XboxLiveArcadeWednesdays
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Emptiness fills the Xbox Live Arcade void
Wednesday will soon pass without a new Xbox Live Arcade offering. Perhaps last week's unwelcome reception of New Rally-X soured Microsoft's spirits, prompting a 'then we'll give you nothing' response on this first Wednesday of the New Year.1UP poked fun at the no-show, cleverly announcing the arrival of Jacksquat, an entirely featureless platformer. The site also posted this official explanation from Microsoft:"It has always been our intention to release new Xbox Live Arcade content on Wednesdays as it is ready, which doesn't necessarily mean we will have new content every single week. The frequency of content will vary as games move from production to certification and are made ready for release. 'Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays' refers to the fact that there is a fixed day and time for all Xbox Live Arcade releases worldwide -- Wednesdays at 8:01 a.m. GMT."Geez, at least toss us another UNO deck. Anyone else feel like today's snub is would-be punishment for our ungrateful attitudes?
XBLA's retro fad continues: Defender
Another Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday is upon us, and this week's entry brings us yet another retro title, Defender. Yay, Defender. Granted, I'm all about Contra and maybe I'm not old enough to have fond memories of Defender, but every week that XBLA gets another Atari/Pac-Man era game, I die a little inside. When I write the headline, all I want to write is: "This week isn't Small Arms" or "Still no RoboBlitz." Where are all these exciting, independent titles? We've only got six Wednesdays left MS! Are you expecting people to buy Arcade titles as Christmas presents? Again, I apologize to all the Defender fans out there, but it's high time we got another indie release on XBLA.
Contra codified for XBLA this Wednesday
It looks like someone over at Microsoft realized that a new UNO deck doesn't exactly inspire excitement on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, because this week they're getting the word out bright and early. Releasing this Wednesday for 400 points is everyone's favorite old school, alien-blasting shooter, Contra. A side scrolling shooter of the highest order, Contra is one of those games that people have been pining for ever since the Xbox Live Arcade service was announced. Like Frogger, another Konami XBLA release, Contra will feature both original and enhanced graphics and sound. We have to wonder if the enhancements will be an actual improvement or if they will feel as strange as they did in Frogger. The game will also feature Xbox Live and local co-op play, leaderboards, and 12 achievements. What we don't know is whether or not the game will incorporate the Konami code. We realize that the code wasn't actually in the arcade version of Contra but it's the principle of the thing.So, what do you think fanboys? Is Contra so magnificent that it even overshadows that other game that comes out tomorrow, or is it just another retro title clogging the Arcade?
It's Wednesday, time for ... an UNO deck? [update]
Microsoft sent out a press release yesterday trumpeting the latest UNO deck for Xbox Live Arcade. We didn't get around to posting it. So, we start typing up this post when we notice something:"This week's Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday release brings the award-winning Kameo franchise to everyone's favorite card game, UNO." [Emphasis ours.]Now, we like UNO. It's one of our favorite games to use for editorial "meetings." But an UNO deck is not, we repeat not, an Arcade Wednesday release. It's new content for a game that we already have. Yeah, yeah, a new deck introduces new rules, so you could argue that it's like a new game, but why would you? Ah, we're just pissed it wasn't Small Arms. If you're interested, the Kameo deck contains a card that lets you swap hands with another player. Seems kind of mean really. Should you desire this deck, it will only set you back 100 MS points. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going back to the Rainbow Six demo.Update: This deck has been pulled from Marketplace. Apparently there's a bug in it. Sorry to get your UNO hopes up.
XBLA Wednesday, it's Dig Dug!
Many of you probably noticed that Scramble marked the last official title on the lineup for Live Arcade Wednesdays. We all wondered what, if anything, would come out this Wednesday, September 20th. No, it's not Small Arms. It's still pretty good, though. That's right, it's Dig Dug, Namco's classic, um, digging simulator. At this point, it's all but official, as Microsoft has added an official page for the game to Xbox.com with a release date of September 20th. Expect something official before then.[Via K1lla's Xbox Domain]
Get pizza, music, and 1000 MS points, free!
Microsoft is hosting one helluva party. Well, to be specific, lots of parties. In celebration of the Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays promotion, Microsoft wants you to throw an Arcade Party. What's more, they'll even give you everything you need: a pizza from Papa John's, free music downloads, and 1000 MS points to download Arcade titles. In return Microsoft wants pictures of your party and an explanation of what you did. Did you turn Frogger into a drinking game? Did one guy eat all the pizza before yakking it up on your 360? You get the idea.If you'd like to throw an Arcade party on Microsoft's tab, hit them up at: xlmail@microsoft.com with "Arcade Party" in the subject line. I have no idea how many of these they're giving away so, good luck.Note to self: turn Frogger into drinking game.[Thanks, TxdoHawk]
Frogger hops onto XBLA, hit by semi
The arcade classic, Frogger, is now available on Xbox Live Arcade for the low, low price of 400 MS Points. In addition to the classic coin-op, there are now several multiplayer modes, including versus and co-op(!). Sounds absolutely ribbit-ing.[Via QJ]
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?
XBLA Wednesdays unveiled, SFII drops Aug. 2 [update 1]
The event that Microsoft is holding in San Francisco tonight -- the one we won't be attending since the 'stiq doesn't have any presence there (yet) -- promises to pump the pliable gaming press full of booze and hors d'oeuvres before plopping them in front of screens, sticking controllers into their greased meat mittens, and watching them play arcade games that demand the connection between their eyes and hands be a bit more reliable than their (by this point, failed) plan to maintain sobriety by eating the hors d'oeuvres before downing the booze. I so wish we were there.At least we (may) get the satisfaction of knowing what's behind the red curtain beforehand: Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays. What are Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, you ask? Simple, it's what every 360 owning, Xbox Live-having gamer is going to be rushing home from work to every Wednesday. Skip the happy hour crowd, forget about little Billy's softball game, just race home to play the latest XBLA hotness.According to a forum post (we know, we know) at Xbox.com, a press release (pasted after the break) we'll be enjoying a new XBLA title every Wednesday this summer, beginning tomorrow with Frogger and followed weekly by Cloning Clyde, Galaga, Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, and finally Pac-Man. I know, that only gets us up to August 9th, still a few weeks (and games) short of the whole summer ... and we're not even being pedantic and getting into solstices and crap. Really, we just want Lumines.[Thanks, Top Rope Suplex][update 1: confirmed with actual email from Microsoft PR (that was dated Jul. 12th, whoops). Read it after the break.]
