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Microsoft releases new statistics, expects 10m Live users by June 2008
Amidst the hub-bub of the Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft has released some new statistics and numbers regarding the Xbox 360, which will have its second birthday this November. Worth noting are the stats on Xbox Live, which Microsoft reports has over 7 million subscribers so far, with 10 million anticipated by June of 2008.According to the stats, the original Xbox's Halo 2 is still the most-played title on Xbox Live, followed by Epic's Gears of War. On Xbox Live Arcade, Aegis Wing is the most widely downloaded title, with family card classic Uno coming in second. It's clear that Microsoft considers Live to be the 360's killer app, boasting that 70% of connected console users download and play XBLA games. In terms of social networking, Microsoft is proud to have 2.6 million text and voice messages sent over their service every day, and claims that the average Live Gold user has 23 friends listed. It's no MySpace, but maybe that's a good thing...
Live Top Ten: Betacular
This week's Live Top Ten shows a trend that will continue on through to the 10th. The Halo 3 Beta is being played a lot, by way of our actions Crackdown. Not enough to knock Gears of War of its top spot, but certainly enough to give the retail game second, and the beta in accesses in third. Of course, there is more on the list worth noting other than those three worth mentioning, such as the DiRT demo, or the free XBLA title, Aegis Wing. Full list can be found after the break, or you can just go back to playing the beta. We'll encourage you in your habit.
Friendly free stuff reminder: Aegis Wing on XBLA
Poor Aegis Wing totally got lost in the crowd. Seriously, if it had released during any other week it would have actually made a little splash. The free game (for North America at least) was the creation of a few Microsoft interns with the help of Carbonated Games (UNO, Hexic) and is actually a fairly enjoyable side-scrolling space shooter. Just make sure to play it with friends.Even if you aren't going to play it right now, go download it! It's free! Even if you have no intentions of playing it, go download it ... it's free! Heaven forbid that we actually get something free on Xbox Live and Microsoft ends up seeing that people will pay and download COG tag videos more than they'll download free stuff. If you don't download it for yourself, at least download it for your fellow gamers.%Gallery-3115%
Achievements revealed: Ratatouille, DiRT and more
Yesterday, Xbox360Achievements.org posted complete achievement lists for a few upcoming games including family friendly Ratatouille and the messy DiRT. Ratatouille offers a bunch of objective based achievements with nothing overly spectacular, except for the "Beat Hoisting the Hefty Weight" which caught our eye. DiRT's achievements are rather bland too, nearly a yawn-fest until we spotted the "First Clean Race" achievement. That achievement will be impossible for those of us who like to play dirty. Also, take a gander through Aegis Wing's achievements and focus on getting a few friends together to earn the "Epic Warrior" achievement. Hooking up four players has never been so rewarding. Read - Ratatouille Achievements Read - DiRT Achievements Read - Aegis Wing Achievements
X3F hands-on: Aegis Wing (play it with friends)
Let's get this out of the way right now: if you can avoid it, do not play Aegis Wing alone. Single-player Aegis Wing is almost a complete misrepresentation of the fun that can be had. With that out of the way, we can discuss Aegis Wing, the latest alien-blasting, bullet-dodging, arcade shooter from Microsoft. Sure, there's a story in there. In fact, you'll even get little written snippets of plot between levels. Let's face it though, the point is to shoot everything that moves, and Aegis Wing has that in spades.
Xbox Live Arcade attacked by aliens, cards
Alright, we know that everyone is playing the Halo 3 beta today, but why not take a little break and give Xbox Live Arcade some love? What's that you say? No? What if we told you that one of today's Arcade games is absolutely free? Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Should you have the strength not to click the "Demos and More" button today, and instead click the "Xbox Live Arcade" button, you will find two brand-spanking-new games, Soltrio Solitaire and Aegis Wing. As if two games at once wasn't awesome enough already, Aegis Wing is completely free (Soltrio Solitaire will set you back 800 points).Ah, who are we kidding. You don't care about this. Just go play the Halo 3 beta. Go ahead, we don't blame you. If you are interested, we'll be posting Aegis Wing impressions later today.Note: Aegis Wing is only available in North America.
How 3 Microsoft interns earned their (Aegis) Wings
The Seattle Times retells the history behind Aegis Wing, this week's free Xbox Live Arcade game. The Voltron-inspired space shooter reportedly was "the result of three months of intense work" for three interns / Computer Science majors, along with some help from Microsoft's own Carbonated Games (Hexic, UNO).Two of the three interns now work at Microsoft and one is set to intern again this summer. Carbonated adds another title to their resume, college graduates get employment opportunities, Xbox 360 owners get a free arcade game, and all the puppies in the world find loving families who feed them well and take them on lots walks in the park. Well, three out of four isn't bad.%Gallery-3115%
Aegis Wing hits XBLA this week for free
So, after hearing about Soltrio Solitaire and its 800 MS Point price, perhaps you were somewhat taken aback. Perhaps you thought to yourself, "Self," you thought, "I don't want to play solitaire. I'd much rather destroy aliens. And 800 points seems awfully steep. I sure like free things. And tacos, too. Tacos rule." While we're sorry to inform you that Microsoft Mexico is still working on downloadable tacos, we can satisfy your hunger for free alien destruction. Alongside this week's Solitaire release, Aegis Wing will also be dropping on XBLA. Developed by two MS interns with help from Carbonated Games, Aegis Wing brings old-school side-scrolling goodness to Live Arcade. As if retro co-op alien blasting (complete with co-op maneuvers) wasn't enough, the game is also set to be absolutely free ... in North America. Unfortunately, the game will be unavailable outside of North America at all.At least we all still get Soltrio Solitaire, right?[Via Joystiq. Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]%Gallery-3121%
This Wednesday: Aegis Wing lands on XBLA, forms the head
Arriving alongside the most anticipated game release of all time (oh, and the Halo 3 beta), Aegis Wing is set to remind us yet again that things from outer space are always coming to kill you. Conceived by three enterprising Microsoft interns over the course of a summer and developed in conjunction with Uno's Carbonated Games, the side-scrolling shooter invites up to four players to pilot conspicuously colored spaceships and shoot down alien oppressors this coming Wednesday, May 16th. As with any modern spacecraft, each ship can initiate a mechanical group hug with the others and thus unleash more devastating (and elaborately named) attacks. Aegis Wing will be available for free on Xbox Live Arcade -- a "gift to gamers," says Microsoft -- but only for "a limited time." The time will be especially limited if you live outside North America, where the game will not be available for download at all. No gifts for you, foreign gamers! %Gallery-3115%[Via Microsoft press release]
