Regardless, those who found the swansong of the studio an enjoyable diversion will have more maps to play around with. The latest downloadable content pack includes 4 new maps and 4 new achievements for you achievement hounds out there – totaling 100 additional points. The new pack, called – “Historic Battles” will be available July 21st for 800 MS points.

800 Points for 4 maps? Seems a bit steep to me… maybe its just because of the extra achievements.

Smith & Tinker has authorized the release of MechWarrior 4 as a free download on BattleTech.com. It’s not live yet, but it should be up very soon. According to the Smith and Tinker website,

In honor of BattleTech’s 25th anniversary, Smith & Tinker has authorized MekTek.net and MekTek Studios to distribute MechWarrior 4 (along with its expansion packs) completely free. For years, MekTek.net has been the central point for online distribution of MechWarrior 4 expansion packs. Now they can provide the core game free to the fans as well. Keep an eye on BattleTech.com – the free download will be available soon!

Today is just a great day for gaming. There’s this announcement, plus Daggerfall for free. Could this day get any better?

Fans debated the type of mechs, armament of mechs, and what the videos actually meant. Well, the speculation can all come to a screeching halt now.

According to IGN AU, Jordan Weisman is behind the revival of the franchise. If don’t remember Weisman, he was the co-founder of FASA, the company that created the BattleTech universe. He also founded Smith and Tinker, the company that acquired the rights to MechWarrior from Microsoft in 2007.

You’ll find more details on the next MechWarrior after the break.

This revival of the MechWarrior series takes place on the planet Deshler around 3015. Players play Adria Khol, who specializes in goofing off and partying. This has me excited, because I finally have a protagonist I can identify with. Of course, something happens to motivate him. His family is killed during an assault, and he decides to rouse himself to action.

Plans are in place for this MechWarrior to include a full single-player campaign, a four player coop campaign, and multiplayer as well. There’s no word yet on how many mechs will be included, but at least four have been confirmed. There’s the light-class Jenner, the heavy class Warhammer and Rifleman, and an assault-class Atlas Prime.

Personally, I can’t wait to see where this goes. MechWarrior is one of my all time favorite franchises, and I look forward to stomping around in a massive machine once again. What would you like to see this MechWarrior include? Any particular mechs you miss the most?

Magic is like paper crack to me. I find it consumes my life when I’m playing it. It becomes my goal in life, I will forsake food, personal hygiene and even intimate relations when I’m on a bender. It’s a sad part of my life but I thought it was behind me.

Struggling through Magic addiction is a daily challenge. I fight to avoid the Magic cards at the grocery, I refused the free Magic tournaments at the local game store. I’d been clean for almost a year when it happened.

I’m ashamed to admit my weakness but here, amongst a gathering of others with my problem I feel relieved to admit it. I had a moment of weakness and I slipped up. It wasn’t with that shiny foil packaging, I wasn’t huddled in the alley behind the game store.. no, I gave in to Magic last in my home and there was no physical evidence left afterward, just a note on my bank account for the purchase of 2500 Microsoft points. ( I only needed 800, but I wanted some extras on hand to buy cards later)

There is something so insidious about the digital version. It’s too perfect a translation in fact. While currently I can’t sidle up to the counter and pay for my next fix of booster packs and I don’t have access to the thousands of cards in my physical library I have little doubt the masterminds behind my addiction already have the plan for my digital downfall in the works.

What the online version of the game does do is simulate the game table well. The selection of cards is limited to the current core set and the ability to customize and modify the included pre-built decks lacks a bit of flexibility but overall this is the first time a digital version of Magic has come so close to stealing my soul. There have been a few other digital choices over the years, and Magic is no stranger to the online play space but unlike the old PC game, the horrible non-Magic Battlefront game and the long running Magic Online, the Xbox version is just insidious because its invaded my gaming life.

The once safe retreat of my recovery has become unsafe. Playing against others is as simple as firing up the 360 and hopping into a ranked match against people who are obviously just as addicted as I am. I’ve found the computer opponents pale in comparison to the challenge of playing my fellow addicts (except Ron), which in turn fuels the addiction. I feel the burn. I want to win.

The current selection of cards makes the game feel like its far more about the strategy and the deck build than it is about the cards you own – a problem that often plagues the physical games I’ve played. This is also a problem as it pulls on my addiction to new cards, new strategies and new options. I can feel my craving to buy more virtual cards, to build my library beyond the basics offered in the game currently.

Maybe Magic on the 360 is a safe alternative to going completely off the wagon. So far I’ve managed not to run to the store and buy a case of the latest release, Alara Reborn but I had to be emotionally honest and share with you all that I’d fallen. I’ve failed to resist and I wanted to warn you that the temptation to succumb is strong even with the seemingly safe Xbox 360 version.

I have failed to resist it, and I have to admit that some part of me wants all of you to fail as well. If you’re strong enough to resist its pull then I admire you. If, like me, you’re only human and give in, well… I guess I’ll see you online. I’m afraid this is my last visit to Magic Anonymous. I think I can manage the addiction now, thanks for all your help and support over the years.

The Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Original Soundtrack features original musical compositions by Robin Beanland (Killer Instinct, Conker’s Bad Fur Day), Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie) and David Clynick (Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark Zero).

The Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts OST will be available at retail stores June 30 as well as for digital download on Sumthing Digital www.sumthingdigital.com and iTunes.

Linkin Park contributed “What I’ve Done” off their Minutes to Midnight album to the original Transformers live action movie. Their new hit single “New Divide” is on the Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack.

More details from the press release follow the break.

Frontman Mike Shinoda of noted alt-metal band Linkin Park will play Xbox LIVE® Gold members June 26 in TRANSFORMERS(TM): REVENGE OF THE FALLEN(TM) THE GAME. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold Member (if not, upgrade now!), and you want a chance to play with Mike Shinoda, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (3:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Friday, June 26, 4:00 P.M. ET. If you get a chance to play with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail (xboxgwf@live.com) with the subject: “GWF – Linkin Park.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

Linkin Park’s three studio albums, Hybrid Theory (2000), Meteora (2003), and Minutes to Midnight (2007), have all gone multiple platinum, and the band has sold more than 60 million records worldwide. Frontman Mike Shinoda, vocalist Chester Bennington, drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell, and turntablist Joe Hahn have combined to form one of the most successful bands of this decade, scoring eight separate number one hit singles, including “New Divide,” reaching number one on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks list. “New Divide” was written for the Michael Bay film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and the band collaborated with composer Hans Zimmer to work the song into the film’s score.

If you want a taste of Linkin Park’s music, we have a lot of tracks available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Check these out:

“Numb” http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/cbce7628-c6d9-44d3-a9eb-177cfd78df3a/

“Shadow of the Day” http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/bf97ae36-6c69-4d0a-9ef8-06ecd95b420a/

“In The End” http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/cdcf801c-d269-432c-9374-02fc3b5718a9/

“What I’ve Done” http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/579b8854-e746-4285-ad52-14da7c51596d/

“Leave Out All The Rest” http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/36d1edcb-d974-4097-a6d0-a997a5f84c01/

All Linkin Park Tracks http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/catalog.aspx?d=0&h=0&r=-1&g=-1&mt=0&s=-1&st=linkin+park&sb=1&rl=0&p=1

Game With Fame on Xbox LIVE featuring Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park

Date: June 26th

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Time: 1:00PM – 3:00PM (PST)

Game: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

GAMERTAG: Mike LinkinPark

URL: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0626-linkinpark.htm

Follow the Game With Fame Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamewithfame

I say this in the nicest terms of course as a fan of said instrument of destruction. The long rumored Xbox version of Wizards of the Coast’s popular trading card game is available on Micrsoft’s Online service Wednesday June 17, 2009.

Magic the Gathering: Duals of the Planeswalkers recreates the game using virtual cards for a mere 800 Microsoft Points. Purchasers also get a code to claim a free foil card – Garruk Wildspeaker. Luckily the title features eight included dueling decks and a multitude of game modes including single-player, co-op custom and campaign modes.

Duels of the Planeswalkers also allows you to play against others via the service, customize your decks and I’d imagine get on the virtual paper crack train as updates to the game are released in future DLC sealed packs. (Though technically I don’t see an official mention of DLC for the game anywhere I’d bet if it sells well Wizards will be quick to capitalize on its popularity.. and face it they have 20 years of cards they could convert and sell to old timers like me – and the Xbox site mentions Content Downloads)

Duels of the Planeswalkers might just reintroduce the addiction to lapsed or recovering Magic players worldwide. I know it would rank right up there next to Rock Band 2 DLC for me in splitting my disposable income.  Especially since it appears to handle more than 2 players in a competition.. my preferred form of Magic.

I plan to download the title soon so look for a review in an upcoming edition of The Analog Gamer.

VGChartz has put a new angle on this conspiracy theory. Author Jacob Mazel cites an article published in the Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing in 2005 on Reliability of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in People With Dark Skin Pigmentation to support his theory that Microsoft knew the prototype Natal system had trouble distinguishing N’Gai’s motions because of his melanin rich skin. He says he saw N’Gai later that day wearing light colored shoes. He believes this is the reason the Natal demo was so restricted and videos demos of black celebrities trying out the system, like the one following the break, were shown.

The glitch experienced during his demo could have been a known problem that Microsoft couldn’t avoid because of N’Gai’s re pore with the Games Industry. It could also have been a fluke in an otherwise well tested system…

So what do think readers? Is this fact or fiction?

I think that there would be a formidable risk of money and reputation for Microsoft if there was a known problem with the Natal system not responding to a good chunk of the world’s population and it couldn’t be corrected before launch. I’ve also failed to find any recent articles on problems relating to near infrared tech and dark pigmentation.

I’m sure that somewhere Microsoft PR is chuckling to themselves over the furor, congratulating each other on the exposure Natal is getting.

Those of you holding their breath with me at the end of Sony’s E3 2009 presentation only to be disappointed shouldn’t give up on seeing a PS3 price drop this year. At least PSP fans should be getting a price break on games and just more games altogether because of the PSP development kit price break announced at the press conference.

I could be paranoid, but I suspect there may be other reasons Sony is holding firm on the price of its overly expensive gaming console.

Sony has been the one to beat in the Games Industry for over a decade. The electronics giant has had some tough times recently with the PS3 being the most expensive console out there and a bear to develop for. If Sony shaves a bit off the price, it could pay off big time.

Lately CNET, High-Def Digest, and other sources are recommending the PS3 as one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. A small voice in the back of my head keeps suggesting that’s one of the reasons why Sony isn’t overly eager to lower the price of the console since it’s already one of the least expensive Blu-ray players around. Sony wouldn’t take advantage of that despite the cost to gamers now would they…?

Thanks to the folks at G4TV for the JustinTV link.

1:35PM – The feed appears to be rather jerky.. hmm.. maybe JustinTV isn’t ready to handle the load.
1:38 – Exclusive Track Downloads.. hmm I guess if you have to get a piece of a multi-platform title like The Beatles that is one way to do it.
1:39 – Good news for Beatles Fans on the selections.. bad news on the cost associated with owning Rock Band full records.. but nothing new there. You have to buy a lot of the catalog – only 40 songs on RB: The Beatles with All you Need is Love as an exclusive DL fro 360 version.
1:40 – Paul & Ringo endorsing it.. of course they are.. they stand to make some money here folks..
1:43 – Tony Hawk coming on to talk Ride – another multi-platform title… and his new plastic instrument – the skateboard controller.. sigh.
1:45 – So is the board compatible with Skate 2? I wonder.. I hate single use specialized controllers!
1:48 – Modern Warfare 2 Trailer – SO… where are the Microsoft announcements int he Microsoft conference?
1:50 – Demoing MW2 live.. nice Ice Climber sequel so far lol, wonder if Hudson/Nintendo knows;)
1:52 – Snow missions look nice.. white out effects are impressive.
1:57 – Two exclusive early releases of MW2 map packs – selling on the 360 success of MW1.
1:58 – Square Enix on the stage – FF XIII news incoming…
2:00 – First look at XIII on 360. Trailer footage inbound. Same fight scene with afro guy we’ve already seen demo’d.
2:00 – Lightning and Suds fighting lightning beast. 4 Active Time gauges.. more integrated team tactics.
2:01 – Summons are back.. Odin is being shown off.
2:02 – Spring 2010 release on 360.. good news.
2:03 – everything from here in is exclusive.. and Epic takes the stage.
2:04 – Shadow Complex – mic trouble for the presented. He’s calling on classic titles for comparison.
2:04 – 3rd Person “Bionic Commando: Redux” style visuals so far. Looks like a modern 2D platform action title.
2:05 – Joy Ride – Avatar based games.. who thought these were good ideas? A Stunt/micro machines style racer.
2:07 – Free to buy/play.. microtransaction to support it with tracks and cars for purchase.
2:08 – Crackdown 2.. NICE!!
2:09 – Ok 2 announcements I can get excited about so far.. Crackdown 2.. and southern Left 4 Dead…
2:11 – Splinter Cell: Conviction.. hmm.. does anyone still care?
2:11 – Michael Ironsides apparently is back as well.. nice to see.. still don’t really care.
2:15 – Realtime ghosting of information to “maintain immersion”.. not sure I buy that.. but its an interesting concept.
2:16 – When did they switch to playing Batman: Arkham Asylum? Or Riddick? Oh.. its still Splinter Cell.
2:18 – SC:Conviction – Fall release.
2:19 – Racing is new frontier in the battle? Forza 3? GT is still unannounced with a real release date.. hmm.
2:20 – Calling it the definitive racing game of this generation is a bit of early hyperbole don’t you think MS?
2:22 – Forza car painters.. interesting. Totally didn’t realize that was a gamer subculture.
2:24 – Carobatics.. odd but funny.
2:25 – Halo:ODST is on.. now to see what to expect. Drop scene… no real sell in.
2:26 – Good way to frell a place – jump into hyperspace above it.
2:27 – Halo 1 type pistol.. I like the Halo universe.. I’m happy its not fixed around Master Chief and is using other techniques to tell the story.
2:30 – Real life interferes.. more comments on the rest of the conference later. Battery is going down on the laptop.. sigh.

Personally I don’t have too much trouble with Vista. Once it’s lobotomized, it’s really not all that bad. Of course you’ll want to be extra vigilant with your spyware, adware, and virus programs, but I guess that’s the price you pay for the right to admin your own system.

According to Tech ARP, the wave 0 version of SP2 goes out to the web today. Wave 1 will be released to manufacturing mid June according to the current schedule. Windows 7 will be out before we’ll see Vista SP2. These are some of the features integrated into the pack:

• Adds Windows Search 4.0 for faster and improved relevancy in searches.
• Contains the Bluetooth® 2.1 Feature Pack supporting the most recent specification for Bluetooth Technology.
• Ability to record data on to Blu-Ray™ media natively in Windows Vista.
• Adds Windows Connect Now (WCN) to simplify Wi-Fi Configuration.
• Enables the exFAT file system to support Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) timestamps, which allows correct file synchronization across time zones.
• Adds support for new 64-bit CPUs from VIA Technologies.
• Improves performance for Wi-Fi connection after resuming from sleep mode.
• Adds new capabilities to DirectX, and increasing reliability. The graphics experience will be greatly improved for gamers.
• Improves audio and video performance for streaming high-definition content.
• Improves Windows Media Center (WMC) in content protection for TV.

If you’re interested in making your own Vista OS more user friendly, check out this TweakGuide Tweaking Companion for Windows Vista.

Word is out that Microsoft is developing a camera  to bring motion sensitive controls to the Xbox 360. The camera uses 3D technology for more accurate control than previous cameras. Unlike the Wii, the camera would allow hands free control using gestures of the hands, legs, and head.

Supposedly the official announcement may come as early as E3. Of course Microsoft has declined to confirm or deny these rumors. You can read the full article in the Wall Street Journal.

Developing motion sensitive controls  is a natural step towards cashing in on the growing market of casual gamers. I don’t think that anyone can deny that graphics on the 360 are superior by far to the Wii. It’s been my experience that many flashy Wii titles eventually sit on the shelf collecting dust as casual gamers learn to appreciate more complex games; kind of like trading in twinkies for steak. Hopefully in the end Microsoft can do its part to convert the casual gamers of the world.

If your looking for a good reason to play the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen videogame, listen up. Composers Steve Jablonsky and Bobby Tahouri are collaborating with electronica artists Julien-K on the soundtrack. These musical masters have put the excitement in several familiar movie and videogame soundtracks.

You’ve probably heard Jablonski’s work on both the latest Transformers live action movies. If you haven’t seen them, you may have listened to his hard driving score while beating down the Locust Hordes in Gears of War 2. Tahouri worked on the Iron Man film soundtrack and Julien-K was featured on the 2007 Transformers movie with their track “Technical Difficulties.”

More details on these artists and the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen videogame follow the break.

Jablonsky is best known for contributing music to the original score for 2007’s live-action Transformers movie and, more recently, the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie. Jablonsky is also highly regarded for his work in the original score to the video game Gears of War 2.

Tahouri is best known for his contributions to the score for the 2008 blockbuster movie Iron Man. Julien-K’s “Technical Difficulties” was included on the soundtrack to the 2007 Transformers movie and was featured in the film’s closing credits. Their debut album, “Death to Analogue” was released on March 10, 2009 through Metropolis Records. The band was featured on the main stage of the 2007 Projekt Revolution tour and has toured as an opening act for rock band Evanescence.

The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen video game, based on the upcoming live-action feature film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures in association with Hasbro, lets players take on the role of their favorite AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS, picking from the largest, most diverse range of playable Transformers – each with their own distinct abilities and weaponry. Set in unique environments across the globe such as Cairo and Shanghai, the game allows players to instantly switch between vehicle and robot modes as they drive, fly, fight and blast their way through intense, pressure-packed levels. After engaging in single player action, players for the first time ever will be able to go online and battle friends in all-new multiplayer modes.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen launches June 23, 2009 for all major platforms and handhelds. If you happened to have missed the latest Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen trailer, check it out on Gaming Today.

Just when gamers thought they had squeezed all the goodness from Gears of War 2, Epic Games targets players on All Fronts. This GW2 collection includes all previously released DLC; the Combustible, Flashback, and Snowblind map packs; and introduces the new Dark Corners map pack.

Dark Corners offers multi-player fans seven fresh battlegrounds to test their mettle. The bundle also includes a chapter cut from the original GW2 taking players back to Locust Hollow with Mutt and Dom. Throw in a poster, a custom Xbox Live theme, and a strategy guide and you’ve got a fairly good buy for your hard earned cash. One last enticement is a preview of “Road to Ruin,” the latest project from the man formerly known as “Cliffy B.” Seriously is there a symbol for that? Whatever you want to call him, Cliff Bleszinski rocks the gaming world.

Look for the Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection to hit retailers July 28th. You can lay out a cool $19.99 for the bundle or purchase just the Dark Corners map pack for 1,600 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live marketplace.

Details on the new Dark Corners maps follow the break.

A few quick notes on the seven new multiplayer maps in the Dark Corners pack:

• Allfathers Garden: Don’t get caught up in the beauty—the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders can be a tremendously deadly place. Powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.
• Memorial: It’s all about the heavy weaponry in Memorial, set near the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Take a moment to remember your fallen comrades before using your flanking and evasive skills to take control of the Boomshot and the battle.
• Sanctuary: Tight paths, blind corners, and an arsenal of weapons—the Locust-ravaged temple in Sanctuary is no longer the haven of reflection and remembrance it once was.
• War Machine: In this abandoned train station, players need to master the Longshot, Mulcher, and Boomshot to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.
• Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system. Stick together, separate the enemy, and have an exit strategy ready, or it’ll be a one-way trip.
• Way Station: In the limbo between death and “processing,” you’ll find Locust way stations like this one, filled with COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience—it’s best to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.
• Nowhere: Set in the middle of the desert, Nowhere is exactly how it sounds: barren and devoid of life. The open air and long lines of sight prove useful for Longshot devotees, but expect some fierce, close combat in the stairwell.

As you may or may not know, this has resulted in a number of criminals storing things they want to keep hidden on their XBox hard drives. According to authorities, this includes a fair amount of child pornography.

You see, the original XBox hard drive has always been able to be modified to make the console act like a PC. Interestingly, there’s no physical evidence this has been done. With current forensics software, investigators cannot examine the bit by bit information stored on the XBox hard drive, meaning that it stays hidden.

In an effort to alleviate this issue, David Collins, a computer scientist at Sam Houston State University, has created a tool that allows authorities to find these hidden files. The program, known as XFT, is the first ever developed for forensic technicians to read XBoxes. Not only does the tool read the information, it record the investigation as it takes place, and allows the recording to be replayed in court.

Now, I know some of you may want to scream about your privacy for your files, but in my opinion, anything that shows that these people are not actually gamers is fine with me. Don’t we have enough of a black eye with the general public? I think so. What we don’t need is for investigators to find a child pornographer storing files on his XBox, and publish news referring to him as a gamer.

What do you think?

To commemorate the growth of the Forge Cafe community over at Bungie.net, a collection of folks interested in taking the tools and sharing tips tricks and creations with each other, hitting its inaugural 75 member mark the organizers have announced their first map making challenge/contest.

Members of the Forge Cafe community can compete to create a themed Halo playground. Seriously a playground built up like a theme park using the tools, items and environments of the established maps. The map design contest is not centered around a playable experience however, merely an aesthetic goal of making a map in Forge that will allow players to see the fun of an Adventureland setting. Details of the contest and a link to the Forge Cafe can be found after the jump.

Official Map Contest #1, Category: Adventureland.

Kickin’ off Summer the right way, Forge Cafe members are given the task of creating their rendition of an amusement park. Ferris wheels, roller coasters, ski-ball machines. Whatever you see, we want to see. Make it as big, or as small as you like. Make as many or as few rides and attractions as you wish. It is your creation. Be Creative, be original. The map must be complete and submitted in the forum BEFORE12:00 p.m.CST MAY 12, 2009.That is 2 weeks! IF IT IS SUBMITTED AT 12:01 WEDNESDAY May 13, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! IMPORTANT!!! Submit map by posting it in the forums under this title:

(CONTEST 1) “YOUR MAP NAME”

NO EXCEPTIONS!

Playability is NOT a factor in this category. To kick things off, we just want to see what you can do. So use all money and objects building the park. Do not consider respawns or weapons a major priority. Theme is number one. Prize for this is secret, and will be given out once all maps have been judged by STAFF. The judging will shift to “member chosen” once we have more members. For the time being, this is the most logical way. No flames. No fuss. Just patiently waiting for our decission. The old fashion way of judging. The contest starts now, Tuesday, and will end in 2 weeks. All maps MUST BE submitted to to the forums with the CORRECT title to be officially submitted. You may edit your map freely after posting until contest ends. I will make a pinned post of the official submissions the day the contest ends. PLEASE, submit the maps on time and correctly, let’s set some examples.

So there you go. Amusement Park. Secret Prize. You have 2 weeks.

Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson has sent out the good word that Formal Wear for your avatar is here. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just going for that killer look, there are several choices for both male and female avatars. Express your personal style with these new costume pieces.

For the gentlemen we have
Blue Tuxedo (save that one for prom season)
Black Tuxedo
Shirt with Cummerbund
Black Trilby
Bowler Hat

For the ladies we have:
Elegant Ball Gown
Little Black Dress
Formal Trouser Suit
Elegant Watch
Red 60’s Shades
Strappy High Heels
Platform Shoes

Look for the gold stars in your Avatar Editor to find these new items. Thanks for the heads up Major Nelson.

The document contains a quote from Microsoft Programmer Hiroo Umeno, that states:

“This is … information that we as a team, optical disc drive team, knew about. When we first discovered the problem in September or October (2005), when we got a first report of disc movement, we knew this is what’s causing the problem.”

Because of this, Microsoft sent some engineers out in the field to “investigate complaints that the Xbox 360 was routinely scratching discs during demonstrations” at retail stores. This is when Microsoft admitted that if tilted, discs inside became “unchucked” and subsequently would collide with the drive’s optical pickup unit. This would lead to deep circular gouges on the discs. In light of this news, Microsoft considered three different possibilities of fixed the problem, but decided against all three because all three would cost the company too much money.

Instead, Microsoft started a disc replacement program which would give customers a new disc should they become damaged for any reason–but only if it was a Microsoft title and you were willing to pay $20.00 for the service.

An engineering consultant who issued a statement in the case, mentioned that Nintendo, Sony and other electronics makers always incorporate the possibility of a disc getting moved around inside when they are designing and making the product. What this basically means (like with the Red Ring of death issues) that Microsoft was more concerned with being the first to bring their new console to the market instead of delaying the launch to solve quality issues– or at least that is what some “upper management” people over at Microsoft believe.

If you want to read all the sordid details, Seattle Post Intelligencer (Seattle PI) has the goods over on their website. This is just one of many different suits that have been brought against the company since the Xbox 360 was released.

The original version of “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” performed by Gene Autry, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” as performed by Brenda Lee, Burl Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Hanukkah Blessings” as performed by Barenaked Ladies and “Santa Baby,” the Kylie Minogue version are downloadable for 160 MS points. “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” as performed by Nat King Cole and “White Christmas” as performed by Bing Crosby ring in at 180 MS points each. These holiday favorites are now available on Xbox LIVE for all regions except India, Japan and Korea.

A little bit about my own experience with LIPS follows the break.

My family has had mixed success with LIPS but enjoys it all the same. The convert your own playlist feature doesn’t work too well (especially if you have over 5K songs like my wife), but the songs that come with the game and DLC are just fine. The lighted microphones that come with the game are great. I hope they patch them for use with Rock Band 2.

Check out Major Nelson’s Lips: Christmas and Hanukkah DLC post for more details.

These three maps; Flood, Gold Rush, and Fuel Station; are a hefty 800 MS points. The Combustible Map Pack Trailer featuring content highlights is free only as Gold exclusive offer. You can view the trailer below courtesy of FileFront before investing a chunk of change that big. Details on each of the Gears of War 2 Combustible Maps follow the break.

• Flood is a very tight map that’s made extra snug when the environmental hazard of Imulsion begins creeping up around the edges. As the playing field closes in, the firefight will intensify as combat is forced to the center of the map. Teams skilled at flanking their opponents will have a powerful edge.
• Gold Rush takes place in an old Imulsion refinery that now serves as a hotly contested battleground. Players must survive heavy crossfire as they infiltrate the factory and navigate multiple tiers. Breakable glass allows for a clean shot at those who make a dash for the Longshot rifle while bolder players make their run for the heavy weapon. In the right hands, the Mortar can be devastating on this map, so keep those smoke grenades armed as the concussive effect comes in very handy.
• Fuel Station is situated in a desolate area marked by an abandoned fossil fuel station. The team that secures and controls the station is likely to be the side that wins the match. An especially strategic location on this map is the rooftop, as there are only two points of entry – the main elevator and a staircase on the back side of the building. Heavy weaponry is situated right in front, which presents a high risk to reward ratio in this level. Lugging the Mulcher around, deploying it and revving it up can keep an entire team at bay, and unleashing hell from the rooftops is always an excellent tactic.