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Worms 2 gets patched up on XBLA

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 20th 2009 at 3:45PM }

We've all felt the pain of pressing the jump button a second time just barely too late in a game of Worms 2, sending a brave worm soldier free falling off the side of a mountain or, worse yet, into the watery depths below. Recognizing that the game might have some issues – and rather than simply calling us "newbs" like most people do – Worms 2 developers Team17 have just released a patch aimed at ailing all that is wrong with the adorable multiplayer strategy games.

Listing everything from "Back flip input slowed down to stop incorrect jumps harming the player" to "Fixed bug which made crates in Forts matches only land on the right hand side," as well as a slurry of other fixes, Team17 seems to have given the nearly five-month-old release a full overhaul. An overhaul that'll perhaps feel all the more worthwhile when the developers make good on next year's DLC for the game. In the meantime, we'll be over here waiting for you with a Buffalo of Lies.

[Via CVG]

Microsoft lists more jobs for Project Natal, 343 Industries; hiring Shadow Complex, Gears of War franchises lead

by David Hinkle { Nov 19th 2009 at 5:20PM }

With Shadow Complex setting very specific week-one sales records on XBLA, Epic and Chair would be kind of nuts to not consider a sequel. One job listing out of a recent crop on Microsoft's employment boards seems to out that likely scenario, implying that Shadow Complex is a bona fide franchise for Microsoft Game Studios and Epic. Said listing specifically calls for a Lead Producer to "lead the publishing side of games made by Epic: Gears of War and Shadow Complex."

Additionally, Microsoft appears to be looking for more able bodies to join its growing pool of Project Natal and 343 Industries employees. Existing job listings call for everything from designers to engineers to even a few artists. Sadly, the company isn't looking for MJOLNIR armor models yet, but just in case, Microsoft, you know how to reach us.

[Via Develop]

Sonic 2 soon to be Xbox Live Deal of the Week

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 19th 2009 at 3:45PM }

According to Sega, the XBLA version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will soon become an Xbox Live Deal of the Week. The deal is scheduled to begin November 30 -- just in time for the holidays -- and will see the game's price drop from 400

($5) to just 240

($3). That's an absolute pittance for one of the best Sonic games out there, and with Project Needlemouse still a long way out, you'd be hard-pressed to do much better (seriously).

X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Diner Dash, Gyromancer

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 18th 2009 at 6:45PM }

This week brings two casual games to Xbox Live Arcade. For puzzle fans, we have Gyromancer (1200

, $15), an RPG take on PopCap's Bejeweled Twist. For those who prefer something a little more manic, there's Diner Dash (800

, $10), which tasks players with running a restaurant and keeping customers happy. If you've ever dealt with real customers before, you'll know that keeping them happy is harder than it sounds.

See both games in the latest episode of XBLA in Brief.

Download the trial version of Diner Dash
Download the trial version of Gyromancer

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Xbox Live Top 10: People apparently played CoD4, World at War

by David Hinkle { Nov 18th 2009 at 10:30AM }

Seriously, guys? Everyone on the planet runs out and buys Modern Warfare 2 and you're still playing Call of Duty 4 and World at War? We can understand you folks who chose to play Halo 3 -- the whole Modern Warfare 2 experience may not be your idea of a good time -- but Major Nelson's Xbox Live activity chart for the week of November 9 simply vexes us.

In less puzzling news, the XBLA activity is along the lines of something we're used to seeing. Trials HD remains atop the list, followed by Castle Crashers and South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play. Konami's Zombie Apocalypse also managed to survive the gauntlet and make its way onto the list and, combined with the recent release of Left 4 Dead 2, we feel mankind is finally starting to reach acceptable levels of preparation for the inevitable future of a world plagued by the undead.

Modern Warfare 2 headshots XBLA activity

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 17th 2009 at 12:45PM }

Okay, so headshot might be too strong a word here, but Modern Warfare 2 has certainly wounded Xbox Live Arcade activity, as GamerBytes reports that top Arcade titles have seen a massive reduction in leaderboard activity since the release of Infinity Ward's latest blockbuster. Specifically, Trials HD -- long the reigning XBLA champion -- saw its leaderboard numbers drop from 14,890 players on the week of November 2 to 8,942 the week of November 9, about a 40 percent loss. Meanwhile, other titles including South Park, Zombie Apocalypse and Tower Bloxx Deluxe saw their leaderboards almost halved. Castle Crashers, curiously, only saw its numbers drop from 8,395 players to 6,034, a reduction of only 28 percent.

Still, it's pretty clear that Modern Warfare 2 has pulled a lot of gamers away from the more casual fare on XBLA. Either that, or lots of hardcore Call of Duty fans unceremoniously yanked the controllers from their more casually-oriented significant others.

Peggle Nights DLC may arrive for XBLA Peggle this week

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 16th 2009 at 7:15PM }

Here's how the sausage of video game news gets made: ShackNews reports that the Peggle Nights DLC will arrive on XBLA this Wednesday, November 18. The DLC is a $5 addition to XBLA Peggle, adding sixty-something levels to the game classified in several countries as a controlled substance.

Double-checking with Peggle developer PopCap, the company hasn't officially announced the date in a release and is optimistic that Nights will be available this Wednesday. Checking with Microsoft, the company is "looking into it." So, yeah, there's no reason to doubt anyone, but there doesn't seem to be an affirmation of Peggle Nights' release this week.

This Wednesday: XBLA takes you out for Diner and a Gyromantic date

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 16th 2009 at 2:58PM }

Xbox Live Arcade shows a belligerent disregard for productivity this week, hosting a pair of light puzzle games that are sure to weigh heavily on your mind during working hours. Why not have a go (and then just one more) at Gyromancer, the gem-shifting collaboration between Square Enix and PopCap? The cost of entry is 1200

($15). If it's a cohesive concoction of puzzles, RPG elements and item collection, your departure is likely to be at no point.

PlayFirst is also serving up an XBLA version of Diner Dash for 800

($10). The culinary-themed time management game should be an ideal snack in between gorging on Dragon Age: Origins, Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and ... hmm. How good are you at time management?

Madden NFL Arcade rushes towards early Thanksgiving release

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 12th 2009 at 3:00PM }

EA has pushed up the release of its upcoming Madden NFL Arcade downloadable game, just in time for when you're lounging around in a tryptophan-included daze. Like NHL Arcade 3 on 3 before it, PS3 owners will get early access to the game: it'll be available Tuesday November 24th on PlayStation Network and Wednesday, November 25th on Xbox LIVE Arcade for $14.99 and 1200

, respectively.

Unlike its retail counterpart, NFL Arcade doesn't attempt to recreate the sport with any level of "realism." The field is much smaller and players will have to get touchdowns within four tries (no way to get a first down). The various power-ups, coupled with the smaller field, will make for much faster games and much higher scores. Its also likely to become one of the best-selling downloadable games ever, and from what we hear, EA really could use the cash.

Gallery: Madden NFL Arcade

Greed Corp coming to PSN, XBLA and PC early 2010

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 11th 2009 at 5:20PM }

It's been so long since we've heard anything about Greed Corp that the conservationist-friendly strategy game nearly qualifies as a retro classic. Fortunately, today brought us the first news about the title since it was announced. In addition to PSN, its lead platform, Greed Corp will also be coming to Xbox Live Arcade and Windows-based PCs in early 2010.

Today's announcement mentions that Greed Corp is just the "first in a series of games based in the rich Mistbound universe." Considering the heavy appearance of Don't Break The Ice-esque elements present in this game, we wonder if future installments in the franchise will adopt other popular board game tropes. For the record, W!Games, if you made a Mall Madness RPG, we would buy that.

X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Encleverment Experiment, NBA Unrivaled, 0D Beat Drop

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 11th 2009 at 4:45PM }

There are three games up for grabs on XBLA this week, and all of them offer something different. Encleverment Experiment (800

, $10) seeks to test your brain power as well as the brain power of your friends (or random strangers on Xbox Live). Meanwhile NBA Unrivaled (1200

, $15) brings arcade basketball with massive dunks (and odd character animations). Finally, 0D Beat Drop (800

, $10) ... drops some rhythm-infused puzzle action onto XBLA. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if any of them are up your alley.

Download the trial version of Encleverment Experiment
Download the trial version of NBA Unrivaled
Download the trial version of 0D Beat Drop

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ToeJam & Earl creator says XBLA port not so certain; future games in franchise still a possibility

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 9th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Greg Johnson has been in the game industry for a long time. Having designed 16-bit Sega icons ToeJam & Earl way back in the early 90s and now running Humanature Studios, he's seen his creation rise to fame and subsequently slip into gaming history as the years ticked by. But last summer, when Sega created a poll tasking fans with selecting the next Genesis title to get the XBLA treatment, ToeJam & Earl popped back up on our industry's collective radar by taking the gold.

But it's not so simple! Johnson says Sega may have "got ahead of themselves a little bit" with that announcement "and didn't realize that they don't have the rights to the property." Apparently, Johnson assures us, "it's an easy mistake to make." This same shortcoming is also the reason why the characters will not be appearing in the upcoming Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, though showing up as DLC is still a possibility. "TJ&E will not be included ... and the option for including them as downloadable content is still open," Johnson said. "Sega said they're not ready to talk about that yet because they haven't started making any definite plans, but they promised to give me a shout when they get there – so hopefully we'll be able to work something out."

More interesting yet, it seems that Mr. Johnson shopped around the idea for a Nintendo DS multiplayer ToeJam & Earl game – though his pitch unfortunately met with deaf ears at "pretty much all of [the game publishers]." Check out some images of what could have been in the gallery below and continue past the break for more from our conversation with Greg Johnson.

Gallery: ToeJam & Earl 4 concept art/pitch

Continued →

This Wednesday: 0D Beat Drop, NBA Unrivaled & Encleverment Experiment on XBLA [update]

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 9th 2009 at 3:01PM }

Word has come down from on high, and this week's Xbox Live Arcade release is none other than 0D Beat Drop. What's that, you've never heard of 0D Beat Drop? Truth be told, neither have we. Thankfully, the game's Xbox.com page provides us all with the crucial details. If the above screenshot didn't tip you off, OD Beat Drop is a puzzle game; however, it has a musical twist, challenging players to drop pieces to the beat. OD Beat Drop can even analyze your own songs for use in the game (Protip: It's time to break out your Tetris soundtrack). The game will be available this Wednesday for 800

($10).

Also, if Tecmo is to be believed, NBA Unrivaled will release on XBLA this week as well. ~~It's worth noting that the game was not included in Major Nelson's XBLA announcement and that publishers are frequently mistaken about XBLA launch dates, so it's anyone's guess what Wednesday holds.~~

Update: Major Nelson has confirmed that 0D Beat Drop will be joined by both NBA Unrivaled (1200

/$15) and Encleverment Experiment (800

/$10) this week on XBLA.

Tecmo dunking NBA Unrivaled onto XBLA Nov. 11, PSN later

by Justin McElroy { Nov 9th 2009 at 2:40PM }

Tecmo's trying to fill the arcade-basketball-shaped hole in your heart left by NBA Street with NBA Unrivaled, a retro hoops release from developer A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games. Though the cleverly-named company is relatively new on the scene, it has experience to draw on after helping Sony build NBA '08: The Life.

We're happy to see some fun-loving 5-on-5 take the court, but we're a little nervous about how quickly the game's sneaked up on us: It's arriving this Wednesday on XBLA, and later on PSN, barely enough time to get our sneakers laced up.

Rumor: Screens of Dishwasher: Dead Samurai 2 leaked; Ska Studios responds

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 6th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Or, if you prefer: "Tom Morello strikes again; joined by Rebecca Romijn and Zach Braff."

Screenshots of what may be a sequel to the XBLA game The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai have landed on 1UP, allegedly supplied by the same saboteur that leaked those supposed Halo: Reach images. The shots certainly jive with the original game's art style and do feature some new enemies, backgrounds and objects. There are a number of new weapons shown, including a minigun, some kind of halberd, something that appears to be a giant syringe and -- our favorite -- a humongous pair of scissors.

When reached for comment, Dishwasher creator James Silva said, "Ska Studios does not comment on rumor and speculation," and then added, "I'm never inviting Tom Morello, Rebecca Romijn and Zach Braff over again."