Marketplace Update, February 10, 2006

Xbox Live® Marketplace never seems to sleep and thank goodness for that. New content of all kinds is constantly being added to the already flush venue, but enough hyperbole; it's time to highlight some of the most recent additions.

Environmental puzzles in Marble Blast Ultra .

Xbox Live Arcade
As evidenced by a recent article at IGN, Xbox Live Arcade is proving a smashing success, with gamers downloading titles at a remarkable pace. These last two weeks have seen two new games launch on the service. They are:

Marble Blast Ultra
This throwback to a classic puts you in control of the titular marble as you attempt to navigate environmental puzzles to reach the goal before time runs out. With a variety of different power-ups (for example, helicopter blades, rocket-speed, and super-jumps) to battle innovative level design and challenging obstacles (pinball bumpers, sliding platforms, gravitational changes, and more), there's more than enough challenge and entertainment to keep you glued to this Xbox Live Arcade game.

Crystal Quest
Also marking the return of a classic is the release of Crystal Quest. For those that don't remember, you control the silver orb gobbling up all of the crystals on the screen. Initially this goal proves easy, but each successive "wave" brings forth new obstacles on-screen as well as new enemies that spawn while you're concentrating on the crystals. The action heats up fast, but for those old arcade shooter enthusiasts, this is a can't-miss title.

Of course, with Xbox 360™ standards like widescreen, high-definition support, achievements, and leaderboards, there's more to love than just the game. Plus, like all Xbox Live Arcade games, you can download a free trial version before deciding whether to purchase or not.

Getting hectic in Crystal Quest .

Trailers
New to the high-definition trailer market is the movie trailer for Annapolis, starring Tyrese Gibson (easy on the eyes for the ladies) and James Franco (better known as Harry Osborne from the Spider-Man movies). The movie centers on Jake Huard's (Franco) struggle to get through training after being accepted to the prestigious Naval Academy Annapolis, and Cole's (Tyrese) drive to get the best out of Huard or break him in the effort. Of course, you can download the trailer in either 720 or 480 progressive.

Themes
Ah, the Super Bowl may have come and gone, but its memories will last a lifetime … well, that might be stretching it too far, and certainly the Seattle Seahawks' faithful would rather remember their NFC Championship and forget about February 5, but either way, the folks at Electronic Arts have offered Super Bowl-specific desktop themes, highlighting both the champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks. Football fans rejoice.

iPod Update
Courtesy of Nellymoser, Inc, you can download a tiny (and I mean tiny—176 KB) update from Xbox Live Marketplace that lets you listen to unprotected music using the AAC format.

We may mourn the absence of a fully playable demo for Xbox 360 in this update, but, as you can see, there's plenty more to keep us occupied. And don't worry, the demos are coming sooner rather than later.

Article by Ryan Treit