Digital Joystick: Video Game News & Views

Videogame culture in the Pacific Northwest. Game reviews, movie reviews, editorials and articles.
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I am working on my coverage of the Xbox Keynote but I thought I would print up all the press releases they just sent out about E3.

They also posted the Xbox.com page about E3

E3 Expo

Normally I don’t like to post un-filtered press releases but they just dumped a lot of info.

Several Metric Tons of Press Releases Below:

Xbox 360 Primes Every Passion With Games That Rock, Race and Sizzle
Microsoft unveils “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Halo: Reach,” “Crackdown 2,” “Shadow Complex” and “Alan Wake” on Xbox 360.

LOS ANGELES — June 1, 2009 — Rock out. Duck and cover. Shift into overdrive. On the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. today made it perfectly clear: No matter who you are or what games you crave, Xbox 360 is the only gaming and entertainment console for you.

At a time when, according to NPD Group Inc., nearly seven in 10 consumers plan to spend the same or more on video games compared with last year, Xbox 360 today unveiled a lineup that is sure to tip the scales in favor of more — more fun, more entertainment value and more games available only on Xbox 360.

A “who’s who” of hot games, the list of Xbox exclusives includes “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™,” “Left 4 Dead 2,” “Alan Wake,” “Shadow Complex,” “Crackdown 2,” blockbuster “Halo 3: ODST” and the surprise announce of “Halo” trilogy prequel “Halo: Reach.” Sharing the stage were blockbusters Infinity Ward’s “Modern Warfare 2″ and “The Beatles: Rock Band.”

“We know that your fun and our success boil down to one thing: our ability to make games that are creative, diverse and entertaining. Period. And this year, we deliver in spades with the biggest and best lineup in our history,” said Phil Spencer, general manager of the global Microsoft Game Studios business. “From the core first-person-shooter fans who’ve enjoyed Xbox since the first ‘Halo’ to new audiences who are discovering us today with genre-defining games like ’1 vs 100,’ we have something for everyone with our best and broadest lineup ever.”

Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, most played, most coveted and most E-rated games in the industry — and with 1,000-plus titles to date, there’s more than one for you.
Heart-Thumping Entertainment, Exclusively on Xbox 360

Get behind the wheel of an Audi R8 V10 in “Forza Motorsport 3,” jump into the immersive movie-like action of “Alan Wake,” and download “Shadow Complex,” the newest Xbox LIVE Arcade game from the minds behind the blockbuster “Gears of War” franchise. Some of the most exciting games in 2009 and beyond are only on Xbox 360, including the following:

• “1 vs 100″ (Microsoft Game Studios). Are you ready to win big? The “1 vs 100″ U.S. and Canadian beta launches today, June 1, at 7:30 p.m. PDT. For the first time, “1 vs 100″ on Xbox LIVE combines the best of TV gameshow experiences with social gaming to create the largest interactive game show in the world. Based on the hit TV game show of the same name, “1 vs 100 Live” is regularly scheduled and features a live studio host who provides comedic commentary throughout the show and fresh content from a team of trivia writers and experts. Players can play as “the one,” “the mob” or “the crowd,” for the chance to win real prizes. Check your local Xbox LIVE listings to join “1 vs 100 Live.”

• “Alan Wake” (Remedy/Microsoft Game Studios). “Alan Wake” is the all-new psychological action thriller from the renowned creators of the “Max Payne” franchise. Coming in spring 2010 and exclusive to Xbox 360, “Alan Wake” will immerse players in an intense cinematic thrill ride of dreams and reality, where light is the only ally.

• “Crackdown 2″ (Ruffian Games/Microsoft Game Studios). The sequel to the award-winning “Crackdown,” “Crackdown 2″ is the premier open-ended action experience that lets you be judge, jury and executioner for a vast city. Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 in 2010, “Crackdown 2″ will take multiplayer2 gaming to unprecedented levels for the ultimate cooperative and competitive multiplayer experience, providing you and your friends with the complete freedom to explore, destroy and play as you return to restore justice and peace to Pacific City — by any means necessary.

• “Forza Motorsport 3″ (Turn 10/Microsoft Game Studios). Launching this October, “Forza Motorsport 3″ is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who’s ever dreamed of driving at full-throttle. Backed by breathtaking HD graphics and bone-jarring physics, you’ll take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. “Forza Motorsport 3″ includes driving assists and adjustable skill levels to make the game a gripping pick-up-and-play experience for audiences of all ages and skill levels, while new customization and sharing tools will further fuel the imaginations of the thriving “Forza Motorsport” community on Xbox LIVE.

• “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” (Epic Games Inc.). The “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on includes seven brand new multiplayer maps and a new campaign chapter, “Road to Ruin.” “Dark Corners” launches on Xbox LIVE Marketplace on July 28. The entertainment blockbuster of 2008, “Gears of War 2″ has now surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide.

• “Halo 3: ODST” (Bungie). Launching Sept. 22, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the landmark “Halo” saga that lets players experience the events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3″ through the eyes of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper). In addition to an all-new campaign, “ODST” includes three new “Halo 3″ multiplayer maps and the complete, stand-alone “Halo 3″ multiplayer experience.2 The game also introduces Firefight, an exciting new cooperative multiplayer mode that pits up to four players against increasingly challenging waves of enemies. As a special bonus, “Halo 3: ODST” also includes an invitation to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE. Also, launching on the same date with “Halo 3: ODST” is the “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack,” which offers “Halo” fans a new and exclusive wireless controller and the game title in one package at a great price.

• “Joy Ride” (Big Park/Microsoft Game Studios). Avatars, start your engines! Full of wild driving fun, “Joy Ride” will get your adrenaline pumping as you tear up the track with your friends, or jump, flip and trick your way through the Stunt Park as you work with the whole community to unlock rewards. “Joy Ride” is completely free to download and gives you all new ways to play, whether you’re looking for a quick game or a deep, custom social experience, all on Xbox LIVE.2 Design your dream car or purchase new tracks, game modes and avatar items. You can share the racetracks and game modes with your friends so no one is ever left out.

• “Left 4 Dead 2″ (Valve). “Left 4 Dead 2″ is the sequel to the best-selling and critically acclaimed cooperative multiplayer smash from Valve, creators of “Half-Life,” “Portal,” “Team Fortress” and “Counter-Strike.” Introducing melee weapons and new enemies to the original’s award-winning gameplay, “L4D2″ casts players as one of four new “Survivors” battling zombie hordes as they travel from Savannah, Ga., through New Orleans’ French Quarter.

• “Shadow Complex” (Epic Games Inc. and Chair Entertainment Group/Microsoft Game Studios). New from Epic Games and Chair Entertainment, “Shadow Complex” combines the best of old-school side-scroller design with modern, cutting-edge gameplay and incredible high-definition graphics. Collect power-ups, discover new abilities and evolve your character into a force of destruction as you explore an original story set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, “Empire.” “Shadow Complex” marries the quality and depth of a full retail title with the accessibility you love, exclusively on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

• “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” (Ubisoft). Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 this fall, unleash the ferocious skills of renegade agent Sam Fisher and uncover a deadly terrorist plot in “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™.” Completely reinvented and revolutionized, “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” ushers in a new breed of action gameplay leaving players fully immersed in the life of the world’s most dangerous spy. Take full advantage of the 20 million member Xbox LIVE community in this latest installment of the award-winning “Splinter Cell” franchise.

Blockbusters Here, There, Everywhere on Xbox 360
It’s a simple truth: third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Why? Because only Xbox 360 can pair must-have titles like this year’s blockbuster from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare 2″; “The Beatles: Rock Band”; and “Tony Hawk®: RIDE™” with Xbox LIVE, the world’s largest social network on your TV. The result? As the world’s largest online gaming network, Xbox LIVE gives you more friends to play with and its exclusive collection of Game Add-ons ensures the fun never ends. It leaves only one question: Why would you play these blockbusters anywhere else?

• “Final Fantasy® XIII” (Square Enix). The world-renowned “Final Fantasy” will continue making its home on Xbox 360 with the upcoming release of “Final Fantasy XIII,” the eagerly anticipated title from Square Enix. “Final Fantasy XIII” uses the power and cutting-edge technology of Xbox 360 to deliver seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics as gamers summon the courage to execute powerful attacks with an evolved Active Time Battle system and ultimately fulfill their destiny. Scheduled to be released only in North America and Europe.

• “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” (Konami Digital Entertainment). “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” is the highly anticipated debut of Hideo Kojima’s critically acclaimed “Metal Gear Solid” franchise on Xbox 360. “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” will star Raiden, one of the most popular characters in the “Metal Gear Solid” universe, in a new, thrilling adventure on Xbox 360.

• “Modern Warfare 2″ (Infinity Ward/Activision). On Nov. 10, 2009, Infinity Ward will make its return with the release of “Modern Warfare 2″ on Xbox 360, the most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, “Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™.” “Modern Warfare 2″ continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. Xbox LIVE gamers will also be the first to get their hands on two “Modern Warfare 2″ map packs coming first to Xbox 360.

• “The Beatles: Rock Band” (Harmonix/MTV Games). On 09.09.09, “The Beatles: Rock Band” will allow fans all over the world to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. In addition, “The Beatles: Rock Band” offers Beatles fans the opportunity to rock out with new hardware replica controllers modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr throughout their careers. And, for the first time, players will be able to download music and make a change: Available only on Xbox 360, all Apple Corps, MTV Games and Microsoft proceeds from downloads of “All You Need Is Love” will benefit Doctors Without Borders.

• “Tony Hawk: RIDE” (Activision). “Tony Hawk: RIDE” redefines the sports genre by offering a dynamic hands-free gaming experience featuring an innovative skateboard controller. Using full motion sensing technology, players physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. The skateboard controller provides an accessible and social gaming experience on Xbox 360 that allows players of all skill levels to battle for skateboard supremacy by challenging gamers worldwide over Xbox LIVE, the largest social gaming network.

Xbox Unveils Entertainment Experiences That Put Everyone Center Stage
Microsoft rewrites the rules on fun with controller-free entertainment, Facebook for your TV, plus instant on 1080p HD streaming video.

LOS ANGELES — June 1, 2009 — The future of home entertainment has a new name: Xbox 360. Today, Microsoft Corp. opened the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) with a historic Xbox 360 briefing that rocked, tweeted, revved and awakened the world to a new era of fun and entertainment. In addition to premiering 10 exclusive new games, revolutionizing the way we watch TV, and making it easier than ever to connect to friends, Xbox also welcomed visionary filmmaker Steven Spielberg to introduce “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming.

“Today with cultural visionaries at our side and controller-free gaming on our horizon, Xbox 360 authored a new page in home entertainment history,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “For us, this E3 is about breaking down barriers — between generations, between games and entertainment, and most important, between video game players and everyone else — in a way that only Xbox 360 can.”

During its briefing, Microsoft showed why Xbox 360 continues to defy industry sales trends. First: A lineup of blockbuster games to ignite every passion, including “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Alan Wake,” “Halo 3: ODST” and “The Beatles: Rock Band.” Next? A host of groundbreaking Xbox LIVE services, from instant on 1080p HD streaming movies and television to Facebook and Last.fm tailor-made for your TV. And rounding it all out, “Project Natal,” a whole new way to play, no controller required.
“Project Natal”: No Strings (or Controllers) Attached
Unveiled for the first time to the public was “Project Natal,” pronounced “nuh-tall” and a code name for a revolutionary new way to play, no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak, you and your friends can jump into the fun. The only experience needed is life experience.

Compatible with any Xbox 360 system, the “Project Natal” sensor is the world’s first to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, “Project Natal” tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions and even a shift of emotion in your voice.
In addition, unlike other devices, the “Project Natal” sensor is not light-dependent. It can recognize you just by looking at your face, and it doesn’t just react to key words but understands what you’re saying. Call a play in a football game, and players will actually respond. Want to log onto Xbox LIVE? Simply step in front of the sensor.

“The next step in interactive entertainment is to make the controller disappear,” said Steven Spielberg, visionary director and producer. “With ‘Project Natal,’ we’ll see games that bring everyone together through technology that actually recognizes us.”

The Best of the Internet, Custom-Made for Your TV
Groove, party or connect with a friend. Xbox LIVE, the world’s largest social network on TV, today announced that Facebook and Last.fm would be tailor-made for your TV, only on Xbox 360. Microsoft also announced Xbox LIVE Party for movies, which allows movie experiences to be shared — on the couch or across the country over Xbox LIVE in supported movies.

“We are always asking ourselves how to make the TV more social,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Studios at Microsoft. “By bringing Facebook, Last.fm and Xbox LIVE Party for movies and TV shows to Xbox LIVE, we’re not only extending the walls of your living room beyond your home to your friends in different corners of the world, we’re creating the definitive social network, uniting more than 200 million people to share status updates, pictures, thoughts on music and the world’s best online gaming experience.”

The addition of Facebook to Xbox LIVE means friends are always connected, anytime, anywhere — from virtually any couch. But updating your status and sharing photos won’t be the only things you can do. Using Facebook Connect, you can share your greatest moments in gaming by posting updates and screenshots from supported games directly to Facebook. Don’t let your moment of glory fade away — make sure everyone sees it with Facebook Connect, starting with the future version of the premier EA SPORTS golf franchise “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®.”

A first for TV, Last.fm,1 part of the CBS Interactive Music Group, will give Xbox LIVE subscribers access to millions of songs streaming through Xbox 360 to the best speakers in the house. Xbox LIVE subscribers will be able to create their own free, personalized radio stations and listen to them with friends in the living room or across the country.

Xbox 360 also solidified its place as one of the leading social entertainment networks by announcing Xbox LIVE Party for movies. Go to the cinema with your friends whether you are sitting on the same couch or in living rooms across the country. Starting this year, you can share a virtual theater, see your avatar (a virtual you) on the screen, all while you listen to each other laugh and cry at the movie through voice chat on Xbox LIVE. With movie parties, the only thing you can’t share is the popcorn.

1080p HD in an Instant
Continuing a pioneering effort that began with the introduction of the industry’s first video marketplace in November 2006 and broke new ground with the announcement of the first live TV straight from a gaming console last week in the U.K., Microsoft today announced that Xbox would deliver yet another first-to-the-world: instant on 1080p movies and TV with 5.1 surround sound — direct to consoles connected to compatible HD TVs through the Xbox LIVE social entertainment network.

Starting this fall, a broad selection of movies and TV shows from Zune video on Xbox 360 will be available to start and stream instantly, in the highest video quality and at the push of a button.2 No discs, no waiting for downloads and no delays. Get the selection of a video megastore, the best video clarity available and the convenience of on-demand, only on Xbox 360.

In addition, Microsoft announced it will more than double the number of markets where Xbox LIVE offers its TV shows and movies, growing from eight to 18, by adding Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Xbox LIVE members in these markets will have access to instant on 1080p video. New Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace advancements also came for the U.S., U.K.and Ireland, specifically:

• More choices with Netflix. Watch movies instantly streamed from Netflix.3 Browse and add selections to your instant Queue — right on your TV with your Xbox 360. Plus now with Xbox LIVE Party, you can watch and share supported movies with up to seven friends on Xbox LIVE. Debating between comedy and horror? Recommend your favorites to friends and see your virtual you as an avatar on the silver screen.

• Live TV with BSkyB Ltd. The Xbox LIVE commitment to providing the best global entertainment gains momentum with its newest partner, Sky. Now, for the first time, watch live or on-demand TV from Sky on Xbox 360, including Sky Sports. Never miss a moment of your favorite live TV shows, sports, movies and family-friendly entertainment across the U.K. and Ireland on Xbox LIVE. You can even share your favorites with up to seven friends in an Xbox LIVE Party.

Games for Everyone
Get behind the steering wheel of the sleek Audi R8. Rock out with your friends to the latest music and party games. Discover a new chapter set in the iconic universe of “Halo.” Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, highly anticipated games and experiences in the industry. With more than 1,000 titles to date, there’s more than just one for you.

• Get behind the wheel. Hit the straightaway in more than 400 cars on the world’s most beautiful tracks in the definitive racing game for this console generation, “Forza Motorsport 3.” Or get your avatar in the driver’s seat as you tear up the track with your friends in “Joy Ride.”

• Adrenaline-rushing exclusives. Xbox 360 is your top destination for the biggest exclusives this year and beyond, including “Halo 3: ODST,” “Crackdown 2,” “Alan Wake,” “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” and “Left 4 Dead 2.”

• Tap into your inner musician. Xbox 360 continues to be the preferred venue for the music games you love. Discover the magic of music and The Beatles with “The Beatles: Rock Band” or start a spontaneous singing party with “Lips: Number One Hits.”

• The best blockbuster experiences. Third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Pairing must-have titles such as this year’s blockbuster from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare 2″ with Xbox LIVE, Xbox 360 offers more friends to play with and an exclusive collection of Game Add-ons.

“Project Natal” 101

“Project Natal,” pronounced “nuh-tall,” is a code name for a revolutionary new way to play, no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, “Project Natal” tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions, even a difference of emotion in your voice.

When “Project Natal” is ready, it will work with every Xbox 360 console so people who have never picked up a controller can finally join the fun.

See below for “Project Natal” 101, a list of terms and concepts to help explain this transformation in home entertainment.

What is “Project Natal”?

“Project Natal” (pronounced na-tall) is the code name for the new controller-free gaming and entertainment experience from Xbox 360. The name “Project Natal” has several sources. Microsoft Corp. traditionally uses cities as code names. As a result, Alex Kipman, who incubated the project and is from Brazil, chose Natal, a city along the northeastern coast of Brazil, as a tribute to his country. In addition, he knew that Natal also means “to be born” in Latin. Given the new audiences “Project Natal” will bring to Xbox 360, this felt right.

How Will “Project Natal” Change the Way I Play?

• Controller-free gaming and entertainment. “Project Natal” provides a whole new way to play — no controller required. It uses a sensor to track your body movement and recognize your face, even listen to your voice. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips, or speak, you and your friends will be able to jump instantly into any “Project Natal” experience.

• Full-body play. “Project Natal” provides a new way to play where you use all parts of your body — head, hands, feet and torso. With controller-free gaming you don’t just control the superhero, you are the superhero. Full-body tracking allows the “Project Natal” sensor to capture every move, from head to toe, to give players a full-body gaming experience.

• Personalized play. “Project Natal” provides an in-game experience in which the player’s face and voice are recognized. Greet and speak to characters in the game, or simply step into view of the sensor to log into Xbox LIVE and connect with friends. Only “Project Natal” is smart enough to remember voices and faces. Fun has never been so personalized.

• Off-the-couch play. “Project Natal” provides gameplay that gets you off the couch, on your feet and in the fun. Each “Project Natal” experience is designed to get players moving, laughing, cheering and playing together. “Project Natal” makes social gaming off-the-couch fun.

• Easy-to-play fun. “Project Natal” makes sharing in the fun a snap. Talk or watch a movie in the same living room or on the other side of the world — no headset, no keyboard and no controllers required. It’s just you, your friends, your family and a whole new way to play.

How Does “Project Natal” Work?

• “Project Natal” sensor. “Project Natal” is the world’s first system to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multiarray microphone and custom processor running proprietary software that brings “Project Natal” experiences to every Xbox 360 console. The “Project Natal” sensor tracks full-body movement and individual voices, creating controller-free fun and social entertainment available only on Xbox 360.

• RGB camera. “Project Natal” has a video camera that delivers the three basic color components. As part of the “Project Natal” sensor, the RGB camera helps enable facial recognition and more.

• Depth sensor. An infrared projector combined with a monochrome CMOS sensor allows “Project Natal” to see the room in 3-D (as opposed to inferring the room from a 2-D image) under any lighting conditions.

• Multiarray microphone. “Project Natal” has a microphone that will be able to locate voices by sound and extract ambient noise. The multiarray microphone will enable headset-free Xbox LIVE party chat and more.

• Custom processor (running Microsoft proprietary software layer). A proprietary software layer makes the magic of “Project Natal” possible. This layer differentiates “Project Natal” from any other technology on the market through its ability to enable human body recognition and extract other visual noise.

Xbox Live Fact Sheet – June 2009

Xbox LIVE offers the most comprehensive gaming and entertainment service connected to your TV. Whether it’s transforming your TV into a virtual theater, your couch into a race car or your living room into a rock arena, Xbox LIVE puts a world of instant fun, friends and entertainment at your fingertips.

WATCH … your favorite films and shows from the largest global TV and movie library on any console. Access thousands of movies and TV shows and manage your Netflix instant Queue to create a true movie theater experience in the comfort of your home, all on your Xbox 360 console through Xbox LIVE.

• Zune video. Zune comes to Xbox LIVE to deliver instant-on 1080p HD streaming video on your Xbox 360. It delivers the selection of a video megastore, in the highest possible clarity1 and with the convenience of cable. Watch the movies and TV shows you want, when you want them, with instant-on 1080p video and 5.1 surround sound.1 You can even find your favorite film at the touch of a button using new, enhanced search functions.

• Netflix. Watch movies instantly streamed from Netflix, and share in a party with up to seven friends with Netflix on Xbox LIVE. Recommend your favorite shows, update your instant Queue, see the avatars of you and your friends right on your TV, and share movie party night — all only on Xbox LIVE.

• BSkyB. The Xbox LIVE commitment to providing the best global entertainment gains momentum with its newest partner, Sky. Now, for the first time, watch live or on-demand TV from Sky, including Sky Sports, right on your Xbox 360. Never miss a moment of your favorite live TV shows, sports, movies and family-friendly entertainment across the U.K. and Ireland on Xbox LIVE. You can even share your favorites with up to seven friends in an Xbox LIVE Party.

In addition to the eight countries already enjoying movies and TV shows on Xbox LIVE through regional partnerships with studios, networks and providers such as Sky, starting this fall 10 new countries will have access to Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace. Xbox LIVE will now deliver the convenience of instant-on 1080p video to an expanded global consumer base including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Australia and New Zealand.

LISTEN … and perform music in all new ways. Connect to a music catalog of millions of songs in more ways than ever, on the new Xbox LIVE Music Channel. Whether it’s personalized recommendations from Last.fm or even putting on your own concert with “Lips,” Xbox LIVE amplifies the options for enjoying music at home.

• Last.fm. Combining the best of personalized streaming music with the entertainment center in the living room, Xbox LIVE and Last.fm crank up the ways to create custom entertainment experiences. For the first time, you have access to high-quality streaming music on your Xbox 360 console. Listen with your friends, manage your personalized radio station by loving or banning specific tracks, or let Last.fm customize a soundtrack for you based on artists you love or any music style you choose.

• Music games stores. Download the newest hits or the most memorable classics with new, dedicated stores for “Rock Band” (MTV Games), “Guitar Hero” (Activision) and “Lips” (Microsoft Game Studios). These stores will let you explore and sample new songs and Game Add-ons for these popular music game franchises in one place, without having to launch the full games.

PLAY … the best selection of games in all-new ways. With exciting online competitions such as “1 vs 100,” innovative downloadable games such as “Joy Ride” and “Shadow Complex,” and full versions of Xbox 360 games available digitally with Games on Demand, Xbox LIVE brings a whole new wave of fun straight to your living room.

• “1 vs 100.” “1 vs 100″ on Xbox LIVE kicks off a new genre of global social entertainment that brings the excitement, anticipation and production value of game shows to Xbox LIVE. In the beta season, play along with friends or match up with opponents of the same skill level as you compete live with thousands of other contestants for a chance to win real prizes. Based on the TV show of the same name, “1 vs 100 Live” is an event where you may play against thousands of other Xbox LIVE Gold members as “the One,” the 100 known as “the Mob,” or “the Crowd.” Prepare to be entertained as the live studio host provides spontaneous and comedic commentary throughout the show, and answer fresh trivia created by a team of experts. The beta season of “1 vs 100″ is available in the U.S. and Canada.

• “Joy Ride.” Give your avatar a set of wheels with “Joy Ride,” an exciting community driving experience on Xbox LIVE. Filled with wild driving action, “Joy Ride” is completely free to download and lets you challenge and cooperate with your friends as you race on the track, tear up the stunt park, and jump, flip and trick your way to the finish line. With customizable cars, unlockable content and premium Game Add-ons, such as new cars, tracks and game modes, “Joy Ride” gives everyone a chance to jump in and join the fun.

• “Shadow Complex.” From blockbuster developers Epic Games Inc. and Chair Entertainment Group comes the next evolution in Xbox LIVE Arcade games. “Shadow Complex” is the height of old-school side-scroller design combined with modern, cutting-edge gameplay, all delivered with incredible graphics thanks to the legendary Unreal Engine 3. Collect items, power-ups and new abilities, and evolve your character into a force of destruction as you explore an ever-changing landscape set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, “Empire.”

• Games on Demand. Convenient and always available, Games on Demand provides 24×7 access to a growing catalog of full Xbox 360 games from the top publishers. Get the games you want, straight to your Xbox 360 from the comfort of your living room. A great selection of Xbox 360 favorites are available to download and enjoy at the push of a button.

SHARE … the fun with your friends on the biggest social network on the planet. From a groundbreaking partnership with Facebook, to integration with Twitter, and movie and photo parties with friends, Xbox LIVE gives you the power to share your entertainment experiences with your friends almost anywhere.

• Facebook. Facebook and Xbox LIVE join forces to connect the largest social network on the planet with the largest entertainment and gaming network on TV. Share and interact with friends from around the globe, post real-time status updates, and check out photo galleries on the big screen from the comfort of your living room with Facebook on Xbox LIVE. In addition, with Facebook Connect on Xbox LIVE you can share your favorite gaming moments with all your friends. Starting with a future version of EA Sports™ golf franchise “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®” for Xbox 360, take bragging rights to a completely new level.

• Twitter. Stay connected with Twitter on Xbox LIVE. Now you can be in the know and keep your social circle up to date by reading, posting and replying to tweets right from your Xbox 360. Follow friends and celebrities, learn about the news at it happens, and let people know what you’re up to all on Xbox LIVE.

• Xbox LIVE Parties. Connect and share movies, music, photos and gaming experiences with your friends on the same sofa or from a different coast; laugh, chat, send messages and make new friends. Xbox LIVE lets you have more fun with entertainment in more ways, all from one place.

• Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace. Truly reflect yourself and your sense of style with the new Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace. Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games. You can also purchase interactive avatar props to fit your unique personality, and even earn cool new items just by playing your favorite games.

GOLD … gives you all this and more, including full, unlimited access to new and exciting features such as Facebook, Twitter, “1 vs 100 Live” beta, Netflix, Last.fm, Sky, Xbox LIVE Parties3 and photo sharing, exclusive weekly deals on movies, games, and entertainment, and early access to game demos. The best multiplayer gaming network, access to the biggest names in entertainment, and all-new ways to watch, listen to and play your favorites with friends from around the world: an Xbox LIVE Gold Membership is hands-down the best value in home entertainment.4

The information contained in this fact sheet relates to pre-release products that may be substantially modified before first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the products when first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with regard to the fact sheet or the information contained in it.

1 HD videos are provided in 1080p. 1080p-capable HDTV and HDMI cable required to achieve this performance. Instant 1080p HD feature also requires adequate broadband speed, and video and audio quality will vary based on speed.
2 Xbox LIVE Gold Membership and Netflix unlimited membership required. See Netflix Terms of Use for details about Netflix service.
3 Features vary by region
4 Netflix unlimited membership is required; sold separately. Movies, TV shows, games and add-ons sold separately; Microsoft Points required to shop Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Hard drive is recommended for Xbox LIVE, and is required for some features.

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