Tag: XBLM

Lionhead Studios Quells the Complainers

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(if this image has not resized properly, please leave a comment letting me know that, and what web browser you’re using – some users are reporting issues with images – thank you!)

In a brilliant move, Fable II developer Lionhead Studios announced that the previously known “Pub Games” will be available free to those who preorder Fable II.

When the arcade games were announced back in March, gamers the world over condemned Lionhead of double dipping. Lionhead originally came back by insisting that the games would each stand well on their own as fun Xbox Live Arcade Experiences, only enhanced by the fact that you could be amassing an in-game fortune prior to Fable 2 launch day. But in a move to amass a fortune of their own prior to launch day, the company decided to switch tactics, include all three games in one “shell”, and, you read correctly, give them away free to those who preordered the game.

The Pub Games will be available shortly before the launch to all players, pre-order or not, but will cost others 800 Microsoft points (already turning your $59.99 purchase in to $69.99).

Pub Game preorder offer is not exclusive to the “Collector’s Edition” which was also announced today, at $79.99 – which I consider quite a kind move on the part of Lionhead. Pay sixty bucks or eighty bucks, they don’t care, if you preorder it, you get the $10 package of XBLA games for free. Commendable.

Mega Man 9: 8-Bits of Fun?

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By now you’ve no doubt heard of the new Mega Man title coming this Fall or Winter. Lots of confusion as to what platforms it will launch on. Wii-Ware has been confirmed, and Xbox Live Arcade is all but confirmed. But the other issues I am having all fall into different categories.

First: 8-bit? Really? I’m with Nintendo Wii Fanboy’s opinion that 8-bit game design is an art. I can appreciate that. But why does it seem so impossible to design a game with that classic platformer gameplay and do some cool graphics? Even using the Mega Man X “engine” (was it considered an “engine” in the days of side-scrolling sprites?) would be a nice little improvement. But it seems that every time somebody wants to gloss something up, visually, then they get side tracked trying to makea 3-D as well. Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project is one of my favorite good examples of combining old school play with more contemporary graphics and design.

Based on just a few screenshots, the experienced eye might guess that this Mega Man 9 will be loosely based around the Mega Man III (3) engine. I could be wrong – after all, I never got the Blue Bomber to “duck” or flatten-out like the screen shot above. Plus each of the Mega Man titles used to play just a little different, but if my prediction is right, you can get your reaction time fine-tuned by going back and playing the third installment.

My next gripe… er… question, comes along the lines of controls. If the game launches for Xbox Live Arcade, it seems pretty straightforward. But on the Wii? If they’re going with the classic game-design style, they simply must go with a classic control scheme. Holding the Wii Remote like a classic NES controller and going to town on it. I hope! If I have to wave my arms around like I’m Harry freakin’ Potter, I’ll be quite disappointed.

With all of that on the table, I’m still looking forward to Mega Man 9. It will be a great return to something classic, and I have confidence that, if anyone, Capcom can do justice to bringing back a classic franchise without malforming it “because they can” (are you listening, Nintendo? Mario doesn’t always need gadgets like water jets and star guns!). The saddest part about this article? We’ve still got months before we’re going to know anything more!

WBX: "Told you so" would be mean, but…

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WBX: WinBreak Exclusive – Follow up
Remember in EARLY JANUARY, when I said two specific games would be making their way to the still-new Xbox Originals? One of those games I mentioned, was Guilty Gear X2 #Reload. Well, as of yesterday, June 11th, Major Nelson has confirmed Guilty Gear X2 #Reload will be released this coming Monday, June 16th, along side The Legend of Spyro™: A New Beginning.

While Spyro might be for the ESRB aged “E10” in your home, and not getting a warm welcome from the “gaming elitist” community, I have actually heard many good things about Guilty Gear X2 #Reload and think that there are more than just a few people excited about this one coming to the Originals program.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, don’t distrust the WBX, you’ll only end up embarrassing yourself. 😉

Xbox 360 vs. Apple TV: an overlooked battlefront?

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Crave, C|Net’s Gadget Blog, has posted a lengthy article about the often overlooked battle (if you can call it that) between the Xbox 360 and the Apple TV. They mention the install base (around 18 million 360’s compared to less than two million AppleTV’s), but they are claiming that the Xbox Live Video Marketplace is essentially untapped.

I would disagree, as Microsoft sees respectable sales, rivaling the likes of NetFlix and other on demand services. The article goes on to say that …”most of the future Xbox 360 owners are looking for something more than gaming and Microsoft is the only company that can provide it.” Not to shine a light on the competition, but I’m pretty sure Sony has gotten a good chunk of sales with the Playstation 3 since the definitive victory of BluRay! Why the article seems to ignore the fact that, while it may not have an on demand video service (yet), the BluRay feature is a driving force behind making the PS3 quite the home-entertainment choice.

So, even I say the article is a bit spotty – but it’s a good read and brings up some valid arguments about the future for the service.

UPDATE 1: As an additional side note, for our Mac owners out there, a new piece of software called Rivet promises to stream Mac video, music, and photos to the Xbox 360. Though it does carry an $18.95 price tag, there is a trial version for everyone to check out. Let’s hope Microsoft doesn’t get touchy and decide to block it’s functionality, some way, in a future dashboard update!