New York Comic Con has come and gone and we got our hands on a new release and some upcoming games, including a newly announced title. Three Xbox Live Arcade games were on display at the Microsoft booth. There was the recent Robot Entertainment release Orcs Must Die, a welcomed multiplayer demo of Trials Evolution and the newly announced Fusion: Genesis, the first game coming from Starfire Studios. Though our time at the event was limited, we also did get to see the guys from Demiurge Studios and play some more Shoot Many Robots.
Gamasutra editor Ryan Langley has released his Xbox Live Arcade sales analysis for the month of July. July marks the start of the Summer of Arcade promotion for 2011, so that would suggest solid sales numbers. The leader of the pack this month was Bastion, which kicked off Summer of Arcade with 62,835 downloads and over 93,000 in its first two weeks. We were very impressed by Bastion, as was apparent in our review. We were also able to pick the developer’s brain in our XBLAFancast’s special Bastion episode.
The game that had the second best opening week is another Summer of Arcade title, From Dust. From Dust sold 37,415 in its first week as far as we can tell. Ryan explained that the leaderboards are only implemented to show the leaderboards for the challenge mode and not the standard game. This is a good sign since the sales data is incomplete, meaning From Dust likely sold quite a bit better than the number indicates. As we reported earlier, From Dust had the best Day One sales for any XBLA Ubisoft title. The title is a unique strategy game that has had a wider range of opinions on it than most, and you can read about our thoughts on it in our review. With Ms. Splosion Man, Warhammer 40000: Kill Team, Boulder Dash XL, and Dead Block rounding out this month’s releases, it looks like most XBLA fans are staying in the air conditioning and in front of their 360s this summer.
Total sales for the six releases was 245,023 with a quarter of a million new games downloaded in July. The only sales-dud in the group was Boulder Dash XL, which is unfortunate because we encouraged people to buy it and only 2,932 did. It was also good to see that some of last month’s titles are continuing to sell well with Magic 2012, Trenched and Torchlight all selling over 30,000 in the month of July. Nothing sold as well as last year’s Summer of Arcade release, Limbo, which sold 166,243 in its first week. All things considered, it seems like it has been a good month for XBLA games. For more analysis on XBLA sales, check out Ryan Langley’s article at the link below.
Source: Gamasutra
Bastion was developed by Supergiant Games and published by WB Games. It will be released on July 20, 2011 for 1200 MSP. A copy was provided for review purposes.
Bastion is kicking off the Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade on July 20, 2011. This game, the first developed by Supergiant Games, puts you in control of the kid as you make your way through the demolished landscape of the once flourishing city of Caelondia. The Calamity ripped the world apart, and the Bastion is all that’s left. The narrator tells the story of the kid as he works to gather the cores, place them into the monument, and bring more power back to the Bastion. So, is the Bastion worth re-building? Is the tale of the kid worth seeing? Is this the story worth be told?
Developer Housemarque’s Outland has been on XBLA for only a few weeks but has already claimed its place as one of the service’s best games. We recently interviewed the game’s Lead Designer Aki Raula, so strap yourself in, choose between light and darkness and be sure to dodge those pesky bullet-hell, um, bullets.
XBLAFans: So, Outland has been released and has received glowing reviews. How does that feel?
Raula: It feels like our hard work has been noticed and people appreciate it. We are very happy of the spectacular reception for Outland – it is, and continues to be, beyond our expectations. As a small studio we also hope the review success translates to sales so that we can keep on making great games!
Bastion is a very unique game; one that’s very hard to explain. Supergiant Games has made a game that will be built around you, literally. While you walk through the level, the walls, floor, items and creatures that populate every room and hallway are stacked in front of your character. So, if you were to stop moving, there would be no new areas to go to. You would simply see only what has already been laid out in from of you. When it comes to the audio, the narrator will constantly change his tone and dialogue based on what you decide to do. You continue to walk by rooms without exploring the contents? He’ll talk about how your ignoring your surroundings. Decided to destroy all the urns in every room you walk into? The narrator will talk about you redecorating the place.
Many games have tried to create an experience that is based on choice, but the story is predetermined once that decision is made. In Bastion, the narration coupled with the world being dynamically built there’s never the absence of choice . That’s what is so unique about it. It’s a world that doesn’t exist without the player. It is dialogue that isn’t uttered without the player making a decision.
IGN took the time to cover Supergiant Games’ upcoming title Bastion in their ongoing Road to E3 2011 feature. As a site dedicated to the latest news and reviews on all things XBLA, we didn’t want you to miss this. Check out the video, and then come back for a bit of commentary. Welcome back, now on to the commentary. Now, come on!?! How is it possible that someone was born with that voice? The narrator’s voice sounds like the voices of Clint Eastwood and Samuel Jackson decided to join forces and become a super mega voice. It’s a very unique and powerful voice that fits the game very well. For more about Bastion’s unique narration be sure to check out our interview with the developers.
It’s no secret that we here at XBLAFans are very excited to see the release of Bastion. How about you?
Outland was developed by Housemarque, and published by Ubisoft. It was released April 27, 2011 for 800 MSP.
Developer Housemarque has made a name for themselves with their previously PSN-exclusive titles Super Stardust HD and Dead Nation. It is nice to see them bring their next title, Outland over the the Xbox Live Arcade. The story focuses on the spirits of Chaos and Balance, who wage war with each other. A hero comes along to help protect the would against this universal divide. You play as that hero, and will need to skillfully maneuver through the changing world. So, is the adventure worth while or is it just a puzzling mess? Here’s our review.
SFG Beach Volleyball was developed by Stir Fry Games and released on June 7, 2010 for 400 Microsoft Points. A copy was provided by the developer for review purposes.
Are you dying to have some fun in the sun but are either afraid of sand or are a vampire? Stir Fry Games has got you covered with SFG Beach Volleyball. A game featuring those lovable Xbox Live Avatars you have grown so attached to is a no brainer right? Well, with there being a considerable lack of beach volleyball games available, this title may just be what you’re looking for. That is however, if you have some friends to play with. Get your shovel and pale because we’re digging in to this one.
SFG Soccer was developed and published by Stir Fry Games. It was released on Xbox Live for 400 Microsoft points on October 30th, 2009.
Leave it to Stir Fry Games to offer the unique indie titles that just about everyone have a little hankering for. SFG Soccer is the simplistic soccer title that many casual gamers looking for a quick fix will consider picking up. Stir Fry has offered a few titles that have featured the ability to play with your avatar. This game however, does not. Without the avatar support, did they come up with a unique and interesting character design?
When the initial reports on Outland surfaced, many believed that developer Housemarque would continue to send their titles exclusively to Sony’s PlayStation Network. They have seen success with Super Stardust HD and Dead Nation. Now, teamed with Ubisoft, Housemarque is bringing their next highly anticipated title, Outland, to Xbox Live Arcade on April 27th, for 800 Microsoft Points.
Commonly compared to Prince of Persia and Ikaruga, Outland is a departure from the twin-stick shooter titles that we are used to seeing from Housemarque. Don’t remember what the game looks like? View the Trailer. After getting some hands-on with this game at PAX East, we are very excited for the release. Come back to the site for our official review soon after the release.
Source: Joystiq
Ever got a somewhat back-handed email from a colleague and thought, “I wanna knock that person’s block off”? Well, Stir Fry Games offers a legal alternative. Office Brawlers is a simplistic fighting game where the player takes on colleagues due to simple email misunderstandings. Oh yeah, and players also get to fight Bill Lumberg from Office Space.
