Official Xbox Live Arcade Thread

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Has Microsoft forgotten about the last pieces of DLC for Marble Blast and The Maw or what?

They release 2 pieces of DLC for Marble Blast in, I think, January, but nothing since.
 
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a rich new addition to the beloved Puzzle Quest universe, incorporating a compelling blend of casual and hardcore game elements similar to those adored by fans of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords into a futuristic, science-fiction setting. In Puzzle Quest: Galactrix a horrifying scientific accident has provoked another race to attempt extermination of humankind. Each player creates a persistent pilot who gains skills, crafts items, maneuvers among the universe’s political factions, and upgrades the ultimate space fleet as they attempt to end the genocide. An all-new hexagonal puzzle board allows for deeper strategy as it heeds to gravity according to a player’s location in the universe. This, along with new gameplay elements like hacking jumpgates, negotiating with factions, trading commodities and collecting blueprints make Puzzle Quest: Galactrix a captivating new adventure to explore and conquer.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix will support online multiplayer, matchmaking, leaderboards, voice chat and more for a full-spectrum online play experience.

Key Features :

* Strategy and role-playing elements that function harmoniously in the match-three puzzle gameboard are played out via head-to-head, turn-based gameplay that encourages you to plan, think and strategize against opponents; players are not penalized for losing and instead earn psionic powers for their efforts.
* Upgradeable spacecraft options allow players to create, develop and customize the ultimate fleet of attack and exploration vehicles for their persistent pilot to command; the futuristic setting and new innovative gameplay introduce telepathy and ESP.
* An all-new hexagonal puzzle board allows an extra layer of strategy for players who crave it, heeding to gravity according to a player’s location in the universe; board pieces consist of tokens that provide opportunities to increase Defense Systems and Ship Attack Power, upgrade Psionic Powers, gather Intelligence and activate opponent-damaging Space Mines.
* Explore the broad spectrum of gameplay available, some brand new and some familiar: negotiate with factions, mine for or trade commodities, hack jumpgates, recruit crew members, acquire companion aliens, collect informational “rumors” and obtain items like weapons, cargo and blueprints to create new items in order to advance.
* Mankind has spread its empire throughout the universe; four Megacorporations control the Empire, and internal struggles cause an experiment to go horribly awry, producing creatures who begin a systematic extermination of the human race. Players explore the universe via jumpgate technology as they battle to stop the genocide of humans and other life forms.
* Engage in unique experiences each time you play by choosing from the diverse field of pilot skills, ship customizations, opponents, collectibles, upgrades, 150+ battles, story elements and more, for hundreds of hours of gameplay.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, rated E10, is currently available on NDS and PC, and will be on Xbox Live Arcade on April 8th, 2009, and coming to PlayStation Network spring 2009.
 
Having both Galactrix and Flock on the same week is completely fucked. It would have been far better for Uno to be collected against one other game than for both of these to come out the same week. Bionic Commando and Fable Pub Games came out on the same day during the Summer of Arcade too. Capcom keep getting screwed over.

Edit: Actually, Capcom appear to have been fucked over with double releases numerous times over their XBLA endeavors.

Commando 3 / Frogger 2, 1942 / Go Go Break Steady, Bionic Commando / Fable Pub Games, and Mega Man 9 / War World. Sure, Frogger 2 and War World weren't great, but they seem to continually get shafted each game.
 
Austin, TX – April 2, 2009 – Millions quake in fear today as Twisted Pixel Games confirms the existence of the ‘Splosion Man. In a world already doomed by the planet-scourge The Maw, this new threat emerges from a top-secret military lab, big science gone wrong. His tale will be found on Xbox LIVE® Arcade shortly before the world is incinerated.

The Man Behind The ‘Splosion:
Like a bad Icarus metaphor, scientists create ‘Splosion Man too close to the Sun. Born of plasma and flame in an underground military lab, ‘Splosion Man can ‘splode at will, propelling himself around a side-scrolling world and destroying everything in his way. Scientists unleash all of their technology in an attempt to stop him, but his path is relentless. Any scientist he catches is ‘sploded into chunks of ham and ribeyes, the smell of their destruction terrifying, but also a little succulent.

The Four ‘Splosions of the Apocalypse:
Scattered video feeds point to a chilling prospect: ‘Splosion Man may not be alone. Up to four ‘Splosion Men have been seen traveling in concert, ‘sploding off of each other and working cooperatively towards total mayhem. Further reports indicate the controllers of these ‘Splosion Men may be huddled together on couches, some may be connected via the interwebs, or perhaps even on couches and interwebs at the same time.

A Sick Populace Responds:
Rather than phoning Mom or their local Congressman, some have seen fit to embrace this scientific monstrosity, going so far as to score his destruction and his fastest times and posting them to “leaderboards.” Others have championed the largest creations of the scientists, dubbing them “bosses” and marveling at their strength and power. Still others have acknowledged the upcoming destruction of our world and sat back to enjoy some last barbequed ribs; this is the only response we can truly condone.
 
360Sync Previews Diner Dash and Military Madness

http://www.360sync.com/2009/04/01/gdc-09-diner-dash-military-madness

While out at GDC I was able to meet up with the great crew at Hudson and check out ‘Diner Dash’ and ‘Military Madness’ which are their next two games heading to the Xbox LIVE Arcade.

‘Diner Dash’ is exactly what fans of the franchise have come to expect. The graphics have been redone in HD and the game looks great and is very accessible and fun to play. While the ease of point and click is gone since it’s on a console the buttons have been mapped to commands to help speed up the process and help you keep your customers happy. This really feels like a natural fit for the controller and even those used to playing on a PC will pick up this game with ease. Being able to send Flo to the next point while managing seating the incoming customers truly is a big help when it gets to the later levels of the game. Money is earned by keeping your customers happy (the heart level displayed above their heads) during their visit to your restaurant and it can be used to purchase upgrades that help you by adding another table or even paying some entertainment to keep them happy while waiting to be seated.

As you can imagine the timing for each stage (reading the menu, ordering and eating) is quite different and it truly becomes a juggling act after a couple minutes. With the co-op mode you can bring in a friend, or three, to help out and keep that restaurant running smoother. But be careful, there is such a thing as having too many cooks in the kitchen.


The other upcoming Hudson title, ‘Military Madness,’ is a new take on one of their older franchises from the TurboGrafx-16 days. This version has stayed true to the original story, units and maps while upgrading the graphics to 3D and Hi-Def visuals. The camera is controlled with the left thumbstick while you can rotate and zoom in/out with the right. Players will use the D-Pad to select one of their tanks, infantry, aerial or commander units and either move them or have them initiate a battle with their opponent(s). If your units are lucky enough to make it through enough battles they will be rewarded by becoming more powerful over time. There can be up to four teams (player controlled or AI) in local or online multiplayer. Since we know that turn-based strategy games can take a while there are options to limit to total amount of time or turns a players has in a game.

While a fun game to play against a friend or computer opponent we did notice that using the D-Pad to select units while moving the camera with the thumbstick took some getting used to. If you’re a fan of the original or turned-based strategy games you’ll have to be sure to check this game out.


Both titles are scheduled to hit your choice of digital distribution services, PSN & WiiWare along with Xbox LIVE Arcade, sometime this summer.
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Any more german board games, or the like, in the pipeline that we know of?
BTW, I'm really disappointed that Carcassone did not get more DLC.
 
Can anyone recommend me a good $10 XBLA game? I have BC:Rearmed, Braid, Castle Crashers, and GeoWars2. I just picked up a 1600 point card and bought Dishwasher, so I got 800 leftover. Something with some competitive online multiplayer would be preferred. What are the best games for this?
 
I've been playing Diner Dash for the XBLA recently and there's no music :( such a hard time playing through the game without any background music.
 
Peggle. Online has a 2 player mode where you split turns on the same board. There is also a 4 player party mode where you have your version of the same board and go through your shots in parallel to see who has highest score.

I'd also recommend Puzzle Fighter, but I don't know how active that community is any more.
 
NG28 said:
Can anyone recommend me a good $10 XBLA game? I have BC:Rearmed, Braid, Castle Crashers, and GeoWars2. I just picked up a 1600 point card and bought Dishwasher, so I got 800 leftover. Something with some competitive online multiplayer would be preferred. What are the best games for this?
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Pac-man CE is a must-have, though it doesn't have multiplayer.
 
NG28 said:
Can anyone recommend me a good $10 XBLA game? I have BC:Rearmed, Braid, Castle Crashers, and GeoWars2. I just picked up a 1600 point card and bought Dishwasher, so I got 800 leftover. Something with some competitive online multiplayer would be preferred. What are the best games for this?
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N+, by a mile.
 
Double the puzzles, double the blockbusters on Xbox LIVE® Arcade

Have your hand at two smash Days of Arcade hits this week! Solve an intergalactic mystery and corral charming animals back to their mothership with “Puzzle Quest: Galactrix” and “FLOCK!” Both titles launch this Wednesday, April 8, on Xbox LIVE Arcade, your premier destination for digitally distributed, pick-up-and-play games.

Can’t get enough of Puzzle Quest? Leave no stone unturned as you scour the galaxy and unearth fresh clues to determine the fate of the universe. Customize and form a fleet of ships, discover hundreds of different weapons, and master the completely new puzzle board. Don’t stop there, boost your battles in one-on-one ranked multiplayer matches online! Published by D3Publisher and developed by Infinite Interactive, “Puzzle Quest: Galactrix” will be available for 1600 Microsoft Points worldwide, excluding Korea. The game is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. For more details on “Puzzle Quest: Galactrix” please visit: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/p/pqgalactrixxboxlivearcade

Out of this world sheep herding is just around the fence. Pilot a personal UFO above dynamic landscapes and guide cute, cuddly farm animals back to the Motherflocker. “FLOCK!” is loaded with whimsical fun, features over 50 levels, and challenges you to creatively maneuver your drove. FLOCK together with a friend via 2 player local co-op and even create, share and rate levels online via Xbox LIVE! Published by Capcom Entertainment Inc. and developed by Proper Games, “FLOCK!” will be available for 1200 Microsoft Points worldwide, excluding Japan. The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more details on “FLOCK!” please visit: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/f/FLOCKxboxlivearcade

Both games are part of the Days of Arcade program, which features seven of this season’s hottest Xbox LIVE Arcade titles. For more information, please visit: www.xbox.com/daysofarcade

*Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for online multiplayer
 
komarkaze said:
Peggle. Online has a 2 player mode where you split turns on the same board. There is also a 4 player party mode where you have your version of the same board and go through your shots in parallel to see who has highest score.

I'd also recommend Puzzle Fighter, but I don't know how active that community is any more.
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I log on to Puzzle Fighter maybe 4-5 times a week and there are always people playing ranked matches. I usually get a ranked match within 2-4 minutes of hosting. Weekends are obviously more active than weekdays, but I've had no problems finding ranked matches.

However, most of the people playing are fairly high level. You'll find some lower level players here and there, but for the most part everyone is pretty good.
 
NG28 said:
Can anyone recommend me a good $10 XBLA game? I have BC:Rearmed, Braid, Castle Crashers, and GeoWars2. I just picked up a 1600 point card and bought Dishwasher, so I got 800 leftover. Something with some competitive online multiplayer would be preferred. What are the best games for this?
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Definitely Super Puzzle Fighter.
 
BobFromPikeCreek said:
Braid and Castle Crashers have ruined XBLM pricing forever.
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Actually, Geometry Wars ruined XBLM pricing forever. It was such an addictive game for $5 that it set up an unrealistic standard for $10 games. I remember a lot of people were miffed that the Pac-Man special edition made for XBLA was 800 points. It's stupid.

The universal pricing standard should have started at fifteen dollars, and I'm really glad to see devs not being afraid to push that pricing on both PSN and XBLA. Bring it on.
 
chubigans said:
Actually, Geometry Wars ruined XBLM pricing forever. It was such an addictive game for $5 that it set up an unrealistic standard for $10 games. I remember a lot of people were miffed that the Pac-Man special edition made for XBLA was 800 points. It's stupid.

The universal pricing standard should have started at fifteen dollars, and I'm really glad to see devs not being afraid to push that pricing on both PSN and XBLA. Bring it on.
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Oh yes, they're real trail blazers in the industry. The push for higher prices is the next great step forward for the medium.
 
chubigans said:
Actually, Geometry Wars ruined XBLM pricing forever. It was such an addictive game for $5 that it set up an unrealistic standard for $10 games. I remember a lot of people were miffed that the Pac-Man special edition made for XBLA was 800 points. It's stupid.

The universal pricing standard should have started at fifteen dollars, and I'm really glad to see devs not being afraid to push that pricing on both PSN and XBLA. Bring it on.
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I think a lot of people just reasonably thought Pac-Man CE was just another sloppy Pac Cash-In. After release it was constantly recommended (probably more so than any other XBLA title) and I really don't remember much price bitching.
 
chubigans said:
The universal pricing standard should have started at fifteen dollars, and I'm really glad to see devs not being afraid to push that pricing on both PSN and XBLA. Bring it on.
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Screw that, screw them, and most of all screw you.
 
chubigans said:
Actually, Geometry Wars ruined XBLM pricing forever. It was such an addictive game for $5 that it set up an unrealistic standard for $10 games. I remember a lot of people were miffed that the Pac-Man special edition made for XBLA was 800 points. It's stupid.

The universal pricing standard should have started at fifteen dollars, and I'm really glad to see devs not being afraid to push that pricing on both PSN and XBLA. Bring it on.
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It actually should have been $20.

That was the average price for PC games of the same quality before XBLA. Microsoft actually lowballed a lot of PC developers when they set $10 as a standard. Now to compete everyone else has to lower their prices by half or more and those who didn't, got their prices lowered for them anyway by portals.

Funny how the price of everything goes up, from AAA games to movie tickets, but for some reason indie and small dev games get slashed in half.
 
I guess I should mention that I'm an indie dev that just made a commercial game and wants to make PSN/XBLA games. :p

Higher price baseline = more content and larger games. For me, anyways.
 
1200 seems like the standar price now. Hilarious how this was to be expected when Braid came out.

lll download the Flock trial but really got no interest at 1200
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and say something that is totally unverifiable, but I think all but the most critic-proof games would enjoy a big sales boost from lower pricing... and I think in many cases it would be the 50% they need to justify the lower price.

Personally, I don't even download the trials of most games that launch at 1200.... I think Death Tank is a great example of a 1200-pointer that tanked pretty hard in week 1. I also think there are people waiting for price cuts. Braid, for example, as "deal of the week" topped the charts and I expect you'll see Penny Arcade back on the charts this week (especially given that it's a 50% cut)

Honestly, I'd be happier to get a rougher experience out of six 200-point XNA games (and there probably are at least six worth it now -- see the thread) than one 1200-point game.
 
SickBoy said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and say something that is totally unverifiable, but I think all but the most critic-proof games would enjoy a big sales boost from lower pricing... and I think in many cases it would be the 50% they need to justify the lower price.

Personally, I don't even download the trials of most games that launch at 1200.... I think Death Tank is a great example of a 1200-pointer that tanked pretty hard in week 1. I also think there are people waiting for price cuts. Braid, for example, as "deal of the week" topped the charts and I expect you'll see Penny Arcade back on the charts this week (especially given that it's a 50% cut)

Honestly, I'd be happier to get a rougher experience out of six 200-point XNA games (and there probably are at least six worth it now -- see the thread) than one 1200-point game.
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Braid charted very well at its original price point as well.
 
BenjaminBirdie said:
Braid charted very well at its original price point as well.
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A lot of new releases do. I'd be interested to see how well other sale titles have charted (whether they've topped the charts like Braid did). I know I can't be the only one who tried the game, said "I like it, but I'm not parting with 1200 points" and then leaped when the price dropped.

Jonathan Blow hasn't been averse to talking about sales. I'd be interested to see if he's willing to offer some data.
 
Braid also had the benefit of being a media darling for such a long time before release. So was Castle Crashers. Hardly any XBLA (or PSN) titles get this luxury.
 
Mrbob said:
Braid also had the benefit of being a media darling for such a long time before release. So was Castle Crashers. Hardly any XBLA (or PSN) titles get this luxary.
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Indeed, they were the right choices to lead the way for $15 games. XBLA has a bit of a higher goal to achieve than PSN does to get the prices to a higher tier IMO.
 
http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13033&Itemid=1

Lode Runner release date set
Tuesday, 07 April 2009 05:51
XBLA version to be the best version yet

Many Xbox 360 gamers were excited to learn that new Tozai/Southend games remake of the classic Lode Runner would be finally making its way to Xbox Live Arcade after a long wait; and in addition, it will be one of the feature titles in the Xbox Live Arcade Days of Summer promotion.

Perhaps the best news yet is that we have learned from our sources that it is now confirmed for release on April 22nd and it is expected to go for 1200 Microsoft Points. First developed by Douglas E. Smith for Br0derbund software in 1983, Lode Runner was an old school platform puzzle title that legions are made of. The first version of Lode Runner appeared on the Apple II, but was later converted to multiple systems, including the VIC-20, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Atari 8-bit series, Atari ST, PC, Mac, NES, Game Boy, Nintendo DS, as well as others.

While all of the platforms did not get the original Lode Runner, in many cases they received one of the many sequels that were spawned by the original that included Load Runner’s Rescue (which was the official sequel from the original) as well as Battle Lode Runner, Lode Runner: The Legend Returns, Lode Runner 2, and Load Runner Online: Mad Monks Revenge. Several arcade versions were also released, including Lode Runner: The Bungeling Strikes Back, Lode Runner: Majin No Fukkatsu, Lode Runner Teikoku Karano Dasshutsu, and Lode Runner: The Dig Fight.

Several attempts have been to capture the magic over Lode Runner and bring it to the console world, including the Lode Runner 3D for the Nintendo 64, Battle Lode Runner, which became available on the Nintendo Wii by way of the Virtual Console, and, of course, who could forget the Cubic Lode Runner and Lode Runner 3D versions released for the Gamecube and PlayStation 2? Even the iPod got into the act with a version of Lode Runner by HudsonSoft.

The new version of Lode Runner for the Xbox 360 takes the franchise into a new direction with unique 3D graphics and lush backgrounds to play on, but captures the feel and puzzle quality of the original Lode Runner which made the game so popular. With 220 levels, 2 and 4 player co-op game modes that can be played locally or over Xbox Live, and five new game play modes, the latest version should provide a rich challenge for Lode Runner addicts.

Look for our exclusive upcoming interview with XBLA Lode Runner developer, Brett Ballow, as we get closer to the release of the new Lode Runner on Xbox Live Arcade.
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Are they happy with R-Type Dimension's sales because pricing Lode Runner at that again is kind of nuts to me. Also, even though Flock! looks like a 1200 point calibre game it's a dumb idea to launch it at that price considering the competition the next few weeks.
 
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