This isn't as cool or as handy as a Ben Heck mod, but it is guaranteed to make any Xbox 360 owner who does get this mod feel like they've just sent their console over to those "Pimp My Ride" folks.

The guys over at Divineo have managed to create a customized Xbox 360 case that has a 5"x8" LCD/TFT monitor built into its side. Check it out:

You have to admit: it gets very useful if your TV gets busted. Even more useful if you're one of those folks who uses a projector as their primary display.

This week we advise music lovers and gamers alike to get ready as MTV recently announced Gamer's Week 2.0. Ranging across MTV, games.MTV.com, MTV2, mtvU, Xfire, and GameTrailers, this event is set to showcase the latest, the coolest, the hottest, and in some cases, the lamest that gaming culture has to offer.

"We are excited to showcase the revolutionary hardware and games that will shape the future of gaming during Gamer’s Week 2.0 and present the content through exciting and creative short and long form programming across all of our platforms," said Brian Graden, MTV's President of Entertainment, Networks Music Group and President of Logo.

"Video games are front and center in the minds of the MTV viewers, especially with the launches of PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, the continued success of Xbox 360, and the onslaught of amazing new titles this upcoming holiday season, and we intend to bring it all directly to our audience."

As part of this major gaming event, MTV's GAMES.MTV.COM gaming will be the focal point for Gamer's Week 2.0, and anybody visiting the site can expect the following topics to look through:

• Video: All video topics related to Gamer's Week 2.0 can be found here as they air within the week. Videos are supported by the likes of MTV, MTV News, MTV2, mtvU, Xfire and GameTrailers.
• Tune In: A guide for all the game-related programs to be featured on Gamers Week 2.0.
• Online Specials: MTV online special features can be found here, such as "PS3: Dissected," and "Wii: Dissected", gamer's gift guides. It'll also be featuring special episodes of GAME.MTV.COM regular shows "Peep Show," "The Dime," "Obsessed" and "Game Character Playlist" for the Gamers Week 2.0 event.
• Games: Videos and information on the upcoming Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3 games to be coming out this December up to 2007.
• News: This link leads to all the MTV Games top news stories, both text and video format.
  

The full program listing for Gamer's Week 2.0 is right after the jump!

And the Xbox Live Marketplace just got a tad bigger, as Microsoft has recently and finally unveiled the Xbox Live Video Marketplace for everyone to enjoy, quashing all rumors along the way. With this new service, Xbox 360 owners will now be able to download full-length HD movies, television show episodes, music videos, or game videos - all of which would be available to Xbox Live Silver and Gold members and can be purchased for a set number of Microsoft Points.

Regarding pricing, the video tutorial over at the Xbox site notes that HD movies will cost 480 MS points (US$ 6), while the standard definition version of the movie will cost only 320 MS points (US$ 4). As for television shows, either version of one episode would cost 240 MS points (US$ 3).

There's still a few things to remember though, including the fact that episodes will be for the user to keep, the way that Live Arcade games are yours to do with as you please. On the other hand, movies will be on a "rental" basis, meaning, after downloading it, one will have 14 days to sit down and watch the film, but after watching it, the movie will be "returned" after 24 hours, when the rental expires.

And then there's the issue of download speed, though Microsoft says that this is covered since a new service has been launched to handle these types of downloads specifically. This is a good move on Microsoft's part, considering that an HD movie can be as big as almost 5GB, and has to be downloaded overnight or perhaps in the background while you play a game.

In the meantime, the new Video Marketplace has the following up for download:

• "Robot Chicken" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" from Adult Swim
• "CSI," "Survivor", and "Star Trek" from CBS
• Emmy and Peabody award-winning "South Park" and "Chappelle’s Show" from COMEDY CENTRAL
• "The Real World" and "Pimp My Ride" from MTV
• "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" from Nickelodeon
• "Skyland" and "The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival" from Nicktoons Network
• "M:i:III," Nacho Libre" and "Jackass: The Movie" from Paramount Pictures
• "Carpocalypse" and "Raising the Roofs" from Spike TV
• "Race Rewind" provided by NASCAR.COM
• Select episodes of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and the "UFC: All Access" shows from the UFC
• "Breaking Bonaduce" and "Hogan Knows Best" from VH1
• "The Matrix," "Superman Returns", and "Batman Forever" from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

After that vague report about some release dates of Xbox 360 games from GameStop, we didn't hear much about the Activision published and developed game called Pimp My Ride. Well, what we did know is that it would be based from MTV's hit T.V. show of the same name (yes, that's show where they put a dog grooming area in the trunk), what we didn't know at that time was that it would be a racing game of sorts.

Still, not much is known about this game title, although there is said to be a gaming mode called "Cash Roaming" wherein you go around the city and collect money through a lot of ways - be it legal or illegal, the money you get will entitle you to pimp other people's ride. There's also a "Ghose Ride the Whip" mode wherein you can be driving around in your pimped-out rig and then you can stop and get out to dance around the car with people.

Aside from that small amount of info we got, it is said that Pimp My Ride will be playable over Xbox Live. There will be the Point to Point race mode where you get to pick your car and the race track, and if that isn't enough for you, there is also the Pick A Customer mode where you can race with your buddies on the road as well as seeing who can pimp out their car the best. As for the show's host, Xzibit, he and his music will be around in the game.

There were news reports around June that MTV would be entering the field of video game publishing. MTV has already partnered with Midway, and had the Pimp My Ride Crew help out the Design Team of the sixth-gen racer L.A. Rush.

Well, a sharp-eyed researcher was kind enough to point us to an interesting listing on GameStop. Just click on the image on the left and you'll get the idea. "Pimp My Ride For $49.99 USD" on the 360?

We're very curious about this, seeing that it had been categorized as an "online game" and that it has a release date just in time for the holidays. Other sources have said that the game will also be released on the PS2 and the PSP. Even weirder is that GameStop lists it as a strategy game. There's been very little press about this game so far, so we'll keep you updated as we get more word.

So there's this, Jackass for the PSP, and the Celebrity Deathmatch games... I wonder if they'll come up with a TRL video game?

Huh? Need for Speed meets The Sims? Well, while you're scratching your noggin, let us clarify. We told you that Test Drive Unlimited (by Atari for the PSP and Xbox 360) offers a lot of customizability. Not just car-customizability, but also your character can be modified. No, we're not just talking about the physical looks, like the hair or the eyebrows. We're talking about full lifestyle customizability.

The video below shows us exactly that. You get to choose what type of person you'd be controlling. Their wardrobes can also be changed (take a look below at what seems to be the suit Uma Thurman wore in Kill Bill), even their home entertainment systems. It's your money, and you can do whatever you want with it. You can buy your seaside resort-house, and develop your garage into a mechanic's shack. You can make deals with real estate and buy land or maybe your own condo unit.

To put it simply, it's like "Pimp My Ride" and "MTV Cribs" rolled into one video game! Way cool!

Download: [Test Drive Unlimited Lifestyle Customisation vid]

 

Test Drive Unlimited was put to the test by racing game fanatics at this year's Max Power Live event at the Birmingham NEC in the UK. The upcoming PC, PS2, PSP, and Xbox 360 title boasts class-leading graphics and an amazing assortment of vehicles to drive. Test Drive Unlimited took to the centre stage along with world-famous West Coast Customs’ Ryan and Alex featured on MTV's Pimp My Ride.

Ryan and Alex from WCC spent time with the Atari team on the packed stand, talking to both Test Drive Unlimited and Pimp My Ride fans, showing off their spectacular tattoos and posing for photos in front of an immaculate Lamborghini Gallardo, the poster car for Test Drive Unlimited. Throughout the weekend over 3000 racing fans road-tested the game on 32 Xbox 360 game pods, excited at driving a selection of the world’s most desirable and exclusive vehicles head-to-head on the tropical open roads of Hawaii.

Test Drive Unlimited will be available in Autumn 2006. Anyone who was lucky enough to have actually tested the game at Max Power Live can find their photo at www.testdriveatmaxpowerlive.com.

Atari has just released new info on their upcoming racing title, Test Drive Unlimited. Promising to provide gamers the ultimate experience of racing, customizing, and even crashing world’s hottest cars and bikes made by the likes of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ducati, Aston Martin, Pagani, etc. - a privilege used to be reserved for the Hiltons, Lohans, and Lebrons of the world. In this press release, juicy info regarding the title's single player game features were revealed. They are:

• Collect and drive more than 90 of the world’s most exclusive dream cars around the vast tropical road system spanning the Hawaiian island of Oahu (without having to resort to the alibi of "there's a paparazzi chasing me" after they chrash it).
• On or offline, gamers can take on the challenge of boosting cred and bank balance any time their virtual spoiled self wants it.
• Play like you're a mechanic of MTV's Pimp my Ride, cause in this game you're given the freedom to customise not only your rides, but your character as well. You can even set up your characters home to a variety of places. Let your imagination run wild and create a Madonna/50 Cent hybrid.
• Single player challenges include winning all the preset races against up to seven bots, time challenges, speed trap challenges, missions to deliver goods, hitchhikers, and vehicles with good driving and within time limits, and even pulling a top model.
• If you're more of a collector rather than an inborn Michael Schumacher, please yourself by owning more than 50 cars, 3 bikes, 15 houses, and even having a wardrobe packed with 10 or more Marc Ecko and Ben Sherman outfits - now that's life!
• Game boost of a very realistic, thus unpredictable, AI for your rival driver. You won't be able to guess what he'll want to do next, aside that he'll race you as hard as anyone can.
• The progress that players make both on and offline in Test Drive Unlimited all counts towards their profile, with many achievements, such as racking up more than 10,000 miles on the clock, possible online, offline or by using a combination of both.
• The opportunity of being the grandaddy of racing. Master all online multiplayer and single player challenges and carry the overall Test Drive Unlimited Champion title.

Now, can you feel the need for speed? Don't get caught up with the TDU fever too much, it won't be out until September 2006. So for now, let's content ourselves with watching those sleek cars from afar...