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X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Things on Wheels, Rocket Knight
Today is a good day for the 16-bit gamers out there. Yes, Rocket Knight has finally landed on Xbox Live Arcade. Don't worry if you're not nostalgic for Sparkster though, because Things on Wheels is out this week as well. In the end, the decision is left to you: Awesome opossum action or arcadey R/C racing? Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if either game is for you. [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly. Xbox.com: Add Things on Wheels trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add Rocket Knight trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue
This Wednesday: Rocket Knight, Things on Wheels on Xbox Live Arcade
It's a double-header of fast moving objects on Xbox Live Arcade this week. First up is Things on Wheels, an R/C racer of miniaturized yet epic proportions, complete with four-player online and offline play. Next is Rocket Knight, whose fast moving object is ... a possum with a jet pack. It may sound weird, but it's a proven formula. Things on Wheels will be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10); and Rocket Knight will set you back 1200 ($15). %Gallery-90099% Source -- Things on Wheels [Xbox.com] Source -- Rocket Knight [Xbox.com]
Things on Wheels rolling up on XBLA next week
It's been a slow roll to the finish for Things on Wheels, Load Inc.'s R/C car racer for Xbox Live Arcade. The game was announced in early 2008 and, according to Load Inc., was completed in late January 2009. At that time, on its news feed, the developer made vague mention of an issue that had stalled the impending release of the title, but one "that should not change a thing in the future experience you'll have playing this fantastic game." Initially, SouthPeak was attached to the project as its publisher. Had the deal gone kaput? Last September, Load Inc. quietly revealed that indie French publisher Focus Home Interactive (Blood Bowl, TrackMania) was now "looking after" Things on Wheels. Today, Focus Home Interactive announced that the game -- finally! -- would be released on XBLA this coming Wednesday, May 12, for 800 ($10) -- alongside Rocket Knight. (We should note, the Things on Wheels Xbox.com listing currently displays a "TBD" release date. [Update: Xbox.com now confirms the May 12 release date.]) Things on Wheels is a miniature car racing game, not unlike Load Inc.'s 2007 XBLA release, Mad Tracks. ToW supports up to four players online or off and features a variety of around-the-house and through-the-park tracks. Noticeably absent: a nagging parent ordering players to pick up when they're finished. %Gallery-92459%
Things on Wheels: A look at the muscled Buster
(click to embiggen) Load Inc.'s upcoming Xbox Live Arcade racer of radio controlled proportions, Things on Wheels will be releasing to the Arcade in the not too distant future and, in preparation, every week they're revealing information about each lil' racer. They're actually using a series of collectible digital cards (trade 'em with your friends!) that detail car stats and information. To start off the RC car revealing fun, Load Inc. sent us the first card announcing the muscle car Buster which we're told has the "best handling of its class." High fives to that!Check the gallery below for a few screenshots of Buster, view the nifty card and keep an eye out for more Things on Wheels vehicle reveals in the weeks to come. Vroom! %Gallery-35798%
Things on Wheels takes racing to the restroom
Southpeak and Load Inc. just sent us a fresh batch of screenshots for their upcoming XBLA RC racer Things on Wheels. And, if you take a gander through the new screens, you'll see that RC racers can in fact race on hardwood floors AND near the toilet. Also, if you're the achievement type, check out a list of ToW achievements after the break. Screenshots below, achievements after break ... GO! %Gallery-22522%
Things On Wheels: 4 new vehicles revealed
Load Inc., developer of the XBLA racer Mad Tracks, just sent over four new screens of the vehicles found in their upcoming XBLA RC racer Things On Wheels. Exclusively revealing one of the vehicles from the title (seen above) in an interview with X3F, Load Inc. has now showcased five vehicles--their are 12 in the full version of the game. No word on a release date for Things On Wheels but we eagerly anticipate jumping into the RC racer before the end of the year. For more detailed information on Things On Wheels make sure to check out our interview with Denis Bourdain from developer Load Inc.Also (because we missed it) we'd like to wish Load Inc.'s first XBLA title Mad Tracks a belated Happy 1st Birthday. "Since (release) 700.000 people played the trial version (of Mad Tracks) and 72.000 people trusted us enough to buy the game," reads the Load Inc. website. "The good news is that it's not de-listed yet and a lot of people still buy it!"Let's hope Things On Wheels proves to be as entertaining and popular.%Gallery-25656%
Mad Tracks dev: XBLA delisting not a concern
Xbox Live Arcade title Mad Tracks scored a 63 on Metacritic and has been out for exactly one year, which makes it a candidate for potential delisting, but the developer isn't worried. In an interview with X3F, Load Inc. Business Developer Denis Bourdain said they're not worried about it."It was news to us," said Bourdain, later adding, "our conversion rate is much higher than 6%, but Microsoft remains the only one calling the shots. They could delist Mad Tracks - or decide to keep it." He also noted that they were making PC games prior to XBLA and that, "you get removed without notice after 6 months in most stores." Bourdain also talks about the potential of developing for PSN, his feelings on the Wii, and their upcoming XBLA title Things on Wheels. Check out the full interview here.
X3F Interview: Load Inc.'s Denis Bourdain
Coming soon from developer Load Inc. and publisher Southpeak is Things on Wheels, an RC racer for the Xbox Live Arcade that invokes memories of the classic, ReVolt. Hot off the heels of developing and releasing Mad Tracks for the Arcade, Load Inc. has been hard at work on their latest vision of fast-and-fun arcade racing.In an exclusive interview with business developer Denis Bourdain of Load Inc., we discuss the inspiration and process of creating a new racer for the XBLA, the recent delisting controversy and the problem with retail in international markets.Jump inside and fasten your seatbelt for the exclusive interview with Load Inc.'s Denis Bourdain.%Gallery-22522%
Load Inc: Delisting was 'news to us,' not a concern
In an exclusive interview with X3F since Microsoft announced XBLA delisting, Load Inc. business developer Denis Bourdain told us the Mad Tracks dev team heard about the new initiative the same way we all did -- through the press."It was news to us, but doesn't make a lot of difference," Bourdain told X3F as the team finishes their new Xbox Live Arcade title, Things on Wheels.Mad Tracks, an arcade party car title, received mixed reviews when it was released in May '07 netting it just under the 65% Metacritic rating minimum for delisting, putting its availability on the XBLA platform in jeopardy."Our conversion rate is much higher than 6%, but Microsoft remains the only one calling the shots." Bourdain said. "Prior to making XBLA games, we were making retail PC titles. You get taken down without notice after 6 months in most stores ... [after almost a year] We feel already privileged to have lasted this long."The full interview will be online later this afternoon.
New shots of X-Blades, Things on Wheels, and Roogoo
Southpeak has released some new screens from their upcoming lineup of 360 titles All told, there are new screens for X-Blades, Roogoo, Things on Wheels. A quick refresher: X-Blades is an action game starring a typically sexy heroine with big weapons. Roogoo is a colorful, intriguing puzzle game. Things on Wheels is a racer featuring RC cars racing through household environments. X-Blades is a retail release, while both Roogoo and Things on Wheels are Xbox Live Arcade titles. Check out the galleries after the break for all the new media.
Load Inc. creating another XBLA toy racer in Things On Wheels
Developer Load Inc. has a thing for bite-sized vehicles, having already released the diminutive XBLA racer Mad Tracks, and while that failed to inspire much interest from the gaming press there's something to be said for a company that sticks with its passion. Now the studio is working on a second toy car-based project called Things on Wheels, which will be published by SouthPeak Games over Xbox Live Arcade and the PC this summer.Details are light, though SouthPeak notes that the game will feature "non-linear track design," as players race radio-controlled cars from room to room in an "expansive virtual house." It all sounds interesting, though honestly, when it comes to games based around toys, these sorts of announcements just remind us how much we want a sequel to Toy Commander.
Load Inc.'s new XBLA thing: Things on Wheels
Developer Load Inc. and publisher SouthPeak announced today that they're jumpin' back into the XBLA ring for another go with this Summer's release of Things on Wheels. An RC racer that takes your racing adventures through the house and into the toilet. Sound like Mad Tracks? Well, it sounds like Mad Tracks to us too, but Load Inc. (who, wouldn't you know, did make Mad Tracks) promises that Things on Wheels will be its own fresh racing experience. We'll see about that. One good thing Things on Wheels has going for it is its art-style which can be previewed in the single teaser screenshot above. Enjoyable, no?[Thanks, Boff]
Mad Tracks gets all patched up
TeamXbox is reporting that a patch has just been released for Mad Tracks that fixes the progression problem that has plagued some gamers. If you don't recall, soon after Mad Tracks launched onto the XBLA players who downloaded the trial and then bought the final game discovered a bug that wouldn't allow any progression through the game. But today a patch has been released that fixes the problem with all bugs squashed and promptly removed. The title update will automatically download the next time you load up Mad Tracks.
Win Mad Tracks from Gamertag Radio
Buying a new Xbox Live Arcade game can be a harrowing experience. Even if a trial version blows you away, you can never be sure that the full game will be as impressive. For instance, what if it turns out that the full game is only three levels long? Tough luck, buddy. Them MS Points is gone. Given this unpredictable nature, we're always happy to give someone the chance to win an Arcade game for free. Well, technically Gamertag Radio is giving it away, but let's not split hairs, shall we? Specifically, they're giving away a free copy of Mad Tracks. Head over to GTR for your chance to win. Remember kids, 800 MS Points saved is 800 MS Points earned.
Mad Tracks pulls back, zips forward on XBLA
Fans of tiny racing rejoice! Mad Tracks is now available on Xbox Live Arcade. The game is based on the concept of toy cars. Specifically, the game involves pull-back-and-release cars. You remember those, right? You pull them back and then watch them zip off the table, Thelma & Louise style. What, you didn't play Thelma & Louise? Maybe that was just us. Anyway, it's an interesting concept and a racer of any stripe is certainly welcome on XBLA. The game features both single-player and online multiplayer. It can all be yours for 800 MS Points. Has anyone out there taken it for a spin yet?
Mad Tracks hitting XBLA next week?
It was revealed just over a week ago that Mad Tracks, from developer Load Inc., had passed certification and had been priced at a cool 800 points. According to GamingTalkHQ, Mad Tracks may be coming out sooner than expected. How much sooner? How about next week? It seems that Xboxic reported yesterday that "anonymous sources inside Microsoft" had confirmed that the game will arrive on Xbox Live Arcade next week. Following up on this report, GamingTalkHQ decided to IM Load Inc. VP, Denis Bourdain. It was then that GamingTalkHQ noticed Bourdain's away message: "Save Your MS points for next week." It may not be official confirmation, but it's as close as we're going to get before Microsoft decides to send out the press releases.Have any fanboys out there been looking forward to Mad Tracks?
Mad Tracks passes cert and gets priced
Yesterday, Developer Load Inc. announced that XBLA title Mad Tracks has passed the infamous Microsoft certification. Though, they still have yet to settle on a firm release date, but it should be safe to say that Mad Tracks will be tearing up the Arcade within' a month or so. Load Inc. also went on to announce that Mad Tracks will be available for 800 Microsoft points when released. Anyone been looking forward to getting some hands on time with the game?[Thanks, Alex Gold]
Live play for Mad Tracks after all
Our friends at Xboxic delivered some good news today. Mad Tracks, the wacky pull-back car racer, has been delayed. The reason why a delay is good news: Load is delaying the game so that Live Multiplayer can be added. Some of you may recall from our earlier post that Live play was not originally planned for the game. See, boys and girls, sometimes delays can be a good thing.Does this news change anyone's mind about buying Mad Tracks?
One lonely shot of Mad Tracks
More than a few people were disappointed that Mad Tracks was not included on last Sunday's poll. As a form of penance, please accept this solitary shot of the upcoming Live Arcade racer. The game is based on the little pull back car toys -- you know, pull the car backwards and let it go: zoom! Check out Load, Inc's site for some images of the PC version. You can even get a PC trial of it if you want. The 360 version should hit the Arcade in October.Anybody played the PC version yet?
