NEWS - Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Xbox Live Arcade To Feature Forty Games Initially
At the Digital Life consumer technology showcase in New York, Microsoft revealed the launch window portfolio for Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360. "The next generation of Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 will enhance the gaming experience for casual and competitive gamers alike, across the globe, providing something for everyone with world-class games and captivating content," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Xbox at Microsoft. Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 will launch in the U.S. and Canada on November 22, 2005, simultaneous with the North American launch of the Xbox 360 console. Similarly, the European and Japanese versions of Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 will launch alongside the European and Japanese console launches on December 2 and December 10 respectively. Microsoft says the next-generation Xbox Live Arcade online service will be fully integrated into the Xbox 360 Dashboard providing a central destination for Xbox 360 gamers to download new games, access their game collections, check out new releases and experience around-the-game features. As an added bonus, the full version of Hexic HD, the Xbox Live Arcade puzzle game, will be included free of charge with every Xbox 360 System at launch. Designed by Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov, Hexic HD will be preloaded on the Xbox 360 hard drive. More than 40 publishers and developers have signed on to support Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 with game titles. These partners include Atari, Bizarre Creations, Capcom, Codemasters, CTXM, Digital Eclipse, Electronic Arts, Empire Interactive, Gaia Studios, GameHouse Studios, Garage Games, Gastronaut Studios, Hamster, Harmonix, HipSoft, Hudson Soft, iWin, Konami, Llamasoft, Load, Inc., Mad Doc Software, Majesco, Microsoft Game Studios, Midway Home Entertainment, Mumbo Jumbo (United Developers), Naked Sky Entertainment, Namco, Oberon Media, Pick Up And Play, PixelStorm, Inc., PlayFirst, PomPom Games, Popcap Games, Q Entertainment, RealNetworks, Inc., Reflexive Entertainment, Secret Lair Studios, Sega, Silver Creek Entertainment, SNK Playmore, Stainless Games, Streamline Studios, Tik Games, Ubisoft, UWink, Vivendi Universal Games, Wahoo Studios, Wanako Games, and Wild Tangent. Microsoft says Xbox Live Arcade will consistently release new games to the service for gamers to download, with 35 titles planned by Winter 2006. Gamers can choose from a variety of genres including action arcade titles, coin-op and retro classics, puzzle games, casual sports games, light strategy titles and card & board games. "We’re proud to be part of Xbox Live Arcade," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, Sega of America, Inc. "Retro, casual and hardcore gamers will be pleased to have access to the selection of quality Sega titles we plan to offer via the new Xbox Live Arcade." Xbox Live Arcade is powered by Xbox Live Marketplace, enabling gamers to quickly and easily download and unlock Xbox Live Arcade games. Every game in the Xbox Live Arcade will have a free, fully playable trial version that any Xbox Live Gold or Silver member can download onto their hard drive or memory unit. Last week, Microsoft and RealNetworks, Inc. announced plans to collaborate in the casual games arena. In this games partnership, RealNetworks will develop a series of new casual games for Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360.Source: http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/
