world.

"We're committed to bringing new content to the thriving community of Lost Planet fans," said Charles Bellfield, vice president, marketing, Capcom Entertainment, Inc. "The development team is steadily working on additional environments to provide players with new ways to enjoy the intense Lost Planet brand of action."

The first pack is planned to be released via Xbox Live Marketplace on or about March 9 and contains two new multiplayer levels: "Radar Field," a close quarters facility which is under construction and has a giant radar that provides a peak vantage point, and "Island 902," a sprawling Pacific-themed battlefield with several islands connected by bridges as well as vast underwater areas. Additionally, "Battleground," a multiplayer map originally offered exclusively to those who purchased the Collector's Edition of the game, will be made available for free to all Lost Planet players. The next two packs, as well as the free Battleground map will be made available in the coming months.

Lost Planet is an epic gaming masterpiece combining a gripping single player campaign and intense multiplayer modes with support for up to 16 players on the Xbox Live online game service. Taking full advantage of Xbox 360 system's power, Lost Planet contains sophisticated visuals, with an unmatched level of detail as advanced light sourcing is used to ensure a realistic presentation that enhances every explosion, smoke and particle effect. Enormous world maps unfold as players battle hostile creatures in blistering weather conditions across vast snowfields and deserted cities either on foot or in armed, robotic Vital Suits.

For more information on Lost Planet, please visit the official site at http://www.lostplanet-thegame.com or join the growing community of fans at http://www.lostplanetcommunity.com

ABOUT CAPCOM

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Devil May Cry. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Tokyo and Hong Kong, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com.

Capcom, Resident Evil, Mega Man and Devil May Cry are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd., in the U.S. or other countries. Street Fighter is a registered trademark of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

I have no idea where that came from.

Ubisoft wanted to clear up the fact that while the PS3 version of SC:DA would indeed come with the female skins and new maps, the Xbox 360 version would get updated eventually in the form of downloadable content. No specific dates were given, but hopefully not too soon after the PlayStation version drops. While we wait, ponder this...are fans eagerly anticipating the new skins because they want to look at women, or because the want to fire at them with automatic weapons? Michael Fahey

Double Agent spygirl for 360 [Eurogamer]

The Forza Motorsport 2 team say that they are still gunning for a May release of their Xbox 360 racer. They won't say the specific date, but say that their schedule has them hitting Xbox certification around the middle of April and "going gold soon afterwards."

More importantly the team released the official, though short, list of FM2 tracks.

* Mugello Autodromo Internazionale
* Suzuka Circuit
* Sebring International Raceway
* Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
* Tsukuba Circuit
* Road Atlanta
* Silverstone Circuit
* N rburgring Nordschleife
* Maple Valley Raceway
* Sunset Peninsula Infield
* New York Circuit
* Test Track

While the list is short, the developers are already saying they will be creating downloadable maps as well that may or may not be free.

Will it be free? We don't know and can't say for sure right now but whatever it ends up becoming, we at Turn 10 aim to do right by the community. Definitely no horse armor here, folks.

Hit the jump to read about three of the developers' favorites among the list and why. Brian Crecente

The Turn 10 Weekly Pitpass Report [Forza 2 Motorsport]

* Chris "Master of Cars" Vanover on Mugello: "After watching the wealth of F1 Mugello footage available and then finally getting some seat time in-game with our cars, I've found myself thinking about taking a trip to Italy for the real thing. Combined with an elevation that varies 135 feet from top to bottom, the track has a great flow to it, and with 15 corners, every completed lap dares you to find even one place to go just a little faster. Like anywhere else, however, consistency is key — miss a brake zone or start checking out the amazing vista from the top of the hill and you'll wind up far off track in one of the numerous, wide gravel traps. Mugello will definitely take time to master."

* Rhett "Career Overlord" Mathis on Suzuka: "Suzuka is my favorite new track. It has a lot of personality, plenty of variety, and is great for racing because it features numerous passing opportunities. I like the way it dares you to go deeply into turn 1 before getting on the brakes to control the car for turn 2. The entire east section is a blast in any car — the esses being fairly easy to drive, but tricky to really perfect. In some way, Suzuka feels to me like it has two personalities due to the high-speed nature of the west section. You can reach some crazy speeds on the back stretch, and there's a real test of the kinds of stones you have coming through the 130R before crushing the brakes to safely navigate the triangle."

* Dan "Forza Visionary" Greenawalt on Sebring: "I'm really excited about Sebring International Raceway. I've been following the world famous 12 Hours of Sebring event for years. Its one of the most physically punishing courses in the world — the attrition list at the end of the annual endurance race is pure madness. Sebring features several grades of sun baked asphalt as well as lots of ill-fitting concrete slabs loosely sealed together. It's built on an old airstrip and nothing really matches up, so cars are always skipping and jumping all over the place. All those different seams and surface types really let us show off our physics engine, which is something I'm really excited about. The final corner, a long sweeper over several concrete slabs, is pure evil. Though Sebring doesn't have a lot of elevation change, its one of the roughest, craziest, nastiest tracks out there. Its truly one of the premier sportscar race courses in the United States."

Think of the new Champs map as a forward scout for a much larger force. The Valor map pack should hopefully follow soon after, featuring five more French maps perfect for close-quarters fighting, all for 800 Microsoft points. Michael Fahey

CoD 3 Map 'Champs' Now Free on XBL [1UP]

Being the type of site never to rely on rumors for news, I made sure to refrain from posting about the alleged Gears of War downloadable content that was rumored to be coming out on 12/24. The rumors were started by what many believed to be an Epic Games sponsored viral marketing site, theabovedomain.com, which has now been removed.

As it turns out, mt reticence was rewarded with the news that it was all a big hoax. The deception was brought to light by none other than Mark Rein, Vice President of Epic Games with his comments on the official Gears of War forums.

Originally Posted by Mark Rein Folks,

This is a hoax.

We've already stated that we are working on releasing an update soon but we don't know the exact date of the release yet because it has not passed certification yet.

I wish the fan sites and online media would check with me first before they post stuff like this. Pretty much all of them have at least my email address (if not my phone number) and I check mail many, many times throughout the day.

Thankfully, we here at Kotaku didn't fall in to that terrible Re-Emergence Day hole. Flynn De Marco

Re-Emergence Day Hoax Revealed [Epic Games Forums]
[via: Evil Avatar]

Add Microsoft owned developer Rare to those who aren't sure downloadable content is teh future. While some companies exploit the crud outta micro-transactions to profit from half-finished games, Rare is waiting it out. Take the company's Viva Piñata, which is short on things you can buy online. Says lead designer Gregg Mayles:

We've got plenty of ideas for what we can do with downloadable content because Piñata is such a unique game. But the jury is still out... It's almost pointless doing a huge amount of work at this point because if it's not going to be successful you may as well put that effort into making a new game... There's no way we're going to be in a position where we feel like we're ripping the consumer off. We'll have to look at it, and how it pans out with the other games on 360.

Smart, real smart, Rare. Brian Ashcraft

Those Iffy Micro-transactions [Games Industry]

It's the day everyone has been waiting for with keen anticipation. That's right, it's "Emergence Day" ! In honor of this momentous occasion, Xbox Live marketplace is offering some free Gears of War downloadable content for the US, Canada and Mexico.

Available only today is a free exclusive Gears of War "I played on Emergence Day" Theme and an exclusive gamer picture. There will also be an "Emergence Day" Message from man about town and dreamboat robot model Cliffy B, PLUS a Gears of War Gameplay video for all the losers who haven't actually picked up the game that will change the world. Both of the latter two are also free and will be available anytime. If you want the theme and the gamer picture, you have until 11:59pm PT, so get crackin'! Flynn De Marco

Limited time Emergence Day 'GoW' content [Major Nelson - Thanks, Scott]