For months, Microsoft swore up and down that the 250 GB hard drive they included in Xbox 360 special edition bundles would not be available any other way. That seems to have changed. Today, Microsoft has announced the standalone 250 GB box 360 hard drive is available in stores for $129.99. Included are the data transfer cable and the disc that performs the transfer.

Worried about not having enough hard drive space for your XB360? Worry no more! Microsoft has just announced that they will have external USB support for hard drives.

Hello all! Drew got in touch with me last Wednesday, and let me know that he wanted a video review for Toy Soldiers, the arcade game on XBLA.

It's a World War I inspired tower defense game that pits armies of toy soldiers against each other. While the entire concept isn't all that original, the execution is. Take a look, and maybe even give the trial a whirl, altho I really wouldn't suggest basing your entire opinion on the trial... it sucked =D

Matt~

Identifying yourself as gay, lesbian, transgendered, bi, or even straight anywhere in your profile has been against the Xbox Live Code of Conduct since the service launched. This was a big deal a few months back. The LGBT community on Xbox Live had felt their rights were being stifled after one of their members had a run-in with the Policy Enforcement team.

Today, Microsoft's Marc Whitten announced in a letter to Xbox Live members that the Xbox policy team has listened and they are now allowing certain terms used in gamertags and profiles.

On Friday, March 5th, at 5pm PST, there will be a live broadcast with Lead Designer Ferret Baudoin as he chats and plays Awakening, the DLC for Dragon Age: Origins, set to release on March 16th.

Overnight, a Taiwanese website posted Bungie's multiplayer beta video to YouTube. If you haven't seen it yet, hit the jump to see the action you'll be able to experience come May 3rd.

Microsoft and Turn 10 have announced the four add-ons that were only available to those that bought new copies of the standard edition and Limited Collector's Edition of Forza Motorsport 3 are now available for download as the "VIP Membership Car Pack." Released for 800 MSP, with each download in March, Turn 10 will donate $10 to Save the Children.

Here is another 2¢ Demo Review I did a few weeks ago. It got a fair amount of attention, so I thought I would share it with all you here. For your convenience, of course ;)

This is on EA's release of the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Demo, which will be live until the 25th of February (fast approaching). If you want a great peak at this upcoming game, as well as getting to play a purely awesome demo as well, my suggestion is you can't go wrong with this. Plus its free! So what's stopping you? 

Matt~