Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays

[SackAttack]

Just got the following in my inbox that may be of interest to Xbox 360 owners. Enjoy.

Gonna download Frogger little later tonight, see if it's worth the points.

Today, Xbox Live unveils Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, a new program that will provide a regular launch schedule of new Xbox Live Arcade titles on the Xbox 360. Starting today, Xbox Live Arcade games will now go live worldwide on Wednesdays at 0800 GMT (Midnight Pacific) – hitting gamers around the world all on the same day.

Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays kicks off with a blockbuster summer schedule of eagerly anticipated retro titles. Gamers looking for a blast from the past can download ‘Frogger’ – the beloved Konami classic arcade title – today on Xbox Live Arcade. Other Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays titles debuting in the coming weeks include ‘Cloning Clyde’, ‘Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting,’ ‘Galaga’ and ‘Pac-Man.’ To date, Xbox 360 gamers have downloaded more than 5 million Xbox Live Arcade games and the release schedule sizzles all summer long, with the following titles arriving on Xbox Live Arcade:

Ø July 12 – Frogger

Ø July 19 – Cloning Clyde

Ø July 26 – Galaga

Ø August 2 – Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting

Ø August 9 – Pac-Man

Kicking off with ‘Frogger’, fans of the Konami classic can download the game that first hit arcades in 1981 and once again be able to dodge traffic and eats flies with their frog, this time racking up Achievements along the way. There’s no better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Frogger and the launch of Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays than downloading this latest title from the Xbox Live Arcade game portfolio.

Xbox Live Arcade’s ‘Frogger’ has been enhanced and reinvigorated for the Xbox 360 and features new, enhanced artwork that matches and compliments the original style. In addition the game’s audio, including sound effects and music ditties, has been modernized to sound crisp and clear on today’s high performance sound systems. New features include:

- Enhanced artwork and backdrops; players can now choose to play the original arcade classic graphics or the new enhanced graphics

- Fresh soundtrack and upgraded sounds effects

- New Xbox Live Arcade split screen multiplayer modes

- Addictive new Co-op vs Speed, and Head-to-Head Modes

The release of ‘Frogger’ will be followed up by a host of highly anticipated titles:

– ‘Cloning Clyde,’ the action adventure/puzzle game created by Wahoo Studios/NinjaBees (developer of the popular ‘Outpost Kaloki X’ for Xbox Live Arcade), will bring its wacky, classic animation-style world to Xbox 360 on July 19.

– ‘Galaga,’ the popular space shooter from Namco, which was first released back in 1981, comes packed with a new online multiplayer function, enhanced graphics and all new game modes on July 26.

– ‘Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting’ takes the best from classic arcade gaming and brings it online, combining the signature features of Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to create the greatest ‘Street Fighter’ experience to date on August 2.

Of course, a line-up of retro classics wouldn’t be complete without perhaps the most classic title of them all, ‘Pac-Man,’ the fruit-eating maze game that changed the face of gaming upon its release in 1980. The Xbox Live Arcade version, which comes out on August 9, takes the famous franchise to the next-generation. With multiplayer over Xbox Live and tons of cool Achievements, ‘Pac-Man’ stays true to the original while powering-up to next-gen standards.

To help kick-off the summer of Xbox Live Arcade and the launch of these classic game titles, Xbox Live celebrated the 80s with the second Xbox Live Gold Experience event last night in San Francisco for its community members and is now helping other Xbox gamers do the same. Xbox 360 gamers that are interested in throwing their own 80s game night can visit www.xbox.com to secure a retro party-in-a-box complete with Microsoft Points cards good for free arcade title downloads, pizza coupons courtesy of Papa John’s, and a gift card for 80s music.

“There’s no better way to revisit the 80s than to throw a retro-themed Gold Experience party - complete with the right classic arcade games, music, and pizza,” said Ami Blaire, Global Marketing Director for Xbox Live. “So this summer, live it up on your Xbox 360 and enjoy our new twists on the old classic faves.”

All Xbox Live Arcade games can be demoed for free on Xbox Live Marketplace. Check out Xbox Live and Xbox.com for continuing updates on exciting new content available to Xbox 360 gamers.

[CraigSca]

Cool - my wife and kids will like this!

[spleen1015]

Still no Texas Hold 'Em. Bummer.

[CleBrownsfan]

Can't wait for Galaga!

[Terps]

Still no Texas Hold 'Em. Bummer.

I don't think that's coming out until the camera comes out. That's one of the first games you can import your own face into the game.

[Mustang]

My wife will definitely want the Pac Man game..

[Pumpy Tudors]

My wife will definitely want the Pac Man game..
There's a dirty joke in here someplace, but I don't want to get boxed.

[Mustang]

:D There's a dirty joke in here someplace, but I don't want to get boxed.

And I thought I undirtified it.. I was originally going to type "My wife will want Pac Man" and that changed to "My wife will want to play the Pac Man game" and that changed to the posted version.

Amazing how a simple little statement has to be analyzed.... :D

[dervack]

I don't think that's coming out until the camera comes out. That's one of the first games you can import your own face into the game.
Nope, UNO was. I really wish that Hold Em game was out too.

[dawgfan]

Still no Texas Hold 'Em. Bummer.
There is a Texas Hold 'Em game on the developers version of Xbox Live - not sure if it's available to the public yet or not. I'm not a big fan - the way it displays the cards for the flop, turn and river it's very hard to distinguish between spades and clubs, and sometimes even the number on the card.

[ISiddiqui]

Woo.. Frogger. Pretty fun, but I wish it would remember the 'size' of the game screen instead of you having to streach it every time you start up the program.

[dawgfan]

Woo.. Frogger. Pretty fun, but I wish it would remember the 'size' of the game screen instead of you having to streach it every time you start up the program.
That, and the fact you can't turn off the super-annoying music are the two big drawbacks for me on this port. Still, it's a fun little game to play to kill a few minutes...

[SackAttack]

Woo.. Frogger. Pretty fun, but I wish it would remember the 'size' of the game screen instead of you having to streach it every time you start up the program.

Didn't know you COULD stretch the screen. That might make it easier for me to get across. I keep drowning because I'm just a smidge off when I jump off the log.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, it's under options... the default is waaay too narrow.

[kingnebwsu]

Galaga=awesomeness. PacMan=coolness. I will definitely pay for those :)

[TazFTW]

Still no Texas Hold 'Em. Bummer.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/texasholdemlivearcadexbox360/

[dawgfan]

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/texasholdemlivearcadexbox360/
Yeah, that's the game I have on my developer's network version of Live. Be forwarned before you download this that the display of the cards in the middle of the table (the flop, turn and river) isn't very clear - it's difficult to tell the difference between a spade and a club, and even knowing the type of card sometimes is difficult.

[SackAttack]

Won't be out 'til mid-August.

[dawgfan]

Won't be out 'til mid-August.
Maybe they'll make some adjustments to the game in the meantime (I've had it on my dev kit for at least a month, maybe more), but if not, I'd advise passing on it.

[spleen1015]

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/t/texasholdemlivearcadexbox360/
I knew it was coming out. The June issue of XBOX magazine(that I got in early May) said it was going to be out that month.

So, I've been waiting for it.

[dervack]

Maybe they'll make some adjustments to the game in the meantime (I've had it on my dev kit for at least a month, maybe more), but if not, I'd advise passing on it.
Well, it's going to be free.

[dawgfan]

Well, it's going to be free.
Ah - in that case, by all means try it out when it's publicly available. I will admit that I'm not viewing the game on a large HDTV, so if you've got one, that may minimize the problem I'm describing.

[spleen1015]

Ah - in that case, by all means try it out when it's publicly available. I will admit that I'm not viewing the game on a large HDTV, so if you've got one, that may minimize the problem I'm describing.

What is the size of the tv you are playing on?

I had trouble reading text in Fight Night Round 3 when I was playing on a 19 inch tv in a hotel.

[dawgfan]

What is the size of the tv you are playing on?

I had trouble reading text in Fight Night Round 3 when I was playing on a 19 inch tv in a hotel.
I think it's a 23" or so. Also, I'm using a built-in 16:9 display mode, so that may be further clouding the resolution.

[dawgfan]

OK, as it turns out that Texas Hold 'Em did undergo an interface update, and the results are much improved - you can actually read the cards now. I retract my earlier concerns and give this one a thumbs-up.

[dervack]

OK, as it turns out that Texas Hold 'Em did undergo an interface update, and the results are much improved - you can actually read the cards now. I retract my earlier concerns and give this one a thumbs-up.
Yep, and now it prolly won't be free anymore. Atleast i read an article that said it wouldn't be free anymore.

[Izulde]

I suddenly have the urge to cozy up to an 80s arcade somewhere and play Golden Axe

[SackAttack]

I suddenly have the urge to cozy up to an 80s arcade somewhere and play Golden Axe

You know this will be coming to XBLA along with Sonic.

[dawgfan]

I'm waiting to see if Midway will do a Cyberball Xbox Live port - it's on the Blitz: The League disk...

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm waiting to see if Midway will do a Cyberball Xbox Live port - it's on the Blitz: The League disk...

THAT would be an almost certain must buy for me.

[kingnebwsu]

I got Galaga yesterday and it's much harder than I remember the NES version being. I did play it at the arcade some, but I played it a BUNCH on the NES. Of course, maybe I'm just old and suck at Galaga :)

[ISiddiqui]

I played the demo of Galaga and didn't really like it... I think I'll hold out for Street Fighter II next Wednesday.

[dawgfan]

I played the demo of Galaga and didn't really like it... I think I'll hold out for Street Fighter II next Wednesday.
It's a pretty faithful port (Galaga that is) - I played an original arcade standup over the weekend to compare.