This Week In Downloadables: April 8-April 14

Scribbled on April 13th, 2007 by Devin Grimes
Filed in Editorial Content, Microsoft Xbox 360, PlayStation Network, Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox Live Marketplace

It’s a good thing we’re getting an increase in hard drive space with the Xbox 360 Elite, because it’s been one helluva week trying to keep track of all the newest games and trailers hitting the Xbox 360 and PS3’s online marketplaces.

Let’s get the biggie out of the way. Halo 3, the most anticipated game of this generation recently announced the release date for the upcoming Beta. Alongside it is another one of Bungie’s “Vidocs” entitled “Is Quisnam Protero Damno!“ In the video, you’ll get to check out many of the new features to the multiplayer, map design commentary, and even direct link footage of the Alpha version.

In other Halo related news, the “Community” section of the 360’s video marketplace finally finds some use, as the fan-favorite machinima series Red VS. Blue makes its debut with five episodes, each for 80 MS Points ($1 USD). Or you could just watch ‘em online for free…

Guitar Hero II stirred up much controversy when the first packets of downloadable content were released to the masses. Before even spending the first Microsoft point though, gamers knew something had gone awry with the pricing scheme: $6 for three songs?! Joystiq had a pretty interesting interview up with Major Nelson to sort this matter out. Major’s response:

It’s roughly about $2 a song that you can play over and over. You can’t get interactivity with a song on iTunes, and I don’t want to defend it…You have to consider the Leaderboard. People like to say it’s the same, but the licensing is not the same. You have to re-license it. It’s a different platform…Once again, it’s not old content. The contracts have to be renegotiated on a new platform, and it’s also involving digital distribution

Hmmm, you don’t want to defend it? Sounds like you just did, Major. In other microtransaction news, Lost Planet recently came out with a pack of two new maps titled “Hive Complex” and “Trial Point” for 400 MS Points. Anybody still playing this game?

Either something’s wrong with my eyes, or it’s my notes, but there’s actually some new, free content up on the Marketplace! Lexus recently sponsored a car pack for Test Drive Unlimited containing two new car models: the Lexus GS 450h and Lexus LS 460.

Shrek the Third, the next movie/game hybrid recently had a demo come out on the Marketplace weighing in at a hefty 759 MB. The sad thing is, while the game’s visuals are actually pretty good, with a HUD-less interface and Pixar-quality graphics, it’s still a movie-game. The framerate’s extremely bad, the camera feels a little off during the platforming sequences, and had I been playing in standard-def, I would of had no idea what the hell is going on. Even in high-definition the text is very pixelated and microscopic in size. Then again, the game’s core demographic isn’t me, and the sad thing is, it’s going to sell bucketloads of copies.

From one extreme to another, small-time developer Artificial Studios released a demo of their top-down, Unreal Engine 3 shooter/beat ‘em up Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia. It’s got a quirky sense of humor, and great artistic direction, though it’s still just a mindless beat ‘em up. Included in the demo is four player online multiplayer where you can team up to defeat herds of zombies…sadly it’s pretty hard to actually find a Live game.

This may come to you as a shocker, but there’s actually another place to fill your hard drives with downloadable content: the Playstation Network. But don’t get your hopes up too much, because this week it’s been pretty sparse. Mortal Kombat II, which many believe to be the best in the series just hit the PSN for only $4.99-quite a bargain for online play and leaderboards.

That’s it for this weeks edition! Commence bandwidth usage!

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