
Dragonball Z: Burst Limit demo on XBLM

Would You Rather ... Episodic Edition

In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?
This week for WUR we're talking episodic content. With games like Penny Arcade: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness on the horizon for XBLA we're wondering what your opinion is on distribution and pricing.
Assuming that when it's all said and done you'd spend the same amount on an entire season of content, which would you prefer? Purchase an entire season of content for a final total price and download each episode when they are available (akin to one of the purchase models of Sam & Max from GameTap) or purchase each episode/content pack separately like the current Xbox Live Marketplace model?

Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.
Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... steal this info!
Microsoft: GTAIV DLC to include "hours" of gameplay
A statement released by Microsoft on Tuesday reminds everyone living under a rock that Grand Theft Auto IV is now available and features online play and future DLC. One line in the statement may reveal the size of the content stating, "starting this autumn, Xbox 360 owners will also have access to exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV episodes that will provide hours of additional game play." Recently Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser discussed the scope of the forthcoming episodic content with Next-Gen's Edge. "... You'll get a lot of content for your money, which I think is really important. You know, there are too many stories at the moment of people having the feeling that they're not getting enough for their money in terms of downloadable content, and it's easy for publishers to get away with," he said.
Houser also joked that the team at Rockstar North plans to "fry those Xbox Live servers" when the content is finally released. Currently, no pricing details or gameplay specifics for the downloadable content have been announced by Rockstar Games or Microsoft.
Would You Rather ... Bad Decisions Edition

In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?
In lieu of the recent decision from EA and DICE to give away, previously premium weapons, for free as long as gamers are willing to sign up for marketing programs we bring you this weeks Would You Rather.
Let's pretend that you actually want these free weapons to complete your weapon options in Battlefield: Bad Company would you rather pay a few dollars more for those weapons, or sign up for various programs in order to acquire the new weaponry. Let us assume that these programs will require your name, email and other information you wouldn't ordinarily give away voluntarily would you rather pay for these weapons?
Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.
Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... click for your retro look!
X3F TV -- Call of Duty 4 Variety Map Pack video tour
Giving gamers four more reasons to go online with Xbox Live's most popular shooter, Infinity Ward has released the first downloadable content for their 2007 smash-hit Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. For 800 MS points the map pack adds familiar environments from the single-player experience as well as a modernized revision of a classic Call of Duty 2 map.
Jump in for a brief description of the four maps included in the Variety Map Pack for Call of Duty 4 and find out if the maps are worth your hard-earned MS Points.
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Continue reading X3F TV -- Call of Duty 4 Variety Map Pack video tour
Sega Superstars Tennis demo

Would You Rather ... In Your Mind's Eye Edition

In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?
This week's WUR was a user submitted question that really made us think, especially coming back from our local gaming store. At 1,200 MS points a pop, the Xbox Originals platform seems like a steep entry into the "classic" prev-gen titles. While many of the games can be found for a lot less than their digital counterpart, some of the recent additions are going to a premium price if they can be found. What we hear from the community is that the pricing structure of the XBO program is out of wack for the most part.
This week we want you to forget about the price in the equation and consider the content only. How important is physical media to you in the wake of the increasingly digital age? Do you prefer to stack your games to line your room like a protective castle wall, or are you fed up with hard copies of the game and wish you could get everything digitally? Let's pretend we're made of money this week, if only for a moment, and ask yourself when it comes to those Xbox Originals...
Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.
Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... click here to download those results!
Continue reading Would You Rather ... In Your Mind's Eye Edition
X3F TV -- Battlefield Bad Company: Free vs Paid Weapon Stat Comparison
When Electronic Arts confirmed that specific weapons would be made available for purchase over the Xbox Live Marketplace (and included in the special edition) for Battlefield: Bad Company they assured gamers the balance of the game would not be compromised. Despite that claim, the fear from the community is that the paid weapons will be overly powerfull and that gamers who decided to opt out of the purchase would be punished at a multiplayer level.
Ever viligant in our quest of the truth, this very special edition of X3F TV will compare the free weapons in the Battlefield: Bad Company beta to the special weapons that will be featured exclusively in the Gold Edition of the game and for sale over the Xbox Live Marketplace when the game launches this summer.
Using the in-game comparison tool included in the closed beta of Battlefiled: Bad Company, we've compared each paid weapon for the five soldier classes to their free counterparts. The results may surprise you.
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Netflix confirms Xbox 360 surveys
While the Xbox Live Marketplace already offers individual movie rentals, a subscription service -- presumably one in which users could watch as many movies as they could stomach for a flat monthly fee -- would certainly be a welcome addition. Who knows, the Spring Update is right around the corner after all ....
[Via Joystiq]
Condemned 2: Bloodshot demo inbound [Update]

Update: Major Nelson told us he doesn't know details on an upcoming Condemned 2: Bloodshot demo. The demo detail page has been edited to say, "Coming soon is the free Marketplace demo giving a glimpse into the incredibly brutal world of Condemned 2: Bloodshot™."
Rest assured Condemned 2: Bloodshot is most certainly a Mature rated game and those interested in finding out why may be able to very soon. Currently the bottom of the Xbox.com product page for Condemned 2: Bloodshot reads, "Experience it now with the free demo."
Clicking ahead brings you to a description page, which has a published date of February 27, that outlines the demo experience: "This free Marketplace demo gives you a glimpse into the incredibly brutal world of Condemned 2: Bloodshot™. You begin outside the lowest, seediest dive in town and your situation goes downhill from there, starting with a rapidly escalating fight with some back alley-thugs that show you the ropes of the combat system."
After a few sweeps of the Xbox Live Marketplace we can safely say the demo isn't up yet but considering the March 11, 2008 release date is quickly approaching it may only be a matter of time before we're breaking a chair over someones head. You know, someone who isn't an X3F intern - but don't worry it's cool because they don't get paid, so they don't have any rights.
[Thanks, MightyHealthy]
Size increase coming to Xbox Live Arcade?

With the announcement of the Xbox Live Community Games feature coming to Xbox Live, one of our eagle-eyed X3F soldiers spotted an interesting tidbit while scrolling through the preview content on XBLM. TriLinea, one of the XNA preview games available to download clocks in at 190MB, 40MB larger than the allowed file size for Xbox Live Arcade titles. While this doesn't prove the size restriction will change, remember Microsoft selected specific titles to preview for this event and over Xbox Live. Size restrictions are already becoming an issue so if the limit is to be raised we think the best time to do it is before the XNA titles flood in at full swing.
[Thanks, Tony]
Gears of War 2 teaser trailer, free theme and gamer pictures hit Xbox Live

Hot off the heels of the GDC keynote announcement, new Gears of War 2 content is available on Xbox Live. The teaser trailer, "Duel" is up for download in all its 62MB HD glory as well as "Bare Your Teeth," a free theme and gamer picture pack for people still jolted by the announcement of the November 2008 release date.
More GDC content is expected to hit Xbox Live Marketplace shortly, keep up to date by hitting refresh on Xbox 360 Fanboy for the latest from the Game Developers Conference.
Japan rates Panzer Dragoon Orta for Xbox Originals

With all the games that are uncovered via the ESRB and Germany's USK, we often forget about Japan's CERO rating board. Thankfully, our tipsters haven't forgotten it, and now we have what appears to be confirmation that Panzer Dragoon Orta is headed to Xbox Originals, at least in Japan. Ratings boards tend to be dead accurate when used to predict upcoming game releases, so this is pretty solid evidence that the game will be heading to Microsoft's download service. Whether or not Panzer Dragoon Orta makes it to the US remains to be seen. Oh, and for what it's worth, the game was rated B, which translates to everyone ages 12 and up.
[Thanks, sacra]
Dark Messiah content hits Live days before release [Update]

Update: Our original tipster is at it again letting us know that since the release of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements the content that was originally offered for download has now vanished from the Xbox Live Marketplace. We wonder if there was an issue with the content, it dropped too soon or the pricing was wrong. Only time will tell.
The upcoming Source engine first-person roleplaying game, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements, is hitting retail shelves on February 12. However, one of our eagle-eyed readers noticed downloadable content was already made available over Xbox Live Marketplace. At a cost of 400MS space-bucks you can add new maps, classes and weapons. While we're all about being proactive here at X3F, we wonder why this content isn't on the disc. We don't imagine the 151MB download would have filled a standard DVD to bursting and considering Dark Messiah was originally released on the PC in 2006, you'd imagine Ubisoft would find the time to toss it on the retail disc.
[Thanks, ccc]
Canada: Win $1,000 gift card for making friends

Xbox Canada is running a pretty sweet promotion right now in which Canadian gamers can win a $1,000 Best Buy gift card. The rules are pretty simple. First, Canadian gamers must download the special +15 gamerpic from Xbox Live Marketplace (it doesn't say you actually have to use it, just download it). Once that's done, you must add fifteen friends to your Xbox Live friends list (unless you already have at least that many). After that, play a game with any friend over Xbox Live and you'll be entered for a chance to win one of fifteen $1,000 Best Buy gift card. The official rules don't make it clear if every played game counts as an additional entry, but it couldn't hurt, right? The contest runs until January 30, so you'd best get cracking if you want your shot at winning.
[Thanks, Adam H. Image: KaCey97007]










