Xbox Live Deal of the Week - August 14th, 2012 - The Third

The Third what? Are we talking about Ender? Nope, Saints Row: The Third! Let me tell you, if you haven't played this game yet and are a fan of GTA style games, you should definitely check it out. It takes a much more light-hearted approach though. The opening sequence will leave you going, "What the $%#@!" but in the best way possible. The game adds a certain level of hilarity to the genre but still is able to maintain enjoyability. Just wait for the first time you hijack a car and make sure you are running towards the car.

For those Gold Members who have played the game, this Deal of the Week may interest you. Microsoft has three DLC packets available for half off. Volition tried even harder to make the game crazier with these DLCs. Gangstas in Space anyone?

• DLC - Saints Row: The Third - Genkibowl VII 280 560 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Saints Row: The Third - Gangstas in Space 280 560 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Saints Row: The Third - The Trouble With Clones 280 560 Microsoft Points

Xbox Live Deal of the Week - August 7th, 2012 - Day of Reckoning

The company that made Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, 38 Studios, may have sadly had it's day of reckoning already (they have been dissolved due to massive debt), but the game lives on! The game is published by EA so it still has that going for it. Just don't expect any new DLC packets or downloadables for the title. The fall of 38 Studios was a sad tale. Founded by the baseball great, Curt Schilling, with great promise, they ended up without a shilling and Rhode Island with a huge hole in their back pocket ($70+ million). Anyhoo~ this week on Xbox Live we are served up some DLC from Kingdoms of Amalur for half off. So if you're still into the game you might want to pick some of these up.

• DLC - Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Teeth of Naros 400 800 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - The Legend of Dead Kel 400 800 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Weapons & Armor Bundle 200 400 Microsoft Points

New XBLA releases for August 1st, 2012 - Deadlight

This week we see one new title hitting the Xbox Live Arcade: Deadlight. It looks like a 2D platformer similar to a previous XBLA game called Shadow Complex. However Deadlight looks like it uses an interesting lighting style. Characters in the foreground appear darker - almost black and white - in contrast to the detailed and colorful backgrounds. However, here's perhaps a better description:

Deadlight - 1200 MSP

The world has ended. There is no hope. No new beginning. Only the survivors. DEADLIGHT follows the journey of Randall Wayne, a man searching for his family across Seattle during the aftermath of a 1980s event that has decimated life on earth. This visually stunning Cinematic Survival Platformer will challenge you to run, jump, climb, and struggle for your life as you look for answers and the ones you love.

It's August... that means a new 20 point survey!

If you haven't gotten into the drill yet, a new month means a new opportunity for a free 20 Microsoft points. All you have to do is complete a simple survey that uses up just a few minutes (at most) of your time. So if you haven't done so already, head on over to the Xbox Live Rewards web site and complete the survey! No immediate rush but make sure you guys complete it by August 31st.

Xbox Live Deal of the Week - July 31st, 2012 - Tomb Raiding Time

If you're a fan of Lara Croft and her two friends, this is your lucky week. The Xbox Deal of the week is DLC for Tomb Raider Underworld and Lara Croft: Guardian of Light. Perhaps you've already played the heck out of them but were too cheap to purchase any of the DLC. Then this week is your week. Check out the discounts. It's interesting to note that Challenge Pack 2 never was released on Xbox for GoL.

• DLC - Lara Croft: GoL - All The Trappings Challenge Pack 1 200 400 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Lara Croft: GoL - A Hazardous Reunion Challenge Pack 3 200 400 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Lara Croft: Raziel & Kain Character Pack 200 400 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Tomb Raider Underworld Beneath the Ashes 400 800 Microsoft Points
• DLC - Tomb Raider: Underworld - Lara’s Shadow 400 800 Microsoft Points

New XBLA releases for July 18, 2012 - Wreckateer

To be more correct, perhaps it should say new release instead of releases. This week we get one new title on the Xbox Live Arcade roster: Wreckateer Featuring Avatar Famestar. Avatar Famestar? I don't know what that is. I haven't had a change to try it out yet. Also note, this is a Kinect Arcade title meaning that the Kinect is required to play this game. From the looks of it, you get to use your Xbox avatar and wreak havoc and destroy various castles throughout the realm with a ballista. Better to do this in the digital world than in the real world!

Wreckateer Featuring Avatar Famestar - 800 MSP

Wreckateer uses the Kinect to put you in control of a massive castle-wrecking Ballista. With the help of Wreck and Tinker, use 6 magic projectiles to travel the land and destroy 60 castles.

Xbox Live Deal of the Week - July 24th, 2012 - Brother in the Hood?

Maybe not a brother in the hood, but this week's deal of the week has for us Assassin's Creed Brotherhood DLC on the cheap. I find it interesting how large this franchise has become and how many games there are now. Personally, this game never appealed to me. I couldn't get behind the whole idea of genetic history from the first game. It seemed hokey and highly unbelievable. It's not to say other games have believable stuff. But perhaps it's a within the game realm thing. But anyway, don't mind my blabbering, if you enjoy the game pay no heed. And before I forget here is the the deal of the week:

• DLC - Assassin's Creed Brotherhood - The Da Vinci Disappearance 400 800 Microsoft Points

New XBLA releases for July 18, 2012 - Tony Hawk is back?

Tony Hawk refuses to retire! Either that or Activision is still trying to wrench every dollar that can from that franchise still. Activision has a history with these kind of practices. $$$$. How many of you have played Diablo III? Is the in-game auction house just ridiculous? Anyway, just a few new titles today that have hit the Xbox Live Arcade to speak of. Yup, one of them is a Tony Hawk title. The other is actually a version of a free-to-play action MMORPG on PC called Dungeon Fighter. As always, I recommend playing the trials before throwing any money at Activision or other companies.

Tony's Hawk Pro Skater HD - 1200 MSP

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD is a downloadable title for Xbox LIVE Arcade that takes the best elements of the classic THPS games and gives them a fresh update to create an all new skateboarding experience. Tapping into fans’ muscle memories, the gameplay returns to controllers and focuses on the satisfaction of linking sick tricks for maximum points. Combining sharp visuals with the best controls ever in a Tony Hawk game, the feel is cutting edge yet timeless. The game was rebuilt and polished by Robomodo using Neversoft’s original code and includes the best seven levels from THPS and THPS2 (Warehouse, School 2, Mall, Phoenix, Hangar, Marseilles and Venice). There is a combination of new school and old school pros (Nyjah Huston, Chris Cole, Eric Koston, Andrew Reynolds, Rodney Mullen, Lyn-z Adams Hawkins Pastrana, Riley Hawk and Tony Hawk himself) and the soundtrack is half classic THPS tracks and fresh ones. Multiple online multiplayer modes round out the action!

Dungeon Fighter LIVE: Fall Of Hendon Myre - 800 MSP

Hack-and-slash action and 2D side scrolling meet multiplayer mania in Dungeon Fighter LIVE: Fall of Hendon Myre. Take on the role of three classic Dungeon Fighters—Slayer, Gunner, and Fighter—to defend Hendon Myre from monsters spreading Phantasmalia. Customize your heroes by creating and enhancing gear, and deliver unique attacks by chaining and combining skills, all while playing with up to 4 players on the same console or via Xbox LIVE!

How to earn Xbox Live Rewards

The Xbox Live Rewards program has changed a little bit over time with a few new ways to earn reward points. Check out their latest chart of how to earn points:

Don't forget about the July Xbox Rewards Survey. Earn 20 Free Microsoft Points!

It's already mid-July and the new survey has been up for slightly more than half a month. However, for those of you who aren't aware, don't forget to fill this survey out! If you do, you are denying yourself an easy 20 Microsoft Points that you can earn for just filling out a survey. I should note, the surveys have become a little bit longer as of late but can still be completed in a few minutes.

So if you haven't done so already, head on over to the Xbox Live Rewards web site and complete that survey!

Apologies again for the long break...

Sometimes life does get too busy where it's difficult to do something that seems as simple as updating a blog. Well, I'm attempting for a second time to get this site back on track with Xbox updates and news. Perhaps I need better time management. Sorry again, everyone!

20 More Free Microsoft Points from XBox Rewards!

It's the beginning of May so of course for those of you who know the drill by now... it means 20 more free points from XBox Rewards. These have to be the easiest points to get. You just have to do a simple survey that takes less than one minute. I just did it myself in fact and had to only answer two questions. Boom. 20 points. So get on it! Link at below. XBox Rewards May Survey - 20 Microsoft Points

Twitter Contest Now Running for Xbox - Win Warp

Warp looks like a fun downloadable game on the Xbox Live Arcade. Part puzzler, part action. And now you have a chance to win the game from Microsoft! They're currently running a Twitter contest to win the game.

Xbox Tweet:

Tweet w/ #XboxHouseParty to enter to win a copy of #Warp (M17)! Download the free trial now! [Rules http://on.fb.me/ymJtsS] #spon

Well there you go! Get on your Twitter account and tweet with the hashtag #XboxHouseParty to enter for your chance to win. If you want more details be sure to check out their rules link. Links to Facebook. Microsoft is really using these social media networks, aren't they?

Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week February 14 - February 20, 2012 - I'm Batman!

For those of you Gold members who are still trying to get more content from your copy of Arkham City, you are in luck this week. The Xbox Live Deal of the Week is exclusively Arkham City DLC. Well I suppose some items are Arkham City themed avatar props, but hey, it's still Batman.

And may I present to you, Master Wayne, the deals of the week.

• DLC - Nightwing Bundle Pack 360 560 Points
• DLC - Robin Bundle Pack 360 560 Points
• Avatar - Bat Signal 160 240 Points
• Avatar - Batarang 220 320 Points
• Avatar - Batmobile Toy 220 320 Points

Back with Xbox Live Reward News!

Sorry for the long hiatus, folks. Sometimes life just gets a bit crazy. But I look to get right back into the thick of things! Let's first start with some of the offerings from the Xbox Live Rewards program for the month of February.

The big news this month is their "Stay Gold and get 5% back on your February Marketplace purchases." To qualify for this you basically have to have Xbox Live Gold status through the entire month of February, 1st through the 29th. So not much you have to do for this deal if you're already Gold. Just make sure your subscription doesn't expire before the 29th or that you renew the same day it expires. And lastly, it requires you buy something from the Marketplace.

In addition to the 5% back, the survey for the month of February rewards you 40 Microsoft points. That's double the usual 20 points they give you. So head on over to the rewards page and fill out the survey!

Another great way to earn some reward points is to Refer-a-Friend. No friends or all your friends already Gold? Sorry. But how do you take advantage of this? Just enter your friend's gamertag on this page and they will be sent a message. And if they sign up, bam! 100 point for you!