Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

[Behindshadows]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

How do you get a flashdrive to fit into your 360 to transfer photos?

[Bruins]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

There's a little door on the bottom (or right, depending on how you position your 360), where controllers plug in. There's two USB ports in there, so just plug your flashdrive into one.

[bkfount]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

Be careful with Family Game Night, an EA title

While all the games are grouped under that name from an Achievment perspective and it states "a collection of four board games" in Flawless' post, according to 360achievements.org:

SOURCE

No mention of a bundle price either...5600 points for the "full" game?! Lame.

$70? For board games? HAHAHA. I can find all 7 of these for $15 combined.

EA really knows how to drop the ball on this stuff. Monopoly should have been a XBLA game, rather than a $40 retail game with no online multiplayer.

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

PopCap Launches Peggle Game on Xbox LIVE Arcade

SEATTLE, Washington – March 9, 2009 — PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual video games, today announced this week's launch of its hugely popular game Peggle on the Xbox LIVE Arcade (XBLA) online service of Microsoft's Xbox 360 video game console. Featured as XBLA's "Game of the Week," Peggle will be available for download in all Xbox LIVE regions this Wednesday, March 11 for 800 Microsoft points. Peggle for Xbox LIVE Arcade delivers a number of new and exclusive features to the Xbox 360 gamer, including the first-ever online multiplayer Peggle experience with Peg Party mode, where up to four players can compete simultaneously over Xbox LIVE. The game also features local and Xbox LIVE 2-player Duel mode, downloadable content support, achievements, rich online leaderboards, HD graphics, and more.

"Peggle has become a cult gaming phenomenon, crossing over and becoming as big a hit with hard core gamers as it has with casual players. This makes XBLA the perfect platform for the game," stated Greg Canessa, VP of video game platforms at PopCap. "With the XBLA version, we're delivering even more features that appeal to the diehard enthusiast with an incredible multiplayer experience and community elements that take Peggle to new heights. When you combine the multiplayer experience we've created with some of the online features and downloadable content support, PopCap is providing an all-new way to play Peggle competitively with room for expansion and future growth. I know about 200 people at PopCap who can't wait to see how they stack up against the rest of the Peggle universe!"

Peggle has been optimized for the XBLA platform, works flawlessly with the Xbox controllers, and looks dazzling in high definition. Among the game's features are:

• A deep single-player experience, featuring 55 levels of ball-bouncing madness, 10 unlockable Peggle Masters, 75 Challenge mode levels, Quick Play Mode and more.
• Two different multiplayer modes, letting the gamer experience Peggle competitively online for the first time ever (TrueSkill ranked or player match)
  o 2-player Duel Mode, playable locally or over Xbox LIVE
  
  o 4-player Peg Party Mode, playable over Xbox LIVE
  
• Rich online leaderboards, spanning single player and multiplayer modes
• View instant replays of the highest scoring shots to learn a thing or two from true Peggle masters
• 12 Xbox LIVE Achievements
• Downloadable content support
• 720p HD graphics and surround sound
• Brand new animated backdrops set the mood for your favorite character
• Compelling trial experience featuring Adventure, Quick Play and Challenge Modes, allowing players to try out 3 of the 10 available Peggle Masters

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

Crystal Defenders and The Maw DLC also coming this week.

Kotaku

Crystal Defenders is Square's take on tower defense, using characters from the Final Fantasy Tactics series to defend your crystals against evil invading hordes of classic Final Fantasy monsters in more than 300 increasingly difficult stages.

Rounding up this week's Arcade releases is the second downloadable level for Twisted Pixel's The Maw, River Redirect, delivering a little more gameplay for a little more money.

Crystal Defenders will run you 800 Microsoft points, with The Maw: River Redirect a steal at 160 points.

[jmood88]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

I've always wanted to try Peggle.

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

IGN: Uno Rush Hands-on

The major difference between Uno Rush and regular Uno is that rather than simply playing one card at a time, you can play multiple cards in a row on your turn. When your turn starts, the top of your deck will simply start discarding -- if it is the right color or number -- and any other combos after it will automatically follow. If you can string together the right order (and have a really good hand), you can burn through all of your cards before anyone else can act. Since the order your cards are in determines how many cards you may or may not be able to play, the game only gives you a moment to act once your turn begins. That means that you'll have to keep shuffling cards around while other players are acting to keep up with what color is currently active. This in itself changes the base structure of the game and completely speeds things up, but it's not the only new mechanic.

To add some strategy to the game, Uno Rush allows you to see everyone else's cards at all times. This way, you can decide whether or not to combo on that last card or not. Playing four cards might be better than five if the last one will leave the next player open to winning the game. Add in special cards that shuffle an opponent's deck, add cards, or the ever popular draw-four wild and you've got a game that can turn on the current leader in a split second.

The flow of the game is much faster and frantic in Uno Rush than in classic Uno, especially once you start looking around at everyone else's hands with one eye towards challenging Uno calls. It took me a few rounds to catch up with the fast play, but once I did I found Uno Rush to be a great little variant on the classic card game.

There are three game types included in Uno Rush: Standard, Partner, and Elimination. Each can be played locally or online with up to four players and you're free to edit a range of house rules to customize the game however you want. Uno Rush is slated to be part of the Days of Arcade promotion that begins March 18, so look for it to hit the Live Arcade in the coming weeks.

[Lordcledus]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

IGN: Uno Rush Hands-on

I think I will stick with the regular version.

[mkharsh33]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

I think I will stick with the regular version.

agreed...the older i get the dumber i seem to be. 4 children under age 10 have had their effect...

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

IGN: Peggle Review - 9.0

It's hard to explain exactly why Peggle is so much fun. You could point to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" that blasts out of your speakers each time you complete a stage or the happy colors and sounds, but it's more than that. There's something here you can't quite grasp until you play a few rounds for yourself, so please do at the very least download the demo and give it a shot for yourself. Videos and screenshots don't do the addictive nature of Peggle justice. It must be played.

TeamXbox: Peggle Review - 9.3

Pop Cap has done a great job with Peggle on XBLA. The game is incredibly colorful with a great mix of animation and sound to satisfy players of all ages—it’s not dumbed down for kids and it’s not loaded up with sophisticated gameplay concepts that only adults can take in. Most of all, though, it’s the combination of simple gameplay, challenging action and cartoon-like graphics that makes it highly appealing. Sure, there’s not a lot of variety to the gameplay, but you won’t likely care either, because it’s such basic entertainment. The year is still pretty new, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that Peggle may be the best 800 Microsoft Points (about $10) that you’ll spend this year.

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week Celebrates St. Patty’s Day with Xbox Classic “Fable”

Xbox LIVE has your pot ‘o gold this St. Patrick’s Day, with the exclusive Xbox LIVE Deal of the Week. Starting March 16, Xbox LIVE Gold members can enjoy “Fable,” the beloved RPG classic from Peter Molyneux and Lionhead Studios, for only 800 Microsoft Points – one third off the retail price.

After you’ve had your fill ‘o “Fable,” check out the “Battlestations Midway: Iowa Mission Pack” Game Add-on, offered at 20 percent off during the week of March 23. The end of the rainbow is a huge 50 percent discount on the award-winning Xbox LIVE Arcade title, “Alien Hominid HD,” available starting March 30 for only 400 Microsoft Points!

[bkfount]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

I'm still not paying $10 for the non Lost Chapters version of Fable, but I'll probably have to get Alien Hominid finally for $5

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

Achievements for Banjo-Tooie


Still expected to release in late April.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

Achievements for Banjo-Tooie


Still expected to release in late April.

I will be on it the day it drops.

[Flawless]

Re: Xbox Live Marketplace and Live Arcade discussion Part III

Upcoming XBLA Releases:

• UNO Rush - March 25th
• Puzzle Quest: Galactrix - April 1st
• Flock! - April 8th
• Dishwasher - April 8th
• OutRun Online Arcade - April 15th
• Lode Runner - April 22nd