This week on XBLA: Marathon and Spyglass Board Games
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jul 30th 2007 at 1:15PM }
The days when Xbox Live Arcade releases were few and far between seem to be a distant memory now. Here we are again this week with yet another double scoop of downloadable pleasure. This week we have two surprisingly different games. In one corner, we have Marathon: Durandal, an old school FPS (and Halo precursor) that we had the good fortune to sample at E3 a couple weeks ago. In the other corner we have Spyglass Board Games, which offers classic board games with integrated video chat. The four games included are chess, checkers, Reversi, and our favorite, mancala. Marathon: Durandal and Spyglass Board Games will be available this Wednesday for 800 and 400 points respectively.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SuiXide @ Jul 30th 2007 1:22PM
ZOMG! Marathon!
Been playing it for awhile on PC, but the enhanced graphics and online play intrigue me. Will definitely be picking it up.
Jonah Falcon @ Jul 30th 2007 1:25PM
I might actually get Spyglass.
1. It's only 400 for 4 games
2. I like good chess games
3. Xbox Live Vision means I can play with friends while bs'ing about the day's events. You know, a phone call... but playing a game while we chat
4. Never played Mancala - would love to learn how.
xenocidic @ Jul 30th 2007 1:36PM
i wouldn't mind playing chess and stuff but all those other weird games...lol...would have to play them if I wanted the cheevos
Jonah Falcon @ Jul 30th 2007 1:47PM
Weird games? OTHELLO aka REVERSI is weird? Checkers isn't weird. Just lame. :p
Grant @ Jul 30th 2007 1:54PM
oh boy!
nothing like BALLS in the background of your checkers game, just what the XBL community needs.
xenocidic @ Jul 30th 2007 2:02PM
i'll probably pick up the chess game , 400 points is pretty good and I bet that the online competition won't be as stiff as other online chess sites
and yea i know checkers isn't weird but reversi is, never played it and never even heard of manjula
rusted3572 @ Jul 30th 2007 3:29PM
major nelson says spyglass is 800 points? do you guys know something he doesnt?
zourskittles @ Jul 30th 2007 2:21PM
maybe i wont get spyglass, cause by the looks of the picture you have to play with your eyes closed, that seems hard. marathons a must though
Mathieu Bonin @ Jul 30th 2007 3:04PM
I like the fact that you can play with someone sitting in the exact same spot as you, but in another dimension...
(look at the background on the picture in the post.)
xenocidic @ Jul 30th 2007 4:11PM
i wouldnt pay 800 msp for it.
Bitter Kevin @ Jul 30th 2007 5:08PM
HOLY PFHOR POOP IT'S ALMOST HERE!!!!!! I saw the rumors it was coming this week but was skeptical... between that and Bomberman I'm gonna be one of those nerds playing more XBLA games than full retail ones. Hot damn I am one happy Spartan 1.0
Techno-Kid @ Jul 30th 2007 5:18PM
I'm all over Marathon, I've been waiting for this for a while. Can't wait to play the DM over Xbox Live.
chappystix21 @ Jul 31st 2007 3:18AM
I'm totally buying both. I am really shocked they are charging only 400 pts for spyglass boardgames...so outside microsofts pricing scheme...awesome. I prolly wouldn't of bought it if it was 800pts too...smart move...downloadable games for it in the future?
corleone80 @ Jul 31st 2007 10:10AM
Oh man, where's Puzzle Fighter?!?!?!
jeromy @ Aug 2nd 2007 12:04AM
I played Marathon for 20 minutes and got nauseous. Those old school shooters always did that to me, I haven't felt that from an FPS since playing Doom.
Something about those old drab pukey pixelly textures going by at 60 frames per second just churns my stomach.