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Deadlight coming to XBLA, care of Tequila Works
What is Deadlight? That's a good question. And other than telling you it's an Xbox Live Arcade game being published my Microsoft Studios and developed by Tequila Works, we wouldn't be able to do much in the way of answering said question. Well, that's not entirely true. Tequila Works' website also includes a blurb describing the game as an "original cinematic puzzle platformer." It stars a lone man named Randall Wayne who's stumbling around the American West Coast in 1986 after a pandemic has killed off the rest of the population. We've yet to see the game in action, but it sounds to be puzzle rather than combat-focused. The XBLA title is set to arrive sometime this coming summer, and we're certainly hoping to learn a bit more about it before then.
Iron Brigade's 'Rise of the Martian Bear' on video
There has to a be a Yakov Smirnoff joke here, we just can't figure out what it is. "Rise of the Martian Bear" still remains without an official release date.
Remedy: Alan Wake's American Nightmare campaign lasts 4-5 hours
GameTrailers has posted a handful of new videos on Alan Wake's American Nightmare. In the first video (embedded above), Remedy's Oskari Häkinnen discusses the game and its creation. One of the more interesting tidbits he revealed is that the average run through the campaign should last around four to five hours, depending on how much of the optional content you choose to pursue. You'll find two more videos after the break. The first is a walkthrough of Ghost Town, one of American Nightmare's 'Fight till Dawn" (i.e. Horde Mode) maps. The second is a campaign walkthrough which we refuse to watch because, frankly, we don't want to spoil a single moment before the game launches during Microsoft's Xbox Live House Party event.
NFL Blitz review: All-star team
Nostalgia is, to use the vernacular of Rick James, a helluva drug. We're all addicted to it -- whether it's an old movie, your old stomping grounds or any number of things from your past, we all don the rose-colored glasses from time to time and, on occasion, suffer disappointment. Video games are no stranger to nostalgia, and the disappointment of discovering that something isn't as good as you remember is most bountiful when revisiting classic titles. Often times when we revisit an older game we've always cherished, we find it just doesn't hold up. NFL Blitz is EA's successful attempt to prove that the classic arcade football experience originally created by Midway is as fun today as it was back in 1997. %Gallery-139787%
Choplifter HD touches down on PC, PSN, XBLA next week
Choplifter HD, the remake of the hostage-saving helicopter action classic, will begin its landing next week. The game will hit PC and PSN on January 10, while the XBLA release will follow on January 11. Interested virtual pilots (or people really obsessed with Duke Nukem or Super Meat Boy) will be able to snag Choplifter HD for $15.
How Tim Schafer ended up as a main voice in upcoming Kinect XBLA game Haunt
In Haunt, Parappa the Rapper developer Nana-OnSha's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game, players will use Kinect to direct a main NPC voiced by Tim Schafer around a spooky, and somewhat goofy, haunted house -- that much we knew. And in a recent interview with Gamasutra, executive producer Masaya Matsuura and producer Dewi Tanner revealed how the main character came to be voiced by the Double Fine head and well-known goofy gentleman. "He's very, very interesting for it," Masaya said when asked about Schafer's participation. Apparently the main character's voice had already been recorded, but after hearing Schafer's speech at a GDC "Choice Awards" ceremony, the Nana-OnSha folks reconsidered. "We talked about 'maybe something is missed,' still," Matsuura said. "And one day you told me about how Tim would be a good voiceover actor," he added to Tanner. Tanner said that Tim's time was understandably constrained, being the head of another game studio and all, but the team "managed to squeeze him in nonetheless ... a couple of afternoons and we were pretty much done." Tanner also pointed out that Haunt isn't exactly a serious endeavor, and Schafer's "passé humor" was perfect for the role. The game is still absent a solid launch date, but it's probably safe to say it's gonna miss its previously scheduled 2011 release window. Tanner teased in the interview that, "We're just winding up the game right now; things are looking clean right now, so it should be a smooth submission." So, uh, soon-ish! Update: This piece originally listed Tim Schafer as the main character in Haunt, rather than the main NPC. It also listed Masaya Matsuura as the creative lead, rather than executive producer. Our apologies! [Image credit: 'skwathill']
Limited time Santa DLC crashes into Joe Danger: Special Edition next week
Joe Danger may be new to the Xbox, but that won't stop him from giving Xbox Live users a Christmas present this year. Starting next week on December 21, players can download the Santa DLC for Joe Danger: Special Edition, which adds Chris Kringle himself and a Christmas QuadBike. The DLC will be free, only available through December 25.
Anomaly: Warzone Earth marches to XBLA in Spring 2012
Anomaly: Warzone Earth, the reverse tower-defense game from 11 Bit Studios, is coming to Xbox Live Arcade in Spring 2012. This version of the strategy game, which sees you assembling convoys of destructive vehicles and plotting their path through hostile cityscapes, is exclusively outfitted with six puzzle-ish "Tactical Trials." Anomaly: Warzone Earth originally launched for the PC and Mac back in April, followed by a widely praised iOS version. You can get a sneak peek of the new XBLA outing -- now "designed to be played with a gamepad" -- in the gallery below. %Gallery-141838%
Joe Danger: Special Edition triple flips to XBLA on December 14
The beefed up, sanded down version of Joe Danger coming to Xbox Live Arcade (the "Special Edition") will apparently arrive on December 14 for 1200 MS Points ($15). Developer Hello Games revealed the date via Microsoft Studio's own "playXBLA" blog, where the dev team further cemented what has been added (and subtracted) to the upcoming re-release. Beyond the launch date announcement, Hello Games also gave out a brand new launch trailer and a whole variety of new screens. For those of you who have yet to check out Joe Danger, you're in for a real treat. For the rest of us, well, hey, more Joe Danger! Alright!%Gallery-141291%
'Pid' is a pretty platformer from Grin vets Might & Delight, planned for XBLA/PSN/PC in 2012
We're suckers for artsy platformers, so when Beefy Media's Adam Boyes took to Giant Bomb's livestream this evening with a debut trailer for Might & Delight's latest offering, "Pid," and the game was a gorgeous hand-drawn platformer, we were pretty excited to tell you all about it. In Pid, you'll control what appears to be a little boy in a colorful and mysterious world of platforms and robots -- like Limbo and Machinarium had a digital baby, if you will. The trailer showed off a bit of co-op play, as well as a variety of different environments through which to romp. Pid is being built using the Unity engine (like that mystery Square Enix game, among many others), thus making its ubiquity across platforms all the easier. While Boyes admitted the M&D folks don't have a publisher for the game yet, he said they've been actively speaking with publishers and are looking at an Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and PC release in "the back half of 2012." Expect more details and the trailer tomorrow, on Joystiq, when the game gets announced "officially." Head past the break for a quick snap of the game in action.
IGF 2012 entrants have a crack at winning the first ever 'XBLA Prize'
Independent Games Festival entrants aren't just charming, attractive, and creative -- they're also potential XBLA developers. At least they are now, after today's announcement of the first "XBLA Prize" by Microsoft and Game Developers Conference administrators UBM, which gives IGF entrants a crack at being fast-tracked on Xbox Live Arcade for publishing by Microsoft. According to the prize sponsors, a "standalone jury of independent game creators" will apparently collaborate with Microsoft to "identify a shortlist" -- a list which will then be considered for the XBLA prize. If the winner so chooses, his/her project will then be offered funding for development across Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7, and Windows, as well as given the opportunity to employ Microsoft's bevy of testing, marketing, and usability support. Alongside today's prize announcement, Microsoft head of first-party publishing Ted Woolsey also revealed that Microsoft invests upward of $20 million annually on XBLA titles, and offered support for the multi-year partnership with the IGF. "The independent development scene wouldn't be nearly as robust as it is today without the exposure provided by the IGF. We look forward to working with the IGF and having a window into to the huge array of independent games that are submitted every year so that we can continue to find the best games to share with our customers."
Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops dominate last week's Xbox Live activity
We had a hunch -- okay, it was less a hunch and more an obvious thing to think, but here we are: Modern Warfare 3 has dominated Xbox Live activity on the week of November 21. When not chowing down on turkey and karate-chopping fools at Walmart over waffle makers, it seems most Xbox 360 players answered the call. The second most-played game for the week was another Call of Duty game: Black Ops. It bested Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Battlefield 3 and FIFA 12, which took the remainder of the top five games played respectively. On the XBLA side, Pinball FX2, Super Meat Boy and Marvel vs Capcom 2 took top honors, thanks to Microsoft's "Fan Appreciation" sale.
PSA: Iron Brigade (formerly Trenched) available worldwide now
Double Fine has announced that Iron Brigade (which is the updated version of Trenched, renamed and revamped for sale overseas) is now available worldwide on Xbox Live Arcade. The game is available for 1200 Microsoft Points (about $15). Double Fine is also selling an official release day I-shirt (not a T-shirt, they say -- "that would get us sued") for $20 on its website. Anyone who already owns Trenched will find an update when they log into the game, changing the name and adding new items, leaderboards on which to compete, and a new survival mode. We loved Trenched back when it released in June, and we're sure that by spending a little sit-down time with Iron Brigade, we can probably learn to love it too.
Alan Wake's Night Springs goes 'This Old House' in first screen
You already know that Alan Wake's Night Springs is headed towards its big debut at the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards, and you already know that it'll arrive on Xbox Live Arcade. What you didn't know is that Mr. Wake has got himself a whole new "Bob Vila meets Twin Peaks" look going on, as revealed by Game Informer's exclusive first screenshot. Also, hey, he's got a gas-powered pneumatic nail gun! The darkness isn't gonna like nails in its stupid face, is it? Yeah! It also appears that Wake's got quite a bit of walking ahead of him, as a nearby highway sign puts 15 miles between him and the titular town of Night Springs. Hopefully the Desert Shore Motel can help sate him for that journey with a damn fine cup of coffee and some delicious cherry pie.
XBLA in Brief: All Burgers, all the Time
Things are a little quieter this week, with just one high profile XBLA release in the form of BurgerTime World Tour, so this week's XBLA in Brief is dedicated to letting you know if the modern remake is perfectly rare, or way overdone. There are new Xbox Live Arcade games released every week. We realize that our readers are busy, attractive people, and may not have time to download and examine each and every new XBLA game. You've got busy, attractive person stuff to do, after all. Not to worry though, because we've done the work for you, downloading every single trial game and giving you a taste of what to expect. Watch XBLA in Brief every week to see which games deserve a closer look. When you have the time, of course.
Trials Evolution to launch 'when it's done,' still being published by Microsoft
Trials franchise creator RedLynx may be warming up to its new publisher marriage with Ubisoft, as this morning's acquisition announcement revealed, but it doesn't mean that the Finland-based studio is moving in immediately. "We will still be working directly with Microsoft to bring Trials Evolution to Xbox Live Arcade once it's ready," RedLynx Director of Marketing and PR Jason Bates told me this morning. It doesn't look like that'll be this year, however, as Bates explained that the company is taking a "when it's done" attitude to development and the game's launch date. "What we've been holding to is the 'when it's done' approach," Bates said. "We are going to take the time to polish and test the game to the best of our ability before we release it, to ensure it matches the quality people have come to expect from a Trials game." Trials Evolution will be the last game that RedLynx puts out as an indie studio, as the game is still being published by Microsoft for Xbox Live Arcade, rather than Ubisoft. "We are looking forward to working with Ubisoft to ensure that Trials Evolution does get the attention it deserves when the game arrives," Bates said, though he also admitted that, "Ubisoft will respect the current commitments ... Microsoft is still the publisher of the title." The last Trials entry, Trials HD, has racked up over 2 million sales to date on Xbox Live Arcade -- a franchise Ubisoft is no doubt eyeing for potential future projects at the Finnish studio. Might we suggest TrialsMania? Just a thought!%Gallery-125596%
XBLA: Limbo, Vampire Smile on sale; Deadliest Warrior, Scott Pilgrim next week
Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace schedule for the next couple weeks is up, with discounts on solid XBLA titles. This week finds Limbo and Dishwasher Vampire Smile for 50 percent off, at 600 MSP ($7.50) and 400 MSP ($5), respectively. Next week will have Deadliest Warrior and Scott Pilgrim fighting for your space bucks at 400 MSP apiece. New XBLA titles include Burger Time World Tour this week, with Fusion Genesis on November 9. Check out Major Nelson's post for all the details, which include DLC for Batman: Arkham City, Dead Rising 2 and Forza 4.
Korea classifies Joe Danger for Xbox 360
Joe Danger, the exciting bike game from Hello Games, just might be flipping its way to Xbox 360. The Korean Game Rating Board has classified the stunt-driven racer for the Xbox, with Microsoft Korea listed as publisher. Pre-zoom-ably, the game will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade, perhaps ahead of the launch of the sequel, Joe Danger: The Movie. We've contacted Hello Games for comment.
'South Park: Tenorman's Revenge' is the second South Park XBLA exclusive, arriving spring 2012
Cartman's long-standing feud with half-brother Scott Tenorman is about to come to a platforming-based turning point, as South Park: Tenorman's Revenge launches next spring exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade. This marks the second and final game under Microsoft's exclusivity agreement with South Park Digital Studios, as we revealed earlier this year. South Park: Let's Go Tower Defense Play!, the first game in the deal, debuted at NY Comic Con two years ago (nearly to the day!). For Tenorman's Revenge, South Park Digital Studios and Comedy Central are teaming up with quirky developer Other Ocean Interactive to put together a downloadable platformer where players will control Cartman, Stan, Kenny and Kyle against a red-hued army of "gingers," controlled by none other than Scott Tenorman. Beyond the main campaign of (presumably) hopping over gingers and avoiding their evil tricks, the game also features a multiplayer co-op mode (online and off), though it's unclear if that's a separate mode or a co-op version of the campaign. We'll know more very soon, though, as Tenorman's Revenge will be making a more thorough debut at this weekend's New York Comic Con, where developers and South Park producers alike will present the game and take questions from the crowd. That debut takes place tomorrow at 6:15PM ET. So, uh, if you're not in New York yet, it's probably a good idea to start planning. Head past the break for an exclusive look at the first image, featuring everyone's favorite three animal combo (besides the turducken, of course), ManBearPig.
Aliens to invade A World of Keflings in upcoming DLC
Well, more specifically, they will crash land. After all, nothing in A World of Keflings would be so violent as to invade anything. Thus, the new "It Came from Outer Space" DLC will see players helping a group of marooned aliens repair their mother ship and return to their (undoubtedly adorable) home world. The DLC will include a new alien-themed kingdom as well as new resources, buildings, characters and, if the above teaser art is to be believed, space blazers. No price or release date have been announced. %Gallery-136198%
