On the Xbox 360 front, there are some interesting updates on the New Xbox Experience dashboard due Nov. 19. First, the bad news: You will not be able to watch movies together with your friends using the new streaming NetFlix feature, at least not at launch. Microsoft says they are going to try to make this feature available at a later date but had to cut it for now.
Last week we learned that Xbox 360 owners would be offered a storage solution if they owned a console without a hard drive or large enough memory card to accept the dashboard update next month. Turns out, you can apply at www.xboxstorageupgrade.com for a free 512MB memory card (still won't work with Xbox Live Primetime or larger videos) or get a $20 refurbished 20MB hard drive. You will have to enter your console ID and serial number to confirm eligibility for the offer, so there's no gaming the system (so to speak).
The other big news is what's coming to Xbox Live Marketplace next week:
Last week we learned that Xbox 360 owners would be offered a storage solution if they owned a console without a hard drive or large enough memory card to accept the dashboard update next month. Turns out, you can apply at www.xboxstorageupgrade.com for a free 512MB memory card (still won't work with Xbox Live Primetime or larger videos) or get a $20 refurbished 20MB hard drive. You will have to enter your console ID and serial number to confirm eligibility for the offer, so there's no gaming the system (so to speak).
The other big news is what's coming to Xbox Live Marketplace next week:
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an Xbox Original downloadable on Monday for $15
- Portal: Still Alive is on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday, also for $15
- "Nevermind" album by Nirvana for Rock Band/Rock Band 2 at $11, or $2 per track, but minus the three remaining hits ("Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come As You" Are and "Lithium")
- Xbox Live Arcade: Age of Booty ($10) and CrazyMouse ($5), plus N+ Level Pack 3 (free) and Double D Dodgeball Big Bang Boom Pack ($1.25)
- Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Dr. Feelgood album by Mötley Crüe ($16, or $2 per track)
- Dead Space Elite Suit (free) only for 360 and Space Scorpion Suit ($2.50), each with added toughness and extra inventory slots
- FIFA 09 league packs ($7 each or $20 for all six)
- Guilty Gear 2: Overture New Master Raven unlock ($5)
- Demos: Brother's in Arms: Hell's Highway, Madagascar 2 and Tom Clancy's EndWar
- Game Videos: Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Brother's in Arms: Hell's Highway, Dead Space, Fable II, FIFA 09, Gears of War 2, Golden Axe: Beast Rider, Legendary, Quantum of Solace, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, Stoked and StormRise
- Themes: Armored Core for Answer and Golden Axe: Beast Rider ($1.88 each) - do I detect a slowdown here as we approach the new dashboard release?
- Pictures: Armored Core for Answer ($1), Banjo-Kazooie ($1 each), Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts ($1 each) and Brother's in Arms: Hell's Highway ($1.25), plus EA Sports Challenge for Madden 09, NASCAR 09, NCAA 09 and NBA 09 (free; enters you in sweepstakes)
