New Xbox Originals: Stubbs And Gauntlet

I'd be quite interested to see the process involved with choosing what games become Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Originals. I am beginning to think a hat is involved. While some of the picks so far have been no-brainers, others are a bit more questionable.

Stubbs The Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse is one of those original Xbox titles I can see on the service, as it was a quality game that 360 newcomers shouldn't miss out on. Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, on the other hand, was a nicely rendered hunk of crap that no one should bother spending 1200 Microsoft points on. There are seriously more than seven sorrows involved there.

If you want Gauntlet, download the Live Arcade version and enjoy yourself. If you want Stubbs, save up your points and get ready for the game's re-release on May 19th.

Xbox Originals: Stubbs the Zombie and Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

British 360 Vid Marketplace Gets...Michael Jackson Videos

More Original Programming For Xbox Live

COD4 Map Pack Hits Million Downloads in Record Time

Call of Duty 4's Variety Map Pack was downloaded one million times in the first nine days, a new record for Xbox Live Marketplace, Activision said this morning.

The publisher said that more than 30 million sessions of the game, totalling 32 million hours of gameplay, were logged from April 4 to April 12. Sheesh, you guys really do live your COD.

"Infinity Ward is extremely grateful for support from our loyal Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare community around the world," said Robert Bowling, community relations manager, Infinity Ward. "From the beginning, we were committed to do our best and that continues now with the Variety Map Pack. We can't wait to get back online with everyone."

Hit the jump for the full release.

Voltron Episode Free On Xbox Video Marketplace

Way before the Power Rangers assembled the Megazord, Voltron was kicking it in outer space. (On a side note, do you notice how no one says "outer space" anymore? We're bringing it back.) And to celebrate its reappearance on Xbox Video Marketplace, Microsoft is handing out the first episode at no charge. Sure, you could probably get your Voltron fix with a few minutes of YouTubing or BitTorrenting, but that stuff is always free. One of the first lessons of life: never turn down a free ride in Microsoft's mega robot when they offer. Because you're already paying for the gas anyway.

Voltron: Defender of the Universe [Xbox via Xbox 360 fanboy] [Image]

360 Video Marketplace Gets Exclusive, Original Content

He said he planned initially to focus on genres, like comedy and horror, that appeal to the Xbox 360 audience, which is heavily concentrated from the ages of 14 to 34, and tends to be more male than female. The first shows are expected to be available to viewers by the fall.

EA Charging For Bad Company Weapons?

Word from the Battlefield: Bad Company beta test is that several weapons in the game's arsenal are locked, with "Available for purchase on Xbox Live Marketplace" notations next to them. In total 10 weapons are listed as for sale, with five of them also available in the Gold Edition of the game. What this basically means is that people willing to drop a little extra cash, be it in the store or on Xbox Live, will have more weapons to choose from than someone who scrapes together just enough to pick up the game itself. This is not the way microtransactions should be used. Cosmetic additions and extra maps are all well and good, but allowing players to pay in order to get a leg up on the competition is just slimy. Multiplayer games suffer from enough balance issues without this sort of thing going on. Where will this lead? Perhaps eventually they'll allow you to purchase a much better surrogate player to represent you in matches, taking the term "professional gaming" to an all new level. Maybe we can pay for ammo next! "Everybody down! He bought extra clips!" *sigh*

EA charging for weapons in Bad Company Beta [Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Robot Chicken Star Wars Special On XBL Video Marketplace

Crystal Dynamics Dev Praises PSN

Crystal Dynamics may have recently released the full version of Tomb Raider Anniversary onto the Xbox Live Marketplace, but as far as Anniversary's lead designer Riley Cooper is concerned the PlayStation Network is where the future of digitally downloadable lies.

"I'm very, very interested in digital distribution and the potential it has," said Cooper, speaking during GDC Lyon last month. "PlayStation Network is extremely interesting because it's a more flexible space."

Tomb Raider Anniversary developer eyes PlayStation Network [GamesIndustry.biz]

Viacom, Microsoft Forge Alliance To Bring "Cribs" To Xbox 360s

An advertising and content sharing deal between Microsoft and Viacom, valued at some half-billion dollars, could bring even more Paramount, MTV and Comedy Central content to the Xbox Live Marketplace, including the MTV show Cribs, which could qualify as a rare win-win-win. Specifics on the "broad selection" of shows and movies that will be licensed as part of the deal weren't given but Live Marketplace already enjoys plenty of content from MTV, MTV2, VH1, Comedy Central, Spike and other Viacom brands. That content could increase to include the as-yet unavailable via Marketplace housing program Cribs. Yes, Cribs.

While major portions of the deal won't directly impact Xbox 360 owners, as it includes shared advertising revenues and content for MSN and blah blah blah, the prospect of increased Cribs access is too enticing to ignore. I can only hope this alliance will bring the criminally overlooked TV Funhouse to the list of available Comedy Central programs.

Microsoft, Viacom Ink $500 Mil Ad Deal [CNN/Money]

Europe's Xbox 360 Video Marketplace Is Still Working Kinks Out

While Europe was surely happy about the launch of Xbox 360's Video Marketplace, Microsoft has admitted that, unfortunately, there are a few problems arising. Current issues include downloads not completing, slow file transfers, error messages, and this is my personal favorite, the wrong media downloading. Times like this make me sad that hardcore pornography isn't offered alongside Disney flicks.

Microsoft apologizes for any inconvenience and is investigating the matter in full. But since these problems remind me a lot of the US roll out of Video Marketplace, I'm guessing they won't be permanent.

Microsoft confirm problems with UK Video Marketplace [via n4g]

Oh, Canada, You're Getting The Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store Soon

Soon enough, our Canadian brothers and sisters can download quality hits like Pirates of Ghost Island and Krush Groove, legally, through their Xbox 360s. Microsoft has announced that it will be bringing a slew of high-def and regular-def content to the Canadian Xbox Live Marketplace video store on December 11th. That's right, Canada, the amazingly depressing and stomach-turning Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer will be yours to enjoy in under a week!

No Canadian television programming will be available at launch, sadly, but it sounds like plans are in the works. For a full list of what will be available on day one, with pricing schemes, check out the full interview at Xbox.com.

Now Playing! Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store Comes to Canada [Xbox.com]

360 Expands Its Music Video Line-Up with BMG

A perhaps slightly overlooked feature of this fall's Xbox 360 update is the fact that Microsoft is now selling Sony BMG music videos on Live for 160 points a pop. The download-to-own videos will be hitting Canada later this month with a different launch lineup.

The first wave of videos hitting the U.S. features 40 videos from a diverse sampling of artists including Chris Brown, OutKast, Michael Jackson and Foo Fighters.

I was already on the line about buying videos through the 360, so I'm not so sure I'm up for music videos on the system. But then again I don't really watch many music videos these days. Hit the jump for the full list of vids now available.

UK 360 Video Store Launching Next Week

While the rest of creation has since moved on to Guitar Hero III or Rock Band, there are still some Xbox 360 owners out there who prefer the great taste of Guitar Hero II, and to you Red Octane is sending out some love. The Indie Label Pack has just gone up on Xbox Live, featuring three songs from artists whose names are only vaguely familiar to me. . For the standard Guitar Hero DLC price of 500 Microsoft points, you'll get "State of Massachusetts" by Dropkick Murphys, "You Should Be Ashamed of Myself" by The Bled, and "Memories of the Grove" by Maylene & The Sons of Disaster. Of the three, Dropkick Murphys is the most vaguely familiar, and so they get a nice giant picture atop the article. The other two must try harder, and maybe next time you'll make it!

New Guitar Hero 2 Song Pack Hits Xbox Live [Shacknews]