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Microsoft comments on lack of new season in Full House Poker
Don't be too worried about the lack of new seasons for Full House Poker, card sharks: Microsoft's just making sure everyone has the time to grab all the Achievements in the game's current phase. That's the news Microsoft Product Manger Daniel McConnell reportedly passed down to XBLAFans, who explained that fans thought the last, 66-day-long season didn't give them enough time to pull down all the sweet, sweet 'cheevos therein. That explains why the current, summer season is on day 119, with no announced stop date. Don't think that Microsoft is just letting the title languish -- McConnell added that the season-based Texas Heat mode "is thriving, and we plan to refresh the Texas Heat season in the future." We, for one, can't wait for the autumn season, when the Texas Heat tops off with highs in the mid 70s, rather than in the skin-dissolving low 110s.
Full House Poker is 2011's best-selling XBLA game (so far)
Over 321,500 gamers doubled down for an aces wild deal-in at the Full House Poker table, making it the best selling game on Xbox Live Arcade so far this year, according to Gamasutra. Also, we do not know any poker lingo. There are plenty of other winners in the chart (which is able only to count games with leaderboards) like Dead Rising: Case West (248,746), Torchlight (191,781) and A World of Keflings (185,504). But if we were to pick a lowlight, it would be that the delightful Adventures of Shuggy sold just 2,594 despite being, well, totally delightful. What's the matter, internet? Don't like good video games?
XBLA in Brief: Full House Poker
The Joystiq staff still weeps for the loss of 1 vs 100, but Microsoft soldiers on with its new social game experiment, Full House Poker. The game takes the usual single-player and multiplayer poker modes and also throws scheduled live matches every week. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if you'd like to ante up. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
Full House Poker offers Windows Phone 7 connectivity
Full House Poker isn't simply notable for its inclusion in Xbox Live's House Party lineup. It's also one of the first examples of connectivity between Xbox Live on the console and on Windows Phone 7. Not only is it the first Xbox Live-enabled mobile game with Avatar integration, but players will be able to transfer their progress from the console to mobile, and vice versa. As an Xbox Live representative explained to Joystiq, "you'll be able to carry over both experience points and the bank roll you earn." While stats will be persistent across both versions of the game, the connectivity doesn't run much deeper. For example, each title will have different Achievements that are "tailored specifically for each platform." It also doesn't appear there are any plans for cross-platform multiplayer support. Full House Poker will be available on Windows Phone and Xbox 360 on March 16. While the XBLA version will go for 800 Microsoft Points ($10), the mobile version will be $2.99.
Full House Poker preview: Know when to hold 'em
After leaks about the secret beta appeared way back in November, Microsoft finally unveiled its Full House Poker game during an event at CES this past week, and I sat down with members of the gaming press (and celebrity guest Shannon Elizabeth) to run the Xbox Live Arcade poker title through its paces. The rumors of the game being part of 1 vs. 100's legacy are true. "This is pretty much a spiritual successor" to the popular-in-certain-circles event-based massively multiplayer arcade title, says lead designer John Scott Tynes. But rather than a snappy trivia game show, this is definitely a Texas Hold'em poker game -- there's no celebrity hosts or mob members here. If you don't know your straight flush from your two pair, ace high, the game does have a tutorial to teach you the basic rules, but you'll have to find your own way to figuring out when and how to go all-in. %Gallery-113483%
Torchlight coming to Xbox Live Arcade with new content for House Party series
Runic Games has announced that the Diablo-esque RPG Torchlight is coming to Xbox Live Arcade for the upcoming House Party series of releases. The game has apparently been remade to use the Xbox controller (with dual sticks for moving and attacking, bumpers for potions, and hotkeys assigned to triggers and buttons), and given a new interface for the console release. There will also be "new quests, armor sets, weapons, and a new pet" to play with as well. Consider us surprised -- it'll be interesting to see how a very PC title (that's found a lot of success on Steam) fits into Microsoft's arcade lineup. The House Party will start on February 16, and will also include a release of the Beyond Good and Evil HD remake, Hard Corps Uprising, PopCap's Bejeweled Blitz Live, and Full House Poker. That's a quality lineup right there! %Gallery-112898%
Microsoft's Full House Poker rated in Australia
It looks like the super secret beta for Microsoft's next massively multiplayer Xbox Live title is going pretty well -- the Australian classification board recently gave a rating of G (for General!) to Full House Poker. If you'll recall, that's the title of the 1 vs. 100-inspired online card game which Microsoft invited select Gold subscribers to try out earlier this month. It's also the title of our favorite 90s family sitcom, with the word "Poker" appended to the end of it. The game's "G" rating in Australia is a little strange, considering the beta invitations sent out by Microsoft mentioned a Teen rating in the States, thanks to all the 'simulated gambling.' Maybe they don't have much of a problem with fake gambling in Australia? Or maybe they just have, like, really cool, Frank Sinatra-esque kids.
Microsoft sends out secret invites to 1 vs. 100-style 'Full House Poker' game
Joystiq reader Rob kindly forwarded us an email from Microsoft Game Studios about a private beta for a game called Full House Poker, described as a way to "bet your way to fame as you compete against your friends and thousands of other players around the world in live Texas Heat poker game shows." The concept sounds extremely like 1 vs. 100 with a coating of poker paint, allowing players to pick up XP and other rewards (including "unique tells and avatar accessories") by playing poker in "regularly scheduled episodes." Sounds fun! The email also stresses that the beta is "highly confidential" (whoops), and that it requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription in the US, Canada, or Mexico. Note that those restrictions are only on the beta, and might not be on the full game. But the email says the game will be rated T for teen, thanks to "simulated gambling." 1 vs. 100 is unfortunately gone forever, but it looks like Full House Poker might be Microsoft's second foray into episode-based massively multiplayer gaming.
