Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners. The service was first launched in late 2004 and offers games from about $5 to $15 USD. In late 2005, Xbox Live Arcade was relaunched with the release of the Xbox 360 in which new games and features were offered. The games are generally aimed toward more casual gamers, examples of some of the more popular among them are Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Gauntlet, and Smash TV.
Xbox
The Xbox Live Arcade service was launched by Microsoft on 3 November, 2004 for the Xbox game console.[1] To publicize the service Microsoft distributed a starter disc that contained the Xbox Live Arcade software and a free version of Ms. Pac Man. Once connected to Xbox Live, customers could purchase additional titles by using a credit card, or download a 30-minute limited trial version of each game.
Xbox Live Arcade games for the Xbox
The following is a list of Xbox Live Arcade games released for the original Xbox:
| Title | Price | Title | Price | Title | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alien Sky | $9.99 | Astropop | $9.99 | Atomaders | $9.99 |
| Bankshot Billiards | $9.99 | Bejeweled | $14.99 | Bookworm Deluxe | $9.99 |
| Dangerous Mine | $9.99 | Dino and Aliens | $9.99 | Feeding Frenzy | $9.99 |
| Fuzzee Fever | $9.99 | Gauntlet | $4.99 | Guardian | $9.99 |
| Hamsterball | $9.99 | Hardwood Solitaire | $9.99 | Joust | $4.99 |
| Marble Blast | $9.99 | Ms. Pac Man | Free | Mutant Storm | $9.99 |
| Namco Vintage | $14.99 | Orbz | $9.99 | Pipeline | $9.99 |
| Ricochet Lost Worlds | $9.99 | Robotron: 2084 | $4.99 | Smash TV | $4.99 |
| Super Collapse II | $9.99 | Think Tanks | $9.99 | Zuma | $14.99 |
Xbox 360
The service was relaunched beginning November 22, 2005 on the Xbox 360. The Arcade service is integrated with the Dashboard user interface, allowing for distribution through the Xbox Live Marketplace using Microsoft Points. Arcade titles on the Xbox 360 support accurate and up-to-date leaderboards, with high scores linked to a player's gamertag. Players can see where they stand in the Xbox Live community, take a look at the records set by the world's top-ranked players, or see how they match up against people on their friends list. By playing these titles users contribute to their Xbox Live GamerScore, as each game contains 200 Gamerpoints spread over a maximum of 12 Achievements.
Consumers are also given an option to download trial versions of Xbox Live Arcade titles. If you download a trial it will appear on your Gamercard, regardless if you do not purchase the full version. While these demos are playable, most offer only a fraction of the levels, modes, and content of the full game. A full version of the game must be purchased to allow the user to upload scores to the leaderboards, unlock achievements, play multiplayer, and download bonus content.
All Xbox 360 hard drives come with a free copy of Hexic HD preinstalled.[2]
Microsoft Points
Xbox Live Arcade games are purchased using Microsoft Points. Since these points are distributed by Microsoft they are not legal tender, but rather a form of scrip, sold via the Xbox Live user interface. There are multiple advantages to using scrip to facilitate software sales. First, Microsoft Points are not tied to any particular currency, allowing for international use and regional pricing. As these points are a kind of abstraction of worth, potential game buyers might not associate the point value of a product with the actual monetary value. Also, by requiring customers to purchase points in bulk quantities that differ from actual game cost, customers will always have some remaining points that they can "top up" to purchase something else.
Xbox Live Arcade games for the Xbox 360
The following is the complete list of Xbox Live Arcade titles available for the Xbox 360 console.
(*) Note: LB - Leaderboards, M - Multiplayer, CO - Co-operative play, DC - Downloadable content, C - Camera Enabled
Upcoming games
These are upcoming titles.
| Title | Developer | Release Date | Category | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaga | Namco | July 26, 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | 400 Points |
| Street Fighter II | Capcom | August 2, 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Pac-Man | Namco | August 9, 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Texas Hold'em | River Belle (Sponsored) | August 23, 2006 | Card and Board | |
| Mad Tracks | Load Inc. | August 2006 | Bar Sports | |
| RoboBlitz | Naked Sky Entertainment | August 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Lumines Live! | Buena Vista | Summer 2006 | Puzzle and Word | |
| Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 | Midway | Summer 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Small Arms | Gastronaut | Summer 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Novadrome | Stainless Games | Fall 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Heavy Weapon | Popcap | Fall 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| HoopWorld | Streamline Studios | 2006 | Bar Sports | |
| Paperboy | Midway | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Defender | Midway | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Cyberball | Midway | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Root Beer Tapper | Midway | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Ms. Pac-Man | Namco | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Rally-X | Namco | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Dig Dug | Namco | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Sega | 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Contra | Konami | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Time Pilot | Konami | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Scramble | Konami | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Track & Field | Konami | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Totem Balls | Freeverse | 2006 | Camera Enabled | |
| Mutant Storm Empire | PomPom | 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Super Contra | Konami | 2006 | Coin-Op Classics | |
| Pinball | Freeverse | 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Darwinia | Introversion Software | 2006 | Strategy | |
| Alien Hominid | The Behemoth | 2006 | Action Arcade | |
| Castle Crashers | The Behemoth | 2007 | Unknown |
Sales and downloads
Microsoft announced that as of March 10, 2006, 3 million downloads of Xbox Live Arcade games had been made, at least 600,000 of which had been purchased.[3] Also, over 60% of gamers connected to Xbox Live on the Xbox 360 had downloaded a trial version of an Xbox Live Arcade title.[3] In terms of sales, the best selling Xbox 360 titles were Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, followed by Gauntlet, Smash TV, Bejeweled II, and Zuma, in that order.[3] The game Texas Hold Em which had been delayed months was confirmed as not being free, despite statements saying that the game would be free due to sponsorship.
Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays
On July 12, 2006, Microsoft launched the "Xbox Live Wednesdays" program,[4] which calls for a new Arcade game to be launched every Wednesday for the rest of the summer. Microsoft also announced that it will have 50 Live Arcade games by the end of 2006.[5] From now on, Arcade games are expected to be released exclusively on Wednesdays.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Morris, Chris (October 14, 2004). "Xbox hugs Ms. Pac Man". CNN.
- ^ "Microsoft Xbox 360 Hard Drive". xbox.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
- ^ a b c Carless, Simon. "Q&A: Microsoft Discusses Xbox 360 Live Stats". Gamasutra. CMP.
- ^ "Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays". xbox.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
- ^ "Microsoft Launches XBLA Wednesdays". IGN. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
- ^ "Street Fighter II will sell for $10 on Xbox Live". Joystiq. Retrieved 2006-07-16.