Microsoft (Barely) Details GTA4 Exclusive DLC Release Date

Continuing the deluge of Grand Theft Auto 4 information, a press release from Microsoft today notes, "Starting this autumn, Xbox 360 owners will also have access to exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV episodes that will provide hours of additional game play." This autumn being officially September 21st through December 20th, we're going all the way crazy and saying this date's just a bit hazy in it's specifics. Considering I'm roughly five percent through the main story and have owned it for five hours or so, they can take all the time they need -- for now. Us here at QP will of course keep you updated as more details unfold.

The Sky Was Not, In Fact, Brought Down (DLC Review)

This evening, I finally got the chance to sink my teeth into the first content pack for Mass Effect, "Bring Down the Sky," which was released on Monday, much to the glee of sci-fi nerds everywhere. After downloading it, I started up a new game with an existing character profile, and made quick work of the beginning parts on Eden Prime and in the Citadel. Once I got control of the Normandy, I jetted off to the Asgard system to kick some Batarian ass.

Basically, there's an asteroid orbiting the planet of Terra Nova, which is the home to some 4 million people. A group of Batarians (those nasty slavers we've heard whispers of in the game, but haven't actually seen until now) has hijacked the facilities on the asteroid and are using three fusion torches to blast the asteroid on a collision course with Terra Nova. Of course, our delightful Commander Shepard is the only one ballsy enough to go in and save the day.

It was a pretty standard mission, mainly just "go disable these things, then go there and do that" sort of thing. But it introduced some interesting characters and had some good action, and the scenery was pretty. Overall, it was a nice little 90 minutes of alien fun. I wish that all, or at least some, of the side missions in the core game were as solid as this, rather than the same ol' probes on the same ol' maps with the same ol' dead Salarians.

Now I'm going to try and get the rest of the achievements for the game, then sit tight for Mass Effect 2, which is totally going to blow my panties off.

Mass Effect Downloadable Content Announced

BioWare posted on their forums today about the first bit of downloadable content for Xbox 360 RPG Mass Effect. Set to be released on March 10 for 400 Microsoft Points($5), the, "Bring Down the Sky" pack introduces another alien race, the Batarians, in a new mission set on a new uncharted planet. According to the post, the content will add around 90 additional minutes to the Mass Effect story and will contain 50 Gamerscore points for those of us with achievements on the mind.

Here's hoping that the "new uncharted world" will in fact be new. I'd like to be able to explore an area that's more than just the same big square of mountainous (sometimes annoyingly mountainous) land with some probes and Turian bodies spread around for me to go on a scavenger hunt for.

Unfortunately, no word yet on whether this package will include an extended and fully interactive sex scene.

First Rockband DLC for February on XBL

This week's Rockband downloadable content went up within the last 30 hours and boy are my arms....not so tired. Some of you QP'ers out there might be looking forward to belting out, "Roam" by the B-52's, but as for us here at QPHQ, we're keeping our precious spacebucks in our spacewallets, thank you very much. As per usual....

The list is as follows:

The B-52's: "Roam" (160 MS points/ $2)
Faith No More: "We Care a Lot" (160 MS points/ $2)
KISS: "Calling Dr. Love" (160 MS Points / $2)
(via MajorNelson)

Step Right Up! March! Push!

Being the jerks we are here at QPHQ, we can't help but love when the united army of nerds tips off us internetfolk and reveals some juicy juicy magazine subscriber tidbits before the mag arrives on newsstands (we're sorry, Francesca Reyes.)

The biggest hits on the list come from The Police with, "Message in a Bottle" and Metallica's, "Fuel." This writer can honestly say he'll be dancing for a full hour in celebration of the three excellent skull crushing Nine Inch Nails songs. What do you burgeoning rock stars out there want to see in April? And when are we going to see those full album downloads?

Full track list for March is as follows:

March 4 - Thrash Pack
At The Gates: Blinded By Fear
Evile: Thrashes
The Haunted: Shadow World

March 11
Bad Company: Shooting Star (cover)
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Simple Man
The Police: Message in a Bottle

March 18 - NIN Pack
Nine Inch Nails: March of the Pigs
Nine Inch Nails: The Collector
Nine Inch Nails: The Perfect Drug

March 25 - Metal Pack
Iron Maiden: Wrathchild (cover)
Black Sabbath: Supernaut (cover)
Metallica: Fuel