This week on Xbox Live… Defence Grid!

Offered on a napkin for your digital digestion is a boat-load of pirate action and a tasty serving of tower defence. A new Deal of the Week and indie offerings for Rock Band round off this week's update.

Games

Defence Grid: The Awakening: Ported from the PC version that was released late last year, this was regarded as one of the all-round better examples of the tower-defence genre, which has you build towers to fend off advancing enemy troops.

While its controls are somewhat clunky to begin with, its intergalactic theme allows for some unusual but gratifying defensive options, and its range of skill levels means there's something for both the newcomer and the hardened veteran. (Hint: It gets very difficult towards the latter stages.) Rounded off with excellent visuals and an addictive nature, 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80) puts you in good stead.

Yo-Ho Kablammo: One of the winners of the Dream-Build-Play contest back in 2007, this action game asks you to do what a pirate does best - sink ships and secure lots of loot. While it seems somewhat simple, there is a lot to consider in the controls (especially on advanced, when the triggers control the rudders) and with reload times, especially when in the parameter of advancing ships. It's visual style is plain yet bold, bright and fresh, and there are a stack of single and multiplayer offerings for your 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80).

Track Packs

Rock Band: A real diverse lot this week, with Rage Against the Machine, The Jam, and Talking Heads. Singles are priced at 160 Microsoft Points (£1.35) with the Talking Heads pack priced at 680 Microsoft Points (£5.80).

Talking Heads track pack: 'And She Was', 'Crosseyed And Painless', 'Girlfriend Is Better', 'Once In A Lifetime', 'Take Me To The River'
Talking Heads singles: 'And She Was', 'Crosseyed And Painless'
Rage Against the Machine: 'Guerrilla Radio'
Oasis: 'Supersonic (Live)'
The Jam: 'Going Underground'
Avenged Sevenfold: 'Bat Country'

Deal of the Week

Save a third on Penny Arcade: Episode 2, now at 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80) until Monday. You won't need the first episode to play, but having a character to crossover gives you more to play with in the sequel.

Games On Demand

Ubisoft provides you a stealthy fix with Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfigher and Splinter Cell: Double Agent, both now available to download for £19.99. Note that these titles aren't available in Australia.

Next week...

Finish off the last of Sonic's great 2D adventures with Sonic & Knuckles.

What did you pick up this week? Add a comment in the space below!