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Almost 40 Windows Phone games get updates to work with newer devices
Microsoft made a big fuss over Windows Phone's gaming abilities right from the start, but it's hard to appreciate that if you're a newcomer; many classic titles never made the leap to Windows Phone 8, or were never tuned for budget devices. Not all of those releases will be consigned to the history books, however. In a sudden revival, nearly 40 older games (according to WPCentral) have been updated to either run on Windows Phone 8 in the first place or else support devices with a modest 512MB of memory, like the Lumia 630. You may know some of the upgraded games off-hand. Microsoft's relatively recent Halo: Spartan Assault is the highlight, but we've also spotted earlier gems like Hexic, ilomilo and even Minesweeper. This renaissance probably won't lead to any Windows Phone converts, but it should give first-timers a warmer welcome -- and veterans a trip down memory lane.
ilomilo plus finds a companion in Windows 8
Southend Interactive's adorable bipartisan platformer/puzzle game, ilomilo, has made its way to Microsoft's latest operating system, in the form of ilomilo plus. Available on the Windows 8-centric Windows Store for $6.99, plus is an enhanced port of the XBLA version of the game, with two new characters, additional creatures, new cubes, more chapters and support for keyboard, touchscreen and gamepad control schemes.That last bit means you'll be able to play ilomilo plus on your new Surface for Windows RT and/or Surface Pro without shelling out $100-plus for one the available hardware keyboards.
XBL Deal of the Week is having a Spring Fling
The Xbox Live Deal of the Week is going for a spring theme this week, offering discounts on several vernal games and items. Of particular note are Peggle and Ilomilo, both of which can be had for just 400 points each ($5), and you can throw in Peggle Nights for another 200 ($2.50). You'll also find it cheaper to deal with the zombies on your lawn, as Plants vs. Zombies has been knocked down to 800 points ($10). If none of that is appealing, you could always snag an Avatar monkey prop for 120 points ($1.50), because nothing says "spring" like monkeys.
ilomilo 'Autumn Tale' DLC arrives in time for spring
Southend Interactive could learn a thing or two about timing. Next week's "Autumn Tale" DLC for ilomilo adds two new chapters to the charming XBLA game, plus 25 new levels (including 6 bonus maps) and three Achievements. The only problem with Autumn Tale's arrival on March 9? It's the wrong season!
ilomilo review: Thumbs upside down
Whether you intend to meet someone for a light lunch, or to discuss a murder plot that culminates in a heavy lunge, it's crucial to pick a spot of friendly intersection that's appropriate for both parties. Choose a place that is recognizable, visible and within polite distance -- it's just a good rule of thumb. Actually, scratch that. Thumbs are particularly bad at following that rule, especially when they're the haplessly opposed pair of Ilo and Milo. ilomilo asks you to reunite the waddling pair of stout, endearing and ever-forgetful thumbs in a whimsical maze of cubes. Their topsy-turvy neighborhood puts them at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to navigation, with different orientations, levels and walking angles delaying Ilo (the red one) and Milo (the blue one) from their elate greeting. It's an elegant, often devilish puzzle game wrapped in presentation that's just too vibrant and earnest to resist.%Gallery-92112%
12 Days of Joyswag: Xbox 360 S plus 'Games for the Holidays,' A World of Keflings, Raskulls, and ilomilo
To celebrate the holidays, we're having twelve straight days of giveaways up through Christmas day. And while we say it's to celebrate, really ... we're simply getting rid of some of the larger packages around the ol' office. Remember when Microsoft promised everyone in the audience during its 2010 E3 keynote a brand-new Xbox 360 S, the just-announced redesigned console? We've got just one left and we're going to take this opportunity to unload it before the year's out. But instead of just a plain ol' 250GB Xbox 360 S console, we're going to spice matters up with codes for all three of this month's Xbox Live Arcade "Games for the Holidays," featuring A World of Keflings, Raskulls, and ilomilo. We've got nine other sets of codes which we'll be handing out on Twitter and Facebook over the course of the week but, for now, get in on our final piece of Joyswag in this series. Happy holidays!%Gallery-95140%
Download Raskulls early through ilomilo
We've already reported about the quirk that allows you to download Raskulls early through today's A World of Keflings. Readers have written in to inform us that you can also get it through the other Xbox "Games for the Holidays" release, ilomilo -- which is itself available well before its release date thanks to a secret website. Simply press Y in the ilomilo main menu, and you'll be able to access the trials (and thus the full games) for both Raskulls and Keflings. At this point, the only one of the three you can't get before its release date is A World of Keflings, and that's only because today is Keflings' release date. [Thanks, Dillon and Jeff]
Video: Xbox Live Arcade's Games for the Holidays mascot crossover
Confused by Xbox Live's "Games for the Holidays" crossover bonus? Don't worry. This new video from Microsoft makes it very clear what you unlock when you buy more than one game from this seasonal promotion.
Xbox 'Games for the Holidays' feature unlockable crossovers
Raskulls, Ilomilo, and A World of Keflings aren't just connected through the shared "Games for the Holidays" promotion. They also each unlock extras in the other games. In Ilomilo, you can get unlockable Keflings and Raskulls costumes for Ilo and Milo by purchasing the other games. Additionally, "You can unlock ilo and Doug as playable characters in Raskulls," says Raskulls dev Halfbrick, "and also unlock Raskulls characters within ilomilo and World of Keflings by purchasing the full range of games." And buyers of Raskulls or Ilomilo can build homes for characters from those games in A World of Keflings, according to a statement posted by Kotaku. Even crazier: you can actually get Raskulls early by buying A World of Keflings. Raskulls can be bought from within that game, a week before its December 29 release. That's two out of the three games available early!
A World of Keflings, Raskulls and ilomilo dated for XBLA
"But Joystiq," you ask, "isn't there already a way to get the absolutely delightful ilomilo for XBLA right now?" Yes, there is -- or you could wait until it's "officially" released on the Xbox Marketplace come January 5 as part of the "Games for the Holidays" promotion. But really, who would do such a silly thing? (Either way, it'll set you back 800 Microsoft Points, or $10.) Of course, since there's no way to secretly procure Ninja Bee's latest, A World of Keflings, or the puzzle/racer mash-up that is Raskulls from Halfbrick Studios, you will have to wait until their official launches on December 22 and 29, respectively, at 800 points ($10) each.
Get early access to ilomilo on Xbox Live ... right now!
Adorable puzzle game ilomilo may already be out (for free, no less) on Windows Phone 7 devices, but did you know you can play it on your Xbox 360 as well, like, right now? A dutiful tipster pointed us to the developer's website, where a "super secret" access page gives out an Xbox Live code that redeems for the trial version of the game. As you probably already put together, downloading the trial version of ilomilo also means that -- if you're willing to shell out the 800 MS Points ($10) it costs -- you can totally buy the full game. More bizarre? The game doesn't have an official release date just yet. So, you can buy it right now and tell your friends you're on that new, new, new ish. That "hasn't even been given a release date" ish, you know? [Thanks blahman!]
Ilomilo still headed to XBLA, with Meat Boy cameo and DLC
Meat Boy will messily make his way to other platforms eventually, but those of you looking for more meaty goodness on your Xbox 360 will be glad to hear he's making an appearance in the forthcoming XBLA "dawwww!" evoker Ilomilo. A fully cubed version of Meat Boy was outed on the Ilomilo dev blog, though representatives confirmed he won't be playable. Southend Interactive has also teased that other, familiar characters will be making non-playable cameos, but wouldn't give us any hints as to who they might be. Additionally, the developer has revealed at least one DLC pack for Ilomilo in "Autumn Tale," which will include "Chapters 5 and 6" of the adventure and is expected to be priced at 400 Microsoft Points ($5). Oh, and in case the recent announcement of Ilomilo's AT&T exclusivity had you worried, Southend reassures us, "Don't worry dear XBLA users, the game is definitely on its way and there are no plans on changing that." Exactly when the game will arrive, however, is still up in the air.
Windows Phone 7 launch day app roundup
With thousands of developers churning out thousands of apps, we've no doubt exploring the Marketplace is going to be a full-time job for at least a day or two after you nab your Windows Phone 7 device this fall -- but with all the hullabaloo today, we thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight a few that Microsoft and its partners have been talking about recently. Dig in!
ilomilo exclusive to AT&T Windows Phone 7 devices
During the unveiling of Windows Phone 7 – happening live right now! – Microsoft veep of Windows Phone Joe Belfiore took the opportunity to show off some games. One of those games was the Microsoft Game Studios-published (and therefore Xbox Live and Windows Phone exclusive) ilomilo which Belfiore announced would be "available exclusively on AT&T phones." Our comrades at Engadget share our sentiment exactly: "Whoa, that is weird." It could be argued that all iPhone games are AT&T exclusive in the US since, well, it's only available through AT&T; however, for multi-carrier phones running on lots of different pieces of hardware, the introduction of carrier exclusivity is a slippery slope. And does that mean that just the mobile version is exclusive to AT&T or is the Xbox Live release now off the table as well? We'll have more details later today on the Windows Phone 7 gaming experience.
Preview: Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 and launch games
Late last night (likely past your bedtime, unless you've got some super cool parents), Microsoft revealed the launch line-up of games and revealed some additional Xbox Live functionality for Windows Phone 7. Since we didn't get to put our fingers on the new interface and games in NYC like our dear friends at Engadget, we hopped on over to MS PR's digs in San Francisco offices yesterday to test it all out. First on the docket: games. %Gallery-99572%
Download some of Ilomilo's soundtrack for free (or just enjoy the new trailer)
Along with releasing a new trailer (found after the break) for adorable downloadable title Ilomilo, developer Southend Interactive is giving away tracks featured in the forthcoming game's soundtrack over on its website. Also, it appears that the folks at Southend had a cookout helmed by a "coding mega robot" (as detailed on said website). That just straight up sounds unsafe, folks.
We can't handle the cuteness of ilomilo's 'Summer' trailer
Oh, ilomilo. Even though we still have absolutely no idea what's going on gameplay-wise, after watching this new trailer, we can't help but fall prey to this game's immeasurable charm. It looks like you have to move boxes around to reunite the game's pair of roly-poly protagonists, but we're sure there's more to it than that. Just like we're sure that this trailer is cuter than a bucket of baby sea otters being cuddled by a baby panda bear, which is also being cuddled by a much larger panda bear. The trailer also includes a look at the "ilomilo shuffle" minigame, which, despite its lo-fi visuals, still manages to be irresponsibly adorable. We'll keep an eye on Swedish developer Southend's blog for release details for this pretty, pretty puzzler.
Ilomilo adorably (and exclusively) heading to XBLA
Southend Interactive, developer of Lode Runner and R-Type on Xbox Live Arcade, recently announced plans to bring adorable puzzler Ilomilo to Microsoft's digital platform as an "exclusive." The game stars Ilo and Milo, two miniaturized Teletubby-looking creatures exploring "surrealistic and ever changing" environments, forever questing to be reunited. The game's first trailer (seen above) has the pair traversing worlds that evoke Echochrome, only with, well, gobs more color (not to mention tons more charm). No release window is given for the title, but when it does eventually come out, friends can join up online to control one character each and take on the game's four worlds cooperatively. Apparently Ilomilo will also feature "famous cameos from other games" hidden within each level, though given Southend's past titles (based on other companies' IP), we can't possibly imagine what that could mean. Will we find an Arrowhead space ship somewhere in the game? The future is unknown, folks. For now, get your "DAWWWWWW"s ready and check out the smattering of Ilomilo media above and below. %Gallery-92112%[Via Eurogamer]
