Microsoft signs Guild charter

It's been two years since Microsoft first started offering Xbox 360 owners access to online video content through the Xbox Live Video Marketplace, and the service was recently expanded in the US with the Redmond firm's much-touted partnership deal with video-rental service Netflix. The partnership was announced at E3 and is even now available in HD.

Just in time for Halloween this year, the first content produced specifically for the platform went live: Janitor, a 9.5-minute homage to 1980s slasher movies, directed by John Clisham. Now a new deal has been signed to premiere the second series of online cult-hit show The Guild, as well as a number of other independently produced Web shows.

The Guild's second series is being distributed exclusively via Xbox Live from today forward, with the first series available via the service as well as through the show's Web site. Created by Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along), who also stars in the show, The Guild follows the fictional online and offline tribulations of a small World of Warcraft Guild, The Knights of the Good. It won the 2007 YouTube award for Best Series, as well as a 2008 Yahoo video award.

Although initially Microsoft confirmed the series only for the US, Xbox Live's Major Nelson last night confirmed that the series would be available worldwide..

The Independent Video Channel also features Red vs Blue, with the first two series currently available for download. Seasons three and four of the Halo machinima project are promised "soon," according to Microsoft. The package is rounded off by offerings due this year from Blind Ferret Entertainment and The Jace Hall show.