Some new boxers and two more gameplay modes are headed to Fight Night Round 4 as downloadable content in "early December," publisher Electronic Arts has revealed.

Coming to PS3 and Xbox 360, the $9.99 / 800 Microsoft Point download adds Bernard Hopkins, Sonny Liston and Evander Holyfield as playable characters. As for the new modes, Old School Rules "brings a new take to the traditional boxing experience" while Ring Rivalries "allows you to re-create some of the greatest match ups in boxing."

Electronic Arts further noted that it has lowered the price of the boxing game, which was developed by EA Canda and hit in late June, from $59.99 to $39.99 in North America.

Microsoft has launched an invite-only test program for Xbox 360, offering participants incentives to make certain purchases or subscriptions and fill out surveys.

The incentives of the Xbox Live Rewards program come in the form of Microsoft Points, the currency used in the Xbox Live Marketplace, with the exact rewards depending on which level of the promotion users are enrolled in.

Three levels have been uncovered thus far: Gray, Orange, and Green. Gray participants will be refunded a small percentage of their total Marketplace purchases, with the percentage growing the longer they stay subscribed to Xbox Live Gold.

Orange offers the above along with additional Microsoft Points for... Read more

The first major batch of downloadable content for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on Thursday, November 5, publisher Activision said today.

The $10 / 800 Microsoft Point download will deliver new upgrades and missions to Vicarious Visions' superhero action-RPG, along with five new characters. Of those new heroes, four have been revealed: Carnage, Cable, Psylocke and Black Panther.

In addition, Juggernaut--a playable character offered as a pre-order bonus--will also be formally released as downloadable content the same day at $2 / 160 MS Points.

Developer Harmonix has issued details on next week's batch of downloadable add-ons for Rock Band and Rock Band 2, which will deliver eight new tracks to the franchise.

The following will hit the online marketplaces of the Xbox 360 and Wii on Tuesday, November 3, and then PlayStation 3 on November 5. Each track will be $2 / 160 MS Points, with the Foo Fighters Pack at $7 / 560 MSP and Nirvana at $5.50 / 440 MSP.

Foo Fighters Pack 03
• Foo Fighters - "Best of You"
• Foo Fighters - "The Pretender"... Read more

Having previously noted its plans for "deep and interactive downloadable content to be released on a regular basis post launch," Playlogic has revealed details on the first add-ons coming to its just-released PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 action game.

"4 Brand New Playable Characters" and "3 Brand New PvP Arenas" will be provided as an "exclusive" free download to those that register their copy of the game at the official site. The offer is open for the first 90 days the game is out, so you have 89 days left.

As for those who don't register, Playlogic noted it will details "our FREE DLC release plans for Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store in the coming weeks."

Taito's revamp of multi-colored platforming classic Rainbow Islands and Dark Energy's hellish take on billiards will grace Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday, October 28.

Both Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! and Inferno Pool will run 800 Microsoft Points ($10), according to Xbox Live programming director Larry 'Major Nelson' Hryb.

On the multiplayer front, Inferno Pool sports online and offline play for four players, while the Islands' rainbow-dropping enemy-crushing ways are limited to two local players.

As Halloween draws ever closer, Harmonix has proclaimed that next week's Rock Band downloadable content will be "the spookiest DLC packs yet." Which artists could warrant this blood-curdling title? Why, it's none other than family-friendly shock rocker Rob Zombie, wailin' Wolfmother, lurid Liz Phair, and the macabre Morningwood.

Rob Zombie Track Pack
• Rob Zombie - "Burn"
• Rob Zombie - "Dragula"
• Rob Zombie - "Superbeast"
Wolfmother Track Pack
• Wolfmother - "New Moon Rising"... Read more

Arriving on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday will be Petroglyph's turn-based strategy-collectible card game hybrid Panzer General: Allied Assault and a port of PC tower-building puzzler Tower Bloxx Deluxe, priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10) apiece.

Spawn of the classic PC strategy series Panzer General, Allied Assault sports online multiplayer and such WW2 battles as Utah Beach, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. A board game is also in the works, due to arrive in January 2010.

It looks like next week will be a costly one for some Rock Band owners, as developer Harmonix is slated to unleash some rather anticipated downloadable add-ons.

Those with plain old Rock Band or Rock Band 2 will be tempted by the addition of ten Queen tunes, all of which are original master recordings. Each tune will go for $2 / 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points, with the entire ten-pack going for $16 / 1280 MS Points.

Meanwhile, owners of The Beatles: Rock Band will be able to expand their song libraries with the remaining tracks from "Abbey Road," including the 16-minute B-side medley. Songs will be available individually at $2 / 160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points or collectively through a $17 /1360 MS Point bundle, with more albums on the way.

Expect both sets of downloadable content to hit Xbox 360 and Wii on Tuesday, October 20, with PlayStation 3 availability coming Thursday, October 22. Should you desire a full list of the various tunes soon to be on offer, look no further... Read more

Borderlands publisher 2K Games has announced the first batch of downloadable content for Gearbox's upcoming shooter-RPG, titled The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned.

"Tasked with keeping the workers of Jakobs Cove alive, Dr. Ned... does his job a little too well, creating zombies and other abominations that now run rampant in this region," 2K explains, describing it as a "full-fledged expansion." The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned will bring "new enemies, new quests and rare loot drops" for $10 (800 Microsoft Points).

In August, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford enthused "People are going to be surprised when they find out how quickly we're coming, and with what content we're coming."

Borderlands will hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 20, with the PC version pushed back until October 26. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned arrives "later this year."

If playing through a Taylor Swift single sounds exciting, you'll be thrilled to know that a Band Hero demo is now available on Xbox 360.

The 534MB download packs three tunes ("Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven, "Picture to Burn" by Taylor Swift, "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves) and lets players act as singer, guitarist, bassist or drummer, depending on their stock of plastic instruments.

It joins the recent Guitar Hero 5 demo that also features three tunes: "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend, "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, and "The Rock Show" by Blink-182. Both demos are currently limited to Gold members--Guitar Hero 5's should be available to everyone else tomorrow (Oct. 16), with Band Hero's following in a week (Oct. 22).

Band Hero hits PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS on November 3. Guitar Hero 5 hit all of those platforms, except Nintendo DS, in September.

It's the week of the adventure game double-act on Xbox Live Arcade, with dynamic duos Axel & Pixel and Sam & Max both arriving in XBLA titles of their own on Wednesday.

Silver Wish Games' artist and dog duo Axel & Pixel debut in a gorgeous surreal eponymous adventure, while the veteran dog and hyperkinetic rabbity thing partners star in the collected second season of Telltale's episodic Sam & Max adventure series.

Axel & Pixel is priced at $10 (800 Microsoft Points) while Sam & Max Season 2 will run you a tidy $20 (1600 Points)--$15 cheaper than the original PC release.

A face-rocking triple-pack from the Brutal Legend soundtrack is headlining next week's batch of Rock Band downloadable content to celebrate the release of Double Fine's heavy metal action adventure, with support acts including Kansas, L7 and Joe Satriani.

"These are three great songs that totally capture the feeling of Brutal Legend. I can't wait to play them in Rock Band," said Double Fine head honcho Tim Schafer in a statement. "I've air-drummed to all of them so many times, I'm sure I'll be able to beat them on hard mode, no problem. Or at least on medium. Like medium plus. That's a setting, right?"

Brutal Legend Pack
• Motorhead - "(We Are) The Road Crew '08"
• Tenacious D - "The Metal"
• Testament - "More Than Meets the Eye"
• Black Tide - "Show Me the Way"... Read more

In an expansion bound to please fanatical football fans, a selection of virtual NFL jerseys are now available for Xbox 360 Avatars.

The offerings encompass all thirty-two teams of the National Football League, with each jersey selling for 320 Microsoft Points ($4).

In other words, expect to see the men and women of Xbox Live endorsing their favorite teams, especially as Avatars become more and more common in-game. Remember when you thought you were safe from sports by playing Uno?

Alanis Morissette's oft-debated misrepresentation of the meaning behind "irony" comes to Rock Band in the form of downloadable content next week, joined by tracks from hip-hoppers Flobot, rockers The Raconteurs, and disco punks Electric Six.

The below tunes hit Xbox 360 and Wii on Tuesday, October 6, with PlayStation 3 availability following Thursday, October 8. Per usual, each song will sell for $2 / 200 Wii Points / 160 Microsoft Points, with the two packs going for $5.50 / 440 MS Points each.

Electric Six Pack 01
• Electric Six - "Dance Epidemic"
• Electric Six - "Gay Bar"... Read more

As promised, Valve today released the downloadable "Crash Course" campaign for the PC and Xbox 360 editions of its cooperative zombie shooter Left 4 Dead.

The expansion, free for PC players and 560 MS Points ($7) for those on Xbox 360, delivers a new two-chapter campaign playable in single-player, co-op and competitive multiplayer. The download also adds several new maps for use in Survival mode.

In celebration of the DLC's release, Valve is offering 50% off the PC edition of the game--bringing it down to $14.99--until Saturday, October 2. The company has previously said that it plans to keep supporting the original Left 4 Dead even after Left 4 Dead 2 arrives on November 17.

"The primary goal of 'Crash' is to deliver a complete Versus mode experience in just 30 minutes, resulting in a streamlined version of the game's existing Versus campaigns," Valve explained, with patch notes for the PC version just below... Read more

With September drawing to a close, Activision has unveiled the five downloadable track packs that will be coming to Guitar Hero 5 across the month of October, including a contribution from the legendary liquid-flinging costumed rockers Gwar.

Per usual, each pack will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii for $5.50 (440 MS Points / 550 Wii Points), with individual tunes at $2 (160 MS Points / 200 Wii Points).

In addition, a ten select songs will be available to Xbox Live Gold members until October 5 at 120 Microsoft Points ($1.50) each instead of the usual 160 MS Points ($2).

Queens Of The Stone Age Track Pack - October 1
• "Mexicola"
• "Avon"
• "How to Handle a Rope"
Billy Squier Track Pack - October 8
• "The Stroke"
• "Everybody Wants You"... Read more

A five-pack of Alice in Chains tracks both new and old headline will next week's batch of Rock Band downloadable content releases, supported by three Breaking Benjamin tracks, two by Britpop rockers Kula Shaker, and just a single song from Just Kait.

Alice in Chains Track Pack
• Alice in Chains - "A Looking in View"
• Alice in Chains - "Check My Brain"
• Alice in Chains - "No Excuses"
• Alice in Chains - "Rooster"... Read more

The whole of alt-rockers Pearl Jam's new album 'Backspacer' will arrive in Rock Band as downloadable content on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii next week.

Harmonix has also confirmed that a special edition of the album on sale in Target stores in the US will include a download code for the DLC on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

Released for Xbox 360 alongside the album on September 20, then September 22 on Wii and the 24th for PS3, the tracks cost $2 a pop (160 Microsoft Points, 200 Wii Points) or $18 (1440 MS Points) for the whole album, hailing from original master recordings.

Pearl Jam - Backspacer

1. "Gonna See My Friend"
2. "Got Some"
3. "The Fixer"... Read more

Those that have purchased all five Fallout 3 expansions for Xbox 360 by September 22 will receive a free "premium theme," developer Bethesda and Microsoft revealed today.

The post-apocalyptic makeover of the Xbox 360's dashbord will be available October 1, with Microsoft sending out the free download tokens to those that qualify. Bethesda stipulated that the free theme offer is only good for those that bought the "English" versions of the add-ons.

"This is something we've been asked about a lot and we're happy to finally be able to bring it to fans as a small token of our appreciation," said Fallout 3 director Todd Howard. The theme will also be released separately for 240 MS Points ($3).