The Xbox Live service turns five years old (or young) this Thursday.  November 15th marks the 5-year anniversary of the online service and Microsoft is planning to celebrate in grand fashion with free points and a free game!

Those of you who signed up for the service when it began back in 2002 and are still active members, will notice an increase in your Microsoft Points balance.  If you signed up for Xbox Live in 2002, you’ll be receiving 500 Microsoft Points as a show of thanks from the Microsoft gang.  Free points for beta testers ftw!  Make sure your account information is current or there’ll be no points for you.

Along with that, all Xbox Live users will have an opportunity to download Carcassonne for free beginning at 12:01 AM PST on November 15 and ending at 11:59 PM PST on November 16.  That’ll save you some points…800 to be exact!

I haven’t even mentioned the Xbox LIVE is 5IVE list of events going down as well.  There are Play & Win opportunities as well as chances to play against some of today’s top game developers.  Head out to the link above and find out more about the Xbox LIVE is 5IVE events.

I’m glad I signed up to beta test Xbox Live when it first began!  Those 500 points will come in handy.  Go Xbox Live, it’s your birthday…we gone party like it’s your birthday!