Busy Gamer News

Microsoft released three new song packs for Guitar Hero II - each contains three tracks for $6.25, or about $2.08 per song. Track Pack 1 offers up Bark at the Moon (Ozzy Osbourne), Hey You (The Exies) and Ace of Spades (Motorhead). Track Pack 2 gives you Killer Queen as (Queen), Take it Off (The Donnas) and Frankenstein (The Edgar Winter Group). And Track Pack 3 adds Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Infected (Bad Religon) and Stellar (Incubus). EA's Pogo online gaming community launched its foray into console games this week with Boom Boom Rocket, a $10 fireworks-themed rhythm game you can almost play with your Guitar Hero axe. Other new downloads include:

• Halo 3 multiplayer video
• Lost Planet Map Pack #2 ($5)
• A new Lexus car pack for Test Drive Unlimited that adds the Lexus GS 450h hybrid and Lexus LS 460 (free)
• Guitar Hero II picture packs ($1.25 each) and theme ($1.88)
• Demos for Shrek the Third and Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia (free; Gold members only initially)

And file this under Stupid Marketing Tricks: If you want to win an Xbox 360 Elite, you need to write an essay about why your mom is such a big gamer. The winner gets the console and all mom gets is some lousy flowers. S'up with dat? Well, it all starts to make sense once you read the pitch: "Is your mom a lifelong gamer, or new to gaming? What games does she play? Does she support your gaming habit? Is she a n00b, or can she hold her own? Do you play together?" Assuming you tell the truth, you're providing free market research to Microsoft on how to sell their consoles to your mom - well, all of our moms actually - and all for a budget of $700...