Because today is July 7, aka 7/7, and because of Bungie’s affinity for the number 7, today is being unofficially declared Bungie Day by the developers of the Halo series. As a thank you to their fans, Bungie is giving away a new Halo 3 map called Cold Storage, which is a remake of Chill Out from the original Halo:CE. I’m not one to argue with the low, low price of free, and the map does look pretty cool.

In addition, Bungie is giving away a free theme and picture pack to commemorate the occasion. I’m definitely going to start using the Pimps at Sea gamerpic. They are also discounting the price of the Legendary Map pack from $10 to $7.50.

Hit the jump for two more screenshots of the new map.
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A few days ago, Major Nelson gave us word of a new tool that Xbox owners could use to regain licenses for their downloaded content such as Arcade games and add-ons. The Microsoft DRM has been a point of considerable debate, as users can only use their content on one registered console without being connected to the Internet. This was exacerbated by the fact that the Xbox 360 has a less-than-exemplary hardware reliability and so many users who had to get their consoles replaced (including myself) found the content that we had paid for crippled due to the games not being played on the console with which they were originally downloaded. Until this new DRM management tool was released, Xbox users had no way of transferring their licenses. Have I lost you?

Hit the jump for more details on what is possibly the most inept remedy I’ve ever seen.
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As any faithful Halo 3 player knows, the new map “Cold Storage” was debuted two nights ago at MLG’s competition at San Diego. The map, which is a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s “Chill Out” is Bungie’s final announcement of the new map pack which will also contain the new maps Purple Reign and Moonbase Alpha. Above is some of the first footage debuted at MLG San Diego in which MLG Halo 3 pros Karma and LegendPimps teamed with Bungie developers Shishka and Luke Smith to play a quick 2 on 2 game on the new map.

In all honesty, being a huge Halo fan I’m not very impressed by this announcement. Chill Out never really stood out as one of the best maps in the Halo series, and I was hoping that Bungie would announce a remake or reimagination of Midship, Sanctuary or even Blood Gulch. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the remake is when the third map pack releases later in the year.

Part of this week’s DLC might be free for those of us who pre-ordered the new Disturbed album from Best Buy. The rest of us will just have to get the tracks at the discounted price!

The following tracks will be available on Xbox Live’s Marketplace beginning June 3rd:

• “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett
• “Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett
• “Volcano” by Jimmy Buffett
• “Indestructible” by Disturbed
• “Inside the Fire” by Disturbed
• “Perfect Insanity” by Disturbed

All of the tracks are original master tracks. Jimmy Buffett recorded new tracks just for use in Rock Band. The Jimmy Buffett tracks will cost 440 Microsoft Points for all three songs or 160 Microsoft Points for individual tracks. The Disturbed pack will be available for 240 Microsoft Points or 80 Microsoft Points for individual songs, but this price is only available for a limited-time! The video for “Inside the Fire” is above. Hit the jump for previews of the other five tracks.

I’m happy to see the Disturbed tracks available. I’ve felt that the hard rock/metal scene has been neglected, so I’m happy to see these tracks. How do you guys like the new DLC?

[via Harmonix]

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It’s Monday again, and this time it’s a good day to be a patron of Nintendo’s download services. A whopping 4 new games have been added for this week for your downloading pleasure! Hit the jump to take a look at what’s available.
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Downloadable content for games is a sensitive subject. If handled correctly it can enrich and expand a game, opening up new options, or if it’s free it can be a reward to loyal fans. Then there’s the opposite, when it costs more than it should considering the content and is only a tool for game publishers to make some quick, easy money. Like when gamers were charged $2.50 just for some horse armor - or, in this case, ninja armor.

The current offender is Microsoft, who is planning on charging 200 Microsoft Points, or $2.50, for downloadable armor in Ninja Gaiden II. While ninjas are certainly more awesome than horses, it’s still a pretty high price to pay for “new and never before seen looks,” especially when that’s the kind of stuff that most games include free, right on the disc itself. Plus, since the game isn’t even out, this could easily be included as part of the game, but instead they’ve chosen to charge for it.

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This week brings another batch of Rock Band DLC that most of you will probably not purchase.

The following songs will be available on Xbox Live May 6th:

• “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s An Arms Race” by Fallout Boy
• “Date With The Night” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• “It Hurts” by Angels and Airwaves

Each song is available for the standard 160 Microsoft Points ($1.99) each or 440 Microsoft Points ($5.49) for the Scene Pack. All songs are master tracks. Be sure to hit the jump for previews of the other two songs.

Hey, Harmonix… I know you’ve got the really good DLC tucked away in your offices somewhere. How about sharing the love? Pretty please…?

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This week’s DLC brings us a band that has seen a lot of love on Rock Band and another that was featured on the bonus tracks.

These songs will be available today on Xbox Live for 160 Microsoft Points ($1.99) a piece:

• “Red Tandy” by The Mother Hips
• “Time Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear” by The Mother Hips
• “Zero” by Smashing Pumpkins

All three songs are made from the master tracks.

Hit the jump for more banter and previews of The Mother Hips songs.
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Wow, we actually have a half-decent release for once. First on the list is Phantasy Star III for the Genesis, which I’ve heard is actually something of a let-down. According to the criticism section on Wikipedia, it’s supposed to be the red-headed stepchild of the 4 main Phantasy Star games. At 800 Wii Points, I’m sure there’s something out there that will satisfy your RPG needs better than this (like, y’know, the other Phantasy Star game that’s on VC). Luckily, the sublime River City Ransom, originally for the NES, manages to even things out nicely. For those of you that haven’t played it (and shame on you if you haven’t!) River City Ransom is a side scrolling beat-’em-up in the same vein as Streets of Rage or most of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games. It’s only 500 Points, so I’d highly recommend downloading this one, especially if you and a friend have an afternoon with nothing to do.Remember, these titles won’t be available for download until 9AM Pacific time tomorrow!

After weeks of back and forth between the two software giants, it seems that a deal has finally been reached under which Take-Two will be absorbed into EA. Many were certain that this wouldn’t happen, due to Take-Two’s continual rejections of Electronic Arts’ offers.

It turns out, according to a source within Take-Two (who has asked to remain anonymous), that EA made an offer that, simply put, couldn’t be refused. Things are still being finalized, but information on what will be happening to Take-Two’s biggest franchises can be yours after the jump.
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OH MY GOD! I KNOW IT’S NOT CORRECT INTERNET ETIQUETTE TO WRITE IN ALL CAPS, BUT I CAN’T CONTAIN MYSELF!!!!! Here are this week’s Rock Band tracks:

* “More Than a Feeling” (Master)
* “Peace of Mind” (Master)
* “Smokin’” (Master)
* “Rock & Roll Band” (Master)
* “Something About You” (Master)
* “Hitch a Ride” (Master)

That’s right. It’s a Boston mega pack of sheer and utter awesomeness compressed into digital format. I honestly think that I can die happy as soon as I play all of these songs, back to back. Just like the Gratedful Dead release from a few weeks ago, the songs will be $2 each or available in a $10 pack.

Excuse me, I think my bowels just released. This is the greatest thing to happen to games… ever. Hit the jump for exactly what I imagine Tuesday will be like.

[Via Harmonix]
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The first downloadable content for Bioware’s sci-fi RPG, Mass Effect, dropped a few weeks ago. Still on the fence about whether or not it’s worth the five bucks? Make the jump and find out!

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Another week, another set of Rock Band downloadable tracks. This week features songs I have never heard, including one so dirty that it will either be censored or get you kicked in the crotch.

The songs are:

* “Shockwave” by Black Tide (Master)
* “Crushcrushcrush” by Paramore (Master)
* “Beethoven’s C***” by Serj Tankian (Master)

A quick Google search revealed that the censored word above is not a synonym for an adult male chicken but a far more unmentionable word for a thing that I’m 99.9% sure Beethoven didn’t have. You know the word. Don’t lie.

Let’s clap it up again for Harmonix getting master tracks on all three songs. Now they just need to replace the Geddy Lee substitute and we’re good. In addition, ALL SONGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 99 CENTS EACH (or 80 Microsoft points). Hooray! Look for them to appear on XBLM and PSN this Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.

Once again, let’s clap it up for Harmonix drinking up the DLC milkshake. Prepare for some wallet draaaaiiiiinage.

Ok, no more TWBB references. Promise.

Today, Harmonix announced next week’s downloadable tracks for Rock Band. The good news is that there will be six songs for download. The bad news is that they will remain at the $2 price tag. So it’s like two for the price of, well, two. The songs are all previously announced tracks from The Grateful Dead, which begs the questions of whether any Deadheads are (1) still alive and (2) will come down from their psychedelic drug trip long enough to realize that Rock Band was invented.

The tracks are:

*“China Cat Sunflower” (Master)
*“Casey Jones” (Master)
*“Sugar Magnolia” (Master)
*“Truckin” (Master)
*“Franklin’s Tower” (Master)
*“I Need A Miracle” (Master)

Thankfully, all of the tracks are masters. They will be available on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network next week for $2 each. In addition, a new pricing structure is available to buy all six tracks at once for $10 (or 800 Microsoft spacebucks).

Another Thursday, another Playstation Store update … and another disappointment. Honestly, there’s nothing worth mentioning coming out this week, nothing. Yes, there are new Nine Inch Nails songs for Rock Band and new No Doubt (?) downloadable content for Guitar Hero III, but other than that it’s slim pickin’s.

Check the full list of downloadable content, trailers and videos after the jump.

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