I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the new promotion for 20% off the wireless controller. To clarify, this isn’t like the 20% cashback promotion earlier this year, where you pay the full price and then get refunded. With this, you get up to 20% off RRP directly when you purchase the controller from a retailer. No extra steps. Good time to pick up a few spares for my mates. 
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We’ve just announced a new Xbox 360 Elite Limited Edition console bundle for Modern Warfare 2. The bundle will contain an Xbox 360 Elite with an exclusive design, a 250GB hard drive (!!!), 2 wireless controllers, an Xbox 360 headset, and a copy of Modern Warfare 2. This bundle will have an rrp of $599 (AU).
Modern Warfare 2 LE Elite Bundle
Tell me that’s not sexy.
We’ll have more details and the press release up on the Xbox website shortly!
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Time for the top played retail games for the last week! As usual, this is determined by the number of users who played the game while connected to Xbox LIVE. It doesn’t discriminate between multi-player and single-player.
ANZ Top Played Retail Games
What, no Beatles: Rock Band? Confession: Until this game came out I didn’t realize it was the Beatles who sang Twist and Shout. What movie was that in? I seem to remember it being Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but am I confusing that with Danke Schoen?
GLOBAL Top Played Retail Games
Speaking of Left 4 Dead, I heard a rumour that Gabe Newell, “The Valve Guy,” is coming to Australia. Pretty cool, no?
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I am NOT a morning person. But I forced myself up with the sun this morning because I was invited to talk about games on TVNZ’s Breakfast News and I couldn’t resist! Everyone there was super nice and the time flew. I didn’t even have time to get properly nervous!
Thanks to everyone in Auckland and NZ for making my visit here so rad.
Breakfast: Thursday September 10
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PS – Rhys Darby was on before me. I feel like my coolness level has gone up just by being in proximity. I mean that in a platonic way, Mrs. Darby!
The Buttonmasher guys stopped by our Auckland office yesterday and we had a quick chat about games. Also vitamins shaped like fish. Looks like they’ve already published it in their newest podcast!
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The Beatles: Rock Band is coming out tomorrow. Anyone planning on picking up a Beatles instrument? I’m considering getting a guitar. That would be sweet like honey.
Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s not, but I just found a cool article on Beatles trivia.
Since the game releases 9/9/9 this one is particularly appropriate.
20. Lennon’s number 9 connection: Lennon was born on 9 October 1940, his son Sean was also born 9 October, 1975. He wrote the songs #9 Dream (part of Lennon’s ninth solo album Walls and Bridges which was released in the ninth month of 1974 and peaked at number 9 in the US charts) and with the Beatles – One After 909 and Revolution 9. He lived in apartment number 72 on 72nd Street in New York and was killed in the evening of December 8 when it was already early morning of December 9 in his birthplace of Liverpool.
Do you know Beatles trivia not covered in the list?
The Beatles: 20 things you did not know about the Fab Four
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Hey guess what! It’s Tuesday. And Tuesday is (except when I’m useless) the day I post the top played retail games for the week. And since I’m in New Zealand this week that means I’m 2 hours ahead of the game. Sweet as, bro!
ANZ Top Played Retail Games
If you’re playing Halo 3, I really want to remind you to sign up for our giveaway. You’re playing it anyway, and you could win a TV, RC Warthog, hoodie, LIVE subscription, etc. Why WOULDN’T you want to?
GLOBAL Top Played Retail Games
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Been a few weeks since I did this, but it’s a good week to start back up!
Batman: Arkham Asylum came out this week, and it is freaking awesome. I’m loving it. I know what I’ll be playing this weekend. How about you?
This is what a few of our mates on Twitter are getting up to (hint: Batman)!
SpartanEarth @XboxAustralia I won’t be playing B:AA this weekend! Instead I’ll be finishing BrothersInArms:HH, LOTR: Conquest, BK:N&B and some Halo 3 MP.
MetalheadMick @XboxAustralia Definitely giving Arkham Asylum a go. Bought it this morning on the way into work, and it’s been taunting me ever since!
Nilcraban @XboxAustralia Batman all the way, might also try and get some horde mode in on GOW2
oliyoung @XboxAustralia Guitar Hero 2, only because I can’t get Guitar Hero 5 for another two weeks
tobin @XboxAustralia More Monkey Island, Rock Band (itching for Beatles) and no Batman!
stevivor @XboxAustralia I’m tempted to throw Arkham away because the dodgy autosave corrupted an otherwise enjoyable experience!
astewart31 @XboxAustralia Batman Arkham Asylum all weekend that game is freekin sweet!
rob_caporetto @XboxAustralia still making my way through Shadow Complex. Hoping I can get some time in the Asylum too depends on how it goes…
quandtm @XboxAustralia No Batman for me, still have Wolfenstein to finish.
pidgeo @XboxAustralia Me… as I’m playing Diablo 2 on Windows 7 using a MS SideWinder X8 and X6 (cheap plug)
Dark_Ambient @XboxAustralia ill be aiming to finish it….then re-do it on hard
ThisIsJamieWatt @XboxAustralia I’m not trying it.. I don’t have any money….
Azrane @XboxAustralia I’ll be playing whatever’s on the show floor at PAX
ma71by @XboxAustralia finishing transformers 2 and playin sum splosion man… (and maib sum batman:aa as well)
barrymoves @XboxAustralia batman arkham asylum ftw! Great game.
jasperschultz @XboxAustralia Nope, no one at all. Arkham Asylum all the way (while simultaneously avoiding dodgy autosave corruptions)!
MattyHallsworth @XboxAustralia I’ll be playing some Shadow Complex for sure
QuethDarToc @XboxAustralia sacred2,alittle batman and then COD
Pesmare @XboxAustralia If they aren’t play Batman, they should be banned from XBL 
Kodo @XboxAustralia I’ll be playing eq2 and prob tower defense and trials HD
Jordan_M @XboxAustralia I’ll be finishing off Wolfenstein before trying out the multiplayer
Micko3 @XboxAustralia Madden 10. but omg its so hard to play!! :S
upandatthem @XboxAustralia I’m going to be the only person playing Arkham Asylum – I’m playing through old XBLA games goin’ achievement hunting!
birdie101 @XboxAustralia Waiting for Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin’s Creed 2. Got both of them pre-ordered at EB games. Prestige and Black edition.
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I’m about to duck out of the office and visit the NOVA studios to chat with Maz and Kerley about Batman: Arkham Asylum. If you’re in NSW listen to Launchpad tonight!
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I know I’ve missed doing this last week. Sorry about that! Worth it though. I got to play ODST, Forza 3, Lips #1 Hits, Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero… yeah, it was worth it. But now I”m back, so let’s see what we’ve got.
ANZ Top Played Retail Games
GLOBAL Top Played Retail Games
No real surprise that Madden is bigger overseas. Anyone here really follow NFL? I’m hearing good things about Batman: Arkham Asylum. Who’s planning on picking it up when it comes out later this week?
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