In the mean time check out the brand new trailer below showing off the multiplayer aspects of the game, just don’t cross the streams……

Now that the First Strike Map Pack is available for that other console, why not celebrate it by having another Double XP weekend for everyone! The Double XP lasts from today until Monday, March 7th. Your in-game currency (CoD Points) will also be doubled, since you earn them based on a percentage of your XP.

Along with the Double XP, a new Nuketown 24/7 playlist is now up for a short amount of time, so if you really like Nuketown, go ahead and jump into that playlist!

Bejeweled Blitz looks to be the next installment of the popular Bejeweled series to take advantage of the power of Xbox Live while putting a different spin on the classic puzzle game.  I was invited to see the game for myself.  Jeff Green, the editorial director of PopCap Games took me through a tour of Bejeweled Blitz and showed me most of the features this new game has to offer.

Bejeweled Blitz has been already loved by users of Facebook and the iPhone version of Bejeweled 2.  What is different about Blitz is that it is not about taking your time to find the right combination of jewels.  You only have one minute to make matches and compete for a high score.  There is barely any time to think.  Through playing a few rounds, I can definitely say it felt very different than what I usually expect when playing Bejeweled.  Its a clever twist to an old formula which can be played in both classic and twist modes.

With the game also comes a brand new intuitive method of control.  You use the analog stick to control the cursor on screen as usual but for making your jewel move up, down, left, or right, you use the face buttons.  Pressing the A button would make the jewel move down while pressing B would make it move right.  It is almost like using a d-pad.  This new control method is definitely intuitive but for those who are used the original Bejeweled controls, this will take some getting used to.

The game features single player, local battles, and online battles via Xbox Live for up to 16 players as well as online leaderboards.  Local battles are fun as you compete with a friend for a high score as well as how stylish your moves are.  I did not get to play the crazy 16 player party mode due to technical difficulties but it sounds like a lot of fun.

Overall, Bejeweled Blitz looks to be a fun twist to a new formula.  The new control method will take some getting used to for veterans but it is very intuitive and smart.  Unfortunately for those who want an option for an endless mode, there is none in Bejeweled Blitz but according to PopCap’s editorial director Jeff Green, Bejeweled 3 for Xbox Live Arcade is currently under development to satisfy the fans of classic Bejeweled game modes.  Anyone who loves Bejeweled should really give Blitz a try.  Look out for Bejeweled Blitz when it hits Xbox Live Arcade later this Winter.

Today, it has been announced that two hit Kinect titles are getting free downloadable content.  The two lucky games are Kinect Joy Ride and Kinect Sports.

The Kinect Joy Ride DLC will be the Chevrolet Car Pack.  This pack comes with the Chevrolet Cruze, Corvette, and Camaro.  You can use these cars in any of the game’s modes and choose the colors of the cars as well.  This pack will be released for free on January 4.  If you see a Chevrolet ad on the Xbox Live Marketplace at that time, that is your key to unlocking these cars.  They will also be available through Xbox.com

The Kinect Sports DLC is called the Kinect Sports Party Pack.  This pack includes six all new minigames, fifteen all new Party Play games, and three crazy mascots.  According to Major Nelson’s blog, these are all the new things the Kinect Sports Party Pack will offer:

• Six exciting new Mini Games: Shake your hips and move your feet with six brand new Mini Games.
  • SuperStriker for Soccer lets you score as many goals as you can and avoid the boots.
  • Pinvaders for Bowling lets you stop the pins before they reach the hazard zone.
  • Rapid Runner for Track & Field lets you run the furthest distance before you run out of time.
  • Target Smash for Table Tennis lets you smash the targets to grab the score.
  • Fruit Splatter for Volleyball lets you hit the fruits while dodging the bombs.
  • King of the Ring for Boxing lets you knockout as many opponents as you can.
• “Challenge” Feature allows you to track and compete with friends’ Mini Game scores
• 15 Party Play Events: Increase the variety with new Mini Game Events and new variations of the original Mini Games you already love.
• Three new goofy mascots to use in Party Play spice up the game and include:
  • Zippy Zombie
  • Champion Chicken
  • Sportastico
• 10 achievements worth 250G keep you challenged.

The Kinect Sports Party Pack is available right now and is free.  Click here to download it to your Xbox queue

Rumored well over a year ago, the Xbox Live Rewards program has now come to fruition. Set to launch later this week, the program will reward users with a variety of content (mainly Microsoft Points) for making everyday purchases, taking surveys, renewing their subscription, and more.

While the rewards site doesn’t appear to be fully functional as of yet, you can still head on over to rewards.xbox.com to learn more about the program and check out some of the rewards.

(Translated via Google)

It looks like the Xbox Germany page may have let loose details on an ever-anticipated feature. Since the incorporation of the Xbox Live friends list, users have been limited to 100 friends. When original Xbox Live support was discontinued earlier this year, many thought that an increase in the friends list was in the works. Microsoft’s never really had an official comment on the issue, but earlier today the Xbox Germany page leaked the above message, hinting that a change is incoming.

As for an ETA, don’t get too anxious. Shortly after the post was removed, Xbox Live’s Major Nelson was quick to tweet:

Let me straighten things out: We will not be expanding the friends list as a part of the next Xbox LIVE Update. However, we’re always listening to member feedback and looking at new ways to enhance the service. Thanks

(via Joystiq)

From now until September 20th at 12PM ET, Xbox Live Silver members can get into the Gold arena for free. In addition to online gameplay, Silver members will also have access to features such as Netflix, Last.fm, Twitter, Facebook and exclusive access to movies, TV shows, and music.

Looks like the Microsoft team will be getting a pay raise this November. Announced by Major Nelson earlier today, the price of Xbox Live will be increasing on November 1, 2010. Residents of the United States, Canada, Mexico and the UK will all be affected by the change, as shown below:

However, Microsoft is offering a deal for their ‘loyal customers,’ allowing them to renew another year for $39.99. After that, we recommend you stay in tune to our deals section to save some buck.

(Major Nelson)

The codec we used when we first launched was a low bit rate codec and we stuck with that.  We launched and we said we required broadband. We required a 64k connection, which not many people think of as broadband any longer. But that was the minimum requirement to run the service at the time.  It’s time for us to move on. Especially if we want to think about broadening – a crackly headset on the top of your head – not what people think of when they talk about popular entertainment."

- Jerry Johnson, Xbox Live Studio Head

I’ve had a mixed experience with sound on Xbox Live.  There are times where it is very crisp and times when you hear nothing but static.  The headsets themselves should also take a fair amount of blame.  Using the default headset can be a complete crapshoot. One minute it works fine, the next it completely dies.  Regardless, this is a welcome change.

[via Eurogamer]

With the launch of Kinect this November, Microsoft is attempting to capture a broader market for it’s Xbox Live service. Announced today, the new Xbox Live Gold Gamily Pack will offer up to four individual Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for $99.99 (the standard price of two memberships).

The new Family Pack also introduces the following:

Full PR after the break.

New Xbox LIVE Gold Family Subscription Plan Delivers More Value and Family Fun

Xbox 360 makes family time, quality time. Only Xbox LIVE delivers a world of games, movies, social entertainment and starting this November, live sports, allowing you to share them with the people you care about, around the world.

This November, the new Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack will offer up to four individual Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for only US$99.99 – the price of two regular Xbox LIVE Gold subscriptions. Now as you prepare for the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360, which makes YOU the controller, consider giving your family premium Gold experience and access to the biggest names in entertainment.

Perfect for families, the Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack will also offer access to additional conveniences and services including the new Family Center, accessible on the Xbox dashboard and Xbox.com for easier family management, access to activity monitoring reports, and the ability to purchase and give Microsoft Points to other Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack members.

An Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack includes:

• Up to four individual Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for the price of two – (US) $99.99.
• Family Center – a single, easy to use, destination for Family Settings and account management, accessible on the Xbox dashboard and on Xbox.com.
• The primary account member has the ability to purchase and dispense Microsoft Points to other Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack members.
• Activity monitoring reports viewable on Xbox.com to help encourage discussions about safer more balanced gaming and entertainment habits.
• Simplified billing that applies all purchase charges to the primary account holder’s billing account and the ability to authorize purchases, helping to manage the family’s entertainment budget.
• Exclusive family content and discounts.

The industry-leading, built-in Xbox 360 Family Settings are also being taken to the next level this November. It’s Microsoft’s goal to provide parents and caregivers with tools and resources to manage their children’s gaming and entertainment experiences, and these features are available to all Xbox LIVE members:

• Family Programming that removes all mature games, movies, and content from the dashboard, based on ESRB, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings and the TV Parental Guidelines system . Family Programming is password protected, and easy to turn on and off for each member. (Compatible with international ratings systems.)
• Title exceptions – the ability to allow your family members to play specific games above the console’s designated ESRB rating if you deem appropriate. (Compatible with international ratings systems.)
• Intelligent default settings for child, teen, and adult profiles. Xbox will automatically assign default privacy and activity settings for each member that can later be individually customized.
• Family Settings are displayed prominently in the MyXbox channel. Current tools include the Family Timer, which allows you to control the amount of time – either daily or weekly – your children may use the console.

Whether you want to play your favorite games, stream movies and music from Zune, or watch the latest sporting event together via ESPN on Xbox LIVE¹, Xbox 360 brings the best family-friendly entertainment straight to your living room.

1 ESPN on Xbox available for Xbox LIVE Gold members that are ESPN viewers in supported markets. ESPN on Xbox LIVE, providing great content from ESPN3.com and ESPN.com, is only available to Xbox LIVE Gold members. For access to ESPN3.com content, Gold members must receive their internet connection from an affiliated broadband provider. See ESPN3.com for details and providers.