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Well, apparently the Xbox Live Arcade delisting initiative hasn't been completely abandoned, because promogame Yaris has apparently vanished. Not just like "you can't find it for download" gone, either. No, it's more like "the game page has completely vanished, D.B. Sweeney in Fire In The Sky-style" gone.

We're trying to get an answer from Microsoft on what exactly happened, but we have to ask: If a driving game once referred to as "a festering turd" by X360 Magazine isn't safe from being deleted, who among us is? [Update: As much as we'd like to think Yaris was deleted for turdiness, apparently "the title was removed since the program is now over" according to Xbox Live's Major Nelson – meaning the advergaming tie-in period had lapsed. Bet you wish you downloaded it while you still could!]

[Thanks, James]

As part of our blogging duties to the X3F community, we must inform you of some sad developer news. Ex-Blizzard founded developer Castaway Entertainment has run into a heaping pile of financial troubles due to a few projects falling through and, of course, the company has run out of cashola. So, they have been forced to shut down operations. Sad ...

You now may be asking yourself why we're reporting on Castaway going the way of dial-up internet and that answer is quite simple. They created the despicably-disgustingly-dreary Xbox Live Arcade game Yaris. Yes, that Yaris. So, maybe we shouldn't feel bad for Castaway or shed any tears, because they were a part of our XBLA torture. Chalk their bad luck up to karma being a bi**h. Ouch, maybe that's a bit harsh. At the time Castaway probably needed any money they could scrounge up and Yaris was waiting to be developed. Nah, they deserve it. Yaris is the scum of the Earth and we have no compassion for any company involved in its creation. We're somewhat bitter, can you tell?

Castaway Entertainment, a studio established nearly five years ago by former Blizzard North devs, has become the latest casualty in an alarming trend among US game developers. Gamespot has reported that the studio has suspended operations, echoing similar death knells rung earlier this year Perpetual Entertainment, Iron Lore, and Stormfront Studios.

According to the report, Castaway has cut back its staff from nearly 25 people to just six critical staff members, and that all development activity has been shelved. Since Castaway was founded in 2003 the studio has produced only a single title, the XBLA pox Yaris, with other projects such as the unreleased Diablo-style game Djinn never having made it out of the ether.

Chris Grant, playing the Danny Trip to my Matthew Albie, and I concocted a rather novel concept for Joystiq's Yaris review on Tuesday, wherein Toyota's old marketing slogans would be littered throughout the text. Phrases such as "Moving forward advert gaming" or "Oh what a feeling we get when playing Yaris" would have been the inopportune solid object collision with your funny bone. Unfortunately, to chase the laughs and satirize the release of the Xbox Live Arcade game would be doing a disservice.

Crafted in a circle of Hell even Dante didn't believe existed, the developers of Castaway Entertainment created Yaris with an objective I can only believe is to cultivate anger in those who play it. I know an allusion to Dante's Inferno seems passé, the standard go-to reference for the sophomore year English Lit major, but forgive me because I feel that this accurately conveys what a truly diabolical creation this game is. Rosemary's baby's got jack on Yaris.

Today is an interesting day for Xbox Live Arcade. We have two new games available, both of which have someting unique to bring to the service. First, there's Puzzle Quest, which is a combination of a role playing game and a puzzle game. Every time players do battle with a monster, they do so by playing a round of Bejeweled. See? Interesting, no? Yaris, on the other hand, presents XBLA with its first advergame. If you're not hip to the latest cars, a Yaris is a vehicle from Toyota. If a free game featuring said vehicle is enough to make you consider purchasing one, then we suppose those marketers will be getting a hefty Christmas bonus this year. You should probably know that a real Yaris won't drive up walls and on ceilings though. Puzzle Quest may be had for the always controversial price of 1200 MS Points. Yaris, as we mentioned above, is free.

Remember that Yaris XBLA game to be released free on Wednesday? Gametrailers user, warchiefgrim, uploaded a clip. We hope this video convinces you to save the precious bandwidth of the internet and pass on the game; even "free" costs too much.

Things we learned:

• The 4-Door Sedan Yaris comes in such focus-group-approved colors as "Jade Sea Metallic," and "Flint Mica."
  
• Northbound on 101 goes straight up (and straight down) as often as it goes north.
• The Yaris is powered by the constant desire to catch a cat toy mounted on its roof. Sadly, the toy is always just out of reach.

See the video, and add your own observations after the break.

As was revealed over the weekend, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is finally gracing Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday. A fee of 1,200 MS Points ($15) allows entry into the kingdom where warring men and beasts settle things not by clanging swords, but politely manipulating colored tiles. The price of such civility may seem puzzling, but the digitally distributed form seems to offer the most features (examine them after the break) at the lowest price.

Wednesday sees another game arrive at the lowest price, specifically $0. In what is sure to be a vortex for game of the year accolades, Toyota's "Yaris" advergame allows you to test drive the eponymous vehicle from the comfort of your couch. You'll dodge robotic rabbits, engage in the exciting "Yaris vs. Yaris" mode and even upgrade the "protective shielding" you're surprised Toyota hasn't made more of an effort to market. Unfortunately, this game is only available to Live subscribers in the US and Canada.

Even though we were tipped off about one XBLA release this week Microsoft decided to surprise us with another. Releasing to the XBLA this Wednesday, October 10th are two new Arcade offerings including the puzzle adventure Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords which is priced at 1200 Microsoft points and a racing game sponsored by Toyota called Yaris which, to US and Canadian Live members, will be absolutely free.

We're sure Puzzle Quest fans are already frothing at the mouth in anticipation for this Wednesday and already purchased their Microsoft points cards, but where the heck did this Toyota Yaris game come from? Total left field here, but a free corporate sponsored game and some free Gamerscore is something we won't question.

According to a recent OMMA (Online Media, Marketing & Advertising) article, which examines Toyota's strategy for the Yaris, its new subcompact, the car manufacturer will be releasing "a Yaris driving game for the Xbox Live Arcade."

Without an official statement from Saatchi & Saatchi, the advertising firm employed by Toyota, or Microsoft, it's not yet clear how the Yaris campaign might infiltrate XBLA. Are we to expect advertisers are now vying for space on the virtual download service -- perhaps using momentary incentives to elevate their "games" above the rest? Or is this an isolated case in which, for example, Toyota gives Load Inc. some cash to complete Mad Tracks for XBLA, and in exchange, Load Inc. incorporates several models of the Yaris and some ad banners into the game?

[Via XBLArcade.com]