December Marketplace release schedule and a special Holiday Deal program

We’ve got a lot of stuff coming up this month. I am happy to share the latest schedule for the Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week, Xbox LIVE Arcade and Games on Demand and more.

Xbox LIVE Deal of the week*
Week of December 14:

Lips: Coldplay Track Pack for 240 Microsoft Points

Pinball FX (Japan) for  400 Microsoft Points
December 21 through December 27:
Shadow Complex for 800 points 
Week of December 28:

The Maw for 400 Microsoft Points

Here is the schedule for the next couple of weeks for Xbox LIVE Arcade:

December 16: Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1) for 800 Microsoft Points
December 23: Trials HD BIG PACK! for 400 points

Games on Demand:

December 15: Viva Piñata: Party Animals
December 22: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition and Devil May Cry 4
December 29: Gears of War

And of course, it’s Holiday Time…so we’ve got some special stuff lined up for you as well, starting with today’s release of Holiday items and tokidoki gear to the Avatar Marketplace. On December 24th, we’ll be releasing Disney Classic items to the Avatar Marketplace.

Finally, starting December 18th and continuing through the 31st we’ll be having a new Xbox LIVE Holiday Deal every single day. We’re not posting that schedule in advance so you’ll need to check back each day to see what the offer is. You can find out what each deal is by signing into Xbox LIVE and checking the dashboard. Plus each day, I’ll post the Holiday Daily deal to my Twitter account so you may want follow me so you can find out what the deal is even if you are not in front of your console. 

Edit: Here is the official press release

*May vary by region

Twitter, Facebook and Last.FM updates for those <18

A few moments ago we’ve released an update to the Twitter, Facebook and Last.FM applications on Xbox LIVE for all Xbox LIVE countries except for the US.  With this update, as promised, if you have a child account and you get parental approval, you’ll be able to have access to these applications. At this point, all Non-US Accounts should have access to them at this time. If you have a child account in the U.S., you will receive this update on December 15th, when these applications will appear in your Xbox 360 dashboard. Be sure to set Automatically log in or Remember me when setting up the application for the first time, otherwise you will be prompted for parental permission every time you launch the application

Thanks for your patience as we worked to develop the best solution to ensure that we are able to offer an age-appropriate environment for everyone on Xbox LIVE.

Crash Time 3 - Single Player Demo

Content: Crash Time 3 - Single Player Demo
Price: Free
Availability: European Xbox LIVE Regions
Dash Text: Play the demo and experience pure action with Crash Time 3, including a cool night driving scenario.

Add Crash Time 3 - Single Player Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Arcade: QIX++

Content: QIX++
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Australia, India, Korea or New Zealand
Dash Text: Includes sleek graphics and cool sound effects! Reloaded with new features and a multiplayer mode! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Add QIX++ to your Xbox 360 download queue

Show #343: Interviews with members of 343 Industries about Halo and more

In this special 343rd episode, posted on the 343rd day of the year, I interview some of the team members at 343 Industries who are responsible for all things Halo at Microsoft Game Studios.

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  

Bonnie Ross – General Manager, 343 Industries

Justin Korthof – Community Manager, 343 Industries

Jon Goff – Community Manager, 343 Industries

Kevin Grace – Managing Editor, 343 Industries

Eric Nylund – Author

Jeremy Patenaude – Content Creator, 343 Industries (Formerly of AscendantJustice.com)
Jacob Benton – Content Creator, 343 Industries (Formerly of AscendantJustice.com)

Josh Holmes – Executive Producer, 343 Industries

Frank O’Connor – Franchise Development Director, 343 Industries

Get the show now! You know you want to.  
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3) Listen in iTunes? Submit a review
[RSS] Add the Major Nelson Blogcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3).

[MP3] <—– Download the show

Format:
1:28:58, 34.4 MB, (MP3)

Click the player below to stream this show to your browser:



Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode:

http://halo.xbox.com
http://www.bungie.net

http://www.twitter.com/HaloWaypoint

http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint

Demo: Guitar Hero Van Halen

Content: Guitar Hero Van Halen Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Guitar Hero® is back and you get to rock with the ultimate party band, Van Halen! Experience the hot licks and scissor kicks that made Van Halen the legends they are today. 25 epic Van Halen tracks, three scorching Eddie Van Halen signature solos, and 19 guest acts give fans the most comprehensive arena rock set list to date.

Add Guitar Hero Van Halen Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Xbox 360 Games on Demand: Trivial Pursuit, Bolt and FaceBreaker

The following Xbox 360 games are now ready for direct download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

Content: Trivial Pursuit

Availability: Australia, New Zealand, Europe except Belgium, Ireland, and Portugal

Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". The Trivial Pursuit video game from EA builds on the original gameplay with stunning visual presentation, new question types and all-new questions, and the innovative Facts & Friends game mode. The quick-playing Facts & Friends mode adds a whole new social dynamic to the game that keeps everyone involved by challenging players to guess whether their opponents will answer their questions correctly There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Add Trivial Pursuit to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: Disney Bolt
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: North America and Europe 
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, Spanish, and French. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". Join Penny and her super dog, Bolt, as they travel the globe on a dangerous mission to save Penny's dad from the evil Dr. Calico. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Add Disney Bolt to your Xbox 360 download queue

Content: FaceBreaker
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Australia and Canada
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English and French. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". FaceBreaker™ brings you a pretty sweet game that you should totally play. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts

Add FaceBreaker to your Xbox 360 download queue

Xbox LIVE Members in Japan can now download Diario～Rebirth Moon Legend～

This week on Arcade: Qix ++

Qix ++ will be available this Wednesday on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 points.

Deal of the Week: Rock Band No Doubt "The Singles 1992–2003" Album

Xbox LIVE Gold Members can purchase Rock Band No Doubt "The Singles 1992–2003" Album for 1200 points this week. 

Add No Doubt “The Singles 1992 – 2003” Album to your Xbox 360 download queue

Show #342: Video Game Awards, Dark Void and more

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : lollip0p (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)
Co-host: Stepto (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter) discusses why exploiting a glitch crosses the line into cheating in video games.

Interview: Shana Bryant, Dark Void ( 37:55 – 56:21)
Interview: Chris Von Huben, Tritton Headsets ( 56:21 – 1:17:49)
Interview: Geoff Keighley, 2009 Spike TV Videogame Awards( 1:17:50 – 1:35:59)
Name The Game
And much more 

Note: I’ve added the above show notes to the ID3 Lyrics data field. If your device supports displaying lyrics, you may find this useful.

Get the show now! You know you want to.  
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3) Listen in iTunes? Submit a review
[RSS] Add the Major Nelson Blogcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3).

[MP3] <—– Download the show

Format:
2:08:15, 58.7 MB, (MP3)

Click the player below to stream this show to your browser:

 


Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode:
http://trittonusa.com/

TRITTON AX720
Dark Void

http://www.spike.com/event/vga2009 

Assassin's Creed II
Left 4 Dead 2
Xbox 360 Consoles
Xbox 360 accessories 

http://marketplace.xbox.com/games/offers/0ccf0188-0000-4000-8000-000045410829

Demo: Fairytale Fights

Content: Fairytale Fights Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Not available in Asia and Mexico
Dash Text: Download the demo.

Add Fairytale Fights™ Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Demo: BAYONETTA

Content: BAYONETTA Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: M (Mature) BLOOD AND GORE,INTENSE VIOLENCE,PARTIAL NUDITY,STRONG LANGUAGE,SUGGESTIVE THEMES] From the creative geniuses behind Devil May Cry and Resident Evil comes Bayonetta™, a game of 100% pure, unadulterated, climatic action. With powers far beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, our heroine Bayonetta fights countless enemies, evil forces and giant foes in brutal yet graceful ways. Being bad never felt so good...

Add BAYONETTA Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue

Yes, you can haz Pony

Large Dog, Pug Dog, Dog in Bag, Cat, Siamese Cat, Long Haired Cat, Goldfish, Guinea Pig, Monkey, Bird, Snake and yes….a Pony.

I’ve uploaded a few examples to my Flickr site, but look for these new additions tomorrow on the Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace.

Arcade: Call of Duty Classic

Content: Call of Duty Classic
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Germany
Dash Text: For the first time ever, Infinity Ward’s 2003 award-winning game that launched a franchise comes to consoles. Relive the original Call of Duty experience in HD. Online multiplayer on Xbox LIVE, including Leaderboard support. Winner of over 80 Game of the Year Awards and 50 Editor’s Choice Awards. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Add Call of Duty Classic to your Xbox 360 download queue

LIVE Activity for week of Nov. 23rd

Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Modern Warfare 2
2    Halo 3
3    Call of Duty 4
4    Call of Duty: WaW
5    Assassin's Creed II
6    Left 4 Dead 2 (Download the Demo)
7    1 vs 100
8    GTA IV (Purchase the full game)
9    Madden NFL 10 (Download the demo)
10   FIFA 10

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)

1     Madden NFL Arcade
2     Peggle
3     Trials HD   
4     Diner Dash
5     Castle Crashers 
6     Magic: The Gathering
7     Hasbro Family Game Night **
8     Gyromancer
9     UNO
10    SOUTH PARK LET'S GO TOWER DEFENSE PLAY! 

The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
**Combined sales of all Hasbro Family Game Night titles

Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)

1    Halo 2
2    Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3    Counter-Strike
4    Fable
5    Conker: Live Reloaded
6    Splinter Cell Chaos
7    Doom 3
8    Star Wars: Battlefront
9    SW: Republic Commando
10    Call of Duty 3

Top Indie Games (Full Versions purchased)

1    The Impossible Game
2    Avatar Drop
3    Head Shot 2
4    I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1
5    Inside Lacrosse's CL2010
6    A Killer's Dream
7    Avatar Casino Slots #1
8    Miner Dig Deep
9    Avatar Rockets
10  Avatar Golf

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Indie Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Xbox 360 Games on Demand: Crackdown and Beautiful Katamari

The following Xbox 360 games are now ready for direct download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

Content: Crackdown
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Not available in Germany, Japan and Korea
Dash Text: (Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB) This game supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual". This is war. A war on crime. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Add Crackdown to your Xbox 360 download queue

In addition, the Getting Busy Bonus Pack for Crackdown, formerly 800 points, has been permanently reduced to 400 points

Xbox LIVE Members in Japan can now download Beautiful Katamari:

Content: ビューティフル塊魂
Price: 2000 Microsoft Points
Availability: Japan
Dash Text: このゲームの取扱説明書をダウンロードするには、http://marketplace.xbox.com でゲームを探し、[取扱説明書] を選択してください。 塊を転がし、色々なモノを巻き込んで、どんどん大きくしていくゲームです！モノを巻き込んでいく爽快感がたまりません！ このアイテムの払い戻しはありません。詳しくは http://www.xbox.com/live/accounts をご覧ください。

Add ビューティフル塊魂 to your Xbox 360 download queue