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Root Beer Tapper taps Xbox Live
Root Beer Tapper is now available on Xbox Live Arcade. Ever wondered what it's like to work the thankless job of being a mustachioed male bartender? It's not nearly as glamorous as being one of those sexy female bartenders. Fortunately, the boys behind Xbox Live Arcade have provided us with this handy simulator. You fill glasses, collect empty glasses, and grab tips if you can. Just like in real life!Root Beer Tapper is available now for 400 points.
Rare making Live Arcade title
CVG reports that a recent issue of Edge magazine mentions that Rare is working on an Xbox Live Arcade title. The original title is reportedly under the direction of Nick Burton, who has previously worked on Starfox Adventures and Kameo: Elements of Power. Burton is heading up a ten man team to create the title. There isn't much more information available at this point, though it's a safe bet that the game will be colorful and quirky. While Rare's recent track record has been spotty, Viva Piñata proved that Rare can make an addicting game when they set their minds to it. Here's hoping the mystery Live Arcade title is up to snuff.[Via Joystiq]
XBLA serves up a cold one this week
After two long weeks with no Xbox Live Arcade game (Lumines packs don't count) we needed some gaming refreshment. Lucky for us, someone at MS must have heeded our call and will be serving up a frosty mug of Root Beer Tapper this Wednesday. For those unfamiliar with Root Beer Tapper, the game finds you serving up mugs of (you guessed it) root beer to thirsty customers (the original Tapper actually had you serving beer instead). Having done this, you must catch empty mugs before they slide off the bar. It's a hectic game that exemplifies the simple rules and escalating challenge that typified arcade games in the 1980s. The Xbox Live Arcade release adds high definition support (if you can call it that), leaderboards, and new Live and local co-op modes. The game will be available on Wednesday for 400 points.We're not sure whether or not this game is "classic" or merely another retro release that we could do without. We've got some fond memories of Root Beer Tapper, but we're not sure that we're ready to pony up 400 MS points for it yet. As always, you'll want to try the demo before you buy.
No Live Arcade game this week
Oh, PR is a tricky thing. Sneaky even. Microsoft sent us a press release earlier today, letting us in on the next ten Xbox Live Arcade games. Naturally, we were overjoyed to hear that a torrent of new and fun content was headed for our favorite service. Little did we know that the press release was really a smoke screen designed to blind us from the horrible truth: there will be no Live Arcade release tomorrow. 360 Fanboy tipster, Kid Pyrrhic, is responsible for sniffing out the nefarious plot. Noticing a line in the press release that read, "Although a game may not be launched every week ...," he stuck it to the man and asked Gamerscore Blog if that meant we wouldn't have a new game this week. John Porcaro himself emerged from his filthy den of lies to confirm, "As a matter of fact, there is no game tomorrow..." You heard it, folks. No game tomorrow.[Thanks, Kid Pyrrhic. Sorry, John]
N heads to Xbox Live Arcade
Metanet Software has announced that they are bringing their PC title, N, to Xbox Live Arcade. Often compared to Lode Runner, N is an action platformer that requires some pretty hefty jumping skills and evasive tactics. Graphics are about as simple as they get, but the game is definitely fun. Feel free to download it yourself and give it a try. The developers promise that the game will remain true to its roots (which shouldn't be too difficult). A level editor will be included with the title that allows players to trade levels over Xbox Live. Multiplayer modes are currently being considered as well. We've wasted a few hours playing N in the past, and the game could definitely benefit from a 360 controller. Don't get your hopes up, though, the game isn't expected until fall 2007.[Via Joystiq]
Alien Hominid HD reviewed
Our buddies at XBLArcade report that the latest issue of the Official Xbox Magazine contains a review for Alien Hominid HD for Xbox Live Arcade. The review cites the games unique visuals, excellent co-op, and nonstop action as the game's good points. The review also notes that the game is finished too quickly and that the minigames aren't really worth much playtime. Overall, the game receives a 7.5 out of 10. Not too shabby. Unfortunately, the review doesn't state how much the game will cost with it hits the Arcade. We're hoping the game will debut for 800 points or less.So there you go, Alien Hominid HD is pretty good. Now all we need is a release date.
Rumor: XBLA size limit upped to 250MB
1UP reports that the Xbox Live Arcade size cap has been raised from 50MB to 250MB. The information comes from an anonymous inside source, so we'll chalk it up as a rumor for now. If true, it would open up new avenues for Xbox Live Arcade games, giving developers more freedom to create full featured games. The 50MB size limit, somewhat controversial, was initially set so that any given Xbox Live Arcade title could fit on the standard Xbox 360 memory unit, ensuring that Core system owners could get their XBLA on. While we've gone on record saying that the 50MB limit can actually force developers to think in innovative ways (RoboBlitz), there is no doubt that a higher limit will give rise to more complex and (hopefully) engaging titles. In fact, there are many who believe the current lineup would be much stronger had the limit been higher in the beginning.Of course, this development opens up a new can of worms, given that a higher cap will prohibit many new titles from fitting on a standard memory unit. There have been rumblings of a higher capacity memory unit, and if this rumor is true, a larger memory unit is all but assured. We have to wonder though, are Core owners even downloading Xbox Live Arcade games? Considering one XBLA title will all but fill a memory unit (and that's before you get into game saves and the like), we have to question the practicality of it. Perhaps we should just ask our readers outright: do any of you (Core users especially) think that raising the cap is a bad thing?[Via Joystiq. Thanks everyone]
First shots of Toy Wars for XBLA
Our friends at XBLArcade sent along some exclusive shots of Toy Wars, the upcomig XBLA game from hopeful Ghostbusters developer, Zootfly. The shots show off an impressive level of detail for an Xbox Live Arcade game, showcasing massive backyard environments for your toys to zoom around in. Again, we can't help but make comparisons to Toy Commander, which isn't a bad thing at all. Let this be a lesson for all the would be powerhouse developers out there. If you want to get your products noticed, all you have to do is release some prototype footage of a Ghostbusters game. Hit the "read" link for more shots.
Cheap Lumines content arrives next week
How many MS Points does it take to say, "I'm sorry?" Any 360 gamer worth his or her salt will remember the Great Lumines Catastrophe of '06. Allow us to explain ... no, there is too much. Let us sum up: Lumines Live launched on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 points. The catch here is that the 1200 point purchase did not get you the full game. There were myriad reasons for this (stay under the 50MB limit, etc...) but the end result was that we were expected to pay for things like Vs. CPU mode and an expanded Puzzle mode and more skins for the solo mode. After the already large asking price, many felt insulted or even outraged. Well, kiddies, it looks like MS and Q? were listening, as new Lumines content arrives next Wednesday, and it's cheap! There are three pieces of content arriving next week. The first is a new video skin called Heavenly Star (sounds familiar) which will be free to Xbox Live Gold Members. The second is the Vs. CPU pack that will be available for 100 points. The third is the Puzzle/Mission pack which will also cost 100 points. These promotional prices are to be offered between January 24 and February 21. After February 21, the two content packs will cost 300 points, and we're not really sure what happens to the Heavenly Star video (presumably it will disappear or cost points). A tip of the hat to MS and Q? entertainment for heeding our call and slashing these prices. Will you grab this content now that it will be available at a discounted price?
Heavy Weapon co-op is a blast
Okay, we just finished a Live co-op survival session on Heavy Weapon. In short, Heavy Weapon co-op is fluid, fast, and a hell of a lot of fun. This is great news considering the recent co-op woes of Assault Heroes. Like any survival game, it starts off slow enough, but soon it escalates to the point of sheer insanity. There are so many things happening on screen that it's impossible to keep track of them all. The air is filled with a solid cloud of bullets, missiles, lasers, aircraft, and general mayhem. And it's 'effing awesome. Some will no doubt deride Heavy Weapon for its simplicity, but we praise it for the same reason (and we dig its retro sensibilities). Oh, and if you like earning achievements, survival co-op offers plenty of them. You could easily earn six in one session. Surviving for twelve minutes is tough, but it's made much easier with three buddies (though to be fair we only made it just past thirteen on our first try). For those of you who have Heavy Weapon, give online co-op a try. It's sure to bring back plenty of arcade memories (hopefully memories without the creepy guy who played way too much Galaga).[Thanks to DaKing240 for the invite]
From nothing to RoboBlitz, Naked Sky speaks
In a new Postmortem article on Gamasutra, RoboBlitz developer, Naked Sky, speaks of the trials and tribulations of creating a new IP from the ground up with a relatively inexperienced team -- something they managed to do in only 11 months. Naked Sky discusses the things they did right, what went wrong, what the future holds, and even gives would be developers a little advice. Noted among the things that went right was having a solid and dedicated team and licensing the Unreal Engine 3. Some things that went wrong include overambitious design and (gasp) running out of money. Other oversights include not hiring an internal QA lead, which lead to less extensive testing. This, in turn, made it harder to track down bugs. Still, with the very dedicated team (and some understanding friends and family), Naked Sky managed to pump out one of the most technically impressive XBLA games out there. If you like learning about the development process, or if you're thinking about getting into the business yourself, check out the article for some good lessons and pointers. See also:X360F interviews RoboBlitz's Tian Mu
Rumor: XBLA to get Eets and Luxor 2 [update 1]
XBLArcade brings us two juicy rumors today. The first is that Klei's Eets is headed to Xbox Live Arcade. According to an entry from the USK (essentially the German version of the ESRB), a 360 game called EETs Chowdown (in the "Arcade" genre) has been rated appropriate for all ages. Naturally, the speculation here is that Eets must exist in order to be rated. Not ironclad proof that the game is headed for the Arcade, but it's a significant marker to be sure. You can check out an Eets demo here.The second rumor is that MumboJumbo's Luxor 2 is also headed to the arcade. Luxor 2 (play the demo here) is something like a combination between Breakout and Zuma, in which players match different colored balls as they come tumbling toward the bottom of the screen. The rumor stems from a rating found on the ESRB website. To see it yourself, search for Luxor 2 and restrict the platforms to the Xbox 360. Granted, we have no confirmation on either of these titles, but with review code out there somewhere, signs definitely point to yes. Good news, especially for those of us crying for some non-action Arcade titles.Update: Klei is responsible for Eets. NinjaBee is only a distributor.
Heavy Weapon impressions: really explodey
digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Heavy_Weapon_impressions_really_explodey_Xbox_Live_Arcade'; We played through the trial version of Heavy Weapon and so far, we're liking what we see. The trial version gives you access to a handful of levels and three of the game's six upgradeable weapons. The game is straight up action, beginning with the hair metal "Atomic Tank" theme song at the title screen. Live Arcade vets will be in comfortable territory: the left stick moves, the right stick shoots, and the right trigger sets off the all powerful nuke. Your tank rolls on the ground and basically shoots anything that moves, including both air and ground targets. Enemies have a range of different weapons which all require different tactics to destroy or evade. People familiar with Metal Slug should feel right at home.
Bizarre and EA team up for XBLA title
Electronic Arts announced today that it is partnering with Bizarre Creations -- creators of Project Gotham Racing and Geometry Wars -- to create a brand new game for Xbox Live Arcade. Entitled Boom Boom Rocket, it will be the first Xbox Live Arcade game from Electronic Arts. Boom Boom Rocket is described as a rhythm music game in which players launch rockets to a musical beat. Better timed explosions create bigger fireworks displays. The game is set to include both single player and head-to-head play. Head-to-head, strangely, will be limited to local matches only (both players on the same Xbox), though there will be online leaderboards. The music tracks will be composed by Ian Livingstone, who has considerable experience creating music for film, television, and videogames. We're a little puzzled by the lack of online play -- especially this far into Live Arcade's lifespan -- but we're always open to new games. The title is expected to hit in the spring of this year. Follow the "read" link for a PDF of the official announcement.[Thanks, Darksaviour69. Via Major Nelson]
Castlevania breaks 50MB Arcade limit [update 1]
GameSpot reports today that Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will be the first Xbox Live Arcade title to break the 50 MB size limit (we were wondering how the hell they got the voice acting and audio in there). The limit was imposed so that 360 owners could transfer Arcade games to memory card, allowing them to be played on another 360. Xbox Live's Greg Canessa told GameSpot that the cap is still in effect, but Microsoft can and will make certain exceptions. Citing SOTN as one of the "most popular games of all time," Cannessa felt that an exception was in order. He further notes, however, that the trial version will fit on a memory card.We've blogged about the 50 MB limit before, and it will be interesting to see how (and if) Castlevania will affect future developments on Live Arcade.Update: It looks like GameSpot got the trial version info wrong. MS informed us (and GameSpot) that it will not fit on a standard memory card.
Castlevania on XBLA, hot whipping action
Oh, we have waited for this day. We present to you the first video footage of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for Xbox Live Arcade. Fresh from CES, the video shows off the opening scene of the game, in which you play out the prologue (and determine the main character's beginning stats). Worth noting is the fact that the video contains both the original music and voice acting from the Playstation version. If Konami has managed to squeeze the game and all of its (amazing) audio into 50MB, we'll be very impressed. The footage is unfortunately very shaky, but we'll take what we can get. And just for the record, we were not the ones playing. Because we would totally kick Dracula's ass, and, you know, actually hit him.[Via Joystiq]
Treasure on the 360, 2D shooter on the way
1UP recently sat down with the president of Treasure, Masato Maegawa, to discuss development for new gen consoles, and -- most importantly for us -- their plans for the Xbox 360. Treasure currently has a retail 2D shooter in the works for the Xbox 360. Maegawa claims that the graphics will be 3D but that the gameplay will stay true to the 2D style that Treasure fans have come to know and love. Also worth noting, the game is being created by the team responsible for the Dreamcast swan song, Ikaruga. Furthermore, he says that Treasure is considering an original title for the Xbox Live Arcade. Maegawa also says that 4 Genesis titles could make their way to the Arcade as well. Hey, give us Gunstar Heroes and Guardian Heroes and we will be happy campers.We love us some Treasure (yar!) and it's nice to see Microsoft actively pursuing talented studios. What Treasure game would you like to see brought to the Arcade?[Via Evil Avatar]
Confirmed: Heavy Weapon nukes XBLA next week [update 1]
Update: Our buddy, Mike, from the Xbox Domain has confirmed this rumor. Heavy Weapon is scheduled to hit XBLA on January 17. Thanks, Tom, for sending this in.Coming from Xbox 360 Fanboy reader, DaKing240, is the rumor that Heavy Weapon will be hitting Xbox Live Arcade next week. Of course, our first thought is that Heavy Weapon is not, with very few exceptions, Worms. Still, Heavy Weapon is a great game, and we're sure it will only be made better by the inclusion of Live co-op. DaKing240 claims to have official confirmation of the title from the developer itself, so it seems like a safe bet. Not only that, but Heavy Weapon was supposed to come out during the holidays last year, so it makes sense that it would be ready to go now. If you haven't tried Heavy Weapon, we'd highly recommend you play the web version or grab the trial demo. And remember, before you complain about a high price tag on the XBLA version (we expect 800 points at least), rejoice in the fact that you won't have to pay the PC price: $19.95.
Katamari not rolling onto XBLA after all
More Xbox Live Arcade news today, as Live Arcade Portfolio Manager, Ross Erickson, quashes the rumor that Namco's Katamari Damacy would make an appearance on Xbox Live Arcade. The rumor originated from an issue of EGM, stating that a new Katamari would hit Wii, PS3, and Xbox Live Arcade. Erickson decried the rumor in the XBLArcade* forums, calling it "total crap." Some doubt the quote's authenticity, but XBLArcade's Tomacco confirms his identity -- and he's been known to comment here as well. Sorry, 360 loving Katamari fans, looks like you're stuck with the PS2 version and an unhealthy obsession with cosplay.[Via Joystiq]*XBLArcade is one of the fine sites on our blogroll. You've seen our new blogroll, right? It's in the middle of the page under the Blogsmith logo. Check it out, scour those sites, send us tips. The circle of life continues.
Eternity's Child unconfirmed, but possible
Yesterday, we reported on the development of Eternity's Child, a 2D side-scroller with a unique aesthetic. The games official website claims that the game is headed to Xbox Live Arcade "this year" and its creator, Luc Bernard, told GTR's Godfree that it was on its way to becoming official. We decided to hit up Worldwide Xbox Live Arcade Games Portfolio Manager, Ross Erickson, and get his response. Erickson told us that he "can't comment on that right now." Those familiar with PR speak will instantly focus on the last two words in that statement: "right now." Typically, false rumors are flatly denied, whereas "no comment" could go either way. We know that Ross likes good games, and we wouldn't be surprised if Eternity's Child hits the arcade so long as it passes muster.
