We’d like to wish Microsoft’s Xbox Live service a very happy 5th birthday! The online gaming service began five years ago on November 15th, 2002. Now five years later, Xbox Live has more than 8 million members actively engaged in some sort of activity – whether it’s downloading multimedia content or playing other gamers on the Internet. If you have an Xbox console, head on over to Xbox Live and join in on the celebration. Check out Xbox.com for more information as Microsoft will be celebrating the anniversary with all sorts of events.

Fans of some of the original classic Xbox games will be happy to hear that these games will now be available for purchase over Xbox Live. The current set of original Xbox games include:

• Burnout 3: Takedown
• Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex
• Crimson Skies
• Fable
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Halo
• Psychonauts

If I didn’t already own Halo, I’d actually consider purchasing the game via the Live network!

Now in other news, starting today and for the next day or so, you can download the game Carcassonne for free over Xbox Live. Connect your Xbox 360 console and begin the download!

Microsoft will also be giving away free themes starting today. Themes include Live is 5ive Theme, Return to Castle Wolfenstein LIVE is 5ive theme, Gears of War Live is 5ive theme, Ghost Recon 2 Live is 5ive theme, Halo 2 Live is 5ive theme, and MechAssault Live is 5ive theme.

Finally, every Xbox LIVE member that has been with the service for all five years will be getting a gift of 500 MS points as well as other exclusive content.

Check out Xbox.com for more details!

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