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!