If there's one thing that says Christmas, it's a Santa hat. It's a choice piece of apparel for drunk college chicks, cold high-street charity workers, and of course the big man himself, Santy Clause. So what better than putting a Santa hat on your avatar? Or that horrible sweater that your aunt usually gives you? Nothing! Nothing is better. Fact!

Okay, I'm sure we can make it a little better, how about all the Deal of the Weeks for December, all the Games on Demand, some XBLA Wednesday details (not much though) and a photo of our Christmas present from Microsoft? Better? Exactly! Brace yourselves, information overload... of the festive variety!

Even your Avatar Gets a Tacky Holiday Sweater

From today, get your Avatar in the holiday spirit with specialty items including an ugly holiday sweater and even a free holiday gift for your Avatar to unwrap! And make sure they’re dressed to impress with signature tokidoki gear too, including an assortment of trademark tees and a pair of tokidoki themed rain boots. Wishes really do come true during the Holidays! Dress as a pretty Disney princess or classic villain when “Disney Classics” (Disney) releases on Avatar Marketplace December 24.

Here comes Santa Claus with Unbeatable Deals of the Week…

Deal of the Week continuously delivers more fun to Xbox LIVE Gold Members for less points, so take advantage of these supreme deals each week in December.

Week of December 7:
“Fallout® 3 Operation Anchorage” Game add-on (Bethesda) | Japan: 560 Microsoft Points, rated M for Mature by the ESRB

Week of December 14:
“Lips: Coldplay Track Pack” (Microsoft Game Studios) | Worldwide except Japan and India: 240 Microsoft Points, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

“Pinball FX” (ZEN Studios) | Japan: 400 Microsoft Points, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Week of December 21:
“Shadow Complex™” (Epic/Chair Entertainment) | Worldwide: From the producers of Gears of War comes “Shadow Complex,” a modern and masterful side-scrolling shooter. Winner of nine ‘Best of E3’ awards, “Shadow Complex” combines the quality and depth of a retail title with the accessibility you love, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade. December 21 through December 27, get “Shadow Complex” for 800 Microsoft Points, a 33% savings. “Shadow Complex” is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

Week of December 28:
“The Maw” (Twisted Pixel) | Worldwide: 400 Microsoft Points, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Make your holidays bright with Xbox LIVE Arcade!

Xbox LIVE Arcade delivers quality downloadable games at the best value to light up your holidays.

“Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1)” (Team 17) | December 16 | Worldwide: The game features incredible fidelity and attention to detail throughout, awesome audio effects and an engaging single player narrative. The pulsating story takes the game's hero through an intense ride through a stricken craft, onto a mysterious, ageing hulk ship and beyond. In addition to the explosive single player story, the game also offers a relentless, action packed, two-player co-operative battle mode for online and offline local action with a number of difficulty modes to challenge all skills. Available for 800 Microsoft Points, “Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1)” is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

“Trials HD BIG PACK!” (Redlynx) | December 23 | Worldwide : Fans of “Trials HD,” one of this summer’s hottest downloadable games, can get ready for more fun and insane challenges with the add-on, “Trials HD BIG PACK!” Rev your engines with 35 new racing and skill tracks, over 50 new crazy physics objects, tournaments, new achievements worth 50 extra gamerscore, and more. “Trials HD BIG PACK!” releases December 23 on Xbox LIVE Arcade at 400 points and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.  Fasten your helmet and prepare for serious bruises!

Chestnuts, cocoa, snowflakes…and plenty of titles to choose from on Games on Demand

Games on Demand titles are available for quick, convenient download 24x7. Check out some of this month’s top titles to add to your collection.

“Crackdown” (Microsoft Game Studios) | Out Now | Worldwide except Germany, Japan and Korea: Prepare for the upcoming release of “Crackdown 2” by revisiting the award-winning predecessor, “Crackdown.” You’ll take on the role of judge, jury and executioner as you restore peace by any means necessary in Pacific City, a crime-ridden urban center primed to explode and ready for you to explore. Enter the vast and fully explorable world as you clean up the streets the only way you know how. Your way.

“Disney Bolt” (Disney) | Out Now | North America and Europe: Join Bolt and Penny as they travel the globe on a dangerous mission to save Penny's dad from the evil Dr. Calico.

“Viva Piñata: Party Animals” (Microsoft Game Studios) | December 15 | Worldwide except Japan: Compete in a variety of zany battles and races in the social party game Viva Piñata®: Party Animals. Control the fame, fortune, and destiny of all your favorite characters from Viva Piñata: Fergy Fudgehog, Paulie Pretztail, Franklin Fizzlybear, and Hudson Horstachio. It's party time!

“Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition” (Capcom Entertainment, Inc.) | December 22 | Worldwide except Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and India: Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition provides explosive action for both offline and online players, and allows cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and PC, all in time to prepare for the anticipated release of the upcoming “Lost planet” sequel.

“Devil May Cry® 4” (CAPCOM Co., Ltd.) | December 22 | Worldwide except Japan: “Devil May Cry 4” immerses you in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man Nero, unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic with his powerful "Devil Bringer" arm.

“Gears of War” (Microsoft Game Studios) | December 29 | Worldwide except Japan and Germany: “Gears of War” fans, check out the original title that started it all! Developed by Epic Games, “Gears of War” thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Players take on the role of Marcus Fenix, a disgraced war hero who seeks personal redemption as he leads his fire team against the Locust onslaught. “Gears of War” unites breathtaking visuals with classic, emotional storytelling and a revolutionary tactical combat system, engrossing the gamer in a horrifying epic story of war and survival.
 
* Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for multiplayer

And what did Microsoft send us? Well, some delightful mini Xmas pud chocolates, which in case you wanted to know, were delicious!