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PSA: Fire Pro-Wresting resurfaces, now available on XBLM
After being announced at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show and scheduled for a 2011 release it never made, Fire Pro-Wrestling resurfaces and is now available on the Xbox Marketplace. Developed by Japanese studio Spike, the Avatar-ed version of one of gaming's oldest series is priced at 800 MSP.Apart from throwing you into 3D wrestling action, FPW uses the Avatar FameStar cross-game reward program. So while you can obtain suitably outlandish garb for your Avatar using in-game currency, you can also earn themed costumes based on other FameStar games like Full House Poker and Wreckateer. There's offline and online multiplayer for 2-4 players, with tag matches, team matches (2 on 2, 1 on 2, or 1 on 3), 4-way matches, and battle royals.%Gallery-166261%
A World of Keflings now a world of Avatar Famestar rewards
The second game to see new Avatar tie-in content from the "Avatar FameStar" program is NinjaBee's A World of Keflings, which was just updated to support FameStar today. The new update adds more than just Avatar bonuses for in-game accomplishments, including what NinjaBee calls "a full year's-worth of free weekly quests, a new kingdom to build in and more."The new kingdom is a "sandbox" environment in which players can build whatever they want – including ships to sail and explore the waterways. Also present in this new kingdom is the "Rockstar Kefling" who dispenses each week's new quest.In other weird, time-delayed updates, today's Keflings additions include a patch to unlock a "unique Twisted Pixel emote" for players who have earned a specific achievement in Comic Jumper. What a strangely busy week for XBLA games from 2010.
'Avatar Famestar' introduces persistent, cross-game rewards to XBLA
When Iron Galaxy's Wreckateer is launched next week – the second game in Microsoft's Summer of Arcade annual promotion – it'll include a brand new feature that will show up in several upcoming XBLA games: Avatar Famestars. We first heard the name back in February when a trademark popped up for the phrase, but what exactly is it?"Avatar Famestars is a new program from Microsoft Studios and is part of a select group of games that delivers new and exciting ways to play online with your friends and compete for social recognition," says Microsoft. Okay, what does that mean? A variety of in-game challenges (think: "get a perfect score five times on this game mode") are included in Avatar Famestar-supported games, and you'll earn rewards based on earning Famestar points (think: Avatar stuff).Those rewards will cross from game to game, as will your point total. It's kind of like Ubisoft's UPlay program, but less ubiquitous – for now, Avatar Famestars is locked to your Xbox 360, though we wouldn't be shocked to hear about it heading to Surface, Windows 8, and Windows Phones in due time.Beyond Wreckateer, Microsoft's adding Avatar Famestar support to already released games Full House Poker, and A World of Keflings, and several upcoming games: Fire Pro Wrestling, Homerun Stars, and Avatar Motocross Madness. Unfortunately, it's not clear when any of the already available games will get the update, but we expect upcoming games will simply debut with the functionality. Wreckateer launches next Wednesday on Xbox Live Arcade, and it'll be the first game on Xbox with Avatar Famestar support. Keep an eye out for our review early next week.%Gallery-160806%
Rampant Speculation Theater presents: Microsoft files for 'Avatar Famestar' trademark
Last monday, Microsoft submitted a trademark filing for "Avatar Famestar" to the US Patent and Trademark Office. The application classifies the trademark for "downloadable software for video game services" and "providing an online portal for video game services and social networking," which leads us to believe it has something to do with video games.What that something might be is anyone's guess, but you came here for our guesses, which are as follows: Avatar Famestar will be a tri-platform XBLA/Windows Phone/Facebook photo-editing suite akin to Hipstamatic and Instagram, in which the user will be able to add her Xbox Live avatar into any picture uploaded into the service. Animated sparkling overlays and faux-Polaroid frames serve as monetized microtransactional DLC. "Take control of your Xbox Live avatar as they audition for simulated singing and dancing reality shows, embarking on the musical journey of a lifetime in this Better With Kinect™ experience! Upload your audition tapes to Friendster and LiveJournal and let your friends hear the snarky British commentary delivered by Avatar Famestar's virtual judges! It's just like losing your dignity on national television, only without the brief candle of fame flickering in the distance! Pre-order today!"
