To coincide with the launch of the Mass Effect 3 demo on Xbox 360 Microsoft have confirmed that they will be granting temporary free Xbox Live Gold access.

Confirmed earlier today on CVG Microsoft will give access to a limited to to anyone downloading the Mass Effect 3 demo.

“In celebration of ME3, Xbox is pleased to provide fans access to ME3 demo multiplayer for the time leading to launch,” said MS. “Xbox LIVE Gold gives you exclusive benefits including multiplayer gaming, member-only deals & previews, and access to entertainment with Netflix, ESPN, Hulu Plus and more.”

The length of the free access is unknown at this moment in time.

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The following funny FIFA 12 video is being shared around the internet thanks to the likes of facebook and twitter.

For those that haven’t seen it yet we have added it below. In the video you can see Andy Carroll score, a feat in itself but this is even more unusual as he is not scoring goals on the pitch but instead indulges in a passionate embrace with Arsenal keeper Fabianski.

Do you have any other funny FIFA 12 videos? Share them below.

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Microsoft have always been one for making limited edition Xbox 360 Consoles. We have seen various designs from Halo 3, the delayed Star Wars design through to the Gears of War 3 limited edition version which features a metallic red finish with black Gears of War 3 Branding.

Microsoft have also been a supporter of Activision’s Call of Duty series in the past with exclusive map packs ahead of the PS3 platform to the previous MW2 console.

Modern Warfare 3 Console

Merge the two together and you get the latest limited edition console the MW3 themed Xbox 360. Featuring a custom design, two controllers and bundled with a copy of Modern Warfare 3. The console comes complete with a 320GB hard drive and headset.

Here are some images to wet your appetite:

And here is a video:

Pre-order yours here.

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The latest map pack for Call of Duty Black Ops is out today on Xbox Live.

Priced at 1200 Microsoft points the new Black Ops Annihilation pack includes 4 new multi player maps along a new zombie map.

Need more Microsoft points?

Amazon are selling 1200 points for £9.99, although 2100 points works out cheaper at £14.99 – here.

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Annihilaion Map Pack

The third map pack for Call of Duty Black Ops is on the way to Xbox 360 on 28 June 2011.

Called Annihilation the third instalment of maps will feature 4 new maps called Drive-In, Hazard, Hangar 18 and Silo, and also a new Zombies map.

Again like the first two map packs of First Strike and Escalation, due to the exclusive agreement with Microsoft and Activision this new DLC will hit Xbox first followed by PS3 at a later date and is expected to cost 1,200 Microsoft Points.

Source: VG247

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Hardly surprising really that COD Black Ops sits at the top of the Xbox live online gameplay charts. The most popular online Xbox 360 game is closely followed by MW2 in a list largely dominated by either FPS or sport titles.

New release L.A. Noire enters the chart at 6th place which is a good starting point for a solid game.

For the full list which includes arcade titles, pc games and indy games visit Major Nelson’s blog.

Xbox Live Activity – Week of 16th May 2011

1 Call of Duty: Black Ops
2 Modern Warfare 2
3 Halo: Reach
4 FIFA Soccer 11
5 NBA 2K11
6 L.A. Noire
7 GTA IV
8 Call of Duty 4
9 Battlefield: Bad Co. 2
10 Gears of War 2
11 Red Dead Redemption
12 Call of Duty: WaW
13 Mortal Kombat
14 Halo 3
15 Fallout: New Vegas
16 Brink
17 NHL 11
18 Forza Motorsport 3
19 Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
20 Madden NFL 11

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A new firmware update is coming to Xbox 360 over the coming days which allows the Xbox 360 to play a new disc format. There have however been problems reported throughout the press regarding some consoles and thier ability to play these new format of disc [CVG].

Microsoft to replace consoles with issues:
In a statement issued since the issue came to surface Microsoft said it will replace consoles affected by the update and issued the following written information/advice:

“Following a recent update to our system software, we have become aware of an issue that is preventing a very small number of Xbox 360 owners from playing retail game discs.

“This issue manifests itself a as a unique ‘disc unreadable’ or ‘disc unsupported’ error on the screen. We are also able to detect this issue over Xbox Live and are proactively reaching out to customers that may be impacted to replace their console.

“Any Xbox 360 owners receiving this error are encouraged to contact us at www.xbox.com/support/contact so we can verify if the console has been impacted.”

The update is being phased in starting 19 May 2011 and is due to be completed by 30 May 2011.

Why the update to firmware?

The update to the firmware is to make way for a new disc format called XGD3 that will allow for an extra 1GB of storage on game discs.  With the recent news of how much of a squeeze LA Noire was to get onto 3 discs it paves the way for even more content in games in the future and attempts to shrink the gap between the capability of the PS3 with it’s blue-ray discs.

The next gen machines appear to be plagued with costly issues at the moment, with PSN being down for around a month and now this issue which could prove costly to Microsoft.

More news on this issue as it surfaces.

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Courtesy of IGN.

Leaked images have emerged detailing the release date for Call of Duty MW3 as 08/11/11.

Looks like it’s going to big a mega week for the FPS genre as Battlefield 3 is due for release in the same week also.

Who’s looking forward to this?

Pre Order Here for £35.99

(Modern Warfare 3)

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COD Black Ops New Map Pack – Escalation

Were not the first to announce this and certainly will not be the last. News came out today that the next Black Ops map pack will be released on 3rd May 2011 and will be called Escalation.

Details are very limited at the moment but expect five new levels which look to be 4 game levels and 1 zombie level.

Names have not yet been released and the only information available at this moment in time is via a posted leaked by Game Australia naming new scenarios as follows:
Seize the Zoo
Take the Hotel
Secure the Convoy
Raid the Stockpile and
Survive the Call of the Dead

The previous first strike map pack cost 1200 Microsoft Points so expect a similar price tag attached to the Escalation pack when it is released in just under a month.

More information here.

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Kinect Microsoft’s hands free controlling device has notched up a massive 10 million unit sales in it’s first three months since the release back on the 4th November 2010.

Guinness World Records has awarded it the title of fastest selling consumer electronics device ever. The peripheral sold an average of 133,333 units per day in its first 60 days between 4th November 2010 and 3rd January 2011.

Given the limited amount of titles released to date they are impressive numbers and with the promise of some exciting games in the pipeline the future looks bright for the Kinect.

Granted it’s never going to appeal to core gamers who own a 360 for the likes of Black Ops etc. but as alternative to the likes of PS3 Move and the Nintendo Wii it does have it’s place, especially with the younger generation.

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