Microsoft's Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten made an official statement regarding the Xbox Live hiccups over the holidays, when users reported connectivity issues. The system had trouble coping with the influx of new user sign-ups, and to compensate, Microsoft will be offering all Xbox Live members around the world access to a free download of an Xbox Live Arcade game. Specifics to be announced later.

Burnout Paradise gives players license to wreak havoc in Paradise City, the ultimate seamless racing battleground, with a massive infrastructure of traffic-heavy roads to abuse. Having been criticized since the demo's release, Criterion announced that from Jan. 4-14, it will increase the number of players that can join in an online session of Burnout Paradise from 4 to 8, which in turn opens up new 13 new Freeburn challenges (3 challenges in 5-, 6- and 7-player sessions, and 4 new challenges for those playing in 8-player sessions).

The holidays are traditionally a good time for hardware/software sales, and with the Wii still in short supply, it was up to the PS3 and X360 to pick up the slack. Today, Microsoft revealed that it has sold more than 17.7 million X360 units worldwide, while Halo 3 breaks records with no less than 8.1 million copies sold since its Sept. 2007 launch. In little over a month, Mass Effect has already sold 1.6 mill. units, and according to November NPD data, consumers keep spending money on Xbox software and accessories, with a record-high attach rate of 6.9.

Gravity Interactive, known for Ragnarok Online, is kicking it up a notch in the new year and announced it is bringing Requiem: Bloodymare to North America. This new MMO, designed for a mature audience, melds elements of horror, fantasy and sci-fi and introduces a world where the misuse of science and magic has warped the natural world into a twisted vision of death.

Another day, another batch of game trailers was released. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are trailers for:

• Sam & Max 202: Moai Better Blues - Trailer #2
• Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity [PS2/Wii] - Characters Trailer
• Hail to the Chimp [PS3/X360] - Curbside Service Trailer
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  We will update this throughout the day when new trailers become available. Read more for download links ...

NIS America announced the spiritual sequel to the Atelier Iris RPG series, Mana Khemia. Different from the previous Atelier Iris games, Mana Khemia is a campus sim style RPG, where you can interact with classmates and professors to complete academic quests.

After closing up shop for the holidays, Sony has rolled out some new PlayStation Store content. PS3 owners can catch up on new downloadable songs for Rock Band (6 tracks) and Guitar Hero (8 tracks), as well as unlockable vehicles in Need for Speed ProStreet. There is also a 990mb demo for EA Sports' upcoming NFL Tour and a Japanese launch trailer for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.

When Microsoft shut down FASA Studios last year, it moved most of the team to other positions within the company, but while announcing the closure of the Shadowrun forums, former lead program manager Kimona revealed other next-gen Shadowrun products are in development. It remains to be seen how that will work with the original FASA founder launching a new studio, Smith & Tinker, and recently buying back the Shadowrun license.

As society succumbs to a worldwide energy crisis, a new global depression takes hold. Amidst this desperate backdrop, two superpower alliances emerge. Join the battle on the frontlines of tomorrow as the Western Coalition or the Red Star Alliance.

Team Fortress 2 is a class-based, multiplayer team warfare game, delivering new game types, a signature art style powered by Valve’s next-gen animation technology, persistent player statistics, etc... Valve revealed it would be adding new achievement packs to TF 2, starting with a batch of 36 achievements for all the hard-working medics out there. Read more for details ...