Source: videogamesblogger.com

The New Xbox Experience is now available to all Xbox Live members, so login online and update your Xbox 360 with the new dashboard user interface and functionalities. Watch the New Xbox Experience trailer to see what it will be like.

Majornelson points out 10 new features to check out!

From today, at 9AM GMT (2AM PDT), you can play Ninjabee’s A Kingdom for Keflings on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. A Kingdom for Keflings will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points (that’s US$10 / €9.60 / £6.80 / CAN$12.40 / AU$13.20).

A Kingdom for Keflings is the first Xbox 360 game to launch with playable Avatars. Join up to three of your friends via Xbox Live to cooperatively construct the kingdom of your dreams. A Kingdom for Keflings includes achievements to earn, more Keflings to attract and many more opportunities to fill your kingdom full of love! Watch the trailer.



Like every week, there were also various downloadable Rock Band tracks released for the Xbox 360 version of the game in addition to older downloadable Rock Band content. Below’s listing shows the new tracks.

The following content is now available for Rock Band. Remember, this content can be used in both Rock Band and Rock Band 2.

Content: “Gone”
Price: 80 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Gone”–Crooked X.

Content: Mission of Burma Pack 01
Price: 440 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Mission of Burma Pack 01. This pack includes “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver,” “Mica,” and “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” by Mission of Burma.

Content: “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate”–Mission of Burma.

Content: “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver”–Mission of Burma.

Content: “Mica”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Mica”–Mission of Burma.

Content: Dead Kennedys Pack 01
Price: 440 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Size: 82.98 MB
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Dead Kennedys Pack 01. This pack includes “California Über Alles,” “Holiday in Cambodia,” and “Police Truck” by Dead Kennedys.

Content: Century Media Girls of Metal Pack 01
Price: 440 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Size: 89.04 MB
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Century Media Girls of Metal Pack 01. This pack includes “Closer” and “Swamped” by Lacuna Coil, and “Forever” by In This Moment.

Content: “Forever”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions except Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Forever”–In This Moment.

* PLEASE NOTE: Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Although there are no new Xbox Live Arcade games available for download today. Microsoft did add three new Xbox Live Arcade titles to the Arcade Hits discount program. Feeding Frenzy, Worms and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 are now available for 400 Microsoft Points (that’s US$5 / €4.80 / £3.40 / CAN$6.20 / AU$6.60).

Also available on Xbox Live Marketplace is: A Left 4 Dead demo. It shows off the first part of one of the four campaigns in the game and includes online co-op play as well as single player.

Like every week, there were also various downloadable Rock Band tracks released for the Xbox 360 version of the game in addition to 2007’s downloadable Rock Band content. Below’s listing shows the new tracks.

The following content is now available for Rock Band. Remember, this content can be used in both Rock Band and Rock Band 2.

Content: The Colour and the Shape (Album)
Price: 1600 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this game album: The Colour and the Shape. This includes twelve tracks: all of the songs from the Foo Fighters’ album The Colour and the Shape, except “Everlong,” found on the Rock Band 2 Disc.

Content: “New Way Home”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “New Way Home”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “Walking After You”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Walking After You”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “February Stars”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “February Stars”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “Enough Space”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Enough Space”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “See You”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “See You”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “My Hero”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “My Hero”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “Up in Arms”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Up in Arms”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “Wind Up”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Wind Up”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “My Poor Brain”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “My Poor Brain”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “Hey, Johnny Park!”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Hey, Johnny Park!”–Foo Fighters.

Content: “Monkey Wrench”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Monkey Wrench”–Foo Fighters.

Content: ‘Doll”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Doll”–Foo Fighters.

* PLEASE NOTE: Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

From today, at 9AM GMT (2AM PDT), you can play Activision’s Vigilante 8: Arcade on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. Vigilante 8: Arcade will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points (that’s US$10 / €9.60 / £6.80 / CAN$12.40 / AU$13.20).

Take the wheel as fully-loaded auto combat revs into high gear with Vigilante 8: Arcade. It’s a down and dirty war on wheels where everyone’s riding shotgun. This brand new re-make of the classic Vigilante 8 game lets you choose from among eight tricked-out retro-fine ‘70s vehicles with some serious firepower. Multiple special weapons let you wreak havoc on five newly-designed and destructible arenas. Complete the single player Quest story mode or test your car-crushing skills in local and LIVE multiplayer versus or co-op modes. Rebuilt from the ground up, V8: Arcade is modern vehicular warfare at its finest.

Also available on Xbox Live Marketplace are: A LEGO Batman: The Videogame Demo that was added today and a Naruto: The Broken Bond Demo became available earlier this week.

Like every week, there were also various downloadable Rock Band tracks released for the Xbox 360 version of the game in addition to 2007’s downloadable Rock Band content. Below’s listing shows the new tracks.

The following content is now available for Rock Band. Remember, this content can be used in both Rock Band and Rock Band 2.

Content: Presidents of the United States of America Pack 01
Price: 440 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [[ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Presidents of the United States of America Pack 01. This pack includes “Dune Buggy,” “Feather Pluckn,” and “Ladybug” by Presidents of the United States of America.

Content: “Ladybug”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Ladybug”–Presidents of the United States of America.

Content: “Feather Pluckn”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Feather Pluckn”–Presidents of the United States of America.

Content: “Dune Buggy”
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Dune Buggy”–Presidents of the United States of America.

Content: “I Don’t Care”
Price: 80 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “I Don’t Care”–Fall Out Boy.

Content: “Use Me”
Price: 80 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia
Dash Text:[ESRB: T (Teen) LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track: “Use Me”–Hinder.

* PLEASE NOTE: Many Rock Band song game tracks are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These song game tracks are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song game track twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

From today, at 9AM GMT (2AM PDT), you can play Hothead Games’ Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2 on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 2 will be available worldwide for 1200 Microsoft Points (that’s US$15 / €14.40 / £10.20 / CAN$18.60 / AU$19.80).

Want more crazy dialogue and outrageous enemies? Get Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two to see the mystery continue and Gabe and Tycho banter in classic Penny Arcade style. Plus, there are leaderboard rankings and achievements to earn, so time to get started.

New game features include:
* The madcap Penny Arcade experience continues: Meet all-new characters and see newly revealed strip favorites from Mike Krahulik, while reading laugh-out-loud dialogue from Jerry Holkins.
* Get value for your gaming dollar: Play the entire episode in 6-10 hours for 1200 Microsoft Points, getting tremendous value that fits into your busy schedule.
* Save what matters most: Carry over your character’s stats and look from prior episodes.
* Go crazy with a whole new level of customization: Check out even more options for you to design and develop your own character, seeing it come to life in 3-D and in the comic-style 2-D cutscenes.
* Play it safe or go insane!: New difficulty settings put you in charge of the action.
* Experience a deeper RPG-adventure: Get into the game with more puzzles, areas to explore, and levels to gain.
* Pick up and play from any episode: Enjoy each self-contained story without having to play previous installments.

The second Arcade game available today is: THQ’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? will be available only in America for 1200 Microsoft Points (that’s US$15 / €14.40 / £10.20 / CAN$18.60 / AU$19.80). — Do you think you are smarter than a 5th grader? Now is your chance to prove it! Over 6,000 questions in 21 subjects that test your mental mettle.

Additionally: Free “Marble It Up!” Marble Blast Ultra downloadable content will be available today. Refresh your Marble Blast Ultra palate for free with this brand new multiplayer level! Also includes one new achievement for your marble blasting pleasure.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Eidos and Rare have released downloads of their upcoming games onto Xbox Live Marketplace in these Xbox 360-exclusive demos.

Build awe-inspiring vehicles and tackle the Jiggy challenges in any way you see fit! Show your creations off over Xbox Live with the Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts demo. The game is due for release on Xbox 360 on November 11 (in America/Canada), November 14 (in Europe) and November 20 (in Australia). Note: If you pre-order Banjo-Kazooie, you’ll get the original Banjo-Kazooie remake for free (via Xbox Live Arcade download code).

Banjo and Kazooie’s latest adventure takes them on a ride through a wonderful land of torment and tumult.

Explore everything. Stop at Nothing. Download the Tomb Raider: Underworld demo off Xbox Live now! The game is due for release on Xbox 360, PC, PS3 & Wii on November 18 (in America/Canada), November 21 (in Europe) and November 27 (in Australia).

Join Lara in the underworld of Mexico, Xibalba.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

You’ve got your Killer Instinct in my Viva Pinata!

Rare has released some Killer Instinct Viva Pinata vision cards on the official Rare web-site for use with Viva Pinata 2: Trouble in Paradise.

The batch of cards are all themed after classic Killer Instinct characters that fighting game fans know and love, and they include: Orchid, Fulgore and Tusk.

As with previously released Viva Pinata Vision Cards, you will need an Xbox 360 Vision Camera to take advantage of the cards. While in your garden, either hold up a printed Piñata Vision card to your LIVE Vision camera, or point the camera at the card on your computer screen. Make sure the card fits within the in-game scanning window and the edges aren’t obscured by anything, fingers included. This will add the corresponding Pinata into your garden.

And just in case you were confused, no you do not get ACTUAL Killer Instinct characters into your Viva Pinata game from these cards, but rather you receive Pinatas named after the Killer Instinct characters.

Now one wonders why Rare would do such a thing. Could this be their viral way of slowly building hype and interest back into Killer Instinct? As we all know that Killer Instinct 3 is definitely one of the most wanted games from Rare. I guess we’ll find out in the future, eh.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

A bunch of new gameplay videos for Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode 2 have been released to get you hyped for the newest game in the episode adventure/RPG series which is hitting Xbox 360, PC, Linux and Mac this week for download.

If you haven’t heard of the Penny Arcade Adventures “Rain Slick” games, here’s the official gist:

“On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is an episodic RPG-Adventure game set in a deranged comic-book-meets-pulp-horror universe. Armed with unconventional weaponry, you join forces with the Startling Developments Detective Agency to make war on bizarre enemies and solve the mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia.

From the hilarious and twisted minds of Penny Arcade creators Mike ‘Gabe’ Krahulik and Jerry ‘Tycho’ Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and veteran producers at Hothead Games comes a 100% authentic and hilarious Penny Arcade experience.

All episodes of On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness are available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Windows, Mac and Linux.”

I’ll let the videos do the rest of the talking.

Torture Gameplay Video


Comical Cutscene Video

Spider Battle Video

Source: videogamesblogger.com

From today, at 9AM GMT (2AM PDT), you can play Valve’s Portal: Still Alive on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. The 629MB Portal: Still Alive will be available worldwide for 1200 Microsoft Points (that’s US$15 / €14.40 / £10.20 / CAN$18.60 / AU$19.80).

Winner of over 30 ‘Game of the Year’ awards, Portal now comes to the Xbox LIVE Arcade! As unwilling test subjects in a sinister laboratory, players must break the laws of physics using ‘portal’ technology to solve puzzles and survive. Unlock the full game to experience the complete singleplayer story, gain access to all 14 new bonus maps, and get a glimpse behind the scenes with developer commentary! This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive. Take a look at the announcement trailer.

New game features include:
* Innovative gameplay: Experience the first first-person puzzle-action-adventure game with hours of single player gaming.
* Extras: The game includes fourteen brand new bonus puzzles to challenge even the most skilled test subjects. And, get a glimpse into the making of Portal: Still Alive with commentary from the developers.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

From today, at 9AM GMT (2AM PDT), you can play Valve’s Portal: Still Alive on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. The 629MB Portal: Still Alive will be available worldwide for 1200 Microsoft Points (that’s US$15 / €14.40 / £10.20 / CAN$18.60 / AU$19.80).

Winner of over 30 ‘Game of the Year’ awards, Portal now comes to the Xbox LIVE Arcade! As unwilling test subjects in a sinister laboratory, players must break the laws of physics using ‘portal’ technology to solve puzzles and survive. Unlock the full game to experience the complete singleplayer story, gain access to all 14 new bonus maps, and get a glimpse behind the scenes with developer commentary! This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive. Take a look at the announcement trailer.

New game features include:
* Innovative gameplay: Experience the first first-person puzzle-action-adventure game with hours of single player gaming.
* Extras: The game includes fourteen brand new bonus puzzles to challenge even the most skilled test subjects. And, get a glimpse into the making of Portal: Still Alive with commentary from the developers.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

From today, at 9AM GMT (2AM PDT), you can play Capcom’s Age of Booty on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. Age of Booty will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points (that’s US$10 / €9.60 / £6.80 / CAN$12.40 / AU$13.20).

Be a pirate! In Age of Booty you fight for fortune and infamy in this game of strategy and explosive action that’s fun for all ages. Outfit your ship and raise havoc on shimmering seas in lush 3D landscapes. Hone your skills in solo-play missions and fight with friends in up to 4-player split-screen mode - take on computer opponents or play online with up to 8 players over Xbox LIVE or System Link. Explore 25 multiplayer maps, free downloadable maps, and unleash your inner cartographer with a robust, easy-to-use map editor. Share your creations for even more multiplayer mayhem, then plunder your way to victory!

New game features include:
* Acclaimed developer: Age of Booty was developed in collaboration with Max Hoberman, designer of the multiplayer game for Halo 2 and Halo 3.
* Deep strategy: With 25 multiplayer maps and a fully-featured map editor, Age of Booty features easy-to-play game mechanics with deep multiplayer strategy.
* Multiplayer gameplay: Jump into pirate fun with up to four players on one console, and up to eight players over System Link or Xbox LIVE. You can also play the free trial version online!

The second Arcade game available today is: Microsoft’s CrazyMouse on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. CrazyMouse will be available worldwide for 400 Microsoft Points (that’s US$5 / €9.60 / £3.40 / CAN$6.20 / AU$6.60). — “CrazyMouse gives you 32 single-player stages. You’ll also get 16 multiplayer maps for cooperative or competitive play, ranked matches via Xbox LIVE, leaderboards, achievements, and more.”

Also available today is: Is the Xbox Live release of Tom Clancy’s EndWar demo. It’s available worldwide. “Experience World War III in your living room with Tom Clancy’s EndWar, a revolutionary new war game built to maximize next-generation gaming consoles and completely controllable by voice. This demo includes one map playable in both single-player and 1 versus 1 multiplayer. English, French and Spanish are supported.”