Kotaku: Marketplace

Madden Demo Is Live...Oh, And FaceBreaker

Mike Fahey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:20:00 MDT

Time to get our big, brutish, manly hands on a small chunk of the latest installment of EA's Madden NFL franchise! The demo for Madden NFL 09 is up on Xbox Live, with it's presence on the PlayStation store imminent. It's 1.08 GB of pure football power, crafted lovingly the most skilled football artisans and doused with just enough sweaty locker room smell to make you nostalgic without making you nauseous. I've already started getting my own particular brand of football fever, having already purchased, played, and traded in NCAA to prepare for my impeding purchase, playing, and trading of Madden NFL 09. What can I say? There is only so much room in my life for football and football-related knowledge. For instance, as far as I know, the above screenshot depicts the Colts versus Radio Shack.

Oh, and a FaceBreaker demo is out too. Yay.

Demo: Madden NFL 09 And Guest [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Video Downloads Make Up A Third Of All XBL Transactions

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:20:00 MDT

Speaking with MCV during E3 a couple of weeks back, Microsoft's John Shappert has revealed that, of all paid downloads on their Xbox Live service, 1/3 of them are for TV show or movie downloads on the console's Video Marketplace. So. What does that actually mean? We don't know! Though we guess it shows the service is a lot more popular than most people figured. That or it shows how big a proportion of the 360's install base is American, what with the woeful state of everyone else's video marketplaces.

The X-Men [MCV]

Digital Distribution Nets EA $90 Million In Q1

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:00:14 MDT

Electronics Arts pulled in a cool $90 million in its first quarter, strictly from the digital distribution business. While the company saw a net loss of $95 million, as previously reported, bypassing retail channels to the tune of close to a hundred million must warm the cockles of John Riccitiello's heart, while sending waves of nausea through the guts of brick and mortar game shop types.

EA execs didn't break down the details on which distribution methods did how much, but with the company shilling via its online EA Store, as well as the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace, is has ample opportunities.

What we'd really like to know is exactly how much of that is downloadable Rock Band content versus paid-for unlockables in games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf and Need For Speed: Pro Street. Excel documents with that information forwarded to tips@ will be treated with the utmost discretion.

New Xbox Originals: Stubbs And Gauntlet

Mike Fahey — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:40:00 MDT

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

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:30:00 MDT

Poor Britain. Your 360 Video Marketplace, it was so late! And is still woefully understocked! What could possibly make amends for this? How about...uh, five Michael Jackson videos? Bad, Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat It and Black or White are all available, all for 200 points, and all - sadly for the legions of Macaulay Culkin fans in Ireland and the United Kingdom - all in standard definition. No, before you ask, I don't know why the hell they're there either.
Marketplace Roundup for May 1, 2008 [Microsoft]

More Original Programming For Xbox Live

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:20:00 MDT

You know James Gunn? Hollywood writer. Has some hits (Dawn of the Dead remake), and some misses (both Scooby-Doo movies). I bring him up not to torture you with memories of Freddie Prinze Jr in tight pants, but to tell you that he's currently looking for actors to star in some content he's putting together for the Xbox Live Video Marketplace. Maybe he's working with Peter Safran's company, maybe this is all-new content, we don't know. What I do know (I have visions, you see) is that the show will be about the "wacky adventures of a group of friends". And that this will not end well.
Original Xbox Live show after actors [Eurogamer]

COD4 Map Pack Hits Million Downloads in Record Time

Brian Crecente — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:20:00 MDT

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.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack Sets Xbox LIVE Marketplace Record
Surpasses One Million Paid Downloads in First Nine Days

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Apr 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) announced today that the Call of Duty 4(R): Modern Warfare(TM) Variety Map Pack, developed by Infinity Ward, has set a new record for the number of paid downloads on Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, surpassing one million downloads in the first nine days since its release. Additionally, from April 4 to April 12, Xbox LIVE members played more than 30 million sessions and logged more than 32 million hours of gameplay. Available exclusively for download via Xbox LIVE online entertainment network now through April 24, the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack expands the experience of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the worldwide best-selling game in units of 2007, according to The NPD Group, Chart Track and The GFK Group. Since its release, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has sold in excess of nine million units worldwide.

The Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack includes four new multiplayer maps featuring a variety of locations, while supporting split-screen and system link play for 800 Microsoft Points. The Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack will be available for download via the PlayStation Network beginning April 24 for $9.99.

"Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare delivers one of the best online multiplayer experiences ever," said Will Kassoy, senior vice president, global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. "We are excited to be able to expand that experience and deliver to fans a new variety of locations and environments which have all of the intensity they have come to expect with Call of Duty."

"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."

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

Voltron Episode Free On Xbox Video Marketplace

Mark Wilson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:00:00 MDT

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

Luke Plunkett — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:30:00 MDT

Microsoft have just signed a deal with the Safran Company, whereby the Hollywood production team will put together a series of 10-minute original, scripted (ie not reality TV) programs for the 360's video marketplace. Sure, Peter Safran himself has produced some shitty, shitty movies (Meet the Spartans, My Baby's Daddy), but he's got his own company now, so hopefully he won't be the one personally involved. And hey, even if they do suck, Microsoft's Scott Nocas has said it's only "the first of many" such deals. So, what can we expect? The New York Times reports:

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.

Tailored to the 360's core audience? Coming this fall: Fuck You, Cockmouth: The Teabag Chronicles. Only on Xbox 360.
Hollywood Producer Set to Make Shows for Xbox [NYT]

EA Charging For Bad Company Weapons?

Mike Fahey — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:40:21 MDT

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

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:30:00 MST

Seen the Robot Chicken Star Wars special yet? It's...OK. Some awful stuff, some stuff you've seen before, but Admiral Ackbar's cereal is always good for a chortle. I bring this up because it's now available on the Xbox Live Video Marketplace for 240 MS points (US-only, though, I'm afraid).

UK VIDEO MARKETPLACE - Good news, Britons: ...

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:15:00 MST

UK VIDEO MARKETPLACE - Good news, Britons: Paramount have signed onto the UK Video Marketplace, bringing with them films like Transformers (Feb 19) and Top Secret. Complementing Paramount's offerings is news Warner Bros. will also be adding more content, headlined by The Assassination of Jesse James, though their movies won't arrive until the Spring.

Rambo Theme Stumbles Onto Live, Falls Down, Breaks Hip

Mike Fahey — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:40:41 MST

One of the latest themes to hit the Xbox Live Marketplace is also your worst nightmare. Four giant pictures of Sylvester Stallone trying to reclaim his youth in the new Rambo film are now yours to download and proudly display on your Xbox 360 dashboard. The Live blade features dramatic explosion Rambo, with the Games blade featuring the same image sans explosion. The Media blade gives us a pretty good idea of how badly Rambo has aged and how hard it is to get a good haircut in Cambodia, and finally we have the System blade, which showcases some sort of 8th grader Rambo fan art circa 1985. While I would gladly pay $100 dollars for the privilege of having this on my 360, some idiot released it for free. Lost opportunities, huh?

Crystal Dynamics Dev Praises PSN

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:40:32 MST

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."

Cooper explains that the slow process of opening the constraints of Xbox Live by Microsoft makes the PSN, with games like Warhawk already available for full download, that much more attractive. He, like many of us, pictures a future where console games previously available only on retail shelves are readily downloadable by all, and GameStop employees fall into despair as the only customers they retain are internet-ignorant yokels who just come down the mountains for a little fun.

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

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

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:20:06 MST

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

Mark Wilson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:40:02 MST

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

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:20:00 MST

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

Brian Crecente — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:00:10 MST

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.

Alice In Chains
Man In The Box

Alicia Keys
No One

Audioslave
Original Fire

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Berlin (Tess Angus Edit)

Boys Like Girls
The Great Escape

Calle 13
Pa'l Norte

Chris Brown
Kiss Kiss

Chris Brown
Wall To Wall

Dave Matthews Band
Crush

Editors
An End Has A Start

Foo Fighters
Long Road To Ruin

Foo Fighters
Low

Franz Ferdinand
The Dark Of The MatinŽe

Good Charlotte
I Don't Wanna Be In Love

Incubus
Make A Move

Jessica Simpson
These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

Kings Of Leon
Charmer

Korn
Freak On A Leash

Michael Jackson
Thriller

Mudvayne
Death Blooms

OutKast
Hey Ya!

Ozzy Osbourne
I Don't Wanna Stop

Pearl Jam
Jeremy

R. Kelly featuring Ludacris and Kid Rock
Rock Star

Rage Against The Machine
Born Of A Broken Man

Rage Against The Machine
Vietnow

Red
Let Go

SAY ANYTHING
Baby Girl, I'm A Blur

Shakira
Hips Don't Lie (featuring Wyclef Jean)

System Of A Down
Hypnotize

T-Pain Featuring Yung Joc
Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')

T-Pain featuring Akon
Bartender

Tenacious D
Classico

Tenacious D
POD

The Fray
Over My Head (Cable Car)

The Offspring
(Can't Get My) Head Around You

The Pack
In My Car

Three Days Grace
Animal I Have Become

Three Days Grace
Never Too Late

Velvet Revolver
The Last Fight

UK 360 Video Store Launching Next Week

Mike Fahey — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:20:51 MST

Just in time for Christmas! Microsoft has announced that 360 owners in the United Kingdom and Ireland will soon be able to download and enjoy to varying extents full movies via Xbox Live Marketplace. The service, which has been going strong for quite some time here in the colonies, is set to go live on December 11th with a wide variety of films you've more than likely already seen. Enjoy classics like Risky Business and Superman III alongside new hits such as 300 and Zodiac. Ooo, they've even got Demolition Man, starring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock, with music by Sting! If you've never caught that masterpiece, you're in for a real treat. Movies in standard definition will run 250 Microsoft points, with HD at 380 points. Now you can finally experience the joy of starting a full HD movie download and then realizing when it finally finishes that you're no longer in the mood to watch it. Hooray!

Top Films To Arrive In Xbox 360TM Owners' Living Rooms This Christmas Movies such as 300, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Good German and much more available to download LONDON - 4 December 2007 - Following the huge success of Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace Video Store in the US, where it has changed the way Xbox 360™ owners view and enjoy video, Microsoft® today announced that Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store will open for business in the UK on 11th December.
Xbox 360 owners will be able to rent full-length films such as 300, The Good German, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from as little as 250 Microsoft Points (*ERP £2) for Standard Definition movies and from 380 Microsoft Points (*ERP £3.20 [1]) for High Definition movies. This is in addition to over 100 music videos currently available to download from partners Ministry of Sound, Sony BMG, PIAS and Vid Zone.

With this launch, Xbox LIVE Marketplace becomes the first video on demand service to be available in six countries - US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France and Germany - and cements its place as the worldwide leader in online distribution of high-definition gaming and entertainment content.

Robin Truchy, Director of Xbox LIVE for Europe, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division, commented: "Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store in Europe is all about adding to the ever-expanding number of entertainment choices that our consumers have on their Xbox 360. We want to give them the entertainment they want, in the format they want, when they want it and at an affordable price. We were already offering HD games, HD music videos and the option to enjoy HD-DVD format films, now we are offering HD movies to download and rent as well. This is very exciting for us and the consumer."

"Providing consumers with more choices and improving the movie experience at home is at the heart of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution's strategy and we're delighted to support Xbox Live for the European launch of their Video On Demand service" said Marc Gareton, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution Senior Vice President International." Microsoft has built a very successful platform, in both Standard Definition and High Definition, and we are happy to make it a home for our movies."

Arash Amel, Senior Analyst, Head of Broadband Media, Screen Digest, commented: "As Hollywood turns its attention towards selling digital copies of its blockbuster movies, the delivery of movie content over the open internet has become a key battleground for a broad range of service providers. Screen Digest predicts that the total European movie download market will be worth €350m by 2012, up from €17m in 2007[2]. The Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, as the first multi-territory hardware-based online movie delivery service in Europe, is expected to be a European market leader for movie downloads. Consumers in both the US and Europe have already made it abundantly clear that they are reluctant to watch two-hour long films on their PC, instead preferring to view them on personal devices or most preferably devices that can provide a link to their large-screen living room TVs and home entertainment systems."

Xbox 360 gamers in the launch countries can access Xbox Live Marketplace Video Store with either an Xbox Live Silver or Gold membership and a broadband connection. More information about the content available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store can be found at: www.xbox.com

Examples of Launch Titles on Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store[3]:

UK/Ireland
300
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
ZODIAC
MATRIX, THE
MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, THE
MATRIX RELOADED, THE
OCEAN'S ELEVEN
PERFECT STORM, THE
SWORDFISH
THREE KINGS
TRAINING DAY
FUGITIVE, THE
RISKY BUSINESS
SPACE COWBOYS
EYES WIDE SHUT
ANALYZE THIS
DEMOLITION MAN
ERASER
EXECUTIVE DECISION
LETHAL WEAPON 3
LETHAL WEAPON 4
LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION
MARS ATTACKS!
CLASH OF THE TITANS
SUPERMAN III
DEAD CALM
-Ends-

GHII Gets Xbox Live Indie Lovin'

Mike Fahey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:20:25 MST

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]

PES 2008 Hits North American Xbox Live

Mike Fahey — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:20:28 MDT

Well this is going to confuse more than a few Americans who don't quite get the whole football VS football thing. The PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) 2008 demo is up now on the North American branch of Xbox Live Marketplace, and it is listed as "A stunningly real, breathtakingly beautiful football game!" Even with the tiny pack shot proclaiming it as soccer for the football impaired, I'm sure more than a few casual Xbox Live users will download this demo only to be confused by the fact that the team is made up entirely of kickers with nary a wide receiver in sight. I am downloading the 1.18 GB demo as we speak, hoping that this will be the footie game that finally gets the sport to click with my brain.

Disney Floods Live Video Marketplace

Brian Crecente — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:00:13 MDT

Gamescore Blog reports that twenty Disney movies will be hitting the Live Video Marketplace this week as well as some new television shows and a hodgepodge of other films.

Among the movies are Pocahontas, The Sword in the Stone, Treasure Planet, The Black Cauldron, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Chronicles of Narnia, Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror, The Wiggles: Getting Strong, The Village, Flightplan, Blades of Glory, Under the Tuscan Sun, Casanova, The Cell, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

New episodes of Exes and Ohs, America's Most Smartest Model, Mega Disasters, Digging for the Truth, I Love New York Season 2, and Shot of Love with Tila Tequila are also popping up.

Seems like good timing, with all of the holidays around the corner, now is the time to pack the video playlist.

New Shows Coming to Xbox LIVE Marketplace in US [Gamescore Blog]

Thursday's Forecast Calls For Bladestorm

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:20:08 MDT

The Hundred Years' War is getting an early head start as Koei announces the playable demo for Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War hitting Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network this Thursday. Players will be able to experience war on a scale previously unattainable, thanks to a brand-new game engine made possible by the power of the current consoles. Kingdom Under Fire whet my appetite for the action RTS, so I have really high hopes for Bladestorm. Check back on Thursday to see if Koei breaks my heart or keeps hope alive.

PES2008 Demo Hits Europe

Mike Fahey — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:15:21 MDT

And suddenly downloads of the Fifa 2008 demo in Europe drop like a stone, as Pro Evo 2008's demo hits Xbox Live Marketplace. Weighing in at a healthy 1.18GB, the demo is available everywhere fine Xbox Live players are found, with the exception of North America and Asia, because North Americans don't appreciate the sport enough and both call it Winning Eleven instead of the proper PES. I really wish I could say more, but I just don't follow the sport. Otherwise I'd make some witty, team-specific comment or something that would cause some sort of comment-brawl. My exposure to soccer is limited to high school PE, where the upper classmen used it as an excuse to repeatedly kick the lower classmen in the junk. Here's hoping PES 2008 is better than a kick in the sack!

Viva Piñata: Party Animals Demo

Mike Fahey — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:00:00 MDT

Those wacky pinatas are back and ready to party! Have you got 971MB of hard disk space left on your Xbox 360? If so, the Viva Piñata: Party Animals demo is now available to fill both it and your heart with all the joy and rapture living paper statues filled with candy can muster. Enjoy a selection of mini-games and races that will give you just a taste of what you'll be getting once the full game hits late next month. The demo supports 1-4 players, so get together your family and friends and get them all excited to play, only to have their hearts crushed when the demo ends. If anything it's something for all you Halo 3 fans to do until Tuesday, or your eBay copies arrive.

Demo: Viva Piñata Party Animals [Major Nelson's Blog]

Xbox 360 By The Numbers

Mike Fahey — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:40:18 MDT

With Halo 3 just around the corner, Microsoft has released a boatload of statistics regarding the state of Xbox Live and the 360, perhaps as a way to take a snapshot of before and after the game's gigantic launch week. The stats cover everything from Xbox Live play hours (3.2 billion, or 376,000 years), Xbox Live content downloads (over 290 million), games sold per console (6.3 on average), and just oodles more. The most interesting thing to me is that before this console generation, most of these stats didn't even apply to gaming consoles, so aside from being a big opportunity for Microsoft to pat themselves on their backs, it's an interesting look at how the face of console gaming has changed over the past few years. Hit the jump for all the numbers!

Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE Momentum Facts 'n Stats
Leadership: Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are leading the charge into the future of gaming and entertainment, bringing the best games, an active community and a growing catalogue of high definition entertainment to all members of the household.

* More than 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles have sold across the 37 countries where it is currently available. Xbox LIVE is currently available in 25 countries across the globe.

· According to U.S. NPD data, gamers have bought more software for the Xbox 360 (24.3 million units), than software for PS3 and Wii combined (19.8 million units).

* Faster than expected, Xbox LIVE has eclipsed the 7 million member milestone and is on track to reach 10 million members by the end of June 2008. In fact, in the last year we've added a new Xbox LIVE member every 8 seconds.

Gaming: With the greatest lineup in the history of video games, Xbox 360 is hands down the best gaming console on the market.

* There are more than 250 games available today on Xbox 360, including 86 Xbox LIVE Arcade games.

* Xbox 360 is the next-gen console with the largest games attach rate at an astounding 6.3 games sold per Xbox 360 owner.

* Xbox LIVE members have spent more than 3.2 billion hours playing games on Xbox LIVE with their friends around the world. That is equal to 137 million days or more than 376,000 years of gaming.

* To date, Xbox 360 owners have unlocked more than 600 million Achievements. All of those unlocked Achievements have created a total combined Gamerscore of more than 14 billion.

* There have been 2.5 billion game sessions hosted since the launch of Xbox 360, with more than 5.6 million hosted each day so far in 2007.

* Xbox LIVE Arcade has been a huge hit on Xbox 360, with nearly 70% of all connected consoles downloading and playing Xbox LIVE Arcade titles.

* Xbox LIVE Marketplace currently offers nearly 200 free trials and demos, giving owners more free playable content than any other console.

Entertainment: Xbox 360 is the center of digital entertainment in the living room, offering the best in high definition games, movies and television along with access to all your friends, digital music and pictures.

* Xbox 360 continues to lead with the largest library of on-demand high-definition movies and television in the U.S. on-demand market. Twenty-nine movie studios and TV networks continue to provide a growing catalogue of premium high- and standard-definition entertainment content that to date totals 2,800 hours.

* Xbox LIVE Marketplace is now the leading provider of on-demand high-definition content in the U.S., providing more than twice the number of hours as leading cable operators.

* Xbox LIVE Marketplace is home to a growing catalogue of more than 9,000 pieces of individual gaming and entertainment content, downloadable at the click of a button.

* There have been 290 million downloads of gaming and entertainment content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace

Social Networking: Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE offer the largest, most active online community of friends, family and rivals worldwide.

* Xbox LIVE is the largest social network in the living room with 2.6 million IM, text and voice messages sent over the service every day.

* Since Xbox LIVE launched, 3.1 billion games sessions have been hosted on the service.

* The average Xbox LIVE Gold subscriber has 23 friends on their Xbox LIVE friends list.

* More than 1.2 billion cross-game invites have been sent since the launch of Xbox 360.

Xbox LIVE Top 10: Check out the list of the top 10 games played over Xbox LIVE, as well as the top 10 worldwide downloads for Xbox LIVE Arcade and Xbox LIVE Marketplace Demos since Xbox 360 launched in November, 2006.

The top 10 games played over Xbox LIVE worldwide:

1. Halo 2
2. Gears of War
3. Hexic HD
4. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
5. Call of Duty 3
6. Call of Duty 2
7. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 3
8. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion
9. Crackdown
10. PGR3

The top 10 Xbox LIVE Arcade downloads worldwide:

11. Aegis Wing
12. Uno
13. Texas Hold 'em
14. Geometry Wars Retro Evolved
15. Bankshot Billiards 2
16. Street Fighter 'II Hyper Fighting
17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
18. Worms
19. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
20. Contra

The top 10 Xbox LIVE Marketplace Demos downloads worldwide:

1. Crackdown
2. Lost Planet E3 2006
3. Dead Rising
4. BioShock
5. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
6. Forza Motorsport 2
7. Sonic the Hedgehog
8. Saints Row
9. Superman Returns
10. Colin McRae: DIRT

New Guitar Hero II Song Pack Tomorrow

Mike Fahey — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:40:26 MDT

Three more songs are being added to the Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II lineup tomorrow morning at 2AM Pacific, once again for the bargain basement or entirely too expensive price of 500 Microsoft points, depending on where you stand on that issue. The three new tracks consist of:
Trivium - Detonation
Atreyu - Right Side of the Bed
Protest the Hero - Bury the Hatchet
I won't pretend to know any of those songs. If you do, get all excited and call me out for my lack of musical knowledge. If you don't, side with me and together we can bring these music know-it-alls to heel for once and for all!

New DLC Pack for Guitar Hero II - 360! [ScoreHero - Thanks Eddie]

GRAW2 Throwback Pack 2 On Live

Mike Fahey — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:30:08 MDT

I really love the concept of the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 throwback packs, which take classic maps from old Ghost Recon titles and port them for use in GRAW2. The second of said packs is now available for download via Xbox Live Marketplace for the low, low price of free. The pack not only contains seven classic GR maps for use in multiplayer, but also comes with a whole new game mode. Co-op Exfiltration is a co-op game mode that challenges your squad to protect AI officers as they try to reach a helicopter extraction zone. Did I mention it was free? Hit the jump for details on all seven maps included in this lovely little slice of free DLC.

MEDIA ALERT: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2 - *DLC - Throwback Pack 2 Available Now on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace!*
SAN FRANCISCO - August 28, 2007 - Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, today announced release of the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2 Throwback Pack 2, a new downloadable content (DLC) package for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. This new premium content package will enrich and extend the original game by allowing players to expand their Xbox LIVE experience with an all-new game mode and seven fan-favorite maps hand-selected from past Ghost Recon® games. As a special thank you to the devoted Ghost Recon fans, Ubisoft is offering both Throwback Pack 2 and the previously released Throwback Pack 1, now available via the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for free download. Take a look below for an outline of the full contents of the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Throwback Pack 2:

Content available in the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Throwback Pack 2:

GRAW 2 Throwback Pack 2 consists of seven classic maps from Ghost Recon's illustrious history. In addition to the seven maps, there is a new game mode called Co-op Exfiltration. All of these maps have upgraded visuals and support all of GRAW 2's thousands of customizable game modes.

Game Modes:

Co-op Exfiltration:

In Coop Exfiltration mode, players must work together to protect AI officers as they escort them to a helicopter extraction zone through a map populated with enemies.

Maps:

Ghost Town

Previous Ghost Recon Title: Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike®

Recommended # of Players: 2 to 8

Overview:

A rural North Korean village surrounds a temple courtyard. Narrow streets and back alleys make for intense close-quarters battles.

Aral Sea

Previous Ghost Recon Title: Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike

Recommended # of Players: 4 to 12

Overview:

This map is a forgotten harbor village on the coast of a vast, empty sea. Grounded ships provide sparse cover on the dried seabed dividing the map. The shelter of the docks above makes this map a favorite with marksmen.

District

Previous Ghost Recon Title: Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike

Recommended # of Players: 8 to 16

Overview:

This map is a government district of a large Kazakh city. Open city streets make for long-range firefights, while winding alleys create flanking opportunities.

Bunkers

Previous Ghost Recon Title: Ghost Recon 2

Recommended # of Players: 4 to 12

Overview:

Training grounds feature several simulated bunker complexes divided by open ground with intermittent cover. Players must move quickly from cover to cover to avoid marksmen in the firing positions above.

Rocky Cove

Previous Ghost Recon Title: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Recommended # of Players: 4 to 12

Overview:

This is a coastal area, featuring tidal pools and an imposing central promontory. Beaches are littered with large rocks, and long sight lines invite marksmen to test their skill.

Boneyard

Previous Ghost Recon Title: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Recommended # of Players: 2 to 8

Overview:

This is a vehicle graveyard, with rusting aircraft parts and scrap metal piled all around. Tight quarters ensure no one is ever far from the action.

River Depot

Previous GR Title: Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter

Recommended # of Players: 6 to 12 players

Overview:

This is an old, abandoned storage facility, overrun by the surrounding jungle and repurposed for military use. Deteriorating railways run the length of the map, connecting two gates on higher ground to a warehouse near the river.

For more information on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, please visit www.ghostrecon.com.

Blazing Angels 2 Demo On Live

Mike Fahey — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 09:20:44 MDT

The original Blazing Angels completely failed to capture my interest, which is odd considering I've long been facinated by the history of aviation and warfare. Perhaps Ubisoft can capture my attention the second time around with Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of World War II. A demo of the game has just gone up on Xbox Live, and according to some early players over at Major Nelson's Blog it contains the most excite example of leaflet dropping you've ever seen in an air combat game. The 619MB download includes multiplayer dogfighting as well as single player gameplay, so if all else fails you'll get to kill a few people. Just remember to be courteous and wait for my download to finish before starting yours!

Demo: Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII [Major Nelson's Blog]

360 Skate Demo Delayed

Mike Fahey — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:20:51 MDT

Yeah, so about that Skate demo for the Xbox 360 I told you about the other day that was scheduled for the 15th of this month? Isn't happening. In a post on the EA forums, Executive Producer Scott Blackwood explains that overly-ambitious features are pushing the demo back by several days, though not more than a week.

The thing is: the skate.reel video upload functionality is much more technically complex than a standard offline demo. So after submitting it to MS, we got blindsided by a technical (server related) issue we needed to address. Unfortunately it wasn't really something that could have been avoided - just an unfortunate side-effect of doing something totally new in a demo environment.

Of course the forum-goers have been nothing but understanding. "what a sh*t company to pull out and have screw ups like this... thats totally unprofessional... " See? Hit the link and feel the love.

Demo Timing Announcement [Skate Forums via Destructoid]
image courtesy of Gotcha

Free F.E.A.R. Maps 4 U

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:40:43 MDT

F.E.A.R. may be the Xbox 360's least talked about first-person shooter these days, what with the BioShock demo blessing Marketplace with its presence. That doesn't mean that Vivendi has forgotten its legion/smattering of F.E.A.R. fans, however, as a totally free new multiplayer map pack has made its way to Xbox Live today. There's a promise of "lush vegetation", a "dilapidated building" and "twisting tunnels" that will make the download easy to visualize while you wait for everyone to wrap up securing the BioShock demo.

Sorry continent of Asia and country of Mexico, but you guys and gals are barred from this free multiplayer fun.

EA Makes Skate Date - 360 Demo Coming

Mike Fahey — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:00:50 MDT

EA's entry into the Tony Hawk dominated skateboarding genre can't be contained by just one release date, so Electronic Arts has spread the love across four of them. The Xbox 360 version will be rolling into US stores on the 12th of September, with the UK version dropping two days later on the 14th. Then the US PlayStation 3 version will come waltzing in, easy as you please on the 24th in the states, with the UK release scheduled for October 2nd. I suppose in some circles this could be viewed as an Xbox 360 timed exclusive, but those circles are petty and short-sighted. What does seem to be exclusive on the 360 is the downloadable demo available on the 15th of this month via Xbox Live Marketplace, giving owners of the Microsoft console some idea of whether or not they should cancel their preorders. I'd like to think the demo will foster cooperation between owners of the two consoles, with the 360 fans reaching out to the PS3 owners with helpful tips and encouragement. *hides in bunker til smoke clears*

EA'S AWARD-WINNING SKATE VIDEO GAME ROLLS ONTO RETAIL SHELVES IN SEPTEMBER Download the Demo on Xbox Live Marketplace on August 15 to Experience True Skateboarding Action Before It Hits Stores
CHERTSEY, UK. - August 3, 2007 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced that its award-winning SKATE video game will ship to retail stores on September 12 in the U.S. and September 14 in Europe for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. The PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system version will ship to stores on September 24 in the U.S. and October 5 in Europe. For players eager to get their hands on the game pre-launch, EA will release a SKATE demo on Xbox Live Marketplace on August 15 so players can experience first-hand the title's groundbreaking new gameplay style - a new way of playing skateboarding games that will invigorate the genre.

The downloadable demo features tutorials and gameplay challenges in San Vanelona's community center skatepark to introduce gamers to SKATE's revolutionary Flickit controls. The demo also includes the innovative skate.reel feature where gamers can capture video footage of their skate session at any time during the demo and share the footage online at www.skate.ea.com for other players to view, rate and comment on.

In the game, everything you do works towards getting you coverage in two of skateboarding's premiere magazines - Thrasher and The Skateboard Mag. Coverage also means sponsors, product, money and fame. Become a legend by getting the covers and you'll earn a coveted invitation to skate in the X Games - the world's top skateboarding competition. You'll be able to throw down on the street course and go huge in the Skateboard Big Air event, innovated and dominated by two time gold medalist Danny Way.

SKATE recently received the "Best Sports Game of E3 - IGN Xbox 360" award at the E3 tradeshow in Santa Monica. SKATE was also one of only four games nominated for Best Sports game for the "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2007". The judges for this award included editors from the 36 leading videogame publications in the industry.

With innovative Flickit controls that take advantage of the dual analog sticks and the ability to sculpt tricks that define your own style, SKATE delivers an authentic boarding mecca like no other videogame. SKATE is developed by EA Black Box in Vancouver, British Columbia and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB and 12+ by PEGI.

Fatal Intertia Demo Live

Mike Fahey — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:20:43 MDT

They could have just called it Dead Stop, but they had to go and get all fancy on us. A demo for Koei's take on the futuristic racer (read: Wipeout) genre is now up on Xbox Live Marketplace. Weighing in at a modest 380MB, the demo features three different race types in a canyon environment. I've already downloaded and screwed around a bit, and what I've seen isn't too shabby. Not as much of a sense of speed as I would like but certainly worth a look if you're a fan of the genre.

Forza 2 DLC Goes Live August 1, Sponsored By Nissan

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:20:00 MDT

The first batch of downloadable content for Turn 10 Studios' Forza Motorsport 2 will be available to download just hours from now, scheduled to hit Xbox Live at 2 AM PDT late tonight/early tomorrow morning. The first pack is free and features three Nissan rides, the 2007 Sentra SE-R, Altima, and 350Z. Slightly less attractive for Microsoft Point misers is the Peugeot 908 race car which one can download from the Xbox Live Marketplace for 50 MS points, about 63 cents. Whatta bargain!

Further details, including info on some upcoming Nissan sponsored contests, at the official site.

Nissan Brings 2007 Cars to Forza Motorsport 2 [Forza Motorsport 2]

Resident Evil 5 In Still Life

Mike Fahey — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:40:32 MDT

Now that the extended Resident Evil 5 trailer is safely ensconced on both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Store, Capcom has released fourteen screenshots from it so those of you without the ability to download it can pretend you already did and you're just on pause. Virtual pause technology is just one of the many innovations Capcom has in store for you with Resident Evil 5. Capcom: Innovation is job 1, probably.

Test Drive Unlimited Pack Five Live

Mike Fahey — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:20:53 MDT

Atari's support for the large community of folks who enjoy just randomly driving around in Test Drive Unlimited of the Xbox 360 is still going strong, if the latest vehicle pack is any indicator. The fifth such pack since the game was released back in September of last year, this time around drivers will get to download and purchase in-game the Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Coupe, Dodge Charger Super Bee, Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, Ferrari 512 TR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R, and the Spyker C8 Spyder, all for 350 Microsoft points. The Charger is worth the price of admission in my opinion. As is tradition, the release of the pack also heralds a new completely free car, the Holden Efijy Concept, seen above. Not a bad little stable of vehicles to add to the 90+ already in the game. Hit the gallery below for multiple shots of all the new rides!

Bungie Day Starts Tomorrow, Free Goodies Promised

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:20:22 MDT

Apparently, tomorrow (07/07/07) is Bungie Day, which is now horribly embarrassing as I forgot to pick up Shoebox brand Bungie Day cards featuring hilarious situations involving a sweating Cathy for just about every Bungie fan I know. Fortunately, Bungie themselves remembered and are giving away something Bungie related to Xbox 360 owners tomorrow... and tomorrow only! Starting at 12:01 AM on July 7, a handful of non-Halo 3 related goodies will appear on Bungie.net and the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Bungie urges that we temper our excitement as they aren't going to be handing out double top secret Halo 3 beta keys or anything—"think something of a more decorative nature" they say—so I expect some nice themes or gamerpics to show up soon. Whatever they are, you'll only have 24 hours to get 'em.

It may not be huge, but securing them will at the very least say to the world "I was logged into Xbox Live one Saturday and cared enough to download these." I'm really hoping this giveaway contains at least one Luke Smith beard gamerpic.

Bungie Day Extravaganza [Bungie.net]

Heavy Gamers Buy, Play The Most

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:20:01 MDT

The NPD Group has issued a profile on the buying and gaming habits of 11,638 games in its "Gamer Segmentation II" report, providing a detailed cross-sectional analysis of the 191 million estimated US gamers. In it, we learn that the group that buys the most, dubbed "Heavy Gamers" are also the smallest demographic. This isn't our hobby's portliest, mind you, just the ones who have the most impressive/scary gaming habits.

According to Gamespot's summation of the report, the Heavy Gamer market makes up just 2% of the gamer population, but buys at an impressive average rate of 4.5 games per month and plays just shy of 40 hours a week. They game like it's going out of style. The Heavy Gamer group also happens to be the subset that does the most online purchases, leading the pack with Virtual Console, Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store downloads.

Seriously, how do you guys find the time? I'm lucky if I can squeeze in an hour a day anymore.

Additional data and insight is available at the Gamespot report.

NPD: Heavy gamers heaviest spenders [Gamespot]

New F.E.A.R. Multiplayer Modes Released

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:40:44 MDT

A new update has been added to the Xbox Live Marketplace, giving F.E.A.R. owners a pair of new multiplayer modes for the Monolith developed first person shooter. The new multiplayer modes are Control and Conquer All and will work with all currently available maps.

Vivendi describes them as such:

In Control there are 3 control points on a map. Your team gains points based on the amount of time a control point is in their possession—the more control points your team has the faster your team gains points. The team with the most points at the end of the round wins.
In Conquer All there are 5 control points on the map. If either team can hold all 5 points at one time they win. If no team can control all 5 points simultaneously then the winning team is decided by points. Teams get 10 points for each control point taken, 10 points for each enemy point neutralized and 1 point for each kill.

There are other updates included with the 120 MB download, including making F.E.A.R. "compatible with new maps that will be made available for purchase throughout the summer." Taste the compatibility! Michael McWhertor

F.E.A.R.: Control and Conquer All Map Pack (Free) - Updated [Major Nelson]

Sony's Online Gambit

Brian Crecente — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:00:56 MDT

By: Brian Crecente

The Xbox Live Arcade wasn't just what helped define the Xbox 360, the Xbox 360 defined what gamers and developers thought of downloadable titles.

They were, according to the 360, smaller, less fully featured games, sometimes retro titles, that sold for much less than a full game. And for the most part Nintendo followed suit when their Wii came to market.

But Sony had a different idea in mind, and now they have an uphill battle as they try to redefine what downloadable games mean to both the people who play the games and those who make them.

"The assumptions you laid out are correct," Peter Dille, Sony Computer Entertainment's Senior Vice President of Marketing, told me in a recent interview. "Because Live has been around for awhile people assumed that Sony would create a service that has checked the box in every case, if Microsoft is doing something we will too, but we are doing a lot of things differently. "

Chief among them is what sorts of games make it to the Playstation Store. While the store is already home to the sorts of demos and short-play experience games that you find on the 360's Arcade, soon it will also be home to a pair of titles that will be instrumental in Sony's battle to reshape how people think of downloadable games.

"Live Arcade offers something for people who want a certain thing," Dille said. "But a lot of the products you have seen on arcade are 'been there, done that', some feel like PC shareware practically. Our strategy was to develop games specifically for the PS3 that would show off our console."

"The games you play via Live Arcade, are those really next gen games? We are using an online distribution network in a very different way, we are not delivering yesterday's games. Online can be many things, but when it is used as a distribution vehicle it shouldn't change the game design."

While you could argue that games like Blast Factor, which plays in 1080p, and flOw, which supports the SIXAXIS motion controls, aren't really that different than games like Geometry Wars Retro Evolved, that argument starts to fall apart when you look at the Playstation Store's upcoming line-up which includes Warhawk, SOCOM: Confrontation and Pain.

In Pain, gamers have to launch a character imbued with rag-doll physics into a cityscape where they inflict damage to both the environment and the person they've just launched from a giant slingshot. While the basic game seems to include enough features to give it quite a bit of life, developer Idol Minds plans to release periodic content for the game to expand both how and where you play the game.

"Pain shows off the Playstation 3 and lends itself to episodic content delivery," Dille said.

To me, Pain represents perhaps a half step forward in online distributed console games, but Warhawk and SOCOM, they represent a leap. Both games promise to feature robust online environments, large multiplayer gatherings and both the graphics and mechanics of a game you'd expect to find sitting on a store shelf, rather than available for download from an online store. But when news first hit that Warhawk was going to be a downloadable game, most gamers seemed to view that as a step down for the title.

"We didn't make any announcement about Warhawk, all of these expectations were based on rumor or innuendo," Dille said. "We clarified our strategy at Gamer's Day."

Not only did they confirm that Warhawk would be an online-only downloadable title, but they also unveiled another interesting twist on Sony's take on Playstation Store games, that the game would also be available in stores. The Blu-Ray version will be a sort of Director's Cut or Special Edition of the Warhawk purchased online. It will come with a slew of behind the scenes and making of videos as well as a Bluetooth headset. While not yet finalized, Dille said the same will likely be true for SOCOM: Confrontation when it comes out.

"We want to use the network store to offer choice, if you don't want to leave your couch or get in your car you can just download it," Dille said. "We give people a choice and give our retail partners a chance to participate in Warhawk."

While I still think Sony faces an uphill battle in changing the notion of what a downloadable game is, Dille believes they've already won over gamers and developers.

"I think gamers got it before (last month's) Gamers Day," he said. "Six months in we had about one million seven hundred thousand users online," Dille said. Six million pieces of content have been downloaded since the launch. "We feel like people got it. We think our 44 percent attach rate will ramp up very, very quickly, as more people understand what we are doing and with the coming of Home."

"Internally, people are very, very excited about developing for the network. We are seeing a ton of great products coming for the PSN," he said. "I think there has been an education process. Our third party partners had certain assumptions about what we would offer on the PSN. They probably didn't start imagining what they could do. Did any of them imagine we would be developing games like flOw or Pain? Now we're evangelizing a different type of experience."

One that is different from the 360, in part, because of differences in the two consoles' hardware, Dille says.

"We happen to have a hard disk drive in every Playstation 3.," he said. Microsoft "is selling to a fragmented user base. We can talk to the developers and say there are no limitations on what you make for us."

And changing gamers' and developers' preconceived notions of what makes a downloadable title is just the beginning for Sony, their next big nut to crack is true episodic content.

"I don't think anyone has done episodic content in gaming well," Dille said. "Currently episodic content means delivering content periodically. Whether or not it has that story line is the missing ingredient. When you contrast that to things like TV with Lost and the Sopranos. I think as an industry we haven't tapped (episodic content) yet. We want to get people to stand around the water cooler and talk about games they way they talk about TV, 'Did you install the latest content of this game that explained a plot or cliff hanger?'"

"You have to separate a distribution vehicle from a game experience."