Author: Major Nelson

Now that we’re a few days into 2010, many of you may be looking for a change in your professional scenery. Why not think about joining our team? Make the first step and take a look at our job postings. We have quite a few positions open in many areas of our business. You can work on the hardware side of Xbox 360, help make Xbox LIVE even better or work on our developer tools in XNA. Like PC Gaming? We’ve got that covered to with Games for Windows. You like games right? Maybe you have the skills to help Microsoft Games Studios make the next great games. Can’t wait to get your hands on Project Natal? We’ve got openings on that team as well.  We’ve got variety of creative and technical positions open at locations around the world. Check ‘em out. You never know where it may lead.

Content: Serious Sam HD: TFE
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Asia, India or New Zealand
Dash Text: Play through more than 14 levels of bedlam set against the expansive backdrop of ancient Egypt. Embrace the mayhem with up to four players through online co-op on Xbox LIVE. Post your hard-earned score to the leaderboards. Earn all those wicked achievements. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add Serious Sam HD: TFE to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

To help your with your planning, I am happy to share with you with a release schedule for the next couple of weeks for some of the regular Xbox LIVE Marketplace features.*

 

Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week:

January 18th: Mass Effect’s Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station, 240 Microsoft Points each.

January 18th: Hasbro Family Game Night: Battleship, 400 Microsoft Points.

January 25th: Portal: Still Alive, 800 Microsoft Points.

Xbox LIVE Games on Demand:

January 12th: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2

January 26th: Dead Rising

 

Xbox LIVE Arcade:

January 13th: Serious Sam: The First Encounter HD, 1200 Microsoft Points

January 20th: Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment, 1200 Microsoft Points

January 20th: Death by Cube, 800 Microsoft Points

Xbox Avatars Marketplace:

January 14th: Burton gear and Darksiders outfits.

January 21st: International attire , MX vs. ATV, and University style outfits

 

Starting today, the following Games on Demand are now available for a lower price:

BioShock, Saints Row, MX vs. ATV Untamed, Prey and Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution.

 

If all goes well, I should be able to share a schedule like this with you on a bimonthly basis.

 

Plus, this Friday January 15 from 12n ET/9am PT through Monday January 18 at 12n ET/ 9am PT, Xbox LIVE Silver members can enjoy Last.fm on Xbox 360 for free.

 

*Current schedule, subject to change

Edit: The lower prices are not applicable to all regions. The Burton content is currently delayed.

The following Xbox 360 games are now ready for direct download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

 

Content: GRAW 2
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: All regions Japan
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". You are the Soldier of the Future 2.0. All systems have been upgraded to give you more power and control on the battlefield. Lead your team of elite Special Forces for the first time on US soil. You are the last line of defense and must do what it takes to be victorious. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add GRAW 2 to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

 

Content: Kane and Lynch: Dead Men
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Not available in Korea and United States
Dash Text: 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.

 

Add Kane and Lynch: Dead Men to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

 

Also, Xbox LIVE members in Japan, can now purchase Raiden4/雷電Ⅳ

 

Serious Sam HD will be available this Wednesday for 1200 points.

Xbox LIVE Gold Members can save 50% this when they purchase Magic: The Gathering. Normally 800 points, this week it’s only 400 points.

 

 

 

After a few days of number crunching, here are the most popular games on the LIVE Service for 2009 based on connectivity.

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

1    Halo 3
2    Call of Duty 4
3    Modern Warfare 2
4    Call of Duty: WaW
5    Gears of War 2
6    GTA IV (Purchase and download the full game)
7    Left 4 Dead
8    Halo 3: ODST
9    FABLE II Episode 1 (of 5)
10   バイオハザード５」デモ (BioHazard 5 -  Resident Evil 5)
11   Halo Wars – Demo
12   RESIDENT EVIL 5   
13   Fallout 3
14   UFC 2009 Undisputed Demo
15   Left 4 Dead 2 – Demo
16   Gears of War
17   1 vs 100
18   Guitar Hero World Tour 
19   Guitar Hero III

20   FIFA 09

 

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)
Click a title to send a free demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

1    Battlefield 1943
2    Castle Crashers
3    Trials HD
4    Hasbro Family Game Night **
5    Shadow Complex
6    Marvel vs. Capcom 2
7    Magic: The Gathering
8    UNO
9    Worms
10   Peggle
11   Worms 2: Armageddon
12   Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
13   'Splosion Man
14   A Kingdom for Keflings
15   3 on 3 NHL Arcade
16   The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
17   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Classic Arcade
18   Marble Blast Ultra
19   Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
20   Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

**Combined sales of all Hasbro Family Game Night titles

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.

 

 

Top Original Xbox Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Halo 2
2    Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3    Fable
4    Counter-Strike
5    Conker: Live Reloaded
6    Doom 3
7    Splinter Cell Chaos
8    SW: KOTOR
9    Star Wars: Battlefront
10    SW: Republic Commando
11    Burnout 3
12    Fable: Lost Chapters
13    Call of Duty 2
14    Call of Duty 3
15    Call of Duty Finest
16    MechAssault 2
17    Crimson Skies
18    Guilty Gear XX #Reload
19    Rainbow Six 3
20    Gauntlet Seven Sorrows

 

Top Indie Games (Full Versions purchased)

1    I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1
2    Avatar Drop
3    RC-AirSim
4    Headshot
5    Miner Dig Deep
6    Rumble Massage
7    Who Did I Date Last Night
8    Kodu Game Lab
9    Avatar Golf
10    Aquarium HD
11    myFishtank
12    Head Shot 2
13    DrumKit
14    A Perfect Massage
15    The Impossible Game
16    Inside Lacrosse's CL2010
17    ZP2K9
18    ezmuze+ Hamst3r edition
19    The Drinking Game
20    Physics Sandbox

 

 

Top Games For Windows LIVE (based on UU’s)

 

1    GTA IV
2    Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
3    Fallout 3
4    Shadowrun
5    Street Fighter IV
6    Halo 2 (PC)
7    Batman: Arkham Asylum
8    Resident Evil 5
9    Gears of War (Windows)
10    Red Faction Guerrilla
11    Battlestations: Pacific
12    Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
13    DiRT 2
14    Section 8
15    Quantum of Solace PC
16    FlatOut UC (PC)
17    Fuel
18    Viva Piñata
19    SWTCW: Republic Heroes
20    Juiced 2: HIN

 

These lists are based on global unique users connected to the Live Service during 2009 or in the case of Arcade and Indie Games, full versions purchased during the year.

Audio from the Microsoft Keynote delivered at CES 2010 on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.

 
Show Details:

Duration (approx):	1:06:35
File size (approx) :	30.5 MB
Format:	MP3

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With CES 2010 officially underway, Microsoft kicked off the show with their annual Keynote tonight.  During the keynote, some Xbox 360 news was announced. Allow me to sum it up for you:

 

We now have over 39 million Xbox 360’s around the world. Since launch, over 500 million games have been sold generating 20-Billion dollars in sales.

 

Between Christmas and New Years, Xbox LIVE experienced it’s busiest weeks ever, welcoming a new member every second and recording over 2.2. million concurrent members online.

 

This Spring, the first Modern Warfare 2 content packs will be available exclusively first on Xbox LIVE.

 

Later this Spring, ‘Game Room’ will come to Xbox LIVE. This is a destination for the classic arcade games.  You can buy once and play on both your Xbox 360 and Windows PC. A new game will be released every week. You’ll be able to invite friends through Xbox LIVE and share your custom arcade and show off your personal collection.

 

Project Natal is coming this Holiday 2010

 

Keep an eye on Inside Xbox for more details on all of the above.

Content: Dark Void Demo
Price: Free
Availability: Not available in Australia, Japan and New Zealand
Dash Text: Dark Void is a sci-fi action adventure game that combines an adrenaline-fuelled blend of jet pack and cover-based combat. Set in a parallel universe, you play as Will, a pilot dropped into the mysterious Void, only to meet fellow humans struggling to survive and fight the malevolent alien race threatening Earth. Full game available 22.01.10. Download the demo today!

 

Add Dark Void Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Germany, India and Korea
Dash Text: Introducing the ultimate arcade action experience for hardcore video game fans! Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond is an homage to the greatest side scrolling action video games of all time. Starring classic action hero Matt Hazard and all his greatest enemies, it features tons of weapons, nonstop explosions, and gorgeous 3D environments. Battle everything from evil ninjas to killer penguins. Survive incredible boss battles. And – of course – enjoy side-by-side 2 player gameplay. Enjoy nonstop run and gun survival at its finest in an over the top modern vision of timeless video game themes. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond to your Xbox 360 download queue

                          

The following Xbox 360 games are now ready for direct download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

 

Content: Banjo Kazooie: N and B
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Not available in Japan
Dash Text: Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". The heroic bear and bird return at last to defend Spiral Mountain from their nemesis Gruntilda. Groundbreaking vehicular platforming awaits in wild new worlds packed with features and faces old and new. Build awe-inspiring vehicles and tackle the Jiggy challenges in any way you see fit! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

Add Banjo Kazooie: N and B to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

Also, Xbox LIVE members in Japan, can now purchase Rainbow Six Vegas 2

If you’re in Las Vegas this week, and you have Super Street Fighter IV skills, the Xbox community needs you! The Capcom team has thrown down a friendly challenge, but I need your help. While the Capcom folks be showing off some of the new characters in the SSFIV in Las Vegas this week, they’re also hosting Las Vegas Fight Club where we’ll put some of the best SSIV players in the ring against each other.  If you are in the Las Vegas area on Thursday night (January 7th) and you want to help Team Xbox 360 take on the Capcom Unity folks send me an email (major at Xbox com) with a quick explanation why we should pick you. You must be over 18 and ready to fight. Read Capcom’s blog entry for more details and maybe I’ll see you this week in Las Vegas.

Matt Hazard Blood Bath & Beyond will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday for 1200 points.

 

Xbox LIVE Gold Members can save 50% when they A Kingdom for Keflings. Normally 800 points, this week it’s only 400 points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : e (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : lollip0p (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)
Co-Host: Stepto (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter) 

 

In this last show for 2009, we reflect on the games that kept our attention for the past year. Plus, find out why you do not want to play Left 4 Dead 2 with Stepto

Name The Game
Xbox 101
And a little 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 

Show Details:

Duration (approx):	1:09:11
File size (approx) :	31.6 MB
Format:	MP3

Listen now:

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

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:

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Content: The Underdome
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Japan
Dash Text: (Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot is an add-on pack for Borderlands that includes a new cooperative arena game mode and a stash to store your gear. Are you god's gift to gun fights? Think you're the best? Wanna prove it? Then help us celebrate the grand opening of Marcus Bank (a subsidiary of Marcus Corp) by killing hundreds and hundreds of people in Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, the only competitive arena around where your next of kin can be assured that you're coming back famous . . . or not at all. (All proceeds are kept by us). There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

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

The following Xbox 360 games are now ready for direct download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

 

Content: Gears of War
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Not available in Japan
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Chinese. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". A Nightmare from Below. A Hero from Within. The planet lies in ruin – cities crumbling, Man’s greatest works fallen. Humanity is cornered, nowhere to run. The Locust Horde has risen, and they won’t stop coming. They won’t stop killing. The Coalition is desperate for soldiers. The sick, the wounded, the imprisoned are all that remain. An inmate named Marcus Fenix, once left to die, is now charged with keeping humanity alive. He can take comfort in but one fact: The human race isn’t extinct. Yet. Features – “Take cover and return fire!” with the intuitive one – button cover system to blind fire, evade, flank, and ultimately destroy the nightmarish Locust Horde.

 

 

Add Gears of War to your Xbox 360 download queue

 

Also, Xbox LIVE members in Japan, can now purchase THE CONVENI 200X

The Holidays will no doubt bring many new Xbox 360 owners, so now is a good time for me to do a quick round up of some resources that can may help new those owners get the most of that new purchase.

 

Once you have your console connected it to your TV, be sure you are getting the best possible picture. This Xbox.com support article goes over the various types of connections that the Xbox 360 supports, and can help you get the best looking picture based on the cable you are using. The best tip I can offer you is if you are using a Component Cable (the one with red, green and blue video connecters) make sure the switch on the cable going into the Xbox 360 is set to HDTV. Again, read the support article and this can help you to make sure you’re getting the best picture possible based on the connection type you are using.

 

Once you are all set up, be sure to connect your console to your home network. This support article walks you through the options.

 

Now that you have the console online, you can sign up up for a free Xbox LIVE Gamertag. This will allow you free access to all the latest system updates, game demos, game add-ons, Arcade games and much more.

 

With your new Gamertag, you can now sign into Xbox.com and browse the Xbox LIVE Marketplace directly in your web browser. From here you can easily add items (like free demos) to your download queue. If your Xbox 360 is turned on, and signed into Xbox LIVE, your downloads will begin immediately. If not, the next time you turn it on the downloads will automatically begin. You can get more information on background downloads here.

 

If you need immediate Xbox 360 help, hit up my friends on the official Xbox support Twitter account. They’re just waiting for your @ replies!

 

For great family fun, gather everyone around the Xbox and play the special Holiday edition of 1 v 100 LIVE this Saturday, December 26th. It’s a free and fun way to see if that family know-it-all really knows all.

 

Here are some resources that new Xbox 360 owners may find helpful:

 

The Official Xbox 360 support site. Start here before going anywhere else.

The Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the web. Use your computer to browse the marketplace.

The Xbox forums. From game help and discussion to console questions, this is a good place to interact with members of the Xbox community.

 

If you want to hear from top game developers, as well as learn a little about what happens behind the scenes at Xbox, you should subscribe to my weekly audio podcast. (via iTunes or Zune.) It’s a fun way to learn about new games, things about the Xbox 360 you may not know and much more.

 

Finally, you may want to follow me on Twitter, where I often post about new demos and other items of interest for gamers.

 

Have fun with your Xbox 360 and I’ll see you online!

 

Edit: Read the comments for some good reader tips!

Content: Dante's Inferno – Gates of Hell Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: Dante's Inferno The Gates of Hell Demo – Discover an epic adventure based on the first part of Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy”. Playing as Dante, you must defeat Death and arm yourself with his scythe as you prepare to descend into the nine circles of Hell and rescue the soul of your beloved Beatrice from Lucifer himself.

 

 

Add Dante's Inferno – Gates of Hell Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue