Microsoft Talks Xbox Live Arcade News
Chris Leyton
30/01/2007
10 future titles that are arriving on the Xbox 360's casual/retro games platform...
Providing a glimpse of what the future months hold for Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft today confirmed 10 titles heading towards the platform over the coming months.
Coming from Wanako Games, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures is the second XLA offering from Sierra Online. Putting your way through 36 holes of manic mini-golf action, courses range from the Wild West to Outer Space. Alien Hominid HD is an adaptation of the popular side-scroller from The Behemoth, featuring the traditional hysterical cartoon action with exclusive Xbox Live Arcade features. From the creators of Outpost Kaloki and Cloning Clyde, Band of Bugs is a fast-paced strategy title that allows players to design their own levels with the in-game editor. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night should need little introduction. The game that has forced Microsoft to increase the cap on Xbox Live Arcade titles, just to ensure the game's orchestral soundtrack remains intact. Announced at last year's Leipzig Convention, Catan is a remake of the strategy board game that is particularly popular across Germany. A conversion of the popular indie PC title that arrived on STEAM last year, Eets: Chowdown debut on Xbox Live Arcade promises new items, 120 new levels and the introduction of a new action game, Marsho Madness. Casual games giant, MumboJumbo, will be bringing the action-puzzle sequel, Luxor 2, to the online platform, challenging players to match and shoot their way through the lands of ancient Egypt. PaperBoy and Root Beer Tapper are the latest retro classics to join the service from Midway and Digital Eclipse; if these need any explanation you're really in the wrong place. Finally, Team 17' Worms promises a return to the series 2D roots in all their HD glory! Engage in annelid anarchy and wage war against friends over Xbox Live.
In the press release, Microsoft suggests that games may not appear every Wednesday and provides no timeline as to when to expect these titles; although a number of them have turned up on our debug 360 units, suggesting that a few are entering the finishing stages.
Microsoft also boasts of three milestones being achieved with the list, including the first turn-based strategy title released (Worms), the first Xbox Live Arcade board game (Catan) and the first Xbox Live Arcade outdoor sports title (3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures). Although we'd point to the launch of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night as being a slightly more important milestone, Microsoft probably wouldn't want to be seen as backing down over the 50MB issue - we'd also like to question what Hardwood Backgammon is if it isn't a board game?
