Xbox Live Marketplace - Gears of War maps, more

Microsoft released Gears of War Map Pack #2 with four new multiplayer maps for $10. You may recall that Epic wanted to offer these for free, but Microsoft pressured them to charge. If you can hold out until Sept. 3, you can still get them for free - otherwise, charge up your Microsoft Points account! Other new Xbox 360 downloads include:

• Another double shot of Xbox Live Arcade: Catan ($10) and Centipede/Millipede ($5), plus a Catan theme ($1.88)
• Improved demo of Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia to fix matchmaking issues (free)
• Madden NFL 08 Cover Announcement Theme (free, available for a limited time)
• Heavy Weapon theme ($1.88) and picture pack ($1.25)
• Red vs. Blue Wacky 1 picture pack ($1)
• Another Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars video

If you already went looking for the Catan trial version, it was pulled shortly after launch due to bugs - but it's been re-released. The current crop of Arcade games aren't enough to keep you busy? Here's what to expect in coming weeks and months:

• Carcassonne
• Discs of Tron
• Every Extend Extra Extreme
• Mad Tracks
• Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
• RocketBowl
• Sensible Soccer
• Tron (mini-game collection)

Oh, and if you're impatiently waiting for Castle Crashers, you'll have to wait a bit longer - until 2008. Ouch...