With the reserve of Fable II you get a free copy($10 value) of Fable II Pub Games. Both games interconnect by allowing one to earn money and items in Pub Games that will be transferred ove to Fable II when it releases.

With the reserve of Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts you get a free copy of Banjo-Kazooie: Stop N' Swap. Both games interconnect by opening up areas in one game by reaching secrets in the other.

Now how does everyone feel about this trend? Should Microsoft advertise the crap out of this? Is it profitable?

Also should they continue this trend with all major first party releases (and select third party release) in the future? It's too late for Gears of War 2 and Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise. However, Lips could be offered with exclusive tracks with a preorder. Next year is going to be mad with Halo games. Could some XBLA Halo love accompany games like Halo Wars and Halo Chronicles?

Thoughts and discussion please.

I think this is just Microsoft way of trying to promote Xbox Live to those who normally would not take their Xbox on-line.

Regardless of their intention, I think it's a great idea and I think they really should do more cross promotion and give out freebie to fans and customers. Live tends to have this stigma of a place where Microsoft nickel and dime all the microtransaction out of you. Maybe giving stuff away for free will help lessen that.

If I was Microsoft and trying to get Xbox users to warm up to their Avatars, I would make sure to give out free Avatar cloths/outfit as part of their promotions. Halo T-shirt, or Viva Pinata hats would go a long way into converting the haters. (or those who are indifference like me).

I think EVERYTHING should come with a free SOMETHING.

Good question.
Simple answer: Yes.
No need to discuss. ;)

I think this has something to do with limiting the effects of 2nd hand sales by encouraging people to buy the game first day/week as one factor.

Another would be that they want people to use their Xbox Live Arcade so by giving games away it lets people know that it exists and hopefully when they're there to collect their freebie they'll check out other games on offer.

I like it, so yes!

They could even do this with Viva Pinata 2 and Gears 2. I don't think it's ever too late- going forward, Too Human could come with a free, better game. Like Yaris.

I kid.

 exactly.

I certainly wouldn't complain if they did. Advertised well I think it could help attract some of the casual crowd since there are few concepts more appealing than the word free.