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Think you can do better than Street Fighter 2?
Here's a way to make yourself useful while waiting for Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting to show up on Marketplace. Come up with your own Xbox Live Arcade game. For those with the means and will to make that sentence more than just a pipe dream, IGN has posted a helpful primer on the process for getting your creative genius on 360 hard drives across the globe. As for the rest of us, we'll just stare at the glowing screen until Capcom and Microsoft take our money.
Geometry War without end
As we prepare to do a little -- ok, alot of street fighting this Wednesday, let's not forget the game that put Xbox Live Arcade on the map. Here's an interview with elite Geometry Warrior Trey Landry, aka BigDaddy21, currently #1 on the leaderboard with a score of 125, 261, 170. Not bad, but like Bruce Lee said, geometrical shapes don't hit back. [Thanks Mark]
Mad Tracks Hands-on
Xboxic goes hands-on with the Xbox Live Arcade version of Mad Tracks and finds it speeding along nicely, though sadly without Live multiplayer.
GamerTag Radio XBLA party
Miami-based GamerTag Radio threw an Xbox Live Arcade party Friday night to celebrate their nomination in 2006 Podcast People's Choice Awards. Follow the link for a special edition of their show, along with pics and video of the event. While you're at it, stop by PodcastAwards.com and give Godfree and crew a vote for consistently putting together the web's best (and only) Latin-flavored Hip-Hop Xbox podcast.
XBLA: Like a PSP without the crappy UMDs
Sharp-eyed reader DA360 noticed that Lumines Live for XBLA and Lumines 2 PSP are the same game -- except for the price:If you look at game play videos and screenshots, you will notice one huge striking similarity between Lumines Live and Lumines 2 for PSP, their actually the SAME EXACT GAME, only the name is different. From the interface, to the music, to the features (the Lumines 2 for PSP will have downloadable videos like Lumines Live), and even the little face character on the bottom right. It might almost be best for them to just call it Lumines 2 on XBLA.Lumines Live will ironically more than likely cost less than its PSP counterpart, since more than likely it will cost between $30-$40, maybe even $50 on PSP, and we will be paying roughly around $15 (or 1,200 MS points). This will also make it the first modern Xbox Live Arcade game to have a full retail version on another platform.Ouch. At least PSP owners have that vibrant library of UMD movies to ease the sting (ha!). Remember their plight next time you're complaining about the price of XBLA games.
Galaga hits Live Arcade
It's Galaga! Available right now on Xbox Live Arcade! A game sure to make gamers, non-gamers, and even the significant others of gamers very happy. Everybody loves Galaga. Grab the demo, and if you like it, Galaga can be purchased for 400 points. That's a mere $5. Seriously, when you were a kid, if someone told you that you could play all the Galaga you ever wanted for five bucks, you'd go for it right?If by chance you have no idea what Galaga is, get the demo and experience gaming history. Otherwise, rejoice!
Yeah, but how is he at Donkey Kong?
Monkey see, monkey do (Ms.) Pac-Man, posted in honor of the yellow chompers debut on Xbox Live Arcade August 9.
Uno patch makes a match
I was so busy reveling in Microsoft's XBLA announcements last week, I forgot to mention that Uno's broken ranked matchmaking system has finally been patched. That gives you a couple weeks to improve your ranking until the the Arcade world's attention turns from cards to combos.
Small Arms, where's the big press?
Someone recently pointed out that Microsoft has done a piss poor job of promoting Small Arms, and a few other Live Arcade games as well. As such, I decided to put up this video. Looks pretty fun, right? So, why haven't we heard more about it from the boys in Redmond? It's an interesting question. Live Arcade is an innovative service, and it has the potential to outshine even the biggest 360 games. The Arcade Wednesdays promotion is a start, but I'd say Live Arcade definitely needs its own PR branch and its own spin doctor specialist like Major Nelson (perhaps Ross Erickson). What do you think?
Summer of XBLA hits San Fran
John Porcaro of GamerScoreBlog is doling out the last few tickets to tonight's Xbox Live Gold Experience event in San Fancisco. Unfortunately he doesn't give an exact location for this particular "lifestyle initiative."If you're in the Bay Area, try wandering around until you find a bunch of people enjoying hi-def versions of Frogger and Pac-Man. Of course, most fanboys would trade their cheese cubes and free booze for some exciting XBLA news -- say a title or two from Rare. Notice I said "most."
Chimpanzee plays Ms. Pac-Man, gets eaten by ghost
There are a plethora of reasons for teaching a banana-munching mammal how to play a classic game such as Ms. Pac-Man. A plethora. The prime one, of course, being that it's an excellent and completely unpredictable strategy in obtaining complete world domination. The world's defences would have little choice but to collapse in the face of an army of chimpanzees highly skilled at traversing mazes, collecting various fruits and evading ghosts. Evil dictators and mad scientists would be well advised to watch the YouTube clip (embedded after the break) and see exactly how it's done.Another reason could be to provide commentary on the game's depth (even a chimp can play it!), the chimp's intelligence (he pwn3d my high score!) or the sheer irritation caused by a backseat gamer fingering your screen and telling you which pellet to go after. Whatever the reason, we're glad someone did it. Next week: Hedgehog plays Sonic the Hedgehog, researcher loses eye.[Thanks Franco!]
DS Phat mod: Koopa Troopa shell
A forumer by the name of Kouri1977 over at the Penny Arcade...forums has shown off a very slick mod he performed on his unusable old DS Phat. Painted to resemble that of a Koopa Troopa's shell, the project is simple, yet highly stylish. The attention to detail is marvelous and the glossy finish combine to bring a bit of new life to the old system.See also: Game and Watch DS mod Old School mod Turn your DS into a tank [Via 4cr]
Lumines to light up XBLA this month?
After the ridiculous abuse he took during the Prey demo debacle, Xbox Live's Major Nelson is understandably jumpy around calendars these days. But that won't stop rabid fanboys from latching onto every vague release date and imbuing it with irrational finality. For example, Xbox.com is now listing a July 2006 release for Lumines. This means that if the game shows up on August 1, hundreds of 14-year-olds will already have descended on poor Major's blog and accused his Mom of personally delaying their fun. We feel for you man. Now where's our game?[Thanks Splode]
Mutant Storm Empire screens
Live Arcade isn't exactly short on multi-directional shooters, but that didn't stop Xboxyde from posting new screens from PomPom's upcoming Mutant Storm Empire. Empire is the sequel to Mutant Storm Reloaded, one of Live Arcade's first available titles. Reloaded must have done fairly well, as the sequel is a 360 exclusive. Now if we could only start seeing some of the Arcade games promised at E3...
XBLA Unplugged packshot & game list
If you're one of those people who refuses to play any game that doesn't come in a purty box, you're in luck. Recently unveiled cover art for Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged Vol. 1 hints that the inaugual retail compilation disc will include 5 XBLA mainstays: Geometry Wars, Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Outpost Kaloki X, Wik: Fable of Souls and Hardwood Backgammon, plus the yet-to-be-released Texas Hold'em Poker. As Gamespot notes, the line-up could change before the Q4 release (EB lists October 2). In the meantime, lets send some link love to Dutch gaming blog Shizzle Games for wondering when Live-deprived gamers in Europe will be able to start geometry warring. Ironically, Unplugged will include a one month subscription to XBL Gold in the $40 price, making it a mocking must-buy for those who are either unable or unwilling to connect their console to the internet. [Thanks Lucas]
Street Fighter II gets Down Under date
The world's most anticipated -- and most delayed -- 2D fighter has a new date Down Under. Xbox Australia shows Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting due July 30. Meanwhile, back in the northern hemisphere, the US site still lists the original long gone March release date. Can we get an update Microsoft?Whichever direction your toilet flushes, spend less time worrying about exactly when this game hits Xbox Live Arcade, and more time hoping Capcom managed to fix the gameplay issues that led to less than hyper early reviews.
Wingnuts 2, an original Mac game, takes off
Freeverse has announced that Wingnuts 2, a top-down aerial arcade shooter game, is now available for online purchase and download. The title benefits from being an original and exclusive Mac game, developed and playable exclusively on the Mac. Freeverse co-founder Colin Lynch Smith mentions the advantages of developing games solely for the Mac over on Inside Mac Games:"This is the biggest game to be written specifically for the Mac in years. Targeting just the Mac means no performance compromises (and lower system requirements)-- and we can design in cool OS X specific technologies like CoreImage and iSight integration."It's about time that game developers woke up to the benefits of creating games specifically for the Mac platform. Hopefully this will be the first title of many in a resurgence of big name Mac-exclusive titles.You can grab a demo of the game at this link and a video of the game (complete with an example of the fancy CoreImage effects) is available here. A DVD boxset of the game will ship in early July, but if you can't wait that long the game is available as a whopping 550MB download for $29.95 over on the Wingnuts 2 site.[Via Joystiq]
Small Arms developer interview
K1lla's Xbox Domain talks to Don Wurster of Gastronaut Studios about the indie developer's potential XBLA super smash, Small Arms. Sample quote: A number of review sites are writing the game off as a 'Super Smash Bros' Clone, but in reality it plays quite differently. The combat focuses on ranged attacks which make for a less claustrophobic , more tactical game. I think 'Small Arms' has just as much in common with games like 'Abuse' and 'Metal Slug' as with 'Smash Bros'. E3 gameplay video above.
Uno matchmaking fix on the way
UNO for Xbox Live Arcade (currently the game of choice for Xbox360Fanboy editorial meetings) is generally percieved as a successful take on the classic card game -- with one major flaw: gamers attempting to play a ranked match are thrown into their own lobby instead of being matched up, resulting in an annoying wait for competition. Fortunately Carbonated Games tells us a fix is near. UNO Program Manager Richard Thames Rowan posted the following response to complaints on K1lla's Xbox Domain:The UNO development team is aware of the problem that some people are having with matchmaking and has a fix going through certification right now. Hopefully, you'll see this roll out soon, so no need to email anyone.Finally, ranked matches without a 20 minute wait. There can be only one.
Street Fighter II not so hyper
GameVideos.com and the guys from 1up offer a guided tour of the test version of Street Figher II: Hyper Fighting video also availabe after the jump). Lots of gripes about lag. Sample quote: "There's nothing hyper about it." I don't remember the last DOA game getting quite this much nit-picky attention, but people demand the best from their nostalgic 2D throw downs. Hopefully, Capcom will make some last minute fixes so that the world's largest online street fight lives up to the...er..hype.[Thanks xGWx Egon]
