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Coldplay, extra Fable 2 and Universal films on Xbox Live: Area stoner totally psyched

Universal Films has joined Xbox Live with a conspicuous number of stoner comedies, plus there's new game content and Coldplay tracks. You'd have to be stoned not to want to sign up!

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
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Richard Trenholm
2 min read

Universal Pictures obviously thinks Xbox 360 players are a bunch of total stoners. Microsoft has announced a deal with NBC Universal to make Universal films available for download via your console, along with bonus content for several big games. The inclusion of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Cheech and Chong's Next Movie and How High suggests that this "360-degree entertainment experience that never ends" may in fact have to be cut short by occasional trips to the 24-hour garage for Rizlas and Mario Gummy Candies.

Universal joins Warner Bros and Paramount Pictures with an initial selection of 30 films. Anyone partial to the 'erb will probably giggle incessantly throughout chucklesome comedies such as The Blues Brothers, Billy Madison, National Lampoon's Animal House, The Jerk and Weird Science. Pacino fans are well served by Carlito's Way and Scarface, while more recent blockbusters include Wanted, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and The Incredible Hulk.

Few of the selection are conspicuously duff except Baby Mama, the wobble in David Fincher's oeuvre that is The Game, and all four -- count 'em -- Mummy sequels and spin-offs. Meanwhile Crave never misses an opportunity to enjoy the sizzling chemistry between George Clooney and pre-'Jenny From the Crap Music' Jennifer Lopez in Elmore Leonard's excellent Out of Sight, or Simon Pegg's zombie-bashing in the sublime Shaun of the Dead. You'll also get another chance to appreciate the underrated quality of Peter Jackson's Michael J Fox-starring horror/comedy The Frighteners and Kevin Costner's ridiculous but fun Waterworld -- yeah, we said it. Costner FTW.

Also announced today is a selection of bonus bits and bobs for several top games. Gears of War 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Fallout 3, Tomb Raider and Fable 2 get extra gameplay, while Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour get new tracks. Lips gets three new tracks from Coldplay. Quick, sign us up! All the new game content is exclusive to Xbox Live, as is 1 vs 100, an interactive TV quiz show in which Xboxers compete against each other to win real prizes.

A new film release will cost £3 or 360 MS Points in standard definition, or £4.50 (540 MS Points) in high definition. Older films will cost £2.08 (250 MS Points) or £3.17 (380 MS Points) for HD. Films are yours for two weeks from rental, but must be watched 24 hours after beginning playback. Xbox fans may also be interested in a new-look red console. Excuse us, we're off for a cornetto.