Free XBLA game for the US

By Oli Welsh Published 15 May, 2007

Made by work experience boys.

Microsoft is offering American 360 owners a gift this week - and giving three of its tea boys (well, we think that's what 'intern' means) a big pat on the back. It's releasing their project, side-scrolling shooter Aegis Wing, as a free download on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday.

Presumably, this is so it doesn't have to pay them extra.

Aegis Wing is a 2D space shooter in the classic mould, supporting up to four players either locally or over Xbox Live. Players join forces to blast their way through waves of alien Araxians using the experimental Aegis Wing spacecraft. The Aegis Wing allows them to combine their craft into formations of two, three of four ships, giving access turret fire and four super weapons. This makes us think of old cartoons, and feel jealous.

Aegis Wing was originally designed by three students - Scott Brodie, Danny Dyer and Matt Monson - during a summer internship at Microsoft. The three then worked with seasoned Live Arcade developer Carbonated Games (Uno, Hexic) to polish it up for release.

Aegis Wing will be available to download from Live Arcade this Wednesday, but only for those with North American accounts, and only for a limited time.

Head over to our Aegis Wing gallery for a closer look.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Zomoniac #1 5 years ago

    Let me be the first to say:

    ARSEBANDITS!

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #2 5 years ago

    What a load of poo for not letting us play it too :-(

    /storms off in a huff

  • bioreit #3 5 years ago

    Free?

    So what happened to the Microsoft argument that they had to pay for the overheads on DLC, so there had to be at least a minimum price, even for a limited period?

  • The-Bodybuilder #4 5 years ago

    It would be shameful if this turned out to be better than most of the LIVE arcade games.

  • Inquisitor #5 5 years ago

    That was obviously utter bollocks to start with. The gold acconts alone cover their costs I'd imagine, let alone all the arcade downloads and the hugely popular tv and movie service in the US.

  • Fab4 #6 5 years ago

    I know M$ are a US company, but come on!! Havent we in Europe been shafted enough? I eagerly await Sir Clive's next gen games console we can stick to the yanks....but I wont be holding my breath.

  • gizmo #7 5 years ago

    The tea boys? Is it the same ones who do the patch installers that brick your 360?

    /still fuming

  • Xerx3s #8 5 years ago

    In more interesting news: A new PoP game is coming to XBLa.

    http://www.xboxyde.com/news_4337_en.html

  • platinum #9 5 years ago

    what exactly was my european monthly gold subscription fee for again?
    *smacksheadagainstwall*

  • Waldo #10 5 years ago

    Like there aren't scads of games like this already available.

  • brooza #11 5 years ago

    I posted this in the forum yesterday before I realised it was US only.

    Time to create a US account, I think (I'm sure I heard reports of them still working - or is that Japanese accounts that still work?)

  • golden_balls #12 5 years ago

    Has eurogamer not enquired why its north america only ? ms does have offices in this country does it not ? get a quote please



  • Darkedge #13 5 years ago

    looks better than the upcomming Wing Commander game

  • lennon #14 5 years ago

    Last time I checked i could still logon with my US account so hopefully I can get this for free.

    I hope its worth my time downloading it otherwise I shall be contacting MS asking for a refund!!!!

    /Wonders how some people are never happy

  • Ciaran500 #15 5 years ago

    This is a fucking joke ¬_¬


    I assume its only for Gold US accounts aswell

  • bushwod #16 5 years ago

    Where did Danny Dyer find time to make a game in between starring in every bloddy brit flick they make at the moment??!?

  • El_MUERkO #17 5 years ago

    left. no right. down. not there, down!!! ... not that down the other one! dont listen to him he's an idiot, if i wasnt on the turret i would so smack you in the head, bring it bitch! *fighting*

  • Nithron #18 5 years ago

    If you try downloading and playing it on a european 360 it merely displays a 30 second loop of the European continent being raped up the bum by Bill Gates while Steve Ballmer watches.
    True story.
    Then money starts raining from the top of the screen.

  • smelly #19 5 years ago


    It makes me really sad as a 360 owner that I get excited at reading what games are coming out on the xbla even if they're mostly rubbish... well, it's not like the 360 has many *actual* games to be jumping up and down about, is it? :(



    :-D

  • smelly #20 5 years ago

    >looks better than the upcomming Wing Commander game

    The wing commander game is toss.

  • 2099net #21 5 years ago

    Why are you even reporting this on EUROgamer. I see no reason to, unless you actually, you know, investigate and ask why Europe isn't getting a free download for a product Microsoft own all IP on, and give us a definitive answer. Otherwise this news is worthless.

    Edited by 2099net at 15/05/07 @ 17:46

  • IAmBatman #22 5 years ago

    Danny Dyer?!?

  • DrunKao #23 5 years ago

    brooza, go to the Video Marketplace while you're there. It's ridiculous.

  • barnettbeans #24 5 years ago

    will eurogamer please get a quote from M$ i want answers. Why does this always happen, does microsoft not realise that it sells consoles outside the U.S. When we gonna get an exclusive. Hay... hay!!

    "Folds arms in a huff"

  • Azazel #25 5 years ago

    /patiently awaits Talisman release

  • Xerx3s #26 5 years ago

    does microsoft not realise that it sells consoles outside the U.S.

    Actually, that's not true.

  • golden_balls #27 5 years ago

    Xerx3s uttered

    Actually, that's not true.

    please enlighten us ?

    or not your choice :-)

  • ymsefisen #28 5 years ago

    Why are they always pissing on their market by doing stuff for US owners only?

  • The-Bodybuilder #29 5 years ago

    >"It makes me really sad as a 360 owner "

    LAWL.

  • The-Bodybuilder #30 5 years ago

    >"Why are they always pissing on their market by doing stuff for US owners only? "

    Because the US are better than us.
    Admit it.

  • onyx_elite #31 5 years ago

    This is just another example of Microsoft's blinkered view towards their gaming public i.e. they don't seem to realise they exist outside of the US. I mean it's not like we're in frickin Bahrain or Ecuador. Dammit we (the UK) invented that whole world conquering bandwagon the US are on right now.

    We, as paying gamers, deserve a bit more respect and it's about time Eurogamer fully investigated not just this occurrence but also the general shafting of the European market by denying us access to video marketplace but leaving the useless front end sat there on our dashboards.

    Licensing my arse...

  • DrunKao #32 5 years ago

    onyx_elite, I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Would recommend.

    Edit: Are you saying that Bahrain and Ecuador don't deserve the same content as you? I'm outraged!!!!
    Edited by DrunKao at 15/05/07 @ 23:04

  • Vivid #33 5 years ago

    I bought my first Xbox (remember them?) when I was living in California and took my Gamertag out then too. Thanks to this even though I'm back in the UK and have a British registered credit card on my account it still thinks I'm American. (As long as I remember to call aluminium 'aloominum' and show a general incomprehension to irony and self-deprecation.) I shall post my thoughts on this game tomorrow.

    I shouldn't worry too much about the US/Europe divide- it's not like you guys don't get the free Lesbian Thursday downloads or Xbox360 Dreamcast emulator! You do get those, don't you?

  • davisorle #34 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • 3william56 #35 5 years ago

    Cheap labour a-go-go...

    Heh -if this is any good, and gets a couple of zillion freebee downloads, how'd those boys be feeling...?

  • smelly #36 5 years ago

    "guys... I just watched a video of Prince of Persia for XBLA... THAT SHIT WAS AMAZING!!! The best remake of such an old game ever."


    SECONDED!!!

    I *loved* the original, and the remake looks the fucking business!

    1st Live arcade game that i might actually buy! (actually, scrub the word "might";).

  • spookyzombie #37 5 years ago

    Just so you guys know - this downloaded and worked using my US Silver account (I'm from the UK).

  • reality_cheque #38 5 years ago

    Hehehe, I direct onxy_elite to the site and 2 days later he's posting hate filled rants!

    *waves to Bernard Black's stunt double*

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #39 5 years ago

    It's REALLY easy to set up a US Live account, download the game, and then play it from your normal UK account. I've just done it.