The demo will allow players to mess around with the game's terrain deformation, the key gameplay mechanic that separates Fracture from all of those other shooters flooding the market.

Fracture is set in the year 2161 in a U.S. that has been split in two by years of environmental neglect. The country's warring factions, the Atlantic Alliance and Pacifican States, fight it out using terrain shifting tech and lots of guns.

The demo will let you use terrain deformation to create cover in shoot-outs and solve puzzles.

"More Than a Feeling" (Master)
"Peace of Mind" (Master)
"Smokin'" (Master)
"Rock & Roll Band" (Master)
"Something About You" (Master)
"Hitch a Ride" (Master)

Individual songs will cost $1.99 each with the whole back going for $9.99. I'm already getting my fingers all fired up for More Than a Feeling which was a major song of my youth. If you are a Boston fan these tracks will be a definite must have. The pack hits XBL and PSN March 25.

DLC Week: March 25th - Boston Pack [Rock Band Forums - Thanks, Kevin]

Oh, and it's FREE as a St. Patty's Day promotion.

-Bluecell

And at worse... well check out some of the links to listen to more examples of what has me leaving my headset in the box. I couldn't make it more than a couple of minutes into them and I already feel stupider.

Arguing Over Halo 2 Game
"You couldn't even get laid laughing like that, stupid bitch."

My Drunk Ass on Xbox Live
"I can't remember where you live but I'll kick your ass."

Crazy Guy on Xbox Live
"I don't need fucking Ritalin, Ass Monkey!"

I haven't even tried the camera. I just have too many itchy places that I like to scratch when I'm alone.

The sharp eyes over at IGN have spotted what may be a juicy bit of news over on the Devil May Cry 4 fansite. If you click on the option to download a DMC4 widget, the site loads up an example picture which shows that the demo for the game will be hitting the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on January 31.

Of course, as IGN also points out, this could just be bad placeholder text for the widget example. But with the game hitting just a week into February it doesn't seem like too far a stretch for that demo date to be right.

DMC4 Demo Dated? [IGN]

He told me a bit earlier today that they are all over the Live issues, "we have had all hands on deck." He also pointed out that he's now using Twitter to keep readers of his site up-to-date on the current status of repairs.

26 minutes ago: Even though things are working, the teams are still hard at work to ensure things stay that way! 2 hours ago: I think I need to take e to lunch today. 2 hours ago: BTW: Account Recovery is working much better now. Give it a try. 2 hours ago: No, installing 'fatter pipes' won't have helped the issues we were having. 2 hours ago: Getting a lot of messages from people telling me LIVE Is working well for them. Great to hear. 2 hours ago: No, most of the staff is not away for the Holiday. They are right here, working on any issues.

Hopefully we'll hear that the repairs and fixes have been shored up soon. It will be interesting to hear what actually caused the problems. I suspect the influx of new accounts over the holidays didn't help.

Major Nelson

Skyluss, a member of pro-gaming Team vBi, reported over the weekend that his Xbox Live account has been hacked... again. Apparently the hacker was a little envious of the Recon Armor Bungie had bestowed upon Skyluss and decided to take it for a spin him or herself.

The Halo 3 gamer writes in the vBi forums that he thinks this latest hack wasn't a product of social hacking (i.e. sweet-talking a password out of a stupid customer support person) but a genuine security flaw in Microsoft's Live service.

Skyluss says he's changed the passwords on his account three times in the past month so he's sure it's not an issue of someone having his password. Whether it is a security flaw in the system or an issue with customer support the bottom line is that there is a problem, one that I hope Microsoft is on top of.

I emailed XBL Director Larry Hryb to see if Skyluss high-profile account problems are being investigated, as the gamer was told after receiving a whole lot of run around and not a lot of answers. Hyrb told me that their security team has indeed launched an investigation and that he has been in touch with the gamer personally.

My Gift, My Curse [Team VBI, thanks Christopher]

Just minutes after the Halo 3 map packs were supposed to hit, and hadn't quite yet, we had already received an email from a very antsy and very agitated Halo fan. So it's probably worthwhile to note that the Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack is now available.

The pack, which was recently shown off by Red Vs. Blue, features three new maps with endless customization possibilities.

Standoff's symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat's Nest's vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the "Halo" multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map - players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

The pack will set you back 800 points if you get it now or nothing if you are willing to wait until this coming spring.

For those who'd like to add a bit of sexual objectification to your otherwise very healthy, loving and mutually-respectful relationship, this feisty garment will run you $13.

ACHIEVEMENT LOCKED UNDERWEAR [via playgadgets]

Given that they also said the attachment rate is reaching an average of 6-7 XBLA titles per user, we're a bit confused by all the numbers at the moment. Either those 25 45 million downloads are arcade title exclusive, or that 6-7 title figure is inflated and based upon only the most current users. We have an email out to Microsoft and will let you know if the numbers start making more sense.

UPDATE: We've talked to Microsoft PR. The real number is actually 45 million Xbox Live downloads.

Gamefest 2007: 25M Downloads on XBL [1up]

Name: FEAR Nightmare Pack Price: 500 Points Availability: Not available in Asia or Mexico Dash Details: Can't get enough F.E.A.R.? Then grab this map-pack loaded with 4 brand new multiplayer maps. For Conquer All and CTF fans, Heliport gives you close quarters combat with an enemy waiting in every corner while Spill Kill offers cramped sewers and open spill ways for non-stop action. Deathmatch or Control fans, prepare to fight it out in a large abandoned mental institution, in Asylum, and feast on hot-lead in Cafeteria.

FEAR Nightmare Pack [Major Nelson]

Wolfmother Game with Fame Session Announced [Talk Xbox]

On June 11th (and just in time for Pride), XBL will be the first gaming console to offer programs from Logo, the network for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender audience. Interestingly enough, earlier in the month, on June 6th, XBLwill offer shows from CMT (Country Music Television). This is fantastic for gay cowboy gamers, which I am sure exist, and probably have a forum somewhere. There are forums for everything these days. Kim Phu

Broad range of New Content Coming on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the Television and Movie Download Service with Something for Everyone

Xbox 360 becomes the first gaming console to offer content from Logo, MTV Networks' channel for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender audience; top anime distributors and CMT, the nation's #1 country music network

With 7,000 pieces of gaming and entertainment content and counting, Xbox LIVE Marketplace continues to grow as the only online service that offers high definition movies and TV shows for download. This June, the catalogue of content gets even better. With more than 15 entertainment partners, Xbox LIVE offers U.S. members at any age or gender a diverse array of great programming at the click of a button.

After having huge success on Xbox LIVE Marketplace with content from MTV, Comedy Central and VH1, this month MTV Networks is bringing two more properties to the service:

Country Music Television. On June 6, country music fans on Xbox LIVE will enjoy a great lineup of TV shows from CMT, the #1 country music network in the nation. Fans can download the first seasons of hit shows such as, "Comedy Stage," "Foxworthy's Big Night Out" and "Prankville" starting tomorrow, with more series and episodes rolling out this summer.
Logo. On June 11, Xbox 360 will become the first gaming console to offer content from Logo, the network for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender audience from MTV Networks. Xbox LIVE will offer a bevy of popular Logo shows, from comedies "Wisecrack," and "The Big Gay Sketch Show," to scripted dramas like "Noah's Arc," and other programs including, "Curl Girls" and "Real Momentum Documentaries."

Beginning June 12, two of the biggest anime distributors in the US will join current Xbox LIVE partner ADV Films with popular shows, movies, gamer pics and themes, making LIVE Marketplace an unparalleled online source for quality anime content:

FUNimation. The epic adventure series "Samurai 7," adapted from Akira Kurosawa's legendry film "Seven Samurai," is coming to Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Also coming from FUNimation: "Trinity Blood," "Gunslinger Girl," and "Basilisk."
Geneon Entertainment. Die-hard fans and those new to the genre alike will enjoy the U.S. HD debut of the anime classic "Akira," available exclusively from Geneon on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Also available from Geneon Entertainment at launch: "Gun Sword," "Last Exile," "Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Lupin the 3rd."

June will also bring award-winning films and blockbuster hits to Xbox LIVE Marketplace, starting with 'Team America World Police,' which launched in HD on the service on June 1st. Other top new films coming this month include:

Dreamgirls
Letters from Iwo Jima
Shooter
Black Snake Moan
Pan's Labyrinth

For a full list of new content launching each week, visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/moviestv.

Microsoft is demanding exclusive content and hands-on participation from the artists involved. "We don't want the same thing that is going out on MTV," Microsoft director of music marketing Christina Calio said.

The first band up on the chopping block is a band called Maximo Park (aren't they adorable? I just love a group of men who have such a clear defiance of shampoo) and their first single will be available for free on Xbox Live. I've listened to it. It's. Well. It's definitely music. Kim Phu

Microsoft Starts Ignition for Music Promotion [Reuters]

In the business world of Hollywood, Xbox Live gamertags are becoming the new business card. In a rather intriguing article on Variety.com, writer Ben Fritz relates the story of how young Hollywood executives are using Xbox Live for networking.

We biz gamers are playing for fun, but valuable relationships sometimes result. "I can be at home at 2 in the morning with writers and directors and producers and executives who all vaguely know each other in the business," notes producer-manager Aaron Kaplan. "All of a sudden, I get to know people the way they really are."

One of the results of this new brand of networking (not too surprisingly) is the upcoming Gears of war movie. New Line executive Jeff Katz and script writer Stuart Beattie were online Gears buddies before they ever started working on the film project together. Now, most of their conversations about the film adaptation are done over Xbox Live.

Obviously, one of the advantages of this method is that these Hollywood folks will finally get a true sense of what some of these games are really like rather than going by hearsay. One can only hope that this will go a long way towards some decent game to film adaptations being made so we no longer have to rely on the Uwe Bolls of the world to serve us up their steaming piles of celluloid crap. Flynn De Marco

Young execs network via vidgames [Variety.com]

Content Pack 1: "Cowboys From Hell" - Pantera "I Love Rock & Roll" - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts "Cochise" - Audioslave

Content Pack 2:
"Godzilla" - Blue Oyster Cult
"I Wanna Be Sedated" - The Ramones
"Sharp Dressed Man" - ZZ Top

Content Pack 3:
"Iron Man" - Black Sabbath
"Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
"Smoke on the Water" - Deep Purple

No confirmation on if or how much these new song packs will cost if they exist, but I say if you've bought all the song packs to date, Xbox should give out free black-colored, headbanging wigs for those buying the next set too. Kim Phu

GH II: New DLC Revealed? [Xboxic]

Fat dancer from "Take That" and popular British solo artist Robbie Williams is hitting Xbox Live across Europe and Asia. Good for him. His tracks "She's Madonna," "A Place to Crash" and "Lovelight" command 280 Microsoft points (230 pts. for standard def). In association with Xbox, RobbieWilliams.com is giving away five 360s and a load of games. Says Robbie,

I love playing Xbox at home and on the road, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 kept me company through the tour!

Oh. Okay. Beats groupies, I guess. Brian Ashcraft

Robbie Williams Loves Xbox [Game|Life]

It's nice to see companies address the really important things. Things like, if I buy Armored Core 4 for the PS3, can I play online with 360 owners? The short answer: No, doofus, you can't. But AC 4 creator From Software has put up a FAQ that takes on concerns like where are the floating leg types and heat damage. Ollie at Insert Credit adds:

They also went out of their way to explain that there won't be online compatability between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game (ah, bless).

Thankfully, they didn't feel it necessary to point out that the 360 disc won't work in the PS3 and vice versa. Brian Ashcraft

Good To Know [Insert Credit]

Finally downloaded Lumines Live!, and it was pretty much like the version on my PSP, but bigger. Thing is, the game on my UMD is a full game, not a crippled download—this all, ironically, has given the PSP and UMD the best press it has had in months!

At E3, Microsoft touted the music video element of Lumines Live!, an element not found in the current half-baked version, but an "Artist Pack" available next year. The initial purchase leaves gamers with a mere 12 skins, five puzzles, five missions and one CPU opponent. Xbox 360 owners are pissed.

Microsoft's Gamerscore blog is running damage control, stating:

The material posted on Xbox.com, and that was sent out in the media alert wasn't detailed enough, and believe me, the message is being heard. When we said 'full version,' we didn't make what that meant clear enough. You are getting all of the 'modes' that are in the game, but the base version includes only some of the skins, puzzles, missions, or CPU opponents. There will be future content you can choose to buy. Just like other games with downloadable content, you can choose what you might enjoy the most, or stick with the base game.

Eh? Isn't that what my PSP is for? Brian Ashcraft

The Message Is Being Heard [Gamerscore via 1Up]

Late last night, I was all raring to download Lumines Live! So much so that I stayed up late, waiting for the Xbox Live maintenance to wrap up. It did, but not in Japan, where I can home.

I woke up early again today. Still, wonk city, couldn't log on.

Lumines Live! reviews had already hit the internet, and the overwhelming reaction: Hate. Micro-transitions up the whazoo keep what was the most enjoyable PSP puzzler from creating a satisfying 360 experience. The game's creator, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, has already offered his two cents on possible criticism the XBL version might get:

Lumines has this image... It came in a package, it came on a UMD. And now it's not. So now people are worried. And maybe even upset that they can't even get the full pack in one software product. But really, it's just changing the way we provide the content... So, in our eyes, the game doesn't have to come in a package. We just feel like we're shifting our audience and we're starting to deal with different people. That's not to imply the PSP and Xbox Live users are that much different, but naturally, the way we are accepting media, goods, music, and games, we ourselves are changing our attitudes. So we're trying to follow a new path. So at the same time the audience is changing, we're changing along with it. We think this is the way of the future.

And that future is paved with streets of gold. Miz is slightly off here. Micro-transitions aren't exactly "the future." In a way, they're the past. Publishers have figured out a way to put arcade cabinets in the home and connect them with a money train leading right to the company coffers.

Still, I'm kinda excited to play Lumines on my big ass TV. Brian Ashcraft

Miz Talks Micro [IGN, Thanks Dix!]

Microsoft has rolled out an impressive online service with Xbox Live—a service that has taken the company years to create. Sony's coming late to the party, so how can the company compete?

Sony Computer Entertainment of America chief Kaz Hirai believes it can. He tells game site Next Generation that, for example, Resistance: Fall of Man will support up to 40 players online, as well as video chat, text chat, voice chat, rankings and additional content available for download. Though, he adds this depends "on the game and their online capabilities." Moreover, Kaz says:

What we don't do however is have a brand name for the network service, you know, like PlayStation Online or PlayStation Live, and this is because we don't we don't see a "PlayStation offline".

What I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter if you are enjoying content from a Blu-ray disc or you are enjoying content you just downloaded from the network, at the end of the day it's all PLAYSTATION 3 so we don't differentiate between content, and I think that makes a clear point between us and some of our competitors...

That and an astromical price tag. Zing! Brian Ashcraft

No PlayStation Offline [Next-Gen]

Next month, the Tokyo Game Show kicks off in *get this* Chiba, Japan. Some of you might go, some might not and some will wonder why the event isn't called the Chiba Game Show. For those sitting at home, Microsoft will be streaming coverage right into your living room. The company announced it will release all TGS vids and demos on Xbox Live Marketplace. It's just like being there, but minus the Microsoft booth companions. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Jean Snow]

Looks like Xbox Live Arcade is that much closer to becoming your official retro gaming dealer. Taking a cue from Capcom and hoping to capitalize on Street Fighter's XBL success, SNK Playmore is unleasing 2D fighter Fatal Fury Special on Live Arcade. There's no release date of yet and expect to find out more at TGS. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Gamespot]

Hopefully, if you read this site, you actually play video games. But, some of you, for reasons unknown, play board games. It's not that we are graphics whores, but we just like pixels—any will do. And board games seem so 1983. For those that disagree, Microsoft has found a way to validate your wonderfully out-of-date hobby by offering classic European board games like Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne and Alhambra on Xbox Live. No word on pricing or release dates, but Crecente told, no ordered, me to post this, saying folks were truly excited about these XBL incarnations. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [1Up]

Food in honor Pac-Man making his Xbox Live debut! This eatable Pac-Man and ghost were made from papadums (also known as papadam, pappadam, pappadom, pappadum, popadam, poppadam, poppadom, papad, pappad, appalum, appalam or those giant roundy crackery things they give out at Indian restaurants). How-to site Instructables guides readers through step-by-step the process of making Pac-Man papadums. And yes, scissors are involved. What's Hindi for "yum"? Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Instructables] Thanks, Frodo!

Xbox Live's Major "Larry" Nelson addresses the mysterious "Status code: 80070003," which is English for nothing having enough free storage space. To check storage space, go to System Blade->Memory and delete where necessary. Major astutely adds:

Why don't we say something simple like 'Your memory device is full'? Got me...but I told the programmers they should change this error to something a little more, well, human friendly.

Windows' frosty programming makes a special guest appearance on Xbox Live! Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Major Nelson]

Reader Jason swung by Hong Kong's Ani-com gaming convention, where he checked out what the Live Vision camera's Gamerpics looked like. Users will be unfortunately be able to take photos of themselves and put them on their Gamercards. So now, you can see the actual face of that little punk dropping f-bombs on XBL. Live Vision kicks off September 19th, bringing everyone on Live a little closer together. Brace yourself for the obligatory "moon shoot" and the occasional "scrot shot." Brian Ashcraft