XNA boss defends Xbox Live Arcade News
Xbox 360 News by Tom Bramwell
Microsoft XNA general manager Chris Satchell has rejected the suggestion that Xbox Live Arcade has lost the initiative when it comes to supporting independent games.
"I think we still get an amazing amount of interest. Normally we have way more interest than we kind of have publishing slots to put things in," Satchell told Eurogamer, when asked whether PS3 and Wii were starting to steal XBLA's thunder.
"And when you think about the community and what we're doing with distribution on XNA Game Studio, nobody is going to have that combo. I don't think anybody has got that level of innovation integrated the way we have."
Satchell added that he is "really confident" that Microsoft will provide the best platforms for content from the community, indies, and small professional studios, as well as major game releases.
"We've really got the right tools and distribution mechanisms for that range of content, so I feel really confident about all parts of the ecosystem and I'm going to keep working to make sure we support them correctly," he said.
Xbox Live Arcade now has over 100 games on it, but the ranks of PSN exclusives are also filling out and Nintendo's WiiWare service launches next month with games from the likes of David Braben's Frontier Developments.
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Comments: 1-27 of 27 in total
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>Do Don Pachi
Hmmm.. maybe... but you must admit that Japanese shooters are pretty hardcore ;) I think they have a very wide and good selection. Some are great for hardcore players and some are great for casuals. Personally I would like to see Saturn games coming to XBLA ;), some RPGs or some great (semi-massive) multiplayer classics (XPilot etc...)
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most recently on 18/04/08 @ 10:00
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Britesparc
18/04/08 @ 09:15
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I want more Amiga games and old graphics adventures - LucasArts could make a KILLING putting stuff like Monkey Island, DOTT, and Grim Fandango on XBLA, especially if MS are releasing a pointing device at Xmas.
Whilst I'm at it, get Ron Gilbert back on board and release some NEW graphics adventures too!
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most recently on 18/04/08 @ 10:15
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@bad09 - Like you, I find about 99% of the XBLA's output uninteresting or just downright bad so I rarely buy any games these days, although I continue to try the trial demos and have a good laugh when I realise how thankful I am I didn't pay for it! LOL
It's not all bad though, the remaining 1% throws up great games like Geometry Wars Evolved, GripShift, Lumines Live and Doom so I can't complain really. And with stuff like Soulcalibur on the way; well that I'm sure will more than make up for all the guff. :) |
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The problem I see with Live Arcade is that there are too many gem-swap puzzlers and remakes of old games and not enough original content. Of course this is just a matter of opinion and I am sure there are many out there who love gem puzzlers and old games, the current releases are perfect for them.
I just do not think there is enough variety and the platform is being neglected. If something is not done about it soon it will for sure end up losing ground because people will simply know it as "Live Arcade, land of the re-makes" |
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It's not all bad though, the remaining 1% throws up great games like Geometry Wars Evolved, GripShift, Lumines Live and Doom so I can't complain really. And with stuff like Soulcalibur on the way; well that I'm sure will more than make up for all the guff. :)
@Darren that's pretty discriminating...what about Rez, PoP, Castlevania, Ikaruga, Metal Slug3, Mutant Storm Empire, Catan, Pac-Man CE, Puzzle Quest, Puzzle FighterHD, Alien Homind HD, Eets, and N+ amongst others? |
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I think XBLA has had a lot of good stuff, but there has also been a fair number of cash-ins and poor ideas which should never have got through. In comparison I tend to prefer the direction and style of the PSN titles - personal preference. I also massively prefer the PSN pricing which is much more sensible than the XBLA stuff. I think XNA will balance things out quite a lot though.
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Peoeple in the industry should have learned by now that they should keep their mouths shut, especially when "defending" their own services, as it only opens themsevles up to more criticism and pointless lists of petty demands from people who seem to be suffering worst from the general hobby-wide ADHD that appears to be infecting a lot of console owners (especially 360 people).
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Rev. Stuart Campbell
18/04/08 @ 10:22
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It's absolutely INSANE that they've blocked potential smash hits like Dodonpachi and Raiden Fighters from XBLA, and forced them onto ridiculously-overpriced discs instead. I hope they sober up soon.
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@DrFlex52 - Well of those you list, only Rez, Puzzle Fighter HD and Prince of Persia were games I really wanted to play, the other didn't interest me, i.e. keep me playing for more than ten minutes and actual play more than once. Ikaruga looks fantastic but it's far too hard so that was a no-no for me too. So, yes, perhaps my 99% figure was inaccurate in all fairness, it's more like 90% really that doesn't appeal to me. ;)
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Having recently (2 days ago) been stung by the XBLA DRM measures (I’ve paid for a game that I can’t now play!), I will no longer buy ANY content from XBLA. I dont have broadband access, so I took my 360 hard disc to my brothers, and paid and downloaded a game using his 360 and internet connection (onto my hard disc). Customer service told me that game is now locked to his machine, so I cant play it on mine offline; was told I should have read all the terms and conditions and basically it was tough! Never buying from XBLA again.
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Do Don Pachi and other bullet bukkake japanese shooters are EXACTLY the sort of thing which would benefit from XBLA. Yes, they're hardcore games, but they'd be cheaper on XBLA than on disk and always be available to try / buy, instead of being released as far more expensive retail disks with small production runs which'll probably be overpriced collector's editions before they hit store shelves :/
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Xbox live arcde is going to die unless it lets publishers freely produce games for it .
Namley ARCADE games which the public have never had teh joy of playing. e.g. Dodonpachi Espgaluda Ketsui Dodonpachi 2 bee storm Under defeat Ibara Mushihimesama Okay all 2D shooters, but all friggin brilliant. When you conisder the shite new games being releeased on xbox live arcade and the classics just being ignored it makes you think what the fuck is going on. Ikaruga, Rez and Triggerheart exelica help to smooth over what to be honest has been the 360's biggest failing so far. |
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SomaticSense
18/04/08 @ 17:17
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/looks at derivative crap like Triggerheart Exelica and Omega Five...
/remembers that they blocked a couple of Cave shooters due to the excuse there are too many arcade shooters on Live... Twats. How about releasing the QUALITY stuff instead of the pap, rather than just rejecting it. Wouldn't that free up a few more publishing slots?
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most recently on 18/04/08 @ 18:19
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Comments: 1-27 of 27 in total
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