GeometryWars
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XNA Challenge: Final Stand
Josh Butterworth is probably better known to NeoGAF readers as Ghost, the author of XNA space shooter Last Alarm. The game got him noticed not just by the NeoGAF community but also by Microsoft, who invited him to take part in the XNA Challenge to create a game from scratch in four days at the Game Developers Conference.Butterworth's creation is Final Stand, a "static-screen shooter" that he admits draws lots of inspiration from Geometry Wars, right down to the dual stick control scheme. Where Final Stand tweaks the formula is in its multiplayer mode, which will allow four people to work together to kill as many of the swarming yellow enemies as possible. The game is intended as a co-operative exercise, but Butterworth said he'll be leaving friendly fire on so "if you're losing in the scores and have two seconds left and have a missile in your pocket and you see your friend over there, you can feel free to shoot him." Think of it as Space War meets Geometry Wars.Butterworth is impressed with what he's been able to get out of the XNA environment after only a few months of experience, but he isn't really trying to compete with his more experienced challengers. "It's not really a competition," he said. "It's about showing what's possible on XNA." Watch a video of the work-in-progress after the jump.
512MB memory card and exciting XBLA news
It looks like that silly rumor was true as Microsoft just announced a bigger memory card for the Xbox 360. The new 512MB Xbox 360 memory card will be available April 3rd, will retail for $49.99, and for a limited time will come pre-loaded with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. Simultaneously, the ancient 64MB memory card will drop in price to $29.99 (be on the lookout for clearance prices). Also, with the announcement of the new 512MB card, the XBLA size limit will be raised from 50MB to 150MB allowing developers to run wild with their creativity. Microsoft also announced that they'll be showcasing XBLA titles Boom Boom Rocket, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures, Eets: Chowdown, Jetpac Refuelled, and Pinball FX at GDC. Check out the full press release after the break. So, after reading that informative spiel what is your gut reaction? We definitely agree with raising the XBLA size limit to 150MB and find the 512MB memory card to be a much better deal than the old 64MB version. And for curiosity's sake, is there anyone out there who just purchased a 64MB memory card and is kicking themselves?
EA to publish Bizarre's new XBLA game
EA's first downloadable console title will be Boom Boom Rocket, a new rhythm game from the geometric warmongers at Bizarre Creations. The game sees players traveling through a 3D cityscape and launching rockets to the beat of the music -- the more accurate you are, the more spectacular the resulting fireworks become. Gamedaily Biz reports that Boom Boom Rocket should arrive on Xbox Live Arcade in Spring.Chip Lange, EA's vice president of online commerce, feels they've crashed the party at the opportune moment. "Now feels like the right time. Across EA there's been a lot of internal excitement about Arcade and we're at a point where we can dedicate resources to building Arcade games. We're very excited to be entering this space. This is a great way to develop new IP and work with small development teams internally and externally to build a casual, fun game experience." Originally thought up by EA's own Pogo casual games team, the game should be a welcome addition to the XBLA lineup, especially given the grievous lack of any other rhythm games. The fireworks in Boom Boom Rocket will be accompanied by ten original tunes from Ian Livingstone -- we certainly hope he's familiar with synesthesia.
Top XBLA title Geometry Wars headed to PC [update 1]
During the Microsoft keynote at CES on Sunday, Microsoft gave us evidence that surprise hit Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (an Xbox 360 launch title) is headed to the PC (the confirmation occurs at timestamp 44:28 on the official keynote video). No surprise there, because genuine hits like GW are so rare that hay must be made while the sun shines. We've already blogged about a mobile version of the game; a PC version was inevitable. No word on timing or price, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect it to land this year for between $5 (the price on XBLA) and $20 (the price for most "casual" PC games). [Update 1: noted that confirmation occurs at timestamp 44:28 on the official keynote video.]
K4rn4ge to attempt 1 billion-point Geometry Wars high score
As if his leaderboard-topping score of 360,360,600 isn't enough, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved celeb K4rn4ge has revealed plans to attempt to reach the one billion-point mark during his upcoming winter break. The "Geometry Warlord" estimates that his current high score (he stopped at the 360 million-mark on purpose) took him at least 30 hours, spread across four days of playing. At that pace, his new goal could exceed 90 hours of thumb twirling. Whad'ya think, Guinness Record worthy?
Geometry Wars dumbed down for celly release
Gamasutra sat down with Bizarre Creations' Community and Web Lead Ben Ward to figure out just how the heck Geometry Wars is going to fly on the mobile platform. Turns out, it won't -- at least, not in the traditional sense of the game. The controls have been overhauled dumbed down to accommodate for the lack of dual-analogue sticks. In the mobile version, the ship is always firing forward (the direction of fire cannot be changed or stopped), and the arrow keys (on the keypad) direct the ship's course -- double-tapping the center button initiates a strafe move. These limitations have forced developers to re-program enemy AI, as well as slow down the pace and scale of the beloved Xbox 360 Live Arcade original. Geometry Wars Mobile will be padded with some new content, namely a Challenge Mode. The new mode expands on the achievements awarded in the Xbox 360 version, featuring challenges like Survivor (how long can you play without dying). Players can then post their best times and scores onto a network leaderboard.
Geometry Wars Mobile published by Sony
It's Sony's turn to reap the benefits of Bizarre's creation. Despite Geometry Wars becoming the poster child for Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade, the mobile port is being published by Sony BMG. Little ironies aside, how the heck are we supposed to control this game? They invented a dual-stick phone yet? Prove us wrong, but this is shaping up to be a classic example of exploiting a known brand. Geometry Wars Mobile just ain't gonna fly. [Thanks, Justin]
Conversation with Bizarre Creations
Mike from the Xbox Domain, re-visits Geometry Wars with Bizarre Creations Community and Web Lead Ben Ward. Included in the conservation: Hints that a GW dash theme could be on the way and an unconvincing refusal to confirm the possibility of a sequel.
XBLA Unplugged Vol. 1 coming on Sept. 5
Microsoft has just announced that the Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1 compilation for the 360 will be hitting store shelves on Sept. 5 for a robust price of $39.99. The whole package will include six XBLA games plus a free month of Xbox Live Gold subscription and three downloadable XBLA demos.The games included are: Geometry Wars, Wik: Fable of Souls, Outpost Kaloki X, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Hardwood Backgammon, and Texas Hold 'em.At $39.99 and with a free month of Gold service, is this a good deal for the games offered or not quite enough to warrant a purchase?
Retail boxart for Xbox Live Arcade: Unplugged
German site Gamefront.de managed to bag some shots of the relatively uninspiring retail packaging of Xbox Live Arcade: Unplugged. The pack includes offline versions of Geometry Wars, Texas Hold'em, Wik, Bejeweled 2, Outpost Kaloki X, Hardwood Backgammon, a free 1-month Gold membership, 100 free Microsoft points, and should be available in early September.We realize that trying to package six games together limits the freedom you have to be creative, but maybe the design team should have taken a look at Microsoft's parody of their own box designs. Simple? Yes. Attractive? Noooo!!![Via BritishGaming]
Private gaming with a PSP face scarf
Joe Malia, a student at the Royal College of Art in London, created a series of face scarves with special attachments that, at least in the above example, "lets PSP players explore their passion in complete privacy". There's also a special design that fits neatly over a CRT; the perfect way to prevent your roommate from copying your finely honed Counter-Strike tactics.
Xbox Live Arcade titles coming to retail [update 1]
Steam isn't the only digital distribution service offering games up in delicious digital bits; Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade has been selling kids Geometry Wars crack for $5 a hit ... just to get you started. So it should come as no surprise that, like many of Steam's games, some of Xbox Live Arcade's will be coming to retail as well. According to Next Generation, "Peter Moore is pushing to extend the Live Arcade brands to retail, arguing internally that original games like Geometry Wars, retro hits like Smash TV and casual games like Hardwood Hearts will extend Xbox 360's appeal to non-hardcore audiences."I know where they're going with this: around half of the 360 owners aren't on XBL, yet they might want to jam on some Joust. Thing is, the whole idea is that some of these games, which had their retail heyday 20 years ago, made the jump online to cut distribution costs and bypass the limited retail interest. Ultimately, Microsoft will need to cherry pick games whose retail prospects would make the move worthwhile. That means more Geometry Wars, less Smash TV.[Via Evil Avatar][Update 1: A tipster claims MS released the following info to retailers today. The $39.99 package, which will be dubbed Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged, will include XBLA superstar Geometry Wars, along with Texas Hold'em, Wik, Bejeweled 2, Outpost Kaloki X, Hardwood Backgammon, a free 1-month Gold membership, 100 free Microsoft bucks, and should be available in early September. Thanks, Loki.]
Design the next XBLA hit yourself
Have you ever played Geometry Wars and thought to yourself, "This game is a steaming pile of manure. I could design something better than this!" If so, then Microsoft wants you, Uncle Sam style (no, not your creepy uncle Sam, this Uncle Sam). Xbox Live Arcade's unprecedented success has been something of a surprise, even to Peter Moore: "I didn't expect Live Arcade to be for gamers, I thought maybe for their girlfriends, mums and sisters -- but it's for everybody."Games like Geometry Wars have convinced big time developers that XBLA equals easy money. Like Nintendo, it allows publishers to earn big money by selling consumers their collective childhood again. But that's not all it's good for, and Microsoft knows it. The next step for XBLA is to get some original independent content. Do you think you're up to snuff? If so, you can send your proposals to this address: arcade[AT]microsoft.com. Finally, my game about Microsoft's evil robot minions will get some recognition.
Chileans get their 360 on
Still don't have an Xbox 360? Do you live in Chile? Then you're in luck my friend! The curvy white box hit store shelves in Chile last week, inspiring these ladies to impersonate protagonists from mediocre launch titles. Just for a moment, recall how disappointed you were when you played Perfect Dark Zero for the first time. Let that sink in for a second. That is what it's like to be a 360 fan in Chile right now. At least they have access to the best launch title, right? Good lord, can you imagine having to wait 5 months for GRAW and Oblivion again?
Free Xbox Live Gold weekend back with free points
The free Xbox Live Gold weekend for 360 owners is back on track for the scheduled dates of March 31st-April 2nd. Sorry, U.S. residents only.Verizon, the sponsor of the promo, will also be conducting some sort of Million Point Giveaway starting on the 30th, so check on their specialized site below for further details when the end of the month rolls around. Oh schnap, 500 free Microsoft Points (while supplies last)? Sign us up!
360 crooner: "Maybe a game or two of Geometry Wars"
There's almost no point in explaining the song, so we'll leave it at this. It's called "Archie's Theme -- The 360 Song"...... and it's inspired. The backing vocals especially."The best that you can do / the best that you can do / is run away."[Thanks, InfectedZero]
Top 10 most popular XBLA titles
IGN managed to obtain the official top 10 list of most popular Xbox Live Arcade titles ranked by sales:1. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved2. Gauntlet3. Smash TV4. Bejeweled II5. Zuma6. Bankshot Billiards7. Outpost Kaloki8. Mutant Storm Reloaded9. Joust10. Wik: Fable of SoulsWe all could have guessed that Geometry Wars was going to be number one (it is their Halo after all) but it's surprising to see the relatively overpriced ($15 / 1200 Microsoft Points) Bankshot Billiards coming in as high as it does. Watch out for more $15 titles in the future; it's almost a guarantee that Street Fighter II Hyer Fighting will command a premium. How much are you willing to spend on an XBLA title?
