Budget-conscious gamers curious to discover what all the Xbox Live Gold fuss is about can find out by taking it for a free test drive now through Sunday. Any Xbox 360 owner with an internet connect can preview the subscription service through this weekend at no cost.

The promotion is meant to tie into Electronic Arts’ Madden Bowl XVIII, with coverage of said tournament beginning tonight at 9 pm EST on ESPN. Celebrities and NFL players will gather together to compete in 3-on-3 matches in Madden NFL 12 in one of the astromical number of events designed to get fans hyped up for Super Bowl XLVI. The game itself will be played out between the New England Patriots and New York Giants this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Source: Microsoft