Microsoft Claus

First we get the rather attractive festive winter theme for our 360's for free. Well it's free as long as you've paid up for a Gold LIVE account. But I shall not be ungrateful because I really like the theme!

Then yesterday we get Dash for Destruction! Blimey!! A free LIVE Arcade game. Yes FREE! Free to download and free to play. Free, free, free! If you don't have it yet just stop reading this and go a get it! Microsoft are really getting into the festive spirit of giving aren't they!? Either that or they're ill and are running a dangerously high temperature, which kind of goes hand in hand with the infamous 360 hardware problems, and they're delirious.

So very briefly, because you're contact with this game will be equally brief, Dash for Destruction is, depending on the game mode you choose, either like playing Rampage but in 3D or it's like playing a pint sized version of Skid Marks on an Amiga. Well kind of. Basically one mode means you avoid a T-Rex while the other means you are a T-Rex. I was finished with the game after about 15 minutes and I doubt I'll return to it though I would like to try out the multiplayer. It would be easy for me to be extremely hard on this game but as it was utterly free I won't be. It is playable and quite good fun while it lasts. Yes it's shallow and you'll be bored after 15 minutes but you'll have earned 190 achievement points by then so it's a good return for your efforts.

Free themes, free games, they say good things come in 3's don't they?

Yes they do! I discovered the Snow Globe tonight. This being released in different regions around the world at different times so I'm unsure how long it's been available here in the UK. I think I'd have spotted it before tonight had it been there before but hey. It's in the Spotlight section, when you're connected to LIVE, if you want to check it out. As you can see from the picture the Globe is populated with your friends avatars. You can switch the avatars, press X, give the globe a shake, press A, or get the avatars to do a Mexican wave by pressing Y. There's music too so you can just leave the Globe on your screen and then go and wrap parcels to the tune of Jingle Bells repeating over and over and over and over and over and ...

Hallelujah!

So there you have it. Microsoft have been bitten by the Christmas bug and in all honesty it is a nice touch for XBox owners. I hope Microsoft continue to release these special themes and that this isn't a one off.

There are rumours that both Nintendo and Sony are also preparing festive freebies. Nintendo are discussing changing the colour of the digital clock from grey to red for the holiday season. Because red is Christmassy. Oh and also because Iwata and his pals think that all Wii owners should just about have 1 block of memory free. Sony have promised to eclipse Microsoft's generosity this year and are planning to bring Christmas to HOME. Sony are planning to do this in time for Christmas next year so expect an incomplete, lacklustre beta offering sometime in August 2010.

You thought it'd be a cold day in hell before Microsoft dished out free stuff didn't you!? What with new clothes for our Avatars too they must have seriously flipped. For further insanity but a far warmer climate try the Gameov3r FORUM. I'll put the kettle on and warm some mince pies.