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Will Assault Heroes revive Xbox Live Arcade?
The third original title to hit Xbox Live Arcade in less than a month, Assault Heroes, will arrive on Wednesday (for 800 points). Wanako Studios' top-down shooter (à la Commando, Ikari Warriors, etc.) will follow closely behind two insipid releases, Small Arms and Roboblitz, which have appeared on XBLA during the past three weeks. Ever since Geometry Wars stole the Xbox 360 launch spotlight, there's been a great deal of anticipation for more original XBLA titles; and Microsoft has certainly put together a fine strategy: holding them off for a holiday blitz. But the early bait has failed to earn our confidence -- our assurance that XBLA can consistently provide distinguishing experiences. And so, it's with much trepidation that we look forward to Assault Heroes' impending arrival.
Oblivion Knights of the Nine add-on reviewed
Eurogamer has reviewed Oblivion's largest content expansion to date, Knights of the Nine. The 800-point download ($10) was released this past Wednesday amidst a flurry of Xbox Live content unleashed during Thanksgiving week.Knights of the Nine doesn't stray too far from Oblivion's established mechanics. In that sense, if you found the initial offering to be spoiled by repetition, this pint-sized expansion is unlikely to win back your interest. But Knights of the Nine does offer a sizeable questline and some new content (items, Aurorans, etc.) for those that continue to comb the land of Cyrodiil.[For those keeping score: Eurogamer bestowed an 8/10]
1600 MS Points for $4.99 w/Halo 3 purchase
Head over to BestBuy.com and preorder Halo 3 if you're all about getting Microsoft Points for cheap. And I know you are thinking "dude, Halo 3 is not coming out for like ... a whole year. I'm not giving Best Buy my $60. Bah!" Hey, I 100% agree ... unless you're going to be buying it online anyway and have some extra cash laying around. $4.99 for 1600 Microsoft Points is a great deal, except you have to part with $60 a year early. Weigh the pros and cons then check out the offer if it tickles your fancy.[Thanks, Luis L.]
EA continues to exploit, charging $50 for Need for Speed unlockables
EA is determined to be the bully of Xbox Live Marketplace. Once again, the world's biggest games publisher is offering pay-don't-play content, inviting gamers to buy Need for Speed Carbon's unlockables.EA and Microsoft will argue that this is simply a matter of choice: choose to buy content; or choose to unlock content by playing. But this new set of choices defies our learned experience.Gamers want instant access to unlockables for all sorts of reasons (some are too busy to "earn" unlockables; some to lazy; others are inferior; and still others just have more fun when it's easy). There used to be a simple solution: cheat codes. But EA wants us to forget codes ever existed; wants to punish our wallets for not approaching its games with the Protestant ethic. All told, you'll burn an additional $49.25 if you want accelerated access to Carbon's goodies. Hey, you don't get to the top of the industry by offering handouts.See also:EA's premium ripoff: football tutorial videos on XBLMEA charging gamers to access unlockable contentEA charging twice for downloadable content
Prey extras to cost $0 (that's 0 MS points)
Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace is like the wild west; a new frontier where bold pioneers make the rules as they go. First, a swarthy, mustachioed gent named Beth Esda (hey, it's a dude's name!) starting charging folks for what he called "horse armor." This armor was little more than a fancy horse blanket, but Esda ran a tough gang, and folks were curious, so he did all right by himself.Plenty of other shopkeepers came into town, hawking their wares with little regard for the "horse armor" precedent and finding some success ... and then a stranger came to town. D.D.D. Realms thought folks should get new multiplayer maps and skins for nuttin' so, before even opening up shop, he announced that all Native American-themed Prey content, both in his XBLA store and the PC store down the street, would be free of charge. Of course, folks know all about D.D.D. Realms, who's been promising 'em some Duke Nukem flimflam since as far back as the '90s and, just like that product, this new Prey content will be available "when it's done." It remains to be seen if other shopkeepers follow his low-priced lead or if it's still every publisher for himself.
New PGR3 content hits Xbox Live Marketplace
Lifting their foot slightly from the pedal and instead concentrating on all things cosmetic and shiny, Bizarre Creations have finished putting together the Style Pack for Project Gotham Racing 3. As reported last month, the download contains 12 new beautifully shaped hunks of metal, fit for driving around the streets of London and gazing at for embarrassing amounts of time. Unlike last month, however, the pack is available for download right now. In case you didn't get it the first time, here's the list of included vehicles, available for 60 MS points ($0.75) seperately or 400 MS points ($5) as a group. BMW M6 (2006) BMW Z8 (2001) BMW M3 CSL (2003) BMW MINI COOPER S (2005) Gumpert Apollo Coupe 4.2 V8 (2005) 2005 Chrysler® Firepower Concept Ferrari 365 GTB4 "Daytona" (1968) Ferrari F430 Challenge (2006) Mercedes CLK DTM AMG (C209) Pagani Zonda F (2005) RUF R.K. Spyder 3.8 (2006) [Note: This one's free!] Vanwall GPR V12 (2006) In addition, you'll be prompted to update the game once you log on and be pleased to welcome some new (and way overdue) features. It's finally possible to upload the stunningly artistic or hopelessly amateurish images you've created in the game's photo mode to the official PGR3 website. It doesn't seem to be fully operational yet, but there is likely a very large tantrum in store should that not change in the near future.New multiplayer game modes come in the form of "Free Roam Points," "Team Free Roam Points" and a series favorite, "Cat and Mouse." The rules of the latter mode dictate that teams comprised of two cars each, one being an E-class vehicle, compete to have their slower car be the first to cross the finish line. If the other, faster car crosses the line first, the team loses instantly. The update also adds matching achievements should you need any further incentive to venture online.[Thanks Xbudd!]Previously: More cars pull into PGR3's garage Cadillac secures Xbox Live ad space Forza 2 jacks PGR3 technology
Bad at math? Use this MS Points converter
Been duped into forking over 200 "Microsoft Points" for some fancy horse armor, only to have your waning, embarrassingly poor math skills catch up with your error after the fact? "2.50? 2.50?! I coulda bought a bunch of gamertag pictures for that!"You're right dear reader, although we'd question that expenditure as well. In the real world, $2.50 can buy all sorts of great stuff like: four thousandths of a PlayStation 3, some Taco Bell, or a small water at a movie theater. Using bigsteveouk's Unofficial Microsoft Points Converter, you can convert Microsoft's funny money into real currency before making any more impulse buys, and then save that money for important stuff. [Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
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]
Download the entire XBL Marketplace catalogue for only $897.38 -- act now!
Besides building a helpful guide that features all currently available items on the Xbox Live Marketplace, Achieve360Points.com has calculated the total cost* of the service's premium content. The entire catalogue is yours to own for just 71,790 Microsoft Points. That's $897.38.That number is poised to grow exponentially as developers/publishers begin to explore the 'episodic content' formula (read: mini expansion packs). In this time of great paranoia, one can't help but feel suspicious of the micropayment structure. Are publishers purposely shipping incomplete titles? Will I be at a disadvantage if I don't buy the latest content? Why can't I trade it in when I'm through with it?Our rational side would have us believe that these downloads simply offer a little more, for a little more, thus extending the lifespan of our favorite games. And, these downloads should always be about choice, not advantage. Still, we wonder who benefits most from this business model. Are gamers scoring cheap added value? Or is Microsoft pocketing a healthy profit - cut with publishers - to make up for losses? Could it be both?*Achieve360Points.com notes that several of the items are counted more than once due to multiple listings. Also keep in mind that Xbox Live Arcade titles are figured into the total cost.
MS Point fraud reported (Updated)
Reader Drew shares a worrisome tale about unauthorized MS points on his passport account following the XBL down time—when it was impossible to purchase points:Just before Live came back up today, I got an email thanking me for my purchase of 500 MS Points on the Live Marketplace. The fun part is that I live alone and had not turned on my console today or yesterday--so I was curious as to how I could be charged for points--especially when the Live was down and unavailable for such transactions. At first I thought it was just an example of clever phishing, but when I turned on my 360 to find out, sure enough, I had more points than the last time I turned it off. I checked my passport account online and it said the points had indeed been purchased today. I called MS Support and they agreed with me (and not my cynical friend) in saying that it was impossible for me to buy points today--at least before Live came back up and that they would escalate the issue and I should expect a waiver of the 'no-refund' policy pending investigation--given the strange circumstances. Could be a one time thing--or just my luck, but if it happens to another guy somewhere, maybe it's news.Disturbing story. Has this happened to anybody else?(Update: Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and are crediting the affected accounts. From the Xbox.com forums: "All affected users will be getting refunds, none of you is going to have to pay for our mistake. And you'll be able to keep the extra points too. We are still working out the details, and it could take a few days for all of this to be fully resolved, but I wanted you to know that we absolutely will be taking care of this, no one will have to pay for any of these charges." Makes me wish my account was affected too!)
