Rss Feed
Tweeter button
Facebook button
Technorati button
Reddit button
Myspace button
Linkedin button
Delicious button
Digg button
Stumbleupon button
Newsvine button
Youtube button

XBLA Archive

Xbox Live Arcade raked in over $100 million last year

By
Chip Loan
Published: 02/07/2010Tags: , , ,

2009 was the most profitable year for the Xbox Live Arcade service so far according to estimates by the  research group Forecasting and Analyzing Digital Entertainment (FADE). The online gaming hub made $103.4 million dollars in the 2009 fiscal year, a whopping 34% jump in profits from 2008. Recession…what recession!?

One of the major factors in the increased profits was the average cost for an XBLA game, which rose from $8.33 in 2008 to $9.12 in 2009. The extra $0.79 increase on average still isn’t that bad considering some of the great games we saw last year. It’s clear that a lot of developers and publishers are directing a lot of effort into developing quality games for the service, and it’s paying off.

EA’s Battlefield 1943 took the top honors last year as the highest selling title. To find out who else made the list hit the break.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark and Share

Xbox Live updates detailed

By
Chip Loan
Published: 07/19/2009Tags: , , , ,

indie-games-marketplace

Some of the updates promised during Microsoft’s keynote at E3 will be rolling out in waves later this summer. The big new features like Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm integration won’t be included, but there are still a ton of new goodies coming our way.

Improvements to the party system, additions to avatar customization and better Netflix integration are just some of the add-ons we can look forward to. Everything included in the update should make for a more enriched Xbox Live experience.

Here’s Microsoft’s detailed list of what we can expect:

WARNING! THERE ARE LOTS OF WORDS. IF YOU ARE ILLITERATE PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

Netflix Updates

Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

  • Movie Parties – Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.
  • Manage Your Queue – Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required. Enhanced
  • Playback Experience – Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates. Friends Info – Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing. Avatar Marketplace

Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises. Please note that only limited content is currently available in the preview.

Clothing

Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as “Halo.”

  • Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.
  • Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.
  • Games on Demand — Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.

Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

  • Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.
  • Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.
  • It’s Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console. User Ratings

User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

  • Rate it – You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.
  • Sort and Find it – Now you can easily find the games that everyone’s been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace. Xbox LIVE Parties

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.

  • Party Reconnections – If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.
  • Streamlined Party Invites – Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together. Video Display Options

We’ve made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

  • Display Discovery – Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console. Other Improvements

We’re always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.

  • Gold Member Veterans – Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you’ve been a Gold member.
  • Indie Games – Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.
  • Achievement Browser – We’ve revamped the Achievements browser so it’s now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.
  • Achievements Tracking – A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.
  • Streamlined Navigation – Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.
  • Voice Messages – No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.
  • Friends List Sorting – It’s now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.
  • Memory – Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.
  • Account Management

We’ve made some changes to make your life easier.

  • Subscription Notification – If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.
  • Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs – If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.
  • Account recovery – We’ve enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.

The following features will be coming in future Xbox LIVE updates, which we’ll be sure to let you know about.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Zune video and 1080p Instant On
  • Last.fm

What does this Xbox LIVE Update not include?

Bookmark and Share

Ikaruga is 50% off on Xbox Live this week

By
Chip Loan
Published: 07/13/2009Tags: , ,

ikaruga02

The addicting button smasher Ikaruga will be 50% off until July 20th. Usually priced at 800 Microsoft Points it’s now only a cool 400 and ready for you to download.

This vertical scroller is visually gorgeous and adds a new slant to scrolling shooters with the use of it’s ‘polarity’ feature. A great twist in a genre that usually just has you tapping buttons and blowing up anything that flies down the screen at you.

Here’s the official Xbox description:

The Japanese arcade hit Ikaruga comes to Xbox LIVE® Arcade! Treasure’s award-winning scrolling shooter brings a tactical twist to the genre with its yin-and-yang gameplay: the color of your ship determines your effect on enemies. In this polarized system, enemy ships and their bullets are one of two colors. Attack an enemy of the opposite color for extra damage. Absorb enemy fire of the same color as your ship, and use the energy for a special attack. Destroy multiple enemies of the same color to score a chaining bonus. Play solo or cooperatively, and use your polarity to achieve victory!

Ikaruga supports two-player co-op as well as video replay.

Add Ikaruga to your download que.

Bookmark and Share

Star Trek DAC beaming out now

By
Chip Loan
Published: 05/13/2009Tags: , , , , ,

Star Trek DAC is out  today on XBLM. The top-down shooter will cost you 800 Microsoft Points (around $10). Those who dare game on PC’s or on PS3’s will have to wait a little longer, but it should be available to you guys sometime today. If you’re lucky.

Speaking of Star Trek, did any of you catch the movie this weekend? I went and saw it on Saturday and had a blast. But I know the hardcore Trekkies weren’t too fond of it. What did you guys think?

Here’s the official game description:

Star Trek®: D-A-C is a fast-paced, top-down space shooter inspired by the new motion picture. This pick-up and play game allows you and your friends to choose starships ( from a list including the all-new U.S.S. Enterprise ) and battle it out online! Enlist in Starfleet or join the Romulan Empire as you battle with up to 11 friends in game play modes including: Solo Play, Online Versus, and Online Co-op. Command the powerful Flagship, the nimble Fighter or the devastating Bomber, each with their own unique capabilities. Choose your side, fire your weapons, boldly go! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Click here if you want to add the game to your XBLM download queue.

Bookmark and Share

Castle Crashers rakes in 900,000 users

By
Chip Loan
Published: 05/13/2009Tags: , ,

Less than a year after the game’s debut, Castle Crashers has passed the 900,000 users mark on it’s leaderboard. And in anticipation of the inevidable 1,000,000 users mark, the game’s developer The Bahemoth is having a contest. If you can guess the date and time that the main Castle Crashers leaderboard will get it’s 1,000,000th user, you’ll get a “SPECTACULAR” prize. Hopefully by “SPECTACULAR” they mean you’ll get those Wonder Woman undies you’ve been eye balling.

You can see the outline of the contest on their blog.

How many of you out there are fans of this XBLA side scrolling button smasher?

Bookmark and Share

Star Trek D-A-C trailer sweetness

By
Chip Loan
Published: 05/05/2009Tags: , , ,

G4TV posted this new trailer for the top down shooter Star Trek D-A-C. It’s cut in with footage from the movie coming out this Friday (like you didn’t already know geek). The game will feature Single player, co-op and online mulitplayer shenanigans for you Trekkies.

The game is expected to be released sometime this month for PC, XBLA, and PSN, though no date has been set yet.

I’ll let you know as soon as we find out. Check back!

Bookmark and Share

Zombie Wranglers coming to XBLA May 6th

By
Chip Loan
Published: 05/04/2009Tags: ,

Like playing zombie games but hate all of that overt violence, blood and gore? OK never mind dumb question. Of course you like that blood and gore, that’s why you play zombie games.

Well if you want to tame your zombie experience you now have an alternative to Left 4 Dead of Resident Evil. Zombie Wranglers. Coming out on May 6th on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points, Zombie Wranglers is a zany, cartoony take on the undead genre. Here’s the description from Xbox.com:

Be very, very quiet … we’re wrangling Zombies! Save the city of Potters Field from an infestation of zany zombies in the quirky and comical Zombie Wranglers. Armed with a trustworthy Wrangler-Pack and your own unique special abilities, play as one of the four gallant apprentice Wranglers and rescue your neighborhood before it’s too late.

  • Engrossing humor: The many laugh-out-loud moments enhance the game play.
  • Distinct Wranglers: The four powerful Wranglers have unique upgradeable abilities, powerful weapons, and screwball personalities.
  • Co-op play: Join up with up to three of your friends, either on one console or over Xbox LIVE®, through the single-player story or the competitive arena mode.

    • Here’s a trailer from the folks over at Joystiq:

    Bookmark and Share

    XBLA game 1 vs 100 will cost you $0.00

    By
    Chip Loan
    Published: 04/25/2009Tags: , , ,

    Update: The 1 vs 100 Beta will go live tomorrow June 1st for Xbox Live Gold Members.

    XBL Gold Members will be able to play 1 vs 100 for free! Someone at Micorsoft must have bumped their head. Or this may be a limited time offer because they do know they can milk this game for some serious cash right? It’s not like Microsoft to do anything for free. I’m guessing there may be some serious advertising money being made for Microsoft to be able to offer this up free of charge.

    There is still no official release date yet but the game is expected out sometime this spring.

    Here’s the official Xbox description of the game:

    1 vs 100 Live on Xbox LIVE transforms you from spectator to player in this new socially interactive game experience based upon the hit TV game show. Enjoy the fun and freshness of a television show in a massively multiplayer online game. Win real prizes not just for skills but for participation. Have fun playing with your friends and family, or compete with other LIVE Gold members in a friendly game of 1 vs 100 Live. With live events, real hosts, featured players, and fresh content it’s a new experience every time you play.
    • Free game: 1 vs 100 Live is included with your Gold Membership.
    • Fun for everyone: Enjoy Live episodes where you play the game at specified times, massively multiplayer allows you to play with friends and against the masses, with a Live host in each game.
    • Big prizes! You have the chance to win prizes based on skill (answering questions correctly) and participation (answering a question right or wrong).
    Bookmark and Share

    Rock Band Styx and REO Speedwagon Track Pack

    By
    Chip Loan
    Published: 04/19/2009Tags: , , ,

    Get ready for another dose of 80’s rock supremacy. Next week’s Rock Band DLC is chalk full of Styx and REO Speedwagon. In addition they also threw in some songs from their collaboration as Hautewerk. You can buy all the tracks individually for the usual 160 Microsoft Points. The Styx and REO Speedwagon can also be bought in a seven track bundle for 880 Microsoft Points.

    The tracks will be released on April 21 on Xbox Live and April 23 on the Playstation Store. Here’s a list of the tracks…sorry there’s no Mr. Roboto to speak of. Ridiculous!

    • “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” by Styx
    • “Renegade” by Styx
    • “Too Much Time on My Hands” by Styx
    • “Ridin? the Storm Out” by REO Speedwagon
    • “Roll With the Changes” by REO Speedwagon
    • “Take It on the Run” by REO Speedwagon
    • “Can?t Stop Rockin’” by Styx and REO Speedwagon
    • “Stop Start Again” by Hautewerk
    • “Alone in My Head” by Hautewerk
    • “I Know Where You Came From” by Hautewerk

    Feel free to ruin every one of these songs with your horrible, horrible singing.

    Bookmark and Share

    Marvel vs. Capcom 2 coming to XBLA/PSN?

    By
    Chip Loan
    Published: 04/19/2009Tags: ,

     According to 1up.com it looks like the release of Marvel vs. Capcom on the Xbox 360 and Playstaion 3 ports is almost a reality. There were hints back in October when the ESRB for the two platforms was first revealed but the story was dead in the water soon after. Now however Xbox360Achievements.org has posted a list of supposed achievements for the 360 version, and Mad Catz is rumored to have a new fight stick in the works for the game due out sometime in July. 

    Thanks Mr. Internet for making sure we never have any surprises ever again! Bastard. Looks like this thing is a done deal. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for confirmation from Microsoft and Sony but at this point it’s pretty much a given. 

    If the Mad Catz project is any indicator you can probably bet that this will be a summer release. Let the button smashing commence!

    Bookmark and Share
    Page 1 of 11