Those keeping score will note that this digest is actually a day late. This is because I had an off-site meeting yesterday, and then didn't find time to write up the digest (read: I got lazy). To make up for it, next week's will be a day early, as I think I'll be moving the digest to Wednesdays so I can report on the Arcade releases.

XBLA Wednesday double header - Rocky & Bullwinkle and Battlezone now available - I'm not going to lie, I don't know a thing about either of these games. I suppose R&B might be ok for the kids - if they even know Rocky and Bullwinkle are! Apparently R&B includes over 100 minigames and support for up to 12 players via hot-seat (controller hot-potato) and Battlezone is a classic game that's received a graphical overhaul. My suggestion is to check out the trials before you commit your Microsoft points. As always, you can check the XBLA profile pages to see if you even want to bother doing that (links - R&B, Battlezone).

Rockstar teases us with even more GTA IV details, receives perfect review - file this under GIVE US THE GAME ALREADY!... Rockstar recently updated the website, providing new details on the multiplayer modes to be included in this blockbuster title releasing in less than two weeks. The new modes include Team Deathmatch, Team Mafiya Work, Team Car Jack City, Cops n' Crooks, Turf War, Race, and GTA Race. Head over to Xbox 360 Fanboy for the details on each game mode. Also, this week the Rockstar Games Social Club was launched (last night around 7:30 PM to be exact), but presently is only accepting pre-registrations. If you hurry you might still be able to snag a five-digit member number (#55596 here). And I would be remiss if I didn't embed this sweet new commercial from across the pond and point out that OXM UK has given GTA IV a perfect score . [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]



New "Legendary" maps for Halo 3 available now - weighing in at 411 MB and costing you a mere 800 Microsoft points are three new maps for your Halo 3 enjoyment (the Sidewinder-inspired Avalanche, the Lockout-remake Blackout and Ghost Town). As an added bonus, anyone who purchases the maps will be treated to a free four month subscription of Bungie Pro, increasing the size of their fileshare. For my U.S. readers: if you pre-order Ninja Gaiden II from Circuit City, you apparently get a free redeem code for these. As the resident penny-pincher (diapers are teh expensive), I just have to ask...how long until they become free??? [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

360 receives console update, Xbox Live to be down for 8 hours - I fired up my console this morning and received a console update, but much to my surprise there was nothing at all different. Speculation is that this is a preparation for the upcoming system downtime starting April 21, 2008 at 5 AM Eastern and lasting for 8 hours. Major Nelson has confirmed this is not for the spring update, but to "prepare for future growth of the service" (GTA IV anyone?). But don't cry fanboys, because you'll still be able to enjoy all your games any of your game not affected by a DRM issue while LIVE is down.

New game demos roundup - available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace are demos for Universe at War (a cross platform real-time strategy game...why???), Condemned 2: Bloodshot, Iron Man, Next month, we can look forward to a Bourne Conspiracy demo (this one is actually shaping up to look like a pretty good movie book tie-in game), as well as an Alone in the Dark demo. [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Afro Samurai details begin to emerge, trailer released - I've seen a few episodes of Afro Samurai, and I like it - but I'm just not that much of a television guy. As such, I've been keeping an eye and looking forward to it's upcoming video game release. Heck, I created the Wikipedia article for it. Anyhow, the GameSpot had an opportunity to check out the game, and they like what they see. A trailer was also released for the game. Check it out in all it's cell-shaded glory:



LEGO Indiana Jones to launch in early June - many gamerparents agree that the LEGO Star Wars series of games are great to play co-operatively with the little ones. Well, get your whips and cowboy hats ready, because June will see the release of LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures as it rolls over the 360 like a giant boulder. Look forwarding to fighting against an  "anonymous genocidal, occultist, trenchcoat-wearing master-race" (because fighting Nazi's is so cliché). The game should play out much like the LEGO Star Wars games, with a new "phobia" dynamic (i.e. if Indy sees a snake he will be stunned until the snake is gone). [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]