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Earlier this month, Bethesda announced that a new Oblivion expansion will ship in spring. The package, called the Shivering Isles, will include over thirty hours of new game play. The announcement indicated that a PC version would be distributed by disk, but no mention was made about an Xbox 360 version. Bethesda has now confirmed that the expansion will be available for download over Xbox Live for the Xbox 360.

Bethesda president Vlatko Andonov indicated that the success of previous Oblivion downloads influenced the decision:

The enthusiastic response we've received to our downloadable content has been overwhelming, and we're excited to bring Oblivion fans a full expansion.

[Oblivion expansion to get Xbox Live distribution @ Gamesindustry.biz]

Xbox 360 owners will be able to rock to a total of 74 songs when RedOctane releases Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360. Yesterday, the developer revealed that the Xbox 360 version will receive a total of ten new tracks and the ability to download more via Xbox Live Marketplace.

The graphics have also been updated to provide HD resolution images, and the new version will ship with a sleek new Gibson-shaped controller. Names of the new tracks announced so far are after the jump.

Microsoft released two new products today that will give aspiring game developers a nice head start. XNA Game Studio Express is a free software package for Windows that makes it easy (and cheap) to get working on your best game idea. The software, which is based on Visual C# 2005 Express, will allow you to develop games for Windows and Xbox 360. But if you want to run your games on the Xbox 360, you'll need to join the XNA Creators Club.

Annual subscriptions cost $99 and a four month subscription costs $49. A subscription includes access to game assets, examples, starter kits, and support papers. Subscriptions can purchased on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Hobbyists have always been able to make PC games (that's how this whole video game thing got started). But this is the first time that amateur games will end up on consoles. If Microsoft has the right philosophy, I see a thriving community of part-time developers turning some creative ideas into great games. If they have it wrong, we'll probably see a lot of funny crap. Either way, I can't wait to see the stuff that results from this.

A handful of Halo 3 fans spotted a few users playing "Pimps at Sea" on Xbox Live last night. For those who wern't aware, Pimps at Sea is common codename that Bungie uses to refer to the Halo 3, and it was a big part of their April Fool's joke. Bungie gives the details in this week's update:

There was a very special Pimps at Sea Humpday last night, the first night in which players were able to take each other on in the Alpha. One of the playlists that’s being tested in matchmaking right now is Rumble Pit, which is the same as Halo 2’s except it’s set to four players right now. Last night a very special match occurred with some special participants.

Bungie also announced that a Xbox 360 Dashboard Theme based on the new TV ad will be released in the near future.

As promised, Bungie made some exciting announcements on Halo's 5th anniversary. The first surprise was this massive screenshot (scaled down to the left). Take a look at the original post for the full resolution version. Bungie announced that a pre-rendered CGI advertisement for Halo 3 will air during during ESPN's Monday Night Football on December 4. Digital Domain, a third party visual effects company will create the ad using original models from Bungie.

Major TV networks and film studios including CBS, MTV, Paramount, Turner, UFC, and Warner Bros. plan to deliver high definition entertainment to Xbox Live members starting on November 22, the Xbox 360's first anniversary. According to Microsoft, more than 1000 hours of content will be available for download by the end of 2006. Xbox 360 owners will be able to purchase episodes of shows like CSI, Robot Chicken, and South Park, and rent movies like V for Vendetta and Nacho Libre from their couches. Have a look at the full list of content after the jump.

Microsoft announced that six classic coin-op games from Atari are coming to the Xbox Live Arcade during 2007. The lineup consists of Centipede and Millipede, Battlezone, Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe, Missile Command, Tempest, and Warlords. Each title will include a classic version and an evolved version, which adds HD graphics, revamped sound, achievements, and online support.

Microsoft also confirmed its Xbox Live Arcade holiday release list. Check out the full lineup below the jump.

The November 2006 issue of Official PlayStation Magazine provided some exclusive details about a new quest line that will be included in the PlayStation 3 version of Oblivion. The article didn't to mention that the quest line, called the Knights of the Nine, would be available to PC and Xbox 360 owners as an expansion. The expansion, which will be available on November 21 for about $10, charges you with the task of conquering an evil Ayleid Sorcerer-King known as Umaril. To complete this task, you must locate the lost relics of the Divine Crusader and rebirth the Knights of the Nine, an ancient faction of holy crusaders once known for their honor. The expansion promises to include new items, dungeons, and characters.

The expansion pack will be available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Oblivion Downloads site on November 21.

The newest piece of additional content for Oblivion, The Vile Lair, will be made available on July 13th. Again PC gamers will pay $1.89 for the package and Xbox 360 gamers will pay a comparable amount in Microsoft Points.

This underwater hideout provides your infamous character with safe haven. Those willingly inflicted (or shall we say graced?) with vampirism will find a means to feed, and if necessary, a means to cure their infliction. Hire evil minions, pray to the dark god Sithis, and a host of other functions await.

The fifth package of additional content for Oblivion, called Mehrunes' Razor, will be released this Thursday for $2.99. The package will add several features including 17 new magic items and the deadly Mehrunes' Razor, a blade that will bring instant death to your enemies. Your quest will take you to the lost Ayleid City and the largest dungeon in Cyrodil. This package was designed with the adventurer in mind.

This package is the most expensive so far. Hopefully, this means that you'll get more game play value out of it.

Another package of additional Oblivion content, called the Thieves Den, has been released on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 150 MP and on the PC for $1.89. The Thieves Den will take players to Dunbarrow Cove where an ancient pirate ship is moored. The package was designed with the stealth player in mind and adds 45 new items and 15 new spells.

I still haven't warmed up to the whole idea of buying additional content, but at least the prices have improved since the notorious horse armor ordeal. This is also playable content, so it is more likely to be worth the cash. I'll give it a try tomorrow and update this post with my thoughts.

If you somehow blew through Oblivion in its entirety and possess a small wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket, there is some additional content available for a few bucks that may or may not quench your thirst for RPG action. At the top of the "not that worth it" list is the Horse Armor Pack that allows your horse to look as majestic as you do. But at $1.99 for PC and $2.50 (200MP) for Xbox 360, this add-on is reserved exclusively for the elite citizens of Tamriel.