Marketplace Update—6-2-06

You would think that after the amazing volume of content generated throughout E3, there would be a lull on Xbox Live™ Marketplace. You'd be wrong. The stellar downloads and exceptional content will continue, and to keep up to date on what's available now, look no further.

Blood red lighting. It's so … appropriate.

Playable Blood Money
Hitman™: Blood Money is out in stores now, and while fans are already gobbling it up, the stragglers can see if this next-gen take on Agent 47 is worth their hard earned clams with the free playable demo on Xbox Live Marketplace. The level highlighted is, appropriately enough, the first level in the game. In keeping with current gaming wisdom, this level will guide you carefully through the mechanics, and set the tone for the rest of the game.

Fret not, hardcore gamers, even though this level may take you by the hand, don't assume Hitman has gone soft. The hints and tips provided for you on the first level won't continue any further. Pass this introduction, and rest assured that Blood Money will give you all the difficulty you need.

Clocking in now at 27 available downloads.

Trailers
When Xbox 360® first released, we saw a trickle of movie trailers, but now the dam has burst and nearly every major upcoming movie is sporting some high-def goodness on Xbox Live Marketplace. Here's what's new:

• Entourage: We've moved on from just movie trailers and into TV as HBO's stellar Hollywood satire is offering a trailer for its upcoming season. Fans of Vince, Eric, Turtle, Drama, and Ari will appreciate the insight (look for the Aquaman action figure!), while newcomers can get a taste of the irreverence that this series is known for. If you've ever made fun of Hollywood, you owe it to yourself to get into this show.
• Matisyahu: The Artist of the Month videos continue to roll with Matisyahu's new single Youth. If you haven't tasted this musical fusion of reggae and hip hop, you're missing out on one of the more unique sounds going today.
• Blood Money: If you need more reason to give the Hitman: Blood Money demo a shot, this trailer offers a methodical and intense look at the new hit game, and the sinister continuing exploits of Agent 47.
• Jack Black Confessionals: If the premise of a Priest turned Mexican Wrestler wasn't odd enough for you, Jack Black is offering bite-sized video diary entries to tease his upcoming movie Nacho Libre. New this week to Xbox Live Marketplace are:
  • Confessional 18, Geology Lesson: Tune into this short for a quick lesson on overgrown pyramids and a glimpse at Nacho's goals for plunder.
  • Confessional 19, The Grasshopper: Be witness to a hilarious moment of disquiet as Jack comes to terms with the fact that he has to eat a live grasshopper.

And the award for most new content goes to…

Themes and Gamer Pictures
It seems no matter the week, the Themes and Gamer Pictures category is always filling up with new content. This week is no exception:

• Blood Money: Agent 47 is generous enough to offer one full picture pack of portraits, and two single picture offerings for Hitman: Blood Money.
• G.R.A.W.Themes: The ongoing success of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™ is hardly a surprise, but in an effort to keep the content coming, Ubisoft has released four new dashboard themes for their hit shooter. From stylized character models to concept art, classic icons, and a theme showcasing the vehicles in the game, each new theme offers a unique visual addition to your dashboard.
• Entourage: Not one to offer a trailer and leave it that, HBO is also offering an Entourage dashboard theme and set of Gamer Pictures, both free of charge on Xbox Live Marketplace. Both the theme and the Gamer Pictures highlight the four main characters, with Vince's publicist Ari thrown in as a Gamer Picture for good measure.
• Top Spin™ 2: The tennis sim from 2K is unloading three whole sets of Gamer Pictures and twelve different themes (each highlighting a licensed player), so if you've got tennis on the brain, you'd be hard pressed to find a better resource.
• Middle Earth: Whether you're a real-time-strategy fan or just a Tolkien buff, The Lord of the Rings™, Battle for Middle Earth™ 2 theme provides painted vistas inspired by the movie to class up your dashboard.

The content just keeps coming, and when a new batch is hot off the presses and ready for download, you can be sure I'll detail it all for you right here. Until then, there's no need to be picky when there's this much cool stuff to choose from.

Article by Ryan Treit