A demo for Red Alert 3 recently landed on the XBL Marketplace. 

This SP demo features the game's cinematic opening, 1 campaign mission from both the Soviet and Allied campaigns, and an interactive tutorial.

This demo weighs in at just under 2gb, and you can add it to your download queue here.

• XTIVAL '08: Vidzone Franz Ferdinand Take Me Out: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die World Exclusive Video: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 1: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 2: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 3: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 4: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 5: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 6: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 7: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Webisode 8: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Teaser Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: WATCHMEN Theatrical Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: The Guild The Guild Season 2 Blooper Reel: Free and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: LIPS Track - All Star: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: LIPS Track - A Thousand Miles: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
• XTIVAL '08: LIPS Track - Give a Little Bit: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Mercenaries 2 Blow It Up Again Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
• Lord of the Rings: Conquest Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
• Hardwood Shapes Premium Theme Pack: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Theme 3: 150 MS Points and available everywhere.

As if the list of new content wasn't a big enough clue, Xtival 2008 is currently taking place, and basically means that those with Silver XBL accounts will now be able to enjoy all the benefits of Gold level access. Xtival 2008 runs until November 30th.  More information can be found here.

Halo 3: Recon is no more, Bungie have officially dropped the name in favour of Halo 3: ODST.

This new title is a more straightforward account of the experience that awaits and the role you will assume as you explore the streets of New Mombasa.

While the new name may be a bit more of a mouthful to say, Halo 3: ODST will hit the 360 next autumn (yep, 2009!).

I know Major Nelson posted this nearly one year ago, but I thought I'd re-post the info as I'm also posting direct links to certain content.

If you have a Silver account, you won’t have access to free content on the Marketplace (like demos) when they are first posted. That content will be available to Gold level exclusively for one week,  after which Silver members will have access to the free content.

Further advantages of having a gold XBL account can be found, here.

The demo for Dead Space has just been released.  It weighs in at just under 400mb, and can be added to your download queue by visiting the XBL Marketplace site, here.

Please note that this demo (as with all free marketplace content) is exclusive for XBL Gold Members for 1 week, after which time all silver members will also be able to download it.

Fans of The Guild will be delighted to know that both seasons 1 and 2 will be arriving on the XBL Marketplace for free.  For those who have no idea what I'm talking about: -

The Guild is a independent sitcom webisode about a group of online gamers. It is written for gamers, about gamers by a gamer. Episodes vary from 3-6 minutes in length, and follow the Guild members’ lives online and offline.

While Season 2 Episode 1, and the Season 2 trailer are only currently available, Major Nelson has confirmed that the whole of Season 1 will arrive at some point in the future (though it's already available on the US Marketplace). 

If you wish do add The Guild to your download queue, then you can do so via the XBL Marketplace site, here.

More information on The Guild can be found on the official site, and if you can't wait for MS the entire first season is available to view on the official YouTube channel.

UPDATE: Season 1 of The Guild is now available on the XBL Martketplace. (29/11/08)

In addition to the Premium Fable 2 theme that was released alongside the NXE, Lionhead have announced upcoming DLC for Fable 2.

The first pack will cost 800 MS points, and will land on the XBL Marketplace on December 12th.  The Knothole Island DLC pack features a new quest to save the island by facing three trials to return light to the land once more.

Also announced was a free co-op pack, which will also be released on December 12th.

To engage in co-op gameplay with a player who has already downloaded the Knothole Island content, you will need to download the free pack. Both co-op players must download the Knothole Island (Premium) pack in order to play new quests and enjoy the complete Knothole Island co-op experience.

As a bonus those who download either the free, or the Premium DLC packs, (or indeed both) will also receive special gifts.  These include "Knight's Boots, Assassins Gloves, a special Weight Loss Potion, [a] collectible silver book" and much more.

  
Fable 2 - Knothole Island DLC

The full story can be found here, with further details here.

UPDATE: Reports are now saying that the release date will be "mid December", rather than the 12th (as originally stated). (09/12/08)

• Frontlines: Fuel of War: Hindsight Map Video Game Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
• Frontlines: Fuel of War: Sunder Map Video Game Trailer: Free and available everywhere.
• Vidzone Stereo MCs Black Gold: 200 MS Points and available in the UK.
• The Making of Golden Axe: Beast Rider Act 4: Free and available everywhere.

• Guitar Hero World Tour Raconteurs Track Pack: 440 MS Points and available everywhere.
• GHWT Raconteurs Solute Your Solutions Single: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
• GHWT Raconteurs Hold Up Single: 160 MS Points and available everywhere.
• GHWT Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely Single: 160 MS Points and available everywhere. 
• Lips Feature Video: Free and available everywhere.
• Tomb Raider Underworld Beneath The Surface - 5: Free and available.
• Crash Time 2 Demo: Free and available everywhere.

• Guitar Hero World Tour NXE Premium Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Call of Duty World at War NXE Premium Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Randy Couture Gamerpics: 100 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Randy Couture Theme: 50 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Rock Band 2 Premium Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Need for Speed Undercover - Maggie Q Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Skate 2 New San Van Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• NINJA BLADE Premium Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Halo 3 Theme Nov 2008: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Forza 2 NXE Theme 1: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Fable II General Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Halo Wars You’re in Command Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Gears of War 2 Sera Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Tomb Raider: Underworld - Theme 2.0: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Tomb Raider: Underworld - Gameplay 2 Video: Free and available everywhere.
• Sonic Unleashed Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Last Remnant Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Shaun White Snowboarding Freedom Theme: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II HD Remix Gamer Pictures: 40 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II HD Remix Gamer Pictures 2: 40 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II HD Remix Gamer Pictures 3: 40 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II HD Remix Gamer Pictures 4: 40 MS Points and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Trailer Part 1: Free and available everywhere.
• Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Trailer Part 2: Free and available everywhere.
• Castle Crashers Theme Pack for TP Version 2: 250 MS Points and available everywhere.
• The Day the Earth Stood Still Theme: Free and only available in Belgium.
• NHL 09 Pacific Division Picture Pack Tile: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
• NHL 09 Northwest Division Picture Pack Tile: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
• NHL 09 Central Division Picture Pack Tile: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
• NHL 09 Southeast Division Picture Pack: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
• NHL 09 Atlantic Division Picture Pack: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.
• NHL 09 Northeast Division Picture Pack: 80 MS Points and available everywhere.

Don't forget that this week's XBLA title is A Kingdom For Keflings, which is available for 800 MS Points.  More info on that title can be found here.

It seems that both Major Nelson, and AceyBongos have missed the release of Zapper to the Xbox Originals section of the marketplace.  While I'd love to link to the game page on Xbox.com, I can't... because it doesn't exist (yet).  So, here's the blurb from the marketplace: -

This is one wicked cricket! One diabolical bird, a brother in need, and eighteen twisted levels of action.  Charge up the antennas, because this is getting personal.

While that gives absolutely nothing away, more details can be found on Wikipedia.

Zapper is available now, via the Xbox Originals section of the XBL Marketplace, for 1200 MS Points.

If you signed up for the NXE Preview Program, and didn't receive an email for the first 3 waves, fear not; you're through.

In a strange move MS decided to let anyone who applied, into the NXE Preview Program.  Major Nelson has the blurb: -

Instead of adding another 10,000 people to the preview program like we did last week, we've decided to do something a little different: everyone who successfully applied to the preview program (and submitted a valid console ID) will be getting the New Xbox Experience sometime within the next few hours. That’s right…we’re hooking everyone else up with NXE a bit early.  If you signed up and are not prompted, that means you did not enter your console ID properly and you'll have to wait until Wednesday.

While strange that MS would let a new wave of people through a day before the official release, it is a sneaky way to stagger the release so that the servers aren't overloaded tomorrow.  I wonder how many people got through in total?

Don't forget, for those who didn't get through, the NXE is released tomorrow at 10am (GMT).

Finally, a competition we can actually enter!  Microsoft are giving you the chance to win some MS points, by taking part in their latest competition.

• One Grand Prize: 500,000 Microsoft Points
• Five First Prizes: 50,000 Microsoft Points
• Ten Second Prizes: 10,000 Microsoft Points
• Thirty Third Prizes: 5,000 Microsoft Points

All you have to do, is download their latest (free) gamerpic, and then download some premium dlc.

Sweepstakes Registration
You must register for the sweepstakes before the end of the entry period on November 23, 2008 by downloading the New Xbox Experience Download & Win Gamer Picture:

Before November 19:

1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE Marketplace
2. Select Game Store
3. Select All Games
4. Select New Xbox Experience
5. Select NXE Download and Win Gamer Picture from the list of available content and select Confirm Download
6. Upon the successful completion of the Gamer Picture download, you will see a Thank You for Registering message.

After November 19:

1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE Marketplace
2. Select Themes & Gamer Pictures
3. Select All Themes & Gamer Pictures
4. Select All
5. Select New Xbox Experience
6. Select NXE Download and Win Gamer Picture from the list of available content and select Confirm Download
7. Upon the successful completion of the Gamer Picture download, you will see a Thank You for Registering message.

You may also access the free NXE Download and Win Registration Gamer Picture via the banner ads running on the Xbox LIVE dashboard.

Sweepstakes Entry
You will automatically receive one entry into the sweepstakes when you download the New Xbox Experience (automatic) and redeem Microsoft Points for downloadable Xbox LIVE Marketplace content in any one of the following categories:

• Movie
• TV Show
• Full Arcade Game
• Xbox Originals
• Game Add-On
• Music Video

There is a maximum limit of ten total entries per person.

Full details are available on the competition's page. This competition is running now, and will close on 23rd November 2008; good luck!

I was disconnected 3 times in the space of 5mins last night, try finding enthusiasm to continue playing online, when you're not sure if the next shot you take will be your last... 

In response to my screams of frustration that could be heard all the way in America, Major Nelson has just made a post about the recent spurt of XBL connection problems: -

In the past few hours, the Xbox Operations Center noticed that large number of members were disconnected from Xbox LIVE, some more than once.  Our Engineering teams are actively working to determine the root cause of this issue and to prevent it from happening again.  If you are disconnected, you should be able to reconnect after a few minutes.  Thanks for your patience as we work quickly to solve the issue.

That's great, Major.

Major Nelson has posted a short video that shows what to expect next Wednesday, when you turn on your Xbox 360.

As with all updates, it's a simple process.  Seriously, was anybody worried that they'd need a degree to apply an automatic update?

• Guitar Hero World Tour: Hendrix Track Pack - 440 MS Points.
• Bolt Demo: Free.
• Call of Duty: World At War: Urban Warfare Trailer - Free.
• Madagascar 2: Launch Trailer - Free.
• SW Snowboarding: ESPN Trailer - Free.
• SW Snowboarding: Shaun White Snowboarding Pic-Pack - 140 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Scorpion Weapon Pack - 180 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Scorpion Pack - 320 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Elite Weapon Skin Pack - 120 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Military Pack - 320 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Elite Pack - 240 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Hot Rod Pack - 80 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Big Gun Pack - 80 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Speed Kills Pack - 180 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Tank Pack - 320 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Heavy Damage Pack - 240 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Pedestrian Pack - 120 MS Points.
• Dead Space: Astronaut Pack - 240 MS Points.
• FIFA 09: Brazil Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Spanish Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Polish Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Czech Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Swedish Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Russian Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Hungarian Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Portuguese Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Dutch Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Mexican Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: German Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: Italian Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: French Commentary- Free.
• FIFA 09: English Commentary - Free.
• TNA iMPACT!: Mike Tenay Downloadable Character - Free.
• Civilization Revolution: CivRev MP Map Pack: The Terrestrial - 100 MS Points.
• Civilization Revolution: CivRev MP Map Pack: The Elemental - Free.

IGN recently posted a host of videos demonstrating the NXE (New Xbox Experience), the latest of which gives us a look at the new quick guide system: -

Remember, the NXE will be launched next Wednesday (November 19th).

I noticed a number of posts over the last few days over at the official Xbox forums, about people getting their consoles banned from XBL.  It seems that MS have banned a number of people from Live for using modded consoles, and playing pirated games.

Major Nelson posted an official word on the subject earlier today: -

I’ve gotten a few messages and seen some forum threads pop up on console bannings so I thought I’d post and let folks know what’s up. In our our continued effort to keep gameplay safe and secure for our community of more than 14 million members, Microsoft has taken action against a small percentage of Xbox 360 consoles that have been illegally modified in order to play pirated games. You should know that modifying your Xbox 360 console is also a violation of the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void your warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE.   The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local companies that support them. We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry and improve security in the Xbox LIVE community.

I think it's great that MS are taking a stand against piracy, but I'm often left thinking what happens if a genuine user gets banned by mistake? I've seen reports of stores breaking launch dates for games, who is to say that someone lucky (or unlucky in this case) enough to buy a game early, might slip through the cracks and become a false positive?

With no XBLA title this week (all the big stuff happens next week), MS have added 3 existing titles to their Arcade Hits range.  The Arcade Hits are some of the classic XBLA titles that have been available for some time, at a new and lower price point. Joining the catalogue are: -

• Feeding Frenzy
• ULTIMATE Mortal Kombat 3
• Worms

Each title is now available for the ultra low price of 400 MS points.