Microsoft has given silver members a brief taste of what us gold members get on some XBLA games through the month of Dec. You can now play...A kingdom for Keflings, Bomberman Live, Hardwood spades/Hearts, Uno, Small Arms, Aegis Wing and ( breath in ) Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix ... phew.. as online games over christmas for free.
Players with Xbox Live Silver Memberships will have the opportunity to taste some of the multiplayer experience before they upgrade to gold memberships. Microsoft is calling this "Friendship is Free" and for a month these players that have yet to upgrade will see the multiplayer functionality functions for eight games be unlocked for them to try out.
Console Monster writes: "Today sees the first Xtival 2008 content releasing on the Xbox Live Marketplace. As well as free Xbox Live Gold for all Silver subscribers for European gamers this weekend, there's also a load of content available for them as well. But that doesn't mean non-European gamers don't receive anything. Check out the full Xbox Live Marketplace update for Thursday 28th November 2008:
If you are eagerly awaiting the chance to download the free Xbox LIVE Arcade Avatar updates launching soon, there are a few things you should be aware of to ensure you can download them successfully. This information only pertains to Hardwood Hearts, Hardwood Spades, and Bomberman; UNO and Kingdom for Keflings will also support avatars now, but don't have a special upgrade process.
One of the biggest features of the upcoming "New Xbox Experience" is Avatars. These Mii-like figures will become users' Xbox personalities, in a sense, and will slowly be integrated in various ways across all kinds of different games. With the NXE set to go live on November 19, Microsoft has confirmed that a few marquee Xbox Live Arcade titles will have instant support for the new characters.
Five Xbox Live games and one game are to get avatars. The games to get avatars are Hardwood Hearts, Hardwood Spades, Small Arms, UNO, and Bomberman Live are to get avatars. Scene It? Box Office Smash is also included. Also, a new Xbox Live arcade game will have playable avatars.
Microsoft sent out a press release to let Loot Ninja know that there will be discounts on three Xbox Live Arcade games this week.