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Remember that Hidden Fronts Add On for Gears of War?  Well for those of you that decided to wait it out until it was free - you wait is soon to be over.  Starting Monday September 3rd at 5AM EST you will be able to download the Hidden Fronts Map pack completely free.  The pack adds 4 new maps, 250 more achievement points. 
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Remember those Halo 3 Accessories?  Well starting September 4th you can be the proud owner of the various limited edition Halo 3 accessories.  The following items will be available:

• Two different wireless controllers designed by Todd McFarlane (creator of my most favorite of all comics Spawn).  One based on the Covenant Brute and the other based on Master Chief himself.  Both come with a Master Chief figurine also designed by Todd McFarlane MSRP $59.99
• Spartan green and gold wireless headset MSRP $59.99

Or perhaps you prefer to purchase the Messenger Kit - making it easier for all your MSN and Live message typing needs.  It comes with the backlit chatpad which connects to your xbox 360 controller and an xbox 360 headset MSRP $29.99

Released: 06/17/07
Cost: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)
More Info: Carcassonne @ Xbox.com

Intro: Let me first start off by saying sorry to Microsoft and Sierra Games.  They were gracious enough to give me a review copy of the full game, but it was right before my Xbox 360 went down for the count with the red lights of doom again.  I finally got my 360 back a little bit ago, and just never put enough time into the game to get my review out in a timely fashion.  Without further delays, here is my review of Carcassonne.

About the game:
The Xbox Live Arcade Game Carcassonne is based on the German board game with the same name.  It is a board game with a midieval theme in which you place various tiles on to create towns roads and farms.  There is a limited number of tiles that are distributed across all the players of the game, and you dont see the tile until its your turn to place it.  Obviously the goal is to make the longest road, the biggest cities, and the largest farms, thus raising your points. 

 Read the full Review

So what’s better than playing the new demo version of Street Trace NYC from gaia industries?  Well playing the full version of the game, giving you the ability to unlock its full potential and of course those ever addicting achievements.  Of course there is only one thing better and thats playing the full version for FREE!  Head on over to site owned by a man with a velvet voice (deaconblade @ unscripted360 of course) for a free chance at a free copy of the game.

On Wednesday September 5, 2007 5 AM EST Cyberball 2072 and Fatal Fury Special will be available on the xbox live arcade. Additionally four arcade games will be running a 50% sale this weekend.

Cyberball 2072: 400 MP ($5)
Rediscover the arcade classic game “Cyberball 2072™” from Midway on Xbox LIVE® Arcade. Take control of your robotic team, and call the plays to move your team downfield for a touchdown. But watch out, the ball gets hot if you don’t keep moving! Keep your eye on the ball to make sure it doesn’t go critical before you can score.  More Info: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/c/cyberball2072xboxlivearcade/

Fatal Fury Special: 400 MP ($5)
The third title in the “Fatal Fury” fighting game series from SNK Playmore makes its way onto Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday! Join Terry and Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi and 12 of the toughest titans in one of the biggest matches of the millennium. Set in Southtown, a fictitious American city, players must compete against the ruler of the underworld Wolfgang Krauzer. Who will win? You’ll have to play to find out.  More Info: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/f/fatalfuryspecialxboxlivearcade

Limited Time Xbox LIVE Arcade Price Drop
Celebrate this Labor Day weekend by downloading four Arcade favorites for half the price! For the 48 hour period beginning at 12:00 a.m. GMT on Sunday, September 2 (5:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday, September 1) and continuing through 11: 59 p.m. GMT (4:59 p.m. PDT) on Monday, September 3, the following Xbox LIVE Arcade games will be available for half their usual price:

• “Small Arms” – 400 Microsoft Points (normally 800 Microsoft Points)
  Easy to pick up but hard to put down, “Small Arms” is a frantic multiplayer action game with the feel of an arcade shooter.
• “Zuma Deluxe”– 400 Microsoft Points (normally 800 Microsoft Points)
  Explore more than 20 realms in Adventure mode and put your skills to the test in this fast-paced puzzle game.
• “Gauntlet” – 200 Microsoft Points (normally 400 Microsoft Points)
  The original dungeon crawler lets four adventurers explore and fight together as a warrior, valkyrie, wizard, and elf.
• “Dig Dug” – 200 Microsoft Points (normally 400 Microsoft Points)
  Experience the fast-paced action of this quarter-cruncher from 1982 as you take control of Dig Dug himself and vanquish Pookas and Fygars.

(thats 800 points for half price!  Sadly I all ready paid full price for all 4 :-))

Finally, don’t forget to check out this week’s new downloadable content for “Soltrio Solitaire.” For more details, please visit www.xbox.com/livearcade

Critically-Acclaimed RPG “Mass Effect” Begins Epic Journey to Retailers on November 20. One of the hottest and most anticipated video games of the year will open up whole new worlds to explore this holiday, exclusively on Xbox 360

Today, Microsoft Game Studios and BioWare Corp. announced that the highly anticipated action role-playing game (RPG) “Mass Effect” will ship to retailers throughout North America on November 20, 2007. The recipient of more than 50 awards, including the 2007 Game Critics Awards for “Best Console Game” and “Best RPG” at the Electronic Entertainment Expo last month in Los Angeles, “Mass Effect” is poised to become the must-play RPG of 2007.

From the creators of the critically-acclaimed “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” and “Jade Empire,” comes an epic space saga for Xbox 360 that spans the entire galaxy. Combining RPG and tactical action elements, “Mass Effect” offers an engaging mix of gameplay set against a deep, multi-directional story.

“With ‘Mass Effect,’ BioWare is delivering an incredible next-gen gaming odyssey. Our fans will journey through a vast, futuristic universe as they are challenged to make impactful decisions that will determine the very fate of the galaxy,” said Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer, BioWare Corp. Added Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare Corp., “The best games bring players into an immersive, realistic world that is fun to explore from beginning to end. We’ve achieved that in ‘Mass Effect’ by putting the player at the center of a compelling, cinematic storyline full of realistic characters and hundreds of exciting locations.”

Bob McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at GameStop Corporation commented that, “Only a handful of video games redefine their genres, and judging from the excitement and demand we’ve seen from fans, ‘Mass Effect’ for Xbox 360 is one that can bring role-playing games to a broader audience through its beautifully realistic graphics and cinematic, emotionally charged gameplay experience.”

“Mass Effect” will have an estimated retail price of $59.99 and is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB. For more information, visit www.masseffect.com

Most Anticipated Title of 2007 Released to Manufacturing, Begins Final March to Xbox 360The wait is almost over. “Halo 3,” the final chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo” trilogy and the most anticipated game release of 2007, has been released to manufacturing.Three years in the making by renowned developer Bungie Studios, “Halo 3” is now finished and will begin its journey to store shelves around the world in less than four weeks. “Halo 3,” which has already set new records as the fastest preordered game in history, has exceeded one million presales in North America alone. The title is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25.“This is a huge milestone for us and a big cause for celebration at Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios,” said Harold Ryan, Studio Head at Bungie Studios. “This is the game we’ve always wanted to make and certainly the best game our studio has developed. We can’t wait for gamers to get their hands on it on Sept. 25.

”Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, “Halo 3” will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief’s epic battle to save humankind. In November 2004, the world’s view of video games changed forever with the release of “Halo 2,” which generated a record-setting $125 million (U.S.) in sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the most-played game on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE® online gaming and entertainment network, with nearly 1 billion hours of online gaming logged to date.

That’s right folks, I did not attend PAX 2007 - but was able to make it to Kielbasa Fest 2007.  I might not have been lucky enough to see all those cool up and coming games and rub elbows with all those other great xbox community sites owner and podcaster - but I did get to eat meat shoved into a casing and smoked. 

All joking aside looking back I am somewhat sad I didn’t take the trip to PAX this year - perhaps another year.  If you haven’t visited these sites all ready I would suggest you check out unscripted360 and XBLRadio, both friends of mine that DID attend PAX and giving you their take on the trip - if you want to know about Kielbasa fest however - I am your man!

Want to show your support for your favorite community website or podcast?  Well now you are in luck if your favorite is part of the gamercast network, because you can now download a gamerpic to represent The Gamercast Network, Achievement Junkie, Gamertag Radio, Sarcastic Gamer, Uncle Gamer Radio, Podtacular, and the Video Game Show.  Or if you prefer you can represent with a gamerpic representing the blog from Microsofts community team gamerscoreblog.com - which for those of you paying close attention is the only gamerpic NOT part of the gamercast network - but is of course an official microsoft supported site.

The story indicates that there will be more community based gamerpics coming in the future for those of you that would prefer a gamerpic for another podcast or community site - just keep waiting

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2007/08/24/552779.aspx

Microsoft just announced the release date of PGR4 (10/02/07 MSRP $59.99) - and some more information of vehicles that are included.  Visit www.xbox.com/pgr4news for screenshots of some of the latest vehicles including

• Cars
  • Ariel Atom 300 Supercharged 2004
  • Aston Martin V8 Vantage 2005
  • Austin Mini Cooper S 1964
  • Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1969
  • Ferrari F430 2004
  • Caparo T1 2007
  • Caterham R500 2000
  • Lamborghini Gallardo 2004
  • Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 2005
  • Tesla Roadster 2008
• Motorcycles
  • BMW F 800 S 2006
  • Honda NR750 1992
  • Honda CBR600RR 2005
  • Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 2007
  • MTT Turbine Superbike 2006
  • MV Agusta F4 Senna 2006
  • Norton 500 Manx 1962
  • Triumph Speed Triple 2005
  • Triumph Trident 2005

I only have one question….where is the Yamaha R6 Love ?