Los Angeles - Rock band Motley Crue said on Tuesday that it is the first group to release a new single, "Saints of Los Angeles," for sale through the video game "Rock Band." The song will be made available for purchase as an add-on to the game for 99 cents through both Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace and Sony's PlayStation Store.

New York - Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) BET Networks on Tuesday announced a deal with Microsoft to offer a selection of full-length BET television shows for download to the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live online service. Shows offered will include "College Hill 4," "American Gangster," "Comic View" and "Iron Ring." Currently, the Xbox Live Marketplace features more than 4,200 hours of premium entertainment content from more than 40 studios and networks.

Los Angeles - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) will launch its first original programming for the Xbox 360 this summer, when it debuts six series produced by Safran Digital that can be downloaded to the game console via the online Xbox Live service, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Safran Digital CEO Peter Safran would not comment for THR on the titles or subject matter of the programs. "We had a very specific idea that we knew worked for a core audience. Xbox clearly has this exact same demographic," Safran told THR.

San Francisco - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) has announced that it will make games for its Xbox 360 console developed by aspiring creators available for download via its Xbox Live service. The service will require that developers use Microsoft's XNA Game Studio software, available for a $99 annual subscription, or be a member of its XNA Creators Club. The game creation software will be made available to users beginning in the spring. Submissions will then be vetted by members of the amateur game creator community, and Microsoft will begin releasing the first user-created games in the fall.

San Francisco - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) sold 4.3 million Xbox 360 video game consoles during the fourth quarter of 2007, and has now sold a total of 17.7 million worldwide since the device's release in 2005, Reuters reported.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) said on Wednesday that its Xbox Live online games and entertainment service for the Xbox 360 now counts more than 8 million members in 26 countries, adding that a free system update set for release on Dec. 4 will for the first time allow for the download of full games. The announcement comes on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the debut of Xbox Live. Titles in line for digital distribution on Xbox Live include "Halo," "Psychonauts," "Fable" and "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge."

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) on Monday announced an agreement with Disney's (NYSE: DIS) ESPN, to add HD and standard-definition games, TV shows and video game programming to the Xbox Live online games and entertainment network for the Xbox 360. Included in the deal will be full-length NCAA college football and basketball games, Summer X Games 13 coverage, and episodes of ESPN series such as "World Series of Poker," "The Contender" and "Madden Nation."

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft on Tuesday introduced a new family-friendly Xbox 360 bundle, while will retail for $279 and come with five family-friendly game titles.

Beverly Hills, Calif. - Fox said on Thursday that next week it will make episodes from the first and second season of its animated comedy "Family Guy" available for purchase and download to Xbox 360 owners, through Microsoft's Xbox Live online service. Xbox Live currently offers more than 2,800 hours of programming from 30 networks and studios.

Los Angeles - Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it plans to release a special edition of its Xbox 360 video game console in conjunction with the release of its "Halo 3" game in September.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft has begun to lock out owners of illegally modified Xbox 360 consoles -- which can play pirated games -- from its Xbox Live online game service. "This is an important part of our efforts to try and maintain a fair gaming environment for the large majority of gamers that play by the rules," the company said on its Gamerscore blog. "These users will not have their account automatically banned from LIVE, but they will no longer be able to access the service from the console they modified."

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft-owned game developer Bungie Studios announced on Thursday that its "Halo 2" game has now amassed 5 million players on the Xbox Live online game service, two and a half years after its launch. The company added that it is nearing 700 million unique multiplayer games on Xbox Live, as well as 5 billion player-games -- where each game counts once per player in it.

Los Angeles - Microsoft said on Wednesday that an investigation into possible fraud on its Xbox Live online game service found no evidence of a security breach, Reuters reported.

San Francisco - Microsoft has responded to reports of possible fraud on its Xbox Live online gaming service by launching an investigation into the allegations, CNET News.com reported on Wednesday.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft on Wednesday detailed its plans to merge online gaming between its existing Xbox Live service for the Xbox console, and games for Windows Vista-based PCs.