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Rocket Riot beats major competition at Dutch Gamer Awards

Dutch developer Codeglue has announced that its XBLA title, Rocket Riot, has won the Best Visual Design Award from the Dutch Game Awards, which were held last week in Amsterdam. What makes the revelation particularly impressive is the competition, namely Guerrilla Games' Killzone 2. Yeah, that Killzone 2. The game was also nominated for Best Audio and Best Original Gameplay.

We can certainly attest to Rocket Riot's unique visuals. The game use a 3D engine modeled to look like classic 8-bit games, utilizing backgrounds and characters with jagged edges made to resemble pixels. And let's not forget the copious, pixelated explosions either. See it for yourself in the video above and the screens below. And, of course, you could always give it a try. Just be sure to do it with friends.

Gallery: Rocket Riot

XBLA in Brief: Rocket Riot, Magic: The Gathering, Sam & Max

Now that Xbox Live Marketplace is working properly again, we finally got to try our hand at this weeks new Xbox Live Arcade releases. There are five very different games available this week. We've got the collectible card RPG Magic: The Gathering (800 / $10), the point-and-click adventure Sam & Max Save the World (1600 / $20) and even a straight-up action game in Rocket Riot (800 / $10). Check out the latest XBLA in Brief and see if any of them tickle your fancy.

Download the trial version of Rocket Riot
Download the trial version of Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
Download the trial version of Sam & Max Save the World


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Also this Wednesday: Rocket Riot [update]

Update: Microsoft has confirmed that Rocket Riot will release tomorrow for 800 ($10). See original post below.

So, um, apparently there's another game hitting Xbox Live Arcade this week. The thing is, you see, Microsoft apparently left it out of the announcement press release. The game in question is Rocket Riot, which, appropriately enough, involves plenty of riotous, rocket blasting action. Codeglue, the game's developer, has announced that the game will release tomorrow alongside the previously announced titles.

Now, we would be remiss if we didn't point out that developers have been wrong about XBLA release dates before. As a general rule, we don't accept releases as fact unless Microsoft announces them. Alas, we've yet to receive confirmation from Microsoft about Rocket Riot. Still, even Xbox.com states the game is out tomorrow (for 800), so we'd say it's probably a safe bet. Probably.

Gallery: Rocket Riot

THQ bombing XBLA with Rocket Riot this fall


Nothing sounds quite as satisfying as disintegrating ninjas and zombies with a stylized 8-bit bazooka. That's probably why THQ's upcoming XBLA Worms clone, Rocket Riot, remains on our radar. First announced last October, the game, developed by Dutch dev CodeGlue, evokes a retro feel that speaks directly to our aging hearts with its 80 "completely destructible" pixel-laden levels. Unlike some recent digital offerings, Rocket Riot also promises to support up to eight players over Xbox Live, or four for those wishing to hash out their differences on the same couch. Rocket Riot is expected to send us diving for cover when it drops like a bomb onto XBLA this fall.

Gallery: Rocket Riot

New Rocket Riot screens and interview


You know, we need more games with the style of Rocket Riot. When thinking about the way that retro titles should go we definitely prefer this style to that of Mega Man 9. Over at xblarcade there's an interview with the developers that gives some history of the project, as well as what to expect from it. As another twin stick shooter for XBLA, Rocket Riot does its best to differentiate itself with its destructible (and good looking) environments. Also mentioned in the interivew are the origin of the game's name as well as some details out XNA 2.0 (the game was made with it).

Gallery: Rocket Riot

ESRB Watch: Swan Song Edition


Yeah we know the post title is a bit needlesssly grim. Let's face it, we're going to still be getting some information about releases from the ESRB. And hopefully some publishers simply won't much care about putting their games up there early. Others like Playful Entertainment, publishers of Ticket to Ride, seem to still want their ratings to go up at the last minute (TtR releases this week).

However, if we're to believe that the publishers of the other two XBLA games on the list (Rocket Riot and Cribbage) also want their games to pop up at the last minute, we could be looking at the first hint of next week's releases. Or we could just be paranoid about this whole ESRB thing.

Rocket Riot XBLA details, screens


We first caught wind of the XBLA rocket-pack-based shooter back in November, back when there was little to no information on the game. Now we have a few more details on the game, not much unfortunately, but enough to give us (and you) an insight into the final product. Rocket Riot sticks closely to the ideas evoked by its name, featuring a world rendered in stylized 8bit form that is entirely destructible with your tiny avatar's bazooka. The game will feature over 80 single player missions and multiplayer for up to eight players online (four local) with four different gametypes. The game's website has a bit more info, but it's not very concrete and is mainly teaser. Much of the game is still under wraps for now, but we do know that it will be releasing before year's end, and likely during the fall, as the game appears to still have a ways to go. Still, the screens look like something fresh, so we'll keep and eye on this one.

Gallery: Rocket Riot

New info rolls in on THQ XBLA games


Our friends over at XBLArcade have uncovered quite a bit of info on the upcoming THQ Xbox Live Arcade games that were announced last month. We're perhaps most intrigued by Elements of Destruction, in which players take control over the forces of nature to wreak havoc on the denizens of earth (as a resident of tornado country, we're curious to see how well this goes over around here ...). The graphics look fairly impressive for an XBLA game, and the promise of controlling tornadoes, lightning, and fire is very interesting.

The other games covered include SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam, ScrewJumper, and Rocket Riot. SpongeBob sounds like what you would expect: a side-scrolling platformer with lots of stuff to collect. ScrewJumper has players falling down a mineshaft, attempting to destroy equipment as they go, and finally rocketing back out to safety. Rocket Riot is a shooter with an 8-bit feel to it and the ever popular addition of a main character with a jetpack.

Hit the "read" link for more details and screenshots.

SpongeBob leads THQ Live Arcade lineup


THQ has announced that it plans to bring 4 original titles to Xbox Live Arcade. The foremost titles is undoubtedly SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam!, which you may recall was mentioned as part of Microsoft's new family initiative. Three other titles are planned, Screwjumper, Elements of Destruction, and Rocket Riot. Currently, Screwjumper is the only title that has been detailed by THQ. The game is about "destroying mining equipment in a freefall environment," which is apparently what Screwjumpers do. Not only that, but there are enough Screwjumpers that they've formed their own union, the foreman of which is a playable character. Yeah, we're confused as well, but it's got online and local multiplayer, which is always a plus, right?

Screwjumper and SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam! should hit XBLA this November.

[Via Joystiq]

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