MS to offer free XBLA game for Live outage

by Dustin Burg { Jan 4th 2008 at 9:45AM }

Our constant grumblings about Xbox Live being wonky this past holiday have been heard and Microsoft is sorry. So sorry that (just as rumored) they will be offering a free Xbox Live Arcade game to all Xbox Live members to compensate for the service being so unstable. Aww, how nice.

Posted over on Xbox.com is an open letter written by GM of Xbox Live Marc Whitten about Live's holiday outage and simply put, they are sorry. As we expected, the wonkiness was due to Live being strained to the max this holiday season. So much so, the Live team broke a few records including the most people signing up for Live in a given period and the most people signed onto the service at once. Anyway, Marc and his entire Xbox Live team want to celebrate the success of Live and reward users for their patience and understanding during the holidays by offering a FREE XBLA game download. What free game wasn't announced, but it should be available in the next few weeks, so we'll keep our ears open for more info in the days to come. Now let's just get back to a "normal" Live experience, give us our free Arcade game and we'll be good. Apology accepted.

[Via Major Nelson, Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: microsoft, xbla, xbox-live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

xenocidic @ Jan 4th 2008 9:53AM

Anyone taking bets on what game it will be?

If it's Doritos Dash to Destruction, I'm crying foul.

If it's an older game, what if people already have it?

Viridium @ Jan 4th 2008 10:21AM

Yeah, that's my concern. It was nice when the had the free Carcassonne too, but I already owned it! Thanks for nothing, Microsoft.

Josh @ Jan 4th 2008 1:43PM

If they offer a specific game, and not a game of our choice, it would be completely unacceptable. If someone already has the game, they wouldn't be getting compensated at all.

Keep your eyes on the website Class Action Connect, people. Suits are already being written up over this.

Frank @ Jan 4th 2008 4:37PM

Class action lawsuits? This case would be a waste of time and money for a law firm.

As someone who worked at one (that dealt with HUGE class actions), let me tell you, no right minded practice would take this case to court. The whole point of a class action case is that the law firm takes the legal and financial burden of running it on behalf of the people.

This case is not going to rake in huge bucks to begin with. It was a week of service disruptions and it intermittently effected people. I was not really one of them... so sweet, we can all sign up and when the case is done we get friggen 1/100000th of a penny on the dollar in about 4 years, that's once the law firm in charge is done taking their cut.

Stop whining about this stuff, be thankful they gave you a game, even if it's Yaris 2.

shadowr4ven @ Jan 8th 2008 10:24AM

they really should keep track of the sales numbers, and adjust their # of servers accordingly, when a bunch get purchased. just automatically assume every single one will sign on the next day.

Ethan Rom @ Jan 4th 2008 9:53AM

I just hope it's a good game.

Even though Live is still down for me. I haven't been able to get on for 2 weeks now.

Ethan Rom @ Jan 4th 2008 9:53AM

I just hope it's a good game.

Even though Live is still down for me. I haven't been able to get on for 2 weeks now.

mgroves @ Jan 4th 2008 9:59AM

Hmm, let me check the teeth of this gift horse...

My guess is that's it's probably Robotron or Pac-Man or something. But hey, a free game and free achievement points: I can't complain.

mattclarkie @ Jan 4th 2008 10:10AM

I already have 2 robotron, I don't want or need a 3rd. In fact, if someone wants to buy a robotron code, I have one, but I think I might keep it in case my 360 dies. So actually no you can't have it.

Larry not allowed to say cheevo @ Jan 4th 2008 10:19AM

Not really a gift considering you paid for your service and weren't provided with it.

Like if you buy a burger and it's missing the hamburger patty.You complain and they say next time you come in, we'll give a free coke. Yes it's something, but you paid for a damn burger!

mgroves @ Jan 4th 2008 10:52AM

Yes, but nowhere in the service agreement does it say you get a free game. You could instead get back the cash value of lost service. 13 cents a day. So yeah, unless you missed 38 days of service (assuming a $5 game), I think it's quite a nice gift.

pandlcg @ Jan 4th 2008 10:00AM

Please be Puzzle Quest

Odog4ever @ Jan 4th 2008 2:56PM

Probably not going to be Puzzle Quest. It is a $15 dollar game after all.
The game is worth the money though. I've put in at least 30+ hours (conservative) not to mention getting my girlfriend hooked.

Angryfinne @ Jan 4th 2008 10:04AM

A sequel to Yaris?

JakubK666 @ Jan 4th 2008 10:06AM

Maybe Street Fighter 4 once it's released...

iLuvUrOpinion @ Jan 4th 2008 10:08AM

why don't they just give us ms points so that _we_ can choose _what_ we want _when_ we're ready?

Michael Paul @ Jan 4th 2008 10:12AM

If they give us some game that they don't have to pay royalties on, the cost will be lower. So some in-house game that never sold well anyway is the likely candidate...

scizor34 @ Jan 4th 2008 11:46AM

ditto man. Just give us the points so we can choose for ourselves.

Larry not allowed to say cheevo @ Jan 4th 2008 10:10AM

Hahaha! It will be UNO or Frogger.... MAYBE it will be Space Giraffe!

Gemini Ace @ Jan 4th 2008 8:32PM

If it's Space Giraffe, I'm canceling.

mattclarkie @ Jan 4th 2008 10:12AM

The thing is everyone gets the game, even Silver. So people who paid for the service, and were affected by it, unable to play online, are not really being compensated, because they get the same as those who didn't really notice the issue because they can't play online anyway.

Gold Subs should get something extra, 100ms points, or a choice of the game, rather than being forced to take a particular one.

Larry not allowed to say cheevo @ Jan 4th 2008 10:15AM

That's a valid point.

PilgrimXX @ Jan 4th 2008 10:20AM

I agree that Golds should get something more... like an extra 2 weeks tacked on to all current gold subscriptions seems like a good idea. But this outage has effected Silvers as well. I haven't been able to play Oblivion or any of my Arcade game for the last few weeks because of DRM issues.

Not saying that the Silvers are entitled to anything, just saying we weren't entirely unaffected just because we don't play online.

mattclarkie @ Jan 4th 2008 10:23AM

That is a valid point. Some Silver have been affected. But I still think that Gold should be compensated with something extra.

Silverlotus @ Jan 4th 2008 12:31PM

Remember that some people were Gold during the outage, and are now Silver. My Gold membership expired on January 1st. I was Gold during the outage, but will be Silver when this game appears. I have no plans to return to Gold status anytime soon.

kickapole @ Jan 4th 2008 10:16AM

Sad thing is, I was litterally seconds away from purchasing an XBLA title, but am now I'm uber-paranoid about the freebie being a duplicate.
.. must -- wait -- a little --longer.

Angryfinne @ Jan 4th 2008 10:19AM

Presenting...
XBox Live's Screwy Subscriptions!!!

This Pipe Dream style game will have you franticly going back for more as you feverishly race against the Christmas rush timer to connect the lost and lonely 360-nites to Live HQ. Be careful though make one wrong move and you could send the poor 360-nites to the Red Ring of Death!!! This free game is non refundable.

DjDATZ @ Jan 4th 2008 11:11AM

AHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA...just made my day.

mattclarkie @ Jan 4th 2008 10:19AM

Everyone, including myself have Uno. In fact I just bought it. I would be so anoyed.

If MS were good, they would allow you to trade if you GC shows you have already have the game, maybe they will. I doubt it though.

Scott @ Jan 4th 2008 10:36AM

That is how they should handle all of the repeat problems. They shouldn't have to give full points for a repeat, but half the price in points to people that already have the game would be pretty classy.

Bravo6 @ Jan 4th 2008 10:22AM

I've only been playing Mass Effect and AC the last couple of weeks so it didn't bother me, but I'll be glad to get a freebie anyway.

DjDATZ @ Jan 4th 2008 11:22AM

I've been playing only AC since Christmas, so it hasn't bothered me...except I like getting my achievements online and I don't like not being online.

xenocidic @ Jan 4th 2008 1:14PM

you haven't been able to get online at all Datz? i can get online and get the dates on the cheevies but multiplayer hasn't been working for the most-part. not that i care, i hardly have time to MP anymore. pausable games are the win when you have a youngin

NitroFrost @ Jan 4th 2008 10:23AM

I called this. Hope its something good. Nothing all ready out cuz that would suck

Corleone @ Jan 4th 2008 10:35AM

Hopefully it will be the long rumored "Attack of the Killer Bill Gatesions"!!

TORO @ Jan 4th 2008 10:43AM

Carcassone again please lol...I know I should be ashamed of myself Dustin :(

DjDATZ @ Jan 4th 2008 11:17AM

You didn't download it when it was free? naughty naughty Toro...lol

Stephen @ Jan 4th 2008 11:25AM

Neither did I. I am ashamed.

I think they'll put a few games on the table to choose one from.
Maybe:
Carcassone
Small Arms
Zuma
Dig-Dug
Frogger

larry erehwon @ Jan 4th 2008 10:46AM

Rez HD would makes the most sense all around... too bad they don't really use much of that.

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 4th 2008 6:32PM

Rez HD makes no sense. Microsoft is going to give a first party game free. Rez HD would cost them alot of money to give away free.

They are a business, they need to think strategically.

Intentless @ Jan 4th 2008 10:48AM

Every time they have a "Here is a free game." I cry because I already bought the stupid thing...

Mike @ Jan 4th 2008 10:51AM

It will likely be a 400pt title, or an older 800pt title that isn't selling well at this point. Don't expect to get something you want for free here - expect a half hearted apology game. Not that I'm knocking a freebie - free = good. I just don't have high hopes of getting a game I've been meaning to pick up - I expect a game I never really was interested in.

victor360hd @ Jan 4th 2008 11:00AM

castlevania symphony of the night

ezwaffles @ Jan 4th 2008 11:23AM

Why is it going to take them several weeks? Kinda defeats the whole purpose of being sorry...

Christopher @ Jan 4th 2008 11:27AM

XBox Live is still being wonky. Both GOW and COD4 has a hard time finding and connecting to games. This problem effects me and my buddy who lives 90 miles away in another major city. I'm still a little peeved they haven't ironed out all the kinks in the last week and a half. I want my stellar, glitch-free, connection back!

A free game would be nice; but a few Microsoft points would be better. Maybe 250 or a little more; it's a little less than what's needed for a full retail game, but just enough for a movie rental or the like. Honestly, XBox Live rarely falters so a few weeks of messy connections isn't a huge deal. Plus it was the holidays - get a life and visit someone outside your house like family or friends. I just played some BioShock DLC for "Brass Balls" to kill the time.

NukeAssault @ Jan 4th 2008 11:36AM

I hope its something i dont have already...

James @ Jan 4th 2008 11:41AM

The way I figure it, my recent RRoD console will get back from the repair depot the day after this offer ends, to more effectively rub salt in my wounds.

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 4th 2008 6:35PM

This made me laugh out loud. This is sooo true though!

drew @ Jan 4th 2008 12:05PM

so...along with actually having to pay to play online. they're offering us a free game. which is probably going to suck like everyone else is saying. i think this is pitiful. mighty xbox live and the servers screw up for like 2 weeks and all we get is a free game? pretty stupid.