Xbox 360 'Games On Demand', Co-Op Netflix Watching Coming Aug. 11

Xbox 360's fall dashboard update is due August 11, Microsoft said today, and amongst its inclusions is Xbox Live Games on Demand, the digital distribution service Microsoft announced during E3. Initially, the service will allow gamers to buy and download more than 30 full Xbox 360 games, including Mass Effect, BioShock, Assassin's Creed, and Lego Star Wars. Microsoft claims that additional games will be added on a weekly basis. In addition to its availability via Xbox Live Marketplace, successful animated series South Park will also be represented on Xbox Live Arcade by way of the upcoming game South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play, which now has concrete details assigned to it. The game was previously announced, but this is the first time its full title has been revealed. The "fast-paced action/strategy game... combines these loveable characters with snowball battles and tower defense tactics", and will be released October 7 exclusively for Xbox Live Arcade. It will be playable this week at Comic-Con 2009 in San Diego. Also part of the August 11 patch is the ability to watch streamed Netflix movies simultaneously with other Xbox Live users. Netflix also gains higher-quality video and better console-based queue management. Other features specifically confirmed to debut in the August update include the Xbox Live Avatar Marketplace, where you can "deck out your Avatar with interactive props, like an RC Warthog from Halo, as well as purchase branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games." Other previously announced forthcoming dashboard updates, such as support for Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm, appear to be coming later in the fall, rather than as part of the August 11 update.