Xbox Live Marketplace to Sell Full Game Downloads

Tomorrow Xbox Live turns five - and on December 4th will try to keep some old games alive.

Since its launch on November 15th 2002, Xbox Live has generated a user base of about eight million gamers - it's widely considered the top feature of Microsoft’s Xbox game consoles. For the fifth anniversary of the Xbox Live launch, there will be a lavish celebration complete with giveaways to loyal customers. On December 4th a whole new feature will emerge on the Xbox Live Marketplace: complete game downloads.

Has it really been five years already?

True to Microsoft Marketing form, the software giant with a game controller in its hand wants to turn Xbox Live’s birthday into an event to remember.

A few events planned for the birthday of Xbox Live

• On Nov. 15^th Download any Xbox Live Arcade game - FREE

• 500 Microsoft points to any active Xbox Live Gold member

• Unnamed exclusive content available on Live Marketplace

• All day tomorrow – win prizes and giveaways just for playing games

• Plenty more Live events and memories to be recounted

A software update will be available on Dec. 4th, giving your Xbox360 the ability to download a short list of Xbox games. Dust off those long forgotten neural pathways, my friends. You’ll soon be revisiting such classics as Crimson Skies, Fable, Psychonauts and the original console shooter that saved the universe – Halo.

Each Xbox game will be available on the Live Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points or $15.

But it's difficult to believe there would be much of a market for outdated game downloads. Xbox Live Arcade seems to be a popular feature, but its games are so old they’re pure nostalgia. What original Xbox games would you want to play again for $15?

Still, with all the freebies and events planned on Live tomorrow, I have a feeling workplaces across America will experience heavier than usual incidents of the flu. See you on Live!