With exclusive titles and downloadable games for the PSP, Sony's online service is starting to come into its own.

"I don't think there's a lot of 'catch up' [with XBL] anymore. In some cases, I think we've got more, and we've got some other things they don't have," says TK. "In terms of strengths, of course we're still free, and we're giving you a lot for free."

While the PSN is hardly perfect, gotta give Sony credit for putting together a competitive online service in a short amount of time.

Interview: Sony Not Playing 'Catch Up' with Xbox Live Anymore [Industry Gamers]

Previously, only 1600 point cards have been available, for $19.99. Now, though, 800 point cards have begun hitting stores, priced at...$9.99. Glad Microsoft know how to divide by two.

800 MS point cards now available at retail [X3F]

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]