Tune Raider: ‘Underworld’ soundtrack available for free download

Nothing says “yuletide cheer” like a bombastic action score, such as the one written by Colin O’Malley for Tomb Raider: Underworld. Good news: said soundtrack is being offered as a free download from the website Tomb Raider Chronicles (and actually has been for a while, but “better late thannever“). There are actually several downloads to choose from: bundles of tracks associated with each of the game’s locales, or one big “deluxe edition” (198MB) containing all 71 tracks in 320kbps MP3 format. (Lady Croft demands nothing but the highest bitrates.)

Suit up: New TR Underworld costumes available

Eidos has given Underworld fans another free costume pack, perfect for playing dress-up with Lara Croft. The 62MB download gives Lara a blue and a red wetsuit to add to her walk-in closet. A previous free costume pack bestowed Lady Croft with her treasured original (Anniversary) outfit and her Legend ensemble. As much as we love putting Lara in new clothes, pretending she’s the Barbie doll dad wouldn’t let us have as a kid, don’t think we’ve forgotten about those Underworld level packs. Pretty clothes might distract us, but the “Beneath the Ashes” mission was originally planned to be out by now.

CVG digs up Dead Space’s religious secrets

Even after you’ve milked Dead Space for all the fun of its dismemberment and plant-monster scares, did you know there’s a deeper mystery to uncover? CVG is offering up all the tools you need to decipher the secret language of the in-game religion, Unitology. If you’re too lazy to do even that, they’ve already done much of the legwork for you. This isn’t just a way to uncover back story either, as there are some power nodes and other goodies to be had. Be aware, though: There are also some spoilers to be had.

800 Microsoft Points cards hit retail

Another option is now available at retail for shoppers in the U.S. looking to purchase cards loaded with Microsoft Points. In addition to the 1600 Point variety available for $19.99, Microsoft has released a 800 Point card for the easier to swallow price of $9.99. It’s convenient, plus gift cards remain a bastion of hope for the last minute holiday shopper. And for those who fancy video games on your lists, why not fill their stockings with digital money instead. It works just like regular money, but it’s, er … fun.

Fable 2 expansion delayed until ‘late January’

Lionhead is going to need a little bit more time before it starts accepting the 800 ($10) fare to Knothole Island. According to the Fable 2 expansion’s Xbox.com page, the new land won’t be available next week due to “unexpected technical difficulties.” It’s currently scheduled to arrive in “late January.” We’d be more upset about this if we didn’t already have a massive backlog of games (not to mention family) to deal with over the next couple of weeks.

Resident Evil 5 demo in early 2009 for US

Remember that Resident Evil 5 demo? The one that was originally up for grabs via Xbox Live for anyone with a Japanese account, but was taken down? Well, it’s going to be officially released in the US in early 2009, according to Capcom. The publisher held an RE5 co-op multiplayer event last night in San Francisco, at which we were given this vague date and played some previously unseen levels. Levels which we’ll be able to share more on with you tomorrow. We also played the demo in question, which was in English and seemed perfectly fit to go live, er … now.

NXE Avatars receive new formal wear

Like most foppish gamers, we’ve been politely castigating Microsoft for the improvident dearth of formal Avatar clothin, so much so that we’re inclined to use the words “castigating” and “improvident” in a single sentence. How are we meant to enjoy the NXE when our on-screen representation fails to capture our posh, everyday attire? To think, there are brutish button mashers who venture online wearing naught but jeans and a body rag! To that we say, “Hmph! And good day!” Thankfully, Microsoft has now recognized the erudite e-citizens of Xbox Live, releasing a new set of Avatar clothes: 

Gentlemen

• Blue Tuxedo
• Black Tuxedo
• Shirt with Cummerbund
• Black Trilby
• Bowler Hat

Noble Women

• Elegant Ball Gown
• Little Black Dress
• Formal Trouser Suit
• Elegant Watch
• Red ’60s Shades
• Strappy High Heels
• Platform Shoes

You’ll find them in the Avatar Customization menu, most likely next to some uncultured “threads.”

Peter Molyneux to reveal Lionhead ‘experiments’ at GDC ‘09

At least, that’s what we imagine the Fable II designer will be doing in a talk entitled, “Lionhead Experiments Revealed.” As part of the game design track at 2009’s Game Developers Conference, which will run from March 23rd to March 27th in San Francisco, Peter Molyneux’s lecture promises to be a candid look behind the scenes, complete with “visual and playable examples” of several concepts currently being toyed with at Lionhead Studios. Though none of them are guaranteed to show up in forthcoming projects, it should provide a tantalizing glimpse up Molyneux’s sleeve. Which is not only the greatest sleeve ever, but can fit any person at any time and will force you to reconsider the role sleeves play in our modern society. Probably. Also slated to dispense wisdom on GDC’s game design track are Dan Teasdale of Harmonix, who will recount design lessons learned from making Rock Band, and Jonathon Morin from Ubisoft, who will explain the level design structure in Far Cry 2. As always, Joystiq will be at the event, nodding politely and nodding off during all the boring parts.

EA uses Xbox 360 graphics to sell Wii game, gets caught

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told EA to stop broadcasting a misleading ad for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09. In the commercial, Woods is swinging a Wii controller, but a complaint to the agency accused the ad of using footage from the Xbox 360 version of the game. Which it did, as confirmed by EA. The publisher’s excuse for switching the footage: the Wii images wouldn’t be of “broadcast quality.” EA’s ad agency stated that, in the future, it would make sure that the images and format being promoted match.

UK’s Telegraph names Fable II best game of 2008

The Daily Telegraph has thrown two pence in with its own “best of” video game round up, naming its top 50 games of 2008. Like X-Play before it, the conservative UK newspaper named Lionhead’s Fable 2 as the best game to come along in the last 12 months, romancing the crown out from under near-winners, Fallout 3 and LittleBigPlanet.  Other games sitting atop the heap included Rock Band 2, Gears of War 2, Spore, Grand Theft Auto IV and No More Heroes, with Left 4 Dead and Professor Layton rounding the publication’s top ten. Check out the rather comprehensive list and let us know if your favorites made the cut.