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Just saw a posting over at the gamerscore blog.  Remember the letter from Mark Whitten, well they finally have decided what the free game is going to be - and its available for all Gold and Silver members Wednesday till Sunday next week.  Before you explode in anger that you all ready bought this underwater adventure, calm down and continue reading…The following quote is directly from the gamerscoreblog comments - and written by John Porcaro.

# re: Undertow Free of Charge Next Week on Xbox LIVE Arcade
Friday, January 18, 2008 12:04 PM by Scotty
What if you already have Undertow?
# re: Undertow Free of Charge Next Week on Xbox LIVE Arcade
Friday, January 18, 2008 12:09 PM by John Porcaro
You should call support, they’re prepared to take care of you.

So if you dont have it, enjoy saving the $10 and give the full game a try and get some achievements, if you all ready have the game - let me know what support does for you, I am not sure if I am going to take the time to call or not.

Just got a copy of this letter last night, and can’t wait to see what free game we get!  I love free things, I just hope its not something I all ready actually paid for, and mostly useless to me

Dear Xbox LIVE Members:

During this past holiday season you helped us break a number of Xbox LIVE records. This included our largest sign-up of new members to Xbox LIVE in our 5 year history and just yesterday you broke the record for the single biggest day of concurrent members ever on the service.

As a result of this massive increase in usage we know that some of you experienced intermittent Xbox LIVE issues over the holiday break. While the service was not completely offline at any given time, we are disappointed in our performance. I would like to take this moment to thank you each and every one of you for your patience and understanding as our team has worked around the clock to return the service to a stable state.

At the same time we would like to offer a token of our appreciation to all of you in celebration of record success for the service. And as a thank you for your loyalty during this holiday period, we will be offering all of our Xbox LIVE members around the world access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game that will be available to download free of charge. In the coming weeks we will be sharing the specific details of this offer with you.

Thank you again for helping make Xbox LIVE everything that it is today!

Sincerely,

Marc Whitten
General Manager, Xbox LIVE
Gamertag: Notwen

What: Metal Slug 3
When: 01/02/08 5AM EST
How Much: ?
More Info: Xbox.com
Screen Shots: My Gallery

The fourth title in the “Metal Slug” series joins the Xbox LIVE Arcade library as “Metal Slug 3” arrives this Wednesday, January 2 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PST).

An update of the original arcade version, “Metal Slug 3″ is a run-and-gun video game updated with HD graphics and now features co-op multiplayer over Xbox LIVE. “Metal Slug 3” provides gamers with various route selections within each stage enabling players to play over and over. Join Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio, the four veterans in the “Metal Slug” series, as they hit the battlefield to stop General Morden from disturbing the order and peace that has begun to return to the world. Throughout the game, various vehicles called “Slugs” are made available to help players in battle and to complete the mission. The game features co-op gameplay for up to two players over Xbox LIVE. Developed by SNK Playmore, “Metal Slug 3” will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

What: Mutant Storm Empire
When: October 31, 2007 5AM EST
More Info: Xbox Page
Screenshots: My Gallery

For all you fans of Mutant Storm Reloaded, there is a sequel coming your way.  Blast away tons of enemies, solo or as a team with a co-op friend.  Check out the screenshots and more information at xbox.com for more details.  Official press release to follow.

Continue reading »

Fanboy is reporting that if you play halo 3 before the street date you will be banned from xbox live. Even playing the game while not connected to xbox live will get you a ban, the time a game is played is logged by your console and next connection to live will get your account banned.

Of course at theliveeye.com we have a few members that have been playing Halo 3 since 9/17, some of which are online now…..so whens this ban hammer coming?

Just looking at the Xbox.com forums you can see there are ALOT more people than we are tracking playing the game as well.

Let’s not forget early copies are sent out for review often so are they going to filter these out of the ban list - or are game reviewers going to get the banhammer for doing their jobs?

What: Carcassonne
When: 06/27/07 05:00 AM EST
How Much: 800 Microsoft Points  ($10)
Screen Shots: My Gallery
More Info: Carcassonne Page

I got to give this a quick try on the gamerscoreblog tour, and sadly I was utterly defeated by Morgon @ Mygamercard.net - but it was still pretty fun.  Easiest way to describe it would be to take Catan and merge it from a card game to a board game - at least thats what I thought of when we played.  I say definately give the demo a spin you might like it :)  Official press release to follow:

Build a Medieval Empire on Xbox LIVE Arcade with the Popular German Board Game “Carcassonne”

The classic, well-known European board game “Carcassonne” arrives on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 this Wednesday, June 27 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. Pacific).

Named after the medieval fortified town of Carcassonne in southern France, famed for its city walls, “Carcassonne” for Xbox LIVE Arcade starts with an empty landscape and a single square tile. Using strategic tactics and a little luck, one to five four players take turns selecting from 72 tiles displaying various features of a city including roads, the walls of a castle or fields. The medieval countryside thrives as players and their opponents place tiles and complete towns, roads, and farms while competing to accumulate the most points.

The rules of the game are easy with no elimination and fast gameplay – perfect for just about anyone! Although simple, devoted players will find layers of strategy that will keep them coming back for more. Combining a fresh visual experience and the opportunity to always have a playing partner, “Carcassonne” is the future for board game fanatics.

“Carcassonne” from Sierra Online is the Xbox LIVE Arcade edition of the hit multiplayer tile-based German board game of the same name, designed by Klaus-Jurgen. Shortly after its release in Germany in 2000, the board game won Spiel des Jahres in 2001, the European equivalent of a Game of the Year Award.

“Carcassonne” will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone.

Game Features

• Special AI settings to challenge any skill level
• Challenge your friends – Up to five players can play over Xbox LIVE or up to four players can play on the same Xbox 360
• Interact with new and old friends alike over Xbox LIVE while you play “Carcassonne” with the Xbox LIVE Vision camera
• Helpful step-by-step tutorial to teach you the game in minutes
• Skill-based matchmaking for ranked games
• The complete “Carcassonne” includes 72 tiles and all rule sets
• “Carcassonne” includes the “Rivers II” expansion set - 12 additional tiles
• Earn up to 200 Gamerscore and 12 Achievements

What: Band of Bugs
When: 06/20/07 05:00 AM EST
How Much: 800 Microsoft Points  ($10)
Screen Shots: My Gallery
More Info: Band of Bugs
Achievements: x360a achievement details

“Band of Bugs” Storms onto Xbox LIVE Arcade This Wednesday, coming to you from NinjaBee (creators of “Outpost Kaloki X” and “Cloning Clyde

Wednesday, June 20th at 9 a.m. GMT (2 a.m. PDT).

“Band of Bugs” is a fun, strategic diversion for fans of tactical gameplay, while the unique animations and environments in the game make it a fun, approachable title for newcomers as well. “Band of Bugs” is one of few turn-based tactical strategy games available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Players will enjoy unlimited variety in their gameplay choices with the Xbox LIVE Arcade’s first ever free built-in level editor, which they can use to create custom maps and play with friends over Xbox LIVE.

Available worldwide, “Band of Bugs” can be downloaded for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone.

Game Features

•  Choose to play through a story-based campaign, stand-alone missions or skirmishes
• Story-based campaign: Action and adventure in a single-player campaign story!
• Follow the adventures of young Maal as he leads an elite team of bug warriors to protect the kingdom from evil insect enemies.
• Stand-alone missions: Try your hand at one of these unique single-level scenarios. These short battles include a background story, unique events and custom goals.
• Skirmish: Test your skills on a variety of individual maps, including custom maps designed by the player with the in-game editor! Select a game type (Elimination, Capture, or Escape) and choose to control any party in the battle to demonstrate your superior tactical skill.
• Four unique multiplayer modes for up to 4 players either locally or over Xbox LIVE, including:
  • Elimination: The first team to lose all the bugs in one party loses the battle!
  • Capture: Capture (or defend) a strong point.
  • Escape: Reach an escape point, or stop the enemy from reaching it.
  • Mission: A unique scenario with custom story, events, and goals.
• Challenge friends to Spider Hunter, a more relaxed game that allows up to 8 people to join and leave on the fly!
• Use the game’s built-in level editor to design your own custom scenarios for play against others over Xbox LIVE (a first for an Xbox LIVE Arcade game!)
• Xbox LIVE Vision camera support in all Xbox LIVE multiplayer modes.
• Mystery leaderboard where players earn points for items they are not told about – Players can check the board and figure out what will help them get to the top of the leaderboard!
• Earn up to 200 Gamerscore and 12 Achievements.

When checking the default xbox live arcade page, the first game in the list is Bomberman Live.  Previously whatever game was in this slot has been the release for this week, but there has been no official announcement yet - but I am placing bets on bomerman live on xbox arcade this wednesday.

Update 1157 AM: No Bomberman this week, Band of Bugs is the winner - thats what I get for making a guess

With the release of Shadowrun (May 29, 2007) for the first time ever Vista gamers can connect to Xbox 360 gamers in a corss-platform battle royal.  I think it’s pretty cool, but don’t have vista installed yet - anxious to hear about Live on Windows for anyone who has gotten their hands on it.

To sweeten the deal Halo 2 is considered live today on windows vista as well.  Which boasts improved graphics, a map editor and the ability to gain achievements (but no you cannot connect to xbox live members like shadowrun).

If you all ready have an xbox live account (and vista) you all ready have a Games ofr Windows - LIVE account, its the same gamertag and friends list that you all ready own.

Being a PC gamer over the past years, it should be interesting to see how PC gamers match up to XBox gamers in a FPS like shadowrun - so many of my PC gaming friends are convinced FPS play is for the PC, and will give an extreme advantage of the console gamers - what do you think?

What: Soltrio Solitaire

When: May 16th

How Much: 800MP ($10)

The latest edition to the arcade is coming  May 16th.  Originally mentioned here, Sotrio Solitaire from Silver Creek Entertainment is a collection of 18 different solitaire games, offering co-op and competitive two-player solitaire game modes.

The game comes with a new mode called Voyage Adenture which is a twist on the classic solitaire game.  In this mode players travel around the map completing games of solitaire to unlock custom card designs.  It also includes a co-op and competitive 2 player game mode.

Soltrio Solitaire will be available worldwide – with the exception of Korea – for 800 Microsoft Points on Wednesday, May 16^th, and is rated E for Everyone. Game Features

• Two-player multiplayer via system link or over Xbox LIVE
• Xbox LIVE Vision camera support, making multiplayer solitaire an engaging social experience
• In two-player mode, two games take place at the same time, and both players share the same foundation piles, prompting a fight over the piles in the race to win the game
• In co-op mode, players work together to attempt to finish the game with the best score possible, and players also have the ability to pass cards to each other
• Create new cards when you unlock card elements, show them off to your friends and customize your own decks!
• Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore points

More information is available at http://www.xbox.com/games/livearcade, and you can also check out a few screenshots on my picture gallery.