Author: Major Nelson

Content: Tecmo Bowl Throwback
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: Canada and United States
Dash Text: (ONLINE INTERACTIONS NOT RATED BY THE ESRB) The legend is back! Tecmo Bowl® Throwback is a remake of the classic Tecmo Super Bowl, with the same rules and fast-paced gameplay as the original, but with the option to play it in brand new high definition 3D graphics. Switch it back to old school in real time with the same graphics and music from back in the day! Tecmo Bowl® Throwback brings back the gameplay you loved, and stays true to the Tecmo Super Bowl legacy! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add the Tecmo Bowl demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Here is a look at the titles people are playing on Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Modern Warfare 2
2    Halo 3
3    Battlefield Bad Co. 2

4    FIFA 10
5    Call of Duty: WaW
6    Splinter Cell Conviction
7    Skate 3 Demo
8    Gears of War 2
9    Call of Duty 4
10    GTA IV (Purchase the full game for direct download) 
11    Left 4 Dead 2
12    Forza Motorsport 3 (Download the demo)
13    Blur – Multiplayer Beta Demo (Pre-order the game)
14    NBA 2K10

15    NHL 10
16    Borderlands
17    Madden NFL 10 (Download the demo)
18    Halo 3: ODST
19    Splinter Cell Conviction Demo

20    Game Room **

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)
1    AFTER BURNER CLIMAX
2    Game Room **
3    Final Fight: Double Impact
4    Trials HD
5    Toy Soldiers
6    Perfect Dark
7    Castle Crashers
8    UNO
9    Battlefield 1943
10    Marvel vs. Capcom 2
11    MEGA MAN 10
12    Magic: The Gathering
13    Worms 2: Armageddon
14    Hasbro Family Game Night *

15    Worms
16    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
17    SOUTH PARK LET'S GO TOWER DEFENSE PLAY!

18    Puzzle Chronicles
19    Shadow Complex
20    Marble Blast Ultra

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.

**Combined sales of all Game Room  titles

*Combined sales of all Hasbro Family Game Night titles

Top Indie Games (Full Versions purchased)

1    Baby Maker Extreme
2    I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1  
3    Yet Another Zombie Defense 
4    Avatar Showdown
5    The Impossible Game
6    The Impossible Avatar Getaway
7    Breath of Death VII
8    Avatars, Ghosts'n Zombies
9    Home Run Challenge
10    Miner Dig Deep
11    Super Avatar
12    Avatar Drop
13    Let's Learn Japanese: Beginner
14    Beat Hazard
15    Shoot 1UP
16    Abduction Action!
17    Inside Lacrosse's CL2010 
18    NLL Lacrosse 2010
19    Massage Me
20    Avatar Bumper Cars  

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Indie Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Some content (and therefore the links) may not be available in all Xbox LIVE regions.

I’ve been getting some questions about the upcoming Rapture Metro Pack, the next DLC for BioShock 2 that’s coming to Xbox 360 and Games for Windows -LIVE, so I thought I’d help clear up some details.

 

Rapture Metro Pack (800 Microsoft Points):

 

· Six all-new maps built, some built from the single-player portion of the game

· Three new Achievements/Trophies

· Rebirth Feature – Players who reach rank 50 have the option to rank down to Level 1 and receive a special mask

 

And just to update: the content will not be available this week as previously reported.

 

I’ll have more details on timing in the very near future.

Content: Far Cry 2
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: All regions Xbox LIVE regions except Japan and Korea
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". Far Cry® 2 is a true open-world FPS where every decision you make affects the outcome of the game. The first sequel to the award-winning franchise takes you to one of the most beautiful and hostile environments in the world – AFRICA. You are a gun for hire, trapped in a war-torn African state, stricken with malaria and forced to make deals with corrupt warlords. Your mission is to hunt down and kill The Jackal. This evil arms dealer has been perpetuating this conflict for years, wreaking havoc on the land an all of its innocent people. Run, swim, drive, fly, shoot, fight and smash your way through over 50km² of open world. Beware though, sometimes the hunter can become the hunted. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/a

Purchase Far Cry 2 and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

 

Content: Kane and Lynch: Dead Men
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions except Japan and Korea
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". A flawed mercenary and a medicated psychopath forced together on a violent and chaotic path seeking redemption and revenge. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase Kane and Lynch: Dead Men and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

Content: SHReK the THiRD

Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions except Japan and Korea
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". Save Far Far Away in this hilarious twisted fairy tale with Shrek and his friends in a new adventure from the movie and beyond… There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase SHReK the THiRD and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

Tecmo Bowl is coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday for 800 points.

 

Content: Split Second Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LVE regions
Dash Text: Split/Second is an intense arcade racing game set within the universe of a mega-budget, prime-time reality TV show. Contestants race to be the 1st across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction, with the ultimate goal of becoming the season champion. The city is rigged to blow and you’re in control of the action – bridges will fall, buildings will be reduced to clouds of dust and cars blown to pieces – devastating explosions will decimate your rivals and rip apart the track, creating new routes and challenging obstacles. Explosive stunts, demolition and balls-out racing thrills combine to create the ultimate high-octane racing experience! Buckle up…it’s about to get explosive out there!

 

Add the Split Second demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

Like the demo? Pre-order the game here

 

This week, Xbox LIVE Gold members can purchase the Xbox LIVE Arcade game Dishwasher Dead Samurai for 1/2 off (400 points.)

 

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : e (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-Host: Stepto (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)

Interview: Allen Goedde, Bioshock 2(19:38 – 25:23)
Interview: Nick Baynes, Split / Second (25:23 – 39:23)

Name the Game

Xbox 101 and more

 
Note: I’ve added the above show notes to the ID3 Lyrics data field. If your device supports displaying lyrics, you’ll find this useful 

Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode:

Xbox LIVE Marketplace release schedule

Halo- Reach SKU’s announced (with pix)

Left 4 Dead 2 Game Add-on- The Passing

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction

Splinter Cell Conviction Starter Kit
Bioshock 2

Split / Second

Just Cause 2

Halo 3- ODST <—You’ll need this for the upcoming Halo Reach beta

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

http://kin.com/

Show Details: 

Duration (approx):	1:08:52
File size (approx) :	31.6 MB
Format:	MP3

Subscribe:
Subscribe directly using your preferred podcasting tool:

[iTunes]	Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3) Listen in iTunes? Submit a review
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Or, copy and paste this URL into a podcasting tool: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MajorNelsonblogcast
 
Listen now:

Click the player below to stream this show to your browser and listen to the show: 

Download Latest Episode->  Download the latest episode to your computer or preferred device

Email at Major – at Xbox – dot com with comments about the show.

Halo: Reach will be available in standard, Limited and Legendary editions when the game launches this fall. Full details on the contents of the Limited and Legendary editions are below:

Halo: Reach Limited Edition – $79.99 (USD)
In addition to the game disc and manual, the Limited edition includes:

• Game disc housed in recovered ONI ”black box”
• An exclusive Elite armor set for use in multiplayer modes
• Artifact bag containing Dr. Halsey’s personal journal and other classified documents and effects that unravel long held secrets from the “Halo” universe

Halo: Reach Legendary Edition – $149.99 (USD)
The complete “Halo: Reach” collection. In addition to the game disc, manual, and the complete contents of the Limited edition, the Legendary edition includes:

• Noble Team statue expertly crafted by the artisans at McFarlane Toys. Individually molded, hand-painted and individually numbered, this statue is a must-have for any serious “Halo” fan
• UNSC-themed custom packaging
• An exclusive multiplayer Spartan armor effect

 

The standard edition of Halo: Reach will have an estimated price of $59.99 USD.  The two special editions will be available only while supplies last and I’ll let you know when they’ll be available for pre-order. Until then, I’ve posted some high rez pictures of some of the items mentioned above.

 

In other Halo news, Bungie’s latest Halo: Reach ViDoc, titled Carnàge Carnivàle was also released today. We’re only a few short days away from the Halo : Reach multiplayer beta which starts May 3rd. As a reminder, you will need your Halo 3: ODST game disc to participate in the beta.

Content: The Passing
Price: 560 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: Left 4 Dead 2’s “The Passing” brings the original Left 4 Dead Survivors down south for a meeting with the L4D2 cast, while delivering new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase The Passing and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

Remember: You’ll need a full version of Left 4 Dead 2 to access this content.

Content: LOST PLANET 2 Multiplayer Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: LOST PLANET returns with the long-awaited sequel to the 2 million-plus selling action shooter! LOST PLANET 2's all-new co-op feature allows up to 4 players to team up in Campaign Mode, forming new tactics and strategies to tackle situations that would be impossible alone. In this multiplayer demo, you and 15 other players battle it out on an all-new map, Turbulent Jungle. Choose from one of two modes popularized in the original LOST PLANET: Elimination or Post Grab. All the new VSs, weapons, and support items from the Campaign mode are also available in multiplayer. Grab your weapon of choice, plan out your attack, and get into the heat of battle with players from all over the world!

 

Add the free LOST PLANET 2 Multiplayer Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

Like the demo? Pre-order the full game

Content: Puzzle Chronicles
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions except Japan and Korea
Dash Text: (ONLINE INTERACTIONS NOT RATED BY THE ESRB) Enter the dark and savage lands of the Ashurin Empire as you battle to avenge the atrocities the Empire brought upon your tribesmen. On your heroic quest to topple the Empire you will fight fierce beasts and battle hardened warriors in this new Puzzle RPG hybrid game. Featuring an active puzzle combat mechanic, deep story, and robust character development Puzzle Chronicles will bring you into the next era of Puzzle RPGs. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add the free Puzzle Chronicles demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: AFTER BURNER CLIMAX
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: Take to the skies and experience blazing speeds in the world’s fastest fighter jets! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add the free AFTER BURNER CLIMAX demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

If you’re just getting into the Splinter Cell series, or you are looking for a refresher, grab the free Splinter Cell Starter Kit PDF file.  This PDF file, which is normally only available only to press, was too good not to share. In fact, it’s kind of like a really good game manual/franchise backgrounder.

After chatting with Ubisoft, they agreed that everyone in the community would probably like to see it and asked me to post it. Enjoy this walk down memory lane / background on Sam Fisher and company.

 

Click here to download the 1.6 MB PDF

Content: Halo 3
Price: Check pricing for your region

Availability: All Xbox LIVE Regions
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". The epic saga continues with Halo 3, the hugely anticipated third chapter in the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise created by Bungie. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase Halo 3 and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: Saints Row
Price: Check pricing for your region

Availability: Now available in European Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". Join the 3rd Street Saints in their battle for control of Stilwater in the 1st urban open world game for the Xbox 360! Offering extensive character customization, 13 unique pick up activities, 4 story lines, and a sprawling city that's unlocked from the start, Saints Row is the next evolutionary step in open world gaming. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase Saints Row and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Now available in European Xbox LIVE regions, Australia and New Zealand
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". Sonic The Hedgehog redefines his trademark speed for the most intense, high-velocity adventure yet! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase SONIC THE HEDGEHOG and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: Need for Speed Carbon
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Now available in Asian Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: This game supports English and Chinese. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". The Battle for the City is Won in the Canyon What starts in the city is settled in the canyons as Need for Speed™ Carbon immerses you in the world’s most dangerous and adrenaline-filled form of street racing. You and your crew must race in an all-out war for the city, risking everything to take over your rivals’ neighborhoods one block at a time. As the police turn up the heat, the battle ultimately shifts to Carbon Canyon, where territories and reputations can be lost on every perilous curve. With online racing and the most advanced graphics and car customization tools ever, Need for Speed™ Carbon is the ultimate next generation racing game. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Purchase Need for Speed Carbon and add it to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

Here is a look at the titles people are playing on Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Modern Warfare 2
2    Halo 3
3    Battlefield Bad Co. 2
4    Call of Duty: WaW
5    FIFA 10
6    Call of Duty 4
7    GTA IV (Purchase the full game for direct download) 
8    Gears of War 2
9    Splinter Cell Conviction 
10  Skate 3 Demo
11  Blur – Multiplayer Beta Demo
12  Left 4 Dead 2
13  Forza Motorsport 3 (Download the demo)
14  Splinter Cell Conviction Demo
15  NBA 2K10
16  Game Room **
17  Halo 3: ODST
18  2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Demo
19  Borderlands
20  Madden NFL 10 (Download the demo)

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)
1    Final Fight: Double Impact
2    Game Room **
3    Toy Soldiers
4    Perfect Dark
5    Trials HD
6    Castle Crashers
7    Battlefield 1943
8    UNO
9    MEGA MAN 10
10  Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
11  Magic: The Gathering
12  Worms 2: Armageddon
13  Marvel vs. Capcom 2
14  Hasbro Family Game Night *
15  Worms
16  Marble Blast Ultra
17  Shadow Complex
18  Peggle
19  SOUTH PARK LET'S GO TOWER DEFENSE PLAY!
20  Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.

**Combined sales of all Game Room  titles

*Combined sales of all Hasbro Family Game Night titles

Top Indie Games (Full Versions purchased)

1    I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1 
2    Yet Another Zombie Defense
3    Baby Maker Extreme
4    Avatar Showdown
5    The Impossible Game
6    The Impossible Avatar Getaway 
7    Super Avatar
8    Let's Learn Japanese: Beginner
9    Avatar Drop
10  Miner Dig Deep
11  Avatar Bumper Cars 
12  Avatar Street Basketball 
13  Home Run Challenge
14  Avatars, Ghosts'n Zombies
15  Inside Lacrosse's CL2010
16  Shoot 1UP
17  Head Shot 2
18  Avatar Golf
19  Avatar QuizCall
20  Massage Me

And finally, here is the last  Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1    Halo 2
2    Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3    Splinter Cell Chaos
4    Fable
5    Counter-Strike
6    Conker: Live Reloaded
7    Star Wars: Battlefront
8    Doom 3
9    SW: Republic Commando
10  SW: KOTOR

 

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Indie Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Some content (and therefore the links) may not be available in all regions.

Thanks to our good friends at Gearbox software, I present thee with a few official Claptrap sounds from Borderlands.  Use them to make a ringtone, text alert messages, new mail notification and more. Here is a 3.9 MB.ZIP file that contains 16 classic Claptrap clips.

 

Note: These audio clips are provided for personal, non-commercial use only!

Look for Puzzle Chronicles and Afterburner Climax for 800 points each on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday.

 

This week, Xbox LIVE Gold members can purchase the Zombie Island game add-on for Borderlands for 1/2 off (400 points.)

 

 

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : e (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-Host: Stepto (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)

Name the Game

Xbox 101 and more

 
Note: I’ve added the above show notes to the ID3 Lyrics data field. If your device supports displaying lyrics, you’ll find this useful 

Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode:

http://www.xbox.com/games/g/gearsofwar3/

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/storage

http://www.xbox.com/games/splash/t/tomclancyssplintercellconviction/

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction
Xbox 360 250 GB Elite Splinter Cell Conviction Bundle
Just Cause 2

Halo 3- ODST <—You’ll need this for the upcoming Halo Reach beta

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

Dyson Air Multiplier

 

Show Details: 

Duration (approx):	1:14:49
File size (approx) :	34.3 MB
Format:	MP3

Listen now:

Click the player below to stream this show to your browser and listen to the show: 

Subscribe:
Subscribe directly using your preferred podcasting tool:

[iTunes]	Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3) Listen in iTunes? Submit a review
[Zune]	Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune

 

Or, copy and paste this URL into a podcasting tool: http://feeds.feedburner.com/MajorNelsonblogcast

 

Download Latest Episode->  Download the latest episode to your computer or preferred device

Email at Major – at Xbox – dot com with comments about the show.

Content: Skate 3 Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: Welcome to the SKATE™ 3 Demo which offers both a single and multiplayer experience. Learn the ins and outs of skating with the all-new Skate.School or team up and throw down in co-op or competitive gameplay. Featuring new challenge types like Own The Lot and Domination, the ability to save and upload clips using the Replay Editor, and to drop objects to personalize your demo experience, the SKATE 3 demo has a little something for everyone. SKATE 3 – Team Up. Throw Down.

 

Add the free Skate 3 Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Like the demo? Pre-order Skate 3 and have it day 1