Contest: Xbox Live Multiplayer Mayhem Month

Want to win free stuff? Maybe some Microsoft points or some Xbox 360 accessories? How about an HD TV and an Xbox 360 HD-DVD player or even a trip to Ubisoft Montreal to see how its all done? Most likely in an effort to take over the gaming world or destroy sales for the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3, Xbox Canada is launching Multiplayer Mayhem Month starting Dec 26th. Every day for a month 10 Xbox Live Gold members will win prizes just for playing multiplayer games online. Since every Xbox 360 Premium package sold in Canada around this time is a holiday bundle, it comes with Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged which offers 1 free month on Xbox Live with a gold membership. Microsoft might be hoping that the contest will encourage gamers to sign-on with that free membership and give their Xbox Live service a try, as if the sale increases from Gears of War hasn't already been enough. But who can blame them for trying, we Canadians love free stuff!

There is a catch it, based on the contest website only Canadian gamers are being targeted. Also, it seems that specific games have been selected that you SHOULD be playing if you want to win, and Gears of War is not one of them. This is a smart move by Microsoft as it will encourage players to play some of the other titles online however people who bought the holiday bundle in Canada won't be able to participate heavily as most of the games listed are not sold with the bundle. So either rent them or buy them if you want to increase your chances of winning.

Good Luck!

Halo 3 Campaign footage this week

The recent weekly update on Bungie.net indicates that there is yet another treat for Halo 3 fans coming this season. Sometime this week, no actual date mentioned, there will be documentary footage on Halo 3's campaign mode released on Xbox Live on 720p resolution. The video will also be released online so non-Xbox users will not be singled out. Frankie, who made the update also confirmed a rumor surfacing around that Brutes will be playable in Halo 3, this rumor has been confirmed as false. Sigh...

[Source: Bungie via Joystiq]

A first, Unreal 3 Engine used for Xbox Live Arcade game

The Unreal 3 Engine developed by Epic Games is a game development framework used in next-gen consoles as well as PC's running DirectX9. According to Unreal Technology, this powerful game engine is being used for Unreal Tournament 2007 and was used on the recently released and very popular Gears of War. Of course the engine can be licensed out. Which brings us back to Xbox Live Arcade. RoboBlitz (released today for 1200 MS points) is the first game on Xbox Live Arcade developed with the Unreal 3 engine. In it you are Blitz "a multi-talented robot who must activate an aging Space Cannon to save his world from a band of maladjusted space pirates." Now we all know how great Gears of War turned out, and UT3 is going to be no disappointment either, so this may be one arcade title worth checking out, simply to see how well such a successful game engine was put to use. If that's not enough to jump start your imagination, check-out the game details below:

• 19 levels of puzzle-solving and high intensity action set in seven distinct environments
• Free trial version consists of three engaging levels
• A new breed of game blending fast paced action, puzzle solving, and a playground of interactive physics
• Advanced physics simulation gives the player real freedom to solve problems in creative and unexpected ways
• Unique weapons including Fire-Cracker Rocket and Point-to-Point Tractor Beam
• Gamers may choose their difficulty level for ease of use and high reparability
• Two different levels of difficulty (Normal and Master Technician)
• Master Technician mode allows players to unlock new achievements and bonus content
• Expect premium downloadable content for this title in the future – providing new game play elements and unique challenges for RoboBlitz fans

"Gears of War" sold 1 million copies in two weeks

When I first layed eyes on Gears of War at X'06 Canada I nearly pissed my pants. The game looked so incredible in detail on the Xbox 360 and the gameplay was very impressive. I tend to play very few first-person shooters, Halo 2 being the last one I was very hooked on. Gears of War is one title in a long while that I think has a lot to offer to the player in a very fresh way that would bring back the "Halo" experience and ease the wait time for Halo 3.

This game is doing so well that Microsoft has reported 1 million units being sold in it's first 2 weeks since release. According to a press release, this game is "the fastest-selling title of 2006 and fastest-selling original Xbox game of all time. " That's incredible! But that's not it,

On top of being the #1 title on Xbox Live, "Gears of War" has also driven new members to the network, as paid registrations per day have skyrocketed more than 50 per cent since the game's launch.

All this has happened as the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii came out which shows that support for the Xbox 360 is holding strong.

Gears of War has received an overall score of 95% from various publications, damn I have to buy am Xbox 360 and get me this game.

"Small Arms" Hits Xbox Live for 800 points

This Wednesday Nov 22nd at 1 am PST you can download Small Arms developed by Gastronaut Studios from the Xbox Live Arcade. From the screen shot above (courtesy of Gamespot) this game looks like a free-for-all smashing battle that can be played with up to 4 players. Here's a press release tid-but,

"In Small Arms, up to four players can join in the battles across many dynamic and richly detailed levels. Gamers can choose from a cast of outrageous fighters like the cyborg tabby cat, assassin truffle pig and mutant chimney sweep. While jumping from platform to platform shooting with 360° aim, gamers of all skill levels will be able to pick up and play this innovative side-scrolling action title."

A list of game features:

• 12 characters, each with their own weapon
• 8 unique levels
• 12 Achievements, including the innovative “Six Degrees of Small Arms” viral achievement
• Up to 4-player multiplayer offline and on Xbox Live
• Local Multiplayer / Xbox Live Swap – allows players to swap out a local friend with a friend over Live without leaving the game!
• Three single player game modes (Story, Challenge, and Shooting Range)
• Colorful 3D graphics with classic side-scrolling run and gun action
• Expect premium downloadable content for this title in the future – providing new game play elements and unique challenges for Small Arms fans

Download Small Arms beginning Wednesday, November 22, at 1 a.m. PST on Xbox Live Arcade

Read Gamespot preview | More Screen-shots here