Marketplace Goodies

I've said it before and I'll say it again; though the sheer horsepower Xbox 360™ offers is startling, it's the features on the periphery that have got a hold of my imagination. From utilizing private chat about as much as I do my phone, to checking achievements on the fly, to the hours I've spent perusing the Xbox Live® Marketplace, I'm equally enchanted with the functionality Xbox 360 offers as much as I am the technology that powers the games.

Though personal preference plays a large part, I've come across a variety of odds and ends in the Xbox Live Marketplace that shine bright with polish and offer a great example of what the system is capable of. If you're looking to show off the Marketplace, or simply get the most out of it, here are few can't miss items to turn your attention to.

Trailers
For years now people have been clamoring over trailers released online for their favorite movies. The first teaser trailer for Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was such a phenomenon that folks paid for a ticket at the theatre, watched the trailer, and walked out a happy customer. Not only are the movie trailers offered on Xbox Live Marketplace a treat, but they're also delivered in true high definition (720p) for a stunningly clear and crisp view of the movie.

My personal favorite is the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe trailer offered free right now. Viewed on a high-def widescreen TV, it's a great showcase for the movie, as well as the Xbox Live Marketplace service.

Inside Looks
Of course, Xbox 360 is a videogame console first and foremost, so trailers and inside looks at the games offered on the Marketplace offer a great alternative to sifting through websites and viewing pint-sized gameplay footage. There are a few particularly tasty offerings currently available that have caught my eye:

• IGN on QUAKE™ 4: Not only can you find trailers for games, but now IGN is bringing its online journalism to Xbox Live Marketplace with Insider interviews for current and upcoming Xbox 360 titles. Download their feature on QUAKE 4 for eyes-on time with the game, as well as interviews with the developers chatting about game design and the power Xbox 360 brings to the table.
• Red vs Blue: Light comic relief is always handy, especially after coming up two yards short of the 350 yard passing Achievement in an online Madden NFL 06 match (you can download a demo of Madden from the Marketplace too), and the folks behind Red vs Blue deliver just that with an exclusive video/sketch. I won't spoil the details, but prepare to chuckle when you download this gem.
• High-Def Trailers: There are too many to call out just one, but available free right now are trailers for nearly all the launch titles for Xbox 360. Check out the thrilling horror alive in Condemned: Criminal Origins™, the hard-hitting gridiron gameplay in Madden NFL 06, the sci-fi warfare on display in QUAKE 4, the combo-happy antics of Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, and many more. These trailers offer a great opportunity to not only see gameplay, but see it as you would on your gaming TV.

Actual Gameplay
Playable game demos used to be a special treat reserved only for pack-ins with magazines and special bonuses for preorders, but now you can test out titles you've been excited about, but just not sure of on Xbox Live Marketplace. Already there are a couple demos available in Marketplace, both worth mentioning.

• Next-Gen B-Ball: NBA Live 06 is available and ready to hit the hardcourt in your living room if you let it. Some have called it the truest graphical example of next-gen sports titles (though I would submit that Madden NFL 06 and NBA 2K6 give it a run for its money), but luckily, you don't have to take anyone's word for it. Download it, boot it up, and see if it strikes your fancy.
• Next-Gen Pigskin: Madden NFL 06 also makes a fully playable appearance on Xbox Live Marketplace, so you can pit that discerning eye against every exquisitely crafted texture and get a good solid eye-full of the new presentation offered.

I haven't even delved into the heaping loads of gamer pictures and themes available, though those are undoubtedly personal preference, so I won't burden you with my own litany of options I'm struggling to settle on. I will answer one question regarding whether you can preview before you buy. You can, and you can do it right here, so if you're not sure if a picture pack is your particular bag, do yourself a favor and research it online to make sure. There's nothing worse than being disappointed with your purchase.

With all the other functionality, it's easy to forget just how much extra (and in many cases free) content is available through the Marketplace. Take a moment and peruse the bundle of options, check out upcoming games and movies, download new themes and pictures to customize your system, and even get busy with some playable demos to help sway you one way or another on a potential purchase.

Article by Ryan Treit