E3 Retwittered: Microsoft Bloggers Luncheon

GameSpot attended an invite-only bloggers lunch at the USC Galen Center immediately after the Microsoft E3 2009 press conference. Over the half-hour lunch, Xbox Live general manager, Marc Whitten, and Xbox Live's director of programming, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, expanded upon the Xbox Live announcements and answered questions from the blogosphere. Here's a blow-by-blow account, straight from my twitter feed:

At the Microsoft blogging luncheon following the press conference. A few new extra new things in store!

Games on demand allows you to download full Xbox 360 titles direct to disc. New games added every week with approximately 30 launch titles.

Marc Whitten, general manager of Xbox Live announces Summer of Arcade 2. Details to come.

Moving on to NXE Avatars. New costumes to come from Microsoft (including ODST shock trooper) and 3rd party.

http://twitpic.com/6f47o - Check out this cute ODST Avatar!

Any questions for Xbox Live's GM, Marc Whitten? Shout out with an @lukeando now!

P.S. Marc Whitten's Gametag is "notwen" if you want to add him.

@rob_jewitt yes, it's direct to hard disc/drive, not a crazy new way of burning your own games.

The Xbox Live team "Wanted to take the video store to the next level" and the partnership with Zune was natural.

Bigger HDD for the Xbox 360? "We've watched this really closely. Nothing's been announced today, but it's something we continue to evaluate."

Microsoft not announcing international release schedule for new services (Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm) yet. So far they're US only.

Microsoft not announcing a "download to rent" Games on Demand option. Direct to credit card payments.

No plans to partner with Lovefilm in Europe for Xbox Live; however, the deal with Sky supports on demand videos.

Major Nelson is doing the mic-running honours at the Microsoft bloggers luncheon here at the USC Galen Center. Thanks @majornelson!

Over 6 million active users on Xbox Live each day, says Marc Whitten.

That's a wrap from the luncheon. Letter from Marc Whitten with today's Xbox Live news should be on xbox.com very soon (next half hour or so.)