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New SFII HD Remix sprite revealed, it's Ken!
The image you see above, ladies and gents, is a sprite from the upcoming Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix for Xbox Live Arcade. In fact, it's actually a little smaller than it should be thanks to our formatting. Now, we've seen a sprite from (deep breath) SFIITHDR before, but this is the first official image released by Capcom. As Capcom's Brian Dunn puts it, "this is what it will look like (if you paused the game and took out the background)." Damn. If you like what you see, then you're in luck, as Capcom will soon be opening a blog that will feature new art, news, and other goodies about their upcoming downloadable games. For those of you that have forgotten, those games include SFIITHDR and Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (easily abbreviated SPFIITHDR), Rocketman: Axis of Evil (RAoE) and Talisman (T).If Capcom's other downloadable games are going to look this good, you can count us excited.[Thanks, Jared]
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.
New Catan content settles on Xbox Live
While it may not be as exciting as, say, a downloadable expansion, there is new Catan content available on Xbox Live Arcade. It's not particularly exciting though, as it won't significantly alter your game at all. First, there is a picture pack available that will set you back 100 MS Points. Somewhat more interesting, you can download the Mayfair skin, which will give your gameboard the appearance of the original Mayfair Games version. The Mayfair skin will set you back 100 points as well.Anyone planning on downloading this content, or will you save your money for an expansion?
ESRB rates Fatal Fury, Tempest, more for XBLA
We love the ESRB. With the group constantly rating titles that have yet to be announced, it's like getting birthday presents year round. XBLArcade breaks the news that the ESRB has rated 4 new games for Xbox Live Arcade, though not all of them are "new." The three we already know about are Tempest, Mutant Storm Empire, and Fatal Fury Special. We had nearly given up hope on Fatal Fury though. We hadn't heard a peep about it since last August after all. Finally, coming out of left field is SEGA's Streets of Rage 2, a classic beat-em-up from the Genesis era.We have to admit we've been impressed by Xbox Live Arcade lately. Here's hoping Microsoft can continue the stream of new titles unabated.
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 races onto the XBLA tomorrow
Just as rumored, Mad Tracks will be racing its way onto the Xbox Live Arcade promptly tomorrow morning. Mad Tracks is that overly joyful arcade style racing game that includes twelve cartoony cars, fifteen challenges, powerups galore, and four player co-op over Live. It's one game that we're looking forward to getting our hands on as we're excited to see how well it plays with three other friends over Xbox Live. Oh, and if we haven't mentioned, all this Mad Tracks fun will only set you back 800 Microsoft points.So, there you have it. You've officially been informed about your XBLA fix for the week. Now you can get back to pondering how to cure the common cold.%Gallery-3503%
Details on Mad Tracks' cars and content
With the rumor of a possible release this week, GamingTalkHQ dug up some new Mad Tracks info including pictures of all twelve cars and Load Inc.'s plans for the game's gamer picture and theme offerings. Off the bat Mad Tracks purchasers will receive two free gamer pictures and three sets of five gamer pictures will offered for 100 Microsoft points each. There will also be a Mad Tracks theme available for 150 points. Nothing too surpising there. Much more interesting are the renders of all twelve cars from the game, which you can check out after the jump. Our favorite? The Palace, because it's so darn sophisticated yet rebellious at the same time.
Gamerscore Blog's Road Tour stops in DC [update 1]
The Gamerscore Blog crew is still on their road tour across North American and still having fun. Today they set up shop in Washington DC with the official event kicking off this evening. And to pass the time between now and tonight they've been seeing the sights, visiting the White House, and getting a feel for what DC has to offer even getting a look at Mr. Lincoln himself. We're sure we'll be seeing more photos trickle in from their DC festivities later on tonight, so keep an eye out for secret XBLA clues or peripheral appearances. We hope everyone who RSVP'ed has a blast at the GSB event tonight, we're with you all in spirit.Update 1: Doh! Their blog post was from yesterday, which means the DC event already happened, which means all the photos they have up are all you're going to get. It's Friday, what can we say ...
Win Soltrio Solitaire from The Xbox Domain
Ah Solitaire. Is there a better time-waster? We submit to you that there is not. Sure, Tetris is in the running, but once you get into the higher levels it can become a wee bit stressful. Not Solitaire. No, it would be difficult to ever apply the label of "stressful" to Solitaire. Actually, we can think of one reason Solitaire, specifically Soltrio Solitaire for Xbox Live Arcade, can be stressful: it costs 800 freaking Microsoft Points. Almost every computing device out there has a free version of Solitaire. Hell, you can even grab Solitaire for graphing calculators. So, we offer you this nugget of info: The Xbox Domain is giving away a free copy of Soltrio Solitaire for Xbox Live Arcade. Even better, the rules for entry are insanely simple. Head over there now for your chance to win.Oh, and don't forget that we're giving away lots of Halo 3 beta T-shirts until the end of May. We really can't stress that enough.
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?
PSP puzzler Exit coming to XBLA
According to XBLArcade, Taito announced in the latest Famitsu that it plans to bring its PSP puzzle game, Exit, to Xbox Live Arcade. The object of the game, appropriately enough, is to guide yourself and others to the exit of each level. The game employs a heavily stylized cel-shaded look, and is perhaps best described as "quirky." The Xbox Live Arcade version will feature brand new levels not found in the PSP version. For the moment, only a Japanese release has been confirmed at a price of 800 points. Hopefully, the western world will get a taste of Exit as well. Hit the "read" link to see a trailer for the game.Alright Taito, how about some Bubble Bobble love on XBLA?
Rush n' Attack some Xevious today on XBLA
The Xbox Live Arcade bounty just keeps coming this week as we are served with yet another double helping of downloadable gaming goodness. This week we get two delectable helpings in the form of Xevious and Rush n' Attack. One of them is about destroying alien scum and the other is about the Cold War. We'll let you puzzle out which one is which. Should you enjoy either game enough to plunk down your hard-earned MS Points, you can purchase them for 400 points each.%Gallery-3331%%Gallery-3332%
Rush 'n Attack, Xevious invade XBLA this week
Xbox Live Arcade is set for yet another double shot of goodness this week with the release of both Rush n' Attack and Xevious. Both considered genuine arcade classics Xevious and Rush n' Attack will each be available for 400 MS Points. For those unaware of Rush n' Attack, the game is a side-scrolling action game in which players struggle to free prisoners of war while simultaneously stabbing as many foreign militants as possible. As is expected of retro Arcade releases, the game features both original and enhanced graphics. Xevious is a vertical shooter that tasks players with, um, shooting stuff. Head over to Gamerscore Blog for the full scoop.%Gallery-3332%%Gallery-3331%
What more do you want from the XBLA?
Our title says it all. The Gamerscore Blog wants to know what you think the XBLA needs to do to make the overall experience better. They want to know your ideas on what games you'd like to see, what features should be included, what genres you like, and even what promotions you enjoy. They're open to hearing pretty much any ideas that you have. So, if you're a huge Arcade fan, be sure to comment on their post telling them (and the big cheeses over at Microsoft) what you think the XBLA needs. And don't forget to mention that you want more free games, because free games rock!
IGN gets its Carcassonne on
IGN has posted a lengthy preview of Carcassonne, the tile-based board game heading to Xbox Live Arcade. Like Catan, Carcassonne is a popular European strategy game. The gameboard (composed of 72 tiles) is slowly built by the players as they attempt to build structures like roads, castles, and monasteries. The Xbox Live Arcade version also includes the River I and II expansions, which have players building a river before other structures, giving gameplay a more set path and a different kind of strategy. Sierra plans to offer other expansions as future downloads. All in all, Carcassonne is sounding like a solid addition to the Live Arcade library, especially for those that got a kick out of Catan. Hit the "read" link for the full preview.[Thanks, Jonah Falcon]
Microsoft booting modders off Xbox Live
If you've been using a modified Xbox 360 to beta test first-person shooters on Xbox Live, you're about to be shunned by the online world like a leper operating a Simple Plan Myspace page. "How could this happen to me?" you ask. Well, Major Nelson bluntly blurts it out on his temporary post-meltdown page: "As you can imagine, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to modded consoles connecting to LIVE. We're very serious about this, and if we detect you have a modded Xbox then you will not be able to connect to Xbox Live."Aside from the sudden disconnection, modders will be informed of their newly-banished status by the above screen and the status code, "Z: 8015 - 190D." Those recipients without eye patches will no doubt be livid and ready to assault message boards with all manner of exclamations and emoticons, but when used for evil, the power of Mod can open the door to online cheating and other unfair unpleasantness. Sometimes innocent bystanders have to pay the price in Microsoft's war on enemy solders.[Thanks, keeel]
Ecco and Sonic receive ESRB ratings for XBLA
Further validating the screenshots of SEGA's Vintage Collection discovered earlier this month, ESRB ratings have been discovered for two of SEGA's classic titles. One of them, Sonic the Hedgehog, we've known about for some time. The other, however, is something of a surprise. Ecco the Dolphin is also listed for the Xbox 360. While we love the original Sonic as much as any self-respecting gamer, we have a special soft spot for Ecco. Given an HD makeover and the spiffy new age soundtrack from the SEGA CD version and we'd really have a special title on Xbox Live Arcade.What other titles would you like to see in the SEGA Vintage Collection? Kid Chameleon, Altered Beast, Phantasy Star?[Via Joystiq]Read
X3F hands-on: Aegis Wing (play it with friends)
Let's get this out of the way right now: if you can avoid it, do not play Aegis Wing alone. Single-player Aegis Wing is almost a complete misrepresentation of the fun that can be had. With that out of the way, we can discuss Aegis Wing, the latest alien-blasting, bullet-dodging, arcade shooter from Microsoft. Sure, there's a story in there. In fact, you'll even get little written snippets of plot between levels. Let's face it though, the point is to shoot everything that moves, and Aegis Wing has that in spades.
Bomberman Live 100% official, local multiplayer
In a daring attempt to reveal a shocking surprise to the world, Hudson Entertainment has announced that it is bringing Bomberman Live to Xbox Live Arcade. While the announcement was rather expected, considering both the game's rating and a video have already been leaked, it's nice to hear it from the horse's mouth. Hudson did reveal a few new bits of information. The game will support 8-player multiplayer via Xbox Live. Also (thank the heavens) the game will support 4-player local multiplayer (which was not supported at all by Bomberman Act: Zero). Finally, characters in Bomberman Live will be fully customizable. That's nice and all, but we'll be sticking with black Bomberman, thank you very much. We always totally have dibs on black Bomberman.
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]
