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[Xbox-Scene]

LIVE Turns 5, Free Carcassonne, Fall Update Dec 4th, Dwl Xbox1 Games Posted by XanTium | November 13 13:29 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From the press release: Xbox LIVE membership soars past 8 million mark, Microsoft unveils new download service for Xbox games direct to your living room beginning Dec. 4. REDMOND, Wash. -- Nov. 13, 2007 -- On Nov. 15, Microsoft Corp. will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Xbox LIVE. In addition, the company notes that the latest membership figures show more than 8 million members are now actively engaged in the largest social entertainment network on TV. Xbox LIVE has grown from a small community of gamers in two countries, playing a handful of games online with their friends, to a worldwide social entertainment network offering online access to gaming, music, movies and TV shows. As friends across 26 countries and nine languages have connected on Xbox LIVE, it is their feedback and active participation that has guided the service to become what Wired magazine recently called "the king of the online arena." As a gesture of thanks to the gaming community, all 8 million members will have the opportunity to download a free Xbox LIVE Arcade game [Carcassonne, except in Korea were it'll be Hexic 2],* available for downloading between 12:01 a.m. PST on Nov. 15 and 11:59 p.m. PST on Nov. 16.** In addition to this, every active member who joined the service in 2002 will receive 500 free Microsoft Points. Starting on Dec. 4, all Xbox LIVE members will receive a free system update with a host of new features and enhancements. Included in this update will be the launch of Xbox Originals, which, for the first time, will enable consumers to download and own full Xbox games, such as "Halo," "Psychonauts," "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" and "Fable," among others, directly to their Xbox 360. This new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games. With no disc necessary, and at just 1,200 Microsoft Points per game, Xbox LIVE members can easily rediscover these hit titles, or check out a game they missed the first time around. This launch lineup is only the beginning, as Xbox 360 owners can expect to see a growing catalog of Xbox games to download and own over the coming year. "In just five short years, Xbox LIVE has revolutionized the way friends and family have fun in the living room," said John Schappert, corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services at Microsoft. "On its fifth birthday, Xbox LIVE truly is the place for hanging out with friends and enjoying downloadable TV shows, movies, videos, game add-ons and now downloadable Xbox games on demand." More information can be found online about the downloadable games available on Xbox LIVE, the evolution of Xbox LIVE or the Xbox LIVE is 5IVE member rewards at http://www.xbox.com.

[elitegamer360]

QUOTE

will enable consumers to download and own full Xbox games, such as "Halo," "Psychonauts," "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" and "Fable," among others, directly to their Xbox 360. This new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games.

With no disc necessary, and at just 1,200 Microsoft Points per game, Xbox LIVE members can easily rediscover these hit titles, or check out a game they missed the first time around. This launch lineup is only the beginning, as Xbox 360 owners can expect to see a growing catalog of Xbox games to download and own over the coming year.

WOW this sounds good to me but then the HardDrives we currently have are crap, my 20GB is already full and I dont have any thing great on it!!!

[xboxmodder4life]

15$ a game seems alittle high specially when you can purchase many of those titles new for cheaper.. A better price point would have been 800 points or 10$.. But it's a nice new feature to see, also it'd be amazing to see them add live support to a few games which lacked it like halo



**EDIT*

i never even thought of that, with a 20gig harddrive it will be interesting to see how large these releases are and if they have any sort of compression.

This post has been edited by xboxmodder4life: Nov 13 2007, 08:37 PM

[sabbath_dude]

Free stuff is always good!   .

The Xbox 1 games are a total rip off though!. I could pick up just about any xbox 1 title new/used for £5 or less.

[echto]

...so is this a clue that the backwards compatability list will be increasing in titles?

[samfu]

Dec 4? Fall Update? Bollocks!

[antiav]

Okay where's the source? I must be blind.

This is the only site I see reporting free Carcassonne and Psychonaughts as downloadable.

edit: I'm an idiot, this wonderful news just happened.

This post has been edited by antiav: Nov 13 2007, 08:57 PM

[cerealkillajme]

Yeah, I like the idea of the downloadable XBOX 1 games, but doesn't seem as pratical as just buying the original discs. I'm 99% sure they won't add online play to H1 cause if they did, we wouldn't see it for $15. Plus when I own the disc I can play it in any of my 5 xboxs/360s as opposed to it being locked to one console with their stupid DRM. And not to mention if/when another 360 dies you'll have to go through the whole DRM blocking you from playing it offline and other crap. Basically the same crap people have to go through now with Arcade games when they have a console die. If they put all the arcade games on a disc I'd buy the discs over the downloadable ones anyday, all due to the wonderful DRM they implemented.

Cool they are giving away a free game though, hopefully I'll remember to download it tomorrow.

And happy 5th  

[bucko]

Lets hope the downloading of Xbox 1 games allows Backwards Compatibility updates to be pushed even further to the full library.

I gotta make a note to get that free arcade game. Wish I had an account back in 2002 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

This post has been edited by bucko: Nov 13 2007, 09:22 PM

[Shonk]

if there's no achievements i wont be interested

nice idea though

[sirsmacketh]

wow.... that 120GB drive is sure looking tempting now. Gotta wonder though... how large are these XBOX 1 games going to be... will they be 4:3 ratio or 16:9? The thing I hate about playing XBOX1 games on my 360 is the forced 4:3 ratio.

Are they HD as well? Intruiging.

I can hear the PS3fanboys now... we've been able to download PS1 games meh meh meh... too bad it's the only thing they've got worth playing in their library of PS3 games... LOL

[mcatrage]

They need to add halo 1 multiplayer via live.  Other than that I don't see myself buying any of them.

[kidshenlong]

Actually sounds all right in my opinion...Can't wait...Sure there are going to be loads of problems though...Hope i don't get barred again!

[m.e]

Wii's virtual console just got owned

[Bubbalynch]

Downloadable Xbox 1 games is great news.

Smart move Microsoft...