Tropico 3 demo hits Xbox Live

Kalypso Media has released a demo for Tropico 3 on Xbox Live today, giving would-be dictators a chance to rule with an iron fist on Microsoft’s console. The game demo is available for download Worldwide from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Gold Subscribers and will be available soon for Silver Subscribers.

The demo features two full missions from the Xbox 360 version of the game called “Banana” and “Second Chance.” In “Bananas” the abdication of the old president of St. Helena provides the perfect opportunity for your rise to power. Now as the head of state it is your job to lead this small island nation to a new age of prosperity. In “Second Chance” a band of rebels led by your twin manage to drive you out of your own island. Taking the entire treasury, you hitch a ride on an old fishing boat, seeking refuge in your summer residence on the island of El Acantilado - but your most loyal followers are close by. Your goal in this mission is to build up the island and bring prosperity to it.

Grab the demo from Xbox Live Marketplace now. For more information on Tropico 3, visit kalypsomedia.com. Be sure to check out Troy Goodfellow’s excellent Tropico 3 PC Review before you go.

Xbox Live Facebook-Twitter update deployed

You have been hearing about it for what seems like an eternity, but today the update to Xbox Live that adds support for Last.fm, Twitter and Facebook integration, streaming HD movies and more is now live on Xbox Live. Simply logging in will give you all these features and more. Hopefully this is the last time we’ll ever have to mention this to you too.

With today’s update Facebook users will be able to update their status to share what they are doing (what movie they are watching, game they are playing, etc.), connect with friends and view Facebook streams, check out status updates and photos, compare Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists, etc. in a custom-built interface for Xbox 360. Twitter users can expect similar functionality. allowing you to share tweets and status updates from that popular service.

Microsoft will also launch Zune video in streaming high definition (1080p) with 5.1 channel surround sound - an experience that you can share with up to seven friends. Last.fm support is in there as well, allowing Xbox Live users to explore radio stations, skip, ban or love tracks and more. Finally Xbox LIVE will get News and More, a new section of the Inside Xbox channel that delivers content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert.

Get the update by simply logging on to Xbox Live today.

Xbox 360: 10 million strong in Europe

Microsoft announced this week that it has achieved console sales of 10 million across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in just four years.

Microsoft claims that that Xbox 360 is the only console to achieve year-on-year growth across the region this year. Microsoft also claims more than 20 million Xbox LIVE active members worldwide and over 1 billion downloads of content to date, with movie downloads doubling in the last year alone.

“Reinventing entertainment through, play, watch, connect and share. This is the vision that we have for Xbox 360 and today that vision is the reality for 10 million Xbox owners,” said Chris Lewis, vice president Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Europe. “European consumers are very discerning and demand a connected entertainment experience. That’s why we focused on providing content that is right and relevant for them and entertainment beyond just gaming to movies, music and social networking.

Next week will bring instant streaming high definition movies, Facebook and Twitter integration and a personalized music channel to Xbox 360 owners. Despite today’s news it has to be a bit disconcerting to know that the Wii has returned to the top of the retail charts in Oct. - even after Microsoft slashed the price of its consoles earlier in the year.

Next major Xbox Live update rolls out Nov. 17

We are a mere 5 days away the update from Microsoft that will add support for Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune on Xbox Live. Microsoft passed along a note to say that Nov. 17 will see this update officially go live.

Those have been involved in the beta already know that the updates allows Xbox Live subscribers to connect the dots when it comes to their favorite social networks. Facebook users will be able to update their status to share what movie, game or entertainment you partaking in, connect with friends and view Facebook streams, check out status updates and photos, compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists and more. Microsoft promises seamless integration within a custom-built interface for Xbox 360.

Microsoft will also launch Zune video on Xbox LIVE featuring instant on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen, which is kind of scary. Twitter integration will also be in the latest update allowing you to tweet and reply to tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who’s tweeting about your favorite game.

Last.fm support will be added, allowing users to explore radio stations, skip, ban or love tracks and some special Gamer Stations with game-related types of music selected specifically for the gaming community (Available in the U.S. and UK). Finally Xbox LIVE will get News and More, a new section of the Inside Xbox channel offering a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert.

Look for the update to go live on Nov. 17.

Dante’s Inferno demo in Dec.

Visceral Games will release a demo for Dante’s Inferno in December, according to an announcement from the EA studio behind Dead Space. The Gates of Hell demo includes the entire opening level and gives players a taste of what Visceral Games has in store for players when the game is released in the early part of 2010. The Gates of Hell demo will introduce players to the game’s hero, story and action-focused gameplay. The game will trace Dante’s battles from the surface all the way to the Gates of Hell. Look for it in early Dec.

Dante’s Inferno will be released in North America February 9, 2010 and in Europe on February 12, 2010 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PlayStation Portable. The Gates of Hell demo will be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Xbox Live Silver members get L4D2 demo today

By the time you read this the Left 4 Dead 2 demo should be available to Xbox LIVE Xbox LIVE Silver Members. The Left 4 Dead 2 demo, which has already been made available on PC and Xbox LIVE Gold Members, features gameplay taken from “The Parish” campaign, set in the New Orleans French Quarter. Playable by 1 - 4 players over local or Internet connections on both the Xbox 360 and PC (with two-player split screen available on the Xbox 360), the demo features all the new boss infected zombies and many of the new melee weapons included in the full product.

Coming to Xbox 360 and PC on November 17, the follow-up to Valve’s zombie survival game adds melee combat, a deeper co-operative gameplay experience, and lots of brutal weapons like chainsaws, frying pans, axes, baseball bats, and more. The game also offers AI Director 2.0, which offers improved scaling of zombie spawns and boss battles with the new and familiar Infected at key moments in the game based on your performance.

The game also promises more of what players want including cooperative campaigns, Versus campaigns, Survival maps, and a new competitive game mode called Scavenge, all available at launch.

For more information, visit www.l4d.com.

Halo Waypoint now live on Xbox Live

Starting Saturday, Nov. 7, Halo Waypoint will begin previewing new Halo content on Xbox Live. The new virtual home for all things Halo launches today on Xbox LIVE, and will be the “exclusive destination for full-episode previews of Halo Legends beginning Saturday, Nov. 7. Halo Waypoint promises daily updates featuring developer interviews, trailers and screenshots, exclusive video footage, community activities and the latest Halo news.

In addition, Halo Waypoint includes a career system that tracks players’ accomplishments across multiple Halo games and gives them new ways to show off their in game exploits. Players who participate in Halo Waypoint will be rewarded with a variety of Bungie-created Halo 3: ODST Avatar Awardables for attaining specific Achievements in the game. Rewards vary from T-shirts to full sets of ODST armor. These awardables are retroactive, so if players have already unlocked the requisite Achievements, the awards will be ready for them once they enlist in Halo Waypoint.

Turn on your Xbox 360 and log on to Xbox Live to learn more.