If the weather outside is frightful (or blistering hot in the Southern Hemisphere), take a break indoors and check out the endless entertainment Xbox LIVE offers you and your family this December.

Fight the urge to sneak a peek at your presents from the family and let Xbox LIVE Marketplace fill your December with holiday surprises. Starting December 18 through December 31, enjoy limited time, one-day discounts on select Xbox LIVE Marketplace content every day – games, movies, blockbuster game add-ons, holiday themes, you name it! Available to all Xbox LIVE Gold and Silver members, everyone can celebrate the countdown to the New Year with a special gift from Xbox LIVE! Be sure to check the console dashboard daily for the latest info.

A Tacky Holiday Sweater for your Avatar

On December 10, get your Avatar in the holiday spirit with specialty items including an ugly holiday sweater and even a free holiday gift for your Avatar to unwrap! And make sure they’re dressed to impress with signature tokidoki gear too, including an assortment of trademark tees and a pair of tokidoki-themed rain boots. Wishes really do come true during the holidays! Dress your Avatar in magical Disney apparel when Disney Classics (Disney) releases on Avatar Marketplace December 24.

Here Comes Santa Claus with Deals of the Week

Deal of the Week continuously delivers more fun to Xbox LIVE Gold Members for less points, so take advantage of these supreme deals each week in December.

• Week of December 7: Fallout 3: Operation Anchorage game add-on (Bethesda) | Japan: 560 Microsoft Points, rated M for Mature by the ESRB.
• Week of December 14: Lips: Coldplay Track Pack (Microsoft Game Studios) | Worldwide except Japan and India: 240 Microsoft Points, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
• Week of December 14: Pinball FX (ZEN Studios) | Japan: 400 Microsoft Points, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
• Week of December 21: Shadow Complex (Epic/Chair Entertainment) | Worldwide: From the producers of Gears of War comes Shadow Complex, a modern and masterful side-scrolling shooter. Winner of nine “Best of E3″ awards, Shadow Complex combines the quality and depth of a retail title with the accessibility you love, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade. From December 21 through December 27, get Shadow Complex for 800 Microsoft Points, a 33% savings. Shadow Complex is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.
• Week of December 28: The Maw (Twisted Pixel) | Worldwide: 400 Microsoft Points, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Make your Holidays Bright with Xbox LIVE Arcade!

Xbox LIVE Arcade delivers quality downloadable games at the best value to light up your holidays.

• December 16: Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1) (Team 17) | Worldwide: The game features incredible fidelity and attention to detail throughout, awesome audio effects, and an engaging single-player narrative. The pulsating story takes the game’s hero through an intense ride through a stricken craft, onto a mysterious, ageing hulk ship and beyond. In addition to the explosive single-player story, there’s a relentless, action packed, two-player cooperative battle mode for online and offline local action with a number of difficulty modes to challenge all skills. Available for 800 Microsoft Points, Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1) is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.
• December 23: Trials HD BIG PACK! (Redlynx) | Worldwide : Fans of Trials HD, one of this summer’s hottest downloadable games, can get ready for more fun and insane challenges with the add-on, Trials HD BIG PACK! Rev your engines with 35 new racing and skill tracks, over 50 new crazy physics objects, tournaments, new achievements worth 50 extra Gamerscore, and more. Trials HD BIG PACK! releases December 23 on Xbox LIVE Arcade at 400 points and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. Fasten your helmet and prepare for serious bruises!

Chestnuts, Cocoa, Snowflakes, and Games on Demand

Games on Demand titles are available for quick, convenient download 24×7. Check out some of this month’s top titles to add to your collection.

• December 1: Crackdown (Microsoft Game Studios) | Worldwide except Germany, Japan and Korea: Prepare for the upcoming release of Crackdown 2 by revisiting the award-winning predecessor, Crackdown. Take on the role of judge, jury, and executioner as you restore peace by any means necessary in Pacific City, a crime-ridden urban center primed to explode and ready for you to explore. Enter the vast and fully explorable world as you clean up the streets the only way you know how. Your way.
• December 8: Disney Bolt (Disney) | North America and Europe: Join Bolt and Penny as they travel the globe on a dangerous mission to save Penny’s Dad from the evil Dr. Calico.
• December 15: Viva Piñata: Party Animals (Microsoft Game Studios) | Worldwide except Japan: Compete in a variety of zany battles and races in the social party game Viva Piñata: Party Animals. Control the fame, fortune, and destiny of all your favorite characters from Viva Piñata: Fergy Fudgehog, Paulie Pretztail, Franklin Fizzlybear, and Hudson Horstachio. It’s party time!
• December 22: Lost Planet:Extreme Condition Colonies Edition (Capcom Entertainment, Inc.) | Worldwide except Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and India: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition provides explosive action for both offline and online players, and allows cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and PC, all in time to prepare for the anticipated release of the upcoming Lost Planet sequel.
• December 22: Devil May Cry 4 (CAPCOM Co., Ltd.) | Worldwide except Japan: Devil May Cry 4 immerses you in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man Nero, unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using the unique new gameplay mechanic of his powerful “Devil Bringer” arm.
• December 29: Gears of War (Microsoft Game Studios) | Worldwide except Japan and Germany: Gears of War fans, check out the original title that started it all! Developed by Epic Games, Gears of War thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Players take on the role of Marcus Fenix, a disgraced war hero who seeks personal redemption as he leads his fire team against the Locust onslaught. Gears of War unites breathtaking visuals with classic, emotional storytelling and a revolutionary tactical combat system, engrossing the gamer in a horrifying epic story of war and survival.

Source: Xbox Press Releases & Feature Stories

Christmas Holiday items and clothing are now available for download for your avatar on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Variuos items and clothing are available from 80 points to 240 points and is available in all Xbox Live regions.

• Confetti and Noisemaker Prop
• Dashiki
• Dreidel Prop
• Elf Costume
• Elf Hat
• Elf Shoes
• Gingerbread Cookie Prop
• Happy New Year Hat
• Kaftan
• Santa Costume
• Santa Hat
• Ugly Sweater

Xbox Live Marketplace

Tokidoki items and clothing are now available for download for your avatar on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Variuos items and clothing are available from 80 points to 240 points and is available in all Xbox Live regions.

• Adios Amigo Hat
• Cactus Dog Prop
• Carina Cat Prop
• Diamond Nero Hat
• Discoteca Watch
• Elefante Hoodie
• I Love LA Hat
• Kaiju Tee
• Nero Messenger Bag Prop
• NY King Tee
• Pegaso Bag Prop
• Purple Vinile Watch
• Rain Boot
• Rockout Tee
• Skater Hater Tee
• Sneaker (Green)
• Sneaker (Yellow)
• Soccer Jersey
• Sweet Tooth Tee
• Tiger Tee

Xbox Live Marketplace

QIX++ is now available for download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. QIX++ is available in the all Xbox Live regions (except Australia, India, Korea or New Zealand) and costs 800 points.

Inheriting the style of the renowned arcade title, QIX++ allows you to take up the fight again in a variety of different ways. With customized weapon improvements, a technique-based scoring system, and events triggered by opening Item Containers, the evolution of the series has truly come a long way.

The object of the game is to defeat the QIX using the marker. When the total area cut off by the marker reaches a percentage equal to the Threshold, your final attack begins and you have cleared the stage.

Guitar Hero Van Halen demo is now available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo is available in all Xbox Live regions.

Guitar Hero is back and you get to rock with the ultimate party band, Van Halen! Experience the hot licks and scissor kicks that made Van Halen the legends they are today. 25 epic Van Halen tracks, three scorching Eddie Van Halen signature solos, and 19 guest acts give fans the most comprehensive arena rock set list to date.

Forza Motorsport 3: Hot Holidays Car Pack is now available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The DLC is available in all Xbox Live regions and costs 400 points.

Car Pack 01. Collect, race, and customize new cars. This pack contains ten cars: 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia, 2010 Nissan GT-R SpecV, 2010 Ferrari 599XX, 2009 Audi #2 Audi Sport Team Joest R15 TDI, 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV, 2009 Aston Martin #007 Aston Martin Racing Lola, 2010 Porsche Panamera Turbo, 2009 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss, 2010 Jaguar XFR, 2010 Audi S4. In-game credits required to purchase these cars in Season Play.

The Halo universe’s most iconic figure embarks on a harrowing mission in the third preview episode of the epic anime saga, Halo Legends. Created by Casio Entertainment and visionary director Shinji Aramaki, part one of “The Package” will be available exclusively on Halo Waypoint for only 24 hours this Saturday, December 5.

The story follows Master Chief and four specially selected Spartans as they launch out on a stealth cruiser into the heart of a massive Covenant fleet in a bid to recover a valuable intelligence asset.

Spartan Battles

This episode will prove that Spartans are just as adept fighting in zero-G and piloting never-before-seen light attack vehicles as they are on the ground. Once Master Chief locates the target he and the remaining Spartans blast their way on board, where the action gets hand-to-hand as they fight through an army of Covenant troops in order to recover the most important Human intelligence resource there is.

Preview Schedule

“The Package” will be previewed in two parts, with the conclusion of the story scheduled for Saturday, December 12. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of “The Package” on Saturday, December 19, in which Aramaki and his team recount their work on Halo Legends. A full schedule of upcoming Halo Legends 24-hour exclusive previews is as follows:

Episode Airing Date

05-Dec-2009 – “The Package” Part 1
12-Dec-2009 – “The Package” Part 2
19-Dec-2009 – Making of “The Package”
02-Jan-2010 – “Origins” Part 1
09-Jan-2010 – Making of “Origins”
02-Feb-2010 – Trailers of upcoming episodes

Produced by 343 Industries and created by a group of renowned anime studios, Halo Legends will be distributed by Warner Home Video on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital formats on February 16, 2010.

For updates on the Halo Legends previews, visit halolegends.com. For details about the full anthology, visit www.halolegendsdvd.com.

Source: Xbox Press Releases & Feature Stories

Welcome to Nazi-occupied Paris, a unique open world where you are The Saboteur™. Play as Sean Devlin, a street-tough Irish racing mechanic seeking personal redemption on a Nazi officer that has taken everything away from him. Now, it’s time for payback—with the help of the French Resistance, British intelligence, an arsenal of weaponry, and your own street smarts and brawn, you must exact revenge on those who aimed to destroy your life. Motivated by retribution and armed with tactics of sabotage, blow up zeppelins, derail trains, implode bridges, destroy armored tanks, and level enemy facilities in the name of vengeance, in the first open-world action game set in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Gametrailers.com

Pro Evolution Soccer is a video game built on pride, the pride that comes from making the most realistic soccer experience one can have within the world of gaming. Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 does not disappoint and this year, the voices of fans world-wide have been heard. Based in Japan, Winning Eleven Productions has instituted a host of anticipated changes that make PES 2010 the best yet.

In PES 2010 you’ll find yourself on the largest stage in digital soccer: The Champions League. Imagine you’re in a 1-1 tie in stoppage time against Manchester United. You’ve broken their defense and are sprinting full throttle into a man to man match of wits and reflexes with Edwin van der Sar… Do you have what it takes to punch it in for the win?

Gametrailers.com