Yet more information on the games primed for release in this year’s XBLA House Party event has escaped from CES 2012, as well as additional footage of upcoming Kinect party-game Happy Action Theater. Reporting from the consumer tech tradeshow, Xbox Live’s Major Nelson takes a brisk trip around the Microsoft booth, interviewing developers from the five upcoming XBLA titles and exhibiting new footage of their games. It’s well worth a watch.
Larry Hryb aka Major Nelson, has let loose further details on the 2012 leg of Microsoft’s annual House Party event. This year’s festivities kick off on February 15 and pan out across the following four weeks. As previously reported, the roster of games includes a side-story to the self-proclaimed psychological action thriller Alan Wake with Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, arena-based first person shooter Nexuiz, puzzle stealth action game Warp and the once considered dead I Am Alive. As of yet there has been no confirmation on prices or the order in which the games will appear during the event. If you happen to be at CES you can play all of the House Party games at the Microsoft booth, otherwise you’ll have to wait with the rest of us until February 15.
Source: Major Nelson
Major Nelson has posted the Achievement Unlocked sound on his blog as both an MP3 and in iPhone format. We’re not sure it would work as an alarm, but if you use it as one maybe it’ll leave you dreaming of finally unlocking Super Meat Boy‘s I’m a Golden God. Head over to the post to pick it up and set it as your text message alert to get a little nerd cred every time you receive a message.
Digital Reality have posted the final two parts to their SkyDrift developer Q&A series on Facebook. Part 5 discusses music, power-ups and a secret of which will only be revealed in the final event of campaign mode, whilst Part 6 answers those all important gameplay questions. SkyDrift soars its way on to XBLA tomorrow, September 7, for 1200 MS points…in Europe only?
Today Xbox Live’s Major Nelson announced the upcoming Xbox marketplace schedule for the next two weeks stating tomorrows release of SkyDrift is for Europe only. No explanation has been provided at this time and there have been no comments made by Digital Reality. It is possible this is another “major-mistake” so we will update you as soon as we know more. In meantime click the links below for the Q&As.
Source: Major Nelson
Here’s a list of downloadable content scheduled to appear on the Marketplace for the rest of the month:
Xbox LIVE Arcade:
October 20: Super Meat Boy, 800 Microsoft Points. After November 21 the price will be 1200 Microsoft Points
October 20: Costume Quest, 1200 Microsoft Points
October 27: Pinball FX 2 Free game download. Tables purchased individually with free import from original Pinball FX
Here’s a list of upcoming arcade titles and DLC on the Xbox Live Marketplace:
Xbox LIVE Arcade: Read the rest of this entry »
October 6: Comic Jumper, 1200 Microsoft Points
October 13: Pinball FX 2, Free game download. Tables purchased individually with free import from original “Pinball FX”
October 13: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I, 1200 Microsoft Points
October 13: Dead Space Ignition, 400 Microsoft Points
October 20: Super Meat Boy, 1200 Microsoft Points
When we first reported that companies were considering releasing Demos on Xbox Live Arcade, we were a little wary. Back this spring, EA made it clear they were pursing methods to make the traditional demo model more profitable. Well, it looks like Capcom has already succeeded with this idea, as Dead Rising: Case Zero has maintained its top position on the Xbox Live Activity Charts four weeks after release.
Just last week, Capcom called Case Zero their “Most Dynamic Sales Weapon Ever.” It’s pretty tough to deny their plan has worked considering the shear saturation they have gained on the market place with the prequel content. The success of Case Zero is demonstrating why we felt Case Zero deserved a spot on our Top 15 Games that Changed XBLA Forever.
Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)
1 DEAD RISING 2: CASE ZERO
2 DeathSpank: Thongs Of Virtue
3 Plants vs. Zombies
4 Sonic Adventure
5 LIMBO
6 Trials HD
7 SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD: THE GAME
8 Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter
9 Castle Crashers
10 Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
11 Alien Breed 2: Assault
12 Marathon: Durandal
13 Space Invaders Infinity Gene
14 Game Room **
15 Deadliest Warrior
16 Monday Night Combat
17 Shank
18 UNO
19 Peggle
20 Magic: The Gathering
For the full activity list check out MajorNelson.com
Microsoft is looking to introduce some major changes to the Xbox 360 this year, and is accepting sign-ups to preview a number of the new features being implemented. This new program, called the Xbox Live Update Preview Program, will grant selected users early access to the Xbox’s updated user interface, the enhanced Netflix interface and the new Xbox Live on-demand ESPN service.
According to Major Nelson’s blog, interested users need to sign up to Microsoft’s Connect website and complete a survey, after which they’ll be notified if they have been selected to participate in the program. This is not part of the Kinect beta test, but “multiple thousands of participants” are being sought for the program, so the chances of being selected seem decent.
A report from Joystiq outlines a few requirements to be aware of, however: Your ISP must support ESPN 3; you need a Netflix subscription to use the new Netflix search, and an Xbox Live Gold account will afford you “priority” during selection. The same Joystiq report also mentions that since the new Xbox Live update is introducing a new audio codec for online communication, and that your voice chat will be incompatible with the older version.
“Because you are participating in an exclusive pre-release program, you will not be able to voice chat with non-participants during the preview program period.”
Game chat will reportedly unaffected, however.
Sources: Major Nelson, Joystiq
As announced by Major Nelson today, the cost to subscribe to Xbox Live is going up. This change in price only affects the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico. Why are they raising it? No comment so far; however, it could do with the launch of XBL in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and South Africa this year. Perhaps it has to do with the ESPN update coming in two months. Or maybe, just maybe, they just like money.
Starting November 1, 2010 XBL Gold will cost:
US:
UK:
Canada:
Mexico:
Personally I am relieved that I have 3 years of Live for free, so this does not affect me. For those that it does affect, what are your thoughts on the price change with XBL gold?
