Xbox LIVE turns five, Eight million get a free game

Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 04:12

Your IT - Entertainment

Microsoft are celebrating a milestone as the Xbox LIVE online gaming and marketplace service turns five.  With more than eight million registered users around the world, it can be considered a lauded success, still with competition comes change, and for Xbox LIVE the tweaks keep coming.

Now five years old, Xbox LIVE has been a major reason for the Microsoft console to stay afloat against the incumbent competition of Sony PlayStation and Nintendo.

Microsoft has announced a couple of changes, sure to please the faithful over the next couple of weeks, starting with everybody’s favourite price for a game, a free one. 

As a gesture of thanks to the LIVE community, all eight million members will have the opportunity to download a complimentary Xbox LIVE Arcade game (Hexic 2 in Korea, Carcassonne everywhere else) between 7:01 p.m. AusEST on 15 November and 6:59 p.m. AusEST on 17 November.

From December 4, after an Xbox LIVE system update, members will also have access to “Xbox Originals” for download at 1200 Microsoft Points per game.  According to Microsoft; this new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games. Titles in the pipeline include greats like “Halo”, “Psychonauts”, “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge” and “Fable”.
 
Of course you will need a Hard Drive equipped Xbox 360 to enjoy this.

Andrew Jenkins, Xbox Product Marketing Manager, says, “Since its pioneering launch, Xbox LIVE has consistently lead the way in terms of innovative features and quality content. New services such as the ‘Xbox Originals’ demonstrate precisely why Xbox LIVE is – and will remain – the premiere online destination for console gamers.”

For more information about the downloadable games available on Xbox LIVE, the evolution of Xbox LIVE or the “Xbox LIVE is 5IVE” member rewards, visit www.Xbox.com.au.