Will Xbox LIVE Fail Come November 10th?

Do you recall what happened during the Christmas of Halo?  If not, here is a quick reminder...

The craptacular down time lasted longer than many of us care to remember.  The Halo 3 surge combined with the influx of new Xbox LIVE members was just too much for the super secret Xbox LIVE data center to handle. 

This year, the Xbox LIVE team will have an equally large surge of new activity thanks in large part to a little title called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

So, now that we have taken a look back at the past, and a look into the future, will Major Nelson, E, and the rest of the Xbox LIVE team be able to keep gamers happily gaming into 2010?

This morning, Amazon began to list the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Rising for the Xbox 360 for $59.99.  No official release date is given.

Kojima officially announced the game at Microsoft's E3 2009 press conference, after running various countdowns for the announcement on a Konami website. The game will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC and will star Raiden. 

Both Kojima and Kenichiro Imaizumi will be producing the game. Kojima stated that he became involved with Rising because "it's a completely different kind of action than what has appeared in the series so far" and also stated that he will be more involved in the development of the game than a normal video game producer would be.

Check it out:  Amazon - Metal Gear Solid Rising

Wow.... this came out of left field!

Amazon has the new Limited Edition Xbox 360 Elite 250GB Modern Warfare 2 bundle available for pre-order!

The bundle features an exclusive Modern Warfare 2 design, 2 wireless controllers, Modern Warfare 2 (game), plus the 250GB hard drive for $399.99...

The console bundle is set to release on November 10, with release day delivery as an option!  Pre-order now as this will very likely sell out!

Check it out: Xbox 360 LE Modern Warfare 2 Console

Product Features

Xbox 360 September '09 Game Releases!

You know things are starting to pick up when even rednecks have multiple titles to choose from (Cabela's Outdoor Adventures 2010, Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2010, and The Strike)... 

Highlights for the month of September 2009 include Halo 3: ODST, Guitar Hero 5, The Beatles: Rock Band, Dirt 2, NHL 10, NHL 2K10, Wet, plus a few more gems.

What titles are you looking forward to?

Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the month of September 2009 on Xbox 360!  As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.

	Section 8
	When Earth's frontier colonies are devastated by a growing insurrection, the planet must unleash its most powerful forces to quell the situation: the 8th Armored Infantry. Only this elite unit, nicknamed Section 8, has the strength and firepower to repel the coming onslaught. Burn in to battle from 15,000 feet and unleash all the incredible power at your command.
	Gears of War 2 - Game of the Year Edition
	Gears of War 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the 5 million-selling blockbuster action game, and one of the most popular Xbox 360 games in history.
	Mini Ninjas
	A single player action/adventure game, Mini Ninjas puts a new spin on the video game favorite, ninja action genre. A kid-friendly game featuring no killing and an engrossing storyline, which players explore via six playable ninja characters, players take on the role of Hiro and the fellow members of his improbable ninja clan as they face an ancient evil that has returned to impose itself on the world. Each ninja utilizes authentic ninja weapons and moves, and possesses his/her own individual skill set, including mysterious "kuji magic" abilities.
	Guitar Hero 5 with Van Halen Offer
	Featuring the best variety and biggest rock stars of today combined with classic rock anthems, Guitar Hero 5 cranks it up again for video game rockers. For the first time ever, players can customize the make-up of their band by rocking with any combination of instruments in-game: whether it be two guitars and two drums, or three guitars and a microphone, any combination is possible, allowing players to experience music their own way.
	Cabela's Outdoor Adventures 2010
	It's the hunting and fishing trip of a lifetime! Experience the top hunting and fishing hotspots in North America in pursuit of record-breaking big game, small game, turkey, upland birds, waterfowl and trophy fish species all combined into one incredible outdoor experience!
	IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
	IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is based around the large-scale aerial combat and ground military operations of World War II. Players can participate in some of the war's most famous battles piloting fighters, battle planes and heavy bombers across a range of thrilling missions. There are five theatres of war to engage in, The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily and Korsun' representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe. It also boasts an all new damage effects engine as well as advanced environmental visuals enriching the game play. Players can see real time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dogfights. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey features hundreds of airplanes taking part in air battles. The unique environmental engine also produces highly detailed, realistic landscapes that allow players to see breathtaking ground support actions.
	Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection
	Classic William's pinball tables from the 70's, 80's and 90's with enhanced art and physics for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3. Tables include Gorgar, Pinbot, Funhouse, Black Knight, Space Shuttle, Whirlwind, Firepower, Taxi, Jive Time and Sorcere. There are also three new tables, Monster Bash, Medieval Madness and Tales of the Arabian Nights, not found in versions created for other formats.
	Qubed
	This Ultimate Arcade bundle contains three award-winning audivisual masterpieces created by game guru Tetsuya Mizuguchi. Prepare yourself for a mind-blowing mix of furious addictive action , stunning graphics and sensational soundtracks.
	Darkest Of Days
	In Darkest of Days, gamers on the Xbox 360 platform experience some of the most varied single player first-person shooter gameplay ever released in one title. Things will never get stale as you travel to distant times and fight alongside people from that time period. For example, fighting in Antietam (the bloodiest day of the American Civil War) feels much different than fighting on the side of the Russians at Tannenberg (where the Russians withstood 140,000 casualties in WWI.)
	Dirt 2
	As the sequel to the acclaimed racer of 2007, DiRT 2 is set to take off-road racing games to a new level. Packed with a wide variety of features and in-game events such as new benchmark technology, thrilling new race types, big event atmosphere, stunning locations, a new breed of off-roading heroes and a peerless line-up of super-charged speed machines, DiRT 2 isn't your standard off-road racing game. It is the new standard.
	Capcom Platinum Hits Triple Pack
	Dead Rising - Dynamic enemies - Record numbers of zombies will come at you & react to their environment - each has unique behaviors and appearances.  Lost Planet - New Modes for Single Player Campaign - Score Attack, Trial Battle Mode, and Off Limit Mode. New Online Modes - Akrid Hunter, VS Annihilator, CounterGrab, Point Snatcher, Akrid Egg Battle, and Egg Bandit.  Devil May Cry 4 - New characters and environments while blending the familiar with the new - Newcomer Nero clashes with veteran Dante.
	The Beatles: Rock Band
	The world's leading music game meets the greatest band in history. The Beatles: Rock Band gives fans what they've been waiting for: a chance to experience the Beatles' legendary story from the inside. You won't just watch and listen as The Beatles make rock history, create landmark records and conquer the world-for the first time, you'll be part of the band. The Beatles software is compatible with Rock Band, Guitar Hero and most other instrument controllers, as well as, third party microphones including SingStar and Lips.
	NHL 10
	A new first-person fighting engine enables players to trade punches with an NHL tough guy. Feel what it's like to be on the ice in the skates of an NHL player to throw and dodge punches. Grab and tug an opponent's jersey to land a punch that ignites the fans and sparks your team to victory. On ice toughness and intimidation is taken to a new level in NHL 10 where winning one-on-one battles for possession of the puck along the boards becomes a test of will and skill. Utilizing an all-new board physics engine, players can use their body to shield the puck on the boards and then kick-pass it to teammates. Bigger, stronger players pin opponents to the boards while fanatical fans bang on the glass, just like real life. Fore-check defenders, pressure the puck and finish checks to intimidate your opponent into mistakes. Players fatigue, bobble passes, and avoid collisions under threat of constant physical pressure. Inspire teammates, ignite the fans and change the momentum of a game by instigating scrums, drawing penalties, and mixing it up, all after the referee blows the whistle!
	Heroes Over Europe
	Do you have what it takes to be a hero of the skies? Man the cockpit of fully customized legendary World War II aircraft to experience the best dog-fighting on any console. Destroy ferocious enemy planes over the realistic skies of WWII Europe by mastering aerial tactical shots to evade enemies on your tail. Or predeict your enemies next move and strategically execute your dive bomb attack to annihilate their plan
	Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
	The largest army of super heroes in gaming is back. The highly anticipated sequel to 2006's Marvel:Ultimate Alliance, heralded as the best Marvel super hero game of all time, and selling more than 4 million units worldwide, is finally here with Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Inspired by the acclaimed Marvel civil war storyline, this action-RPG delivers once again on a colossal cast of characters, thrilling gameplay and impassioned alliances. This next-gen gaming experience leaves the fate of the Marvel universe and humankind, in your hands. Lines are drawn. Sides are chosen. And the ultimate question remains: Whose side are you on?
	Wet
	Rubi is a problem fixer. She fixes problems. She's good at it. But when she agrees to fix a wealthy man's problem by finding and bringing back his wayward son, she thinks it's all going to be cut and dry. She thought wrong. The job wasn't so simple. And the man who hired her isn't who he appears to be. Now Rubi's on the run, needing to find the man who left her for dead, leaving a massive body count in her wake.
	Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
	Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs the video game is based on the Sony Pictures Animation movie, and on the best-selling children’s book about food falling from the sky. Gameplay is a fun-filled adventure where kids can engage in a hilarious food fights and have fun with food in a way that they can’t in real life.
	NHL 2K10
	2K Sports NHL 2K10 redefines the sports gaming experience with a new emphasis on social gaming. Whether you're a die-hard NHL fan or a casual player, NHL 2K10's combination of pick-up-and-play controls ensuring accessibility, the game's true-to-life professional hockey authenticity and its variety of on and off-line multiplayer modes promise hours of entertainment for every gamer, regardless of experience level.
	Need for Speed: Shift
	Get ready to Shift your game into high gear! Designed to deliver a true driver's experience that reflects contemporary motorsports, Need for Speed: Shift is built by racers for racers. Need for Speed: Shift delivers an authentic and immersive driving experience, replicating the true feeling of racing high-end performance cars like never before. Players are thrust into the heart of the action with immersive and exciting features including a stunningly realistic first-person cockpit view camera and an all-new crash mechanic, providing an unrivaled sensation of the speed and feeling of racing a car on the extreme edge of control.
	Tornado Outbreak
	Harness the power of a raging tornado and battle the forces of evil in an effort to save to world! Sinister forces have deceived you to believe that your destructive behavior will save an epic hero. In reality, you’re working for evil. Take control of a dynamic tornado as you tear through open environments chewing up the landscape and spitting out everything in your path. The more you destroy, the bigger you grow as you work against time based, collection and point challenges in the search for hidden elements and enemies from another world. Watch the debris fly as you leave a trail of destruction, as you battle bosses and defeat the forces of evil. The world is your playground, tear it up!
	Halo 3: ODST
	Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, Halo 3: ODST is a new, stand-alone expansion to the Halo saga that lets players experience the events leading up to the epic story told in Halo 3 through the eyes of an entirely new character the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant's invasion of New Mombasa. The game adds a new dimension to an all-encompassing universe that gamers around the world have known and loved since the release of the first Halo game in late 2001.
	Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2010
	Become the Ultimate big-game hunter! Travel the globe across five continents as you hunt the world’s greatest trophy animals. Your hunting and survival skills will be put to the test as you face dangerous game, treacherous environments and more!
	The Strike
	The Strike combines authentic environments based on real lakes, engaging gameplay with accurate fish and lure behaviors, and a highly interactive fishing pole controller that allows players an immersive fishing adventure. Players can enjoy 3 different game-play modes including Quick Fish, Career and Bass Pro Shops Invitational Tournament, or compete with friends in mini games like boat races and casting challenges.  The lifelike fishing pole peripheral lets the player cast, jig, set the hook, and fight as if a real fish were on the other end of the line. The game takes players to some of North America’s most famous fishing hot spots and features eleven types of game fish including Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Striped Bass as well as Northern Pike and Muskie.  In addition, realistic lake bottom topography, real-time time–of-day light effects, advanced graphics, and authentic fishing gear from the Bass Pro Shops stores, all combine to offer virtual anglers the most comprehensive fishing game experience to-date.

Microsoft has just announced the long rumored Xbox 360 price drop...

In summary, starting August 28, 2009, you will be able to snag the Xbox 360 Elite for $299 ($100 price drop), in addition to the Xbox 360 Pro for $250 ($50 price drop).

It also appears that the Xbox 360 Pro bundle is being phased out once supplies run out.

We will update our best console deals section once the price drop hits retailers...

Full Details:

Microsoft delivers greater value this holiday with more games and entertainment at the lowest price.


REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 27, 2009 — Xbox 360 today invites you to experience more fun, more entertainment and more ways to connect with friends and family at an even better value. Beginning Aug. 28, the price of an Xbox 360 Elite console will drop by $100, now priced at just $299.99 estimated retail price (ERP) in the United States. On top of that, the Xbox 360 Pro console will now be priced at $249.99 (ERP), reflecting a price reduction of $50, while supplies last. Starting at just $199.99 (ERP) for the Xbox 360 Arcade console, Xbox 360 puts all your entertainment in one place so you can play games, watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and, coming this fall, keep up with your Twitter and Facebook social circles, all from your Xbox 360.1 And, as announced earlier this year, the Xbox 360 you buy today will work with code-named “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming in the future.

“With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s already time to start looking for entertainment and gifts that everyone will enjoy,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of strategy and business development for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “If you’re looking for deep experiences that don’t require deep pockets, now is the time to purchase an Xbox 360. We’ve got the best games, a vast library of TV shows and movies, new music experiences, more ways to connect friends and family, and so much more on the horizon including ‘Project Natal’ — no controller required.”

 

Xbox 360 August '09 Game Releases!

Things are starting to look up this month after a few slow months for the Xbox 360.

Highlights for the month of August 2009 include Batman: Arkham Asylum, Fallout 3 Downloadable Content: Mothership Zeta, Madden NFL 10, Wolfenstein, plus a few more gems.

What titles are you looking forward to?

Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the month of August 2009 on Xbox 360!  As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.

	Brave: A Warrior's Tale
	Set in a fantastic world based upon the mythology of Native America, this next generation game tells the story of Brave, a young Native American boy embarking on an epic journey to save his tribe from the evil Wendigo. Brave's journey will pit him against snarling, evil wolves in a huge forest of towering Redwood trees, canoeing down a raging river, tracking through a swirling blizzard and battling on the back of a buffalo. Explore the mystery and beauty of Brave's own village. His journey will take him across a beautifully rich and interactive world inhabited by remarkable characters, bizarre creatures and terrifying evil spirits.
	Fallout 3 Downloadable Content: Mothership Zeta
	Mothership Zeta is the fifth and final downloadable content pack, and follows the main character after being abducted by aliens when going to explore a mysterious radio transmission from the Alien Crash Site. It will take place entirely on an alien spacecraft and is going to be a similar size to Operation Anchorage. It is set for release on August 3, 2009 for the Xbox and PC versions and will be released for the PlayStation 3 after the first four packs have been released (presumably 4–6 weeks after the release of Point Lookout).
	G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra
	Suit up, grab your gear and prepare to lock and load as you take control of the elite GI Joe team against the evil forces of Cobra. Based on the upcoming film from Paramount Pictures, the GI Joe video game picks up where the movie leaves off, allowing players both in single player mode, as well as a local co-op multiplayer mode, to re-create and relive the greatest moments from the blockbuster film, classic cartoon and action figure toy line.
	Madden NFL 10
	Every Sunday in the NFL, an epic battle rages between the offense and the defense. Every play is a struggle, with each side relentlessly pursuing every single yard. In Madden NFL 10, you will join the fight and experience firsthand what it is like to fight for every yard. With the all-new Pro-Tak animation technology you will have more control over the outcome of every play than ever before. Whether driving your receiver towards the first down, or battling for a fumble at the bottom of a pile, the play won't be over until the whistle blows.
	Fallout 3 Game Ad-On Pack: Broken Steel and Point Lookout
	BROKEN STEEL: Continue your existing Fallout 3 game and finish the fight against the Enclave remnants alongside Liberty Prime. Broken Steel moves the level cap for your character from 20 to 30, allowing you to experience even more of the game, including new perks and achievements. Story: You may have dealt the Enclave a serious blow at Project Purity, but their forces are still out there, and still pose a grave threat to the people and security of the Capital Wasteland. In Broken Steel, you’ll continue your current Fallout 3 character past the events of Project Purity, and work with the Brotherhood of Steel to eradicate the Enclave threat once and for all. Travel to new locations like the Olney Powerworks, wield destructive new weapons like the Tesla Cannon, and fight powerful new creatures like the Super Mutant Overlord. POINT LOOKOUT: Point Lookout opens up a massive new area of the Wasteland – a, dark, murky swampland along the coast of Maryland. So hop on the ferry to the seaside town of Point Lookout, for the most mysterious and open-ended Fallout 3 DLC adventure yet. Story: Buy a ticket and hop onboard the Duchess Gambit, as Tobar the Ferryman takes you to the strange seaside town of Point Lookout. What secrets does the dilapidated boardwalk hold? Who lives in the sprawling mansion? Why is the Punga Fruit so important? And what horrors lie in the depths of the murky swamp? Point Lookout is the most open-ended DLC yet, and allows you to explore a huge, swampy wasteland any way you’d like. A completely new quest line allows you uncover the town’s hidden secrets and wield powerful new weapons like the Double-Barrel Shotgun against the swamp’s dangerous, and deformed, denizens.
	Raven Squad: Hidden Dagger
	Raven Squad is a tactical action game set in the Amazonian jungles that blends a first person shooter (FPS) experience with the command and overview advantages of a tactical real-time strategy (RTS) with dominantly story driven objectives. The player can solve each tactical situation using his own combination of the two genres either by himself or cooperatively with a friend.
	Wolfenstein
	Wolfenstein is a supernatural/science fiction first-person shooter, based on the video game series developed by Id Software that has been a favorite of 2D and 3D gamers across multiple game iterations and platforms since the early 1980s. In this new take, players battle the Nazi's dark obsession with the occult through epic action and harrowing shooter combat. Filled with ferocious enemies, movie-quality action scenes, unique gameplay environments, an impressive array of weapons and compelling multiplayer gameplay options, it is truly a fitting new chapter in the history of this classic gaming franchise.
	Black College Football Xperience: The Doug Williams Edition
	Black College Football Xperience: The Doug Williams Edition is a first-of-its-kind game that immerses players in the rich culture, history and pageantry of football game day on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses. The game fuses realistic, bone-jarring football action created using the Unreal 3.0 engine with two unique new rhythm games, the interactive Halftime Show and Drum Line Challenge. In addition, a wealth of historical data has been integrated in the Legacy Museum and dozens of licensed tracks performed by college football's most entertaining marching bands are included in the game's Jukebox.
	Batman: Arkham Asylum
	Batman: Arkham Asylum is a single player, third-person action/adventure in which the Dark Knight is forced to take on his greatest challenge yet when he is trapped by arch rival, the Joker, within Gotham City's facility for the criminally insane, Arkham Asylum. A blend of exciting arcade style combat and stealth mechanics packed with amazing graphics in a moody, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers diverse gameplay options that push the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games.

Xbox 360 July '09 Game Releases!

Things are starting to look up this month after a few slow months for the Xbox 360.

Highlights for the month of July 2009 include BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition, NCAA Football 10, The King of Fighters XII, Rock Band: Country Track Pack, and Watchmen: The End is Nigh - Part 1 & 2.

What titles are you looking forward to?

Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the month of July 2009 on Xbox 360!  As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.

	BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition
	HIGH-RESOLUTION 2D FIGHTING BRILLIANCE In the 13th hierarchical city, Kagutsuchi, the Librarium regulates the amazing power of "Armagus", a fusion of magic and technology. Currently they are aft er a wanted criminal named Ragna The Bloodedge, also known as "Death", who wants to destroy the Librarium. Due to Ragna possessing a powerful form of Armagus known as the Azure Grimoire, people far and wide are aft er not only his bounty, but his grimoire as well. This is where our story begins...
	Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince
	Based on the 2009 summer movie blockbuster of the same name, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince transports fans both old and new to the beloved and action-filled video game universe of Harry Potter. In this most recent adventure players return to the famous Hogwarts school for wizards, as well as other surrounding parts of the wizarding world, to help Harry survive a difficult and danger filled sixth year.
	The Bigs 2
	The Big Leagues just got bigger. The Bigs 2 allows fans to experience heroic gameplay, legendary game modes and incredible player models like they've never seen before. Elevating The Bigs 2 to new heights are bigger power-ups, amazing visual effects, and an all new career mode. Featuring exciting player animations and pick-up-and-play controls, The Bigs 2 delivers an action-packed, heroic MLB video game experience.
	NCAA Football 10
	Settle who’s number one in the college game once and for all with EA Sports NCAA Football 10. With the eyes of college football upon you, players begin their road to glory in a fully customizable career mode featuring player progression, and authentic college football atmospheres. Against your biggest rivals and during the biggest games, seize the day and bust out big-time performances week in and week out to make your case for winning the Heisman Trophy.
	The King of Fighters XII
	Gaming's most revered 3-on-3 fighting franchise celebrates its 15th anniversary with its most ambitious entry to date: The King of Fighter XII. Gathering over 22 beautifully hand-drawn 2D characters from SNK storied arcade history, the King of Fighters XII promises to live up to the expectations of next-gen console owners with compelling gameplay, high resolution graphics and best of all...intense combat!
	Black College Football Xperience: The Doug Williams Edition
	Black College Football Xperience: The Doug Williams Edition is a first-of-its-kind game that immerses players in the rich culture, history and pageantry of football game day on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses. The game fuses realistic, bone-jarring football action created using the Unreal 3.0 engine with two unique new rhythm games, the interactive Halftime Show and Drum Line Challenge. In addition, a wealth of historical data has been integrated in the Legacy Museum and dozens of licensed tracks performed by college football's most entertaining marching bands are included in the game's Jukebox.
	Rock Band: Country Track Pack
	The Rock Band Country Track Pack is a standalone software product that allows owners of Rock Band and Rock Band 2, as well as those new to the Rock Band universe to start and keep the party going with an additional 21 seminal hits from the heyday of country rock and beyond that have been hand-picked for players with care by game developer, Harmonix. This track pack is also compatible with most Guitar Hero and other instrument controllers.
	G-Force
	Based on the summer 2009 Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster movie of the same name, G-Force the video game is an exciting action-platformer that draws you into the adventures of an elite team of trained guinea pigs on a mission to thwart a sinister plot to destroy the world. Take control of both G-Force commander Darwin and his housefly surveillance sidekick, Mooch, as they apply their talents to defeat an evil army of altered household appliances.
	Watchmen: The End is Nigh - Part 1 & 2
	Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Part 1 follows Rorschach and Nite Owl as they track down the evil Underboss, who recently broke out of prison and has sent his violent thugs loose in New York City. The city needs saviors and only masked vigilantes will answer the call. Watchmen: The End Is Nigh Part 2 delves further into the partnership of Rorschach and Nite Owl before the hero-banning Keene Act. In Part 2, Rorschach contacts Nite Owl to get his help in solving the case of a missing girl, Violet Greene. Along the way Rorschach uncovers that a woman from his past is involved with the disappearance, leading to a conflict of interest between the partners. New Installment of Watchmen Mythology: Set more than a decade before the events of the feature film, the two long-form, episodic videogames help to develop the backstory between Nite Owl and Rorschach and leads fans right into the film.

Xbox 360 June '09 Game Releases!

Things are starting to look up this month after a few slow months for the Xbox 360.

Highlights for the month of May 2009 include Red Faction Guerilla, Prototype, Tiger Woods 2010, Ghostbusters, Fight Night Round 4, and Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood.

What titles are you looking forward to?

Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the month of June 2009 on Xbox 360!  As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.

	Red Faction Guerilla
	Set 50 years after the climactic events of the original Red Faction, Red Faction: Guerrilla allows players to take the role of an insurgent fighter with the newly re-established Red Faction movement as they battle for liberation from the oppressive Earth Defense Force. Red Faction: Guerrilla re-defines the limits of destruction-based game-play with a huge open-world, fast-paced guerrilla-style combat, and true physics-based destruction.
	FUEL
	In FUEL players race across and explore the world’s largest racing environment – over 5,000 square miles of spectacular wilderness. Set to revolutionize multi-terrain, multi-vehicle racing, FUEL is a fiercely competitive, open-world game without boundaries. On and off-road, two and four-wheeled vehicles race a massively diverse environment, from scaling the highest snowcapped mountain to racing the deepest arid canyon.
	Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10
	Feel the drama of playing professional tournament golf like never before with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10. For the first time in the history of Electronic Arts' much lauded golf simulation franchise, players can take aim at capturing the US Open Championship on the ever-challenging Bethpage Black.
	Prototype
	Prototype is a single player, open-world action game where players take control of shape-shifter Alex Mercer. In this gameworld you literally are a genetic prototype hiding in human form. You step out onto the streets of New York with no memory, but limitless potential power. As a terrifying viral epidemic sweeps across Manhattan, top-secret Blackwatch Special Forces move in, transforming it into a war zone. Delve into the mysteries of your origin, the true nature of your power and your part in a conspiracy 40 years in the making.
	Virtua Tennis 2009
	Building on its strong consumer following and consistently high review scores, the Virtua Tennis series delivers another ace this May. Virtua Tennis 2009 maintains the unprecedented realism and pin-point gameplay mechanics the series is known for and also now features improved shot accuracy, more control on serves and the chance to compete for the esteemed Davis Cup. Players will sharpen their court skills in 12 fan-favorite mini-games in preparation for fierce competition in an all-new World Tour mode where they will smash the competition as one of 20 elite tennis stars.
	Guitar Hero Smash Hits
	In Guitar Hero: Smash Hits players get the best of previous Guitar Hero games, now in a full band gameplay scenario. Turn down the lights, crank up the amps and prepare to command center stage as you rock out to the most fun tracks from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. And for the first time you can join together as a band and jam to master tracks from the greatest Guitar Hero music on your controllers for guitar, drums and vocals.
	Ghostbusters: The Video Game
	Ghostbusters: The Video Game, based on the smash hit motion picture franchise and featuring a completely new story, is coming to six game systems in 2009. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the film’s original theatrical release, the game reunites original cast members to recapture the unique blend of humour and fright that established Ghostbusters as a pop culture sensation. Remember, don't cross the streams. It could end all life as we know it!
	Overlord 2
	Overlord II is the sequel to the hit warped fantasy action adventure that had players being delightfully despotic. In Overlord II, a new Overlord and a more powerful army of Minions take on an entire empire in a truly epic adventure, inspired by the rise of the Roman Empire. As the Glorious Empire conquers kingdoms and destroys any sign of magic it finds, it's time to go Minion Maximus and send in the horde. The Minions return smarter, deadlier (and funnier) and are ready to fight in large scale battles that will see their wild pack mentality squaring up to the organized legions of the Glorious Empire.
	Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
	Become the ultimate Autobot or Decepticon in TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN, the official game of one of 2009's biggest blockbuster films. Unleash your power to determine the fate of Earth as the ultimate war rages across the globe. Every second counts as you experience TRANSFORMERS like never before!
	Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires
	This is an action game based in ancient China in which players roam through a battlefield, hack-and-slash enemies, and attempt to conquer China in the process. Players use a variety of weapons (maces, staffs, swords, bladed fans) to dispatch hordes of enemy officers, tigers, and wolves.
	Fight Night: Round 4
	EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 is truly the return of the champ. Building off Fight Night Round 3, one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed games to come out at the onset of the Xbox 360 hardware launch, Fight Night Round 4 promises to be equally as groundbreaking and revolutionary. With an all new physics based fighting engine, new physics driven animations, truly unique and differentiated boxer styles, and the most impressive boxer roster ever, including the return of the legendary Iron Mike Tyson, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 takes video game boxing and fighting to an entirely new level.
	Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
	The prequel to the Wild West action shooter Call of Juarez. As the McCall brothers, players enter a doomed quest for the legendary Gold of Juarez leading them from a ravaged Georgia during the Civil War to the Aztec ruins of Mexico. They make their lawless trail into the wildest West ever depicted, using their gunslinging skills and killing all of those that stand before them. But when the brothers face lust, their bond of blood feels thinner than ever… Harness a variety of weapons from various pistols to heavy-caliber cannons and machine guns. Every accurate shot increases your concentration, which allows you to unleash deadly shooting modes when outnumbered and even deadlier ones when the brothers work together.
	Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
	Join Ice Age's unlikely herd of prehistoric pals for their wildest, wackiest, most exciting adventure yet! For the first time, play as six beloved Ice Age characters as they embark on a rescue mission across melting snow to the mysterious Dinosaur World an all-new, fur-raising jungle of carnivorous plants, lush foliage and fierce dinosaurs. Based on the highly anticipated Fox film Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, it's a rollicking ride of mammoth proportions!

Xbox 360 Games of May!

Things are starting to look up this month after a very slowwwwww April for the Xbox 360.

Highlights for the month of May 2009 include Bionic Commando, Fallout 3 Operation Anchorage and Pitt Expansion, UFC 2009 Undisputed, and Rock Band: Classic Rock Track Pack.

What titles are you looking forward to?

Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the month of May 2009 on Xbox 360!  As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.

	Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
	Get ready for a story so epic it could only unfold in the corridors of the world's largest museum - the Smithsonian Institution. Museum guard-turned entrepreneur Larry Daly discovers that his favorite exhibits, and some of his best friends, from New York's Natural History Museum are being shipped off to the archives at the Smithsonian. Larry gets a distress call from the miniature cowboy, Jedediah, reporting that Egyptian ruler Kahmunrah and a trio of heinous henchmen - namely Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon and Al Capone - are plotting to take over the museum, then the world. Speeding to the nation¿s capitol, Larry is clearly in over his head. But with some impressive new pals, including the irrepressible Amelia Earhart, along with familiar friends Teddy Roosevelt and Octavius, Larry will stop at nothing to restore the Smithsonian before dawn.
	Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
	Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an Action Role-playing Game (RPG) where the paths players choose and the decisions they make along the way, determine not only the destinies of their character, but also that of their chosen race as a whole, members of the other five other in-game races, and perhaps the game world of Ancaria itself. Set 2,000 years prior to the self-titled first game in the Sacred series, Fallen Angel is prequel to the events and quests of earlier RPG hit, that drops players in the midst of an epic struggle for control of elemental power on the grandest of scale.
	Left 4 Dead: Game of the Year
	Set in a modern day survival-horror universe, the co-operative gameplay of Left 4 Dead (L4D) casts four "Survivors" in an epic struggle against hordes of swarming zombies and terrifying "Boss Infected" mutants. Developed by Turtle Rock Studios and Valve, creators of the Counter-Strike and Half-Life games, the latest AI technology allows for multiplayer games of one to eight players.
	Battlestations Pacific
	As the sequel to the critically acclaimed Battlestations: Midway, Battlestations: Pacific for the Xbox 360 takes war-play to the next generation by introducing a new level of realism with more detailed graphics, a redesigned interface for better game play, and new features that will make you feel like you're part of the Pacific War. Eidos Interactive designed this epic action-strategy game to have 28 full-scale battles, with over 100 realistic war machines, all of which allows you to relive the historical battles of the Pacific during WWII. Play as the American forces, or go the "what if" route, and play as the Japanese to rewrite the history books.
	Terminator: Salvation
	In Terminator: Salvation, you are John Connor, a soldier in this post-apocalyptic world, and it's up to you to lead your squad of loyal fighters in a desperate battle for survival against the superior forces of Skynet and its deadly Terminators. Use the environment and objects in it to provide cover and protection as the T-600 and T-7T shoot relentlessly at you and your squad from all angles and the lethal Aerostat blasts you from above.
	Bionic Commando
	Bionic Commando is back, now on the Xbox 360, 20 years after the NES classic was initially released. And returning with it is the swinging bionic arm game mechanic that made it so popular and critically acclaimed. Bionic Commando makes the move to 3D, and gamers will be able to grapple, swing, and scale a giant environment filled with buildings, canyons, and more.
	Raiden Fighters Aces
	The legendary Raiden Fighters series was originally developed by Seibu as a coin-op. Now all three titles of this popular series have been authentically recreated for the Xbox 360®, with the original gameplay intact, and enhanced with full-screen scrolling action. Compete in a virtual world-wide high-score competition over Xbox LIVE®. Compare your skills with the best in the world, and trade gameplay clips to learn their secrets.
	Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock
	Rock Band Track Pack Classic Rock is a standalone software product that allows owners of Rock Band and Rock Band 2 to keep the party going with 20 seminal hits from the heyday of classic rock and beyond, hand-picked with care by Harmonix. This Track Pack is also compatible with most Guitar Hero and other instrument controllers. Dead Kennedys - California Uber Alles Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia Free - All Right Now George Thorogood - Bad to the Bone James Gang - Funk #49 Jethro Tull - Hymn 43 Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot Police - Can't Stand Losing You Police - Truth Hits Everybody Rush - Closer to the Heart Rush - Red Barchetta Siouxie & the Banshees - Kiss Them For Me Steve Miller Band - Take the Money & Run Steve Miller Band - The Joker Stone Roses - Love Spreads The Who - Baba O'Riley The Who - Behind Blue Eyes
	UFC Undisputed
	UFC 2009 Undisputed is an explosive fighting game detailing the action, intensity and attitude of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Featuring an authentic and comprehensive UFC atmosphere, including an extensive roster of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world, players will push the envelope with a powerful new game engine and put their best fighting disciplines to the test in the world famous Octagon. Take your best shot - UFC 2009 Undisputed is as real as it gets. Develop attributes, perfect moves and fights for entry into the UFC Hall of Fame through a series of dynamic storylines that build friendships and instigate intense rivalries.
	Damnation
	Bringing dramatic third-person shooter action to huge, steampunk-inspired environments, Damnation for Xbox 360 puts a range of unique weapons in your hands and lets you test the limits of the human body by performing acrobatic stunts to move through vertical levels. Set in an early 20th century world where the Civil War never ended, this game will have you climbing walls, commanding killer vehicles, and seeking out ways to stop industrialists with a thirst for totalitarian power.
	Fallout 3 Expansion Pack: Operation Anchorage & The Pitt
	The Pitt Description: The Pitt allows you to travel to the post-apocalyptic remains of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and become embroiled in a conflict between slaves and their Raider masters. Explore a sprawling settlement ravaged by time, neglect, nuclear radiation, and moral degradation. The Pitt is filled with morally grey choices, shady NPCs, new enemies, new weapons, and much more. Story: The Pitt opens with a desperate radio message, and a meeting with its sender, an escaped slave named Wernher. Wernher claims that the leader of "The Pitt" has created a cure for mutations... and he needs you to go in and retrieve it. From there, the player can proceed in a number of ways, in true Fallout 3 style.
	UP
	Based on the Disney - Pixar animated feature of the same name, Up The Video Game takes players on the Xbox 360 on an exotic adventure with Carl Fredricksen and his young sidekick, Wilderness Explorer Russell, as they set off on a wild journey through the undiscovered jungles of South America. Players will be able to experience all four main characters from the movie -- Carl, Russell, Dug the lovable dog or Kevin the prehistoric bird -- and will enjoy the action both in a single player campaign and with friends via the game's 2-4 player multiplayer support.
	FUEL
	In FUEL players race across and explore the world’s largest racing environment – over 5,000 square miles of spectacular wilderness. Set to revolutionize multi-terrain, multi-vehicle racing, FUEL is a fiercely competitive, open-world game without boundaries. On and off-road, two and four-wheeled vehicles race a massively diverse environment, from scaling the highest snowcapped mountain to racing the deepest arid canyon.

Amazon Begins Selling Xbox LIVE Arcade Games!

Online retailer Amazon has just launched the Xbox LIVE Section on their web site where you can purchase subscriptions, points cards, and for the first time ever, Xbox LIVE Arcade games. 

Here is how it works:

You will be able to get your Xbox LIVE online game code immediately after purchase. Enter your code through either your Xbox 360 console or Xbox.com and enjoy. You can also gift your online game code after purchase via e-mail.

As you will see, you purchase the games based on a dollar value (versus Microsoft points).  This is actually a nice way to browse some of the Xbox LIVE Arcade catelog, as you can see user reviews/etc...  Looks like digital distribution is moving full speed ahead!

Check it out: Amazon Xbox LIVE Section