Xbox Live Round 2 with Free Hold Em

The first phase of Xbox Live Wednesday’s has come and gone, finally bringing arcade legend Pac-Man and arcade classic Street Fighter Turbo to Microsoft’s system. In continuing with the mid-week releases, an expansion pack to Cloning Clyde is available today for 100 Microsoft Points (about $1.25) and the following weeks will feature Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, Time Pilot and Scramble.

The most exciting part of this is that the much heralded Hold Em will be available absolutely free for the first 48 hours of downloading. After that, expect to pay $10 for the online game where bankrolls are persistant among players. There hasn’t been any indication as to whether or not private games will be available, but Live enabled tables will be for different stakes, helping to keep skilled players from sharking the unofficiated.

Time Pilot from Konami promises to have high def graphics, followed by Scramble on Sept. 6, both going for 400 MS points ($5).