Xbox Live throws a 'Block Party' for March

Much like with their Summer of Arcade promotions of the past, Microsoft is bundling a bunch of their most anticipated Xbox Live Arcade games into a few back-to-back (-to-back-to-back) weeks. This time they are calling it the "Block Party," and much like their last promotion, you'll be rewarded for downloading all the games offered. Downloading the 3 paid games (see below) will nab you 400 Microsoft Points ($5) and if you're a Gold subscriber you'll also get an extra month added onto your subscription. Silver subscribers get a bonus of their own with free access to Block Party's online multiplayer modes from March 26-29. Check out the lineup below:

March 3-- TOY SOLDIERS (1200 MSP/ $15)

March 10-- SCRAP METAL (1200 MSP/ $15)

March 17-- PERFECT DARK (800 MSP / $10)

March 24-- GAME ROOM (Free; see below)

The Game Room service will give you a digital arcade for your Avatar to roam through. You can buy "cabinets" featuring old-school arcade games for either 240 MSP ($3) or 400 MSP ($5); the more expensive version will let you play it on your PC as well. Now, go to your calendar and circle March 17 so you know exactly when to download the extremely affordable, enhanced version of the N64's best shooter.

New Xbox LIVE Dashboard features coming in August

Microsoft has unveiled new features--many of which were detailed at E3--coming in a Xbox Dashboard update that's rolling out in August. Notably absent from the E3 presentation are the Dashboard implementations of Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm, and 1080p video streaming from a rebranded Zune Video Marketplace...but we will probably see those in time for the holiday rush in the fall. As for what's right around the corner, you can view the full press release of features here, or the quick rundown below:

• Improvements to Netflix, including improved streaming quality even if you're connection fluctuates, the ability to manage your InstantQ right from the Xbox 360 Dashboard, and the addition of the previously-promised Xbox LIVE Parties to support watching Netflix movies as well. In addition, Dashboard descriptions of your friends using Netflix will be more detailed (i.e. showing what they are actually watching).
• Avatars are getting a boost with the new Avatar Marketplace, which will have a much more robust selection than currently and feature name-brand items that you can actually buy (though why anybody would spend money on virtual clothes completely befuddles me). Also, you will be able to add interactive props to your Avatar, and games will be able to award Avatar accesories in a similar manner to how Achievements are earned.
• Games on Demand replaces the Xbox Originals line and introduces full retail Xbox 360 games available for download straight to the HDD for those of us with bigger storage units. Titles confirmed so far are older titles like Kameo, Mass Effect, and Viva Pinata, and it remains to be seen whether games will release day-and-date on the service when they go to retail (though the answer is that for the near future, absolutely not).
• Community Games are being re-branded as Indie Games so people actually know what the hell they are (independently-developed games). They will also be many more ways to sort through them on Marketplace as well as the much-needed feature of...
• User Ratings are also being added to everything on Marketplace. This includes everything from Arcade games to Indie games to Games on Demand and will be done via a 5-star system similar to what is already in place for Netflix movies.
• There are a few other little tweaks and adjustments to fix minor issues, so be sure to check the press release linked above if you're really curious as to every little detail of the update.