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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Intellisponse has poured some new potential info out about Microsoft debuting the SBG Channel on their Xbox Live online service. The channel will feature several game shows. According to Kotaku’s report, the channel could introduce Microsoft’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

The SBG Channel is described as focusing itself on “programmatic, highly concurrent social interactive games.” The channel will be featuring the game show Jeopardy, as well as many “Reality TV, Puzzles, and Sports,” programs in its lineup. Microsoft also would like to use the SBG Channel to have live events with virtual and real world prizes up for grabs.

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On Sunday, the good old members of Xbox 360 Fanboy and NeoGAF ’s forums found a login-protected website for the marketing and research company Illtellisponse. The website featured a security hole that allowed the forum members to dig in. The members were able to get into the site and take a look around at some top-secret documents, revealing a VERY large amount of new information on Microsoft and Activision products.

Do remember: Intellisponse is a marketing and research company, so it is possible that some, most, or all of the leaked bits are just concepts. There has been no confirmation on any of these leaks just yet.

The first leak of the bunch reveals a feature that Microsoft may be using to counter Nintendo’s Miis. Microsoft simply calls them “avatars.” They are cute, user friendly, and probably replacing Xbox Live gamer pictures. They are fully customizable, as gamers can change any article of clothing and other items, as shown in the above picture provided by Kotaku.

More leaks on the way.

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When Aces of the Galaxy, an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by Artech Studios and published by Sierra Online, touted itself to be a “non-stop, old-school arcade thrill ride,” I was somewhat skeptical. How many times have we heard awesome descriptions just to discover the game is worth less than the surprise my dog leaves in tightly-coiled piles in my [neighbor's] yard? Does this game live up to the picture the description paints, or will this be just another mediocre Xbox Live Arcade title? Hit the jump to find out!

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Stubbs the Zombie in “Rebel Without A Pulse” and Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows will both be available on Xbox Live Monday, May 19th for 1200 Microsoft Points each. I’ve never played Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, so I don’t have an opinion about that release, but Stubbs the Zombie is definitely worth trying.

Stubbs the Zombie is one of the few original Xbox games that I really enjoyed mostly due to the game’s humorous presentation and soundtrack. Stubb’s soundtrack features covers of songs from the 50’s and 60’s by artists such as Cake, Ben Kweller, and Phantom Planet. Few things in life compare to seeing humans fleeing from zombies while listening to “If Only I Had A Brain“.

Do you guys have any experience with either game? Will you be buying either of these when they’re released on Monday? Do you get the feeling that I like Stubbs?

[via MajorNelson's Blog]

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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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The PAL version of Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 supposedly leaked earlier today, and has shown up on torrent sites across the internet as a 6471 MB (6.32 GB if you don’t like big numbers) file released by iCON. The NFO file warns not to connect to Xbox Live until the game is released to the masses (three full times in ALL CAPS, so you better heed the warning), and even encourages people to buy the game anyway since “R* deserves it.”

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The vague release date for the Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament 3, which has been on the PS3 and PC since 2007 (with decent reviews) was announced recently as “Summer 2008.” There will also be some Xbox 360 exclusive content: two new characters, five new maps, split screen, and according to Mark Rein’s hints, “something Gears of War 2 related.” Five screenshots of the Xbox 360 version were released as well - so continue on for those (one of which would make a nice desktop background) along with the full press release, filled, as usual, with generic self-fellating quotes.

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SEGA announced today that a demo of their newest Marvel-based game, Iron Man, will be releasing tomorrow on the Xbox Live Marketplace. SEGA has also said that a demo for the PS3 will be coming “soon” to the PlayStation Store. Alongside the announcement, SEGA also released a new trailer for the game (extremely bad music included).

I’m pretty excited to see the release of Iron Man, being a big fan of the comic books and the superhero himself. Of course, the video game will be based on the highly anticipated movie starring Robert Downey Jr., who is also providing the voice of Iron Man in the game.

The game will be releasing on every console that’s currently accepted in today’s society, including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, PC, and mobile, on May 2nd.

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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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Activision has announced that there will be a re-release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to celebrate its awesomeness. Call of Duty 4: Game of the Year Edition will be released in April, and will feature the full, original COD4 game, new boxart that shows all of the awards COD4 has won, and an Xbox Live token that will allow gamers to download an upcoming map pack from the XBL Marketplace.

The map pack will be available for separate download for those of you who already own the game, for 800 Live points.

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You know, it was bad enough that kids have been exposed to violence in video games, but now it looks like we have a new problem to worry about: nudity, the most dangerous thing known to American parents since the invention of the internet. A mother in Lansing, Michigan has caught her two children looking at a nude photograph that they had gotten via Xbox Live recently. According to the WLNS TV 6 news report, Michigan State Police have said that the picture is a “disturbing crime” that should be “a wake up call for parents.”

Apparently, the mother let her two kids play on Xbox Live Thursday night, when suddenly, they were exposed to “nude pictures sent from someone on the other end.”

The mother stated:

“I immediately grabbed the X-Box controller from him, and I went ahead and turned it off. And then I went ahead and called X-Box live, and they told me there was nothing they could do about it.”

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Little Jimmy Smith is a good kid, he gets decent grades in school, does all of his chores when asked, eats all of his vegetables at dinner and is a generally a well likable 12 year old. This all changes the minute little Jimmy is allowed his nightly time on Xbox Live. For when little timid Jimmy becomes xXTeeBaggurXx all of that goes out the window. Little Jimmy is now a racist, sexist, deep throating mic abusing, singing, horrible human being that all of us hate to have on our teams. Most of these annoying attributes can be handled with a simple mute, but the one that I hate and wish I could kill people over the interweb for is…

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Will Arnett of Arrested Development fame was on Late Night with Conan O’Brien a few days ago, and he started talking about Call of Duty 4. Whether you’re a fan of Call of Duty 4, Arrested Development, or both (or neither, but in that case you’re missing out on not only one of the best games of 2007 but one of the funniest shows ever), you should be able to appreciate the short clip.

Still, no matter what you think of it, there’s one things we should all be able to agree on: “Call of Duty 4 is not gonna play itself.” Will Arnett speaks the truth, and fortunately, Call of Duty 4 certainly seems to get around.

[Via IAMfourzerotwo]

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One of the wonders of XBOX Live is the feature for developers to immediately release a fix for any in-game bugs anytime they deem appropriate. The insanely popular FPS Halo 3 has seen its share of patches, and will see another one the next time you try to jump in an online match. Bungie.net has the full list of updates, with the most notable ones listed below:

• Simultaneous melee battles have been tweaked to be more fair
• If you die during a melee, no longer will you fly across the level
• The Elite Commando shoulder armor is now unlocked to all players
• The “Prefer Good Connection” option is now more efficient
• Problems were fixed in Theater mode concerning watching films on DLC maps which the player doesn’t own

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