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XBLA in Brief: Red Faction: Battlegrounds
This ain't your granddaddy's Red Faction. We'd wager it's not your daddy's Red Faction either. Nope, Red Faction: Battlegrounds is a horse of an entirely different color. Specifically, it's a fixed-view car combat game with a focus on party-style multiplayer. Quite the departure, right? Check out the latest XBLA in Brief and see it for yourself. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Islands of Wakfu, Strania, Rush'N Attack: Ex-Patriot
It's a rare three-game release on Xbox Live Arcade this week. Up for grabs are Islands of Wakfu, Strania and Rush'N Attack: Ex-Patriot. The latter is the latest in the running and stabbing series from Konami, Strania is a bullet hell shooter and, finally, Islands of Wakfu is ... well, it's an action RPG spin-off of a popular French MMORPG. For what it's worth, Islands of Wakfu also contains a "mighty platypus." We've included the duck-billed star in the latest episode of XBLA in Brief, mainly to save you the trouble of actually playing Wakfu. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
Welcome to another XBLA in Brief. This week, we take a look at Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime. If the trial version is anything to go by, you'll be glad we did the legwork for you. In other words, it just doesn't seem very good. It does have a sweet theme song though, and that has to count for something, right? [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Full House Poker
The Joystiq staff still weeps for the loss of 1 vs 100, but Microsoft soldiers on with its new social game experiment, Full House Poker. The game takes the usual single-player and multiplayer poker modes and also throws scheduled live matches every week. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if you'd like to ante up. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
EA calls NPD's monthly report a 'misrepresentation of the entire industry'
EA's calling out NPD's lack of digital sales tracking in its monthly report -- makes sense, since the company has seen increased revenue in the digital space. NPD, which changed its reporting practices late last year, doesn't track digital distribution channels including Steam, Xbox Live, PSN and the iTunes App store in the report we post every month, though the firm has created a separate report for just that. The accuracy and scope of this new report is unknown, since the press doesn't get to see it. "Using NPD data for video game sales is like measuring music sales and ignoring something called iTunes," EA corporate communications exec Tiffany Steckler told CNN Money. "We see NPD's data as a misrepresentation of the entire industry." David Riley from the NPD countered in an email to the piece's author by saying EA's discrepancy is "being blown out of proportion." With the increasing prevalence and revenue that comes from digital channels, EA certainly has a point, but it's not like it's NPD's choice -- the purveyors of these digital distribution platforms certainly aren't going to freely offer over all sales data. And for all of its hemming and hawing, the retail space is still one of the most crucial to a game's success and NPD is the industry standard for that information in North America.
XBLA in Brief: Beyond Good & Evil HD
Look, we're not saying you're a horrible person if you've never played Beyond Good & Evil before, we're just saying that you'd be a lot less horrible if you had. The HD update is now available on Xbox Live Arcade for just $10. You should buy it. And tell your friends to buy it, because we'd really like to see Beyond Good & Evil 2 sometime in the next decade. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Bejeweled Blitz Live
The XBLA House Party continues this week with Bejeweled Blitz Live. It seems silly to explain it, considering you're probably playing Blitz on Facebook at this very moment, but the Live take is PopCap's classic gem swapper with a simple twist: You only get one minute to play. If you need yet more distraction from things you should be doing, check out our preview of Bejeweled Blitz Live in the latest XBLA in Brief after the break. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Hard Corps: Uprising
The first title in the Xbox Live Arcade House Party promotion has been released. A Contra game in all but name, Hard Corps: Uprising should prove very familiar to series fans. In fact, it might even be a bit too familiar. Take a look at the latest XBLA in Brief and see if this game tickles your trigger finger. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: TNT Racers
This week on XBLA in Brief, we take a look at TNT Racers. The game boasts cute graphics, plenty of modes and, of course, lots of power-ups. Also, the music is positively delightful. Check out the video after the break and see if the game crosses your finish line. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Spare Parts
It's another one-game week for Xbox Live Arcade. This week's title: Spare Parts, a light-hearted action platformer from EA Bright Light. All the usual suspects are here: power-ups, baddies, robots and coins, lots and lots of coins. It also features the voice talents of Simon Pegg, from the much less kid-friendly Shaun of the Dead. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if Spare Parts brings a spark to any of your circuits. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Zeit2 [update: controls can be un-inverted]
There is but one game on Xbox Live Arcade this week. That game is Zeit2, a shooter from Ubisoft with an interesting time control mechanic. Before you dive in though, know this: The controls are inverted and, as far as we could tell, they can't be un-inverted. Beyond this potential issue, the game's pretty nifty. Check out this latest XBLA in Brief to see if Zeit2 might tickle your fancy. Update: It seems that Zeit2 bases flight controls on your default Xbox profile preferences. If your profile default is set to inverted, the controls will be inverted. To change it, you'll have to open the guide and change your default preferences. Weird. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Path of Go, Quake Arena Arcade, X-Men
Players get their pick of three wildly different games on Xbox Live Arcade this week. On the one strategic hand, there's The Path of Go ("Go" as in the ancient board game); on the other twitchy, trigger-happy hand, there's Quake Arena Arcade; and on the third, freaky mutant hand, there's the classic X-Men arcade game. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief to see if any of these titles make your fourth hand dip into your wallet. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Bomberman Live Battlefest, Harms Way, Crash Course
It's another threefer on XBLA this week, but you won't have to worry about it putting too much stress on your wallet. You see, only one game, Bomberman Live Battlefest, actually costs money this week. The other two, Harms Way and Crash Course, are completely free. These two are the finalists in this year's Doritos sponsored Unlock Xbox contest, and it's up to you to decide which one is the winner. Check out the latest XBLA in Brief, download each game and don't forget to cast your vote on the Xbox Live dashboard. Oh and as for Bomberman Live Battlefest, well, it's Bomberman. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Alien Breed 3 Descent, Pac-Man CE DX
The wait is over, friends. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is here and it's positively insane. If you've yet to witness it in action, be sure to watch this week's XBLA in Brief. Apart from Namco's latest, we also get Alien Breed 3: Descent, which brings the episodic series to an end (along with a lot of alien critters). Both games are 800 MS Points ($10). [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Faery, The UnderGarden, Guwange
It's an XBLA triple header this week, with three wildly disparate games hitting the service. On the casual front, we have The UnderGarden, a relaxing pseudo-puzzler. On the hardcore front, there's Guwange, a Japanese arcade shooter from 1999. On the ... fairy front, we've got Faery: Legends of Avalon, a light RPG. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if any of them set your heart aflutter. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Yu-Gi-Oh, King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
This week marks the long awaited arrival of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Decade Duels on Xbox Live Arcade. It also marks the ... expected arrival of King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match. Not exactly the "Game Feast" goodness we've be spoiled by as of late, but at least card game and fighting game fans have something to look forward to. Check out the latest XBLA in Brief to see if either game will light a fire under your wallet. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2, Pinball FX 2
The XBLA Game Feast comes to a belated close today with the release of Pinball FX 2. Check out this latest episode of XBLA in Brief to see what the final entree brings to the table. Oh, and there's also 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures 2. You can watch that part too ... if you want. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Dream Chronicles, Costume Quest
Super Meat Boy might be the highlight of this week's XBLA releases (you should read our review!), but that doesn't mean it's the only release. There are two others this week, including Double Fine's first foray into the downloadable space, Costume Quest, and Dream Chronicles ... which is a hidden object game. Check out a preview of each in the latest XBLA in Brief, and stay tuned for our upcoming review of Costume Quest. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Dead Space Ignition
This week's XBLA in Brief takes a look at Dead Space Ignition, an interactive motion comic that serves as a prequel to Dead Space 2. It's chock full of motion comic, mini-games and ... that's about it. On the plus side, it unlocks items in Dead Space 2 and it's only five bucks. If you're wondering where Sonic 4 is, our review is coming soon. And if you're wondering where Pinball FX 2 is, check back in two weeks. [iTunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
XBLA in Brief: Alien Breed 2: Assault, Serious Sam HD: TSE, DeathSpank T.O.V. and Blade Kitten
Look, let's not waste any time writing this perfunctory text. There are four new XBLA games out this week. Four. Let's just get right to the latest episode of XBLA in Brief so you can see if any of them tickle your fancy (or your wallet). Tunes] Subscribe to XBLA in Brief directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the XBLA in Brief directly. [RSS] Add the XBLA in Brief feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly.
