Globally celebrating its fifth year in service this week, Microsoft have just announced Xbox Live Subscriptions have reached more than eight million users since inception.

As a gesture of thanks to the LIVE community, all eight million members will have the opportunity to download a complimentary Xbox LIVE Arcade game between 7:01 p.m. EST on 15 November and 6:59 p.m. EST on 17 November.

In addition, starting on 4 December, all Xbox LIVE members will receive a system update with a host of new features and enhancements. Included in this update will be the launch of the "Xbox Originals", which – for the first time ever – will enable consumers to purchase, download and own full Xbox games directly to their Xbox 360 console.

Apparently we'll see the likes of Fable, Halo, Crimson Skies and Psychonauts among heaps more to be announced. Each game will be fully downloadable from the Xbox Live Marketplace, requiring no disk at all, for 1200 Microsoft Points (around AU$20). The complimentary Arcade download for Australia will be the French board game-based, Carcassonne. Looks like I might need to get some more storage space on my machine.

console of the millennium

is a subscriber someone who pays per month or just someone who is signed up?

so we all get the "silver" membership after the complimentary gold expires
does this qualify as being a "live subscription"?

exactly what i meant morton :)

And i think the Freebie is the game Carcassonne ?

how much does 1200 points cost exactly? probably as much as the game

1200 points is about $20 - $21 Australian.

And i think the Freebie is the game Carcassonne ?

Yeah I picked up Carcassonne last night, bit of fun. 200 Achievements to be had :)

I think it's still free for another 24 hours or so, so get in quick.

carcassonne is awesome, i played a heap last night with my GF, who hates games. its a godsend.