Xbox Live Arcade launches News
Xbox News by Ellie Gibson
It's official - downloading games is the new going to the shops. First we had Nintendo's revelation that you'll be able to access classic titles from its expansive back catalogue to play on your shiny new Revolution console - at a price, of course.
And now Microsoft is offering games for download with the European launch of the Xbox Live Arcade service, said to offer "a new social experience that brings popular retro classics and broad-appeal games directly to your console."
All you need to get started is the special launcher disc, which comes free with all new Xboxes or can be obtained by calling 0800 587 1102.
The disc features 12 demos of games already available, which include card and boardgame titles such as Poker, Hearts, Spades, Backgammon, Chess and Hardwood Solitare - the latter offering "more than 140 versions of solitaire", apparently. Crikey.
The puzzle and trivia category includes classics like Bejeweled and Zuma as well as Fuzzee Fever, while action/arcade games such as Alien Sky, Hamsterball, Feeding Frenzy and Marble Blast are also on offer.
And finally, you can download yourself some 'Social Sports' games, like bowling, billiards and golf.
The demos on the disc are free to play, and you don't even need an Xbox Live connection to enjoy them, but full downloads start at an introductory price of £7.49 for the basic games and £11.50 for more advanced ones. We're told that more games will be added to the Xbox Live Arcade every month.
Xbox Live Arcade is up and running right now and you'd better get in there quick - launcher discs are only available while stocks last. At least until the factory has finished making the next batch, presumably.
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
Comments: 1-31 of 31 in total
|
pantherboy
13/06/05 @ 17:43
0
I think this is a good move, I always thought there should more variety of short quick games on consoles like whats available for PC. I still only hope the quality isn't poor.
|
|
Dreddnaught
13/06/05 @ 17:44
0
Yea, why couldn't have been included as an automatic update to the LIVe service ?
Certainly saves on the cost of pressing discs anyway. |
|
gibbondrives
13/06/05 @ 17:51
0
this was on the OXM cover disc last month. the demos give you enough to get the jist of the games, and to me are fine for a freebie. doubt i'd buy any of them though, what with them being available on the pc already.
|
|
Carrybagma
13/06/05 @ 19:03
0
Shocking is right!
There's me thinking that Nintendo might be taking the mickey with their retro stuff and then Microsoft proudly announce that you can pay to download 'Hearts'! Ohhh here's my £7.49 I'll have Winmine please. Oh. That's £11.50 is it? Pardon me. Just a thought - they wouldn't be so sick as to start an Xbox live 'hearts league' would they? Ohhhh that's too much to think about. Wait! No! Worse than that! People will form 'hearts clans' and create their own forums to dis their enemies! I shall be in the "Kidney-biting hearts clan" and call upon the fires of hell to destroy the gameplan of the urak-hai appreciation society clan! haha! [goes into coma] |
|
0
To make this announcement and not mention Mutant Storm is practically criminal. It's one of the finest games ever written - an old-school shooter of the highest order - and whilst the Xbox version isn't as good as the PC version (frame rate issues mainly) for seven and a half quid it's an absolute steal.
|
|
Lothar Hex
13/06/05 @ 21:44
0
140 versions of Solitaire? I have ONE version on my computer and I never play that. What makes Microsoft think I'm going to pay £8-£12 for 140 versions?
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 13/06/05 @ 22:46
|
|
captain-future
13/06/05 @ 23:07
0
so the most used windows program (Solitaire) finally got its debut on xbox live arcade.
oh my. |
|
0
its a sign of things to come with the 360.
These games a small with i would imagine tiny development costs, So why such a high price when there is no media to store it on and packaging etc. also if something happens to you drive you lose the game and have to buy it again. and i agree that it should be downloaded to the dashboard free and the games should be a £ a pop. |
|
Tweakmonkey
14/06/05 @ 09:23
0
Good idea - obviously nicked from Nintendo, but those games are a bit disappointing. Let's hope we can see better games in the future.
|
|
0
the starter disc was also a covermount on Official Xbox magazine and for what it's worth they've got some decent (though simple games) - versions of defender, xenon II, marble madness / super monkey ball etc, all under different names of course. and there's a lot to be said for a quick play of a robotron / smash tv game with dual analog sticks.
No intention of buying any of the games myself, but the 5 or so levels in each demo are worth downloading for a quick fix. |
|
Tweakmonkey
14/06/05 @ 11:59
0
How is it nicked from Nintendo? M$ were going on about Live Arcade last year, Nintendo only released details a few weeks back. If anything it's the other way round.
I stand corrected. |
|
stormcr0wfleet
19/06/05 @ 10:02
0
this is BS.. i could go to GAME and buy halo1 for £7 pre-owned... for these games they should charge 1 or 2 pounds at the most.
|
Comments: 1-31 of 31 in total
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
