Carcassonne for free on Xbox Live

Microsoft is celebrating their 5th year of Xbox Live by offering Carcassonne for free.
You simply have to download the full game on November 15th or 16th.

I can't find any reference to tell me if they are doing the Rivers II expansion for free as well. I would guess not.

In non-boardgaming news, they are making Psychonauts available for download for $15. If you like videogames, and have not played this, you are missing out on 90% of one of the best games ever. (That final Meat Circus level is a new benchmark for infuriating. Yes, it is in fact a Meat Circus. And it is far from the weirdest level on offer.)

Press Release below.

Moo,
Frank

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Xbox LIVE membership soars past 8 million mark, Microsoft unveils new download service for Xbox games direct to your living room beginning Dec. 4.

REDMOND, Wash. -- Nov. 13, 2007 -- On Nov. 15, Microsoft Corp. will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Xbox LIVE. In addition, the company notes that the latest membership figures show more than 8 million members are now actively engaged in the largest social entertainment network on TV. Xbox LIVE has grown from a small community of gamers in two countries, playing a handful of games online with their friends, to a worldwide social entertainment network offering online access to gaming, music, movies and TV shows. As friends across 26 countries and nine languages have connected on Xbox LIVE, it is their feedback and active participation that has guided the service to become what Wired magazine recently called "the king of the online arena." As a gesture of thanks to the gaming community, all 8 million members will have the opportunity to download a free Xbox LIVE Arcade game,* available for downloading between 12:01 a.m. PST on Nov. 15 and 11:59 p.m. PST on Nov. 16.** In addition to this, every active member who joined the service in 2002 will receive 500 free Microsoft Points.

Starting on Dec. 4, all Xbox LIVE members will receive a free system update with a host of new features and enhancements. Included in this update will be the launch of Xbox Originals, which, for the first time, will enable consumers to download and own full Xbox games, such as "Halo," "Psychonauts," "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" and "Fable," among others, directly to their Xbox 360. This new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games.

With no disc necessary, and at just 1,200 Microsoft Points per game, Xbox LIVE members can easily rediscover these hit titles, or check out a game they missed the first time around. This launch lineup is only the beginning, as Xbox 360 owners can expect to see a growing catalog of Xbox games to download and own over the coming year.

"In just five short years, Xbox LIVE has revolutionized the way friends and family have fun in the living room," said John Schappert, corporate vice president of LIVE, software and services at Microsoft. "On its fifth birthday, Xbox LIVE truly is the place for hanging out with friends and enjoying downloadable TV shows, movies, videos, game add-ons and now downloadable Xbox games on demand."

More information can be found online about the downloadable games available on Xbox LIVE, the evolution of Xbox LIVE or the Xbox LIVE is 5IVE member rewards at http://www.xbox.com.

© 2007 Frank Branham

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I just got an XBOX 360, but I will be at BGG starting tomorrow (arriving early).... so I guess I’ll be missing out. Posted by Robert Ramirez on Nov 13, 2007 at 11:24 PM | #

I am a housewife. Although my husband will find me less attractive sexually he will still love me for my homemade pies. Posted by Jon Theys on Nov 13, 2007 at 11:25 PM | #

I’ll be getting the free Carcassonne.  Also of note, Microsoft has issued a release about known issues with the Original Downloads games.  Anyone downloading them should read the article. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/xboxoriginals/issues.htm -Tim Buffalo GameBuffs blog Posted by Tim Shea on Nov 15, 2007 at 01:10 PM | #

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