Xbox Live starter kit games confirmed

In yesterday's announcement of the European Xbox Live launch date, it was revealed that two "free" games--Whacked! and MotoGP--would be bundled in the Xbox Live starter kit. Microsoft has confirmed that the US version of the starter kit will also include these games, and it is now clear that the bundled games are trial versions rather than the full retail games. The demos will be playable on Xbox Live but will include fewer levels and modes than the retail versions.

MotoGP was released for the Xbox in May, and to accommodate owners of the retail version, THQ has made it so that the starter pack version updates the full version to unlock online play. The trial version of the game includes three courses: Jerez, Mugello, and Sachsenring. Although the game was recently 2881528demoed with only four players at X02, it will support up to 16 players on Xbox Live. The trial version has two play modes: play live, in which players compete with others online, and time trials, in which players try to post the best times on an empty course.

The demo version of Whacked! will include the Can Can, Jeffrey's Kitchen, and Christmas Tree levels and the fragfest, chicken, and combat game modes. Whacked! is a wacky arena combat game that's due out late this year.