Console Monster writes: "It's Wednesday and this year currently looks poor for the Xbox Live Arcade with no title release today. Fortunately, new Castle Crashers content releases today along with the following for Wednesday 14th January 2009:

Castle Crashers - King Pack
Price: 160 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Description: Add to your arsenal of good with 2 new playable characters plus additional weapons and animal orbs. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts.
Size: 108 KB

Rock Band: Lenny Kravitz Pack 01
Price: 550 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Description: Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Lenny Kravitz Pack 01. This pack includes "Let Love Rule," "Are You Gonna Go My Way," "Freedom Train," and "Mr. Cab Driver" by Lenny Kravitz. PLEASE NOTE: Rock Band game disc is required to play song game tracks. This song game track pack includes four song game tracks at a discounted rate over individual purchases. Many Rock Band songs are available as both a multipack and as a single game track. These songs are exactly the same (unless expressly noted as a special version or remix). Be aware that it is possible to download the same song twice so please carefully consider your purchases. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.
Size: 117 MB..."
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Reports are coming in from various sites, that the new Fable2 DLC: Knothole Isle, contains the assault rifle from the Halo series. Appropriately titled "Hals Rifle", it is designed to go with the limited editions Master Chief outfit. The gun can be found at "The Box of Secrets" store, you trade expierience extract for the weapon.
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VG247: Microsoft has told videogaming247 that the "Free" Knothole Island the site linked to earlier is simply allow players who can't be bothered buy it, the chance to play co-op with their mates.
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Although Fable II DLC Knothole Island isn't on the Xbox Live Marketplace yet, it is, however, on Xbox.com for what appears to be no money what so ever.
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After being delayed from its December 2008 release, the Fable II Knothole Island DLC has finally been released. The premium DLC will set you back 800 Microsoft Points, but includes new adventures, new creatures and rare weapons.
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Lionhead has released a title update for Fable II fixing numerous bugs that were reported on the sites forums.
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Kotaku: Lionhead's announced that a patch finally fixing a slew of bugs - including the infamous unresponsive abbott in Monk's Quest - has gone live today. And good news! No one will assassinate your child anymore!
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Fable 2 Downloadable Content, as well as news on Gears of War 2 and Halo Wars.
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Console Monster writes: "The first demo of 2009 has skated onto the Xbox Live Marketplace today, weighing in at 2 GB. There's also content for Tom Clancy's EndWar and Guitar Hero: World Tour as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the team behind Fable 2 ahead of the new download content released later this month. Here is the full Xbox Live Marketplace Update for Thursday 8th January 2009:

Skate 2 Demo
Price: Free (Exclusive Gold Offer)
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Size: 2 GB
Description: Download the demo and hone your skills before Skate 2 hits stores as you rip around Slappy's, move objects to create spots, and take on new set of challenges. Also compete against up to 4 of your friends in an all out break your bones Hall of Meat challenge. Skate 2 will be in stores worldwide on January 23.

Tom Clancy's EndWar: Faction Elite Pack
Price: 300 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox Live Regions
Size: 108 KB
Description: Unlock the 3 most elite battalions and some of the most advanced unit upgrades of Tom Clancy's EndWar. Exclusive battalions include the legendary JSF 15th Special Operations, Spetsnaz Alpha Brigade, and Enforcer Corps Battlegroup 1. This download also grants immediate access to 6 exclusive unit upgrades (2 per faction). There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts..."
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Lionhead Studios confirmed today that the upcoming DLC named Knothole Island will be released for Fable II on the Xbox Live Marketplace on January 13th.
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SCRAWL: "Lionhead's Fable II is taking a platinum in the United Kingdom. When it was released, it was the fastest selling RPG on the Xbox 360 ever released, so the ELSPA is awarding the game with a "platinum status". That means Fable II is within a select group of games that sell over 300K units in the United Kingdom."
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A Lionhead spokesman has told videogaming247.com that a release date for the delayed DLC, Knothole Island is "very close" and that applies to the patch, too.
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Here we are then, the final installment in our Top 50 Games of 2008. It's worth reiterating once again that the list is not intended as a definitive rundown of the 50 best games of the year, but instead reflects votes cast by our staff and contributors based on the games they have played and enjoyed.
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2008 was a big year. There were so many great games released that it's incredibly hard to decide which one deserves to be the Game of the Year… so that's why Ripten is going to make you do it. Have a gander at Ripten's nominees and let them know which game you think deserves top honors. Additionally, they want to spark some debate as they also want to know which of the nominees is least deserving of Game of the Year.

The best commenter (best arguments, most interesting or humorous comments - as decided by Ripten staff) will also be rewarded with a super awesome prize: a free game! Let your voice be heard!

The nominees are:

Left 4 Dead
Metal Gear Solid 4
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Grand Theft Auto IV
Fable II
LittleBigPlanet
Fallout 3
Gears of War 2
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GI.Biz writes: "Fable II was the most socially interactive title in the US in October, new data from Networked Insights has revealed. According to the company the game generated over 8 million interactions across various social media and social interaction sites, making it the most talked about game in that month."
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Destructoid writes: "According to an official announcement on the official Xbox website, Fable II's 'Knothole Island' DLC will not be hitting Xbox Live Marketplace until 'late January 2009' because of 'unexpected technical difficulties.' This marks the second delay of the content that was originally supposed to debut on December 12.

'Knothole Island' will introduce players to a new landmass with several new quests, items, properties, and enemies. The source of the problem could be tied into its nature – the developer of the content, Lionhead, were going to put two different versions out for consumers.

The premium version (800 Microsoft Space Dollars) would allow players full freedom with the content. The regular version (free) would restrict players from the vast majority of the 'Knothole Island' DLC unless they were with a friend who had purchased the content. One could certainly speculate that getting these two different downloads to work together may have been the source of the problem.

Because of the delay of the content, Microsoft has put a hold on their 'Knothole Island Download & Win Sweepstakes' which was intended to put players in a lottery to win decent prizes if they purchased and played the content between December 22 and 23. We were all eagerly awaiting this contest and are severely disturbed that it has been delayed."
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Console Monster writes: "We have just added the new Achievements for Fable 2 on the Xbox 360. The achievements relate to "Knothole Island" – the name of the new downloadable content for Fable 2 released on Monday 22nd December 2008. The content will cost 800 Microsoft Points and will coincide with a patch which allows co-operative play (available to all players).

The list contains 3 new achievements worth 75 GamerScore:

The Collector - 25 GamerScore
Acquire all the mystery items in The Box of Secrets shop, or see another Hero do so.

The Meteorologist - 50 GamerScore
Bring all of Knothole Island's weather problems under control, or help another Hero to do so.

The Bibliophile - 25 GamerScore
Find all the books detailing the history of Knothole Island, or help another Hero to do so..."
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VG247: Lionhead has confirmed today that the Knothole Island downloadable content will be available to download from December 22, and not December 12 as previously published.
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Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux has revealed he wasn't overly concerned when he saw his latest title reduced to half its RRP only weeks after the game first hit stores.

UK video game retailer GameStation recently offered Fable II for only £19.57, but Molyneux noted that it's not just his game being reduced this winter.
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Peter Molyneux has hinted that Fable II could be made available as a full digital release on Xbox 360.

The Lionhead Studios boss refused to confirm any concrete plans, but told GamesIndustry.biz: "I think it would be a great thing for this studio to work on."

Pressed on whether there were already plans for the critically-acclaimed RPG to be made available over Microsoft's Live service, Molyneux said: "I can't say anything else on it – I would be killed to death."

Microsoft, which already offers full original Xbox titles for download via its Marketplace service, has never formally revealed intentions to make full retail 360 titles available, but industry watchers have long predicted this could happen later in the console's lifecycle.

Molyneux's enthusiasm for a digital release comes after the success of the original Fable, which was made available for download on 360 earlier this year as part of the Xbox Originals range.

"It did really, really well," he revealed. "It was one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, [Xbox Originals title]. I didn't track that exactly, but I know a lot of people got very excited about it when it came out."

Fable II released in Europe on October 24 and topped the UK charts after its opening weekend.
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