In case you have not checked out the marketplace today you may want to. There are new clothes for your avatar and will not cost anything. I am surprised but glad to see Microsoft has not turn this into a cash cow. Also there is new clothing for Tomb Raider Underworld. Also new on the marketplace are bloopers from Major Nelson and crew. If you happen to get some Microsoft points for Christmas you can check out the new songs that hit for Guitar Hero: World Tour and Lips. I just like to point out whenever there is free stuff to download since this seems not to be announced and can be removed quickly or a price added later.

It seems the puzzle genre is more popular than ever as the second puzzle game in a row hits the Xbox live Arcade today. Merv Griffin’s Crosswords is based on the TV show and features thousands of crossword puzzles. Not sure how exciting this one is but I am going to check out the trial version. The full version is priced at 800 Microsoft points.

I know things have been slow with the news this week. I do have the four new tracks that hit the marketplace for Rock Band 1 & 2 this week. All the tracks are 160 Microsoft points. Funk #49 by The James Gang, Space Truckin by Deep Purple, Hymn 43 by Jethro Tull and Take Back the City by Snow Patrol are all now on the marketplace. Sadly there is not a discount price for the three classic tracks but some great songs and something new for New Year’s Eve.

I know Christmas is over but the Holiday season is still going on. I first want to wish everyone well wishes this holiday season from all of us here at Xboxsolution. While we are here most of the companies are either on extended vacation or getting ready for CES. So the news may be a bit slow over the next few days. I hope all of our visitors had a great Christmas and if you got new games as presents look us up on XBL shoot an invite and let’s play.

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Puzzle fans are going to love what is coming to the Xbox Arcade this Wednesday. The game Puzzle Arcade is being released and features more challenges than any other arcade game in the genre so far that has been released. With 35 jigsaw puzzles to solve and 20 other puzzles this one is certainly created for fans of the puzzle genre. Puzzle Arcade will cost 800 Microsoft points and will also have a feature to show off solved puzzles via the Xbox Vision Camera.

Microsoft sent word that there is a title update for the family game Banjo-Koozie: Nuts & Bolts. The update will fix the issue with trouble reading the text of what the characters are saying on a regular TV. To get the update just make sure you are signed in to Xbox live and insert the disc. You will be prompted to accept the title update. The update is available today and should help younger gamers enjoy the game more.

I am posting this because it seems every time I log in to XBL or check my Emails there is someone asking me about the update or issues with Gears of War 2. The last title update fixed many of the issues gamers were experiencing. If you are having other problems or want to see what else Epic and the team are working on to fix they have made it very easy. They have posted a fact list on what the update fixed and answers many of the questions I was getting asked. You can read it by clicking here please make sure to check it often for new updates and I hope this helps any with questions about the game update.

I got word today that the upcoming Batman: Arkham Asylum game from Eidos and Warner Bros. recruited two familiar voice-over talents for the game. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will reprise their roles as Batman (Conroy) and the Joker (Hamill). Both played the roles in the animated series and in past games so with both on board it should add to the overall game. The game will take a darker look into the character of Batman and the characters but I am looking forward to this one. Gamers will have to wait for summer of 2009 until the game is released though.

In case you did not see the VGA Awards this weekend you can get a look at the first trailer for GTA IV: The Lost and Damned DLC coming next year. I like the biker angle and it could open the game to something new when the DLC hits. You must be 18 years of age or older and the website is age gated. You can view the trailer by clicking here.

Gamers can thank Doritos for this week’s XBLA game Dash of Destruction. The game will be free starting tomorrow and will be free for all regions. Dash of Destruction is from Ninja Bee and MGS. Gamers will play as a Tyrannosaurus Rex trying to catch a truckload of Doritos if it sounds like a commercial tie-in it is since the idea came from the winner of Doritos Unlock the Box contest held during the summer. Hey, it’s a free arcade game and sounds like it may be fun. Make sure to download it and check it out when it hits the XBL Arcade tomorrow.