Microsoft hooks up Xbox Live subs with free Arcade title

Looks like Microsoft is going to do the right thing: as anticipated, Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten states in a letter to customers that, as recompense for nearly two weeks of outages, the group is offering up a full, free Xbox Live Arcade title free of charge. Sounds like it won't be until the next couple of weeks before the offer is active, but it will indeed apply to "all" Xbox Live members, and assuming it's for games worth more than 200 Microsoft points, it will be net positive for Gold users who lost about $1.64 worth of Live service over the last twelve days. Well done Microsoft, we think most will consider the stinging pain eased. Memo posted after the break.

Update: Confirmed by our pal Major Nelson -- it's Gold AND Silver members. If you have an Xbox Live account, Microsoft just gave you a free game.

--snip--
Dear Xbox LIVE Members:

During this past holiday season you helped us break a number of Xbox LIVE records. This included our largest sign-up of new members to Xbox LIVE in our 5 year history and just yesterday you broke the record for the single biggest day of concurrent members ever on the service.

As a result of this massive increase in usage we know that some of you experienced intermittent Xbox LIVE issues over the holiday break. While the service was not completely offline at any given time, we are disappointed in our performance. I would like to take this moment to thank you each and every one of you for your patience and understanding as our team has worked around the clock to return the service to a stable state.

At the same time we would like to offer a token of our appreciation to all of you in celebration of record success for the service. And as a thank you for your loyalty during this holiday period, we will be offering all of our Xbox LIVE members around the world access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game that will be available to download free of charge. In the coming weeks we will be sharing the specific details of this offer with you.

Thank you again for helping make Xbox LIVE everything that it is today!

Sincerely,

Marc Whitten
General Manager, Xbox LIVE
Gamertag: Notwen

[Adrian G @ Jan 4th 2008 12:07AM]

Think we get to choose it or do they?

[rv @ Jan 4th 2008 12:47AM]

I think they choose. But if they don't I have my eye on hexic 2. Ohhh yeahhhh never had a game like that before.

[Kenban @ Jan 4th 2008 1:08AM]

From the wording I think its clear that Microsoft will pick the title. It sounds like its going to be a title that has the price changed to 0 points so that anyone can just download the full version for free. This has been done before the most recent was the free copy of Carcassonne.

My hope is that its a new title which has not been released yet. Release it as a free download for the first few days that way there is no chance it might have already been purchased.

[Raymond @ Jan 4th 2008 2:49AM]

Dang, and here I was hoping I'd get that "Gone Fishing" game shown in the post.
/sarcasm off

[tcc3 @ Jan 4th 2008 3:01PM]

Too bad hexic 2 is awful. I didnt like hexic much but at least it was nice to look at. The use of effects and color made me want to like it even though the game wasnt my thing. Hexic 2 looks like ass. Its like a widescreen SNES game. yuck.

[Andrew @ Jan 4th 2008 12:08AM]

How much is that worth in comparison to the cost of 1/2 month of subscription? I have no idea what either of those things actually cost.

[cereal @ Jan 4th 2008 12:12AM]

Arcade games are $5 or $10.
XBL Silver is free.
XBL Gold 1/2 month is $2-$4.

[b @ Jan 4th 2008 12:44AM]

this is about more than money though, people bought the console to play games during my time off, and most of the world's time off in the next 6 months was winter break

[Robotochan @ Jan 4th 2008 4:33AM]

That's right b, On Monday I'm back to Uni for another 12 weeks of stress and coding, I wanted just a week to play CoD4 with my mates where I didn't have the voice in my head saying "You should be doing coursework" but alas... I'll be hearing it for the next 12 weeks

[mattclarkie @ Jan 4th 2008 7:08AM]

I am exactly in the same boat, back to uni for 12 weeks of coding. But I always find time to keep my streaks going. Thankfully I was able to keep my streaks going, even if playing online did become intermittent.

I hope that they either choose a decent game I don't own, or give you a choice, in which case I would love suggestions of good games.

I own Hexic, Carcassone, Robotron, Joust, Uno, Totemball. All of which were free.

I see many friends with Aegis Wing, so maybe that one.

[stealth @ Jan 4th 2008 9:08AM]

when/how did you get all those for free?

[Ally @ Jan 4th 2008 9:05AM]

Although i can see what you mean about lost time during the holidays etc, what do you expect? microsoft dont have a time machine.

[ColonelSmith @ Jan 4th 2008 3:46PM]

@Ally .... Apple does! haha

[Guzzie @ Jan 4th 2008 12:08AM]

Hopefully it's a choice of a few so I can get a game I don't already own.

[blade417 @ Jan 4th 2008 10:29AM]

Castlevania SotN

ftw

[MaGiXX @ Jan 4th 2008 12:09AM]

Depends what games they choose.

[Adrian G @ Jan 4th 2008 12:11AM]

I'm hoping we get to choose (Metal Slug 3 baby!)

Hopefully they don't develop some trash and post it as your free game.


Since xbox live is ~$5 a month you lost $2.50 so an arcade game is comparable.

[superted @ Jan 4th 2008 4:37AM]

We're all assuming that the service is now totally fixed. That $2.50 you lost could rise if the service keeps going down.

[portwineboy @ Jan 4th 2008 12:12AM]

Well, I'm a heavy 360 user, and play COD4 online a lot, so I'm one of the people who has been more than a little po'd the past 2 weeks with the ups and downs.

I wish this offer had been for just points, not the free arcade game. I don't play ANY arcade games but I do play just about every major release (no sports titles, only a few driving) and I buy a lot of stuff from the marketplace...themes, gamerpics, movie rentals, tv shows, and most recently Fable.

What I don't buy is arcade games. I have yet to find one that interests me. I am glad that Msoft is reaching out to the community with this offer though. It is the right thing to do. Just wish it benefited me better!

For the record, I own 2 WinXp boxes, 2 OS X, run a Unix server at work and I'll buy a PS3 when there are more/better games...so no fanboism here.

[Martin @ Jan 4th 2008 1:54AM]

For the record, I own All-Clad pots and a pizza cutter.

[tcc3 @ Jan 4th 2008 9:08AM]

You damn Allclad fanboys never let it rest do you? Everyone knows Calphalon's the way to go.

=)

[tcc3 @ Jan 4th 2008 9:08AM]

You damn Allclad fanboys never let it rest do you? Everyone knows Calphalon's the way to go.

=)

[Greg @ Jan 4th 2008 12:12AM]

Will I be eligible for the free arcade game since my 360 RROD'd halfway through the Live outage?

I guess I shouldn't be so bitter, after all this is only my fifth breakdown.

God, I'm like the Xbox version of that 'iPod Andrew' guy....

[David W. @ Jan 4th 2008 1:19AM]

I would think so man...I mean you still have an active account...

Sorry to hear about all the problems >.< I've had one problem that required me to send it in, wasn't RROD...but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time.

hopefully the one you get is the one you keep

[Blake Bowen @ Jan 4th 2008 3:24AM]

I wish mine would RROD. All it does is read games as DVDs 9 out of ten power-ons.

[Michael @ Jan 4th 2008 4:17AM]

Hah! Mine got the Red Ring of Death recently too! I don't know if it was when these troubles were going on because I don't really use Xbox Live that often. (It was gone during Nov/Dec.)

Did they fix yours or send you a different one?
I'm 100% sure mine was just repaired. I was hoping for an HDMI version back. Oh well.

[Gavin Greenwalt @ Jan 4th 2008 12:12PM]

My drive stopped reading games properly as well. I just called them and they exchanged it for a new one. Whole thing took only about 2 weeks. No hastle at all.

[gotee12 @ Jan 4th 2008 8:45AM]

I'm with you Greg. I was looking forward to the holidays to do a little gaming. But alas, last week my 360 went to sing with the angels. I'm currently waiting on it's coffin...

[ScooterDe @ Jan 4th 2008 4:51PM]

Mine also died in time to swap before xmas. The new unit looked new, but could be a refurb. Certainly just as noisy as the last. But since I moved regions (Japan to Europe) the new machine refuses to play 15 of my 17 titles. So I am back to square one, and having to sell the old titles. Now, if only they will also replace the power brick.

[Thom Anderson @ Jan 6th 2008 8:20PM]

Well MY All-Clad's are Copper Core! Muhahahha!

dorks....

[Andrew @ Jan 4th 2008 12:21AM]

I haven't had any troubles with outages as I've been spending my holiday with family with no access to my Xbox, but seriously, the XBLA games suck. No thanks!

[DarkLightConnection @ Jan 4th 2008 6:08PM]

Obviously you haven't played Marble Blast Ultra or RoboBlitz.. (for the record, those are 3D games.. and RoboBlitz is a full blown 3D game, with nice graphics and a storyline.. could have been a full game)

[phaet2112 @ Jan 4th 2008 12:28AM]

I got the 360 for Christmas, yet I cannot log in for the first time to activate Silver, much less Gold, so I'll be out of a free game :/

[Seth @ Jan 4th 2008 12:31AM]

Or, just go to the PlayStation Store and choose ANY demo for free!

Plus, free online usage, etc.

Gosh, the PS3 is looking pretty good now-a-days.

[Greg @ Jan 4th 2008 12:34AM]

totally! once they make a couple decent non-port games it'll be party time!

[AutomagV @ Jan 4th 2008 12:36AM]

I'm pretty sure every demo on XBL is free. Though there are way too many AAA titles taking up my time to even play demos nowadays. Afraid the same can't be said about the PS3. At least you'll have MGS4 eventually. Wait, so will 360 owners. Haha

[Fank @ Jan 4th 2008 12:37AM]

"Or, just go to the PlayStation Store and choose ANY demo for free!"

You forgot to mention the part where you pay 600 dollar for a console, weeaboo.

[TrentD @ Jan 4th 2008 8:43AM]

This offer is for a complete arcade game for free...not a demo (which are free as well on XBL.

[Jim @ Jan 4th 2008 12:32AM]

I agree, I'd rather just have the MSP instead and buy a song for GH3 or Rock Band. But, thanks for the game anyways. Undertow? SMash TV? TRON?

[Seth @ Jan 4th 2008 12:43AM]

Yeah, but you also have to pay for the Live Membership, its not fully HD, and nice non Blu-Ray Drive. Both consoles have their differences, in terms of the better value, you get more of your buck with the PS3.

[Jim @ Jan 4th 2008 12:54AM]

Touche. Everyday Shooter looks awesome. I also wish I could play Super Stardust HD.

[Prokanda @ Jan 4th 2008 2:32AM]

@Seth:

We got a ps3 for christmas to compliment our 360 and wii... and I have to say, I'm the least impressed by the ps3. We have the three games that we were interested in and we took sony up on it's bluray offer... but honestly, the 360 has more bang for the buck.

The sony online store is lame compared to the 360's. You have to wait quite a while for the downloads (yes, large downloads take a while on the 360 as well) and then you have to INSTALL them. Lame. Another 5 mins of wasted time.

Even though the ps3 has bluray... you can get the hd dvd drive for 130 more with 5 free movies for the 360. The ps3 that we got doesn't have any form of backwards compatibility for ps2 games. The ps3 came with no ability to export hd signal. I had to go BACK to bestbuy to get a 20 dollar cable. Total bummer.. we got the ps3 on the way out of town to try it on a friends HD tv and didn't get to because sony's cheap. The charging cable for the ps3 remote is too short... this might not be an issue if the ps3 controller charged when the darn thing was off.... but instead, I have to plug my PS3 controller into my XBOX or laptop to charge it. Yes, xbox live gold costs 50 bucks for a year but that's just if you want to play online games.. which I don't. At least xbox has games that people want to play (let alone online). And this "free game offer" is for anyone with an xbox. Xbox live silver comes with every console so that you can download from the store and get updates. Not to mention that the ps3 cost the same as the 360... 2 years after we got our 360 at launch.... the 360 is even cheaper now, charges the controller with a useable cable (if you get the kit) and includes rumble.. it also comes with a hd cable in the box and if reports are right, will come with hd movie playback in the box soon enough.

soooo...:
lame online store.
lame install process for downloaded content.
lame lack of hd cable in the box.
lame controller charging/lack of vibrate.
lame drive sounds like it's gonna die just ejecting a disc.
lame selection of games.

It's nice to have all three consoles.. and some of the features of the ps3 are nice, but this was the last of the three for us to get (and only now because we had 300 bucks in GameStop giftcards given to us). Every console has its benefits.. but don't blindly be a fanboi without some facts. Compare every aspect before you go off ranting.

[Prokanda @ Jan 4th 2008 2:39AM]

@b:

yeah... heavenly sword looked cool... the demo was nice, but it's a button masher and even with that set aside, from what I've read, it takes an average gamer about 6 hours to beat. not worth my 60 bucks.

not everyone likes war games... I'm one that doesn't. we got our ps3 and we have Assassin's creed (because it looked ok and was $37 at bestbuy... was still 60 on 360... guess they're trying to get people to buy ps3 games? lol)

so we have assassin's creed, ratchet and clank, and ninja gaiden... these are the only ones that caught our eye.. not impressive since it's been out for more than a year. 350 and wii both had more games that piqued our interest less than 6 months after launch.... and the ones we're waiting for are gonna be launched on 360 and ps3 the same day.

[Prokanda @ Jan 4th 2008 2:40AM]

oops.. maybe it's been knocked down to *350 after all the RROD problems... darn typos.

[Luke @ Jan 4th 2008 6:31AM]

@ Seth:

What on earth do you mean by: 'its not fully HD'.

Uhhh... yes the Xbox 360 DOES output in 1080p! Silly.

Adding, you comment was almost TOTALLY unrelated to what 'jim' was on about.

You just started with 'yeah, but'.

ROFLMAOPMS!

[b @ Jan 4th 2008 12:42AM]

Unreal Tournament 3? Heavenly Sword? Everyday Shooter? Warhawk?

[k @ Jan 4th 2008 12:39AM]

This is pretty lame, they should have offered a free month of Live Gold option instead! If I got half-way through my meal at a restaurant and then someone pulled the fire alarm interrupting it, I would get a free meal, not a free appetizer next time! This is a regal screw-up, during the most game intensive time of the year (Winter) during the time most people get new games (X-mas) and we are given this token offering? Microsoft, for a billion dollar corporation you sure are stingy with your most loyal customers!
PS I never got my Live is 5ive bonus yet either.

[R0B3RT @ Jan 4th 2008 1:20AM]

Naw i would saw its more like the fire alarm is pulled you miss dinner aka you live game so they give you a free pizza hut coupon still food but smaller cheaper hence XBLA or a mountain dew mini fridge for missing dinner maybe i just want that mini fridge they were giving away from Microsoft......

[Dave @ Jan 4th 2008 3:45AM]

@k

You DO have to download the live is 5ive thing you know, it's not automatic.

[Luigi193 @ Jan 4th 2008 12:30PM]

@R0B3RT

...What?