E3 06: Free week to accompany E3 Xbox Live push

Microsoft to offer demos and new content during show; free Xbox Live Gold all week long.

The online experience has been a big emphasis of Microsoft's Xbox 360 promotional effort, and the publisher is looking to push it even harder heading into this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. In a recently posted interview with Microsoft's Peter Moore (the company's corporate vice president for both the interactive entertainment business and the entertainment and devices division, for those keeping track), Xbox.com confirms what many have expected. Namely, that Microsoft is going to use the Xbox Live Marketplace to bring users at home closer to the E3 experience.

"E3 will be a real test for Xbox Live because everyone will be tuned into their Xbox consoles and continually downloading new content," according to the Xbox.com article. "Xbox Live members should be able to play many of the demos that even the celebrities will be testing out at E3."

The E3 push doesn't end there, however. Verizon is once again sponsoring free Xbox Live Gold for all 360 users. But instead of sponsoring a few day's worth of complimentary online play, the company is ponying up to give gamers a full week of free play. The E3 2006 Free Xbox Live Gold Week kicks off May 8 and runs through May 14. Verizon is promising a number of events and exclusive content for the week, including a "Backstage Pass to E3 2006" and a giveaway of a million Xbox Live Marketplace points.

98 Comments

  • pyth0n13

    Posted May 11, 2006 5:49 am PT

    oh man e3 is gonna be so awesome

  • AqileOne

    Posted May 2, 2006 5:40 pm PT

    Awesomely Cool!

  • Mother-Beef

    Posted Apr 28, 2006 6:36 am PT

    more demos!! awsome

  • dillon_o4

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 10:45 am PT

    Awesome this is why i got a 360 Xbox Live is the bomb my free month try out just ran out and now i get a free week!!! awesome

  • terrabreak13

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 9:26 am PT

    Are there still xbox360 users without gold??? I hope you realize that in the near future a console without internet will be just as primitive as a computer without internet. MSFT is setting the pace.

    As for E3 I guess I'm anxious to see what the Halo will look like. Hopefully they show RE5 and some new video of Lost Odyssey.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 5:26 am PT

    smart move.

  • thekey

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 4:28 am PT

    Free gold always works for me!!!(Go Xbox Live!!!!)

  • Raymin4

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 4:25 am PT

    Sweet! Maybe I'll actually get my 360 hooked up for this event....

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 2:09 am PT

    Awesome, Cant wait.

  • K1LLSWITCH

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 1:39 am PT

    Will do knight rider

  • GoddBless

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 11:29 pm PT

    Boy it just seems Microsoft is really starting to do good business. Well as far as gaming is concerned. Good Job! I had a feeling they would do something like this though. Especially after I watched that new Too Human demo. SONY & Nintendo are gonna have to step their game up big time.

  • biofreak12

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 10:41 pm PT

    Someone is forgeting about ninja gaiden 2, lets hope it's in progress, the gameplay better be better than god of war 2 and look better than Resident Evil 5

    sony cant come close for at least 2 years... all they will be able to deliver at the release date is bluray player and surly not the games to compete with 360.
    i'll be gettin the core system this november for 220$ after the price drop and maybe get the HD player if i'll have and HDTV.

  • Knight_Rider_3K

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 9:57 pm PT

    Killswitch,

    You don't think that next gen Sony games will be 60 bucks--Of course they will!

    Sony said BASIC service would be free---maybe kind of like silver

    Enjoy Final Fasntasy 27 and Samuri Warrior 17 or whatever numbers they are at now.

  • K1LLSWITCH

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 9:48 pm PT

    The features for the 360 is pretty cool and allowing 360 subscribers to play online for a week free is clever. But still the games will be $60 and after the week its pay to play online. Until they make things cheaper and the games a little better, I'll stick with the Playstation brand. There I'll know that the games will be cheaper, online play will be free, and the games will be a blast to play. Thanks but no thanks.

  • magomtz

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 8:33 pm PT

    cool now only if I had an xbox360.

  • HardWood

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 7:03 pm PT

    this is great news

  • PS3_OWNS

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 6:50 pm PT

    i wonder if stuff that cost stuff is free

  • kcarlson1130

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 6:39 pm PT

    awesome!!

  • lonewolf_dx

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 6:33 pm PT

    Cool, and it's all for free. I cant wait for all the new content!!

    Thanks M$, good job, keep it up!!

  • Chaos5258

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 5:48 pm PT

    weeeeeeeee

  • troakun

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 5:43 pm PT

    Amazing, and for free to! I can only hope Nintendo and Sony get in on this next year.

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 5:02 pm PT

    ima be downloading all day long

  • Jyo4life

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:39 pm PT

    that's so great... M$ does it again

  • limpbizkit818

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:32 pm PT

    thats amazing. Keep up the good work.

  • OmahaGTP

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:31 pm PT

    With all the good news surrounding the 360 lately, I hardly can imagine what E3 will bring.

  • anthony_basic

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:26 pm PT

    news flash. xbox 360 will own e3. This is so much better than Gamespots membership. All of the videos plus game demos. HAH!

  • Dups79

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:11 pm PT

    Brilliant ideas.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 4:10 pm PT

    cool

  • MercuryFlash

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    Woohoo! Can't wait for E3! Bring on Halo 3, Gears of War, and Too Human!!!

    I think Xbox Live is the most important part of the "next-gen" experience....new and timely content available almost everyday.

  • GamesAnytime

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:55 pm PT

    , I'll be at the E3 Show anyway , but i sure as hell can use a free week of XBOX Live

  • AlbertPerk

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    Awesome, E3 is going to be great. I wish I had a media press pass to go!

  • Sig12047

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    Why can't they do this after my subscribtion runs out?

  • schm177y

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:38 pm PT

    Halo 3 trailer here we come!

    I would also like to get my hands on some free points

  • REQUIEMAURA

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:34 pm PT

    As it should be..

  • bison_tuesday

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    This is fantastic - a solid marketing move by Microsoft. Hopefully Sony and Nintendo are taking note!

  • wokisan

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:25 pm PT

    MS better rev up some extra servers for that week. The demand/excitement will be ridiculous....In a good sort of way.

  • thatguytony

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    This is really great to hear. I hope that Microsoft can continue to keep making Live and the marketplace great. The only thing they need is more publishers to put there classic games on Live Arcade.

  • jaspap

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    I am and will always be a huge Nintendo fanboy.But this Xbox360 guy keeps nocking on my door asking me if I want to come out and play.Well let's just say the door is wide open now,Xbox360 you just made a new friend,now time to pick one up.

  • TheChosenCheif

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:14 pm PT

    What do you think the chances are of having Microsoft's Press conference put on the marketplace. That would be sweet. If they do show a teaser on Halo 3, that better be the first thing to go up.

  • DELTAsnake

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:10 pm PT

    I hope theres a Halo 3 demo, even if its just a tech demo, hell even if theres just a trailer I'll be happy.

  • ConManWithGun

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:08 pm PT

    makes me glad to be a360 owener

  • drack48

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:07 pm PT

    wonder if a too human demo is coming...

  • Gunitsoldier91

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    i want some of those million free points

  • MaChaorules

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:00 pm PT

    woot cant wait

  • deathosaurus22

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:54 pm PT

    bah xbox 360 pc online is allways one fixed price for what you want not little pissy silver gold marketplace bah lol.

    Hail PC!

  • LivingDeadNinja

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:51 pm PT

    Solid stuff Microsoft. Very good idea!

  • Micsunderland2

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:46 pm PT

    wow, great idea. i got my xbox 360 a few weeks ago and i love it. i had been with ps2 all my life, and i think ive just converted from a ps2 lover to a 360 lover.

  • _LEBATO_

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:46 pm PT

    Unbelievable, very nice

  • pahria

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    swet

  • gamecube120

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 2:35 pm PT

    OK, after reading it over again...it seems like a creative idea (in particular, watching E3 through your console). However, I still think that it's gonna take more than that to regain customer appreciation after their console shortages. We shall see...

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