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NXE how-to: Avatars in XBLA games
Now that your NXE Avatar is dressed and ready for ... Hey, yeah! Just what is an Avatar for? Well, if you're not ready to drop 800 on A Kingdom for Keflings, we're afraid your options are seriously limited. What you can play with are several older Xbox Live Arcade games, which should be updated with limited Avatar support. Specifically, Uno, Bomberman Live, Hardwood Hearts, and Hardwood Spades -- disc-based Scene It? Box Office Smash is also due to receive an update enabling Avatar support today.The Uno update will install itself just as any other XBLA title update has in the past (and we can confirm this), but the other three games require additional attention. Gamerscore Blog has laid out the process in a simple 1-2-3 and 4-step guide. We attempted to update Bomberman Live earlier today, however, and were not prompted for the initial update. We can only assume that the update's absence is linked to the current condition of Xbox Live Marketplace (read: wonky). We got hit with the "8000ffff" error -- that's Xbox's way of saying: Try again later. Curious about the New Xbox Experience? Check out our ridiculously informative nine-video feature, covering everything from Avatar creation, Netflix integration, and the 8-player party system to installing games to the hard drive, the new Marketplace, the Blade-like "Guide" interface, and more!
NXE Avatars coming to (some) older XBLA titles
In its latest video exposé on the New Xbox Experience, the Gamerscore Blog has teamed with Major Nelson and a few project insiders to show off how Avatars will work in several older XBLA titles. Specifically, Uno, Bomberman Blast, Hardwood Hearts, and Hardwood Spades will all incorporate the virtual "yous" in various ways. In the case of these games, player Avatars will be visible on-screen – you can't actually play as your Avatar in Bomberman, sadly. The video does show that players will be able to be ... themselves in the upcoming Ninjabee town building game, A Kingdom for Keflings. (This is likely the new title the Gamerscore crew refer to in their blog update.) A title update for Scene It? Box Office Smash will roll out on Nov. 19 to enable in-game player Avatars (looks like the game didn't ship ready for NXE after all.) Check out the full video below the break.
25% off offer on select XBLA games ends tonight
Tonight, at around 7:59PM eastern, Microsoft will be flipping the XBLA discount switch to the "off" position and the week long 25% discount on select Arcade games will expire. So, if you've been procrastinating tonight is your last chance to pick up Frogger or Hardwood Spades each for 300 Microsoft points or Bankshot Billiards 2 for 900 points. True penny pinchers would have already taken advantage of the savings, but you can still be an honorary penny pinching member if you make your 25% off Arcade purchase while the gettings are good.
Cheaper XBLA games promo starts today [update]
Update: Doh! It looks like there was an early mistake in making the games 50% off. The discounted prices are now 25% off with Frogger and Hardwood Spades at 300 and Bankshot Billiards 2 at 900 Microsoft points. Come on Xbox Live guys, get your crap together!Today is Arcade Wednesday and even though we aren't treated to any new releases, we do get a few Xbox Live Arcade games discounted. Starting today and running for a whole week, Frogger, Hardwood Spades and Bankshot Billiards 2 are all available for your downloading pleasure at newly discounted prices. And, unlike previously reported, the prices are even lower than expected! Both Frogger and Hardwood Spades are available for 200 300 Microsoft points (originally 400) and Bankshot Billiards 2 is only 600 900 (originally 1200), which makes these games half 25% off. Remember, the cheaper prices only last for one week, so if you've been eyeing up any of these titles or are simply interested in a new XBLA game, then grab 'em before the price goes back up. Oh happy discounted Arcade games day!
One week discount on select XBLA games
Starting this Wednesday and lasting for a whole seven days, three previously released Xbox Live Arcade games will be catching the price discount fever. XBLA games Frogger, Hardwood Spades and Bankshot Billiards 2 will be discounted this Wednesday with both Frogger and Hardwood Spades dropping from 400 Microsoft points to 300 and Bankshot Billiards 2 going from 1200 to 900. Again, these new prices go into effect this Wednesday and will remain at their lower prices until October 2nd, so give 'em a purchase if there is something you think you'll enjoy. And note to Microsoft, we and our fellow fanboys love these types of discounted Arcade game promotions. Please, keep them coming!
