Microsoft Xbox Live House Party to Launch February 15, incudes Alan Wake, Warp, and more

Posted by John Ball Categories: Downloadable Content, Hot Deals, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,

Xbox Live house party is looking to start this year off with a bang. Four Xbox Live Arcade titles are set to be released in the weeks between February 15 and March 13, and we've got the list here for you to take a gander at. Warp, Alan Wake's American Nightmare, Nexuiz, and I Am Alive, in that respective order, with Warp kicking things off on February 15. Warp and Nexuiz will be 800 MS Points ($10) right out of the gate, however Alan Wake and I am Alive will be 1200 MS Points ($15.)

All of the information about the order of which the games would be released as well as the pricing was only recently unveiled by the ever popular Xbox Live celebrity, Major Nelson. Larry also goes on to tell us that if you purchase all 4 games within the allotted 1 month time period, you'll receive 800 Microsoft Points back as a bonus. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

Gallery: Microsoft Xbox Live House Party to Launch February 15, incudes Alan Wake, Warp, and more

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GDC 2011: Double Fine announces new XBLA title, Trenched

Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Strategy, Third Person Shooters, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,

The ever so awesome Double Fine has announced their new title Trenched, which is to be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade. The trailer features a game which can be described as a third-person shooter with a hint of tower defense. According to Double Fine, players will be afforded thousands of different options to customize their merchs, Gamestop reports. Oh, and co-op mode? You betcha. However, we still have no word on whether the game will offer a competitive head-to-head option. You can could visit the Trenched website to see the trailer, but it's currently down. Come on guys! Fix your servers!

Gallery: GDC 2011: Double Fine announces new XBLA title, Trenched

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First Look: Shoot Many Robots In-game Trailer

Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Action, Downloadable Content, PlayStation Network, Trailers, Xbox Live Arcade,

Demiurge Studios released the first in-game trailer for their upcoming title, Shoot Many Robots, which is slated for a downloadble release in 2011.  This might be Demiurge Studios first original title, but they are no rookies to the business of making fun and addictive games. The company stands as one of the largest independent game developers in the Boston area, and has been lending its expertise for years to AAA franchises like Borderlands, Brothers in Arms, Mass Effect and Rock Band.

“After nine years of working on truly awesome IPs with our favorite developers and publishers, we’re thrilled to be stepping out of the shadows with an original property of our own,” said Albert Reed, co-founder and studio director at Demiurge Studios. “Shoot Many Robots is the dream game we’ve always wanted to make: a 4-player co-op action-RPG with tons of loot and great innovation on beloved run-and-gun game play. Our team created a vibrant, unique style for the game that’s beautifully rendered by Demiurge’s new game engine. Building a 'Robot Murder Simulator' has been a blast for us, and we can't wait to get it into gamers' hands.”

Shoot Many Robots look like an old school gamer's or arcade junkies dream. With a side-scroller feel, item looting, co-op, and shoot 'em up mechanics, we can assume it will be a huge success on the PSN and Xbox LIVE Arcade platforms.

Gallery: First Look: Shoot Many Robots In-game Trailer

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Ms. Splosion Man reveal trailer

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Casual, Platformers, Trailers, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,

Splosion Man is one of our favorite Xbox Live Arcade games of all time, both for single and multiplayer, and we're glad there's more on the way with the announcement of Ms. Splosion Man. The game isn't set for release until Fall 2011, which is a year away, but hey, good things take time, right?

Gallery: Ms. Splosion Man reveal trailer

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Sonic 4 leaderboards get a full reset due to cheaters

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Platformers, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, SEGA, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,

I've never seen the point in getting to number one on a leaderboard with a cheated score - especially when the score is so ridiculous it is obviously fake. Really? You beat the level in 0 seconds?

Because of these attention seeking hackers the entire Sonic 4 leaderboards will reset (and I will have to once again get my Splash Hill Act 2 score charted, argh!). Though, you might want to wait a while to get your time back up, as apparently there is no permanent fix to stop the hackers from doing it again, which they surely will. 

Read More | Sega Forums

Gallery: Sonic 4 leaderboards get a full reset due to cheaters

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Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 review

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Platformers, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, Reviews, Virtual Console, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,

Click to continue reading Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 review

Gallery: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 review

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Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 release date

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Downloadable Content, PlayStation Network, Screenshots, SEGA, Xbox Live Arcade,

The long winded wait for the blue blur’s glorious return to form has been a grueling tale of teasers followed by long periods of nothingness. Finally, a light can be seen at the end of the tunnel, and for some that light is closer than it is for others.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 will be available first in the iTunes App Store beginning on October 7th. The next iteration will be available for download on the Wii Shop Channel October 11th, followed by the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade versions hitting October 12th and 13th respectively.

Wii owners can expect to relinquish 1500 Wii Points; PSN users - $14.99; and XBLA - 1200 Microsoft Points. The iPhone price will be specified later this week.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 will be the first of an unspecified number of episodes. Game play is similar to the original Sega Genesis titles, namely the original Sonic the Hedgehog, with a few new twists and graphical enhancements thrown in for the modern age.

Click to continue reading Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 release date

Read More | IGN

Gallery: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 release date

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Summer of Arcade 2010 Xbox Live Arcade lineup

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Adventure, Driving, First Person Shooters, Microsoft, Release Dates, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,

The third-annual Xbox Live Arcade Summer of Arcade kicks off on Wednesday, and goes through August 18th with a block of five titles that Microsoft thinks are worthy of knocking your socks off. Things start off with the release of Limbo on July 21, which is the black and white mystery game where a boy sets out to discover the fate of his sister. On July 28th, Hydro Thunder Hurricane drops, with Castlevania Harmony of Despair coming the week after, bringing the 2D side-scrolling goodness of Castlevania back to the forefront. On August 11th, Monday Night Combat, a fresh take on the multiplayer shooter comes out, and things wrap up on August 18th with the return of Lara Croft. Nope, this one isn’t a Tomb Raider game. Instead, it’s Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, a fun mix of exploration and combat.

The Summer of Arcade is generally when Microsoft looks to release a back-to-back string of amazing titles. This year, they’ve upped the ante a bit with a special promo. If you buy any three of the five Summer of Arcade titles listed above by the end of August, you’ll receive 400 Microsoft Points back. If you decide to spring for all five, you’ll get 1200 Microsoft Points. How’s that for putting their money where their mouth is?

Gallery: Summer of Arcade 2010 Xbox Live Arcade lineup

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Shadow Complex promises to impress

Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Action, Downloadable Content, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,

Whatever line there was between retail games and downloadable titles has essentially been torn down.

You can now download full retail games straight to your console thanks to the new Xbox 360 Dashboard Update. And the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade has been rock solid.

But wait. There’s more.

The final release of Summer of Arcade hits this week - on Wednesday precisely. And it’s been getting stellar reviews.

IGN calls it “one of the best games yet in 2009” - that’s out of all games, not just XBLA titles. MondoXbox says it’s"capable of rivaling even many of the retail games out there.”

Shadow Complex further blurs the line between retail and downloadable games - if not completely destroying that line.

Shadow Complex is a Metroid/Castlevania-style game that features 2.5D side-scrolling action gameplay. Based on the praiseworthy reviews, this one sounds like a winner.

Gallery: Shadow Complex promises to impress

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Trials HD arriving on Xbox 360

Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Downloadable Content, Microsoft, Platformers, Release Dates, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace,

That’s right, folks - the next installment in the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade is about to drop! Trials HD is coming this Wednesday for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

Be prepared for a “full-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing platformer” that includes fifty stages as well as a level editor. Trials HD is an enhanced version of Trials 2: Second Edition.

Sounds like it may be a solid entry in the XBLA line-up. I’m amped to check this one out.

In fact Trials HD already has a few scores listed on Metacritic. Eurogamer boasts Trials HD “may end up being the best thing on Xbox Live Arcade all year.” Woah! Could it surpass ‘Splosion Man?!

Gallery: Trials HD arriving on Xbox 360

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