N+ creators vent about Microsoft and XBLA

by Dustin Burg { Mar 21st 2008 at 4:00PM }

Both Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard, the creative geniuses behind recent XBLA release N+, are furious about how Microsoft has handled the Xbox Live Arcade and how big publishers have taken over the service. So angry, they go as far as to claim that the majority of the XBLA titles are "all sh*t".

Talking with Gamasutra, they mention that their biggest problem with the Arcade is the fact that Microsoft has too much control over what gets published and what doesn't. An issue that they claim has led to hundreds of craptacular games saturating the service. Burns goes on to say that "the real problem, I think, is that the same people who are deciding what retail games get greenlit are deciding what Live Arcade games get greenlit" and that it's "those decisions that are ruining Live Arcade."

To an extent, we have to agree with our N+ creators. It does sometimes feel either crappy retro games or crappy classics make it to the XBLA while we know full well other Indy games have more potential. That said, smaller developers are still a driving force behind the XBLA, with games like Castle Crashers, Dishwasher: The Dead Samurai and Schizoid leading the way. Also, we can't completely blame Microsoft for favoring big publishers, because, as we all know, they are rolling out a community fueled XNA service this Fall.

Tags: microsoft, n, n-plus, slick-entertainment, xbla

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

THE RPG NERD @ Mar 21st 2008 4:12PM

I would agree with the statements made by the N+ creators. Where are all the indie games? I'm tired of seeing emulated ports of old arcade games.

JUICED @ Mar 21st 2008 4:13PM

What Microsoft needs to do is release that size limit.
Then the game will start to roll in. Plus, how can you have a service like xbox originals, with sizes of 3-5 gigs and your arcade limit is less than a fraction. That is nonsense.

SadisticHam @ Mar 21st 2008 4:14PM

Don't care to much for XBLA games anyway.

poprocker @ Mar 21st 2008 4:20PM

I would agree. The majority of the xbla titles are in fact sh*t.

Don Wilson @ Mar 21st 2008 4:22PM

90% of all XBLA games are horrible. I absolutely agree with them.

Neuromancer @ Mar 21st 2008 4:23PM

I'm not sure why these guys are complaining, most people had never heard of N+ until the game hit XBLA (I know I hadn't).

Sounds like biting the hand that feeds you, to quote NIN of Rock Band fame. Not that I disagree with any of it, but it seems strange hearing it come from these two.

nick @ Apr 29th 2008 6:35AM

There was no N+ before XBLA. However, there was a similar free PC version of the game called N.

Also, if you read the interview that this article is taken from, you will see that this article has largely exagerated what was said. Also, read Mare and Raigan's blog to see their side of this story....

Mat @ Mar 21st 2008 4:27PM

You release a platformer that looks straight out of 1997 and charge 800 points for it... then blame XBLA.

Laff.

Sathan @ Mar 21st 2008 4:31PM

While I agree that there is tons of shovelware on XBLA, I don't understand why they are bitching. I could understand it if their game had bombed but it has consistently been on top of the XBLA sales charts with sales of over 70,000 copies so far.

Larry @ Mar 21st 2008 4:35PM

I just don't understand this notion that there are lot of bad games on Arcade. I see a lot of good games out there that a lot of people are enjoying. I think they are doing great job of bringing out old school classics, that a lot of people want, and newer games.

THE RPG NERD @ Mar 21st 2008 4:42PM

@ Mat

If you read the story you would know that they weren't complaining about N+'s sales. They were just saying that there are a lot of sh*tty games on XBLA.

ccc @ Mar 21st 2008 4:55PM

I want Ether Vapor and more support from SNK games like Samuri Showdown, Magician Lord or the King of Fighters series.
And it would be nice if some classic Turbo Graffix 16 games appeared as well.

Most of these things are available on the Wii for download already so whats up MS?

Mark @ Mar 21st 2008 4:57PM

These must be the quotes that Nintendo used for their WiiWare service.

Grimm @ Mar 21st 2008 5:01PM

I agree with them I just find it ironic they are bitching about it. N+ wasn't horrible but I would never spend anymore then maybe .5 cents on it. It would mean more if a company whose actually made a kick ass game would bitch.

Etchasketchist @ Mar 21st 2008 5:08PM

Welcome to America. There's shitty shit everywhere. Shit on TV, shit at the supermarket, shit clothes in the mall, shit movies in the theaters, shit songs on the radio, shit websites on the internet. Somehow we've all learned to survive.

B Tizo @ Mar 21st 2008 5:12PM

Reading this article, I agree with some of what they say. Yes, XBLA has lots of retro games, but clearly its working because people are buying them in droves. It also has some great new and fun games, like N+, Alien Hominid, Assault Heroes, Small Arms, and Bomberman LIVE! There is always room for more creative and independent games, and I think the XBLA will fully showcase that when the XNA stuff launches this fall.

But, reading the interview, it seems like these questions and answers are dated. This interview reads like it happened before or shortly after the launch of N+. Since its launch on XBLA, the game has done extremely well, consistently placing first in the Arcade Top 10 according to Major Nelson, and that list is compiled based on how many of that game was PURCHASED that week, not played. Purchased. So, some of them lamenting that fact that it won't stand out are sorely mistaken. It's a helluva game, the co-op is insane, and you can create your own levels. Now, complaining about MS not letting them have a free market for created content is valid, but most of their comments and answers seem childish and jealous, really.

N+ is a fun game, and I hope they add to it down the line, but its a shame to see them blast a company that has brought them a wider audience and a nice profit (considering the game's free over the internet...)

LaughingMan @ Mar 21st 2008 5:34PM

First of all, I couldn't agree more with that article. It's depressing to see crap like Boogie Bunnies and Bliss Island get put on xbla when there are hundrends if not thousands of great games out there that deserve a shot. I know it's not all MS fault, developers have to want to make or port their games to the service. But just thinking how special and how much fun XBLA games can be, it get's sad when week after week is wasted for shit that we all know nobody wants and nobody has asked for. Quick poll? How many of you would of loved to have the original Wing Commander on XBLA? Like, uh, all of us. But we get WC: Arena instead. That pretty much sums up my argument.

schiavonir @ Mar 21st 2008 5:35PM

Yeah, I don't know about this. I don't buy every game that comes out, but I probably buy once a month, maybe every 6 weeks. Sometimes I like a retro title, sometimes something new. Since the trial games ususally do a pretty good job showcasing a game, I would think that the sales are a pretty good indicator of how good or bad games are. (ie. if it's a bad game, people will figure that out during the trial and not buy it.)

From the charts I've seen, sales on XBLA seem pretty good, thus indicating that even if a few people think that "90% is sh*t", clearly everyone doesn't agree.

I'm not an indie developer, so I can't really speak with any authority about them being pushed out in favor of larger developers, but as a gamer and shopper on XBLA, I'm pretty happy with the games that are available today, and continue to come out.

I'm also a big fan of N+. Kick-ass game. I'm looking forward to the DLC.

Tony @ Mar 21st 2008 5:36PM

The problem is that there are clearly people who WANT these retro ports. Should they be denied that? I personally don't think so.

Arguably 90% of games in general are crap to some group of people, so I don't know. I can't disagree that there is crap on XBLA, but there is also enough good stuff that I think it's worthwhile. It definitely needs to improve and MS has to ease up, but as mentioned the community games thing could help rectify that issue.

XBLA is the only content system on consoles right now where a relatively new or updated game is released on (almost entirely) a weekly basis. There's just no way most of it is going to be amazing.

SigEp418 @ Mar 22nd 2008 12:06PM

@6...thats a joke right. The whole NIN Rock Band thing? Pretty funny!

PerfectStrategy @ Mar 21st 2008 10:38PM

Why does everyone jump to conclusions?

Does anybody even know what good indy games were turned down? Didn't think so...

And I would say there are many good games on XBLA, the more games the better. Rez HD, Puzzle Quest, Bomberman Live, Lumines Live, Geometry Wars, Street Fighter II, Castlevanie: SOTN, Doom, Marathon, N+, Pac-Man CE, well the list just keeps going obviously.

I don't care how many crap games get released, that isn't Microsoft's job to stop them, I would only be a little angry if there were several very good games that were turned down for bad reasons. But nobody knows that is the case.

Doom3killer @ Mar 21st 2008 11:56PM

N+ is a great game and they sold well too. They r right though. More people would buy new and innovative games if the crapware and bad old games (i mean bad ports, not castlevania or marathon) were all removed. The market should be more regulated when it comes to XBLA titles, so that the mainstream consumer will not pick up a crappy game and promise to never touvh XBLA ever again because they think all titles r like this.

mike @ Mar 22nd 2008 3:04AM

They should split the market up. Almost make it like the wii. Make a retro section and indy section, with a release from both ever week.

And to the N+ haters, you guys must be nuts. This is the only game on XBLA that offers thousands of hours of gameplay (due to the level editor). No other game even comes close to lasting longer then a day or 2 (except maybe a puzzle game which you will tire with eventually).

Potato Farmer J. @ Mar 22nd 2008 6:45AM

How I'd change the XBLA

Step 1: Release at least one game every week. Content or a price drop should never, ever be an excuse to be lazy assholes.

Step 2: No size limit

Step 3: Either rebrand it as "XBOX Live Games" or something of the sort, and offer more than quick oneshot things, or make only the XBLA like that, and make the other aforementioned service for quality retail quality games. Sony does it, why can't MS?

SABCA @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:20AM

How do you complain "There should be different types of games on XBLA, than in retail!" and then act dumbfounded that "Uno is one of the best selling games! I don't get that?"

Isn't is that kind of Variety of consumer, the thing they WANT To see?

What do they think the "Genre" tabs are for in XBLA? Don't they already separate "Coin-Op Classics" and "Console Classics" from the new stuff?

Personally, I love XBLA being a venue for older arcade classics that I NEVER had a change to get perfect versions of at home. I even like having old Genesis games up there, because it really is nice to have an easy way to play something like Streets of Rage 2. (I still want Guardian Heroes, btw.)

Developers whining, and insulting other peoples work in a juvenile way ("That hoverboard game that's sh*t") isn't impressive in any form. Make educated, well-worded views. Support your opinions with some professional insight. Eesh.

And for the Record, Screwjumper was the last big disappointment on XBLA for me. It lacked interesting characters, the sound effects and impact of the events where lacking, and the controls didn't feel as intuitive as I'd expect. I generally don't bother with family-fun-fare that I know doesn't fit me, so I've not tried out things like Spongebob.

Anyway I wonder what they're going to do to justify buying a more expensive Handheld port of N+, when the XB360 ones offers so much, in such a small file size, at a cheap price...