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Speedball XBLA next Wednesday

Rejoice, rejoice.

Empire Interactive has said that Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe will be on Live Arcade next Wednesday.

It will cost you 800 points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.30) and feature more teams, better graphics - including a 3D option, head-to-head online multiplayer and an improved upgrade system.

Speedball is a sport roughly based around rugby and American football, which takes place in the futuristic year of 2105. Two teams of nine players face off against each other, and score points by throwing an Oympic hammer-like ball through a goal at either end - or against some flashing pads on the wall for bonuses.

Other than that, there are next to no rules, so you're free to - and encouraged to - ram your fist into opposing chops, or casually thrust your helmeted head into squishy facial features

"Live Arcade is the ideal environment for this exciting new high definition version of Speedball," said Ian Higgins, boss at publisher Empire Interactive. "With the addition of extra content packs and downloadable content, gamers will at last have the ultimate version of the game."

Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe will also have the normal spattering of 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerpoints, as well as leaderboards to show everybody how good you are.

Head over to our Speedball II gamepage to see how it's shaping up.