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[twinturbo2]

Two words: rights issues.

If you're referring to my post, I broke the news a while back (look it up on search, I'm too lazy), that EA appears to be giving up exclusivity rights to NASCAR, so that's no longer an excuse.

 

[Brashnir]

One thing I don't understand about XBLA - given the current popularity of Tower Defense games, and the general popularity of Halo, how is there not a Halo-themed Tower Defense game on XBLA yet?

I mean, the concept alone just screams "make me," and thematically the Flood are the perfect enemy for a TD game. How has this game not been made yet?

 

[twinturbo2]

One thing I don't understand about XBLA - given the current popularity of Tower Defense games, and the general popularity of Halo, how is there not a Halo-themed Tower Defense game on XBLA yet?

I mean, the concept alone just screams "make me," and thematically the Flood are the perfect enemy for a TD game. How has this game not been made yet?

Don't know, maybe you can get some buddies together, make a proof-of-concept demo to MS, and make a game out of it... just sayin'...

 

[Aaron]

One thing I don't understand about XBLA - given the current popularity of Tower Defense games, and the general popularity of Halo, how is there not a Halo-themed Tower Defense game on XBLA yet?

I mean, the concept alone just screams "make me," and thematically the Flood are the perfect enemy for a TD game. How has this game not been made yet?

Send your idea to one of the many Ensemble splinter groups. They could just re-use the assets from Halo Wars.

 

[pilonv1]

One thing I don't understand about XBLA - given the current popularity of Tower Defense games, and the general popularity of Halo, how is there not a Halo-themed Tower Defense game on XBLA yet?

I mean, the concept alone just screams "make me," and thematically the Flood are the perfect enemy for a TD game. How has this game not been made yet?

just get defense grid and put halo skins on it. GOTY

 

[Brashnir]

just get defense grid and put halo skins on it. GOTY

I have Defense Grid, and that's what triggered me to wonder why MS hadn't put together a Halo TD game fro XBLA yet. Like Aaron said, they could even re-use assets from Halo Wars.

 

[SapientWolf]

One thing I don't understand about XBLA - given the current popularity of Tower Defense games, and the general popularity of Halo, how is there not a Halo-themed Tower Defense game on XBLA yet?

I mean, the concept alone just screams "make me," and thematically the Flood are the perfect enemy for a TD game. How has this game not been made yet?

Halo Wars isn't too far from being just that. I would rather see something more original. Isn't Chu Chu Rocket, at its core, just a really sophisticated TD game?

 

[Saurus]

Any word on the Magic the Gathering game?

 

[alistairw]

just get defense grid and put halo skins on it. GOTY

:lol :lol

 

[pilonv1]

:lol :lol

im going to draw up a design document now

 

[Shard]

ESRB Watch:

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=26819

Le Tour de France 2009

Platform: Xbox 360

Rating: Everyone

Content descriptors: No Descriptors

Rating summary: In this sports simulation game, Le Tour de France 2009, players select a professional bicyclist to be part of a team that competes in the Tour de France. Players can 'attack' (accelerate beyond the pack), become the 'poursuivant' (pursuers of the leaders), or blend into the 'peloton' (pack of bicyclists) to help capitalize on each team member's strength.

 

[Shard]

Shank: Tarantino-esque Action for XBLA?
http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/982/982032p1.html

Shank: Tarantino-esque Action for XBLA?
The developer of Eets: Chowdown unveils its next project.
by Daemon Hatfield


May 12, 2009 - Klei Entertainment, developer of Eets: Chowdown, has unveiled its next project, an "over-the-top, Tarantino-esque action adventure game." The platform has not been finalized but Klei says we can probably guess based on its previous games (which have arrived on Xbox Live Arcade and PC). Also, the teaser trailer shows an Xbox 360 control scheme.

Klei says the game is early in development, but the footage we have already looks great with smooth animation and a colorful comic book style. Looks like we can expect platforming and beat 'em up combat. Definitely check out the teaser video.

 

[Giard]

Any word on the Magic the Gathering game?

Curious about this one too.

 

[Shard]

Still in development as far as I know.

 

[mujun]

Shank: Tarantino-esque Action for XBLA?
http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/982/982032p1.html

holy hell, that looks really really cool.

any idea of a release window?

 

[tedtropy]

Boy it'd sure be nice if we got Doom 2 XBLA one of these days. I don't get it, the engine has already been ported and there's very few differences in the one Doom 2 used.

 

[bumpkin]

Oh man, how awesome would it be if Sega had some surprises up their sleeves for E3 like...

XBLA and PSN... MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

[pilonv1]

ESRB Watch:

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=26819

Le Tour de France 2009

Platform: Xbox 360

Rating: Everyone

Content descriptors: No Descriptors

Rating summary: In this sports simulation game, Le Tour de France 2009, players select a professional bicyclist to be part of a team that competes in the Tour de France. Players can 'attack' (accelerate beyond the pack), become the 'poursuivant' (pursuers of the leaders), or blend into the 'peloton' (pack of bicyclists) to help capitalize on each team member's strength.

Oh shit, awesome. Wonder if it's a port of Konami's Tour game on Xbox?

 

[DCharlie]

Isn't Chu Chu Rocket, at its core, just a really sophisticated TD game?

no, not really no.

 

[Arpharmd B]

So I just played the Lumines demo and loved it. The visuals and music are great and the puzzle mechanic is fairly fresh.

I was going to purchase the full version but than I read that the full version isn't even the full version. Can someone explain this and make a recommendation?

When it came out in 2006 it was 1200 points. Blasphemous at the time. It also released a booster pack shortly after for 400 points. So people complained you didn't get the "full game".

However, it's been 800 points for a long, long time and that is a steal. There are quite a few booster packs now.

If you want to add on to it, the Booster and Advance packs have the coolest skins, IMO.

 

[Shard]

Oh shit, awesome. Wonder if it's a port of Konami's Tour game on Xbox?

No, it is based off a long running PC Series.

 

[senahorse]

Is Brain Challenge worth 400 space bucks? (this week's special)

 

[Shard]

So, any takers for this weeks selections?

 

[pilonv1]

No, it is based off a long running PC Series.

Who's doing it? Surely it's not Pro Cycling Manager??!?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/11060/

It's just a management game.

 

[Rlan]

Who's doing it? Surely it's not Pro Cycling Manager??!?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/11060/

It's just a management game.

Going by the description:

Rating summary: In this sports simulation game, Le Tour de France 2009, players select a professional bicyclist to be part of a team that competes in the Tour de France. Players can 'attack' (accelerate beyond the pack), become the 'poursuivant' (pursuers of the leaders), or blend into the 'peloton' (pack of bicyclists) to help capitalize on each team member's strength.

Sure sounds like management.

 

[pilonv1]

oh boy, sports management :hyper

better be released outside of europe

i know it will be dumbed down though

 

[Phoenix Fang]

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/19614/Penalty-of-Heroes-Teaser-Trailer-and-Screens/

I know two of the guys working on this. It took a lot not to say anything about this game. I know of at least 3 really good projects from two studios that I'm working with that hasn't been revealed yet.

 

[Psychotext]

Wow... that looks great.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Wow... that looks great.

Really?

 

[Psychotext]

Hell yeah. I love the graphical style.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Okay. I think it looks hideous.

 

[Vinterbird]

Le Tour de France 2009

Platform: Xbox 360

Rating: Everyone

Content descriptors: No Descriptors

Rating summary: In this sports simulation game, Le Tour de France 2009, players select a professional bicyclist to be part of a team that competes in the Tour de France. Players can 'attack' (accelerate beyond the pack), become the 'poursuivant' (pursuers of the leaders), or blend into the 'peloton' (pack of bicyclists) to help capitalize on each team member's strength.

I played a version of it last year on a debug console. It was the 2008 edition, but it didn't make it out in time to release with the Tour last year. From the little I played of the PartnerNet edition it felt very much like the Cycling Manager PC games. It even looked as horrible as those, but there were the same strategic elements in it.

 

[Shig]

Really?

Unless you're one of those irrational types that expects a $10 game developed by inexperienced developers to look like a full retail game with a multimillion dollar budget, yes, it looks very impressive.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Unless you're one of those irrational types that expects a $10 game developed by inexperienced developers to look like a full retail game with a multimillion dollar budget, yes, it looks very impressive.

Yeah, that's exactly what I expect, based on the over 100 XBLA games I own.

 

[Psychotext]

Yeah, that's exactly what I expect, based on the over 100 XBLA games I own.

If you own over 100 XBLA games you really don't have any grounds to talk about quality / taste. There's not 100 XBLA games worth owning.

 

[mujun]

Wow... that looks great.

i agree. please come soon!

 

[Hunahan]

Stupid [Stooo - peed]

Trailer [Treh-lar]

A waste of time in which minutes scroll by and you still have no idea wtf the game is even actually about.

I'm guessing from the screens this is some sort of arcade beat em up?

 

[EternalGamer]

I could certainly dig anothe 4 player co-op game, so Penalty of Heroes sounds good to me. But I will have to endure that horrible artwork. This is not a question of graphical capability, it is a question of art and the art in that game is just plain terrible looking based on those three screens.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Wow, that really was the worst trailer ever.

Also, the name / font remind me of something the dude sitting next to me in high school geometry might have sketched for his nonexistent death metal band.

the art in that game is just plain terrible looking based on those three screens.

Apparently this is not a valid opinion if you own lots of XBLA games...

 

[Psychotext]

Apparently this is not a valid opinion if you own lots of XBLA games...

Well, it either means you have no ability to discern quality... or you're just obsessive to the point of wasting $100s on particularly poor games.

 

[MirageDwarf]

Thought I would post this here too. 900,000 sold so far.

http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=1255

Over the weekend our Castle Crashers leaderboards have passed 900,000 users. That’s approximately 3,532,940 princesses saved and about 112,478,313,017 swings of a sword. Those numbers are probably way off and don’t make any sense but I think you get the point.

It’s still amazing for all of us to think that we’re on track for over a million Castle Crashers users and the game has only been out for about 8 months now! But when will this momentous occasion occur? When??

I challenge YOU to guess the exact DATE and TIME that the main Castle Crashers leaderboard reads 1,000,000 players!

I’m not sure yet what the prize will be for this.. but rest assured. it will be awesome, nay…SPECTACULAR! if there are lots of close entries, we will award lots of cool prizes.

the rules:

* one entry per person
* one person per date/time
* round your guess to the nearest 5 minutes, and specify AM or PM, use pacific time. that is 3:45am, 2:10pm, 4:00am, etc. and not 8:32 and 43 seconds. if you submit a funky time like that, we will round UP to the nearest 5 minute mark.
* When we reach 950,000 on the leaderboards, no more entries will be accepted!!

IMPORTANT: Post your guess over in our forums, so i can keep track of them all in one place! Guesses posted here will not be counted :-(

Check this list before you guess!!—> A MILLION GUESSES

Fun!

love,
kelly

I can't believe this since game was way beyond fucked at release.

 

[Brakara]

Thought I would post this here too. 900,000 sold so far.

That's not a sales number, but the number of gamertags on the leaderboards.

 

[Shard]

http://www.gamezone.com/news/05_13_09_11_01AM.htm

Serving Up a Plate of XBLA, PSN and WiiWare Fun with Diner Dash's Sabine Duvall

Serving Up a Plate of XBLA, PSN and WiiWare Fun with Diner Dash's Sabine Duvall
By Louis Bedigian

“The online leaderboards will be tracking top players, so you’ll both have some incentive to keep the diner running; but it doesn’t take long for things to get amazingly chaotic!”

By the end of the current generation, there will be more games available for Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 than any other consoles before them. Part of this is due to the increased number of players, which opened the market to more developers. Another part comes from the creation of WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, three services that let you download hundreds of smaller, lower-cost games.

One of the games set to benefit from this service is Diner Dash. Based on the popular PC franchise, the game caters to the mainstream market console manufacturers have really been pushing for. "The digital download movement in this generation of consoles has enabled an entirely new audience to game on consoles," said Sabine Duvall, VP of Product Development. "With the immense popularity of Diner Dash and the sequels and off-shoots it’s created, we wanted to get this new audience into the crazy addictiveness that is the gameplay of Diner Dash. Throw eight-person multiplayer on top of this and the game becomes a perfect fit for the new services."

How is the Diner Dash gameplay being adjusted/upgrade for the consoles? It's clear that the graphics and gameplay perspective have changed from 2D to 3D…

Sabine Duvall: The most noticeable adjustments are upgrading Diner Dash gameplay into a more social experience. Co-op gameplay Diner Dash is here as you and a friend can take on the classic “Endless Shift” mode. It’s the single player gameplay, but tackled with a friend! As you continue to manage the diner, you’ll be able to get upgrades that will make running the diner a little easier, but at the same time add in new gameplay elements you’ll have to tend to as well. The online leaderboards will be tracking top players, so you’ll both have some incentive to keep the diner running; but it doesn’t take long for things to get amazingly chaotic!

Will we notice a distinct difference between the controls of this edition and its predecessors?

SD: Naturally, the transition from mouse and keyboard to controller will be different, but you’ll have just as much control over the action. We implemented hotkey functionality on the controller so certain buttons are mapped to specific tasks you’ll need to do in the diners. You still have full control of the character Flo with the analog sticks, but you’ll be able to breeze around your diners with ease.

What are some of the new challenges that will keep Diner Dash veterans busy?

SD: Veterans of the Diner Dash should have something to prove with these new editions. With online leaderboards, they’ll want to represent their skills on the console of their choice. The co-op and head to head gameplay will also allow them to challenge their expertise with or against others.

How are the point-and-click hotkeys being implemented, and how will they make the experience more intuitive?

SD: You’ll come to find that certain buttons on the controller will be mapped to specific tasks. For example, take the 360 version. The L trigger will instantly go to your que of customers waiting in line. The B button will guide Flo directly to bus tables. The X button takes Flo to the counter to drop an order off to the cook. These are meant to be a choice for the player to take; they can either control Flo directly, or, if the action is getting crazy, use the hotkeys to automatically put Flo on a quick set path so they can use that time to keep a look out for where their next move will be.

The gameplay is primarily timed, but will there also be a mode (perhaps for practicing) where no time limit exists?

SD: The closest thing to this is the Endless shift. As long as the customers are staying happy, you’ll be able to keep playing this mode and hone your techniques. We recommend setting it on easy so the pressure won’t be as intense!

Online multiplayer supports up to eight players. Is this a competition of who can serve the customers the fastest?

SD: There are a number of different factors that will affect the tips your character will get. Whoever has the highest tips at the end wins. Serving the customers is just one of the steps. If you can be the quickest on seating the customers, taking their order, serving their food, collecting the tips, and bussing the tables, then you’re in good shape. However, your rival can step in and do any of these tasks at any time the customer is ready, regardless of who had been serving them. You can also lose money if you’re not taking care of customers as well. Throw in a crowded restaurant, people constantly waiting in line, and upgrades for your character throughout the match, and you’ve got a pretty intense game!

Are there any other multiplayer competitions?

SD: Definitely! You can bring the competition with the head-to-head modes in the game. The cool thing about the head-to-head modes is that you can go one-on-one, or get a partner and compete against up to three other teams in the Team Dash mode. It’s as crazy as it sounds. All of these options are local and online multiplayer enabled, except for Team Dash, which is online-only.

I assume the one-on-one battles are for offline play?

SD: Online play is an emphasis in Diner Dash on XBLA, PSN, and WiiWare, but you’ll find that one-on-one battles can be played both off or online.

Tell us about the different diners within Diner Dash. How will each one differ in gameplay and aesthetics?

SD: While the core gameplay from diner to diner won’t change much (except for a surprise reserved for expert Diner Dash players), the themes will certainly make for some fun changes of environment. As you move through diners, they’ll also have unique side dishes or appetizers that customers will request while waiting for their food. If you can deliver these to the customers in the right amount of time, you’ll not only keep them from leaving the diner, but you’ll also gain some extra cash!

Thank you for your time.

 

[Shard]

First Raskulls Trailer
http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/143/14334878/vids_1.html

 

[Shard]

New Xbox.com Splash Pages:

Wolfenstien 3D
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/w/wolfenstein3dxboxlivearcade/details.page/

Battlefield 1943
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/b/battlefield1943xboxlivearcade/

 

[RBH]

Ok GAF, I have 400MP left in my account and I'm looking to buy an XBLA title. What is the best 400MP XBLA game that I should get?


Games that I currently own:
SSFIIHD
Banjo Kazooie
Uno
Texas Hold'Em
Undertow

 

[EternalGamer]

Ok GAF, I have 400MP left in my account and I'm looking to buy an XBLA title. What is the best 400MP XBLA game that I should get?


Games that I currently own:
SSFIIHD
Banjo Kazooie
Uno
Texas Hold'Em
Undertow

Worms is probably the best value at $5. But if you like shooters, Assault Heroes is fun. I would recommend Small Arms, but, unless you have friends to play against, the single player can get old quick (but it is really a great game multiplayer). Any of the Sega classics are good deals too, especially Streets of Rage 2.

 

[fatty]

Geometry Wars Evolved²N+Poker SmashCastle Crashers[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107f3/"]UNO
[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841083f/"]Bomberman LIVE[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107d7/"]Marble Blast Ultra[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841091c/"]METEOS WARS[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108ce/"]Braid[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410846/"]Alien Hominid HD
[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107ef/"]Zuma[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410878/"]Ikaruga[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410840/"]Carcassonne[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410877/"]Pac-Man C.E.[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410886/"]Aces of the Galaxy
[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108ec/"]Ticket to Ride™[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107f8/"]LUMINES LIVE![URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107ed/"]Geometry Wars Evolved[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410830/"]Switchball[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108b3/"]Rez HD[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025841082f/"]
Band of Bugs[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108be/"]Schizoid[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107dd/"]Wik: Fable of Souls[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410873/"]Undertow[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410825/"]Eets: Chowdown
[URL="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584107da/"]Mutant Storm Reloaded[/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]Puzzle QuestBrain Challenge™CatanAge of Booty
SOULCALIBURSuperStreetFighter2GripShiftOmega FivePortal: Still AliveRoogooSmall ArmsShred NebulaWormsTMNT 1989 Arcade
Castlevania: SOTNPenny Arcade: Ep 1DoomMetal Slug 3Galaga LegionsSpace GiraffeSonic 2Kingdom for KeflingsBionic Commando: Rearmed
Puzzle Fighter HDThe Dishwasher: Dead SamuraiDEATH TANK!Heavy Weapon


There! Thanks for putting Heavy Weapon on there.

I haven't kept up with what's been released and I've been looking to get something else. I'm going to have to look into some of these games.

I wish there was another great shooter available like Ikaruga.

 

[Grecco]

Ok GAF, I have 400MP left in my account and I'm looking to buy an XBLA title. What is the best 400MP XBLA game that I should get?


Games that I currently own:
SSFIIHD
Banjo Kazooie
Uno
Texas Hold'Em
Undertow

the First Geometry Wars or TMNT

 

[Brashnir]

the First Geometry Wars or TMNT

I considered recommending the first GW too, but it pales so much in comparison to GW2 that I just can't recommend it. Get 400 more points and get GW2 if you want to play Geometry Wars.