Badges of Honour

Xbox Canada and Blockbuster Canada announced the return of the annual Badges of Honour program today, a fundraising initiative that has, to date, raised over $600,000 in support of Children's Miracle Network. Through the program, Blockbuster locations across Canada will be offering limited edition buttons featuring authentic Xbox 360 designs at the cost of $2 each. These buttons will be available for purchase between March 14^th and April 7^th, and a portion of the revenue from the buttons sold will be donated to Children's Miracle Network.

“ We’re overwhelmed by the ongoing support we’ve received from Microsoft Canada over the years.” says John Hartman, Chief Operating Officer of Children’s Miracle Network. “Thanks to this unique campaign, the funds raised by Xbox and Blockbuster are helping us make a positive impact on the lives of children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in Canada.”

There will be five newly designed buttons available for this year's program, from Gears of War 2 , Ninja Gaiden 2 and Rock Band .

EA still going for Take-Two

Electronic Arts announced today that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has commenced a tender offer for all of the currently outstanding shares of common stock of Take-Two Interactive Software. Under the offer, EA would purchase these outstanding shares at $26.00 per share in cash, which, according to EA, offers a 64% premium over the closing price of Take-Two's stock on February 15 ^th , the last trading day before EA sent its revised proposal to Take-Two.

The offer is scheduled to expire at midnight Easter Standard Time on Friday, April 11 ^th , “unless the tender offer is extended”, as the press release says. EA says the offer is not conditioned upon financing, rather, among other things, whether EA will be able to acquire a majority of the outstanding shares, Take-Two entering into a merger agreement on terms satisfactory to EA and/or other merger and acquisition related issues. Overall, it sounds like EA wants Take-Two badly, and isn't afraid of doing a little bit of pushing and shoving to get it. John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts, even put out an open letter to gamers explaining why Take-Two joining Electronic Arts would be a “good” thing, and also happens to make a few points how that outcome is “inevitable”.

Take-Two did have somewhat of its own response to EA's offer. The company sent out a press release advising its stockholders to take no action with regards to the offer. Really, it's that short, aside from saying that Take-Two's board will be reviewing the offer and will re-advise its stockholders once it comes to a conclusion.

Ninja Gaiden Black on Xbox Originals

Microsoft announced this week that it has added Ninja Gaiden Black to the list of Xbox Originals available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Ninja Gaiden Black is available for 1,200 Microsoft Points. Please keep in mind, of course, that the game is still rated M for Mature.

Playstation Store update

Add-on Game Content

Toy Home Expansion Pack ($6.99 USD/$7.99 CAD)

The Toy Home Expansion Pack adds even more racing fun to the miniature universe. This pack includes 6 new vehicles and 2 new playrooms, each with 3 separate configurations. Players will now be able to engage in 4-player battle both offline and online and check out their rankings online. Also included are a new set of courses in the single player mode and a free-run mode.
File size: 100 KB

PAIN Character: Nurse, Ginger ($0.99 USD/$1.49 CAD)
PAIN can hurt, but be careful - Sometimes your medical professional is really the one who needs help. Case in point, downloadable character Ginger, our on-site PAIN Nurse.
File size: 7.42 MB

PAIN Character: Cheerleader, Muffy ( $0.99 USD/ $1.49 CAD)
“ Gimme a ‘P’! Gimme an ‘A’! Gimme an ‘I’! Gimme an ‘N’! What does it spell!?!?? Umm…Can someone tell me what that spells, please?” Yeah, that’s Muffy, our new downloadable Cheerleader for PAIN .
File size: 4.68 MB

GUITAR HERO III : Dropkick Murphy’s Track Pack (free)
Famous for Nothing , Flannigans Ball , Johnny , I Hardly Knew Ya , as performed by Dropkick Murphy’s. For all song credits please visit www.redoctane.com
File size: 41.7 MB

Rock Band

Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

Shockwave - Black Tide ( $0.99 USD/ $1.49 CAD)
Beethoven’s C *** - Serj Tankian ( $0.99 USD/ $1.49 CAD)
CrushCrushCrush - Paramore ( $0.99 USD/ $1.49 CAD)
File sizes: 20.3 MB - 23.7 MB

Demos (free)

Major League Baseball 2K8 Demo
This is a 3 inning demo of baseball gameplay from Major League Baseball 2K8 . It features 2 teams (Boston and Colorado) and 1 stadium (Fenway Park).
ESRB Rated E
File size: 952 MB

Game Videos

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds - Characters & Courses
Slip on the golf shoes, step out on the course and tee it up on the Playstation 3 with Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds .
File size: 41.6 MB (HD)

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds - New Shot System

Slip on the golf shoes, step out on the course and tee it up on the Playstation 3 with Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds .
File size: 64.5 MB (HD)

Viking: Battle for Asgard Teaser Trailer
You are Skarin, a rage-fueled Viking warrior hell-bent on revenge. The goddess of death has resurrected a legion of demon warriors to overrun mankind and begin the apocalypse. Wage all-out war to annihilate the enemy and free the Earth from the grip of the Underworld.
File size: 70.3 MB (HD)

Viking Episode 1 - Skarin’s Calling Trailer
The invasion of Hel’s Dread Legion. Midgard is brought to its knees, its sons and daughters murdered or imprisoned. Is there no one to stand against her? Have the gods deserted us?
File size: 84.7 MB (HD)

Viking Episode 2 - Siege of Caldburg Trailer
Caldburg, The Jewel of Galcliff, now overrun by Hel’s monsters and corrupted by the horrors committed within its walls. Skarin knew its importance to our people, and we marched on the city with a grim determination.
File size: 76.5 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

God of War: Chains of Olympus Theme
Customize your PS3 system with a cool God of War: Chains of Olympus theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons.
File size: 8.19 MB

PAIN : Ginger Theme
Customize your PS3 system with a cool PAIN: Ginger theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons.
File size: 2.53 MB

PAIN : Muffy Theme
Customize your PS3 system with a cool PAIN: Muffy theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons.
File size: 2.58 MB

Condemned 2: Bloodshot Theme 1
Customize your PS3 system with a cool Condemned 2: Bloodshot theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons.
File size: 25.5 MB

Condemned 2: Bloodshot Theme 2
Customize your PS3 system with a cool Condemned 2: Bloodshot theme. This theme allows you to change up the look of your background and XMB icons.
File size: 14.2 MB

Here is this week’s content release for the Playstation Store for PC. To download these games to your PSP, navigate to http://store.Playstation.com. There, you’ll find descriptions of the content and directions on how to get started. For more on the Playstation Store for PC, please click here.

Demos (free)

* WipEout Pulse Demo

PSP Themes (free)

* God of War: Chains of Olympus Theme

PSP Wallpaper (free)

* God of War: Chains of Olympus Wallpaper (x4)