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 Have a blast this Valentine’s Day with Minesweeper Flags! TikGames announced today the title’s release via Xbox LIVE Arcade, so grab a controller and have fun with that special someone, blowing each other into oblivion for just 400 Microsoft points.

Minesweeper Flags brings explosive excitement from your computer to Xbox LIVE Arcade! In this all-new take on the classic PC game, players can choose the Classic mode, where the beloved game is available in all of its glory, or revel in never-before-seen modes like single player Campaign, featuring over 100 non-square levels, or multiplayer Flags. This weekend, TikGames encourages you to cuddle up on the couch and challenge your significant other to a Flags local multiplayer game, where your goal isn’t to avoid the mines, but to find and discharge them before your opponent – err, sweetheart – does. Plus, don’t forget to share both of your scores and climb the ranks of minesweepers worldwide via the Xbox LIVE Leaderboards!

Minesweeper Flags has been rated “E” for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board for this platform.

Once described as “pure American metal,” and reaching out to fans with six brutal albums including their upcoming Wrath, the band Lamb of God will play Call of Duty: World at War with Xbox LIVE Gold members February 14. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member (if not, upgrade now!), and you want a chance to play with Lamb of God, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (10:30 A.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Wednesday, February 14,11:00 A.M. ET. If you get a chance to play with Lamb of God, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail (xlmail@microsoft.com) with the subject: “GWF – Lamb of God.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

For more than a decade, Lamb of God has been burning up stages and arenas all over the world with their blistering hardcore metal sound. From their fan favorites New American Gospel and As the Palaces Burn, to their Grammy-nominated Sacrament, this is metal at its most pure and most honest. Now, with the upcoming release of their latest album Wrath, it’s back to the roots of what makes this band so great in the first place, their live energy. Guitarist Willie Adler, drummer Chris Adler, bassist John Campbell, guitarist Mark Morton, and vocalist Randy Blythe worked together closely to make Wrath. “It was really collaborative on all levels,” says Morton, “and that’s what you’re hearing when you listen to the record. It’s got this energy, this pulse, this alive feel to it–and I think that comes from the fact that we were all pitching in. This one really is an organic record, meaning that it’s natural–they’re real songs, and every note you hear on it is played by a real person, and it’s all captured in a very old-fashioned way. Chris said something early on in the making of this record that really stuck with me–he said, ‘If we don’t do the kind of record we want to do now, when the hell are we ever going to do it?’” It sounds like Lamb of God has done exactly the kind of record they wanted to do, and you’ll be able to hear the results February 24 when Wrath is released everywhere music is sold.

Game With Fame featuring Lamb of God
DATE: February 14th
TIME: 4:00 – 5:30 (GMT – Greenwich Mean Time)
LOCATION: London
GAME: Call Of Duty: World At War
GAMERTAG: LoG GwF (space between LoG and GwF)
URL: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0214-lambofgod.htm?WText.camp=Community&WText.campSrc=RSS

CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars combines single-player and multiplayer components into one action-packed downloadable title for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network. Complete with next-gen graphics and robust gameplay, CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars allows players to wage war by using their choice of gunfire and/or telekinetic superpowers. Players can use telekinetic energy to rip objects from the surrounding environment and hurl them at enemies or draw on their powers to create a bullet-proof energy shield that protects against gunfire. Flying, teleporting and accelerated speed abilities give players countless ways to fight the good fight with four multiplayer modes (Death Match, Capture the Flag, Team Death Match and Assault) and a deep single-player campaign with 30 solo challenges. CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars will be available in March ‘09 and is rated “T” for Teen.

For more information on CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars, please visit – http://cellfactorgame.com/

Aspyr Media has teamed with D3Publisher (D3P) to bring the highly anticipated Puzzle Quest™: Galactrix™ for Windows PC to store shelves. Under the deal Aspyr will manage all North and South American retail distribution of Puzzle Quest: Galactrix for Windows PC, which is set to launch on February 24, and make it available on the company’s digital download offering, gameagent.com. D3P will maintain the rest of the digital distribution rights for the title in all territories.
 
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a rich new addition to the beloved Puzzle Quest universe. The game incorporates a powerful blend of casual and hardcore gameplay elements, similar to those adored by fans of the critically acclaimed Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, into an all-new futuristic, science-fiction setting. An innovative hexagonal puzzle board allows for a wide range of strategic depth, allowing both hardcore and casual gamers to play on their own terms.  A rich and detailed storyline and fresh gameplay elements make the world of Puzzle Quest: Galactrix a captivating new adventure to explore and conquer.
 
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is under development by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd., confirmed for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for PlayStation®Network, Nintendo DS™ handheld system, and Windows PC.  The game is rated “E10+” for Everyone 10 and Older (Alcohol Reference and Violent References) by the ESRB.

Xbox 360 gamers worldwide won’t have to wait until March 13, 2009 to get their hands on the highly-anticipated “Resident Evil 5.” The next installment of the landmark survival horror franchise from Capcom will take action to a new level with a two-level, playable demo available exclusively on Xbox 360 for one week beginning Monday, January 26. In the demo, players will have a first glimpse of the fear they will never forget, as “Resident Evil 5″ makes daylight just as terrifying as darkness. Additionally, a new exclusive high-definition trailer of the game, shown only at the past Tokyo Game Show in October of 2008, will be made available for download on the Xbox LIVE service on Friday, Jan. 16.

Fans will have the opportunity to experience “Resident Evil 5’s” revolutionary new features early, including two-player co-op with voice chat along with new characters, weapons and environments. The demo is set within two stages from the beginning of the game – Assembly Place and Shanty Town — featuring plenty of co-operative action, shooting, hordes of bloodthirsty infected Majini enemies and a few puzzles to round out the action. The demo has three levels of co-op play: single-player with AI support, two-player split-screen on a single Xbox 360 and two-player across Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 gamers will also be first to take on the new enemies in battle, including an army of weapon-wielding infected Majini, the gigantic hooded Majini Executioner and even the dreaded Chainsaw Majini. Players can also choose between the classic “Resident Evil”-style controls or switch to the newer “Action” controls inspired by games like “Gears of War 2″ and “Halo 3.”

In this hotly anticipated new title coming on March 13, Chris Redfield returns as the “Resident Evil” hero and heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. Joining forces with a new partner, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to discover the truth behind this evil plot. Utilizing the new co-op mode, players will be able to assume control of either Chris or Sheva and experience “Resident Evil” in new ways.

For more details, please visit: http://www.xbox.com/residentevil5 or http://www.residentevil.com.

Driven by record sales at retail along with an 84 percent jump in online consumer spending; global install base lead over PlayStation 3 expands to more than 8 million units

Despite a tough economy, the gaming industry held strong in 2008 and Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system recorded the biggest year in Xbox history, with more consoles, games and online entertainment experiences sold than any previous year. It was a year in which life-to-date unit sales of Xbox 360 systems climbed to 28 million consoles worldwide — expanding the product’s lead over Sony PlayStation 3 to more than 8 million units. The Xbox LIVE community also grew to more than 17 million active members, as online consumer spending increased 84 percent from last year. Since the launch of the Xbox 360 three years ago, more than $1 billion has been spent on Xbox LIVE. This amazing growth was fueled by the launch of the New Xbox Experience; the broadest selection of hit games, TV shows, and movies available; and mass-market price points, starting at $199.

Xbox 360 is experiencing record-setting sales around the globe, particularly in Japan and Europe, nearly doubling market share in these key territories. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) specifically, Xbox 360 has now sold more than 8 million units, extending its lead over the PS3 by more than 1 million units.

“For Xbox, 2008 will be remembered around the world as a pivotal growth year at retail and online — even in the face of tough economic conditions,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Worldwide, a record number of players flocked to our broadest games and entertainment lineup ever, while the New Xbox Experience thrilled millions of fans by making our console even more engaging. And yet, we’ve only provided a glimpse into the new world of interactive entertainment that we’re imagining. The best of Xbox 360 is yet to come.”

One of the biggest trends in 2008 was consumers taking advantage of the convenience and value with digital distribution of games and entertainment content. One of the most popular offerings this holiday was Netflix on Xbox 360, which as a Netflix member provides users with access to unlimited viewing of more than 12,000 movies and TV shows in DVD quality as well as many in high definition. In addition, Xbox LIVE is home to the largest library of downloadable games, game add-ons, movies and TV shows.

Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Xbox LIVE experienced its busiest week ever, with a record of more than 1.5 million concurrent members online. During that week, some of the most popular movies, TV shows, arcade games and game add-ons included these:

Movies
– “The Dark Knight”
– “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” (unrated)
– “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
– “Iron Man”
– “Tropic Thunder”

TV Shows
– “South Park”
– “Family Guy”
– “The Office”
– “House”
– “Heroes”

Arcade Games
– A Kingdom for Keflings
– Castle Crashers
– Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
– Puzzle Arcade
– Worms

Game Add-Ons
– “Rock Band(R)”
– “Guitar Hero(R)”
– “Halo 3″
– “Gears of War(R) 2″
– “Call of Duty(R) 4″

Electro-punk artists Innerpartysystem will be on Xbox LIVE® January 8 to play members in Halo® 3. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Innerpartysystem, send a friend request to the following Gamertags and be online half an hour before (12:30 P.M.) the Game with Fame session starts on Thursday, January 8, 1:00 P.M. ET.

The band, named after the ruling party in George Orwell’s book 1984, is having a blast having just released their self-titled debut album. The band consists of Patrick Nissley (vocals), Jarred Piccone (drums), Kris Barman (synth and guitar), and Jesse Cronan (synth and samples).

The band speaks as one unit, and shuns individuality. They say, “We’re keeping it DIY, doing shows wherever and whenever we can. When you see us, there’s a real aggressive vibe in some ways to what we do, and then there’s also this party atmosphere. It’s that old 10 P.M. to 6 A.M. kind of vibe. The lights never stop. It’s a huge party … and it takes the spotlight off of us, and puts it on the music, where it belongs.” If you get a chance to play with Innerpartysystem, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail with the subject: “GWF – Innerpartysystem.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

Check out the band’s Emerging Artist page: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/emergingartists/2008/Innerpartysystem/default.htm

Game with Fame featuring Innerpartysystem
When: January 8th, 1-3PM (EST)
Time/Where: NYC
Game: Halo 3
Gamertag: Innerparty GWF, Innerparty GWF2 (**please note space between Innerparty and GWF)
URL: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0108-Innerpartysystem.html

Chris Henderson

Rock Ridge Music, a full-service record label with artist management and marketing services presents its Vice President of A&R, and current guitarist for the rock band 3 Doors Down, in a Game with Fame event as Chris plays Xbox LIVE® members January 7 in Call of Duty®: World at War. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Chris Henderson, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (4:30 P.M.) the Game with Fame session starts on Wednesday, January 7, 5:00 P.M. ET.

Multi-platinum selling band 3 Doors Down have released two self-titled albums, the latest in 2008, and have racked up six number one hits in a career that has seen them go from the anthemic “Kryptonite” to the marvelous “It’s Not My Time” and “Train” off the new album. Chris notes, “I think it’s … fair to say we are one of the only Southern bands who has the balls to put a song like ‘Train’ out there these days.” He states, “We’re not a band that just goes through the motions. We go at everything hard.” That kind of attitude is what has made the band 3 Doors Down such a hit among fans. If you get a chance to play with Chris Henderson, we want to hear about it! Send an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: “GWF – Chris Henderson.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

Game with Fame with Chris Henderson of 3 Doors Down
When: January 7th
Time/Where: Nashville, TN from 4 – 6PM (CST)
Game: Call of Duty 4: World at War
Gamertag: Chris 3Doors (space between Chris and 3Doors)
URL: http://www.xbox.com/gwfchris4doors